June 19, 2024 - Minutes

Date:

Wednesday, June 19, 2024

Place:

Anderson Room
Richmond City Hall

Present:

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

Also Present:

Councillor Andy Hobbs

Councillor Bill McNulty (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 May 22, 2024, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

AGENDA ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS

It was moved and seconded

That Textile Recycling be added to the agenda as Item No. 5A.

CARRIED

PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DIVISION

1.

KITTIWAKE DRIVE - TRAFFIC CALMING UPDATE
(File Ref. No. 10-6460-01) (REDMS No. 7648159)

In response to queries from Committee, staff advised that (i) the 85th percentile speed is an industry standard that indicates the speed at or below which 85 percent of the drivers travel on a road segment and (ii) speed cushions are a traffic calming measure designed to not impede nor slow down emergency response vehicles.

It was moved and seconded

That the two asphalt speed cushions on Kittiwake Drive remain as a permanent condition, as described in the staff report titled “Kittiwake Drive – Traffic Calming Update” dated May 27, 2024 from the Director, Transportation.

CARRIED

ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION

2.

NORTH DIKE UPGRADES CONCEPT PLAN - LYNAS LANE TO NO. 2 ROAD

(File Ref. No. 10-6050-01) (REDMS No. 7672407)

In response to queries from Committee, staff advised that (i) the recommended action outlined in the Dike Master Plan Phase 2 report includes reduced impacts to environmental habitats, and the North Dike upgrades between Lynas Lane and No. 2 Road do not impede the intertidal area north of the existing pathway, (ii) key external stakeholder groups will be engaged, and other ministries will be included in future engagements if they become involved in the project, (iii) a full environmental assessment will occur at the Works Yard as part of the Works Yard Replacement Project and ongoing coordination between the project teams will continue in order to minimize the impacts resulting from the construction of these two projects, (iv) impacted trees will be assessed for retention and the replanting of impacted trees close to their original location is planned where possible, (v) further dike upgrades to the west may be included in future Capital Budgets, (vi) the existing paved sidewalk will be reinstated south of River Road and a new gravel multi-use pathway will be introduced north of River Road, (vii) the new sidewalk will have adequate space between vehicle traffic and the detailed design process will include trees that act as buffers, and (viii) this project is included in the Government of Canada's Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund grant award and the new multi-use pathway is a partially grant-funded project.

It was moved and seconded

That the concept plan presented in the staff report titled "North Dike Upgrades Concept Plan -Lynas Lane to No. 2 Road", dated May 16, 2024, from the Director, Engineering be endorsed for the purposes of public consultation.

CARRIED

3.

AWARD OF CONTRACT 8225Q – BIKE REUSE PILOT PROGRAM

(File Ref. No. 10-6370-01) (REDMS No. 7623493)

In response to queries from Committee, staff advised that (i) the "Pedals for the People" program donated 312 bikes in 2022 and Pedal Foundation proposes to refurbish bikes and bike accessories collected at the Depot to a safe and dependable standard, then donate them to Richmond residents facing ongoing financial hardship or through other initiatives to support the community, (ii) details surrounding statistics of refurbished and reusable bikes will be determined throughout the pilot program and staff will provide summary information on the pilot to Council prior to contract renewal,
(iii) the City of Vancouver and Metro Vancouver have similar bike reuse programs, and (iv) as a component of its comprehensive recycling programs, the Recycling Depot collects bikes for recycling as scrap metal.

Discussion ensued regarding other bike recycling and reuse programs and as a result of the discussion, the following referral motion was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That the Award of Contract 8225Q Bike Reuse Pilot Program be referred back to staff for alternative options such as donating bikes to non-profit organizations, schools and individuals who will donate the repurposed bikes to people in need.

The question on the referral motion was not called as discussion ensued regarding (i) bike repurposing, (ii) the prohibition of scavenging, and (iii) a review of other bike recycling and reuse programs in the province.

The question on the referral motion was then called and it was DEFEATED with Cllrs. Heed, Loo, and Wolfe opposed.

Discussion ensued regarding (i) bikes collected for recycling as scrap metal through the Large Item Pick Up Program and public drop-off at the Recycling Depot and (ii) a review of the pilot program. As a result of the discussion, the following motions were introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That Contract 8225Q – Bike Reuse Pilot Program as detailed in the staff report titled “Award of Contract 8225Q – Bike Reuse Pilot Program” dated May 14, 2024 from the Director, Public Works Operations be awarded for an initial one-year term effective August 1, 2024 to Pedal Foundation for an estimated total value of $82,269.

CARRIED

It was moved and seconded

That staff be authorized to extend the initial one-year term up to the maximum total term of five years, for the maximum total amount of $445,308, as described in the report titled "Award of Contract 8225Q – Bike Reuse Pilot Program” dated May 14, 2024, from the Director, Public Works Operations.

DEFEATED
Opposed: Cllrs. Au, Day, Heed, and Loo

It was moved and seconded

That one-time funding of $91,000 from the General Solid Waste and Recycling Provision for the Bike Reuse Pilot expenditures be approved and that the Consolidated 5 Year Financial Plan (2024-2028) be amended accordingly.

CARRIED
Opposed: Cllr. Day

4.

RICHMOND WATER QUALITY AND CONSERVATION REPORT 2023

(File Ref. No. 10-6000-01) (REDMS No. 7675292)

Discussion ensued regarding a tap map outlining the location of Richmond’s 39 outdoor water fountains located in parks and other public areas providing potable water to the public and the advertisement of fountain locations on a tap map. Also, staff advised that the City is collaborating with TransLink on public awareness of water fountains in transit stations.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the annual report titled “Richmond Water Quality and Conservation Report 2023” dated May 15, 2024, from the Director of Public Works Operations, be endorsed; and

(2)

That the “Richmond Water Quality and Conservation Report 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

COUNCILLOR MICHAEL WOLFE

5.

CONNECTING BC
(File Ref. No.) (REDMS No.)

Discussion ensued regarding the Connecting BC ten-year vision and investment plan for public transit throughout BC.

It was moved and seconded

That the Connecting BC plan be referred to staff for review.

CARRIED

COUNCILLOR CAROL DAY

5A.

TEXTILE RECYCLING

(File Ref. No.) (REDMS No.)

Discussion ensued regarding textile waste in landfills and educating the public on where to recycle textiles in Richmond.

Staff were directed to look into textile recycling options and ways to promote textile recycling to Richmond residents.

6.

MANAGER’S REPORT

(i)

Chevron Gas Station at No. 2 Road and Westminster Highway

Discussion ensued regarding congestion at the intersection of No. 2 Road and Westminster Highway due to surge pricing at the site’s Chevron gas station.

As a result of the discussion, staff were directed to review potential traffic management and enforcement measures, and report back.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:49 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 19, 2024.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Councillor Carol Day
Chair

Shannon Unrau
Legislative Services Associate