Date:

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Place:

Anderson Room
Richmond City Hall

Present:

Councillor Derek Dang, Chair
Councillor Bill McNulty, Vice-Chair
Councillor Linda Barnes
Councillor Evelina Halsey-Brandt

Absent:

Councillor Harold Steves

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 Thursday, May 22, 2008, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

2.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008 (tentative date) at 4:00 p.m. in the Anderson Room.

ENGINEERING & PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT

3.

APPLICATION FOR INNOVATION FUND GRANT

(Report:  May 13, 2008, File No.:  03-1090-01) (REDMS No. 2451553)

Robert Gonzalez, General Manager, Engineering and Public Works, introduced Mark Roozbahani, Energy Manager. Discussion ensued with regard to the following points:

·            

the funding mechanism provides 100% of the funding for the proposed City Centre Energy Sustainability Study;

·            

the nature of the study is multi-objective, encompassing such topics as reduced energy use, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and reduced operational costs;

·            

the anticipated length of the study is between six and 12 months;

·            

the study’s components complement many of those outlined in the City Centre Area plan (CCAP);

·            

the study will help staff determine how receptive the marketplace is to solar features;

·            

no other municipality in the Lower Mainland has undertaken a study of this nature and Richmond is unique in doing so.

The Chair noted that this study, and the comprehensive planning on the part of staff for the CCAP, is appreciated.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the City's Application for Innovation Funding for the "Richmond City Centre Energy Sustainability Study” be endorsed; and

(2)

That the General Manager, Engineering and Public Works be authorized to sign grant applications and agreements as required for this Innovation Fund grant submission.

CARRIED

4.

2008 – 2031 RICHMOND FLOOD PROTECTION STRATEGY

(Report:  June 2, 2008, File No.: 10-6045-01) (REDMS No. 2332532, 2459537)

Terry Crowe, Manager, Policy Planning, and Jim Young, Manager Engineering Design and Construction, were available to respond to queries. Mr. Young distributed a map highlighting ‘Proposed Dike Height Increases’ (on file in the City Clerk’s Office).

Discussion ensued and the following topics were addressed:

·            

the City’s dike upgrade program is continuous and expends budgeted funds and seeks grants from the Province and the Federal government to do upgrades; 

·            

the City follows the Province’s guidelines with regard to responding to the issue of rising sea levels resulting from global warning;

·            

the importance of keeping residents informed with regard to the comprehensive Flood Protection Strategy;

·            

if approved by Council the strategy report is then forwarded to the Minister, and then sent to Metro Vancouver;

·            

Metro Port Authority is responsible for channelization dredging as well as the criteria as what dredging will be done, with whom they will work, the scale of future dredging projects and so on; the criteria will be forthcoming from the Metro Port Authority in the near future;

·            

there is long term sustainability funding for the Fraser River Debris Trap;

·            

the City’s dikes exceed the height requirements, as set by the Province, for a 100-year-flood level;

·            

staff is awaiting the release of guidelines that limit what each municipality can apply for; staff anticipates that there will be no mention of any limitations on how much the City can apply for;

·            

the proposed mid-island barrier would be along Highway 99 and the Knight Street alignment, not going along No. 7 or No. 8 Road;

·            

provincial standards were developed as a result of the Fraser River flood profile (completed in 2007) which established that the 200-year river-flood and ocean-flood profiles and the City meets, and in some places exceeds, those standards;

·            

Richmond is unique in that it is governed by tides but erosion is more of a threat than is the tidal threat.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the 2008-2031 Richmond Flood Protection Strategy, and the incorporated implementation program, be adopted; and

(2)

That staff be directed to forward the report from the General Manager, Planning & Development and the General Manager, Engineering & Public Works, dated June 2, 2008, and the accompanying 2008-2031 Richmond Flood Protection Strategy to the Provincial Minister for the Ministry of Environment and to the Provincial Diking Authority for their review and endorsement as appropriate.

CARRIED

5.

INTAKE SCREENS UPGRADE AT HORSESHOE SLOUGH

(Report:  June 2, 2008, File No.:  10-6340-20-P.04301/Vol 01) (REDMS No. 2361216)

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That Council authorize the “Intake Screens Upgrade at Horseshoe Slough” project for $380,000; and

(2)

That transfer of $380,000 from the 2007 “Gilbert North Drainage Area” Project (40341) be approved to allow the “Intake Screens Upgrade at Horseshoe Slough” project to proceed.

CARRIED

6.

TRANSFER OF FUNDS TO COMPLETE MONTROSE SANITARY PUMP STATION UPGRADES

(Report:  June 4, 2008, File No.:  10-6340-20-P.08603/Vol 01) (REDMS No. 2461488)

It was moved and seconded

That the 2008 “Shellmont SSA Pump Station Rehabilitation” capital project be closed and the $250,000 funding transferred to a “Montrose Sanitary Pump Station Upgrades” project.

CARRIED

7.

UBCM RESOLUTION ON RECYCLING REQUIREMENTS FOR SPECIAL EVENTS IN PARKS AND PUBLIC SPACES

(Report:  June 10, 2008, File No.: 10-6370-0901) (REDMS No. 2464004)

In response to a query regarding the timetable of the implementation of the condition that recycling is a requirement for special events bookings organized by non-City event organizers, Dave Semple, Director of Parks and Public Works Operations, advised that all new applications received require implementing recycling servicing.

Staff was directed to send a copy of the letter (to be sent to the Richmond School Board advising of the City’s Special Event recycling event practices) be to Encorp for their information.

It was moved and seconded

That:

(1)

The proposed Resolution (Att. 1) to the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) encouraging other municipalities to require Special Event recycling be adopted and sent to the UBCM;

(2)

Copies of the Resolution also be sent to the Lower Mainland Municipal Association and  Metro Vancouver; and

(3)

A letter be sent to the Richmond School Board advising of the City’s Special Event recycling event practices and encouraging that the District adopt similar policies.

CARRIED

8.

NEW BUSINESS

(a)

Speeding on Dyke Road

Denise North, 8320 Fairfax Place, stated her concerns that the section of Dyke Road between No. 2 and No. 3 Road: (i) includes a dangerous curve, and (ii) it should not be used as a bypass to Steveston Highway. She noted that truck drivers use it on a regular basis and that other drives use excessive speed, making it unsafe for cyclists and pedestrians who frequent the nearby beach, the walking trail, the boat launch and the fishing pier. Ms. North commented that that section of Dyke Road should be considered a recreational road.

Victor Wei, Director, Transportation, addressed Ms. North’s concerns and advised that: (i) there is no intention that that part of Dyke Road be used as a collector/arterial road; (ii) staff has heard similar complaints from other residents; (iii) transportation staff conducted a speed study of Dyke Road in February, 2008 and found that there was only a marginal speeding problem which did not warrant any actions then, and that staff would conduct another speed study that includes a vehicle classification count; (iv) after the next speed study, staff will report back to Committee with recommended appropriate actions.

(b)

Fairfax Crescent Traffic Circle

Ms. North voiced her concern that access by residents living in the neighbourhood is blocked in the area of the Fairfax Crescent Traffic Circle, at Seafair Drive, due to construction workers being inconsiderate and parking their trucks on both sides of the circle. The issue is also one of safety, as drivers heading south on Fairfax Crescent cannot see oncoming traffic.

Mr. Wei advised that transportation staff would investigate visibility and report the findings to Committee.

Curt Toews, Supervisor Parking Program, advised that the City bylaw deals with traffic issues of this nature and that residents should call the RCMP’s non-emergency telephone number. City Bylaw Enforcement Officers will be despatched to the area after a call of that kind is received. He added that the issue Ms. North raised would be monitored on a regular basis.

Mr. Gonzalez added that City work crews working and parking in the Fairfax Crescent/Seafair Drive area would be directed to park vehicles where they will not be obstructive.

(c)

Road Surfacing

In response to a query about the process by which temporary road surfaces laid near construction sites are brought up to City standards, staff advised that it is typical that a newly paved surface develops dips, but that City crews recap road surfaces to eliminate dips and to level the street surface.

9.

MANAGER’S REPORT

Mr. Young announced that the City is one of five municipalities in competition for the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of BC’s 2008 Sustainability Award. He advised that the winning municipality would be announced within the next few months.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:55 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, June 18, 2008.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Councillor Derek Dang
Chair

Sheila Johnston
Committee Clerk