MINUTES

1.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Public Works & Transportation Committee held on Wednesday, September 20, 2006, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

The Chair acknowledged and commended Fred Lin, Transportation Engineer, for the service he extended to resident Sophia Watson when she asked the City for assistance in rectifying an issue in her neighbourhood having to do with an illegally erected fence. (Schedule 1)

POLICIES / STRATEGIES (0 ITEMS)

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DECISIONS / ACTIONS (3 ITEMS)

ENGINEERING & PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT

2.

ADOPTION OF BOULEVARD AND ROADWAY PROTECTION AND REGULATION BYLAW NO. 6366, AMENDMENT BYLAW NO. 8142

(Report:  Sept. 27/06, File No.:  12-8060-20-8142) (REDMS No. 2024545, 2026247)

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That Boulevard and Roadway Protection and Regulation Bylaw No. 6366, Amendment Bylaw No. 8142 be introduced and given first, second and third readings; and

(2)

That staff begin enforcing Boulevard and Roadway Protection and Regulation Bylaw No. 6366, Amendment Bylaw No. 8142 on November 1, 2006.

CARRIED

3.

CONTRACT T.2892 - COMSTOCK AC WATERMAIN REPLACEMENT

(Report:  Oct. 5/06, File No.:  03-1000-20-T.2892) (REDMS No. 2027572)

It was moved and seconded

That transfer of $250,000 in funding from the 2006 No. 2 Road Watermain project (40449) to the 2006 Comstock Watermain project (40447) be approved to allow optional work to proceed as part of Contract No. T.2892.

CARRIED

PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

4.

STEVESTON TOWNSITE SERVICING EXEMPTION - SUBDIVISION BYLAW NO. 6530, AMENDMENT BYLAW NO. 8124

(Report:  Sept. 21/06, File No.:  12-8060-20-8124) (REDMS No. 2010170, 2015949)

Victor Wei, Director, Transportation circulated a revised page of the proposed bylaw amendment and advised that the revised wording of the proposed amendment bylaw is necessary to better clarify the role of the Approving Officer, without affecting the content of the report. In response to an inquiry, Mr. Wei stated that Option C – Minor Servicing Exemption Boundary Adjustment is recommended.

It was moved and seconded

That “To Regulate the Provision of Works and Services Upon Subdivision of Land Bylaw No. 6530, Amendment Bylaw No. 8124, be introduced and given first, second and third readings.

CARRIED

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INFORMATION / AWARENESS (1 ITEM)

ENGINEERING & PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT

5.

CANADA LINE QUARTERLY UPDATE

(Report:  Oct. 2/06, File No.:  10-6525-07-01/2006-Vol 01) (REDMS No. 2026144)

Greg Scott, Director, Major Projects introduced Raymond Louie, Vice President, Technical, Canada Line Rapid Transit Inc. (CLCO) and during the discussion that ensued the following points were raised:

·            

Council passed a resolution on July 24, 2006 that down escalators at all Richmond stations be strongly considered by CLCO; CLCO has prepared and sent a letter to respond to the City’s request to install both up and down escalators at each Richmond Canada Line station; this report will go first to CLCO’s Board and will then be distributed to Richmond City Councillors;

·            

the Brighouse/Richmond Centre station has both up and down escalators and only up escalators are at the Aberdeen, Lansdowne and Bridgeport stations;

·            

it would be possible to add down escalators to Aberdeen and Lansdowne Stations at the City’s, or another party’s cost, but the addition of these would require further property acquisition and would affect the No. 3 Road streetscape design;

·            

CLCO believes that the stations designs will serve the needs of the community and that all Canada Line stations are fully accessible;

·            

No. 3 Road will not completely close to traffic during the concrete pour for the Canada Line guideway; it will be reduced to two lanes in each direction, and where the construction takes place, it will be reduced to a total of three lanes, for both directions;

·            

there was a traffic management strategy and plan review endorsed by the City and this plan ensures two lanes north and south bound, as well as left turns at all intersections;

·            

in the vicinity of a construction zone traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction for the duration of the construction;

·            

with regard to retail opportunities at the Richmond stations, InTransit BC is investigating the financial feasibility of a retail program that approaches the retail element from three directions: (i) adjacent development sites (ii) purpose-built retail commercial units and (iii) portable kiosks;

·            

there is potential for retail development in a future park-and-ride structure adjacent to Bridgeport station, as well as at Aberdeen and Lansdowne stations and, in addition, at the potential forecourt adjacent to retail development at Richmond-Brighouse station;

·            

the development of residual properties could include a stand alone retail facility; InTransit BC is producing a business case for that situation;

·            

both fixed and portable kiosk retail outlets have met with success at other transit stations on other lines and are a low capital investment; CLCO is working with concessionaires to provide stub-out utilities;

Jane Bird, CEO, Canada Line arrived at 4:14 p.m. and joined Mr. Scott and Mr. Louie in addressing the Committee’s questions.

·            

pre-servicing of kiosks is incorporated in the stations’ designs and the service connections will be installed to ensure future servicingof  retail opportunities at the stations;

·            

the retail component is not on the Canada Line’s critical path, as far as timing is concerned, but InTransit BC is interested in providing retail on the Line’s opening day so, although it is working first on station design and the construction of the guideway, it will complete its retail study and retail should be ready for opening day;

·            

with regard to the retail opportunity at the Aberdeen station the Canada Line Board has given its approval on the sale of some lands and are working with a developer, and going through the City’s Development Permit process;

·            

with regard to the issue of secured access and fare provision, the TransLink Board considered whether or not to install gates, but decided to not do so; however each station is designed so that in the future they could accommodate secured access;

·            

TransLink is seriously motivated to improve safety on the transit system and will refine its security system to make it more effective;

·            

the tone of the interior of the Canada Line cars has been discussed at length with CLCO and it is their desire that the cars achieve an atmosphere that is pleasing and that is customer friendly;

·            

the seats that have been chosen by CLCO are padded to create a more comfortable ride for users;

·            

TransLink is exploring the possibility of new bus routes to feed the Canada Line stations through the Richmond Transit Area Plan which will commence in 2007;

·            

TransLink has committed to updating the Richmond Transit Plan for 2008-2011 and the City can expect that when that plan is implemented it is expected that the fleet of transit buses will include a variety of vehicle types and capacities;

·            

with regard to signage, City Council has directed that no signage will be attached to the guideway; as part of CLCO’s right of way, CLCO would negotiate any aspects to commercial signage as part of its real estate transaction;

·            

City staff will work with business owners on any signage that falls outside the category of CLCO signage in order to create a strategy that is acceptable to all parties;

·            

the final design report on the Bridgeport station and the Operations and Maintenance Centre (OMC) facility is yet to be submitted but when CLCO receives the final report they will distribute it to City staff;

·            

only 12 businesses and their signage are likely to be impacted by Canada Line construction and the City will assist CLCO and businesses with commercial signs through interpretation of the sign bylaw;

·            

washrooms are provided at all stations and are accessible to transit uses upon request;

·            

in order to ensure safety and security to riders using the washroom facilities, an attendant would be on site at request and would give access to the rider, thereby ensuring that undesirable behaviour would not occur in the secured washrooms;

·            

signage providing information about the stations and the line will be comprehensive and easy to follow;

·            

a user-friendly information system for riders should be available for the opening of the Canada Line so riders can gain information about their trips and generally to enhance a rider’s experience of the Canada Line;

·            

CLCO offered to facilitate a workshop regarding Canada Line operational issues, including such topics as the fit and furnish or vehicles and the general performance standards for maintenance;

It was moved and seconded

That this update (dated October 11, 2006, from the Director, Major Projects), regarding the design of the Canada Line, be received for information.

CARRIED

6.

MANAGER’S REPORT

Craig McLeod, Acting Foreman of Roads updated the Committee on the actions the City took when the Dinsmore Bridge was closed.

·            

when a telephone call alerted the City’s works yard that on October 4, 2006, a vehicle had struck the pillars of the Dinsmore Bridge, Mr. McCloud attended the scene and ascertained that there were cracks in the bridge;

·            

he directed the City’s road crew to shut down River Road, Cambie, Elmbridge, Hollybridge, Gilbert Road, and Russ Baker Way; this was done in a timely fashion with the City’s Facilities department creating signs and having them distributed within 90 minutes;

·            

Vancouver International Airport (YVR) took over the lead and the City gave them the option of having another entity undertake traffic control, but YVR choose to leave traffic control in the hands of the City of Richmond;

·            

the bridge remained closed until the YVR bridge engineer submitted their report;

·            

since the bridge has re-opened, some concern has been expressed with the speed of vehicles on the bridge, so the City has created and posted signage informing drivers that the speed limit is 30 km per hour;

In response to an inquiry, Mr. McCloud advised that the City would bill YVR for the use of the City’s traffic control efforts. He further advised that YVR is now dealing with ICBC. The Chair thanked Mr. McCloud and his team for their efforts in handling the situation and requested that at a future Committee meeting Mr. McCloud deliver an update on the repairs and upgrades to the Dinsmore Bridge.

Siu Tse, Manager, Engineering Planning reported that the Federal-Provincial Working Group responsible for the Canada-British Columbia Water Supply Expansion Program had authorized approval of the City of Richmond’s Tier 2 Project for funding under the program.

The approved funding amount provides for contribution to a maximum of $333,333. This funding represents approximately one third of the cost of the City’s project. Mr. Tse advised that this grant represents the first phase of the funding and that the City hopes to acquire more.

This first phase covers approximately 10% of the total improvements recommended under the East Richmond Agricultural Report presented to Committee earlier this year.

Robert Gonzalez, Director, Engineering reported that resident Milan Ilich had donated $91,000 to enhance the walk way at the south end of No. 3 Road. Mr. Ilich had raised the issue of traffic speed at the location and indicated to Mr. Gonzalez that he would be willing to contribute more funds if the city could address traffic speed.

Mr. Gonzalez further reported that the City would install signage at a later date.

It was moved and seconded

That staff investigate the issue of traffic safety along the south stretch of No. 3 Road and submit a report to the PWT Committee on suggested solutions to the traffic safety issue at that location.

Dave Semple, Director of Parks and Public Works Operations reported that:

·            

City crews are still cutting grass this late in the year, which is the first time in the City’s history that the need for grass cutting has extended to October 18;

·            

there are 10 dead trees along the river way, in the area of Cambie street that will be cut down;

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:30 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, October 18, 2006.

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Councillor Linda Barnes
Chair

Sheila Johnston

Committee Clerk