CITY OF VANCOUVER

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL ON

TRANSPORTATION AND TRAFFIC

JULY 7, 1998

A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Tuesday, July 7, 1998, at approximately 11:20 a.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 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 Don Bellamy Councillor Lynne Kennedy
CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE:	Ken Dobell
CLERK TO THE COUNCIL:	Denise Salmon

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Cllr. Herbert,

SECONDED by Cllr. Chiavario,

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

July 7, 1998

Council considered the recommendation of the Committee, as contained in the following clause of the attached report:

Cl.1: Possible Changes to the Vehicles for Hire By-law

MOVED by Cllr. Don Lee,

THAT the recommendation of the Committee, as contained in Clause 1 of this report, be approved.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Cllr. Herbert,

THAT the Committee of the Whole rise and report.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

ADOPT REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Cllr. Herbert,

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 Chiavario File: 1255

MOVED by Cllr. Clarke,

SECONDED by Cllr. Herbert,

THAT Councillor Chiavario be granted Leave of Absence for the afternoon of Thursday, July 9, 1998.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

* * *

Councillor Clarke requested it be noted in the minutes she would be late for the Thursday afternoon meeting of the Planning and Environment Committee on July 9th, due to Civic Business.

* * *

The Council adjourned at 11:22 a.m.

* * * * *

REPORT TO COUNCIL

STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL

ON TRANSPORTATION AND TRAFFIC

JULY 7, 1998

A Regular Meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on Transportation and Traffic was held on Tuesday, July 7, 1998, at approximately 9:30 a.m. in Committee Room No. 1, Third Floor, City Hall.

PRESENT:	Councillor Gordon Price, Chair Mayor Philip Owen Councillor Nancy A. Chiavario Councillor Jennifer Clarke Councillor Alan Herbert Councillor Lynne Kennedy Councillor Daniel Lee Councillor Don Lee Councillor George Puil Councillor Sam Sullivan
ABSENT:	Councillor Don Bellamy
CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE:	Ken Dobell
CLERK TO THE COMMITTEE:	Denise Salmon

RECOMMENDATION

1. Possible Changes to the Vehicles for Hire By-law File: 2801

The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated June 2, 1998 (on file), in which the Chief License Inspector, in consultation with Director of City Plans and General Manager of Engineering Services outlined some legal, commercial and transportation issues involved in a request received from a company called Supershuttle to issue up to 200 vehicle for hire licenses for a service known as "Supershuttle", and sought Council's direction for further work.

Clause 1 Cont'd

The following were put forward for Council's consideration:

A.THAT staff review with the Motor Carrier Commission, BC Transit, the taxi industry and other interested associations and groups, the opportunities and potential problems presented by providing shared ride van services in the city, and report back to Council on appropriate measures for licensing and operation;

THAT staff review the Vehicles for Hire By-law and report back to Council on changes needed if Council is to allow the creation of the new category of shared ride van;

THAT $15,000 be approved for staff resources for this review, to be funded from contingency reserve.

OR

B. THAT this matter be deferred at this time and referred to the Greater Vancouver Transit Authority for consideration as part of the overall transportation plan for the Region.

Paul Teichroeb, Chief License Inspector, provided Council with background on the issue and noted the Vehicles for Hire By-law had recently been amended to define this type of service. He further noted the service would fill an identified community need between existing transit and taxi services, but would require careful attention to licensing and operation details, including wheelchair accessibility. It was also noted any action by Council today would not give approval to any specific application. Mr. Teichroeb advised if the operator of such a service wishes to cross municipal boundaries a license would be required from the Motor Carrier Commission.

Council members discussed issues regarding involvement of the GVTA and sought clarification on ratio of cabs discussed in the report. It was also noted Consideration Item 'A' allows for consultation with various players that have a direct interest and are directly involved in providing various kinds of transportation services in the City. Staff was also requested to prepare a report dealing with accessibility issues for comments by the City's Disabilities Committee.

Clause 1 Cont'd

Alec Caruth (brief and booklet filed), accompanied by lawyer Paul Miller of Boughton & Co., addressed the staff report and noted the name "Supershuttle" had now been changed to Local Minibus. He requested formal support for the concept described, and sought direction from Council for staff to proceed with amendments to City By-laws to enable this service and to then process the Business License application submitted. Mr. Caruth agreed to work with the City to address handicapped service and noted this proposal has potential to positively impact employment, the environment and fills a niche market in public transportation. He requested Council support Consideration Item "A" of the Administrative Report dated June 2, 1998.

The following delegations also spoke in favour of the concept. Points raised are summarized below:

Alan Artibise

Charles Bourne, President, Brock House Society

Gwen Austen, Administrator, Brock House Society

Marjorie Welsh, Outreach Transportation Director, Brock House Society

Sarah Kirby, Robson Street Business Association

Glen Bodnarchuk, Classic Limousine

Bob Thompson, MTR Consultants

·support for the proposed non-subsidized transit service, as an appropriate and timely tool to address the City's growing congestion, and serve those who cannot access alternative transportation modes

·Brock House is not readily accessible by public transit, and many of its members are seniors who are no longer able to drive; the proposed service would give those with limited mobility new hope

·HandyDART is not a viable alternative for many, as it must be booked in advance and runs on a strict timetable; the proposed service is a less expensive option than a taxi, and would provide security for those travelling after dark

·the proposed service would make Robson Street more accessible to people, as well as complement existing services, with existing commercial vehicle and taxi locations shared with the minibus service

Clause 1 Cont'd

·Classic Limousine offered support for the concept, and suggested the availability of its vehicles, which often sit idle in the evening, for special functions such as evening concerts and sporting events

·note the term "minibus" was used incorrectly by the proponents, and should be referred to as a shuttle "van"; an aisle and full standing head room would define a minibus

·urged Council move forward on the proposal which responds directly to the City's Transportation Plan, has widespread general support, and could provide a valuable additional transportation service in Vancouver

The following speakers, although generally in favour of the concept, raised concerns as set out below:

Tobin Robbins, Owen Bird

Bruce Chown (brief filed)

Albert Melenius, Amalgamated Transit Union

·Vancouver's four taxi companies, Yellow Cab, Blacktop, MacLure's and Vancouver Taxi are in the process of putting together a business plan on a similar proposal; all necessary regulations must first be examined, with a 4-5 month time frame suggested for the study. Definition of this type of service in the City's by-law requires refinement -- the study would help address this matter.

·regionalization must be considered in relation to number of mini-buses allowed, and subsequent effect on economics of both the limousine and taxi industries

·the need to further examine licensing regulations and safety issues

·concern with funding for "Local Minibus" and the amount of municipal subsidy that may be necessary for its operation, with a comparison note that to break even HandyDART would need to increase fares significantly, lower costs, or increase ridership and productivity, or a combination of all three

·Pacific Transit Cooperative, a non-profit organization, has provided a shared dial-a-ride service for a number of years (HandyDART) and requests discussions be initiated with BC Transit and the Cooperative if Council proceeds with the shared-ride van service concept

Clause 1 Cont'd

* * *

Councillor Kennedy left the meeting during discussion of the above and did not return.

* * *

The following motion by Councillor Chiavario was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,

RECOMMENDED

THAT staff review with the Motor Carrier Commission, BC Transit, the taxi industry and other interested associations and groups, the opportunities and potential problems presented by providing shared ride van services in the city, and report back to Council on appropriate measures for licensing and operation; and

FURTHER THAT staff review the Vehicles for Hire By-law and report back to Council on changes needed if Council is to allow the creation of the new category of shared ride van; and

FURTHER THAT $15,000 be approved for staff resources for this review, to be funded from contingency reserve.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

(Councillor Kennedy not present for the vote.)

The Committee adjourned at 11:20 a.m.

* * * * *

(c) 1998 City of Vancouver