Date:

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Place:

Anderson Room

Richmond City Hall

Present:

Councillor Linda Barnes, Chair

Councillor Sue Halsey-Brandt, Vice-Chair

Councillor Derek Dang

Councillor Ken Johnston

Councillor Harold Steves

Mayor Malcolm Brodie

Call to Order:

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

MINUTES

It was moved and seconded

Motion to adopt the minutes of the meeting of the Public Works & Transportation Committee held on Wednesday, January 20, 2010.

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

Wednesday, April 21, 2010 (tentative date) at 4:30 p.m. in the Anderson Room

ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT

1.

SOLID WASTE & RECYCLING REGULATION BYLAW 6803, AMENDMENT BYLAW 8578

(File Ref. No.:  10-6370-00) (REDMS No. 2801766, 2801260)

Suzanne Bycraft, Manager, Fleet & Environmental Programs provided information regarding the City’s new Food Scraps Recycling Program that starts on April 1, 2010, with Amendment Bylaw 8578 becoming effective on May 1, 2010, with the interim month providing a transition period for residents to familiarize themselves with the program.

As of May 1, 2010 plastic bags will no longer be accepted for yard trimmings. Garbage-type cans and disposable yard trimming paper bags will replace plastic bags.

Discussion ensued between Ms. Bycraft and Committee, and in particular regarding:

·          

information, and answers to frequently asked questions regarding the new program are available on the City’s website, under the “City News” heading;

·          

various means by which residents are to be informed about the program, including a “door hanger” brochure, with decals for cans enclosed, are to be distributed door to door throughout the City;

·          

colour ads have been placed in the City’s two newspapers, and with three Chinese media outlets; the strategy is to use ‘images’ as much as possible to enhance understanding by non-English speaking residents, and ads in the Chinese media were in Chinese;

·          

the program, entitled “Green Can”, adds organic food scraps to garden trimming collection and all will be recycled and composted in Richmond;

·          

residents currently using clear plastic bags can (i) put them out for collection before May 1, 2010, or (ii) use them for regular garbage;

·          

garbage-style cans that feature the City’s new green/black/white “Green Can” decal, as applied by can owners, as well as disposable yard trimming paper bags, will replace plastic bags as of May 1, 2010;

·          

decals are available in the door-to-door brochure going out to all residents, as well as at community centres, City Hall, and the City’s Recycling Depot on Lynas Lane;

·          

any can, new or otherwise, within the proscribed size for the Green Can program, with a decal, will be collected by the City;

·          

rain-resistant paper bags have been introduced in other Lower Mainland communities, and they have proven to be (i) effective, and (ii) tidy not messy;

·          

a number of local stores that carry cans of the correct size, whether those cans are grey, green, or another colour;

·          

the types of items that go into a Green Can, and the kinds of items, such as glass, metal, plastic or foil, that do not; and

·          

the City encourages home composting to continue, and the Green Can program compliments home composting.

In response to queries, Ms. Bycraft provided the following information:

·          

the City will realize a 30% cost savings for its recycling programs, as the City now partners with Metro Vancouver, not an independent contractor, for processing yard trimmings; and

·          

biodegradable plastic bags are not part of recycling services due to technology for biodegradable plastic bags not yet having gone far enough to make it effective.

In response to the Chair’s suggestion that staff examine Metro Vancouver’s GreenZone Sustainability Kick pilot program, whereby fans at sports event recycle or compost almost all materials left over from snack or beverage purchases at stadiums and arenas, Ms. Bycraft advised that she would take the comment as direction, and would bring information back to Committee at a future date.

It was moved and seconded

That:

(1)

Solid Waste and Recycling Regulation Bylaw 6803, Amendment Bylaw 8578, be introduced and given first, second and third readings; and

(2)

the revised annual contract value of T.2988, Residential Solid Waste and Recycling Collection Services, in the amount of $4,496,396.97, plus applicable taxes, for 2010, plus annual increases of 3% on January 1st of each subsequent year of the contract, starting January 1, 2011, be approved.

CARRIED

2.

2010 PAVING PROGRAM

(File Ref. No.:  10-6340-20-P.10201) (REDMS No. 2815675)

Jim Young, Manager, Engineering Design and Construction, advised that due to an amendment to the tender document that reflects upon the City’s environmental initiatives, the 2010 Paving Program call for tenders was the first time the City had all potential bidders employ sustainable methodologies, practices and materials to assist in reducing harmful emissions.

Mr. Young drew Committee’s attention to the 2010 Paving Tender estimated expenditure, as noted on Page 3 of the staff report, dated March 9, 2010, entitled “2010 Paving Program”, and advised that the noted amount of $2,811,830 included HST and was not accurate, and that the accurate amount was: $2,803,253.

In response to queries, Mr. Young and Robert Gonzalez, General Manager, Engineering and Public Works, advised that:

·          

to better publicize and promote the environmental initiative affiliated with the call for tenders, staff will submit a memorandum to Council outlining the process and its effectiveness;

·          

paving of roads occurs in priority order as identified by (i) the City’s Pavement Management System, and (ii) common sense;

·          

approximately 5% of Richmond’s road network require paving in order to maintain them at current operating levels;

·          

the City maintains a paving repair program so that the roads do not fall below a reasonable standard; some surrounding municipalities have allowed their road networks to deteriorate and must now pay heavily to “rebuild” their roads, while Richmond has a comprehensive and cost effective program for “repairing” its road network; and

·          

residents and/or business owners in the vicinity of the proposed construction sites would receive correspondence from the City, and local newspapers would carry ads featuring location and schedule of work, in advance of construction.

It was moved and seconded

That the staff report dated March 9, 2010 from the Director, Engineering, entitled “2010 Paving Program” be received for information.

CARRIED

3.

HAMILTON AREA SANITARY SERVICING STRATEGY

(File Ref. No.:  10-6340-20-P.10601) (REDMS No. 2847998)

The Chair commented that the East Richmond Sanitary Service Area Rehabilitation and Upgrades project would probably trigger development in the east Richmond area.

John Irving, Director of Engineering noted that the Translink Bus Facility development proposed in the Hamilton area is one example of development, and that the TransLink portion of the Hamilton area sanitary servicing strategy, including a Pump Station on Thompson Gate, as well as a forcemain and a gravity line, would present an opportunity for further development of the area.

The Chair noted that the Hamilton area will soon see the expansion of Hamilton Elementary School.

It was moved and seconded

That the staff report dated March 1, 2010 from the Director, Engineering, entitled “Hamilton Area Sanitary Servicing Strategy” be endorsed for future public consultation.

CARRIED

4.

SINGLE-FAMILY AND DUPLEX VOLUNTARY WATER METERING PROGRAM – 3793P

(File Ref. No.:  10-6650-20) (REDMS No. 2824147)

Mr. Irving introduced Committee to Jason Ho, Project Engineer, and advised that Mr. Ho was in charge of the Single-Family and Duplex Voluntary Water Metering Program.

It was moved and seconded

That the Single-Family and Duplex Voluntary Water Metering Program be contracted to Neptune Technology Group (Canada) Ltd. For a three-year term ending December 31, 2012.

CARRIED

5.

MANAGER’S REPORT

(1)

Organics Program Update – Suzanne Bycraft

Please see Item 1. on Pages 1 and 2 of these Minutes.

(2)

Mr. Young advised that on Thursday, April 22, 2010, from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m., City staff would be in the Galleria, at City Hall, hosting the 2010 Construction Projects Open House. The public is invited to attend and learn more about City services and capital projects.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:09 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, March 17, 2010.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Councillor Linda Barnes

Chair

Sheila Johnston

Committee Clerk