November 20, 2013 - Minutes

Date:

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Place:

Anderson Room
Richmond City Hall

Present:

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

Absent:

Councillor Harold Steves

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, October 23, 2013, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

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

There was agreement to add ‘Cigarette Butt Recycling Program’ to the agenda as Item 4A.

ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT

1.

2013 Corporate Energy Management Update
(File Ref. No. 10-6000-01) (REDMS No. 4022107 v.5)

In reply to a queries from Committee, Levi Higgs, Corporate Energy Manager, provided the following information:

§   

the lighting retrofit at the Burkeville tennis courts achieved higher than anticipated energy conservation results;

§   

staff are reviewing the Sustainable ‘High Performance’ Building policy, and as part of the review, staff are examining different energy targets;

§   

Richmond remains the only BC municipality to achieve the Leadership Excellence Award from BC Hydro for its energy management efforts;

§   

on average, the City sees a return on its investments of approximately five to eight years for retrofit projects, such as the lighting retrofit at the Burkeville tennis courts;

§   

although the amount of external funding available for energy management projects remains relatively the same, there is currently more demand for those funds; and

§   

the City web site’s Corporate Energy Management page highlights information related to the City’s Corporate Energy Management Program.

It was moved and seconded

That the staff report titled 2013 Corporate Energy Management Program Update from the Director, Engineering, dated October 31, 2013 be received for information.

CARRIED

2.

Alexandra District Energy Utility Bylaw No 8641, Amendment Bylaw No 9073 and 2013 Performance Summary
(File Ref. No. 12-8060-20-9073; 10-6600-10-01) (REDMS No. 4014235 v.6)

In reply to a query from the Chair, Peter Russell, Senior Manager, Sustainability and District Energy, advised that the proposed rate increase follows the financial model for the Alexandra District Energy Utility, and that any surpluses for up to ten years are set aside to build a reserve fund.

It was moved and seconded

That the Alexandra District Energy Utility Bylaw No. 8641, Amendment Bylaw No. 9073 be introduced and given first, second and third readings.

CARRIED

3.

Update on 2013/2014 Snow and Ice Response Preparations
(File Ref. No.) (REDMS No. 4026186)

In reply to queries from Committee, Ben Dias, Manager, Roads and Construction Services, advised that staff are in the process of acquiring equipment that will allow for the in-house mixture of brine (the solution used to pre-treat road surfaces prior to frost and ice events).  He highlighted that making the brine solution in-house will reduce the cost of utilizing brine, and minimize the amount of road salt used on City roadways.  Also, Mr. Dias spoke of the Snow Angels and Good Neighbour Programs, noting that the City provides information on these programs on its web site, however does not provide such services.

It was moved and seconded

That the staff report titled Update on 2013/2014 Snow and Ice Response Preparations, dated October 31, 2013, from the Director, Public Works Operations be received for information.

CARRIED

4.

Towards Carbon Neutrality: Implementation Strategy
(File Ref. No. 10-6000-01) (REDMS No. 4022113 v.3)

With the aid of a PowerPoint presentation (copy on file, City Clerk’s Office), Mr. Russell spoke of the ‘Towards Carbon Neutrality: Implementation Strategy’ and the following information was highlighted:

§   

in an effort to offset greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the proposed strategy is guided by five principles: (i) focusing on sustainability, (ii) investing in the community, (iii) reducing first, offsetting second, (iv) focusing on action, not accounting, and (v) reducing harm and restoring;

§   

the Richmond Carbon Marketplace (RCM) will act a mechanism to identify and purchase offsets from local project proponents who invest in GHG reductions; and

§   

Phase One of the proposed strategy will focus on determining the potential for local GHG reduction projects, and if it is determined that there are projects that can supply offsets, a Request for Proposal would be issued as part of Phase Two.

Also, Mr. Russell advised that as part of the proposed pilot program, Council would receive updates at each phase to determine whether the program proceeds to the next phase.

In reply to queries from Committee, Mr. Russell commented on the proposed RCM operational model, noting that it will be managed by City staff; the Cowichan Energy Alternatives (CWA) will merely play an advisory role by providing their expertise to City staff.  Also, Mr. Russell provided an update on the Pacific Carbon Trust, stating that the Crown carbon offset agency will be closed in an effort to reduce costs.

Discussion ensued regarding criteria for projects submitted to the RCM, and Mr. Russell advised that a survey tool that pre-assessed projects prior to their submission was developed as part of CWA’s pilot program.  Should the City proceed with Phase Two of deploying the RCM, the City could specify criteria for such projects in its Request for Proposal.

Mr. Russell then provided an overview of the RCM deployment phases.

It was moved and seconded

That the staff report titled Towards Carbon Neutrality: Implementation Strategy, dated October 24, 2013, which identifies a pilot program to offset greenhouse emissions from corporate operations by implementing the Richmond Carbon Marketplace, a mechanism for purchasing community-based carbon offsets be approved.

CARRIED

4A.

cigarette butt recycling program
(File Ref. No.)

Councillor Linda McPhail distributed a copy of an article from the Vancouver Sun dated November 12, 2013 titled ‘Vancouver the first city in North America to launch cigarette butt recycling program’ (attached to and forming part of these Minutes as Schedule 1) and provided background information. 

Discussion ensued and Committee queried (i) whether the City has a cigarette butt problem, (ii) the details of the City of Vancouver’s program, and (iii) if there were cigarette butt recycling programs other than that launched by the City of Vancouver.

As a result of the discussion, the following referral was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That Cigarette Butt Recycling Program be referred to staff to examine (i) whether the City has a cigarette butt problem, (ii) the details of the City of Vancouver’s program, and (iii) if there are cigarette butt recycling programs other than that launched by the City of Vancouver.

CARRIED

5.

MANAGER’S REPORT

Robert Gonzalez, General Manager, Engineering and Public Works, updated Committee on Multi-Material BC’s position with regard to contamination.

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, November 20, 2013.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Councillor Linda Barnes
Chair

Hanieh Berg
Committee Clerk