January 21, 2015 - Minutes

Date:

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Place:

Anderson Room
Richmond City Hall

Present:

Councillor Chak Au, Chair
Councillor Harold Steves
Councillor Derek Dang
Councillor Ken Johnston
Councillor Alexa Loo
Mayor Malcolm Brodie

Call to Order:

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

It was moved and seconded

That the order of the agenda be varied to consider Item No. 6 first.

CARRIED

MINUTES

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Public Works & Transportation Committee held on Wednesday, December 17, 2014, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

Wednesday, February 18, 2015, (tentative date) at 4:00 p.m. in the Anderson Room

6.

Multi-Family Food Scraps/Organics Recycling and Optional Solid Waste Collection Services
(File Ref. No. 10-6370-10-05) (REDMS No. 4474107)

In reply to queries from Committee, Suzanne Bycraft, Manager, Fleet and Environmental Programs, commented on food scraps and organics processing post-collection by Harvest Power, and noted that collected materials are only tested for compliance with provincial regulations.

In reply to further queries from Committee, Tom Stewart, Director, Public Works, advised that staff are examining alternate opportunities to use compost soil as there has been little interest from the farming community; also, he noted that a memorandum to Council on compost soil is forthcoming.

Discussion took place regarding the proposed multi-family food scraps / organics recycling and optional solid waste collection services by the City and Ms. Bycraft provided the following information:

§   

staff believe that the City’s service will be both competitive and reasonable when compared to that of private providers’;

§   

it is difficult to calculate what strata occupants pay for garbage collection services as these fees are incorporated in their strata fees;

§   

multi-family dwellings may opt out of the City’s proposed garbage collection service; and

§   

staff are prepared to work with the commercial sector with regard to Green Carts; although the pilot program generated lower than anticipated uptake from commercial entities, this may change as a result of the organics ban.

In response to comments from Committee, Ms. Bycraft reviewed the proposed multi-family food scraps / organics recycling and optional solid waste collection services by the City, noting that (i) the City’s contractor will carry out said services, (ii) food scraps / organics collection will be implemented for all multi-family dwellings, (iii) multi-family dwellings may opt into garbage with large item collection through the City, (iv) multi-family dwellings may also opt into cardboard collection through the City, and (v) multi-family dwellings may opt out of the City’s food scraps / organics recycling program if they can demonstrate that they have comparable service through a private provider.

Ms. Bycraft stated that she anticipates a 40% intake from multi-family dwellings for optional garbage with large item collection service through the City, and was of the opinion that limited multi-family dwellings will opt out of the City’s food scraps / organics recycling program.  She spoke of large item collection service for multi-family dwellings, noting that the service will mirror that of the one currently provided to single-family dwellings.

Also, Ms. Bycraft spoke on the size of the Garbage Carts for those opting in for the City service, noting that their footprint is smaller than most dumpsters and they will be placed in areas where they will not have to be relocated for collection.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That a food scraps/organics recycling collection service program be implemented for all multi-family dwellings as outlined in the staff report dated January 6, 2015 from the Director, Public Works;

(2)

That solid waste collection services including garbage with large item collection, and cardboard collection be implemented for all multi-family dwellings on an opt-in basis as outlined in the staff report dated January 6, 2015 from the Director, Public Works;

(3)

That the Chief Administrative Office 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 implement, service, acquire, store, assemble, label, deliver, replace and undertake related tasks for the carts, kitchen containers and related items associated with the services outlined in Items 1 and 2, above;

(4)

That an amendment to the City’s Five Year Financial Plan (2015 – 2019) to include:

(a)

capital costs of $700,000 (funded from the City’s general solid waste and recycling provision); and

(b)

operating costs of $1,212,500 in 2015 with amounts not recovered via rates in 2015 funded from the City’s general solid waste and recycling provision,

be approved; and

(5)

That Solid Waste & Recycling Regulation Bylaw No. 6803, Amendment Bylaw No. 9204, be introduced and given first, second and third reading.

CARRIED

Mayor Brodie left the meeting (4:15 p.m.) and did not return.

PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

1.

Richmond Active Transportation Committee – Proposed 2015 Initiatives
(File Ref. No. 01-0100-20-RCYC1) (REDMS No. 4440485)

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the proposed 2015 initiatives of the Richmond Active Transportation Committee, as described in the staff report titled Richmond Active Transportation Committee – Proposed 2015 Initiatives dated December 11, 2014 from the Director, Transportation, be endorsed; and

(2)

That a copy of the staff report titled Richmond Active Transportation Committee – Proposed 2015 Initiatives dated December 11, 2014 from the Director, Transportation be forwarded to the Richmond Council-School Board Liaison Committee for information.

CARRIED

2.

TRAFFIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE – PROPOSED 2015 INITIATIVES
(File Ref. No. 01-0100-30-TSAD1-01) (REDMS No. 4464936)

In reply to queries from Committee, Victor Wei, Director, Transportation, spoke on the pilot traffic calming measure utilizing pedestrian zone markers and the following information was noted:

§   

staff will conduct a before and after speed study to evaluate the effectiveness of pedestrian zone markers;

§   

approximately two to three pilot studies will be conducted prior to reporting back to Council on the effectiveness of pedestrian zone markers;

§   

pedestrian zone markers are not suitable for use on arterial roads due to their permitted speeds and the volume of vehicles they experience; and

§   

pedestrian zone markers are more economical than speed humps.

In response to comments regarding traffic safety in Burkeville, Mr. Wei advised that traffic calming measures and stop signs have been installed at various intersections.  Also, Mr. Wei noted that pedestrian safety statistics have remained relatively static over the past five years.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the proposed 2015 initiatives for the Traffic Safety Advisory Committee, as outlined in the staff report titled Traffic Safety Advisory Committee – Proposed 2015 Initiatives, dated December 23, 2014, from the Director, Transportation, be endorsed; and

(2)

That a copy of the staff report titled Traffic Safety Advisory Committee – Proposed 2015 Initiatives, dated December 23, 2014, from the Director, Transportation be forwarded to the Richmond Council-School Board Liaison Committee for information.

CARRIED

ENGINEERING & PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT

3.

Design Concept – No. 2 Road North Drainage Pump Station Upgrade
(File Ref. No. 10-6340-20-P.14306) (REDMS No. 4465923)

In reply to queries from Committee, Milton Chan, Manager, Engineering Design and Construction, advised that, through the City’s capital program, it is anticipated that one pump station be upgraded annually.  Also, Mr. Chan noted that the design life of a pump station is approximately 50 to 75 years.

It was moved and seconded

That the design concept for the No. 2 Road North Drainage Pump Station Upgrade be endorsed.

CARRIED

4.

Amendment Bylaws for Water and Sewer
(File Ref. No. 10-6060-01; 12-8060-20-009202, 12-8060-20-009203) (REDMS No. 4458121)

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That Waterworks and Water Rates Bylaw No. 5637, Amendment Bylaw No. 9202 be introduced and given first, second, and third readings; and

(2)

That Drainage, Dyke and Sanitary Sewer Bylaw No. 7551, Amendment Bylaw No. 9203 be introduced and given first, second, and third readings.

CARRIED

5.

Municipal Access Agreement with Lulu Island Energy Company Inc.
(File Ref. No. 10-6600-10-01) (REDMS No. 4399965)

It was moved and seconded

That the Chief Administrative Officer and the General Manager, Engineering & Public Works be authorized to execute, on behalf of the City, a Municipal Access Agreement between the City and Lulu Island Energy Company Inc., a fully owned City corporation, containing the material terms and conditions set out in the staff report titled Municipal Access Agreement with Lulu Island Energy Company Inc. dated December 22, 2014, from the Director, Engineering.

CARRIED

6.

Multi-Family Food Scraps/Organics Recycling and Optional Solid Waste Collection Services
(File Ref. No. 10-6370-10-05) (REDMS No. 4474107)

Please see Page 2 for action on this matter.

7.

MANAGER’S REPORT

(i)

District Energy Initiatives

John Irving, Director, Engineering, commented on Phase 3 of the Alexandra District Energy Utility, noting that construction activity will commence in the near future.  Also, he advised that, in partnership with Corix Utilities Inc., works on the River Green District Energy Utility are advancing.

(ii)

Steveston Waterfront

Discussion ensued and renderings of the Steveston waterfront were distributed (attached to and forming part of these Minutes as Schedule 1).  In reply to queries from Committee, Mr. Irving advised that staff are in discussions with the Provincial Government with regard to the property rights of Shady Island (Steveston Island) and an update on the matter is forthcoming.

Discussion further took place regarding water lots along Steveston’s waterfront and in particular at Imperial Landing.  As a result, the following referral was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That staff identify all the waterfront land owned by the City, including dikes around Richmond and adjacent water lots, and, where there are red zones, identify the extent of the red zones and report back.

CARRIED

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:32 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 21, 2015.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Councillor Chak Au
Chair

Hanieh Berg
Committee Clerk