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REPORT TO COUNCIL STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
APRIL 26, 2005 |
A Regular Meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on Transportation and Traffic was held on Tuesday, April 26, 2005, at 9:30 a.m., in the Council Chamber, Third Floor, City Hall.
PRESENT: |
Councillor Fred Bass, Chair
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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.
VARY THE AGENDA
MOVED by Councillor Roberts
THAT the order of the agenda be varied to consider Item 4 before Items 2 and 3.
LOST (Tie Vote)
(Councillors Bass, Louie, Louis, Sullivan and the Mayor opposed)
(Councillor Woodsworth absent for the vote)
INFORMATION
1. Air Quality Issues: Presentation by BCMA Sub-committee Chair (File3752)
At its meeting on February 1, 2005, Vancouver City Council agreed to invite the Chair of the BC Medical Association’s Sub-committee on Air Quality to a future Standing Committee on Transportation and Traffic to discuss the impacts of air pollution. Accordingly, Dr. David Bates, Sub-committee Chair and authority on air pollution provided a presentation on air pollution issues. Highlights included:
· the subsequent health costs related to air pollution do not appear on the balance sheets of the authorities and jurisdictions making decisions that impact public health;
· there is the difficulty of authorities having jurisdiction over parts of the issue, but not control of all of it;
· the regional detection system, i.e. the measuring authority, has no jurisdiction over controlling the pollutants as an example;
· marine emission studies from other cities have shown the amount of pollutants from ship fuel can be significant when ships are unloading and loading;
· sulfur content in heavy diesel fuel used by excavating and construction equipment is difficult to control in the city;
· domestic wood smoke is difficult to measure by conventional means; and
· vigilance is required to manage air pollution levels while substantial growth takes place in the region, and to ensure the hidden costs come out.
Dr. Bates, together with Ian Adam, Assistant City Engineer, responded to questions regarding pollutants from airport, Port and container traffic, border waits, bus fleets, barbeques, lawnmowers, and leaf blowers, energy sources used by greenhouses, as well as vehicle and wood stove standards, and opportunities for steps to address air pollution.
Council requested staff to report back on current policy regarding wood-burning stoves and fireplaces in the City, guidelines for new construction, whether any air pollution assessment of fireplaces has been conducted, and how to monitor guidelines.
RECOMMENDATION
2. Reclassification of Secondary Arterials to Neighbourhood Collectors (File 5757)
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated April 11, 2005, in which the General Manager of Engineering Services, in consultation with the Director of City Plans, sought Council’s approval of reclassification of seven Secondary Arterial streets to the new classification of Neighbourhood Collector, and a plan to address the classification of other low-volume Secondary Arterials and develop a program for traffic calming on Neighbourhood Collector streets.
David Rawsthorne, Neighbourhood Transportation Engineer, gave an overview of the report and noted the seven streets recommended for reclassification are not truck routes and are supported by residents of surrounding neighbourhoods and Community Visions surveys. He further noted staff are working with residents of Blenheim Street and City planning committees to develop a toolkit for neighbourhood collector traffic calming and a protocol for prioritizing candidate streets.
Mr. Rawsthorne, together with Ian Adam, Assistant City Engineer – Streets, Jerry Dobrovolny, Assistant City Engineer – Transportation, and Ted Sebastian, Planner – City and Regional Plans Branch responded to questions regarding:
· timeline and process for developing the toolkit;
· review and public consultation required for other streets;
· traffic volume guideline, community survey responses and criteria for determining traffic calming measures; and
· application for TransLink funding.
The following spoke in favour of reclassification:
Carol Alexander, Dundas Street Group
Chris Taulu, Collingwood Community Policing Group
George Grant, Victoria-Fraserview/Killarney Traffic Sub-committee
Francis Reid (petition on file)
Bob Heyman, Blenheim Neighbourhood Group (brief on file)
Louise Seto, Sunset Visions Implementation Committee
John Auersberg, Point Grey Ratepayers Association
A summary of their comments follows:
· resident group formed because of safety concerns with regard to the increase in vehicle accidents, short-cutting and speeding problems, and the number of school children and seniors in the area;
· concerned about the delay for the toolkit when we need the traffic calming now and the length of time that community has been lobbying for such measures;
· summer safety for pedestrians and cyclists is an issue due to speeding problems, seniors, day care and park in the area;
· disappointed that 54th and 57th Avenues, Blenhiem Street and Point Grey Road were not included for reclassification at this time;
· recommendations “contradict the commitment” and work done on the Neighbourhood Collector Pilot Project on Blenheim Street;
· there is potential for 57th Avenue to develop as a pedestrian-friendly neighbourhood;
· expansion of UBC has increased traffic in a neighbourhood which has many pedestrians; and
· resident groups offered to work on the toolkit.
MOVED by Councillor Woodsworth
THAT the Committee recommend to Council
A. THAT Council confirm the establishment of the new road category “Neighbourhood Collector” as described in the Administrative Report dated April 11, 2005, entitled “Reclassification of Secondary Arterials to Neighbourhood Collectors”.
B. THAT Council approve the reclassification of seven Secondary Arterial roads listed in the aforementioned report to the category of Neighbourhood Collector.
C. THAT staff report back on a toolkit and priority system for traffic calming on Neighbourhood Collector streets.
D. THAT staff report back on the classification of the streets listed in Appendix B of the aforementioned report, and in the interim, no changes be made to increase the capacity of these streets.
E. THAT a funding proposal for the treatment of Neighbourhood Collector streets be brought forward for consideration as part of the review process for the 2006-2008 Capital Plan.
carried
AMENDMENT MOVED BY Councillor Roberts
THAT A be amended to include the first five streets listed in Appendix B of the Administrative Report dated April 11, 2005.
LOST
(Councillors Bass, Ladner, Louie, Stevenson, Sullivan and the Mayor opposed)
(Council Green absent for the vote)
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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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AMENDMENT MOVED BY Councillor Bass
THAT Blenheim Street be designated as a Neighbourhood Collector at this time.
LOST (Tie Vote)
(Councillors Louie, Stevenson, Woodsworth, Sullivan and the Mayor opposed)
(Council Green absent for the vote)
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At this point in the proceedings, Councillor Bass resumed the Chair.
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The amendments having lost, Councillor Woodsworth’s motion was put and CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY with Councillor Green absent for the vote.
3. Parking Requirement Standards for Multiple Residential Use (File 113)
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated April 13, 2005, in which the General Manager of Engineering Services, in consultation with the Director of City Plans, Director of Development Services, Director of Legal Services, and Chief Building Official, sought Council’s approval of changes to the Parking By-law to reduce parking requirements for multiple dwellings in portions of the city. The Committee also had before it a Memorandum from the Bicycle Advisory Committee dated April 20, 2005.
Paul Pinsker, Parking and Development Engineer, gave an overview of the report and noted that the city is seeing the benefits of transit, cycling and pedestrian improvements and the number of vehicle registrations has decreased.
Mr. Pinsker, together with Tom Timm, General Manager of Engineering Services, Bob MacDonald, Parking Engineer, Pat Wotherspoon, Assistant Director of City Plans, Tracy Axelson, Co-operative Auto Network, and Jeff Fisher, Urban Development Institute, responded to questions regarding:
· parking and fuel-efficient vehicle requirements for car-sharing programs;
· developer costs, parking requirement standards with respect to current re-zoning applications, and Southeast False Creek’s plan;
· the City’s recovery of costs to service new developments;
· marketing units and “unbundling” the parking fee from rent charges;
· compatibility of parking and cycling along routes;
· feasibility of removing on-street parking; and
· housing affordability.
Staff agreed to provide an information memo on legislation pertaining to the option of separating resident parking costs in multi-residential buildings, as well as further information regarding the impact of the parking requirement standards by-law changes and possible adjustments with respect to Development Cost Levies.
George Grant expressed concern that the proposed changes to parking requirement standards do not address secondary vehicles on residential streets and under-utilized underground parking.
The following speakers spoke in favour of the recommendations:
David Pritchard (brief on file)
Jeff Fisher, Urban Development Institute (brief on file)
Tracy Axelson, Co-operative Auto Network
A summary of their comments follows:
· rather than having parking reactive to demand, take a proactive approach and encourage a modal shift in transportation;
· there’s potential in separating residents’ parking charge so the cost of automobile-based transportation becomes more obvious;
· Halifax offers an example of charging for an on-street parking permit;
· the proposed changes would have a positive impact on the environment, housing affordability and transportation, and are based on studies and surveys;
· developers want to be able to market a green building; and
· car-sharing is growing and other municipalities are watching Vancouver’s model.
MOVED by Councillor Roberts
THAT the Committee recommend to Council
THAT the Parking By-Law be amended to reduce parking requirements for multiple dwellings generally as contained in Appendix A of the Administrative Report dated April 13, 2005, entitled “Parking Requirement Standards for Multiple Residential Use”; and
FURTHER THAT the Director of Legal Services be instructed to prepare and bring forward the necessary amending by-law for enactment generally in accordance with Appendix A of the report.
amended
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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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AMENDMENT MOVED by Councillor Bass
THAT the motion be amended to insert the words “motor vehicle” before the words “parking requirements”; and that the following be added:
THAT staff review and revise bicycle parking requirements for multiple residential use (inside and outside the buildings), by November 1, 2005.
amended
SECONDARY AMENDMENT MOVED by Councillor Roberts
THAT the words “by November 1, 2005” be deleted, and the phrase “within one year” inserted.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillor Green absent for the vote)
The secondary amendment having carried, the primary amendment was put and CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY, with Councillor Green absent for the vote.
MOTION AS AMENDED
THAT the Committee recommend to Council
A. THAT the Parking By-Law be amended to reduce motor vehicle parking requirements for multiple dwellings generally as contained in Appendix A of the Administrative Report dated April 13, 2005, entitled “Parking Requirement Standards for Multiple Residential Use”.
B. THAT staff review and revise bicycle parking requirements for multiple residential use (inside and outside the buildings), within one year.
C. THAT the Director of Legal Services be instructed to prepare and bring forward the necessary amending by-law for enactment generally in accordance with Appendix A of the aforementioned report.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillor Green absent for the vote)
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At this point in the proceedings, Councillor Bass resumed the Chair.
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4. Truck and Construction Safety (File 5555)
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated April 11, 2005, in which the General Manager of Engineering Services, in consultation with Chief Constable and the Director of Legal Services, sought Council’s approval of by-law changes to deal with unsafe or unpermitted street and path closures, traffic impacts of building sites and the marking and placement of large waste containers, storage containers and construction trailers on city streets in order to enhance the Truck Safety and Enforcement program. Approval was also sought for a bylaw change to officially implement the Downtown Truck Route changes for the Downtown Transportation Plan.
Pat Ryan, Assistant Traffic Management Engineer, provided an overview of the report, and together with Constable Jeff Schwenneker, responded to questions on enforcement of oversize loads, municipal/regional/provincial jurisdictions, large construction projects and truck management plans, truck identification, truck route brochures, provisions for pedestrian and cyclist detours, and the construction brochure being developed.
MOVED by Councillor Louie
THAT the Committee recommend to Council
A. THAT the Street and Traffic By-law be revised to make companies and/or individuals loading a vehicle responsible for that load as shown in Appendix A of the Administrative Report dated April 11, 2005, entitled “Truck and Construction Safety”.
B. THAT the Street and Traffic By-law be revised to increase fines to better reflect public risk and road damage from overweight vehicles and insecure loads as shown in Appendix B of the aforementioned report.
C. THAT the Street and Traffic By-law be revised to allow broader application of lane use fees and to include specified fines for illegal or unsafe street and path closures as shown in Appendix C of the aforementioned report.
D. THAT the Street and Traffic By-law be revised to include a set of standards for marking waste containers, storage containers and construction trailers placed on city streets as shown in Appendix D of the aforementioned report.
E. THAT the Street and Traffic By-Law be revised to implement the Downtown Transportation Plan truck route changes as previously approved by Council as shown in Appendix E of the aforementioned report.
F. THAT the Director of Legal Services be requested to prepare the necessary amendments to the Street and Traffic By-Law substantially as set out in the aforementioned report and the appendices.
CARRIED UANIMOUSLY
(Councillors Green, Ladner, Stevenson and the Mayor absent for the vote)
5. Burrard Street Bicycle Lane and Peak Period Bus-only Lanes (File 5752-3)
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated April 6, 2005, in which the General Manager of Engineering Services, in consultation with the Director of Current Planning, sought Council’s approval for funding to proceed with the implementation of the Burrard Street Bike Lane and Bus-only Lanes as identified in the Downtown Transportation Plan.
Staff were available to respond to questions. Staff agreed to report back by the end of the year regarding a study of coloured bike lanes along Burrard Street.
David Pritchard, Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition, spoke in support of the bike lanes and would like to see them built as soon as possible and noted the timeline for the study on Burrard Street lane colouring.
MOVED by Councillor Louie
THAT the Committee recommend to Council
A. THAT the Burrard Street Bicycle Lane and peak period Bus-only Lanes be constructed as detailed in the Administrative Report dated April 6, 2005, entitled “Burrard Street Bicycle Lane and Peak Period Bus-only Lanes” at a cost of $170,000 to be funded as follows:
- $75,000 requested from TransLink’s Transit Road Related Infrastructure Program (TRIPP);
- $47,500 from TransLink’s 2005 Bicycle Program; and,
- $47,500 from the City’s 2005 Streets Basic Capital for Bicycle Network, subject to approval of the 2005 Basic Capital Budget.
B. THAT commencing in 2006, the annual Operating Budget for Signage be increased by $12,700, without offset and subject to 2006 Budget Review, for maintenance of the new signs and pavement markings.
C. THAT staff pursue and report back on options to form partnerships with interested transportation agencies and organizations to jointly fund a trial implementation and study of coloured bike lanes along Burrard Street.
CARRIED UANIMOUSLY
(Councillors Green, Ladner, Stevenson and the Mayor absent for the vote)
6. Homer Street Bike Lanes (File 5560-1)
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated April 6, 2005, in which the General Manager of Engineering Services, in consultation with the Director of Current Planning, sought Council’s approval for funding to install a bike lane on Homer Street in the northbound direction, in conjunction with the 2-way conversion of Homer Street.
Staff were available to respond to questions.
MOVED by Councillor Louie
THAT the Committee recommend to Council
A. THAT a northbound bicycle lane be constructed as detailed in the Administrative Report dated April 6, 2005, entitled “Homer Street Bike Lanes” at a cost of $13,000 with $6,500 funded from the 2005 Streets Basic Capital for Bicycle Network, subject to approval of the 2005 Basic Capital Budget, and the remaining $6,500 from the 2005 Translink Bicycle Program.
B. THAT commencing in 2006, the annual Traffic Operating Budget for Signage be increased by $1700, without offset and subject to 2006 Budget Review for maintenance of the signs and pavement markings.
CARRIED UANIMOUSLY
(Councillors Green, Ladner, Stevenson and the Mayor absent for the vote)
7. Richards Street Bike Lanes (File 5560-1)
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated April 11, 2005, in which the General Manager of Engineering Services, in consultation with the Director of Current Planning, sought Council’s approval for funding to proceed with the implementation of the Richards Street Bike Lane as. identified in the Downtown Transportation Plan.
Staff were available to respond to questions.
MOVED by Councillor Louie
THAT the Committee recommend to Council
A. THAT the Richards Street Bike Lane be constructed as detailed in the Administrative Report dated April 6, 2005, entitled “Richards Street Bike Lane” at a cost of $34,000 with funding from the following sources:
· $17,000 from the 2004 Streets Basic Capital Group CB2EA2E (Bicycle Network);
· The remaining $17,000 cost sharing from either the 2005 Translink Bicycle Program or the Province’s Cycling Infrastructure Partnership Program (CIPP).
B. THAT commencing in 2006, the annual Operating Budget for Signage be increased by $3,000 without offset and subject to the 2006 Budget Review for maintenance of the route.
CARRIED UANIMOUSLY
(Councillors Green, Ladner, Stevenson and the Mayor absent for the vote)
The Committee adjourned at 1:34 p.m.
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CITY OF VANCOUVER REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
APRIL 26, 2005 |
A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Tuesday, April 26, 2005, at 1:34 p.m., in the Council Chamber, Third Floor, City Hall, following the Standing Committee on Transportation and Traffic meeting, to consider the recommendations and actions of the Committee.
PRESENT: |
Councillor David Cadman, Acting Chair |
ABSENT: |
Councillor Jim Green
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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.
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Councillor Sullivan
SECONDED by Councillor Louie
THAT this Council resolve itself into Committee of the Whole, Councillor Cadman in the Chair.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(The Mayor absent for the vote)
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Report of Standing Committee on Transportation and Traffic
April 26, 2005
Council considered the report containing the recommendations and actions taken by the Standing Committee on Transportation and Traffic. Its items of business included:
1. Air Quality Issues: Presentation by BCMA Sub-committee Chair
2. Reclassification of Secondary Arterials to Neighbourhood Collectors
3. Parking Requirement Standards for Multiple Residential Use
4. Truck and Construction Safety
5. Burrard Street Bicycle Lane and Peak Period Bus-only Lanes
6. Homer Street Bike Lanes
7. Richards Street Bike Lanes
Items 1-7
MOVED by Councillor Woodsworth
THAT the recommendations and actions taken by the Standing Committee on Transportation and Traffic at its meeting of April 26, 2005, as contained in items 1-7, be approved.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(The Mayor absent for the vote)
RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Councillor Roberts
THAT the Committee of the Whole rise and report.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
ADOPT REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Councillor Louie
SECONDED by Councillor Bass
THAT the report of the Committee of the Whole be adopted.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
NEW BUSINESS
1. Leave of Absence – Mayor Campbell (File 1254)
MOVED by Councillor Louie
SECONDED by Councillor Bass
THAT Mayor Campbell be granted Leave of Absence (Civic Business) for the City Services and Budgets meeting on April 28, 2005.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
The Council adjourned at 1:36 p.m.
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