MINUTES

1.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Public Works & Transportation Committee held on Wednesday, December 22^nd, 2004, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

It was moved and seconded

That the order of the agenda be varied to allow Ms. Pat Broz, a former member of the Traffic Safety Advisory Committee, to come forward.

CARRIED

At the request of the Chair, Pat Broz came forward to the table.  Cllr. Howard thanked Ms. Broz for her efforts, stating that the Traffic Safety Advisory Committee (TSAC) had been enriched by her presence and hard work.

Cllr. Howard then spoke highly of Pat’s accomplishments which included implementation of the "Way to Go!" School Program at Tait Elementary School; initiator of the original "walking school bus" in Richmond at Tait Elementary in approximately 2001; and appointment as the Richmond District Parents Association (RDPA) representative on TSAC in the Fall of 2001 until the Fall of 2004, when she resigned her position.  He noted that as the RDPA Traffic Safety Representative, Pat was the prime motivator behind bringing the "Keep Our Future Safe" yellow lawn sign campaign to Richmond, which has since spread to many communities across BC. 

Cllr. Howard stated that Pat, as the RDPA Traffic Safety Representative, helped organize the RDPA's annual "Traffic Safety Awareness Week" campaign, which is held the first week of March each year and involves all elementary and secondary schools.  He indicated that Pat still participates in traffic safety events at Tait Elementary, including the upcoming 8th annual "Traffic Safety Awareness Week" to be held March 7-11, 2005.

Cllr. Barnes thanked Pat for her hard work, stating that she would be missed.  She added that Pat’s leadership, hard work and innovative ideas had made Richmond a safe place in which to live.

On behalf of the Committee, Cllr. Howard then presented Ms. Broz with a small token of appreciation.

POLICIES / STRATEGIES (1 ITEM)

ENGINEERING & PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION

2.

SUSTAINABLE “HIGH PERFORMANCE” BUILDING POLICY – CITY OWNED FACILITIES
(Report:  Dec. 13/04, File No.:  06-2045-00/Vol 01) (REDMS No. 1300739)

The Manager, Facilities Planning & Construction, David Naysmith, accompanied by the Assistant Manager, Environmental Programs, Margot Daykin, in responding to questions, provided the following information:

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the proposed policy, if adopted, would not result in existing buildings being remediated unless there was a major upgrade of that building taking place

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adoption of the policy would mean that when buildings were renovated, staff would endeavour to achieve the sustainability standards outlined within this policy

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the LEED rating system is the most universally recognized rating system

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professional institutes which govern the City’s design methods have formalized policies and structures around the LEED rating system

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it was important to consider all aspects of a building’s lifecycle, including the cost of operating and maintaining the structure, and not just the cost of construction

(Mayor Brodie entered the meeting – 4:10 p.m.)

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staff would consider sustainable materials, simplified HVAC systems, efficiencies and cost-saving measures as part of the lifecycle project application.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That City Energy Conservation Policy #2004 (adopted on February 25^th, 1991), be rescinded.

(2)

That the following Sustainable High Performance Building Policy be adopted:

“POLICY 2004:

It is Council policy to:   

(1)

Undertake Comprehensive Financial Consideration

Projects for new buildings and major renovations will be evaluated based on considerations of life-cycle costing and initial financial investment requirements.

(2)

Incorporate High Performance Attributes into Building Design and Construction to the Maximum Extent Possible

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LEED® BC will be used as the standard by which to assess building performance.

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That LEED Gold accreditation be set as the desired standard of building performance for new City buildings greater than 2000 sq.m (approximately 20,000 sq.ft).

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The City will seek to meet the performance standards of LEED Silver certification as a minimum requirement for major renovations to existing facilities and new City Buildings smaller than 2000 sq.m (20,000 sq.ft), but may not necessarily seek formal accreditation.

(3)

Pursue Continual Improvement Through Building Retrofit and Efficient Building Maintenance

Existing facilities and equipment will be upgraded to higher efficiencies as budgets and circumstances allow, and where the change offers a simple payback of no more than five years.

Equipment will be maintained to energy-efficient standards.

(4)

Foster Awareness and Innovation

A continuous education program in resource efficiency procedures and practices will be maintained.

All employees will be encouraged to suggest and initiate projects that will save energy and optimize efficiencies in other resource areas (natural and financial).

(5)

Undertake Regular Monitoring and Reporting

Corporate energy consumption and extent to which the City has met its LEED building objectives will be monitored and reported on a regular basis using existing City reporting tools.”

CARRIED

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DECISIONS / ACTIONS (3 ITEMS)

ENGINEERING & PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION

3.

FUNDING REALLOCATION FOR HYDRO UNDERGROUNDING PROJECTS

(Report:  Jan. 5/05, File No.:  10-6340-01/2004-Vol 01) (REDMS No. 1346700)

The Manager, Engineering Design & Construction, Jim Young, advised that the savings realized from reducing the scope of the project would be used to pay for the next instalment of the undergrounding work.

It was moved and seconded

That the transfer of $552,000 from the 2002 and 2004 Hydro Undergrounding budgets to the 2003 Hydro Undergrounding budget be approved.

CARRIED

URBAN DEVELOPMENT DIVISION

4.

(Report:  Jan. 5/05, File No.:  0100-20-TSAD1-01) (REDMS No. 1360886)

The Acting Director, Transportation, Victor Wei, was accompanied by Traffic Supervisor Bob Gilchrist, and Alex Lee, Chair of the Traffic Safety Advisory Committee.

Mr. Lee spoke briefly about the work completed by the Traffic Safety Advisory Committee in 2004, noting that a highlight for the Committee was the City’s participation in the “Community Crash Reduction Challenge” which saw a 16% reduction in the number of motor vehicle accidents in Richmond during the challenge period.  He added that a subcommittee had been created to address school zone traffic safety.

During the discussion which ensued, Mr. Lee provided information on the training provided to parent volunteers of the School Zone Safety Committee.  Questions were raised about the City’s SOS Committee addressing school safety issues, and information was provided that the matter was already being considered by that committee.

Reference was made to the City’s program to reduce the number of idling vehicles, and information was provided that City drivers had completed a revised training program to reinforce the need to turn motor vehicles off, rather than leaving the vehicles idling.

Reference was made to the significant annual reduction in accidents, and staff were requested to provide figures on the number of vehicles which were involved in accidents, and information on the magnitude of the percentage in reduction of claims to ICBC.  A brief discussion ensued, during which the suggestion was made that the information be put in the form of a letter or memo which could be presented as part of the discussion on this matter at the January 24^th, 2005 Regular Council Meeting.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the proposed 2005 initiatives for the Traffic Safety Advisory Committee (as outlined in the report dated January 5^th, 2005, from the Acting Director, Transportation), be endorsed.

(2)

That the Traffic Safety Advisory Committee be thanked for their valuable and on-going efforts, and for the positive results accomplished by the Committee for the community.

CARRIED

5.

RICHMOND COMMUNITY CYCLING COMMITTEE – PROPOSED 2005 INITIATIVES

(Report:  Jan. 3/05, File No.:  01-0100-20-RCYC5/2004-Vol 01) (REDMS No. 1363325)

Mr. Wei, was accompanied by Transportation Planner Joan Caravan and a member of the Community Cycling Committee, Tony Adama.

Reference was made to the development of a “Richmond Version of the Regional Cycling Guide”, and staff were requested to examine for inclusion in the guide, the best routes to access such schools as Dixon and Gilmore Elementary Schools.

A question was raised about the legality of riding bicycles on sidewalks, and based on the information provided, the suggestion was made that those walkways on which bicycling was allowed which provided access to schools, should be identified.

The Chair, in concluding the discussion, thanked the Community Cycling Committee for its excellent work and contributions to the community.

It was moved and seconded

That the proposed 2005 initiatives of the Richmond Community Cycling Committee regarding cycling-related engineering and education activities (as described in the report dated January 3^rd, 2005, from the Acting Director, Transportation), be endorsed.

CARRIED

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INFORMATION / AWARENESS (1 ITEM)

ENGINEERING & PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION

6.

EAST RICHMOND IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE STUDY

(Report:  Jan. 6/05, File No.:  10-6045-15-01/2005 – Vol 01) (REDMS No. 1391064)

The Director, Engineering Robert Gonzalez advised that the City had been successful in its grant request to the National Water Supply Expansion Program and had been awarded $90,000.

Discussion ensued among Committee members and staff on the need to address irrigation and drainage in the East Richmond area, the resolution passed by the Agricultural Advisory Committee in this regard, and the work proposed within the Agricultural Viability Study.  As a result of the discussion, the following resolution was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the City and applicable government agencies undertake a broad drainage study for East Richmond in 2005.

(2)

That should the City not receive the necessary funding from external sources as identified, that staff report to Council accordingly.

CARRIED

It was moved and seconded

That the report regarding a Request for the Provincial Government to Reinstate the Flood Protection Assistance Fund be added to the agenda as an additional item and dealt with at this time.

CARRIED

7.

REQUEST FOR PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT TO REINSTATE THE FLOOD PROTECTION ASSISTANCE FUND

(Report:  Jan. 19/05, File No.:  10-6045-11-01/2005 – Vol 01) (REDMS No. 1401847)

Discussion ensued among Committee members and staff on this matter, during which it was noted that the request to have flood protection funding reinstated by the Provincial Government, had been made many times during the past eight to ten years.

Information was provided that the annual funds, if approved, of $10 Million for five years, would be used to create a base from which funds could be drawn for preventative measures, but would not be used to provide disaster relief.

It was moved and seconded

That the City send a letter (attached to the report dated January 19^th, 2005, from the General Manager, Engineering & Public Works), to the Government of British Columbia in support of the Lower Mainland Municipal Association’s request that the Flood Protection Assistance Fund be reinstated.

CARRIED

8.

MANAGER’S REPORT

Mr. Gonzalez provided an update to Committee members on the current rainfall and flooding situation in Richmond.  He explained that the recent snowfall and frozen ground had resulted in flooding in those areas where houses had been constructed below the floodplain.  He added that one of the worst areas for flooding was along No. 5 Road, from Williams Road to Blundell Road.  Mr. Gonzalez credited the efforts of the Public Works crews in quickly addressing any flooding problems which had arisen.

Reference was made to the condition of Richmond roads, and discussion ensued on the need to keep the roads well maintained to avoid damage from cracked pavement.

Staff were asked to convey the thanks of the Committee to the Public Works crews for a job well done.

Reference was made to the recent snowfall, and information was provided that the City had kept within its budget for snow removal for the year.  Information was also provided on the City’s snow removal policy, and discussion ensued on this matter.  As a result of the discussion, Mr. Day indicated that he would provide a report to the Committee on snow removal priorities, with the suggestion being made that consideration could be given to traffic volumes and provide examples of roads and areas which had changed significantly over the past years due to redevelopment.

Councillor Barnes referred to a referral to staff made sometime ago which requested that a traffic pattern study be undertaken of the No. 2 Road/Steveston Highway area.  Information was provided that as a result of work undertaken by staff who determined that the widening of No. 2  Road would be warranted in 2007, this project was being included in the proposed Five Year Capital Program.

In response to questions, Mr. Wei advised that a traffic growth analysis had been completed for the area, and although widening of No. 2 Road was not warranted at this time, staff were of the view that widening would most likely be needed in three year's time.  Discussion ensued among Committee members and staff on this matter.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:13 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, January 19^th, 2005.

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Councillor Rob Howard
Chair

Fran J. Ashton
Executive Assistant, City Clerk’s Office