MINUTES

1.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Public Works & Transportation Committee held on Thursday, April 20th, 2006, and on Monday, April 24th, 2006, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

2.

The next meeting of the Committee is scheduled to be held on Wednesday, June 21^st, 2006 (tentative date) at 4:00 p.m. in the Anderson Room.

POLICIES / STRATEGIES (0 ITEMS)

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

DECISIONS / ACTIONS (2 ITEMS)

PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

3.

ANNUAL BIKE MONTH AND COMMUTER CHALLENGE – JUNE 2006

(Report:  Apr. 10/06, File No.:  10-6460-01/2006-Vol 01) (REDMS No. 1803750)

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the overall objectives of the Bike Month 2006 campaign, (as outlined in the report dated April 10^th, 2006, from the Acting Director, Transportation), be endorsed.

(2)

That the City of Richmond participate in various regional and local activities during the Bike Month 2006 campaign by registering in the annual Commuter Challenge to encourage cycling as a sustainable form of transportation and reduce the use of single occupant vehicles.

(3)

That staff co-ordinate the undertaking of the proposed activities related to Richmond with various campaign participants and other municipalities in the region (as outlined in the report dated April 10^th, 2006, from the Acting Director, Transportation) and forward all information on event activities to the Richmond School Board for their information.

CARRIED

4.

COMMENTS ON GVTA’S “REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION IMPLICATIONS OF THE PROVINCIAL GATEWAY PROGRAM” REPORT

(Report:  Apr. 25/06, File No.:  01-0154-01/2006 – Vol 01) (REDMS No. 1813342, 1377929, 1347995, 1360655)

The Acting Director, Transportation, Victor Wei, used a site map to explain the three proposed projects – Highway 1/Port Mann Bridge Improvements, South Fraser Perimeter Road, and the North Fraser Perimeter Road, to the Committee.  He also reviewed the staff report and the comments made by staff in response to the GVTA staff comments, noting that City staff generally agreed with the comments made by GVTA staff. 

Discussion then took place among Committee members on the report.  Comments were made that the report emphasized the need for a balance between the municipal concerns, the Major Road Network (MRN) and our local roads.  The following issues were then addressed:

·            

mitigation with respect to the Port Mann Bridge improvements and high occupancy vehicles

·            

the establishment of tolls on new crossings, but not on existing crossings, and not on the North Shore or Richmond crossings because bridges (and in Richmond’s case, the George Massey Tunnel) were the only means of entering and leaving these areas

·            

the views of the GVTA and the GVRD regarding the twinning of the Port Mann Bridge

·            

whether the City’s focus should be on road improvements

·            

short sea shipping and a working waterways concept, and the challenges of a working waterway

·            

the need to ensure that regional transportation was considered within the ‘big picture’.

During the discussion, in response to questions, information was provided that the majority of new roads would be within the South Fraser Perimeter Road project.  Advice was given that the Highway 1/Port Mann Bridge Improvements would involve improvements to the existing road network.  With reference to the impact of the proposed improvements on agricultural land, advice was given that a process was now underway to identify the agricultural land which would be impacted by the new roads, and that there would most likely be some impact to agricultural land in the area of the South Fraser Perimeter Road. 

The Chair referred to Barnston Island and to attempts to have that area removed from the Agricultural Land Reserve.  Information was provided that property owners on the Island had decided that agricultural was no longer a viable industry and were endeavouring to have Barnston Island removed from the Agricultural Land Reserve and rezoned for industrial use.  Advice was given that the South Fraser Perimeter Road would not impact Barnston Island.

The Chair voiced concern that the proposed staff recommendations did not place sufficient emphasis on the movement of goods and services, rapid transit or cycling, and as a result, the following amended motion was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That City Council reaffirm its past resolution regarding the twinning of the Port Mann Bridge that the enhancement of the movement of commercial, transit and high occupancy vehicles be the primary objective of the project and advise TransLink that this primary objective should also be applied to the other projects in the Gateway Program.

(2)

That TransLink be advised that the City supports in principle, the recommendations of the TransLink staff report entitled “Regional Transportation Implications of the Provincial Gateway Program” and that the following principles be incorporated in the development and execution of the Gateway Program:

(a)

the effective integration of regional transportation improvements, including rapid transit improvements,  into the elements of the Gateway Program, as recommended by GVTA staff, is essential to maximize the efficiency of the transportation network;

(b)

transportation demand measures should be employed to ensure that the expanded roadway capacity for goods movement, high occupancy vehicles, cycling and transit does not become overwhelmed with single occupancy automobile traffic;

(c)

funding from the Gateway Program budget for expenditures on Major Road Network (MRN), transit and cycling infrastructure that is directly impacted by the Gateway Program should also include municipally-owned roadways outside the MRN;

(d)

any transport pricing policy must be equitable across the region and applied concurrent with significant transportation infrastructure improvements, and all affected municipalities must be involved in its development;

(e)

any local road improvements required to support the elements of the Gateway Program as well as any future expanded rail and marine transportation for inter-provincial goods movement be jointly explored, pursued and implemented by all levels of government; and

(f)

full co-ordination and collaboration between the GVRD and municipalities is critical in the development and implementation of strategies to address any land use impacts of the Gateway Program that are contrary to the LRSP.

(3)

That a copy of this report be forwarded to TransLink staff for inclusion in their report back to the TransLink Board.

CARRIED

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

INFORMATION / AWARENESS (2 ITEMS)

PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

5.

RICHMOND PARKING ADVISORY COMMITTEE - UPDATE

(Report:  Apr. 18/06, File No.:  0100-20-RPAD1-01) (REDMS No. 1759919)

It was moved and seconded

That the report (dated April 18^th, 2006, from the Acting Director, Transportation, and the Manager, Community Bylaws), regarding the Richmond Parking Advisory Committee – Update, be received for information.

CARRIED

6.

RECOGNITION FOR SUSTAINABILITY AND INNOVATION IN ENERGY MANAGEMENT, BUILDING AND INFRASTRUCTURE

(Report:  May 5/06, File No.:  10-6000-01/2006 – Vol 01) (REDMS No. 1875907)

The Director, Engineering, Robert Gonzalez, in commenting on the recognition received by the City, stated that the effort had been a team effort, with many staff involved in the outcome. 

A brief discussion ensued, during which the Chair suggested that the award received from BC Hydro for “Outstanding Performance” in the field of energy management, be presented at the May 23^rd, 2006 Council Meeting.  She also asked that Phil Hogg, David Naysmith and Jim Young be recognized at the meeting, along with some of the union members who had been involved.  As a result of the discussion, the following resolution was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That the award received by the City from BC Hydro for “Outstanding Performance” in the field of energy management be presented to Council at the Tuesday, May 23^rd, 2006 Regular (open) Council Meeting.

CARRIED

7.

MANAGER’S REPORT

There were no Manager’s reports.

Cllr. Howard commented on the traffic congestion in the area of the left turn lanes at the intersections of Jacombs Road and Cambie Road and at Jacombs Road and Westminster Highway, stating that he had been receiving complaints from motorists about the lack of left hand turning lanes.  He questioned how left turn lanes at these intersections could be expanded, and discussion ensued with staff on this issue.

As a result of the discussion, staff advised that that the intersections in question would be reviewed and options explored which could possibly improve capacity and safety in the area.

Reference was made to the upcoming Public Works open house to be held at the Works Yard on May 27^th, 2006, and information was provided that plans were being finalized for the event, and that staff would be prepared for larger crowds than the large number of people who attended in 2005.

Reference was made to “Project Wet”, an annual week long joint event put on by the City and the School District.  Advice was given that that event would not be taking place this year as the School District had indicated that because all schools had now participated in the event, the District would like to take the time to determine whether something similar could be incorporated into future school curriculum. 

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:45 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, May 17^th, 2006.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Councillor Linda Barnes
Chair

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