January 23, 2019 - Minutes

Date:

Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Place:

Anderson Room
Richmond City Hall

Present:

Councillor Chak Au, Chair
Councillor Linda McPhail
Councillor Kelly Greene
Councillor Alexa Loo
Councillor Michael Wolfe

Also Present:

Councillor Carol Day
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 and Transportation Committee held on December 19, 2018, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

February 21, 2019, (tentative date) at 4:00 p.m. in the Anderson Room

PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DIVISION

1.

2019/2020 BikeBC Program Submission
(File Ref. No. 01-0150-20-THIG1) (REDMS No. 6054370 v. 2)

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the submission for cost-sharing to the Province of BC 2019/2020 BikeBC Program for the Westminster Highway multi-use pathway, as described in the report, titled “2019/2020 BikeBC Program Submission” dated December 14, 2018, from the Director, Transportation, be endorsed;

(2)

That, should the above application be successful, the Chief Administrative Officer and the General Manager, Planning and Development, be authorized to execute the funding agreement; and

(3)

That the Consolidated 5 Year Financial Plan (2019-2023) be updated accordingly.

CARRIED

2.

George Massey Crossing – Findings of Independent Technical Review
(File Ref. No. 01-0150-20-THIG1) (REDMS No. 5920748 v. 7)

Discussion took place on (i) the potential impact to salmon habitats from any pier installation in the Fraser River, (ii) the potential for Port operations to expand to 24 hours per day and truck traffic through the Tunnel during peak hours be banned, (iii) alternative materials for the surface of the Tunnel’s interior walls, such as ceramic tiles, and (iv) the future of light rail transit in the area and potential increase to bus service for routes along Highway 99.

Newspaper articles regarding transit improvements in the lower mainland were distributed on table (attached to and forming part of these minutes as Schedule 1.)

In response to queries from Committee, Lloyd Bie, Director, Transportation, and Donna Chan, Manager, Transportation Planning, provided the following information:

§   

staff have reported on the findings of the independent review and an opportunity to provide comments to the Ministry will be made available to Council;

§   

stakeholder and municipal consultation was launched in January and will continue until April 2019;

§   

the George Massey Tunnel replacement project name is in reference to the previous provincial government’s work and the assumption that the Tunnel was being replaced; therefore, staff understand that moving forward, it is to be referenced the George Massey Tunnel enhancement project; and

§   

the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority has indicated in the past that it can be challenging in increase Port operations to 24 hours for all operations; however, this does not preclude Council from requesting that the Ministry implement traffic restrictions.

Joe Erceg, General Manager, Planning and Development, advised that staff can compile a chronological background of information regarding the George Massey crossing. Mr. Erceg remarked that, in staff’s review, many findings in the Independent Technical Review are consistent with Council’s previous direction and comments.

Discussion further ensued on requesting increased bus service from TransLink and proposing limitations on Port truck traffic through the Tunnel during peak periods of traffic.

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

It was moved and seconded

That a letter requesting the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure:

(1)

pursue short-term strategic improvements to the Steveston Highway interchange and expedite the completion of a business case for Highway 99 crossing improvements, as detailed in the staff report titled “George Massey Crossing – Findings of Independent Technical Review” dated December 21, 2018 from the Director, Transportation;

(2)

work with the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority to limit port traffic from using the George Massey Tunnel Crossing during peak hours; and

(3)

request that TransLink review increasing bus capacity for routes along the George Massey Tunnel Crossing;

be endorsed.

CARRIED
Opposed: Cllr. Loo

Jim Wright, Richmond resident, referenced his speaking notes (attached to and forming part of these minutes as Schedule 2) and spoke on the George Massey crossing.  

Discussion then took place on (i) the delegation’s comments, (ii) the Independent Technical Report of the George Massey Crossing, (iii) the Province’s upcoming public consultation, and the likelihood of a forum for public input.

3.

Richmond Active Transportation Committee – Proposed 2019 Initiatives
(File Ref. No. 01-0100-20-RCYC1) (REDMS No. 6042766 v. 3)

In response to questions from Committee, staff advised that (i) information regarding the cost per school for the Bike to School education program can be provided to Council, (ii) physical barriers are provided wherever possible for cyclists, (iii) the proposed No. 6 Road multi-use pathway and Steveston Highway projects will be partially funded by TransLink, and (iv) temporary barriers to separate cyclists from motorists can be examined prior to implementation of the proposed safety enhancements.

Discussion took place on potential expansion of the bike education program, particularly on potential cost sharing opportunities with the Richmond School District, and the No. 6 Road multi-use pathway and Steveston Highway pathway.

Councillor Greene left the meeting (5:03 p.m.).

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the proposed 2019 initiatives of the Richmond Active Transportation Committee, as outlined in the staff report titled “Richmond Active Transportation Committee - Proposed 2019 Initiatives” dated December 13, 2018 from the Director, Transportation, be endorsed; and

(2)

That a copy of the report titled “Richmond Active Transportation Committee – Proposed 2019 Initiatives” be forwarded to the Richmond Council-School Board Liaison Committee for information.

CARRIED

ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION

4.

Recycling Depot - Potential Eco Centre Upgrade Options
(File Ref. No. 10-6370-04-01) (REDMS No. 5968841 v. 8)

Suzanne Bycraft, Manager, Fleet and Environmental Programs, advised that the estimated capital improvement costs listed in Table 3 of the staff report should be $1,226,000.  She then highlighted that the Recycling Depot has experienced a higher than usual volume of users as a result of the newly expanded scope of materials accepted. 

Councillor Greene returned to the meeting (5:05 p.m.).

In response to questions from Committee, Robert Gonzalez, General Manager, Engineering and Public Works, advised that there is an outstanding referral regarding the replacement of the Works Yard; he remarked that it would be premature to consider significant capital upgrades to the Recycling Depot as the facility will be considered in conjunction with a forthcoming staff report on the Works Yard.

In reply to further queries from Committee, staff provided the following information:

§   

the Recycling Depot may only accept materials permitted by Recycling BC;

§   

the Recycling Depot could be open 7 days a week, however this would have an impact to the Operating budget;

§   

future procurement processes for upholstered furniture recycling will seek a reuse component;

§   

as noted in Option 3, a Reuse Centre would allow for items to be accepted and donated to charities as appropriate; a storefront may not be viable due to liability concerns; and

§   

any revenues generated as a result of recycling materials such as metal are applied to offset operating costs.

Discussion took place the tent-style structures noted under Option 2, and Mr. Gonzalez remarked that these structures semi-permanent in that they are to replace deteriorating trailers; a more permanent solution for the Recycling Depot and its accessory structures will be examined as part of the broader review of the Works Yard replacement.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That Option 2 of the staff reported entitled, “Recycling Depot – Potential Eco Centre Upgrade Options” from the Director, Public Works Operations dated January 16, 2019, be endorsed; and

(2)

That the City’s Consolidated 5 Year Financial Plan (2019-2023) be amended to include $1,226,000 for the Recycling Depot – potential eco centre upgrade as presented under Option 2 of the staff report entitled “Recycling Depot – Potential Eco Centre Upgrade Options”, funded from the Sanitation and Recycling provision.

CARRIED

5.

Fuel Purchases Agreement - Suncor Energy Products Partnership
(File Ref. No. 02-0665-03-01) (REDMS No. 6073610)

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the City enter into an agreement, as outlined in the staff report titled “Fuel Purchases Agreement – Suncor Energy Products Partnership” dated January 3, 2019 from the Director, Public Works Operations;

(2)

That the Chief Administrative Officer and General Manager, Engineering & Public Works, be authorized to negotiate and execute a fuel supply and delivery contract with Suncor Energy Products Partnership on the contemplated terms and conditions of the fuel consortium contract as outlined in City of Vancouver Request for Proposals No. PS20180305 Supply and Delivery of Fuels; and

(3)

That the current fuel purchase contract with Parkland Fuel Corporation under BCPPBG Contract No. PS11122 be extended until such time as the fuel supply and delivery contract with Suncor Energy Products Partnerships is executed and fuel delivery commences under the agreement with Suncor Energy Products Partnerships.

CARRIED

6.

MANAGER’S REPORT

2018 Zero Waste Conference Summary

Ms. Bycraft spoke to a staff memorandum previously distributed to Council dated January 22, 2019 (copy on file, City Clerk’s Office) regarding the 2018 Zero Waste Conference.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:23 p.m.).

CARRIED

Certified a true and correct copy of the Minutes of the meeting of the Public Works and Transportation Committee of the Council of the City of Richmond held on Wednesday, January 23, 2019.

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Councillor Chak Au
Chair

Amanda Welby
Legislative Services Coordinator