June 21, 2023 - Minutes

Date:

Wednesday, June 21, 2023

Place:

Council Chambers
Richmond City Hall

Present:

Councillor Carol Day, Chair
Councillor Michael Wolfe
Councillor Chak Au
Councillor Kash Heed
Councillor Alexa Loo

Also Present:

Councillor Laura Gillanders (by teleconference)

Councillor Andy Hobbs
Councillor Bill McNulty

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 May 17, 2023, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

AGENDA ADDITIONS

It was moved and seconded

That:

(1)

Air Quality Monitoring be added to the agenda as Item No. 7A; and

(2)

No. 5 Road and Cambie Road Intersection Update be added to the agenda as Item No. 7B.

CARRIED

DELEGATIONS

1.

(1)

Nathan Davidowicz, former Richmond resident, expressed his concerns regarding the cancellation of the 480 bus route, referencing his submission (attached to and forming part of these minutes as Schedule 1).

(2)

James Yu, Richmond resident, spoke to the cancelled 480 bus route. He referenced his submission (attached to and forming part of these minutes as Schedule 2) and commented on the petition to reinstate the route.

In response to queries from Committee, the delegation advised that (i) they have contacted TransLink regarding the 480 bus route cancellation and were advised that the 480 route would be 1-4 minutes slower than the alternative routes, (ii) the petition was signed by a number of Richmond residents as well as those living in surrounding municipalities, (iii) the petition has been submitted to TransLink but is still open to accept more signatures, and (iv) the fundamental difference between the 480 bus route and the new route is that the new option requires additional transfers.

In response to queries from Committee, staff advised that (i) the reduction in service to the 480 bus route in January 2020 was likely due to low ridership, (ii) typically there is one representative per municipality on the Mayors’ Council on Regional Transportation, and (iii) TransLink is considered to be experts in transit authority for the region.

Discussion ensued regarding the impact of the cancelled 480 bus route. As a result of the discussion, the following motion was introduced:

It was moved and seconded:

(1)

That the City of Richmond write a letter to TransLink outlining concerns with respect to the 480 bus route; and

(2)

That a TransLink representative be invited to a future Council meeting to provide a brief update on the 480 bus route.

Discussion ensued regarding restoring bus schedules to pre-pandemic service levels. As a result of the discussion, staff were directed to provide a memorandum cataloguing changes to bus service levels at the next Public Works and Transportation Committee meeting.

CARRIED

PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DIVISION

2.

KITTIWAKE DRIVE - TRAFFIC CALMING PILOT PROJECT UPDATE
(File Ref. No. 10-6450-09-01) (REDMS No. 7233657)

In response to queries from Committee, staff noted that (i) the recommended asphalt speed cushions will have a height of 7 centimeters and (ii) the installation of a specialty crosswalk is a separate issue.

It was moved and seconded

That Option 3 to implement a pilot project for the temporary installation of two asphalt speed cushions on Kittiwake Drive for a trial period of six months, as described in the staff report titled "Kittiwake Drive - Traffic Calming Pilot Project Update" dated May 19, 2023 from the Director, Transportation, be endorsed.

CARRIED

3.

2023 ROAD SAFETY INITIATIVES UPDATE AND VISION ZERO REVIEW
(File Ref. No. 10-6450-09-01) (REDMS No. 7215288)

In response to queries from Committee, staff noted that (i) the City proactively liaises with school principals regarding any safety concerns or issues related to active construction projects near schools, (ii) the Richmond Poverty Reduction Coalition will be invited to all future Transportation Safety Advisory Committee meetings, (iii) Transportation staff can attend a Hamilton Advisory Committee meeting prior to discuss lowering the speed limit in the Hamilton area, and (iv) ICBC provides data on motor vehicle related fatalities and can provide statistics over a longer time frame.

It was moved and seconded

That the road safety initiatives, as outlined in the staff report titled “2023 Road Safety Initiatives Update and Vision Zero Review” dated June 5, 2023 from the Director, Transportation, be received for information.

CARRIED

ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION

4.

2022 ANNUAL WATER QUALITY REPORT

(File Ref. No. 10-6000-01) (REDMS No. 7233576)

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the annual report titled “2022 Annual Water Quality Report” dated May 17, 2023, from the Director of Public Works Operations, be endorsed; and

(2)

That the annual report titled “2022 Annual Water Quality Report” dated May 17, 2023, be made available to the community on the City’s website and through various communication tools including social media channels and as part of community outreach initiatives.

CARRIED

5.

DRAINAGE CANAL BANK FAILURE REPAIRS-12506 VICKERS WAY
(File Ref. No. 10-6340-20-P.2022CD00096Vol) (REDMS No. 7237488)

In response to queries from Committee, staff noted that (i) the drainage canal bank failure was caused by the placement of heavy stacks of tiles on City property by a business operating on the adjacent private property and (ii) the City is seeking an order that the City be compensated for all damages to the City property, as well as all repair costs.

It was moved and seconded

That funding of $1,000,000 from the Drainage Improvement Reserve Fund for the drainage canal bank failure repairs at 12506 Vickers Way, be approved and that the Consolidated 5 Year Financial Plan (2023-2027) be amended accordingly, as detailed in the report titled "Drainage Canal Bank Failure Repairs - 12506 Vickers Way" dated May 23, 2023, from the Director, Engineering.

CARRIED

6.

CIRCULAR PROCUREMENT POLICY IMPLEMENTATION AND PROGRESS UPDATE

(File Ref. No. 10-6125-07-04) (REDMS No. 7181733)

In response to queries from Committee, staff noted that the demolition of Minoru Aquatic Centre followed the Council adopted policy of 80 per cent waste diversion.

It was moved and seconded

That results of the implementation of circular economy criteria into projects and procurement activities, as noted in the staff report titled “Circular Procurement Policy Implementation and Progress Update,” dated May 8, 2023, from the Director, Sustainability and District Energy, be posted online to inform the public.

CARRIED

7.

DIKE MASTER PLAN - PHASE 4 REPORT

(File Ref. No. 10-6060-01) (REDMS No. 7182372)

In response to queries from Committee, staff noted that each project would have preliminary and detailed design that would include public engagement and qualified environmental professionals to provide input regarding habitat compensation.

It was moved and seconded

That the “Dike Master Plan – Phase 4 Final Report,” as attached in the staff report titled “Dike Master Plan – Phase 4 Report,” dated May 23, 2023, from the Director, Engineering, be endorsed for capital project and development planning purposes.

CARRIED

7A.

AIR QUALITY MONITORING

(File Ref. No.)

Discussion ensued regarding the possibility of installing additional air quality monitoring stations. As a result of the discussion, staff were directed to connect with Metro Vancouver to investigate the possibility of more air quality monitoring stations in Richmond.

7B.

NO. 5 ROAD AND CAMBIE ROAD INTERSECTION UPDATE
(File Ref. No.)

In response to queries from Committee, staff noted that the No. 5 Road and Cambie Road intersection improvement project is progressing, with construction anticipated to begin in late 2023. As a result of the discussion, staff were directed to develop a critical path and report back to Council before August 2023.

8.

MANAGER’S REPORT

Capstan Canada Line Station

Staff shared that TransLink has postponed the opening of the Capstan Station, with an anticipated opening of February 2024.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:06 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, June 21, 2023.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Councillor Carol Day
Chair

Shannon Unrau
Legislative Services Associate