MINUTES

1.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Public Works & Transportation Committee held on Wednesday, November 16^th, 2006, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

2.

The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Wednesday, February 21^st, 2007 (tentative date) at 4:00 p.m. in the Anderson Room.

POLICIES / STRATEGIES (0 ITEMS)

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DECISIONS / ACTIONS (5 ITEMS)

PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

3.

PROPOSED AGREEMENT ON NELSON ROAD IMPROVEMENTS BETWEEN WESTMINSTER HIGHWAY AND BLUNDELL ROAD

(Report:  Oct. 24/06, File No.:  03-1000-18-032) (REDMS No. 2026406)

The Director of Transportation, Victor Wei, advised that Joseph Bros of the Fraser River Port Authority was in attendance to respond to questions.

Discussion then took place among Committee members on the anticipated merged port authority and whether the new authority would honour the agreement entered into with the Fraser River Port Authority.  Advice was given that any agreement entered into with the FRPA would be passed on to the new entity.

Reference was made to the calculation of costs based on 2005 dollars, and in response to questions about the cost of the project based on 2007 dollars, advice was given that any additional cost over and above the current estimates would be shared between the City and the FRPA based upon the agreed upon split of 52% to the FRPA and 48% to the City.  Confirmation was also provided that the upgrade to the Nelson Road intersection would not take place until the road improvements had been completed.

It was moved and seconded

That the General Manager of Law and Community Safety or her designate be authorized to execute the proposed agreement, (as outlined in the report dated October 24^th, 2006, from the Director, Transportation), with the Fraser River Port Authority on the road and traffic signal improvements along Nelson Road between Westminster Highway and Blundell Road.

CARRIED

4.

RICHMOND COMMUNITY CYCLING COMMITTEE – PROPOSED 2007 INITIATIVES

(Report:  Dec. 12/06, File No.:  01-0100-20-RCYC1/2006-Vol 01) (REDMS No. 2052519)

Mr. Wei expressed his appreciation to Transportation Planner Joan Caravan and the members of the Richmond Community Cycling Committee for their hard work and dedication in endeavouring to enhance pedestrian and traffic safety within the City.

Discussion then ensued, and in response to questions about the public response to the removal of parking on Railway Avenue at Steveston Highway, across from O’Hare’s Pub, advice was given that no complaints had been received. 

Reference was made to the proposal to install bicycle racks in Steveston, and information was provided that five racks had been installed during the last week of December, 2006, with three now located on Moncton Street and two on Bayview Street. 

Reference was made to the concept of a north/south bicycle route being developed, and advice was given that this proposal was only in the initial stages of consideration at this time.  Reference was also made to the expansion of the bicycle route north along Garden City Way, and the comment was made that dedicated lane had made a big difference in the feeling of safety felt by the cyclists who used this route.

During the discussion, the Richmond Community Cycling Committee was congratulated for its hard work as it made a big difference to residents.  Questions were raised about the number of hits which the City website received with respect to the City’s bicycle routes, and staff indicated that they could provide that information to the Committee. 

Discussion also took place on whether statistics were available on the amount of usage of the City’s bicycle paths, and whether any work was done with Tourism Richmond to promote the City’s bicycle paths as a tourist attraction.  In reply, information was provided that the City did work with Tourism Richmond to promote the bicycle routes, and that tourist maps were available which indicated the location of the various bicycle routes in the City.

In concluding the discussion, the Chair congratulated Joan Caravan on her hard work and dedication to the Community Cycling Committee, which gave credibility to the seriousness of how the City was approaching its cycling program.  He expressed the belief that these bicycle routes would eventually become an extension of the City’s transportation system.

It was moved and seconded

That the proposed 2007 initiatives of the Richmond Community Cycling Committee regarding cycling-related engineering and education activities, (as described in the report dated December 12^th, 2006, from the Director, Transportation), be endorsed.

CARRIED

5.

TRAFFIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE – PROPOSED 2007 INITIATIVES

(Report:  Dec. 12/06, File No.:  0100-20-TSAD1-01) (REDMS No. 2052517)

Mr. Wei introduced Mr. Alex Lee of ICBC and Dave Williams of the Richmond Detachment of the RCMP, who were members of the Traffic Safety Advisory Committee (TSAC).

Reference was made to complaints being voiced by the Richmond Committee on Disability about the audio pedestrian crossing signals in use at intersections in the City Centre, and a question was raised as to whether the TSAC had considered whether this system required improvements.  Information was provided that this issue was one of many topics being reviewed by the TSAC in terms of pedestrian safety at the No. 3 Road intersections.  Further information was provided that at the time of the opening of the Canada Line, a focus group would be requesting the installation of pedestrian audio systems at all intersections near the Canada Line stations.

Questions were raised about:

·            

the use of flashing yellow lights at pedestrian crossings in the area of the Canada Line stations - advice was given that every station would have full traffic signalization rather than using the flashing yellow lights;

·            

the provision of a sufficient number of ‘drop off’ areas during construction of the Canada Line stations, rather than trying to create additional areas after the fact – advice was given that staff were working with TransLink and the CLCO to identify locations for and install ‘kiss and ride’ areas at each of the stations

·            

whether there would be proper drop off areas provided in future developments for service and delivery trucks so that these vehicles would not have to block a lane of traffic when making deliveries, etc. – advice was given that this issue was to be addressed as part of the implementation strategy

·            

with regard to the existing flashing yellow light pedestrian signals, whether there would be any opportunity to delay the initiation of the signal to give motorists more time to react, rather than having a pedestrian immediately stepping out into traffic – advice was given that staff were considering an initiative similar to one implemented by the City of Vancouver where warnings had been painted on the roadway at either end of the pedestrian crosswalk to ‘look left’; information was also provided regarding established standards for the timing of such signals and advice was given that staff could review the reaction times to determine if they should be adjusted to a longer interval

·            

whether there were any guidelines in place regarding the implementation of traffic calming measures – advice was given that there were published national guidelines for traffic calming; that the type of traffic calming measure installed was dependent on the nature of the problem; that staff, in considering measures installed in other jurisdictions, would have discussions with the staff of that jurisdiction, determine which of their policies which would work for the City, and then develop Richmond specific procedures.

It was moved and seconded

That the proposed 2007 initiatives for the Traffic Safety Advisory Committee, (as outlined in the report dated December 12^th, 2006, from the Director, Transportation), be endorsed.

CARRIED

6.

DUAL FLUSH TOILETS

(Report:  Nov. 15/06, File No.:  12-8360-03-07) (REDMS No. 2023669)

Discussion ensued among Committee members and the Manager, Building Approvals, John Irving, on the problems of requiring the installation of dual flush toilets in all new construction.

Information was provided that the City could allow the installation of dual flush toilets and that residents were already installing such fixtures, however, the requirement was specific to the Provincial Building Code and that to make the installation of dual flush toilets mandatory would require a change to the Provincial Building Code.

As a result of the discussion, the following amended motion was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the City’s current policy and practice with regard to toilet regulation remain unchanged.

(2)

That a letter be written to the Provincial Government asking that when they consider changes to the Building Code, that consideration be given to changing the requirements to provide for dual flush toilets; and

(3)

That copies of the correspondence be sent to the Greater Vancouver Water District, to all GVRD municipalities and to the UBCM.

CARRIED

ENGINEERING & PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT

7.

FRASER RIVER DEBRIS TRAP

(Report:  Dec. 20/06, File No.:  10-6150-01) (REDMS No. 2052054)

It was moved and seconded

That a letter be written to the Fraser River Debris Trap Operating Committee indicating the City’s strong support to secure stable, long-term funding from provincial and federal sources to ensure continued operation of the Fraser River Debris Trap.

The question on the motion was not called, as discussion took place among Committee members and the Manager, Engineering Design & Construction, Jim Young, on the financial impact to the City if the Fraser River debris trap was abandoned. 

Concern was also expressed about the need to inform other jurisdictions along the Fraser River that the closure of the debris trap could pose a significant danger to boats and ships using the Fraser River, and could become a financially devastating issue.  Comments were made that the other stakeholders should also voice their concerns about the need for a debris trap, and questions were raised about how these stakeholders could be encouraged to support the continued operation of the debris trap.

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

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INFORMATION / AWARENESS (0 ITEMS)

8.

MANAGER’S REPORT

(1)

Jim Young reported on the following matters:

(a)

plans were now underway for the annual Capital Works open house, tentatively scheduled for Thursday, March 29^th, 2007, at City Hall, to present the 2007 capital program to the public.

A brief discussion took place on the hours of the open house and the suggestion being made that the open house should take place until 8:00 p.m., rather than 7:00 p.m.  Information was also provided that the open house was advertised in local newspapers and invitations were sent to those residents living in the area of the capital works project.  A request was also made during the discussion that an invitation be sent to the Richmond School District.

(b)

the City was recently recognized by the North American Society of Trenchless Technology magazine for its success in using an new, innovative technique to complete a project which involved the replacement of aging Asbestos Cement water mains in the Shellmont area.

(c)

staff worked with a developer to find an alternate, win-win arrangement to provide sanitary sewer service to the Appia Group of Companies development on Lansdowne Road; as a result the developer made a $400,000 contribution to the City’s Ackroyd Sanitary Pump Station project.

(2)

Councillor Linda Barnes provided information on a magazine article entitled “A Tale of Two Cities”, which addressed environmental solutions being pursued by Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta which dealt with energy and water treatment. 

(3)

Victor Wei reported that:

(a)

staff had submitted an application for funding from the Federal Government’s Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative to support the planned widening of Westminster Highway, from Nelson Road to McMillan Way, and Nelson Road, from Blundell Road to Westminster Highway

(b)

TransLink had implemented a City Centre shuttle bus which was now circulating around the City Centre area and that the ridership for this service was very strong, particularly for the River Rock casino employees.  Mr. Wei added that it was expected that the ridership would increase as more people became aware of the service.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:48 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 17^th, 2007.

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Councillor Derek Dang
Chair

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