MINUTES

1.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Public Works & Transportation Committee held on Wednesday, February 18^th, 2004, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

POLICIES / STRATEGIES (1  ITEM)

URBAN DEVELOPMENT DIVISION

2.

PROPOSED EDUCATION STRATEGIES TO DETER UNNECESSARY  IDLING OF VEHICLES IN SCHOOL ZONES
(Report:  Feb. 26/04, File No.:  6455-01) (REDMS No. 1118818)
 

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the proposed education strategies to raise community awareness of the negative impacts of idling vehicles and deter unnecessary idling, (as presented in the report dated February 26^th, 2004, from the Director, Transportation), be approved. 
 

(2)

That this report be forwarded to the Richmond School District for information and that staff work with the Richmond School District to develop strategies to educate parents and schoolchildren of the negative impacts of unnecessary vehicle idling.

Prior to the question on the motion being called, the Director, Transportation, Gordon Chan, and Transportation Planner Joan Caravan, briefly reviewed the report and advised that the Traffic Safety Advisory Committee supported the proposed recommendations. 

During the discussion which ensued on the proposed strategies, staff were commended for the preparation of an excellent report.  It was noted that the challenge would be to obtain even a small degree of compliance.  Also discussed was the feasibility of having the brochures translated into Chinese, and staff indicated that this suggestion would be considered.

The question on the motion was then called, and it was CARRIED.

***********************************

DECISIONS / ACTIONS (2 ITEMS)

ENGINEERING & PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION

3.

WATERWORKS BYLAW NO. 5637
(Report:  Mar. 5/04, File No.:  8060-20-7685) (REDMS No. 1127984, 1128802)

Councillor Kiichi Kumagai thanked Cllr. Howard and staff for taking a proactive approach in addressing his concerns, stating that the proposed recommendation would allow those owners who already had water meters to take advantage of the incentives being offered to volunteers to the City's water metering program.

Cllr. Kumagai then provided information on another area of concern.  He explained that every house built today, irregardless of its size, had a 1-inch water connection as opposed to older homes which were constructed with  inch connections.  Cllr. Kumagai voiced concern about the difference in rates between these two connections as they related to flat rate users, and he advised that he had asked that the Engineering Department review this anomaly.

A brief discussion then ensued, during which it was noted that the rate for the larger connection had been implemented in response to the number of large homes which had been constructed over the past years.  The comment was made by the Chair that perhaps this would provide additional encouragement to home owners to volunteer for the water metering program.  He then asked staff to report to Committee on how to correct the anomaly.

Discussion then ensued on the water metering program, during which information was provided in response to questions on when it would be anticipated that all single-family residences would be in the program.  Information was requested on the number of home owners in the program compared to those still receiving a flat rate, including the number of people who lived in each home.

It was moved and seconded

That Waterworks Rates and Regulation Bylaw No. 5637, Amendment Bylaw No. 7685, which would allow single family residential water meter customers who have water meters installed:

(1)

through waterworks renewal programs, an opportunity to apply for a credit equal to the difference between their first 12 months of metered water bills and the appropriate flat rate for their property; or

(2)

prior to January 1, 2004, an opportunity to apply for a credit equal to the difference between their first 12 months of metered water bills and the appropriate flat rate for their property,

be introduced and given first, second and third readings.

CARRIED

URBAN DEVELOPMENT DIVISION

4.

RICHMOND PARKING ADVISORY COMMITTEE PROPOSED TERMS OF REFERENCE
(Report:  Mar. 3/04, File No.:  0100-20-RPADI-01) (REDMS No. 926200)

Mr. Chan, accompanied by the Manager, Community Outreach, Don Pearson, reviewed the report with the Committee.

Reference was made to parking in the City Centre area and the need for different rates depending on the location of the meter within the downtown core area.  Also referred to and commented on, was the technology which was now available which would eliminate the need for parking receipts being placed on dashboards, and staff were requested to have the Richmond Parking Advisory address this issue.

Reference was also made to the terms of reference for the committee, and the request was made that BOMA BC and UDI be added to the membership.  As a result, the following amended recommendation was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That the establishment of a Richmond Parking Advisory Committee with its membership (amended to increase the number of members to 15 to allow the addition of BOMA BC and UDI), and terms of reference (as attached to the report dated March 3^rd, 2004, from the Director, Transportation), be approved.

The question on the motion was not called, as staff were requested to have the committee examine the feasibility of differential parking rates in the City Centre Core area (i.e. the further a person had to walk, the lower the parking rate), and to report to Committee on the advantages and disadvantages of such a program.  Staff were also requested to provide information on the various parking programs currently provided throughout the City.

Reference was also made to (i) the parking situation at Minoru Park and the needs of the community to have access to that facility; and (ii) the impact of increased development in the Steveston area on available parking in that area, and discussion ensued briefly on this matters.

Mr. Chan advised that, following the establishment of the committee and the appointment of members, that after identifying issues and priorities, he would submitted a report to the Public Works & Transportation Committee on a proposed work plan for the Richmond Parking Advisory Committee.

The question on the motion was then called, and it was CARRIED.

***********************************

INFORMATION / AWARENESS (2 ITEMS)

ENGINEERING & PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION

5.

AWARD OF 2004 PAVING CONTRACT T.1560
(Report:  Feb. 25/04, File No.:  1000-20-T.1560) (REDMS No. 1120007)
 

It was moved and seconded

That the report (dated February 25^th, 2004, from the Director, Engineering), regarding the Awarding of the 2004 Paving Contract T.1560, be received for information.

CARRIED

6.

RICHMOND LONG RANGE DRINKING WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN: VOLUNTEER WATER METER PROGRAM UPDATE
(Report:  Mar. 5/04, File No.:  6650-02) (REDMS No. 1132159)
 

Project Engineer Lloyd Bie advised that 1,500 people had attended the recent open house; that over 100 people had volunteered at the open house to be part of the water metering program; that over 1,000 home owners had expressed an interest in the program; that in total, 280 owners had signed consent forms, and that 70 meters had now been installed.

It was moved and seconded

That the report (dated March 5, 2004, from the Director of Engineering), regarding the Richmond Long Range Drinking Water Management Plan: Richmond Water Meter Program Update, be received for information.

CARRIED

7.

MANAGERS REPORT

(a)

Mr. Gonzales advised that the annual open house to explain the proposed 2004 Capital Projects to residents would be held on Thursday, April 29^th, 2004.
 

(b)

Mr. Gonzales reported that the grand opening of the new Husky Oil/Mohawk Service station located on Garden City Road and Sea Island Way would take place on Saturday, April 3^rd.  He added that he would be advising Council of this opening in a memorandum.
 

(c)

Mr. Gonzales reported that a Lanes Workshop had been held, and that representatives of UDI, GVHB and UBC had been in attendance.  He stated that the discussion had resulted in options which would be presented in a report to the Committee at the next meeting. 
 

A brief discussion ensued, during which Mr. Gonzales was asked to provide easy to read drawings.  He was also requested to provide information on the annual cost to the City of cleaning silt out of clogged drains.
 

(d)

Mr. Chan reported that the Mayor and he would be attending a meeting with Minister of Transportation Kevin Falcon, on Monday, March 22^nd, 2004, with the hope that the Provincial Government would recognize the need for a new interchange at Blundell Road and Highway 99 and the twinning of the Steveston Highway overpass, and would agree to becoming a partner in the project.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:42 p.m.).

CARRIED

Certified a true and correct copy of the Minutes of the meeting of the Public Works & Transportation Committee of the Council of the City of Richmond held on Wednesday, March 17^th, 2004.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Councillor Rob Howard
Chair

Fran J. Ashton
Executive Assistant, City Clerks Office