June 18, 2025 - Minutes
|
Public Works and Transportation Committee
|
Date: |
Wednesday, June 18, 2025 |
|
Place: |
Anderson Room |
|
Present: |
Councillor Carol Day, Chair |
|
Absent: |
Councillor Alexa Loo |
|
Also Present: |
Councillor Laura Gillanders (by teleconference) 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 21, 2025, be adopted as circulated. |
|
|
|
CARRIED |
|
|
|
AGENDA ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS |
|
|
|
It was moved and seconded |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
That No. 4 Road and Granville Avenue intersection be added as Item 3A; and |
|
|
|
(2) |
That Dover Beach Habitat Area be added as Item 3B. |
|
|
|
CARRIED |
|
|
|
|
ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION |
|
|
1. |
(File Ref. No. 10-6370-01) (REDMS No. 8042231) |
|
|
|
|
Jocelyn Carver, Interim Executive Director and Natalie Gerum, Director of Programs, Youth Climate Corps British Columbia (YCCBC), spoke to their PowerPoint presentation (copy on file, City Clerk’s Office) in support of the proposed partnership with the YCCBC and the City of Richmond in its commitment to youth and climate, noting the many YCCBC programs operating across the province at the intersections of youth leadership development, civic engagement, community climate action and career development.
|
|
|
|
|
In response to queries from Committee, the delegates noted (i) the funding grant for the YCCBC programming came through the Climate Action Secretariat, (ii) the living wage rate is based on the geographic area of the youth, and (iii) the YCCBC has a very positive working relationship with unions across the province, working with municipalities to identify employment opportunities.
|
|
|
|
|
It was moved and seconded |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
That a partnership with the Youth Climate Corps BC, as outlined in the staff report titled “Youth Climate Corps BC”, dated May 6, 2025, from the Director, Public Works Operations, be approved and the Chief Administrative Officer and General Manager, Engineering and Public Works, be authorized to execute the agreement and all related documentation with Youth Climate Corps BC; and |
|
|
|
(2) |
The six-month pilot program and total cost of $85,000 be considered as part of the 2026 budget process with funding from the General Solid Waste and Recycling Provision. |
|
|
|
The question on the motion was not called as a brief discussion ensued with respect to the program term length and sustainability.
|
|
|
|
|
The question on the motion was then called and it was CARRIED. |
|
|
|
2. |
Commemorative Crosswalk to Honour Veterans (File Ref. No. 10-6450-17-01) (REDMS No. 8047558) |
|
|
|
Captain Lindy MacKinnon, Canadian Armed Forces Veteran, spoke to her initiative to bring forward the idea of a Veterans commemorative crosswalk in Richmond, noting the installation of similar crosswalks across Canada. Appreciation was expressed for the consideration of Captain MacKinnon’s request, assistance of staff and the community engagement undertaken to work through the various options.
|
|
|
|
Ron Fontaine, President, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 291 (Richmond), expressed appreciation to staff for their guidance to implement the Veterans commemorative crosswalk.
|
|
|
|
Staff noted (i) the significance of the crosswalk location at No. 3 Road and Anderson Road being in close proximity to the Cenotaph at City Hall where a Remembrance Day ceremony and reception is held on an annual basis, and (ii) the design change was due to the receipt of the National Royal Canadian Legion’s recommended crosswalk template received late in the process and supported by the stakeholders with the wording “Lest We Forget” from the original submission to be included in the design, as well as some further modifications to address accessibility concerns.
|
|
|
|
It was moved and seconded |
|
|
|
That the commemorative crosswalk design, as described in the staff report titled “Commemorative Crosswalk to Honour Veterans” dated May 29, 2025, from the Director, Transportation, be installed at No. 3 Road and Anderson Road. |
|
|
|
CARRIED |
|
|
3. |
City Centre Traffic Study – Terms of Reference (File Ref. No. 10-6500-01) (REDMS No. 7948823) |
|
|
|
Staff provided a summary of the report noting (i) the report outlines a proposed Terms of Reference for a comprehensive road safety study of the north south roads in the City Centre that are bounded by Westminster Highway, Gilbert Road, Granville Avenue and Garden City Road, (ii) the scope of the study includes vehicles, buses, trucks, pedestrians and cyclists, (iii) consultation with the public and stakeholders on any proposed speed limit reductions will also be undertaken using a variety of communication platforms, and (iv) if endorsed by Council, the study will be included in the 2026 budget process and will begin following the 2026 budget approval.
|
|
|
|
Concern was expressed regarding vehicle traffic speed along No. 3 Road and the need and cost of the proposed comprehensive road safety study. |
|
|
|
In response to queries from Committee, staff noted that (i) some options to start the project immediately using a variety of different funding sources could be brought back for Council consideration at the next Council meeting, (ii) it is recognized that the work plan outlined to Committee is comprehensive and is going to take some time to undergo a broader study of the city’s major north-south corridors, (iii) the proposed study will also look at the impacts of speed reductions, and (iv) the proposed study will be resource intensive for staff and could impact implementation and delivery of other transportation initiatives.
|
|
|
|
Er Jun Ma, Richmond resident, spoke to his written submission (attached to and forming part of these minutes as Schedule 1), expressing concern with vehicle speeds and suggesting that the proposed study focus on how best to efficiently move people in Richmond, in particular using public transit and alternative transportation modes to private vehicles.
|
|
|
|
It was moved and seconded |
|
|
|
That the terms of reference as described in the staff report titled “City Centre Traffic Study – Terms of Reference”, dated June 5, 2025, from the Director, Transportation, be endorsed, and that staff be authorized to submit a project request in the amount of $150,000 as part of the 2026 budget process. |
|
|
|
The question on the motion was not called as a brief discussion ensued with respect to next steps if the motion passes, noting staff’s earlier comments regarding the possibility to expedite the study start date sooner.
|
|
|
|
The question on the motion was then called and it was CARRIED with Cllr. Heed opposed. |
|
|
3A. |
NO.4 ROAD AND GRANVILLE AVENUE INTERSECTION |
|
|
|
Concerns were expressed with respect to the recent traffic pattern change at No. 4 Road and Granville Avenue, resulting from the two barricades placed at the entrance to the driveway of McNeil Secondary School, causing considerable traffic congestion at the school and interruption and delay to the traffic flow on No. 4 Road of the passing south bound traffic in the left lane.
|
|
|
|
Staff noted (i) they are aware there was a sinkhole on the school property which resulted in the school providing the barricades for safety concerns of drivers in that area, (ii) the City also has an upcoming flood protection capital project where there will be work done along No. 4 Road for which there has been consultation with the school regarding some of the traffic impacts from that project, (iii) the flood protection works started in June 2025 and will continue through the end of August 2025, with removal of the school barricades to be coordinated with the school, and (iv) with respect to having a left hand signal light on No. 4 Road at Granville Avenue, the challenge is that there is no room to make a left hand turn bay at this time, and having only a left turn signal arrow is not ideal, given the mixed results and some confusion with similar traffic signals in other areas. |
|
|
3B. |
DOVER BEACH HABITAT AREA |
|
|
|
In response to a query relating to the habitat area located within the recently approved dyke upgrade project from Lynus Lane, east of No. 2 Road to the bridge (the Dover Beach marsh area), staff noted (i) as part of the project in 1991, the five year maintenance program was a federal requirement at the time to serve the permitting, (ii) future and current habitat agreements for compensation are extended now (often requirements are five years and above), (iii) staff are proposing when habitat banking compensation work is approved in the future, that it would also require a long-term maintenance program beyond the permitting requirement as well, (iv) the City collaborates considerably with Raincoast Conservation Foundation, and (v) should further requirements through detailed design require habitat compensation, staff would look at opportunities to extend or benefit habitat compensation in the area. |
|
|
4. |
MANAGER’S REPORT |
|
|
|
|
(i) |
Hamilton: Speed Reduction |
|
|
|
The status of speed reduction efforts in the Hamilton area was queried. In response, staff noted (i) the speed limit was not reduced at the s-curve, however traffic calming was installed, and staff are reviewing the efficacy of those calming measures, (ii) with respect to the request for a traffic light at River Road and Westminster Highway, staff have completed the requested consultation with area residents and currently processing the data to bring back to Committee, and the City can install traffic signals as needed.
|
|
|
|
|
(ii) |
Status of Hogweed in Richmond |
|
|
|
In response to the request for an update on the giant hogweed invasive plant, noting in particular the hogweed marked with cones on the East West Connector in Hamilton, staff advised (i) there is an inventory of all the hogweed located in the City and on private property and staff make every effort to address as soon as possible before flowering, through the services of a private contractor, and (ii) with respect to the giant hogweed noted, the location could be on provincial land, in which case staff will request immediate action prior to flowering.
|
|
|
|
|
(iii) |
Fire Hydrant Flooding |
|
|
|
The recent parking lot flooding from a private fire hydrant at Home Depot was queried. Staff reported (i) the fire hydrant released water during a general maintenance service call performed by a private contractor when a valve was improperly turned off, (ii) Richmond Fire-Rescue (RFR) arrived on the scene but were unable to shut down the fire hydrant, and contacted City Engineering and Public Works who immediately responded and were able to shut down the hydrant, and (iii) Home Depot will be charged for the water usage that occurred through that hydrant, and staff will be following up with RFR on any further action. |
|
|
|
|
ADJOURNMENT |
|
|
|
It was moved and seconded |
|
|
|
That the meeting adjourn (5:09 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 18, 2025. |
|
_________________________________ |
_________________________________ |
|
Councillor Carol Day |
Lorraine Anderson |