July 23, 2014 - Minutes

Date:

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

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

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 18, 2014, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

Wednesday, September 17, 2014, (tentative date) at 4:00 p.m. in the Anderson Room

ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT

1.

Flood Protection Update 2014
(File Ref. No. 10-6060-04-01) (REDMS No. 4265796)

In reply to queries from Committee, Lloyd Bie, Manager, Engineering Planning, provided the following information:

§   

staff did not receive many complaints related to rainfall this year;

§   

staff liaise with the Vancouver Airport Authority with regard to dike planning for the Burkeville area;

§   

the City is well protected against potential future floods;

§   

the City’s flood protection strategies are unique in that they are shaped by the rise and fall of the Pacific Ocean as oppose to freshet; and

§   

the City’s flood protection strategies account for subsidence; for instance, of the 1.2 metres anticipated sea level rise, 0.2 metre is for subsidence.

Discussion ensued regarding the report titled The Economic Importance of the Lower Fraser River published by the Richmond Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with other Chambers of Commerce. 

Robert Gonzalez, General Manager, Engineering and Public Works, noted that since the release of the report, which the City was not consulted on, staff have been working with the Richmond Chamber of Commerce to ensure that consistent information is disseminated to the public in regards to the City’s flood protection.  Also, Mr. Gonzalez noted that the City has proactively initiated many studies related to flood protection and has robust flood protection strategies.

In reply to further queries from Committee, Mr. Bie and Mr. Gonzalez provided the following information:

§   

staff anticipate bringing forward two submissions for backup generators at two drainage pump stations as part of the City’s capital budget process;

§   

in the event of a power failure, staff can utilize mobile generators at drainage pump stations that are not equipped with backup generators; and

§   

Port Metro Vancouver (PMV) held a head lease for Shady Island; however it has expired, which reverted ownership back to the Province.

Discussion further took place regarding the report titled The Economic Importance of the Lower Fraser River, and it was noted that much of the information in the report is misleading in regards to City’s flood protection infrastructure.

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

It was moved and seconded

That the staff report titled, Flood Protection Update 2014, dated June 23, 2014, from the Director, Engineering, be received for information, be forwarded to Council for information, and be published on the City website.

The question on the motion was not called as staff was directed to prepare a press release in relation to the report titled The Economic Importance of the Lower Fraser River.

Also, Committee referenced a staff memorandum dated July 16, 2014 from the Director, Engineering titled ‘Lower Mainland Regional Flood Management Strategy’ (copy on file, City Clerk’s Office), noting that the content of the memorandum is noteworthy and should be made available to the public.

The question on the motion was then called and it was CARRIED.

2.

East Richmond Agricultural Water Supply
(File Ref. No. 10-6060-04-01) (REDMS No. 4266052)

In reference to the report titled The Economic Importance of the Lower Fraser River, it was noted that, if the River were dredged to 18 metres to accommodate the increasing draft of ships, it could potentially result in a portion of Richmond eroding into the River.  Also, discussion took place regarding the salt wedge. 

In response to comments made by Committee, Mr. Bie advised that staff will continue to monitor the salt wedge as it relates to salinity in the north and south arm of the River.

It was moved and seconded

That the report titled East Richmond Agricultural Water Supply Update 2013 as attached to the staff report titled East Richmond Agricultural Water Supply, dated June 27, 2014, from the Director, Engineering, be used as input in the five year capital program process.

CARRIED

3.

Fraser River Dredging and Environmental Considerations for Steveston Harbour and Sturgeon Bank
(File Ref. No. 10-6150-01) (REDMS No. 4239913)

In reply to queries from Committee, Mr. Bie, accompanied by Lesley Douglas, Manager, Environmental Sustainability, provided the following information:

§   

staff have participated in a series of discussions with PMV to investigate potential habitat restoration works at Sturgeon Bank;

§   

discussions with PMV focused on establishing appropriate baseline reporting, goals, objectives, and next steps required to determine the feasibility of restoration work; and

§   

preliminary restoration strategies were discussed with PMV, including the deposit of dredge materials in the tidal flats, intended to abate erosion of both the mudflats and the foreshore march leading edge.

Discussion took place regarding the City’s access to the River and the potential removal of the adjacent red zone.

In response to comments made by Committee, Mr. Bie and Ms. Douglas advised that staff will continue to liaise with PMV regarding the location of sand piles and the different manners in which marshes can be created.

The Chair commented on the significance of the staff report and requested that staff report on this matter annually.  Also, it was noted that the staff report be forwarded to Council for its information and be published on the City website.

As a result, the following motion was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That the staff report titled Fraser River Dredging and Environmental Considerations for Steveston Harbour and Sturgeon Bank, dated June 30, 2014, from the Director, Engineering, be received for information, be forwarded to Council for information, and be published on the City website.

CARRIED

4.

Cigarette Butt Recycling Program
(File Ref. No. 10-6370-01) (REDMS No. 4245647)

In response to a query from Committee, Dr. James Lu, Medical Health Officer, Vancouver Coastal Health, commented on joint initiatives with the City in regards to public awareness of provincial and local regulations related to smoking.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the staff report titled Cigarette Butt Recycling Program, from the Director, Public Works, dated June 25, 2014, be received for information; and

(2)

That staff work with Vancouver Coastal Health Authority on strategies to reduce cigarette butt litter at the locations identified in the staff report titled Cigarette Butt Recycling Program, from the Director, Public Works, dated June 25, 2014.

CARRIED

5.

Report 2013: Achieving Goals Through Community Engagement
(File Ref. No. 10-6375-05) (REDMS No. 4258490)

The Chair highlighted that the City has achieved 70% waste diversion from single-family homes, and thanked those involved in attaining this milestone.

In reply to a query from Committee, Suzanne Bycraft, Manager, Fleet and Environmental Programs, advised that staff anticipate reporting on the City’s pilot program for food scraps and organics collection for multi-family in the fall.

It was moved and seconded

That the annual report titled, Report 2013: Achieving Goals Through Community Engagement be endorsed and made available to the community through the City’s website and through various communication tools including social media channels and as part of community outreach initiatives.

CARRIED

6.

Graybar Road Drainage and Sanitary Main Replacement
(File Ref. No. 10-6000-01) (REDMS No. 4255539)

In accordance with Section 100 of the Community Charter, Councillor Linda McPhail declared herself to be in a conflict of interest as her husband’s business was affected by the Graybar Road drainage and sanitary main replacement and left the meeting (4:44 p.m.).

It was moved and seconded

That funding of $325,000 from the Sanitary Utility Reserve and $275,000 from the Drainage Utility Reserve be included as an amendment to the 5 Year Financial Plan (2014-2018) to complete the Graybar Road Drainage and Sanitary Main Replacement Project.

CARRIED

Cllr. McPhail returned to the meeting (4:45 p.m.).

7.

2014 Corporate Energy Management Update
(File Ref. No. 10-6000-01) (REDMS No. 4258807)

It was moved and seconded

That the staff report titled 2014 Corporate Energy Management Program Update, dated June 25, 2014, from the Director of Engineering, be received for information.

CARRIED

8.

Electric Vehicle Promotion at Community Events
(File Ref. No. 10-6000-01) (REDMS No. 4258974)

Brendan McEwen, Manager, Sustainability, provided background information.

It was moved and seconded

That the City’s participation in the Emotive electric vehicle initiative, as described in the staff report titled Electric Vehicle Promotion at Community Events, dated June 16, 2014, from the Director, Engineering, be endorsed.

CARRIED

9.

Alexandra District Energy Utility Expansion Phase 3
(File Ref. No. 10-6600-10-02/2014) (REDMS No. 4180584 v. 25)

In reply to queries from Committee, Alen Postolka, District Energy Manager, advised that the proposed expansion (Phase 3) of the Alexandra District Energy Utility (ADEU) will (i) triple its capacity, and (ii) connect approximately 60% to 70% of its total build out.

It was moved and seconded

That:

(1)

the expansion of the Alexandra District Energy Utility include additional geoexchange fields in the West Cambie Neighbourhood Park, with supplemental conventional energy systems for back up, as presented in the staff report titled Alexandra District Energy Utility Expansion Phase 3, dated July 3, 2014, from the Director, Engineering, be endorsed; and

(2)

capital submissions totalling $12.3M for design, construction and commissioning of the ADEU Phase 3 be submitted for Council’s consideration as part of the City’s Five Year Financial Plan (2015-2019).

CARRIED

10.

MANAGER’S REPORT

(i)

Port Metro Vancouver Study

Victor Wei, Director, Transportation, spoke on an upcoming transportation study spearheaded by PMV, and noted that a detailed memorandum to Council is forthcoming.

(ii)

TransLink – Compass Card

Mr. Wei advised that TransLink has delayed the rollout of the compass card program due to technical difficulties.  He noted that the compass cards and their reading devices have been continuously performing inconsistently and therefore, TransLink has not set an anticipated rollout date.

(iii)

Crosswalk Traffic Signals

In reply to a query from Committee regarding the effectiveness of crosswalk traffic signals, Mr. Wei advised that staff will be conducting a compliance assessment at the commencement of the school year.  He noted that selected crosswalks will be observed and staff will report back with their findings.

In reply to further queries from Committee, Mr. Wei advised staff will also provide current statistical information related to accidents.

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, July 23, 2014.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Councillor Linda Barnes
Chair

Hanieh Berg
Committee Clerk