CITY OF VANCOUVER
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL ON
TRANSPORTATION AND TRAFFIC
MAY 6, 1997
A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held
on Tuesday, May 6, 1997, at 12:50 p.m., in Committee Room No. 1, Third
Floor, City Hall, following the Standing Committee on Transportation and
Traffic meeting, to consider the recommendations of the Committee.
PRESENT: Mayor Philip Owen
Councillor Don Bellamy
Councillor Nancy A. Chiavario
Councillor Jennifer Clarke
Councillor Alan Herbert
Councillor Daniel Lee
Councillor Don Lee
Councillor Gordon Price
Councillor George Puil
Councillor Sam Sullivan
ABSENT: Councillor Lynne Kennedy
CITY MANAGER'S
OFFICE: Judy Rogers, Deputy City Manager
Dave Rudberg, General Manager of
Engineering Services
CLERK TO THE
COUNCIL: Denise Salmon
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy,
SECONDED by Cllr. Clarke,
THAT this Council resolve itself into Committee of the Whole, Mayor
Owen in the chair.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Report of Standing Committee
on Transportation and Traffic
May 6, 1997
Council considered the recommendations of the Committee, as
contained in the following clauses of the attached report:
Cl.1: Status of Lions Gate Crossing - Policy Discussion
Cl 2: City Hall Pay Parking Proposal to Reduce Auto Commuting
MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy,
THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clauses
1 and 2 of this report, be approved.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
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
1. Leave of Absence - Councillor Bellamy File: 1251-1
MOVED by Cllr. Chiavario,
SECONDED by Cllr. Herbert,
THAT Councillor Bellamy be granted Leave of Absence for May 14 and
15, 1997.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
The Council adjourned at 12:55 p.m.
* * * * *
REPORT TO COUNCIL
STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
ON TRANSPORTATION AND TRAFFIC
MAY 6, 1997
A Regular Meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on
Transportation and Traffic was held on Tuesday, May 6, 1997, at
approximately 9:30 a.m., in Committee Room No. 1, Third Floor, City
Hall.
PRESENT: Councillor Gordon Price, Chair
Mayor Philip Owen
Councillor Don Bellamy
Councillor Nancy A. Chiavario
Councillor Jennifer Clarke
Councillor Alan Herbert
Councillor Daniel Lee
Councillor Don Lee
Councillor George Puil
Councillor Sam Sullivan
ABSENT: Councillor Lynne Kennedy
CITY MANAGER'S
OFFICE: Judy Rogers, Deputy City Manager
Dave Rudberg, General Manager of
Engineering Services
CLERK TO THE
COMMITTEE: Denise Salmon
ADOPTION OF MINUTES
The Minutes of the Standing Committee on Transportation and Traffic
meeting of March 25, 1997, were adopted.
RECOMMENDATION
1. Status of Lions Gate Crossing - Policy Discussion
File: 5751-2
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated April
30, 1997, (on file) in which the General Manager of Engineering Services
provided information on the status of the Lions Gate Crossing since the
recent announcements by Premier Clark and Minister Boone.
Ian Adam, Assistant City Engineer, Transportation, reviewed the
City s established positions arrived at over the last several years and
then introduced Doug Hibbins, Vice-President, Transportation Financing
Authority.
Prior to Mr. Hibbins presentation, Council discussion ensued on
the following points:
although more costly, a mid-harbour crossing would avoid Stanley
Park, and Georgia Street would not be impacted; although a number
of Vancouver s east side neighbourhoods would be
alternate forms of transportation such as rail linkages to an
expanded SeaBus and additional ferry service need review in
anticipation of future growth of the North Shore and Whistler
areas, in relation to Vancouver
if the tunnel option is chosen, location of the portal is key; if
located in Stanley Park, Lost Lagoon could be impacted, a location
further east could impact residential areas
Mr. Hibbins introduced Ian McLeod, Director of Communications,
BCTFA, Tim Stevens, Project Director of the Lions Gate project and Russ
Anthony, senior member of the Lions Gate team. He advised the
Provincial plan for the crossing, announced April 18, was to either
replace or rehabilitate the bridge. An invitation has been sent to the
City of Vancouver, City of North Vancouver, District of North Vancouver,
District of West Vancouver, Vancouver Park Board, Greater Vancouver
Regional District and the Squamish Nation (who s land the current bridge
bisects) to take part in the development of the proposal call and
selection of a winning proposal. The preferred Provincial option is for
a four-lane First Narrows crossing, which would address safety concerns
and relieve congestion in off-peak traffic direction, resulting in
improvements to transit cycling time. It was further noted any
successful proposal must:
- utilize the existing corridor
- reduce surface traffic in Stanley Park
- have no net detrimental impact on the Park
- reduce traffic impacts on the West End neighbourhood in Vancouver
- pass a formal environmental impact process
Mr. Hibbins noted the regular inspections and repairs needed to
keep the bridge in safe condition are indicative of the need to move
ahead either on its rehabilitation or replacement. Seventy million
dollars will be contributed by the Province to the project, with the
remainder to be financed in a manner not to add to the Provincial debt,
with some type of user fees introduced. Construction is expected to
commence in 1999.
Discussion ensued on possible alternatives for the crossing, cost
of bridge rehabilitation and rebuilding, financing options, and the
subject matter of the consultation process. A Council member suggested
consideration be given to a mid-harbour crossing in addition to the
First Narrows crossing, in anticipation of fast ferry connections to
Vancouver Island, and future expansion of Whistler area ski resorts.
Specifically, related to the tolling issue, Council members
enquired on the nature of dedication of any bridge tolls, as it is
contrary to G.V.R.D. policy to use tolls for a specific
project--although this appeared to be the Minister s intent. Some
members felt monies collected should be reallocated to transit and
projects specifically targeted at providing viable alternatives to car
use. In response to a question from Council, Mr. Hibbins suggested
tolls would not apply to buses, cyclists, or pedestrians. In conclusion
he advised the government s focus is to better utilize existing
infrastructure, not build additional capacity into, and out of,
Vancouver.
Council members thanked Mr. Hibbins and his associates for their
presentation.
Commissioner Duncan Wilson, advised the Park Board supports a
tunnel under Stanley Park along the existing alignment, with decision
still outstanding on either a tunnel or bridge connecting to the North
Shore. He requested Council s deference in respect to the Park Board s
position. Council acknowledged the Board s concern on this matter.
The following motion by Cllr. Clarke was put and carried. The
Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED,
THAT the Policy Discussion on the Status of Lions Gate Crossing,
presented by Doug Hibbins, Vice-President, Transportation Financing
Authority, and the Administrative Report dated April 30, 1997, be
received for information
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
2. City Hall Pay Parking Proposal to Reduce Auto Commuting
Files: 5653-1/1307-1
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated February
11, 1997 (on file), in which the General Manager of Engineering
Services, in consultation with the Director of Human Resources, General
Manager of Corporate Services and General Manager of Community Services
outlined measures required to implement a pay-parking system for
approximately 1060 City Hall precinct employees. At the request of CUPE
Local 15 the report was deferred from the March 11th and April 22nd
meetings of the Committee to permit Civic employee representatives to
meet with Human Resource Services. This meeting has now taken place,
and as a result, staff will be given 60 days notice following Council
approval of any pay parking proposal.
Ian Adam, Assistant City Engineer, Transportation, provided Council
with an overview of the report, and noted the pay parking program forms
part of an overall Travel Demand Management program to reduce vehicle
use and subsequently automobile emissions. He advised the proposed
vehicle rate of $2 per day, is less than half that charged in the
Central Broadway corridor to the west. Those using vehicles for City
purposes would be reimbursed.
In answer to questions from Council, Mr. Adam noted:
the report suggests Councillors vehicles would be exempt from
payment, as would disabled parking, Mayor s office, loading zones,
press, day-care and mixed fleet and auto allowance parking;
revenue generated could go toward incentives to reduce auto
dependence such as improvements to bicycle facilities, and
subsidized transit passes;
only the stalls for employee use found in the 10th Avenue surface
lot and the two levels of the City Square parkade would be
initially included in the program;
the incentive to car poolers is the reduction in rate due to people
sharing the cost, and the guarantee of a dedicated car pool space.
In response to a question from Council, Judy Rogers, Deputy City
Manager, advised management is comfortable with the current Collective
Agreement and feels any pay parking decision could be defended if
challenged in Court.
Paul Faoro, 1st Vice President, CUPE Local 15, on behalf of the
Union, discussed his concerns with the report. He noted the language in
the Collective Agreement for CUPE Local 15 is similar to that of Langara
College, where a recent Arbitration Award for paid parking was decided
in the Union s favour. As legal proceedings are not yet complete, he
urged Council not make a decision on pay parking prior to resolution of
the Langara issue. Mr. Faoro, also stated the report s recommendations
do nothing to reduce auto emissions as no turn down in cars was
anticipated when estimating parking revenues.
He further noted employees are urged to use alternative modes of
travel, but the report offers no alternatives nor incentives. A
comprehensive plan was called for, with data and information on travel
methods used by those employees who are not single occupant vehicle
users. Reference was made to the Seattle U-Pass system, VGH incentives
and the G.V.R.D. s parking program. Mr. Faoro cited the compressed work
week as the biggest City reducer of daily traffic, and highlighted the
need to make car poolers exempt from any parking fee. He concluded key
components for reducing auto use are not provided in the staff report
and CUPE is willing to look at, and participate in, a complete proposal
that would encourage alternatives to single-occupant vehicle use for
City employees.
Jim Anderson, Shop Steward, CUPE Local 15, (brief filed)
highlighted the following issues and concerns:
creation of car pool space has not resulted in any increase in car
pools for 2 ´ years
the quoted market value of pay parking along the Central Broadway
corridor is not comparable to the City Hall precinct
the report makes no reference to a resident permit parking fee
report approved by Council on April 22, which sets the value of
parking adjacent the Central Broadway area at approximately $200 per year or $16.66 per month
a number of discrepancies were highlighted in projected pay-parking
revenue figures
the report does not recommend senior staff pay fair market value
for their reserved parking spaces
Mr. Anderson expressed the hope these issues would be addressed and
presented to the Union for review.
After hearing the foregoing delegations, some Council members felt
further review of this matter was required.
The following motion by Cllr. Chiavario was put and lost.
THAT this matter be deferred.
- LOST
(Cllrs. Bellamy, Clarke, Daniel Lee, Don Lee, Price, Puil, Sullivan and
the Mayor opposed.)
Discussion continued briefly, and again Council members expressed
the need for a report back from staff to include further
study/clarification on:
- cash flow and numbers discussed in both the Administrative Report
dated February 11, 1997, and the brief submitted by Mr. Anderson,
CUPE Local 15
- comparable parking rates on other sites in the Mount Pleasant area
- how the issue compares to the Langara situation
- further details on the tax deductibility issue for Councillors and
Form 2200
The following motion by Mayor Owen was put and carried. The
Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
THAT this whole matter be deferred to allow for further study.
- CARRIED
(Cllrs. Bellamy, Price and Puil opposed.)
The meeting adjourned at 12:50 p.m.
* * * * *