Date:

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Place:

Anderson Room
Richmond City Hall

Present:

Councillor Derek Dang, Chair
Councillor Evelina Halsey-Brandt
Councillor Harold Steves

Absent:

Councillor Bill McNulty, Vice-Chair

Councillor Linda Barnes

Call to Order:

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

MINUTES

1.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Public Works & Transportation Committee held on Wednesday, January 23, 2008, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

DELEGATION

2.

Mr. Thang Vu, presenting on the improvement of cycling and public road safety in the City of Richmond and the need for a review of the Motor Vehicle Safety Association (MVSA) and the Motor Vehicle Transport Act (MVTA).

Mr. Thang Vu, 4113 Trinity Street, Burnaby referred to a letter, plus attachments, he submitted to Committee (on file in the City Clerk’s office) and asked Committee to pass a motion to authorize City Council to write to the Minister of Transportation and the Government of Canada to convene public hearings to create a national discussion on the Motor Vehicle Safety Act (MVSA) and the Motor Vehicle Transport Act (MVTA). He stressed that the Ministry of Transportation should introduce a bill to encourage a national discussion on improving the MVSA and MVTA particularly where the weight of vehicles is concerned.

Mr. Vu stated that amending these two pieces of federal legislation would improve safety on the roads, not just in Richmond, but also in Canada, and would prevent road collisions, injuries and fatalities. He added that smaller vehicles would assist in fuel conservation and would benefit the environment.

Mr. Vu stated that the design of vehicles has a significant impact on how cities design and construct roads. Small automobiles can encourage people to cycle or take sustainable transportation, and can reduce congestion, among other benefits.

Victor Wei, Director, Transportation advised Committee that: (i) the MVSA and the MVTA regulates vehicle manufacturers and the weight and dimension of vehicles; (ii) some vehicles on the road may be considered to be too large, heavy and powerful and regulators in Ottawa could review characteristics of the vehicles; (iii) a review of the design of vehicles would also cover the implications to manufacturers.

Mr. Wei suggested that Mr. Vu’s letter and attachments could be referred to the Traffic Safety Advisory Committee and the Richmond Community Cycling Committee for comments and input. He added that, after staff received this input, they could submit a report to Committee with advice regarding specific areas for the Federal Government to target and focus on, such as vehicle weight and dimensions.

It was moved and seconded

That:

(1)

the matter of communicating with the Federal Government, and the Minister of Transportation, to encourage national public hearings on the Motor Vehicle Safety Act (MVSA) and the Motor Vehicle Transport Act (MVTA) be referred to the Traffic Safety Advisory Committee and to the Richmond Community Cycling Committee for review and comment; and

(2)

staff consider input from the advisory committees and submit a report detailing specific areas of improvement to the MVSA and the MVTA.

The question on the motion was not called as discussion continued and the Chair remarked that Mr. Vu’s presentation on his initiative merits input and comment from two of Richmond’s advisory committees.

Staff was directed to communicate with Mr. Vu to advise him of the date of the Committee meeting at which the staff report will be presented.

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

PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

3.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS – CONSULTING SERVICES TO PREPARE AND EVALUATE PRIVATE SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES IN PROVISION OF PUBLIC BUS SHELTERS AND STREET FURNITURE ON CITY STREETS

(Report:  January 15, 2008, File No.:  10-6360-03-03) (REDMS No. 2301094)

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That staff be directed to retain a consultant, to a maximum cost of $75,000, to assist in the preparation and evaluation of a Request for Proposals for private sponsorship in the provision of citywide bus shelters and street furniture.

(2)

That the source of funding for the above consulting work be the Corporate Enterprise Fund with the amount to be repaid to the Fund from the revenue to be generated within the first five years of the sponsorship program beginning July 1, 2009 at an annual interest rate of 5%.

(3)

That staff report back on the outcome and recommendation of the above Request for Proposals by Winter 2008.

CARRIED

4.

TRAFFIC SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK – MARCH 3-7, 2008

(Report:  February 5, 2008, File No.:  10-6450-09-01) (REDMS No. 2332605)

Mr. Wei drew Committee’s attention to the pilot operation of two V-Calm driver awareness units that electronically detect a vehicle’s speed. If a driver is speeding a sign will flash a display of the driver’s travelling speed.

Both units are displayed on Woodwards Road, between Railway Avenue and No. 2 Road. One of the units was tested on February 20, 2008 and drivers were observed slowing down when their excessive speed was displayed. On March 5, 2008 both units will be activated.

Mr. Wei stated that the effective non-active enforcement nature of the units would prove popular with drivers. He advised that staff plans to develop a long term funding strategy for future expansion of the use of V-Calm units. Staff is considering approaching potential partners for this initiative and will report to Committee on the progress of the long-term strategy.

In response to queries, Mr. Wei advised that:

·         

Richmond is the first municipality in Canada to have full installation of these devices to capture traffic flowing in both directions, not just one direction;

·         

the material and installation cost for two V-Calm units totals approximately $25,000;

·         

the units should be vandalism-resistant as they are positioned eight feet above the ground, and are constructed from glass that is virtually unbreakable.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That:

(a)

the 2008 Traffic Safety Awareness Week (March 3-7, 2008) activities initiated by the Richmond District Parents Association, sponsored by ICBC Road Safety, the Autoplan Broker Road Safety Program and the Richmond School Board with the participation of the Way to Go! School Program and the BCAA Traffic Safety Foundation, as outlined in the attached report be endorsed; and

(b)

staff involvement in the 2008 Traffic Safety Awareness Week activities as part of the City’s on-going traffic safety education initiatives be endorsed.

(2)

That the report be referred to the Council/School Board Liaison Committee for information.

CARRIED

5.

METRO VANCOUVER PORT CITIES COMMITTEE AND VANCOUVER FRASER PORT AUTHORITY – SUPPORT OF ENGAGEMENT FRAMEWORK

(Report:  February 6, 2008, File No.:  01-0140-20-VFPO1) (REDMS No. 2338016)

In response to a query, Mr. Wei advised that the City’s representative on the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is Ms. Helen Sparkes.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the Engagement Framework proposed jointly by the Metro Vancouver Port Cities Committee and Vancouver Fraser Port Authority to form the basis for a future regional Charter between Metro Vancouver port cities and the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, as outlined in the attached report, be endorsed.

(2)

That the Chair of the Metro Vancouver Board be advised of the above resolution.

CARRIED

CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE

6.

STATUS UPDATE ON ADDITIONAL TRANSLINK FUNDING FOR NO. 3 ROAD RESTORATION

(Report:  January 14, 2008, File No.:  10-6525-01) (REDMS No. 2327537)

It was moved and seconded

That the General Manager of Engineering and Public Works or his delegate be authorized to execute any agreement necessary to accept the following:

(a)

$4.4M funding increase in the TransLink contribution for a total of $8.4M under the MRN Minor Capital program;

(b)

$132,353 of cycling infrastructure funding from TransLink under the BICCS Program as related to the section of No. 3 Road outside of the MRN;

(c)

$235,286 of cycling infrastructure funding under the MRN Minor Capital program.

CARRIED

ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT

7.

ILLEGAL DUMPING ON COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES

(Report:  January 21, 2008, File No.:  10-6405-12-01) (REDMS No. 2285803)

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That staff prepare information concerning guidelines for proper management of commercial garbage/recycling wastes.

(2)

That this information be made available to commercial developers at the development permit stage as well as made available on the City’s website.

CARRIED

8.

LOCAL AREA SERVICES PROGRAM BYLAW AND PROCESSES

(Report:  January 23, 2008, File No.:  10-6190-00, xr 12-8060-20-8318) (REDMS No. 2281294, 2307890, 223384, 2296836)

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That Local Improvement Project Charges Bylaw No. 7189 Repeal Bylaw No. 8318 (Attachment 1) be introduced and given first, second and third readings.

(2)

That the Local Area Services Program Process Policy (Attachment 2) be adopted.

CARRIED

9.

MANAGER’S REPORT

The Director, Engineering, Robert Gonzalez, advised that on January 31, 2008, when Metro Vancouver (MV) personnel were repairing one of two water mains that supply west Richmond, the second water main broke. City staff worked overnight to repair the broken water main and to ensure that west Richmond and the Vancouver International Airport had a water supply only hours after the break. Mr. Gonzalez remarked that the situation underscored the vulnerability of the water supply in west Richmond.  He concluded his report by advising that the City is working with MV to hand over ownership of one section of the water main, as MV is better equipped to own and maintain the line.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:22 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, February 20, 2008.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Councillor Derek Dang
Chair

Sheila Johnston

City Clerk’s Office