July 17, 2013 - Minutes

Date:

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Place:

Anderson Room
Richmond City Hall

Present:

Councillor Linda Barnes, Chair
Councillor Chak Au
Councillor Derek Dang
Councillor Linda McPhail
Councillor Harold Steves

Mayor Malcolm Brodie (entered at 4:04 p.m.)

Call to Order:

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

MINUTES

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Public Works & Transportation Committee held on Wednesday, June 19, 2013, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

Wednesday, September 18, 2013, (tentative date) at 4:00 p.m. in the Anderson Room

PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

1.

APPLICATION BY GARDEN CITY CABS TO PASSENGER TRANSPORTATION BOARD

(File Ref. No. 12-8275-02) (REDMS No. 3900474)

The Chair referenced an article from the Vancouver Sun, dated July 13, 2013, titled ‘Taxis fare road to profit’ (copy on file, City Clerk’s Office).

Paramjit Randhawa, 12180 Woodhead Road, Principal, Garden City Cabs of Richmond Ltd., provided background information related to his company, and spoke in favour of the proposed application to the Passenger Transportation Board. 

Mayor Brodie entered the meeting (4:04 p.m.).

Mr. Randhawa stated that all taxi companies in the lower mainland are permitted to transport passengers originating from the Vancouver International Airport (YVR), with the exception of Garden City Cabs.  He stated that in June 2013, the Vancouver Airport Authority renewed a five-year term agreement with taxi companies, whereby increasing the number of additional licences by five.  Garden City Cabs’ application to the Passenger Transportation Board is to permit five accessible vehicles to service the main terminal of YVR as these vehicles are in high demand as they can accommodate more passengers and more pieces of luggage.

Mr. Randhawa concluded his remarks by requesting that Committee approve the proposed staff recommendation.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That a letter be sent to the Chair of the Passenger Transportation Board of BC:

(a)

expressing the City’s concern with the potential erosion of taxicab service within Richmond should the application from Garden City Cabs be approved in whole;

(b)

requesting that the application be approved in part with the number of additional five accessible vehicles to be associated only with the specific service area of Richmond including Vancouver International Airport, with all other fleet vehicles continuing to be excluded from servicing YVR; and

(2)

That should the Passenger Transportation Board approve an increase in the number of accessible and conventional taxicabs, that staff be directed to bring forward a bylaw amendment to the Business Regulation – Vehicle for Hire Bylaw No. 6900 to increase the number of licensed Vehicle for Hire vehicles.

CARRIED

ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT

2.

Hamilton Child Care Centre Project

(File Ref. No. 06-2052-25-DCHA1) (REDMS No. 3872940 v.2)

It was moved and seconded

That the approved project description be revised to include construction methods other than modular building as acceptable construction methodologies for the Hamilton Child Care facility.

CARRIED

3.

No. 2 Road Drainage Box Culvert Replacement Funding

(File Ref. No. 10-6340-01) (REDMS No. 3893782 v.4)

It was moved and seconded

That $251,500 of Drainage Utility Reserve funding be approved for the No. 2 Road Drainage Box Culvert Replacement, and that the 2013 – 2017 Five Year Financial Plan be amended accordingly.

CARRIED

4.

Options for Food Scraps and Organics Collection Services for Multi-Family Dwellings and Commercial Businesses

(File Ref. No. 10-6370-10-05) (REDMS No. 3898787)

In reply to queries from Committee, Suzanne Bycraft, Manager, Fleet and Environmental Programs provided the following information:

§   

approximately 100 sites will participate in the proposed pilot program, whereby a variety of approaches would be tested at various sites in an effort to measure the volume of food scraps and organics being recycled;

§   

a variety of multi-family and mixed-use developments will be approached to participate in the proposed pilot program; in addition, residents who have approached the City for such services will also be invited to participate;

§   

the proposed pilot program is voluntary, therefore there is no obligation to participate should there be no interest; and

§   

there may be an increase in the number of businesses that collect organics as the demand for such facilities increases.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That a pilot program for food scraps and organics collection services for multi-family dwellings and commercial businesses, as outlined in Option 1 of the staff report dated June 24, 2013 from the Director – Public Works Operations, be approved;

(2)

That the Chief Administrative Officer and General Manager, Engineering & Public Works be authorized to negotiate and execute an amendment to Contract T.2988, Residential Solid Waste & Recycling Collection Services, to service, acquire, store, assemble, label, deliver, replace and undertake related tasks for the carts, kitchen containers and related items associated with this temporary pilot program; and

(3)

That an amendment to the City’s Five Year Financial Plan (2013-2017) to include capital costs of $200,000 and operating costs of $120,000 for undertaking a pilot program for food scraps and organics collection services for Multi-Family Dwellings and Commercial Businesses, with funding from the City’s general solid waste and recycling provision, be brought forward for Council consideration.

CARRIED

5.

2012 Update: Recycling and Solid Waste Management – Proposed Increased Service Levels

(File Ref. No. 10-6370-01) (REDMS No. 3877881 v.6)

Ms. Bycraft spoke of preliminary statistics related to the organics collection for multi-family residences, highlighting that for the month of June 2013, the City has seen a 69.2% waste diversion from these residences.

She provided an overview of the 2012 Recycling and Solid Waste Management program, noting that key recycling and solid waste management actions focused on establishing foundational elements for expanding organics recycling services to include multi-family residences; also, expanding the scope of materials accepted at the City’s Recycling Depot and increasing recycling in public spaces, and at public events was another focus area.  Staff continued to promote recycling through its community engagement initiatives.

Ms. Bycraft commented on the Large Item Pick Up program, noting that a significant number of residents have already taken advantage of this newly introduced program.  Also, she spoke of key initiatives for 2013 such as a review of the City’s garbage collection service.

Discussion ensued regarding the proposed inclusion of used books to the scope of material accepted at the City’s Recycling Depot. Committee expressed concern in relation to the proposed agreement with Discover Books Ltd., and it was suggested that the Friends of the Richmond Library be given a right of first refusal for books received at the City’s Recycling Depot.

Ms. Bycraft was requested to distribute hardcopies of the 2012 Recycling and Solid Waste Management Report to all members of Council.  Also, she was directed to provide a memorandum to Council regarding the City’s diversion rates.

Ms. Bycraft spoke of public education pieces related to the Recycling and Solid Waste Management program, noting that staff continue to educate the public through workshops, displays, multiple brochures, an annual schedule, and youth involvement through the Green Ambassador volunteer program.  Also, she stated that staff would further promote the Large Item Pick Up program through advertisements in the local newspaper.

In reply to queries from Committee, Ms. Bycraft provided the following information:

§   

the 2012 Update: Recycling and Solid Waste Management Plan would be made available at City facilities;

§   

staff could examine the feasibility of utilizing compost to grow food with the City’s sustainability division;

§   

the trucks utilized by the City’s contractor for organics collection are equipped with devices that can determine whether a load is contaminated or not; if a load is found to be contaminated, the load is not collected; and

§   

a company in the lower mainland is recycling Styrofoam and utilizing it to make household items like picture frames.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the annual Report 2012: Recycling and Solid Waste Management – Expanding Services to Achieve Our Goals be endorsed and made available to the community through the City’s website and other communication medium;

(2)

That dry-cell batteries (up to 5 kgs) and cell phones be added to the scope of materials accepted at the City’s Recycling Depot and that the Chief Administrator Officer and General Manager, Engineering and Public Works be authorized to negotiate and execute an agreement with Call2Recycle Canada, Inc. on the terms and conditions set out in the staff report from the Director, Public Works Operations dated June 24, 2013, including specifically that the City grant an indemnity to Call2Recycle Canada, Inc. for any losses they may suffer in connection with the agreement;

(3)

That used books be added to the scope of materials accepted at the City’s Recycling Depot and that the Chief Administrator Officer and General Manager, Engineering and Public Works be authorized to negotiate and execute an agreement with Discover Books Ltd. on the terms and conditions set out in the staff report from the Director, Public Works Operations dated June 24, 2013, subject to a right of first refusal to the Friends of the Library; and

(4)

That polystyrene foam (Styrofoam) be added to the scope of materials accepted at the City’s Recycling Depot.

CARRIED

6.

MANAGER’S REPORT

(i)

Steveston Highway and No. 5 Road Intersection

In reply to a query from Committee, Victor Wei, Director, Transportation, advised that paving in the area has been completed, and that the next step is to paint the lanes, so that these additional lanes can be functional.  Also, Mr. Wei commented on the Steveston Highway interchange, noting that staff are currently in discussions with staff at the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.

John Irving, Director, Engineering, spoke of the delay in relocating utility poles along Steveston Highway, noting that it is anticipated that this work occur on weekends throughout the summer months.

(ii)

Loading Zone in Steveston

Discussion ensued regarding the Steveston Marine and Hardware store’s loading zone, and it was noted that there is a post in an inconvenient location, making it difficult to manoeuvre goods off trucks into the store.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:47 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, July 17, 2013.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Councillor Linda Barnes
Chair

Hanieh Berg
Committee Clerk