Date:

Thursday, November 16, 2006

Place:

Anderson Room
Richmond City Hall

Present:

Councillor Linda Barnes, Chair
Councillor Derek Dang, Vice-Chair
Councillor Cynthia Chen
Councillor Rob Howard
Councillor Harold Steves

Mayor Malcom Brodie

Absent:

Councillor Bill McNulty

Call to Order:

The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.

The Chair advised that the following additional items would be added to the Agenda after Item 5:

- Arthur Lang Bridge Traffic

- British Columbia Aviation Council (BCAC)

- Fraser River Debris Trap

MINUTES

1.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Public Works & Transportation Committee held on Wednesday, October 18, 2006, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

2.

Wednesday, December 20, 2006 (tentative date) at 4:00 p.m. in the Anderson Room.

POLICIES / STRATEGIES (0 ITEMS)

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DECISIONS / ACTIONS ( 3 ITEMS)

CORPORATE SERVICES DEPARTMENT

3.

TELECOMMUNICATION STRATEGY

(Report:  October 31, 2006, File No.:  04-1355-01) (REDMS No. 2037212)

In response to a query Alan Cameron, Director, Information Technology, advised that at present the idea of an integrated telecommunication strategy is being considered by a few Canadian cities. In addition, he stated that the benefits of such a strategy have not been determined.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That staff develop an integrated telecommunication strategy for the City; and

(2)

That upon completion of the telecommunication strategy, a public request for expressions of interest be issued for interested proponents.

CARRIED

ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT

4.

LOCAL AREA SERVICES PROGRAM CONSTRUCTION – 3231,3233, 3235 AND 3251 REGENT STREET - BYLAW NO. 8127

(Report:  October 10, 2006, File No.:  12-8060-20-8127, Xr: 6190-20-024) (REDMS No. 2014170, 2014264)

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the Local Area Services Program for Basic Ditch Elimination on 3231, 3233, 3235 and 3251 Regent Street  be adopted in accordance with Section 211 and 212 of the Community Charter; and

(2)

That Bylaw No. 8127 which authorizes local area services construction at 3231, 3233, 3235 and 3251 Regent Street be introduced and given first, second and third readings.

CARRIED

5.

NEPTUNE CONTRACT EXTENSION FOR THE VOLUNTEER WATER METER PROGRAM EXTENSION

(Report:  October 26, 2006, File No.:  03-1000-20-2533P) (REDMS No. 2035700, 2036543)

Sui Tse, Manager, Engineering Planning advised that copper is used in the water meters, and that the cost of copper has risen approximately 75% since the City initiated the Volunteer Water Meter Program. He added that the increase in the cost of the metal would have no impact on the cost of the program.

It was moved and seconded

That the Volunteer Water Meter Program contract with Neptune Technology Group be extended from 2007 through 2009.

CARRIED

6.

ARTHUR LANG BRIDGE TRAFFIC

Mayor Brodie advised that on two occasions during the past weeks residents have been stuck in traffic on the Arthur Lang Bridge as a result of traffic accidents that occurred during morning and afternoon rush hours. A brief discussion ensued on the issue.

It was moved and seconded

That a letter be prepared to the Vancouver International Airport (YVR) for the Mayor’s signature emphasising the need for tow trucks to be stationed by YVR at either end of the Arthur Lang Bridge during both the morning and afternoon peak travel periods.

CARRIED

A brief discussion then ensued regarding the Massey Tunnel and the difficulties that occur when a traffic accident delays travel through the tunnel.

It was moved and seconded

That transportation staff investigate with the B.C. Ministry of Transportation, the best means for the quick removal from Highway 99 of vehicles that are stalled or have been involved in a traffic accident, and which impede the flow of traffic through the Massey Tunnel.

CARRIED

7.

BRITISH COLUMBIA AVIATION COUNCIL (BCAC)

A brief discussion ensued regarding BCAC’s airport regionalization plan.

It was moved and seconded

That a letter be prepared to the British Columbia Aviation Council (BCAC) for the Chair’s signature to:

(a)

invite BCAC representatives to meet with City staff to discuss BCAC’s initiatives, and

(b)

request that BCAC representatives attend a future General Purposes Committee meeting to present information on:

(i)

airport regionalization, and

(ii)

other BCAC activities and the impact on Richmond.

CARRIED

8.

FRASER RIVER DEBRIS TRAP

A brief discussion ensued regarding the proposed Fraser River debris trap. The Chair noted that if the idea of debris trap was abandoned there would be an impact on Richmond. The Mayor advised that the Fraser Basin Council’s report outlining the need for a debris trap, as well as proposed funding, would be published and distributed within the next few months. Jeff Day, General Manager, Engineering and Public Works advised that staff is investigating the Fraser Bain Council’s plans on dyking and would be reporting back to Committee within the next six months on that topic.

It was moved and seconded

That staff investigate what the impact would be on Richmond if the Fraser Basin Council decides to abandon the proposed debris trap.

CARRIED

INFORMATION / AWARENESS (0 ITEMS)

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9.

MANAGER’S REPORT

Robert Gonzalez, Director, Engineering, accompanied by Dave Semple, Director, Parks and Public Works Operations advised that:

·      

the heavy rainfall recently has resulted in the City receiving complaints about power outages and branch debris. Calls to report flooding are down due to the infrastructure improvements which utilized dedicated funding established by City Council in 2001, as well as Development Cost Charges collected from development.

·      

the City is proactive and pre-approves the clearing of debris from pumps instead of being reactive, as in the past;

·      

various technology tools are employed, such as the City’s Hansen and GIS systems to ascertain locations that need attention during heavy rainfall;

·      

during the November 4, 2006 storm event, calls related to flooding were received from 41 locations across the City; a significant drop from the 382 calls received during the January 17, 2005 storm;

·      

this type of improvement is due to the department’s modelling work which has identified required improvements to parts of the City that were prone to flooding during past storm events;

·      

procedures and processes implemented by the City have worked well resulting in fewer calls from flooded residents.

In response to an inquiry, Mr. Semple advised that sand bags would be employed if the Britannia Shipyard site were flooded due to high tides.

The Chair, who is a member of the GVRD Water Committee, distributed a memo from Doug Neden, Water Treatment Engineering Division Manager, of the GVRD’s Engineering and Construction Department, with regard to the Seymour-Capilano Filtration Project – Project Status. The memo was addressed to members of the GVRD Water Committee, and is attached as Schedule 1 to these minutes.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:25 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 Thursday, November 16, 2006.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Councillor Linda Barnes
Chair

Sheila Johnston
Committee Clerk