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CITY OF VANCOUVER

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL ON
TRANSPORTATION AND TRAFFIC

JULY 6, 1999

A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Tuesday, July 6, 1999, at approximately 11:43 a.m., in Committee Room No. 1, Third Floor, City Hall, following the Standing Committee on Transportation and Traffic meeting, to consider the recommendations of the Committee.

PRESENT:	Mayor Philip Owen Councillor Don Bellamy Councillor Nancy A. Chiavario Councillor Jennifer Clarke Councillor Alan Herbert Councillor Daniel Lee Councillor Don Lee Councillor Gordon Price Councillor George Puil Councillor Sam Sullivan
ABSENT:	Councillor Lynne Kennedy (Civic Business)
CLERKS TO THE COUNCIL:	Denise Salmon Laura Kazakoff (recorder)

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy,
SECONDED by Cllr. Clarke,

THAT this Council resolve itself into Committee of the Whole, Mayor Owen in the chair.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Report of Standing Committee on
Transportation and Traffic
July 6, 1999

Council considered the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in the following clauses of the attached report:

Cl.1: North-East Kitsilano Traffic Calming Plan
Cl.2: Parking Meters on West 4th Avenue - Burrard to Balsam
Cl.3: Downtown Transportation Plan

MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy,

THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clauses 1-3 of this report, be approved.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy,

THAT the Committee of the Whole rise and report.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

ADOPT REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Cllr. Don Lee,
SECONDED by Cllr. Puil,

THAT the report of the Committee of the Whole be adopted.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

The Council adjourned at 11:44 a.m.

_ _ _ _ _

REPORT TO COUNCIL

STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
ON TRANSPORTATION AND TRAFFIC

JULY 6, 1999

A Regular Meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on Transportation and Traffic was held on Tuesday, July 6, 1999, at approximately 9:30 a.m., in Committee Room No. 1, Third Floor, City Hall.

PRESENT:	Councillor Gordon Price, Chair Mayor Philip Owen Councillor Don Bellamy Councillor Nancy A. Chiavario Councillor Jennifer Clarke Councillor Alan Herbert Councillor Daniel Lee Councillor Don Lee Councillor George Puil Councillor Sam Sullivan
ABSENT:	Councillor Lynne Kennedy (Civic Business)
CLERKS TO THE COMMITTEE:	Denise Salmon Laura Kazakoff (recorder)

RECOMMENDATION

1. North-East Kitsilano Traffic Calming Plan File: 5757

The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated June 23, 1999 (on file), in which the General Manager of Engineering Services seeks Council approval for a traffic calming plan for the North-East Kitsilano neighbourhood.

Ian Adam, Assistant City Engineer - Transportation, introduced Jim Hall, Neighbourhood Transportation Engineer, who provided an overview of the Administrative Report and the proposed traffic plan and reviewed the public consultation process. He noted that the traffic calming measures would be reviewed after a six-month trial period, and the findings would be reported back to Council at that time.

Mr. Hall responded to Council members' questions regarding parking changes, left turn movements at the Burrard and 4th Avenue intersection, and the expected timeline for installation.

Michael Geary, North-East Kitsilano Neighbourhood Association, spoke in favour of the proposed traffic plan, and requested Recommendation G be amended for clarification as follows: "...and report back to Council on traffic calming measures on Kits Point, if required." Staff advised this was the intent of the recommendation.

The following spoke in favour of the proposed traffic calming plan, with points raised noted below:

Theresa Thompson, North-East Kitsilano Neighbourhood Association
Catherine Gloor, North-East Kitsilano Neighbourhood Association
Joey Moore, President, North-East Kitsilano Neighbourhood Association

· principled plan which does not attempt to shift problems to other neighbourhoods
· plan will reduce short-cutting and provide ease of parking for residents
· design team chose innovative, non-diversionary options, such as corner and bicycle bulges, in order to be less restrictive
· cyclist bulges at 4th and 1st will reduce traffic volumes and slow motorists to a safe speed
· it was noted that many residents had expressed concern about the 2nd and Cypress intersection, and there may be a need for further measures to reduce traffic on 2nd Avenue
· plan will restore streets to the neighbourhood and still provide free access.

In response to a Council member's query, Mr. Hall advised it may take until the fall for complete installation of the trial traffic calming measures, with the bulges expected to be in place this summer. The report back to Council would therefore occur next spring.

The following motion by Mayor Owen was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,

RECOMMENDED

A. THAT the North-East Kitsilano traffic calming plan be approved, as detailed in the Administrative Report dated June 23, 1999.

B. THAT funding of $210,000 for the implementation of the traffic calming plan be provided from Streets Capital Unappropriated Account 30000326, Neighbourhood Traffic Calming Plans.

C. THAT the annual maintenance budget be increased by $1,500, without offset, for the maintenance of the new traffic calming measures in the neighbourhood.

D. THAT following a trial period of about six months after installation, traffic counts be taken, residents within the North-East Kitsilano area be surveyed and the results reported back to Council.

E. THAT the designation of the residential section of Cypress Street between 4th and 1st be changed from a collector to a local, residential street.

F. THAT staff, in consultation with North-East Kitsilano residents and 4th Avenue merchants, evaluate the possibilities for facilitating the eastbound to northbound left-turn movement at the Burrard and 4th intersection, for report back to Council.

G. THAT staff, in consultation with the Kits Point residents, evaluate the impact on Chestnut Street, north of Cornwall, due to the left-turn bay at Burrard and Cornwall once the traffic calming measures on Cypress Street are implemented and report back to Council on traffic calming measures on Kits Point, if required.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

2. Parking Meters on West 4th Avenue - Burrard to Balsam File: 5654

The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated June 9, 1999 (on file), in which the General Manager of Engineering Services reviews parking in the Kitsilano business areas of 4th Avenue from Burrard to Balsam, and Yew Street north of 4th, and recommends the installation of parking meters in a portion of this area at this time to improve street usage for the area merchants. The General Manager also recommends that Engineering Services staff continue to work with the local businesses to improve parking usage.

Bob Macdonald, Parking Engineer, was on hand to answer questions if required.

The following motion by Councillor Clarke was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,

RECOMMENDED

A. THAT the General Manager of Engineering Services install 150 meter spaces on 4th Avenue and adjacent side streets from Burrard to Arbutus streets and continue to discuss parking options with the local businesses to improve street usage.

B. THAT Parking Meter By-Law 2952 be amended to allow for the installation of parking meters on 4th Avenue, and adjacent side streets, from Burrard Street to Balsam Street, and Yew Street from Cornwall to 1st Avenue, as show on Appendix A of the Administrative Report dated June 9, 1999, with the rate set at $1.00 per hour.

C. THAT the estimated $100,000 cost to purchase and install parking meters and $15,000 in added annual costs be funded from increased meter revenues.

D. THAT two parking enforcement officers, subject to job evaluation by the Director of Human Resources, be hired to patrol the Kitsilano Commercial area and adjacent Kitsilano residential area at an annual cost of $80,000, and start up costs of $10,000, including the purchase of two bicycles, be approved, with funding provided from increased parking ticket revenue.

E. THAT the Director of Legal Services bring forward the amendments to By-Law 2952 to reflect recommendation B as contained in the Administrative Report dated June 9, 1999.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

3. Downtown Transportation Plan File: 5560

The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated June 10, 1999 (on file), in which the General Manager of Engineering Services, and Director of Central Area Planning recommend a proposed work program and public consultation program for the preparation of the Downtown Transportation Plan, to begin in the fall of 1999, as outlined in Appendix A of the aforementioned report. As an alternative, deferral of the planning process for the Downtown Transportation Plan, for reconsideration in early 2001, was also put forward for Council's consideration.

Larry Beasley, Director of Current Planning, advised the proposed Downtown Transportation Plan represents the next major step in transportation planning for the city. He reviewed the key goals of the 1981 "Central Area Plan", and outlined the need for a central area transportation plan which is consistent with the larger transportation plan for the city.

Ian Adam, Assistant City Engineer - Transportation, reviewed the background related to transportation and transportation policies, noting the next major follow-up item is the Downtown Transportation Plan. With the aid of overheads, he reviewed items such as initiatives, specific tasks to be undertaken, and the issues which will not be dealt with under the proposed plan.

Brian Riera, with the aid of overheads, provided an overview of the proposed process and budget, i.e. the proposed work program, public consultation process and staffing requirements.

Staff responded to Council members' questions regarding items such as staffing, boundaries of proposed study area, public awareness, interaction with Parks and School Board, and proposed timelines.

The following spoke in favour of proceeding with the Downtown Transportation Plan in the fall of 1999, as per Recommendation A of the Administrative Report dated June 10, 1999, and their comments are summarized below:

Simon Bancroft, Vancouver City Planning Commission (brief on file)
Alec Caruth, Downtown Vancouver Association
George Cadman, President, Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association
Leonore Sali, Gastown Business Improvement Association

· recommend the following issues be addressed: integration with other transportation studies; movement of goods and services; land use planning; suggest boundary be extended to include False Creek Flats area; emphasize public realm
· rail corridors are essential for goods movement
· keep it simple - should focus on principal components
· transportation plan is an important part of overall land use process
· plan should be founded on carefully considered selection criteria
· a regional context is fundamental to the study - main roads network of TransLink and a third crossing (even if only to identify a landing point) are essential components
· study area should include south shore of False Creek, as it is the landing point for three principal bridge connections to the downtown
· important to recognize the substantial residential component within boundaries and the need for residents' input into process
· regarding the consultative process - request that downtown business representatives be given early notice of major initiatives, i.e. kept "in the loop" during the process
· would like traffic patterns in and around Gastown to be addressed.

Committee discussion followed on staffing requirements and procedures surrounding temporary staff, and goods movement.

The Chair noted that environmental consequences of noise is a critical factor, and suggested that Appendix A of the Administrative Report be amended to reflect this by moving item 6(d) "Traffic noise criteria for neighbourhoods" from the "Follow-up" column into the "Outline" column.

The following motion by Councillor Chiavario was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,

RECOMMENDED

A. THAT the planning process for the Downtown Transportation Plan begin in the fall of 1999 on the basis of the work program detailed in Appendix A of the Administrative Report dated June 10, 1999, as amended in Recommendation D.

B. THAT $135,000 be allocated in 1999 from Contingency Reserve, and $20,000 from the Parking Site Reserve, $463,000 in 2000 Operating Budget, and $116,000 in 2001 Operating Budget, for a total of $734,000, to cover the costs of the program and extra staff, as outlined in Appendix A of the Administrative Report dated June 10, 1999, as amended in Recommendation D.

C. THAT a Steering Committee be established to oversee the preparation of the Plan, to include 3 Councillors, the General Manager of Engineering Services, and the Director of Central Area Planning.

D. THAT Appendix A of the Administrative Report dated June 10, 1999, specifically, page 10, Item 6 d. "Traffic noise criteria for neighbourhoods" be amended by moving this item from the "follow up" to the "outline" designation noted under "Proposed Resolution in the Plan".

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

The Committee adjourned at 11:43 a.m.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver