SUPPORTS ITEM NO. 4
T&T COMMITTEE AGENDA
MARCH 25, 1997
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: March 11, 1997
Dept. File No. H193-34
CC File No. 1203-1
TO: Standing Committee on Transportation and Traffic
FROM: General Manager of Engineering Services
SUBJECT: The Vancouver Trolley Company -
Renewal of Licence Agreement
RECOMMENDATION
A. THAT Council approve a five year licence agreement between the
City of Vancouver and the Vancouver Trolley Company (1996)
Ltd. permitting the Company to operate a sightseeing tour bus
enterprise in the City of Vancouver.
B. THAT Council authorize the General Manager of Engineering
Services to negotiate and conclude a licence agreement with
the Company on the terms and conditions set out in this report
and others satisfactory to the General Manager and the
Director of Legal Services, it being understood that no legal
relations are created and none shall arise until an agreement
drawn to the satisfaction of the Director of Legal Services is
executed by her on behalf of the City.
COUNCIL POLICY
Previous Council resolution permitted a lease agreement with the
Vancouver Trolley Company for the placement of the kiosk and
identification signs on City street allowance.
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PURPOSE
The purpose of this report is:
- to report back to Council as instructed in April 1992;
- to review the placement of the Vancouver Trolley Company
ticket information kiosk on City street allowance;
- to review the installation of Trolley Company identification
signs at designated locations;
- to review operational concerns and proposed route changes; and
- to recommend renewal of the licence agreement for a five-year
term, with the General Manager of Engineering Services having
the right to terminate the agreement at any time.
BACKGROUND
In 1991, Council approved the operation of the Vancouver Trolley Co. for
a one year trial period. The approval included the designation of tour
routes and stops, and the placement of a ticket/information kiosk on
City street allowance at the intersection of Water/Cordova/Richards. On
March 31, 1992, Council approved a recommendation to enter a licence
agreement with the Vancouver Trolley Company to continue operation for a
further five years. This agreement which gave permission for the
installation of a kiosk and Vancouver Trolley Company identifica-tion
signs on City street allowance expired on January 31, l997.
The Motor Carrier Commission is the regulatory body which approves
applications for a motor carrier licence, and can give route approval
for scheduled services. The City, as owner of its streets, and Park
Board, through control of the Parks, can determine where the trolleys
and other vehicles are permitted to travel.
DISCUSSION
Past Performance
The Vancouver Trolley Co. has been operating in the city for the past
six years. There have been some issues related to stop locations,
routes, frequency, and noise which have been discussed among staff,
residents, and the Company.
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New Ownership
Ownership of the Company changed in November, 1996, and Jim and Karen
Storey became the sole owners and operators. The new owners have
consulted with City staff and have been helpful in resolving these
issues.
Kiosk
The Trolley Company kiosk, which is installed at the beginning of each
season, on the south side of Water Street east of Richards Street, is
used to sell tickets and distribute information. As the Trolley Co.
does not operate during the winter months, the kiosk must be removed
from the street as a condition of the lease agreement. Annual
installation and removal has been effected in a timely manner. The
kiosk has been well maintained and is an addition to the Gastown
streetscape.
Identification Signs
The Trolley Company identification signs are installed annually in the
spring by City crews and are removed at the end of the Trolley Company's
operating season, normally in late October. The installation and removal
of these signs is done at the expense of the Trolley Company, and there
have been no problems to date with this arrangement.
Routes
The only requests for changes to the operation of the Vancouver Trolley
Company have come from members of the Kitsilano Point Residents
Association. The Residents Association concerns in the past focused on:
- the trolley coach stopping on Ogden Street; and
- the ringing of the on-board bell at the Maritime Museum
trolley stop.
These issues were resolved by:
- moving the stop inside the Maritime Museum parking lot; and
- requesting that the drivers not ring their bell when they
arrived at a designated stop.
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More recently, additional concerns were raised about:
- transmission noise from two of the trolley vehicles,
particularly when exiting the Maritime Museum Parking Lot;
- the frequency of the trolley vehicles in Kitsilano Point; and
- vehicle occupancy levels when inside the Kits Point area.
The Kitsilano Point Residents Association has requested that:
- the trolley vehicles travel only to the Pacific Space Centre;
and
- the trolley vehicles exit via the same route travelled to the
Pacific Space Centre and Vancouver Museum, which is Chestnut
Street, Greer Street and Cypress Street. This routing would
eliminate the Maritime Museum stop and avoid passing Kitsilano
Beach.
Jim Storey, following discussions with City staff, has indicated:
- that the transmission problems which caused the residents
concerns over engine noise have been repaired; and
- that the issue over frequency involves overflow buses which
the Vancouver Trolley Company is permitted to use by the Motor
Carrier Commission at times of heavy loading;
- that attempts would be made to combine the passengers from an
overflow trolley with that of a regular scheduled trolley
before entering the Kits Point area;
- that the proposed route service to the Maritime Museum was
being dropped and this service would be provided at the
Pacific Space Centre and Vancouver Museum; and
- that the elimination of Ogden Street and Arbutus Street in
favour of the same route in and out via Cypress, Greer and
Chestnut Streets can be accommodated.
Mr. Storey remains committed to operating a first-class tour bus
operation while respecting the wishes of residents in areas his company
operates vehicles, and he has demonstrated a high degree of
responsibility in responding to requests from City staff.
The Vancouver Trolley Company has made application to the Motor Carrier
Commission for approval to operate a revised route and for an increase
in fees for their Vancouver Attractions Tour for 1997.
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Annual Lease Payment
The annual lease payment for the kiosk over the past five years was
$1,000. This amount was based on fees for other types of street use
such as street vending and sidewalk cafes. The area used by the kiosk
is approximately triple the area used by a street vendor. Since 1991,
fees for street vending have increased. For example, a dry goods vendor
paid $300 per year in 1991 and pays $450 in 1997. Based on this
increase, it is recommended that the lease payment for the Trolley Co.
kiosk be increased to $1,400 annually plus GST for a further five-year
term.
LICENCE AGREEMENT
The Director of Legal Services will prepare a licence agreement between
the City of Vancouver and the Vancouver Trolley Company (1996) Ltd. for
a period of five years ending January 31, 2002, and that the General
Manager of Engineering Services has the right to terminate at any time.
The basic terms upon which the General Manager of Engineering Services
would grant a licence to the Vancouver Trolley Company (1996) Ltd. are
as follows:
1. THAT the placement of the ticket information kiosk and the
installation of the Vancouver Trolley Company identification
signs be subject to the approval of the General Manager of
Engineering Services.
2. THAT all signs and kiosk installation and removal costs be the
responsibility of the Vancouver Trolley Company (1996) Ltd.
3. THAT the Vancouver Trolley Company (1996) Ltd. signs be
allowed in conjunction with the City's regulatory signing.
4. THAT the kiosk and identification signs be removed from City
street allowance when the Company is not in operation.
5. THAT the Vancouver Trolley Company (1996) Ltd. be required to
carry public liability insurance satisfactory to the Director
of Risk Management.
6. THAT the Vancouver Trolley Company (1996) Ltd. enter into a
lease agreement with the City of Vancouver.
7. THAT a fixed annual lease payment of $1400 plus GST be charged
for the placement of the kiosk for the term of the agreement.
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CONCLUSION
Based upon the successful operation of the Vancouver Trolley Company to
date, and the willingness of new company management to work with City
staff in addressing both City and residents' concerns with the Trolley
operation, the General Manager of Engineering Services recommends annual
renewal of a revised licence agreement which constitutes approval of:
- continued annual placement and removal of the kiosk on the
south side of Water Street, East of Richards Street;
- an increase in the annual lease payment for placement of kiosk
on City street allowance from $1000 to $1400; and
- continued annual installation and removal of Vancouver Trolley
Company identification signs on City street allowance.
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