CITY OF VANCOUVER

SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

MAY 27, 1998

A Special Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Wednesday, May 27, 1998, at approximately 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber, Third Floor, City Hall.

PRESENT:	Mayor Philip Owen Councillor Don Bellamy Councillor Jennifer Clarke Councillor Alan Herbert Councillor Daniel Lee Councillor Don Lee Councillor Gordon Price Councillor Sam Sullivan
ABSENT:	Councillor Nancy A. Chiavario (Civic Business) Councillor Lynne Kennedy (Family Emergency) Councillor George Puil
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, to consider the Administrative Report on South Kerrisdale Neighbourhood Traffic Calming Plan.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

1. South Kerrisdale Neighbourhood Traffic Calming Plan

Council had before it an Administrative Report dated April 29, 1998 (on file), in which the General Manager of Engineering Services sought approval and funding for the South Kerrisdale Traffic Calming Plan as described in the report.

Jody Andrews, Neighbourhood Transportation Engineer, provided Council with an overview of the report, and advised the traffic plan was prepared by community representatives, acting as the South Kerrisdale Traffic Calming Committee, with the assistance of staff.

With the aid of overheads, Scott Edwards, Traffic Management, outlined proposed measures , including traffic circles, corner bulges, medians and squaring off of intersections to address short cutting and safety concerns in the South Kerrisdale Neighbourhood. He further noted ongoing data collection would continue into the summer, with follow up traffic counts done in the spring of 1999. Members of the South Kerrisdale Traffic Calming Committee were thanked for their work on the project over the last two years.

The following delegations spoke in favour of the Plan:

Rob Morton, Chair

S. Kerrisdale Traffic Calming Committee

Liz Haan, S. Kerrisdale Traffic Calming Committee, and SW Marine Drive Ratepayers

(brief filed)

Alan Russell, S. Kerrisdale Traffic Calming Committee

Pat Robinson, S. Kerrisdale Traffic Calming Committee

Barbara Caelles, S. Kerrisdale Traffic Calming Committee

Douglas Seppala, S. Kerrisdale Traffic Calming Committee

Diane King, S.W. Marine Drive Ratepayers

Tom Ehlen

Bruce Arbo, S. Kerrisdale Traffic Calming Committee

The speaker's comments are summarized as follows:

·the recommendations contained in the report were reached through a democratic process, with consensus from the majority of residents and Committee members

·compromises were made with the intent to develop a balanced plan for the neighbourhood which would address pedestrian safety, traffic calming, and access for emergency vehicles

·request Council vote in favour of the recommendations

·the need for review of the left-turn access light on S.W. Marine across from the Fraser Arms Hotel

·the need to lobby both the Province for rapid transit along a north/south corridor in this sector of the city, and the UBC Board of Governors to find improved methods for travel to and from UBC

·speed humps would have been a better, cost effective solution to portions of the neighbourhood, however they were not an option in the planning process

·the proposed traffic calming measures do not address the number of cars being funnelled into the neighbourhood from Richmond, with note the lights at Barnard and SW Marine Drive and Granville and 75th Avenue will funnel in more commuter traffic

·SW Marine Drive residents request a commitment from staff for a start date on reviewing access from Granville onto SW Marine Drive

·a request to reduce the advanced left-turn light time on SW Marine Drive adjacent the Fraser Arms Hotel

·the process, including length of time and a restricted range of calming devices allowed, made it impossible for the South Kerrisdale Traffic Calming Committee to deliver a quality product

·expectations are much higher than can be delivered by this plan, but please approve it anyway

·congratulations to Engineering staff who worked with the Committee

·a strong majority of the Traffic Calming Committee felt the plan as presented, although not perfect, addressed neighbourhood traffic problems on an integrated basis, and it was time to implement said plan

·although not perfect, everyone had an opportunity to be heard; with proper follow-up ineffective measures and/or deficiencies can be addressed

·safety is the number one issue, and Council is urged to move forward with implementation of the plan

·general support for the plan; however concerns of the SW Marine Drive residents were totally ignored

·addressing the problem created by the light adjacent the Fraser Arms Hotel and removal of left-turn restrictions along Granville would provide relief to SW Marine Drive residents

·one source of the traffic problem is the twin advance bays at 70th and 75th at Granville

·although not a perfect solution, the proposal offers maximum benefit to the neighbourhood

·Engineering Services and Planning staff need to work together in future neighbourhood traffic calming initiatives, with a more defined process and thorough resident consultation recommended

·the need for speed humps directly east of Arbutus Park, although not an allowed measure in the proposed plan

The following delegations spoke against the Plan:

Marshall James, S. Kerrisdale Traffic Calming Committee

Mavis Thom, S. Kerrisdale Traffic Calming Committee

Isabel Minty

Ron Pousette

Janet Reed

Lydia Nimchuk

The speaker's comments are summarized as follows:

·the squaring off of the intersections at Marine Crescent @ SW Marine Drive, Arbutus Street @ SW Marine Drive and Angus Drive @ SW Marine Drive would lead to traffic problems along SW Marine Drive and possible rear end collisions during peak traffic periods; rounded exits are far safer and provide for orderly traffic flow

·rather than corner bulges adjacent McKechnie School at Arbutus Street and 57th and 59th Avenues, four-way stop signs should be utilized

·parent car pooling or a "walking bus" patrol may help alleviate the hazardous crossing situation adjacent McKechnie School

·59th Avenue @ Arbutus is the only signed east/west pedestrian crosswalk available to the school, and has not been painted in over 5 years; a north/south painted school crossing is also needed

·money available for the project would be better spent on resurfacing roadways and filling potholes in the area, including broken sidewalks and curbing, as well as installation of a sidewalk on either side of SW Marine Drive

·a number of the proposed measures set out in Appendix A of the report are unnecessary and require further review

·expense of the project cannot be justified when safety can be addressed and traffic better controlled through the use of two and four-way stop signs, increased signage, traffic lights at heavily used intersections, and painted crosswalks both north/south and east/west adjacent McKechnie School

·widening SW Marine Drive would eliminate the need for vehicles to cut through the neighbourhood

·the proposed corner bulge at 49th Avenue and Arbutus is unnecessary and dangerous; the intersection is already controlled with a traffic light

·a crosswalk, not corner bulges is needed for Maple @ 57th

·the need for vigilant enforcement of traffic regulations, and a proposed neighbourhood traffic watch

·concern that proposed bulges at 57th Avenue and West Boulevard will back up traffic, with potential for a serious accident rather than increased pedestrian safety

·against any changes to Marine Crescent @ 49th and SW Marine, including squared off intersections and "No Left Turn" as these restrictions would dangerously impede traffic flow

·a stop sign is unnecessary for southbound traffic approaching Marine Crescent; a yield sign is sufficient

·concern with traffic circles and the need for a driver education campaign on correct use

During Council discussion, the following points were raised:

·concern with length of time involved from conception to completion of the process and final report, and the need, in future, to lay out the process at the beginning and establish a time frame to allow issues to be addressed quickly, within a flexible framework

·the need to review the process to determine which specific problems need to be addressed for future neighbourhood traffic calming projects

·any proposed measures contained in the plan, which prove detrimental to the neighbourhood, can be re-examined

·the plan is put forward as an entity, and although the twelve residences on Marine Crescent appear to operate in isolation, the three measures put forward for that street do form a portion of the complete package and should remain as such

·congratulations from Council members to the South Kerrisdale Traffic Calming Committee, and in particular the Chair, for the commitment to the community

MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy,

A.THAT the South Kerrisdale Neighbourhood Traffic Calming Plan be approved as described in the Administrative Report dated April 29, 1998.

B.THAT funding of $357,150 be provided from Streets Basic Capital Unappropriated Account # 13/32/9801/999 - Local Area Plans & Other Improvements and that the operating budget be increased by $6,000, without offset, to pay for maintenance of signs, paint markings, and landscaping of measures included in this plan.

C.THAT Council express their appreciation to the members of the South Kerrisdale Traffic Calming Committee for their diligent work over the last two years.

- 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. Clarke,

THAT the report of the Committee of the Whole be adopted.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

The Special Council adjourned at 10:15 p.m.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver