Date:

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Place:

Anderson Room

Richmond City Hall

Present:

Councillor Sue Halsey-Brandt, Vice-Chair

Councillor Derek Dang

Councillor Harold Steves

Mayor Malcolm Brodie

Absent:

Councillor Linda Barnes, Chair

Councillor Ken Johnston

Call to Order:

The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m.

MINUTES

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Public Works & Transportation Committee held on Wednesday, November 18, 2009, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

Wednesday, March 17, 2010 (tentative date) at 4:30 p.m. in the Anderson Room

DELEGATION

1.

Roman St. Germain, Hotel Manager, Delta Vancouver Airport

Mr. St. Germain, accompanied by the Delta Vancouver Airport’s Director of Human Resources, speaking on behalf of the guests and staff of the Delta hotel, as well as members of the Sea Island Community Association, addressed Committee regarding bus service on Sea Island since the introduction of the Canada Line. 

Mr. Germain made the following points as he stated his concern regarding the lack of easy access to Sea Island homes and businesses: (i) when the Canada Line began to run TransLink shut down the bus loop in front of the Delta hotel, frequented by hotel guests, hotel staff and Sea Island residents; (ii) to compensate for the cessation of the bus loop service, TransLink had inaugurated a community shuttle that is infrequent and does not carry as many passengers as a TransLink bus; (iii) not only has inconvenience resulted from the change in service, but visitors to the area find it easier to travel to Vancouver’s City Centre on public transit than to Richmond’s City Centre; and (iv) communication with TransLink, initiated by Mr. Germain, has been ignored.

Discussion took place between the delegation and Committee. Mr. Germain stated that he desired dialogue with TransLink.

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

It was moved and seconded

That Council:

(1)

communicate by letter with TransLink to express the discontent of the merchants and residents of Sea Island, with regard to current bus service on Sea Island; and

(2)

request of Translink that dialogue take place between TransLink and the merchants and residents of Sea Island with regard to current bus service on Sea Island.

CARRIED

ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT

2.

VANCOUVER COASTAL HEALTH SERVICES AGREEMENT

(File Ref. No.:  10-6125-01) (REDMS No. 2749903, 2750934)

Suzanne Bycraft, Manager, Fleet & Environmental Programs, accompanied by Wayne G. Mercer, Manager, Community Bylaws and Steve Chong, Manager, Health Protection, Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH), provided information how the various service options varied from one another, and in reply to queries from Committee advised that:

The service option recommended by staff includes mosquito control, an expanded program to treat mosquitoes in City ditches for nuisance control purposes, and enforcement relating to mosquito breeding sites; and

The total cost of the recommended service option is $209,000, it includes services related to mosquitoes, and the funding is included in the City budget.

It was moved and seconded

That the General Manager of Engineering & Public Works be authorized to enter into a modification of the City’s existing public health protection services agreement with Richmond Health Services, to include the following terms:

(a)

the responsibilities, duties and services as outlined in Option 1 of the staff report dated January 13, 2010 from the Managers of Fleet/Environmental Programs and Community Bylaws;

(b)

an annual cost of $209,000 effective January 1, 2010;

(c)

City provided storage for items relating to mosquito control services; and

(d)

provisions relating to media protocols, updated terminology and general language clarifications.

CARRIED

3.

VANCOUVER AIRPORT FUEL DELIVERY PROJECT PROPOSAL UPDATE

(File Ref. No. ) (REDMS No. 2795227)

John Irving, Director of Engineering, advised that the BC Environmental Assessment Office (BCEAO) has designated the Vancouver Airport Fuel Delivery Project to develop a jet fuel supply system consisting of (i) a fuel tanker terminal, (ii) a tank farm on the South Arm of the Fraser River and (iii) a new pipeline through Richmond to connect the terminal to their existing tank farm on Sea Island, reviewable under the BC Environmental Assessment Act.

Mr. Irving further advised that although the City has no regulatory powers with regard to pipeline projects, beyond the development and building permitting on private lands, staff continues to represent the City’s interests and reiterate Council’s adopted preferences to the Vancouver Airport Fuel Facilities Corporation (VAFFC).

In response to Committee’s queries Mr. Irving provided the following information:

·          

of the six fuel supply options VAFFC chose the South Arm Terminal option and staff will continue to request that the Environmental Assessment process include consideration of the other options not chosen by VAFFC;

·          

there is no assurance that the existing pipeline would be withdrawn from service upon completion of a new jet fuel supply pipeline; and

·          

the existing jet fuel supply pipeline is owned and operated by Kinder Morgan.   The proposed pipeline would be owned by VAFFC.

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

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That staff continue to provide input on the review process for a new jet fuel line in Richmond; and

(2)

That the Vancouver Airport Fuel Facilities Corporation (VAFFC) be requested to provide immediate direct notification to landowners adjacent to potential jet fuel line routes.

CARRIED

4.

FLOOD PLAIN DESIGNATION AND PROTECTION BYLAW 8204, AMENDMENT BYLAW 8567

(File Ref. No.:  10-6060-04-01) (REDMS No. 2773981)

A comment was made that during the recent rain events, the Britannia Heritage Shipyard had flooded.

In reply to a queries from the Chair, Mr. Irving, Director of Engineering, advised that:

·         

the proposed amendment to the Flood Plain Designation and Protection Bylaw 8204 would become effective upon bylaw adoption; and

·         

Staff would inform developers of the changes to Bylaw 8204.

It was moved and seconded

That Flood Plain Designation and Protection Bylaw 8204 Amendment Bylaw 8567 be introduced and given first, second and third reading.

CARRIED

PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

5.

RICHMOND COMMUNITY CYCLING COMMITTEE – PROPOSED 2010 INITIATIVES

(File Ref. No.:  01-0100-20-RCYC1) (REDMS No. 2774715)

Richmond Community Cycling Committee (RCCC) member, Neil Smith, 3780 Pacemore Avenue addressed Committee and thanked staff for active support of cycling-related elements and progressive initiatives.

Discussion ensued regarding Mr. Smith’s support of the reduction of traffic conflicts by the elimination of the right-turn lanes on cycle routes and it was noted that through bike lanes would help protect cyclists from the movements of right turning vehicles.

RCCC member Tony Adema addressed Committee and queried whether it was illegal for cyclists to mingle with vehicles in a through lane.

Victor Wei, Director of Transportation advised that the Provincial Motor Vehicle Act (MVA) defines a bicycle as a vehicle, and therefore it is illegal for a cyclists to go straight through an intersection from a defined right hand turn lane.

Further discussion ensued and Mr. Wei stated that Transportation staff would work with the RCCC on assessment of the merits of through bike lanes, and/or the elimination of right-turn lanes on cycle routes, and that upon completion of this type of work, and analysis, staff would submit an information memorandum to Committee.

It was moved and seconded

That the proposed 2010 initiatives of the Richmond Community Cycling Committee regarding cycling-related engineering and education activities, as described in the staff report, dated December 23, 2009, from the Director, Transportation, be endorsed.

CARRIED

6.

TRAFFIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE – PROPOSED 2010 INITIATIVES

(File Ref. No.:  01-0100-20-TSAD1-01) (REDMS No. 2774713)

Mr. Wei, Director of Transportation advised that Karon Trenaman, ICBC representative, was in attendance, and that ICBC was a strong advocate for the improvement of road safety.

In response to queries regarding the “V-Calm” Driver Awareness Signs, Mr. Wei advised that: (i) staff is currently processing data from the V-calm units; and (ii) initial information has indicated the day and the time of day when most speeding takes place and the Richmond RCMP has been able to conduct targeted traffic enforcement during these identified times.

The Chair requested that, when available, Committee receive information regarding the data from the V-Calm units.

It was moved and seconded

That:

(1)

the proposed 2010 initiatives for the Traffic Safety Advisory Committee, as outlined in the staff report, dated December 23, 2009, from the Director, Transportation, be endorsed.

(2)

a copy of the staff report, dated December 23, 2009, entitled “Traffic Safety Advisory Committee – Proposed 2010 Initiatives, from the Director, Transportation, be forwarded to the Richmond Council-School Board Liaison Committee for information.

CARRIED

7.

MANAGER’S REPORT

None.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:14  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 20, 2010.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Councillor Sue Halsey-Brandt

Vice-Chair

Sheila Johnston

Committee Clerk