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REPORT TO COUNCIL STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
JANUARY 18, 2005 |
A Regular Meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on was held on Tuesday, January 18, 2005, at 9:30 a.m., in Council Chamber, Third Floor, City Hall.
PRESENT: |
Councillor Fred Bass, Chair
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ABSENT: |
Mayor Larry Campbell (Leave of Absence - Civic Business)
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CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE: |
Brent MacGregor, Deputy City Manager |
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE: |
Pat Boomhower, Meeting Coordinator |
* Denotes absence for a portion of the meeting.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Leave of Absence - Councillor Green (File 1254)
MOVED by Councillor Stevenson
THAT Councillor Green be granted Leave of Absence for Civic Business for the morning of January 18, 2005.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillor Sullivan absent for the vote)
INFORMATION
1. Truck Emissions: Presentation by BC Trucking Association (File 3501)
Ian Adam, Assistant City Engineer, introduced Paul Landry, President and Chief Executive Officer, BC Trucking Association, and noted staff available to answer questions.
Mr. Landry provided a presentation on truck engine technologies and the industry's strategies aimed at reducing truck emissions. Highlights of the presentation included:
· trucks' critical role in transporting freight;
· Canada and US fuel emission standards;
· the challenge for the industry to reduce fuel consumption and opportunities for improvement; and
· use of hybrid power for "stop and go" type of transportation.
Mr. Landry, together with Tom Timm, General Manager of Engineering Services, and Ian Adam, Assistant City Engineer, responded to questions regarding:
· regulation enforcement and incentives to buy/use new vehicles with improved technologies;
· the AirCare program, estimated growth in the trucking industry and proportion of trucks meeting standards;
· employee training component of the City's corporate program to reduce GHG;
· factors affecting biodiesel use; and
· expediting freight pick-up at the Port and freight movement across the border.
In response to questions regarding the facilitation of truck movement through the city, Mr. Landry agreed to provide a letter on further strategies and whether other cities have implemented those strategies.
MOVED by Councillor Cadman
THAT the Committee recommend to Council
THAT Council receive for information the presentation by the President of the BC Trucking Association entitled "The Road to Cleaner Air", regarding truck engine technologies and strategies to reduce truck emissions.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
RECOMMENDATION
2. City of Vancouver Cycling Program (File 5553/1375)
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated January 4, 2005, entitled "City of Vancouver Cycling Program", in which the General Manager of Engineering Services provided information on the status of the City of Vancouver's Cycling Program, approved in the 1999 Bicycle Plan and the Downtown Transportation Plan.
Jim Hall, Neighbourhood Transportation Engineer, provided an overview of the report and noted the report seeks an additional staff resource for the cycling program and identified priority areas for cycling facility improvements.
Mr. Hall, together with Tom Timm, General Manager of Engineering Services, and Ian Adam, Assistant City Engineer, responded to questions on: cost-sharing and allocation of TransLink dollars; maintenance as a priority and its portion of funding; Burrard, Granville and Cambie Bridges projects; cycling data, promotion and funding comparison to other Canadian cities; and current cycling mode estimate for Vancouver.
Richard Campbell, Better Environmentally Sound Transportation, thanked Council for their ongoing efforts for the cycling community and noted there are areas which need to catch up in order to have a complete cycling network.
MOVED by Councillor Cadman
THAT the Committee recommend to Council
A. THAT Council receive for information the Administrative Report dated January 4, 2005, entitled "City of Vancouver Cycling Program" on the status of the Vancouver Cycling Program.
B. THAT a new, regular, full-time Engineering Assistant IV staff position be approved in 2005 in the Neighbourhood Transportation Branch for cycling initiatives, subject to classification review. This position will be funded from an increase in the Operating Budget which will be fully recovered from the Engineering Streets Capital Budget.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillor Stevenson absent for the vote)
3. City of Vancouver Cycling Program (2006 - 2008 Capital Plan, Cycling Portion) (File 3062-1)
The Committee had before it a Report dated December 31, 2004, entitled "City of Vancouver Cycling Program (2006 - 2008 Capital Plan, Cycling Portion)", in which the Bicycle Advisory Committee provided recommendations for funding and route priorities for the cycling portion of the 2006-2008 Capital Plan, completion of the 1999 Bicycle Plan's defined route implementations, and on strategic direction for the City's cycling program.
Jack Becker, provided an overview of the report on behalf of the Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC) and highlighted Vancouver's cycling growth potential and cycling as a tool for sustainability in the city.
Mr. Becker, together with Jim Hall, Neighbourhood Transportation Engineer, Doug Louie, Downtown Transportation Engineer, and Ian Adam, Assistant City Engineer, responded to questions regarding:
· research on personal influences that start and keep people cycling;
· comparison with other North American cities concerning staff resources for marketing and implementing programs;
· the proportion of women cyclists and the need for encouraging more women and school children to cycle;
· Downtown as a priority for development of the cycling network;
· translation of cycling information;
· end of trip facilities; and
· modal statistics per week and per month (taking into account occasional cycling).
Richard Campbell, Better Environmentally Sound Transportation, and David Pritchard spoke in favour of the BAC's recommendations. A summary of their comments follows:
· there are more opportunities for cost-sharing with TransLink and the Province;
· cycling improvements benefit others as well, such as pedestrians and residents;
· we have made good improvements but haven't asked "who are we designing these for?";
· promotion is an integral part of the cycling program; and
· the City's Bicycle Plan could easily be the best in North America, but has been slow to complete, i.e. 2014 is not what cyclists in 1999 would have expected.
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At this point in the proceedings, the Chair stepped down in order to participate in
the debate and the Vice-Chair assumed the Chair.
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MOVED by Councillor Bass
THAT the Committee recommend to Council
THAT Council supports in principle the following recommendations of the Bicycle Advisory Committee:
A. That Council set an aggressive target for cycling's share of the City's transportation mode split of 10% by 2010 and works towards achieving cycling mode levels of more aggressive European cities.
B. That the cycling routes identified in the 1999 Bicycle Plan and in the 2001 Downtown Transportation Plan be completed by year-end 2008, at the latest, as a first step towards attaining a 10% cycling mode share and that funding be provided in the 2006-2008 Capital Plan to complete these routes ($17 million) and for upcoming needs ($3 million).
C.(i.) That, building upon the 1988 and 1999 Bicycle Plans, a next stage comprehensive master cycling plan be completed by year-end 2006, including both physical cycling network and people-centered programs, to support attaining the target cycling mode share, thereby identifying capital, staffing, other resources, and related funding needs required to support such a comprehensive plan, and further;
C.(ii) That, as an essential component of the plan, ongoing market research be undertaken to determine and monitor:
a. opportunity and magnitude for growth of cycling as a form of transportation, focusing on opportunities for conversion of motorists to cycling and on former cyclists who have given up on cycling as a form of commuting,
b. personal decision factors that would persuade motorists to switch to cycling as a form of transportation, and
c. supportive programs that would effect such mode switch to cycling and attain the targeted cycling mode split; and
C.(iii) That, in preparation of the plan, staff be directed to determine new practices and enhancements to current cycling facilities design practices (designs, tools, options, guidelines, standards, etc.) which would sufficiently appeal to the non-cycling and infrequent cycling populous to switch permanently to cycling and to attain the target 10% cycling mode split.
D.(i) That sufficient cycling staffing, resources, and funding be provided to support the on-time implementation of the 2006-2008 Capital Plan and recommendations A, B, and C;
D.(ii) That sufficient cycling staffing and funding be provided for unexpected cycling infrastructure opportunities resulting from redevelopment of lands so that implementation timing of programmed projects are not negatively affected by such opportunities; and
D.(iii) That the cycling staff's focus would be to coordinate and:
a. Carry out the master plan described in Recommendation C through planning, designing, and implementing the cycling facility infrastructure, and
b. Develop and deliver programs for marketing, promotion, communication, safety, and education, among others in co-ordination with TransLink.
E. That the annual capital budget include funding for spot improvements requested by the cycling public and supported by the Bicycle Advisory Committee and staff, and that the initial funding level be $100,000 annually.
F. That the route priorities, as set out in Attachment A - Recommendations Route Priorities - 2006-2008 Cycling Capital Plan, serve as guidance for future development of the bicycle network.
AND FURTHER THAT Council requests, two months prior to the final decisions on the 2006-2008 Capital Plan, a report that includes:
1) the costs of implementing C.(i)-(iii) and D.(i)-(iii) (set out above); and
2) several intermediate options (with benefits and costs of each specified) for funding the bicycle capital plan for 2006-2008 at levels between the preliminary $4.3 million proposed by staff and the $20 million proposed by the Bicycle Advisory Committee.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
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At this point in the proceedings, Councillor Bass resumed the Chair.
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4. Temporary Cul-de-sac on East 8th Avenue at Grandview Highway North (File 5757)
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated December 17, 2004, entitled "Temporary Cul-de-sac on East 8th Avenue at Grandview Highway North", in which the General Manager of Engineering Services sought Council approval and funding to make permanent the cul-de-sac on East 8th Avenue at Grandview Highway North as indicated in Appendix A of the report.
Jim Hall, Neighbourhood Transportation Engineer, reviewed the report and together with Ian Adam, Assistant City Engineer, responded to questions regarding traffic on 7th Avenue, timelines for completing the project, and transit related garbage in the neighbourhood.
Council requested an information memo or report regarding how to address the debris.
Richard Campbell, Better Environmentally Sound Transportation, and Kim McGrail spoke in favour making the cul-de-sac permanent. Their comments included:
· the cul-de-sac benefits both residents and greenway users;
· in this case, there has been a reduction of traffic levels on nearby streets as well;
· that the cul-de-sac is more than about traffic; and
· emphasis on completing this project, which will have a big impact.
MOVED by Councillor Woodsworth
THAT the Committee recommend to Council
A. THAT the temporary cul-de-sac on East 8th Avenue at Grandview Highway North be made permanent at a cost of $110,000 to be provided with $90,000 from the Streets Basic Capital Unappropriated Account SCA5A- Local Area Traffic Plans and Other Improvements, and $20,000 from the Streets Basic Capital Unappropriated Account SCA2H, Greenways.
B. THAT commencing in 2006, the Streets Operating Budget for Horticultural Maintenance be increased by $2500 and the Traffic Operating Budget for Signage be increased by $250, without offset, subject to budget review, for the maintenance of the cul-de-sac.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
The Committee adjourned at 12:06 p.m.
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CITY OF VANCOUVER REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
JANUARY 18, 2005 |
A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Tuesday, January 18, 2005, at 12:06 p.m., in Council Chamber, Third Floor, City Hall, following the Standing Committee on meeting, to consider the recommendations and actions of the Committee.
PRESENT: |
Councillor Anne Roberts, Deputy Mayor
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ABSENT: |
Mayor Larry Campbell (Leave of Absence - Civic Business)
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CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE: |
Brent MacGregor, Deputy City Manager |
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE: |
Pat Boomhower, Meeting Coordinator |
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Councillor Stevenson
SECONDED by Councillor Cadman
THAT this Council resolve itself into Committee of the Whole, in the Chair.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Report of Standing Committee on
January 18, 2005
Council considered the report containing the recommendations and actions taken by the Standing Committee on . Its items of business included:
1. Truck Emissions: Presentation by BC Trucking Association
2. City of Vancouver Cycling Program
3. City of Vancouver Cycling Program (2006 - 2008 Capital Plan, Cycling Portion)
4. Temporary Cul-de-sac on East 8th Avenue at Grandview Highway North
MOVED by Councillor Cadman
THAT the recommendations and actions taken by the Standing Committee on at its meeting of January 18, 2005, as contained in
1-4, be approved.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Councillor Cadman
THAT the Committee of the Whole rise and report.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
ADOPT REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Councillor Bass
SECONDED by Councillor Louis
THAT the report of the Committee of the Whole be adopted.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
The Council adjourned at 12:10 p.m.
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