Agenda Index City of Vancouver

REPORT TO COUNCIL

STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
ON TRANSPORTATION AND TRAFFIC

MARCH 5, 2002

A Regular Meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on Transportation and Traffic was held on Tuesday, March 5, 2002, at 9:30 a.m., in the Council Chamber, Third Floor, City Hall.

PRESENT:

Councillor Jennifer Clarke, Chair
Mayor Philip Owen
Councillor Fred Bass
Councillor Daniel Lee
Councillor Tim Louis
Councillor Sandy McCormick
Councillor Gordon Price, Vice-Chair
Councillor Sam Sullivan

ABSENT:

Councillor Lynne Kennedy (Civic Business) Councillor Don Lee (Sick Leave)
Councillor George Puil (Sick Leave)

CITY MANAGER'S
OFFICE:

Judy Rogers, City Manager

CITY CLERK'S OFFICE:

Tina Hildebrandt, Meeting Coordinator

ADOPTION OF MINUTES

The Minutes of the Standing Committee on Transportation and Traffic meeting of January 15, 2002, were adopted.

VARY AGENDA
The Committee agreed to vary the order of the agenda in order to deal with Item 2 first. For clarity, the items are minuted chronologically.

RECOMMENDATION

1. Grandview and Skeena - Intersection Safety Improvements (File 5761)

Due to time constraints, this item was referred to the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment meeting of March 7, 2002.

2. Proposed Amphibious Bus Tours (File 5551)

The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated February 20, 2002, in which the General Manager of Engineering Services, in consultation with Police Services and the Office of Cultural Affairs, reviewed a range of issues around the operation of proposed Amphibious Tour Bus Services and sought Council's direction regarding use of these services in Vancouver.

Patrick Ryan, Traffic Management, reviewed the report and, together with Dave Rudberg, General Manager of Engineering Services, Ian Adam, Assistant City Engineer, Transportation, and Kolvane Yuh, Real Estate Services, responded to questions regarding amphibious bus tour routes in other cities, environmental impacts and marine traffic policies.

In response to a question regarding use of an existing ramp in Southeast False Creek for amphibious bus tours, Mr. Yuh confirmed it is an undeveloped facility located on City owned land which is currently leased to a private company. He also pointed out that allowing use of this facility in the near future could trigger environmental concerns.

Richard Bramall, Vice President, SeaQuest (1993) Adventurecraft Inc., spoke in favour of amphibious bus tours and briefly reviewed the SeaQuest proposal to operate a LARC V amphibious vehicle as a tourist attraction in Vancouver. In response to a question regarding alternative routes, Mr. Bramall advised SeaQuest is working with City of Vancouver staff to identify a more suitable route away from residential neighbourhoods.

Lois Nahirney, President and CEO, Ride the Ducks of Vancouver, spoke in favour of amphibious bus tours and described a preliminary proposal to operate an amphibious sightseeing tour in Vancouver using a technologically updated DUKW vehicle, the most commonly used vehicle for amphibious bus tours in the world. She also advised the organization is prepared to work with the City of Vancouver, other municipalities and communities to identify and develop a new public boat ramp that would minimize impacts to neighbourhoods.

Jonathan Keith-King, President, Vancouver Ducktours Inc., spoke in favour of amphibiousbus tours and reviewed a preliminary proposal to operate a new, amphibious vehicle specifically designed for the tourist industry which meets California emission standards and is 90% quieter than most marine traffic. He also indicated the proposed route would include use of a boat ramp presently located in an industrial area on the southeast shore of False Creek. Mr. Keith-King advised the organization is awaiting approval from the City of Vancouver and Motor Carrier Commission.

The following spoke in favour of proposed amphibious bus tours in Vancouver:

John Keith-King, Granville Island Museums
Brian Veitch, General Manager, Gray Line of Vancouver
Ian Nethercott

A summary of speakers' comments follow:

· the primary purpose of amphibious bus tours in Vancouver is to support cultural facilities through increased visitor revenue;
· the Vanier Park Boat Ramp facility would be temporary while City of Vancouver staff identify a more suitable location;
· amphibious bus tours are a fun, safe, unique tourism idea for Vancouver.

Jeremy Patterson, Granville Island Ferries, spoke in general favour of amphibious bus tours but expressed concern regarding the increased congestion these services could bring to False Creek.

The following spoke in opposition to proposed amphibious bus tours in Vancouver:

A summary of speakers' comments follow:

· the air pollution caused by the diesel emissions from these amphibious vehicles could create a negative impact on tourism;
· in honour of the Good Neighbour Agreement the City of Vancouver should not approve SeaQuest's proposal to operate an amphibious bus tour in Kits Point;
· during the preliminary approval process for the SeaQuest proposal, City of Vancouver staff did not consider citizen's interests;
· the size and weight of these amphibious vehicles could be a safety hazard and damage the Vanier Park Boat Ramp at low tide; the proponents should return when a more suitable route has been determined;
· the proposed routes for these amphibious vehicles are narrow streets used by pedestrians, cyclists and other motorists; the congestion created and the poor driver visibility in these vehicles is a concern;
· these LARC V vehicles should be tested to ensure their speed and the wash they create are within standards;
· SeaQuest proposes a pick-up/drop-off point at a busy intersection near Granville Island which could cause negative impacts to local businesses and residents;
· there are concerns regarding the SeaQuest proposal including conflicting reports leading up to the proposal and the absence of an environmental impact study;
· use of Whyte Avenue, which has no sidewalks from Chestnut Street to the sea and a high level of pedestrian traffic, is a safety concern that should have been highlighted in the City of Vancouver staff report;
· the SeaQuest proposal is not a bus route as referred to but an amusement ride that does not belong in residential neighbourhoods;
· a survey of Kits Point determined an overwhelming opposition to this proposal;
· Council should reject this proposal and direct staff that Vancouver is not open to amphibious vehicles; it detracts from Vancouver's uniqueness.

Mr. Ryan and Mr. Adam responded to questions regarding alternative routes for amphibious bus tours in non-residential areas and the estimated costs associated with building a new boat ramp.

MOVED by Councillor Louis
THAT the Committee Recommend to Council

1. THAT the Motor Carrier Commission be advised that the City does not support the introduction of Amphibious Bus Tours in Vancouver.

2. THAT should the Motor Carrier Commission proceed with issuing a license to operate amphibious bus tours in Vancouver, despite Council's opposition, the Director of Legal Services be requested to report back to Council on options available to prohibit these ventures.

amended

AMENDMENT MOVED by Councillor McCormick

THAT Recommendation 1 be amended to add the words "in residential neighbourhoods" following the word "Tours".

carried

AMENDMENT MOVED by Councillor Bass

THAT Councillor McCormick's amendment be amended to add the words "including False Creek" following the word "neighbourhoods".

LOST
(Councillors Daniel Lee, McCormick, Price, Sullivan and the Mayor opposed)

The secondary amendment having LOST, Councillor McCormick's primary amendment was put and CARRIED with Councillors Bass, Louis and Sullivan opposed.

MOTION AS AMENDED
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

1. THAT the Motor Carrier Commission be advised that the City does not support the introduction of Amphibious Bus Tours in residential neighbourhoods in Vancouver.

2. THAT should the Motor Carrier Commission proceed with issuing a license to operate amphibious bus tours in Vancouver, despite Council's opposition, the Director of Legal Services be requested to report back to Council on options available to prohibit these ventures.

CARRIED
(Councillor Daniel Lee and the Mayor opposed to Recommendation 1)
(Councillor Sullivan and the Mayor opposed to Recommendation 2)

MOVED by Councillor McCormick
THAT the Committee Recommend to Council

3. THAT the City undertake a study on the feasibility of construction of a new Boat Ramp suitable for Amphibious Bus Tour services within the City. Funding of $10,000 will be provided from Contingency Reserve to be matched by each proponent prior to approval of any route.

CARRIED
(Councillors Bass and Louis opposed)

The Committee adjourned at 12:18 p.m.

- - - - -

CITY OF VANCOUVER

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

MARCH 5, 2002

A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Tuesday, March 5, 2002, at 12:18 p.m., in the Council Chamber, 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 Fred Bass
Councillor Jennifer Clarke
Councillor Daniel Lee
Councillor Tim Louis
Councillor Sandy McCormick
Councillor Gordon Price
Councillor Sam Sullivan

ABSENT:

Councillor Lynne Kennedy (Civic Business) Councillor Don Lee (Sick Leave)
Councillor George Puil (Sick Leave)

CITY MANAGER'S
OFFICE:

Judy Rogers, City Manager

CITY CLERK'S OFFICE:

Tina Hildebrandt, Meeting Coordinator

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Councillor Price
SECONDED by Councillor Daniel Lee

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
March 5, 2002

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

Clause 1

Due to time constraints, this item was referred to the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment meeting of March 7, 2002.

Clause 2

MOVED by Councillor Clarke

THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clause 2 of this report, be approved.

CARRIED
(Councillor Daniel Lee and the Mayor opposed to Recommendation 1)
(Councillor Sullivan and the Mayor opposed to Recommendation 2)
(Councillors Bass and Louis opposed to Recommendation 3)

RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Councillor McCormick

THAT the Committee of the Whole rise and report.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

ADOPT REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Councillor Louis
SECONDED by Councillor Bass

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

The Council adjourned at 12:19 p.m.

* * * * *

tt020305.htm

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