October 18, 2023 - Minutes

Date:

Wednesday, October 18, 2023

Place:

Council Chambers
Richmond City Hall

Present:

Councillor Carol Day, Chair
Councillor Chak Au (entered the meeting at 4:04 p.m.)
Councillor Kash Heed
Councillor Alexa Loo

Councillor Michael Wolfe

Also Present:

Councillor Bill McNulty (entered the meeting at 4:04 p.m. by teleconference)

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 September 13, 2023, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DIVISION

1.

STEVESTON TRANSIT EXCHANGE UPDATE: ALTERNATE LAYOUT

(File Ref. No. 10-6500-01) (REDMS No. 7257420)

Staff provided a brief overview of the report, and discussion ensued with respect to options to include amenities in the proposed project, such as charging stations (e‑bikes/e-scooters), wayfinding maps, lighting, and public washrooms.  Staff noted as part of the consultation process, TransLink will be working with stakeholders and engage with the community to receive feedback for any design enhancements.

Councillor Au entered the meeting (4:04 p.m.), and

Councillor McNulty entered the meeting (4:04 p.m.) by teleconference.

In response to queries from the Committee, staff noted (i) the short to medium term transit exchange solution is envisioned to entail a time frame of 5 to 10 years, with the ultimate objective of an off-street transit exchange for Steveston Village, (ii) there will be no change to the current street parking time restrictions in Steveston Village, and (iv) should the project move forward, many of the transit related amenities would be developed through the detailed design phase, including bus shelters and benches for the passenger loading and unloading activities.

It was moved and seconded

That the proposal to relocate transit circulation and layover areas further west on Chatham Street between Fourth and Seventh Avenues as described in the report titled “Steveston Transit Exchange Update: Alternate Layout” dated October 3, 2023 from the Director, Transportation, be received for information.

CARRIED

ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION

2.

COMMERCIAL RECYCLING SERVICES REVIEW

(File Ref. No. 10-6370-01) (REDMS No. 7358334)

In response to queries from the Committee, staff noted (i) 54 commercial customers subscribe to on-site collection services, (ii) calculations outlined in the report were based on approximately 14,000 businesses, (iii) business are permitted to drop-off up to one cubic yard of acceptable material for free per day, and (iv) the cost for disposal at the landfill is regulated by Metro Vancouver.

Discussion ensued with respect to strategy options to increase the recycling performance of commercial businesses.  Staff noted the option to include a communication insert within the Business License renewal reminder letters outlining future plans with respect to recycling. 

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That Option 2, as outlined in the staff report titled “Commercial Recycling Services Review”, dated September 12, 2023 be endorsed; and

(2)

That staff prepare amendments to the Solid Waste and Recycling Regulation Bylaw No. 6803 to remove commercial service options.

CARRIED

3.

PESTICIDE REDUCTION AND INVASIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT – 2023 UPDATE

(File Ref. No. 10-6160-07-01) (REDMS No. 7349072)

In response to queries from the Committee, staff noted (i) all the bait boxes on City owned property will remain as the black boxes that contain non-chemical traps, with the contractor instructed to place stickers noting “this box contains non chemical traps” on each box, (ii) staff continue to maintain efforts with private property and commercial buildings on the use of chemicals to limit rodent activity, and (iii) to determine the location for bait boxes, the City relies on the pest control company to identify likely routes of the rodents.

Discussion ensued with respect to measures taken following best management practices and the challenges faced in the removal of invasive species throughout the City. 

It was moved and seconded

That outcomes related to the City’s Enhanced Pesticide Management Program and Invasive Species Action Plan, as outlined in the staff report titled “Pesticide Reduction and Invasive Species Management – 2023 Update”, dated September 19, 2023, from the Director, Sustainability and District Energy be received for information.

CARRIED

The following referral motion was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That staff review options to accelerate the eradication of blackberry; and

(2)

That options for hiring new staff, that does not rely on volunteers or Parks staff, be presented at the next budget process.

The question on the referral motion was not called as discussion ensued. 

In response to queries from Committee, staff noted (i) although blackberry is not considered a noxious weed under provincial legislation, it is a species of concern regionally because of how effectively it grows and how extremely difficult it is to manage, (ii) there are options to strategize and prioritize areas of blackberry to address, but jurisdiction remains a key challenge for the management of vegetation in general within most municipalities, and (iii) for blackberry located on private property, it would be up to homeowner to understand what it is and, with City support, could learn how to look at different ways to maintaining the property so it doesn’t spread.

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

4.

PROPOSED 2024 PAVING PROGRAM

(File Ref. No. 10-6000-01) (REDMS No. 7370815)

In response to queries from Committee, staff noted (i) as a pilot program, recycled asphalt has been used with select locations based on loading and other factors to test the effectiveness and the performance continues to be monitored, (ii) the recycled asphalt pilot program will continue in 2024 with further locations to be determined, and (iii) site locations are based on the pavement management system and the data collected in addition to field verification of that data, they are not specifically tied to any ground conditions.

It was moved and seconded

That the staff report titled, “Proposed 2024 Paving Program”, dated September 14, 2023, from the Director, Engineering be received for information.

CARRIED

5.

SAFETY MEASURES FOR HEAVY TRUCKS

(File Ref. No. 10-6000-01) (REDMS No. 7323952)

In response to queries from the Committee, staff noted (i) the City works closely with the Commercial Vehicle Safety Enforcement Branch and the Richmond RCMP as part of the internal training program for the City’s commercial drivers, and (ii) the regulations related to turn restrictions is under the jurisdiction of the City on City roads.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That staff report titled “Safety Measures for Heavy Trucks”, dated September 20, 2023, from the Director, Public Works Operations and Director, Transportation be received for information;

(2)

That staff continue to review options to improve truck safety; and

(3)

That the report be forwarded to the Council/School Board Liaison Committee.

CARRIED

6.

IONA ISLAND WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT – UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2023

(File Ref. No. 10-6060-01) (REDMS No. 7388562)

The supplemental information memorandum from the Manager Engineering Planning, dated October 12, 2023, which sets out the three potential sites for the temporary barge berth (copy on-file, City Clerk’s Office), was reviewed.  Staff noted that Metro Vancouver will be conducting an assessment of the findings from the open house information session held on October 5, 2023, to determine the optimal location, which staff will share with Council when advised.

In response to queries from the Committee, staff noted (i) the construction hours will follow the City of Richmond’s noise bylaw, (ii) as the project is preliminary, a cost breakdown is yet to be determined, (iii) the proposed barge facility is temporary during construction of the project, and (iv) it is estimated that the terminal could replace up to 500 dump trucks per day, which could increase over time as they do more detailed analysis.

It was moved and seconded

That the proposed comments for the use of barges as the primary mode of transportation for construction materials and equipment for the Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade project, as outlined in the staff report titled “Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Plant – Update September 2023”, dated September 22, 2023,  from the Director, Engineering, be endorsed for

submission to Metro Vancouver.

CARRIED

7.

UBCM COMMUNITY EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS FUND: 2023/24 DISASTER RISK REDUCTION – CLIMATE ADAPTATION GRANT APPLICATION

(File Ref. No. 10-6060-01) (REDMS No. 7349699)

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the application to the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund, Disaster Risk Reduction – Climate Adaptation funding stream as outlined in the staff report titled “UBCM Community Emergency Preparedness Fund: 2023/24 Disaster Risk Reduction – Climate Adaptation Grant Application” dated September 13, 2023 from the Director, Engineering be endorsed;

(2)

That should the grant application be successful, the Chief Administrative Officer and the General Manager, Engineering and Public Works, be authorized on behalf of the City to negotiate and execute funding agreements with UBCM for the above mentioned projects; and

(3)

That should the grant application be successful, capital projects of $150,000 for the Nature-Based Flood Protection Solutions Assessment, $150,000 for Emergency Flood Protection Equipment, and $2,500,000 for Dike Rehabilitation be approved with funding from the external grant, as outlined in the staff report titled “UBCM Community Emergency Preparedness Fund: 2023/24 Disaster Risk Reduction – Climate Adaptation Grant Application” dated September 13, 2023 from the Director, Engineering, and be included in the Consolidated 5 Year Financial Plan (2024-2028) accordingly.

CARRIED

8.

MANAGER’S REPORT

(i)

Highway 99 Tunnel Project Update

The Province advised there has been an update on the procurement process following their request for pre-qualifications.  Three bid teams have been selected and invited to participate in the next phase of the procurement for the project, which will ultimately lead to a preferred proponent being selected for the design build team for the project, anticipated to occur in 2024, with project construction anticipated to start in 2026 for completion in 2030.

(ii)

Highway 99 Corridor and Steveston Interchange

With respect to construction activity at Highway 99 and the Steveston interchange, pile driving work will be happening beginning November 2023 for approximately two months.  This will necessitate the existing Steveston Highway eastbound to northbound Highway 99 loop to be closed during the construction activity, and motorists travelling eastbound on Steveston Highway wanting to access Highway 99 to Vancouver will be required to turn left onto the existing on-ramp from westbound Steveston Highway.  There will be intersection configuration to accommodate that movement, which will include a signal light to facilitate the turning.

(iii)

Go by Bike Week

The fall version of Go by Bike Week began on October 16^th, and for the first time will be over two weeks, ending on October 29^th, with a goal of increasing participation, gaining interest and encourage cycling in the region.  To support this event there are two celebration stations in Richmond that are happening:  October 19^th at Richmond Hospital and October 20^th at the Canada Line Bikeway.

A brief discussion ensued with respect to the constant traffic congestion experienced with left hand turning at Cambie Road from River Parkway and Cambie Road to No. 3 Road.  Staff noted the traffic intersections are known issues, and that it is anticipated the congestion at River Parkway will ease and turning movement will not be as busy once River Parkway is extended in the future.  Staff further noted that a fair amount of work in adjusting the signal timing has been made in an effort to alleviate the back-ups in various directions, however it is at the point now where it is as balanced as it can be without creating greater congestion down No. 3 Road.  Further solutions to mitigate the ongoing congestion at these intersections are being sought.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:21 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, October 18, 2023.

_________________________________

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Councillor Carol Day
Chair

Lorraine Anderson
Legislative Services Associate