CITY OF VANCOUVER
SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING
A Special Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver to
discuss Blenheim Street traffic issues, was held on September 26, 1995
at 7:30 p.m. at Carnarvon Community School, 3400 Balaclava Street, and
reconvened on October 17, 1995 at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber,
Third Floor, City Hall.
September 26:
PRESENT: Mayor Owen
Councillors Bellamy, Chiavario, Clarke,
Hemer, Ip, Kennedy, Kwan,
Puil and Sullivan
ABSENT: Councillor Price (Sick Leave)
CLERK TO THE COUNCIL: Marnie Cross
October 17:
PRESENT: Mayor Owen
Councillors Bellamy, Chiavario, Clarke,
Hemer, Ip, Kennedy, Kwan,
Price and Puil
ABSENT: Councillor Sullivan (Sick Leave)
CLERK TO THE COUNCIL: Marnie Cross
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Cllr. Hemer,
SECONDED by Cllr. Clarke,
THAT this Council resolve itself into Committee of the Whole, Mayor
Owen in the Chair.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
SEPTEMBER 26
The Mayor indicated the purpose of the meeting, and a subsequent
meeting to be held on October 17, was to hear from area residents on the
matter of Blenheim Street traffic measures. After hearing from
everyone, Council would decide at a later date whether to proceed with
the traffic calming measures approved by the Vancouver Traffic
Commission at its meeting on June 20, 1995, or to cancel or modify the
measures proposed.
Council had before it, the following information (on file in the
City Clerk's Office):
- Vancouver Traffic Commission Report (and recommendations)
dated June 20, 1995 and Council action of July 11, 1995;
- Administrative Report dated May 31, 1995 from the General
Manager, Engineering Services;
- Letter dated September 12, 1995 from the Assistant City
Engineer, Transportation Division, widely distributed to area
residents.
Mr. Ian Adam, Assistant City Engineer, Transportation, outlined the
traffic measures approved by the Traffic Commission, including:
- a circle, curb bulge and right-hand turn island north of
Broadway, to maintain Blenheim as a local street;
- new curbs to narrow Blenheim south of Broadway;
- stop signs on Trutch and Waterloo between 10th and 16th
Avenues;
- temporary traffic circles at 12th and 14th Avenues, and turn
restrictions at other locations;
- follow-up study of all measures in six months (particularly
the traffic circles) to determine whether they should be
modified or made permanent.
The traffic calming measures arose from the Kitsilano Traffic,
Cycling and Parking Plan approved by Council in October, 1992.
Mr. Adam outlined the following options to deal with the traffic
situation on Blenheim Street:
Option A - Proceed with all traffic measures, as approved by the
Traffic Commission.
Option B - Implement traffic measures north of Broadway, and south
of Broadway without traffic circles.
Option C - Leave all streets as they are.
The following speakers were in favour of Option A:
Chris Overall
Randy Sharp
Perry McGinity
David Walker
Keith McMillan
Michael Geary
Murray Margolis
Milan Pecaric
Max Mudrik
Doug Waterfield
Bill Ignatiuk
Greg Weber
Peter Phillips
Points expressed by the speakers include:
- When the traffic signals at King Edward, 10th and 16th Avenues
were installed, Council instructed the City Engineer to
monitor the impacts such as increased traffic and report back
on measures to mitigate them. It is time for mitigation
measures;
- Much of the increase in traffic is commuter traffic or traffic
destined for commercial establishments on Broadway, or Jericho
Beach;
- The neighbourhood is becoming increasingly dangerous and less
livable due to traffic noise;
- The City needs to encourage healthy neighbourhoods and this
can only be done by decreasing traffic flow;
- The City is emphasizing the efficient movement of traffic
rather than safe neighbourhoods;
- The traffic circles are intended to be installed on a
temporary basis and be monitored and reported back -- they
should be allowed on this trial basis and maybe some of the
fears of other residents will not emerge--no one will know if
there is no trial period.
The following speaker was opposed to the traffic circles and
supported Option B:
Cassandra Kobayashi
(A left turn bay should be installed at 10th and Blenheim.
There has been an increase in traffic and resultant excessive
speeds which should be enforced.)
The following speakers registered opposition to the traffic
circles, some (indicated in brackets) favoured option C:
Al Payne
Angela Schneider
Peter Constance (Option C)
Grant Anderson (Option C except install left turn bay at 10th
for traffic northbound)
Barbara Berry
Janet Mitchell (Option C)
Ronald Perkins
Alexander Chisholm (Option C)
Don Collins (Option C)
Points expressed by the speakers include:
- The Engineering Department did not recommend installation of
traffic circles on this collector street;
- Most felt they should have been part of the consultation
process;
- Blenheim is a collector street and therefore any changes
affect the entire neighbourhood;
- The illegal suites in the area are increasing traffic from
what used to be one car per household to 3 and 4 cars.
The following speakers suggested a comprehensive traffic plan for
the area be undertaken in order to maintain the livable community:
Bert Loehner
Arlene Cook
Susan Aro
Mary McKenzie
Jennifer Sweeney
Stephen Roberts
Brad Stafford
Randy Tichelman
Points expressed by the speakers include:
- There is concern traffic will flow over onto other streets
which are too narrow and unable to handle increased traffic;
- Safety concerns around McBride Park will have to be addressed;
- There is a need for decent rapid transit.
The Mayor indicated that the speakers remaining on the list would
be the start of the speakers' list for the October 17 meeting.
MOVED by Cllr. Clarke,
THAT the meeting reconvene on October 17, 1995 at 7:30 p.m. in the
Council Chamber, Third Floor, City Hall.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
Council recessed at approximately 10:10 p.m.
* * * * * *
OCTOBER 17, 1995
The meeting reconvened, Mayor Owen in the Chair, to hear the
remaining speakers on the Blenheim Street traffic issues.
The following speakers were in favour of Option A:
Terry Lim
Lorne Whitehead
Susan Crossman
Gavin Davidson
Angela Gedye
Bob Wilmott
David Gardiner (in favour of some form of
mitigation, not necessarily all measures in
Option A)
The following speaker was in favour of Option B:
Chuck Harrison
The following speakers were in favour of Option C:
Harry Chandler
Pam McAllister
David Babbitt
Francisca Cabanas
Bruce Harrower
Neil Hosein
Dan Overmyer
Some points noted by the speakers include:
- The Kits Traffic Plan indicated traffic circles are
inappropriate;
- Enforcement police costs and radar equipment could be paid for
if the City could collect the fines;
- There is already increased traffic on Waterloo Street.
The following speakers were in favour of a comprehensive traffic
plan:
Ben Pedret
Allyson Hunter
Points noted include:
- There are an overwhelming number of citizens who attended the
first meeting in the area but did not speak as their
neighbours had expressed their concerns;
- Traffic circles are not usually placed on collector streets -
there is one on Nelson Street in the West End.
In response to questions as to what basis the Traffic Commission
will be making its decision regarding the future of the community, and
how will the residents be kept informed and involved, the Mayor
indicated Council will be dealing with the subject when they receive a
report from staff. Council will deal with the report in open session
and everyone will be notified.
There was a great deal of discussion between Councillors and
members of the public with respect to traffic calming measures, etc.
RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy,
THAT the Committee of the Whole rise and report.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
ADOPT REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy,
SECONDED by Cllr. Chiavario,
THAT the report of the Committee of the Whole be adopted.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
ENQUIRIES AND OTHER MATTERS
Councillor Chiavario noted in Council discussion with members of the
public, there were several references to the
"Toronto experience". Staff were requested to
provide this information to Council members
before deliberation at a future meeting.
The Mayor so directed.
MOVED by Cllr. Clarke,
SECONDED by Cllr. Hemer,
THAT Cllr. Kennedy be granted leave of absence for October 19,
and the week of October 23-27, 1995.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
The meeting adjourned at approximately 10:20 p.m.
* * * * * *