Vancouver City Council

COUNCIL MEETING FOLLOWING
STANDING COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND TRAFFIC COMMITTEE MEETING

June 8, 2004

DECISIONS

For information, please contact Pat Boomhower, Meeting Coordinator,
at 604-873-7015 or e-mail patricia_boomhower@city.vancouver.bc.ca

At its meeting immediately following the Standing Committee on Transportation and Traffic meeting on June 8, 2004, Vancouver City Council approved the following:

1. Taxicab Surcharge to Metered Fares for Installation of Digital Cameras

A. THAT Council endorse a surcharge of $0.15, to be added to taxicab meter fares until March 26, 2005, to offset costs associated with installation of digital cameras in taxicabs, resulting in the following rates (excluding GST):

POINT TO POINT ON METER:
For the first 77 meters or fraction thereof $2.39
For each additional 77 meters or fraction thereof $0.10
For each 15.53 seconds of stopping or waiting time $0.10

TIME OR DISTANCE:
For the first hour or fraction thereof $23.18

Or for each 77 meters, whichever is greater $00.10

For each succeeding quarter hour or fraction thereof $05.80

Or for each 77 meters, whichever is greater $00.10

B. THAT the Director of Legal Services be instructed to bring forward the necessary amendments to the Vehicles for Hire By-law to give affect to the proposed taxicab rate increases.

2. Staffing for Renfrew-Collingwood and Hastings-Sunrise Visions Implementation and Arterial Planning

A. THAT Council approve the creation of a permanent Planner 2 position and a permanent Planning Analyst position to work on implementation of the Hastings-Sunrise and Renfrew-Collingwood Community Visions. Annual cost of these two positions including benefits is $131,000 plus a one time cost of $6000 for computers and software. Funding for the balance of 2004, estimated at $93,300, is available in the City Plans Division operating budget. Funding for 2005 and future years to be added to the City Plans operating budget without offset.

B. THAT Council approve the conversion of the temporary Civil Engineer position (Vision Implementation/Arterial Plans) and the Engineering Assistant 2 (technical support staff) to permanent full-time positions to work with Planning staff on the implementation of Visions, Neighbourhood Centres, and arterial reviews, effective January 2005. Annual cost for the two positions is $123,600 including benefits. Funding for 2004 is available within the Engineering Services operating budget. Funding for 2005 and future years to be added to the Engineering Services operating budget without offset.

3. Status of Area Transit Plan

A. THAT Council receive the Terms of Reference for the Public Advisory Committee for the Vancouver - UBC Area Transit Plan and refer them to the Public Advisory Committee for review and report back.

B. THAT the following be added to meeting topics listed on page one of Appendix B - Draft Terms of Reference for the Area Transit Plan Public Advisory Committee and Steering Committee under:

i) Overview of current and potential transit users, including women, youth, seniors, persons with disabilities, and late-night workers;

ii) Evaluation criteria and methods including:

goals for modal split and other major transit-performance indicators,
specifying the goal-setting process, and
specifying the process for ongoing monitoring

Goals should target quality of service delivery in terms of:
a) service frequency
b) service reliability
c) loading (extent of crowding)
d) origin and destination information;

iii) Transportation demand management strategies including:

a) employer-employee programs
b) university, college, and high school U-Pass type programs
c) community transit passes
d) incentives and pricing, particularly discounted fares for youth, seniors
e) disincentives and pricing
f) parking strategies;

and transit priority including:
a) dedicated lanes
b) synchronized signals
c) parking modifications
d) bus bulges
e) linkages to pedestrian corridors
f) linkages to bicycle routes.

C. THAT a front-line transit operators committee be established to give ongoing comments and suggestions to both the Public Advisory Committee and the ATP Project Team.

D. THAT the Cool Vancouver Task Force reports and their commitment to transportation demand management and greenhouse gas reduction be added to the policy statements section and that staff liaison from Vancouver/UBC ATP staff be established with Cool Vancouver staff.

E. THAT Councillor Fred Bass and Steering Committee Chair, Helen Cook be appointed to co-chair the Public Advisory Committee meetings.

F. THAT marine transit (ferries) and its integration into transit fare system be considered.

ENQUIRIES AND OTHER MATTERS

1. Leave of Absence - Councillor Cadman

THAT Councillor Cadman be granted Leave of Absence for Civic Business from the Court of Revision meeting on June 9, 2004.

2. Leave of Absence - Councillor Stevenson

THAT Councillor Stevenson be granted Leave of Absence for Civic Business from the Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets meeting on June 10, 2004.

3. Leave of Absence - Mayor Campbell

THAT Mayor Campbell be granted Leave of Absence for Civic Business from the following meetings:

· Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets meeting on June 10, 2004;
· Standing Committee on Planning and Environment meeting on June 10, 2004.

4. Leave of Absence - Councillor Green

THAT Councillor Green be granted Leave of Absence for Civic Business from the Council meeting on June 22, 2004.

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