ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: May 14, 2002
Author/Local: R. Birch/7292

RTS No. 02641

CC File No. 3155

Council: June 25, 2002

TO:	Vancouver City Council
FROM:	General Manager of Engineering Services
SUBJECT:	Report of the Sidewalk Task Force

RECOMMENDATIONS

A. THAT Council receive the attached report of the Sidewalk Task Force for INFORMATION.

B. THAT Council thank the members of the Sidewalk Task Force for their dedication and commitment in producing this report.

C. THAT Council direct staff to report back with an implementation plan which identifies how and when each recommendation may be implemented;

FURTHER that this implementation plan be monitored as part of the regular review of the Transportation Plan initiatives.

COUNCIL POLICY

Council has, through the Transportation Plan, identified pedestrians as the first transportation priority.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this report is to submit to Council the report of the Sidewalk Task Force and to propose a process by which the report's recommendations can be implemented.

BACKGROUND

Funding for the Sidewalk Task Force was approved by Council in July, 2000. Organization of the task force was unavoidably delayed by a labour dispute in late 2000 and so the Task Force was not able to begin its work until early 2001.

The terms of reference of the Task Force contains the following mandate statement:

"This Task Force shall serve as a forum to bring together the various groups, agencies, and departments to discuss and coordinate their efforts to improve the safety, comfort, and convenience of pedestrians in the City of Vancouver.

The Task Force shall discuss a strategy for ensuring a high quality pedestrian space is provided, with street furniture appropriate to permit safe and comfortable passage, and which provides interest and excitement to the pedestrian environment.

Prior to completion of its term, the Task Force shall prepare a report to Council."

The Task Force is comprised of representatives from a diverse range of organizations and advisory groups. In addition, Council has appointed two citizen representatives to the Task Force. The complete list of Task Force members is contained within the Task Force report.

For the past year, the Task Force has been meeting monthly, identifying issues and receiving presentations from staff on these issues. A report has now been written and is submitted together with this report (limited distribution, on file in the office of the General Manager of Engineering Services). The recommendations contained in the Task Force report were developed after consideration and debate by the members.

During its term, the Sidewalk Task Force discussion proposed some changes to existing processes. Several of these changes have been integrated into work programs and standards, including:

- use of root barriers
- green space design
- black asphalt patch standards
- curb ramp design standards (to provide two separate ramps at each corner, rather than just one)
- written maintenance standards
- improved coordination between construction and maintenance.

DISCUSSION

Each recommendation of the Sidewalk Task Force is a call to action and change. Some recommendations have financial implications, either through the need for increased funding or else through reallocating existing funding to reflect changed priorities. Other recommendations suggest further study, or the creation of improved standards and practices. Because of the potential implications, staff recommend that Council refer the recommendations to staff for report back. It is proposed that this be done as follows:

- staff report back to Council with a detailed implementation plan on each Sidewalk Task Force report recommendation.
- the implementation plan, once approved, be monitored as part of the regular review of the Transportation Plan initiatives.

CONCLUSION

The report of the Sidewalk Task Force raises concerns with current City practices related to sidewalks and identifies several ways in which policies and practices could be changed to better reflect Council's policies which place pedestrians as the top priority. This report seeks to take the Task Force recommendations and develop an implementation plan to address the public concerns raised by the Task Force and ensure that they are addressed.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver