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26. 3. 97
CENTRAL CITY COMMITTEE
6 MARCH 1997
A meeting of the Central City Committee
was held on Thursday 6 March 1997 at 4.00pm
PRESENT: Councillor Margaret Murray (Chairperson),
The Mayor, Ms Vicki Buck,
Councillors Graham Berry, Anna Crighton,
Newton Dodge, Morgan Fahey, Alister James, Charles Manning and Barbara Stewart.
IN ATTENDANCE: Councillor Ron Wright was in attendance from 4.10pm.
Councillor Fahey was temporarily absent from 5.05pm to 5.10pm and retired at 5.45pm and was absent for part of clause 1, clauses 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, part of clauses 10 and 11.
The Mayor retired at 5.45pm and was absent for part of clause 10, and clauses 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 11.
Councillor James retired at 5.45pm and was absent for part of clause 10 and clauses 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 11.
Councillor Stewart retired at 5.50pm and was absent for part of clause 10, and clauses 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 11.
The Committee reports that:
PART A - MATTERS REQUIRING A COUNCIL DECISION
1. CENTRAL CITY SHUTTLE SERVICE RR 4669
| Officer responsible | Author |
| Environmental Policy and Planning Manager | Stuart Woods, Senior Transportation Planner |
| Corporate Plan Output: Policy Advice - Transportation |
The purpose of this report is to outline the current proposal for the Central City Shuttle service along with details of the consultation undertaken through to March 1996 and to present some conclusions and possible next steps.
BACKGROUND
The Jebb report concluded the central city's retail activities to be too spread out to operate as a single retail area. Subsequently the idea of linking the activities of the central city has evolved into the current proposal for a central city shuttle using battery electric buses. Public consultation has shown strong support for a battery electric shuttle service operating on a north/south axis through the city.
The service could
THE VEHICLE
Small battery powered electric buses are proposed for the central city shuttle. These quiet non-polluting vehicles would be highly accessible with low floors, large door openings and simple wheel chair ramps making boarding of all passengers quick and easy. It is expected that they will seat about twenty passengers with space for wheelchairs and prams.
The vehicles will be battery electric powered using either lead acid or Nickel-Cadmium batteries, both of which are virtually fully recyclable.
With cities such as Santa Barbara (U.S.) and Oxford (U.K.) successfully operating electric shuttle buses since the early nineties, the technology has been proven for this purpose. Indications are that the electric shuttles can be manufactured either locally or imported at a comparable cost.
THE ROUTE
The proposed route (tabled) would allow central city shoppers and visitors to move easily between major retail, entertainment, community and cultural areas such as the City Mall, Casino, Cathedral Square, Convention Centre, Hoyts 8 Cinema, South City, Town Hall, and many city hotels. The route passes within half a block of most public car parks and several large private parking areas. Public consultation has shown clear public support for this as the preferred route.
By passing next to the Cathedral Square bus termini the central city shuttle complements the existing public transport system, allowing bus patrons to access areas not currently convenient to them.
HOURS OF OPERATION
The service is proposed to be run seven days a week at a frequency of every ten minutes. Operating hours for the service are envisaged as being approximately Monday to Thursday 8.00am to 10.30pm, Friday 8.00am to midnight, Saturday 9.00am to midnight and Sunday 10.00am to 8.00pm.
FARES
Information from overseas systems all indicate that free services attract all day riders, whilst a minimal cost seems to act as a deterrent. Fares should not be seen as a means of covering costs. Full cost recovery would be prohibitive (cf. the CANRIDEô situation).
From the above, it would seem advisable to have a nominal fare of some existing coin value which would minimise any change required. Surveys indicated a fare of about 20cents-$1 per trip might be acceptable, with 50cents a commonly mentioned figure.
However, a free service would speed loading, minimise ticketing costs and change some legal issues.
COSTS
The net cost to the Council would depend on whether fares were charged, advertising revenue (which is affected by how much of the vehicle is available to be used) and vehicle lease arrangements. An estimation of the net cost is $450,000 per year. An allowance has been included in this year's draft Annual Plan.
CONSULTATION UNDERTAKEN
Research and consultation involving some 1300 people and businesses has shown strong support for the proposal with clear approval of Council promoting the proposal (85-90%) and strong approval (70-75%) for the Council to be involved with running the service. About 40% of people are either very interested or quite interested in using the service for shopping and entertainment.
LEAD-IN TIME
It is estimated that upon adoption of the proposal by the Council that it would take 8-10 months to have the service up and running. This allows for the design, testing and construction of the vehicles (which are not "off the shelf" models even if imported). This impacts on the budget allowance required for the upcoming year - approximately half the above figure would be required, even if approval was given for the project in March, aiming to be operating by around Christmas this year.
LEGAL ISSUES
A legal opinion was sought from the Legal Services Manager to confirm previous opinions regarding this proposal, and any variations to the proposal since those opinions. This opinion is in the Public Excluded section of the Council Agenda.
CONCLUSION
There are a number of issues above which support the implementation of a central city shuttle service :
The negative sides of the proposal relate to :
It has been established that there is good information and proven technology available for the operating of an EBS service in a Christchurch context. A proposal such as this has the associated benefits of supporting and promoting the central city, and providing a high profile flagship in the move towards more sustainable and environmentally friendly transport.
In conclusion, the provision of a central city shuttle would enhance mobility in the central city, making it more attractive to visit. However, this service would require ongoing financing by the Council in the order of $450,000 per year (dependent on non-fare based revenue streams), exclusive of initial capital cost (c.$50,000 for infrastructure). It is now a matter of deciding whether the benefits derived from providing this service justify the ongoing cost to the Council. Should it be decided that the proposal be adopted a number of next steps are outlined in the tabled report.
Recommendation: 1. That the Council confirm its commitment to the concept of an electric shuttle bus as outlined in the 1996/97 Annual Plan and within current Budget projections.
2. That the Council sets a target date of December 1997 for the commencement of the electric shuttle bus operation.
3. That a staff project team be established for this project to report back within three months.
4. That details regarding commercial concerns, Canterbury Regional Council requirements, legal aspects and leasing be provided to the Committee for its consideration before the matter is reconsidered by the Council.
2. CENTRAL CITY PUBLIC TOILETS RR 4738
| Officer responsible | Author |
| Environmental Policy & Planning Manager | John Chivers, Senior Planner; and Terry Moody, Principal Environmental Health Officer |
| Corporate Plan Output: City Planning & Development |
The purpose of this report is to advise on the need for public toilets in the Cashel Mall - Oxford Terrace area and to recommend the principles that should apply and progress with possible sites.
1. INTRODUCTION
This report has been prepared as a result of concerns about the toilet behaviour of night time customers of the bars/restaurants in the west end of City Mall and Oxford Terrace between Cashel Street and Hereford Street.
2. CURRENT SITUATION
In the last two years the number of bars in the area has expanded and due to the pleasant location the popularity of the City Mall/ Oxford Terrace area is likely to be sustained and continue to increase.
A January 1997 survey of all licensed premises indicated the managers considered that toilet facilities met the needs of their customers whilst conceding there were queues, particularly of females, at busy times.
A number of respondents said there was a perception that the Cathedral Square toilets were unsafe at night and much better signage was required.
The Environmental Services Unit advises that all premises meet Council's current standards for the number of sanitary fixtures. Hereford Holdings Limited which owns the buildings in which the Oxford Terrace bars are located has a policy of increasing toilets by three times where premises are remodelled. This suggests that their perception is that the number of toilets does need to increase.
Bars restrict the entry of customers on to the premises for comfort, health and safety reasons resulting in queues of up to 60 persons at individual premises. Clearly when entry is restricted only those people inside can use that premises' toilets, i.e. all persons on the street need to find facilities elsewhere. A survey of the area at 1.30am on Saturday morning 15 February 1997 counted 495 persons in the street, about half in Oxford Terrace and half in the west end of City Mall.
3. COUNCIL POLICY
The most recent Council policy on public toilets was established on 24 March 1992. Relevant statements from that policy statement are :-
2. Objective
To achieve the adequate provision of public toilets in areas of high public use.
Policies
2.3(a) That requests for new public toilets to be provided outside the above policies be considered only where it can be shown that there are :
* A high number of potential users
2.3(b) Where a need for new public toilets is established, the following options for their provision be investigated.
* Private development and/or sponsorship
* Joint venture and partnership between the Council and private interests
* Direct provision by Council
4.1(d) Public toilets shall be integrated into the design of existing buildings where practicable.
4.1(g) Public toilets shall be clearly signposted.
4. ASSESSMENT
Taking into account the results of the surveys, the number of persons on the street at times without access to toilets in buildings, the extent of clean ups required by Council staff early each morning, and established Council policy, it was considered a case for both male and female public toilets was established.
In promoting public toilets in this area, there were factors relating to location, aesthetics, personal safety, quality and health, that needed consideration. After consideration of the options the following principles were suggested as being appropriate :
(a) Conventional walled-in public toilet buildings in the street were not satisfactory for both visual and personal safety reasons.
(b) Bar owners are responsible for toilet facilities for their customers and they now do this for those within their building. Persons in the street are "potential" customers and may be there for other reasons including outdoor concerts, socialising etc. In this situation provision of public toilets in an area of high public numbers is appropriate.
(c) The cooperation of building owners should be sought to install public toilets in an existing building(s). Such toilets would require the following features:
(i) Located at or very close to street frontage, with visibility from the street to the foyer (i.e. through glass).
(ii) High quality design and construction, i.e. efficient cleaning, vandal proof.
(iii) Clear signing both over the entrance and at other more distant locations.
(iv) Numbers of urinals and pans to be based on standards for places of public assembly based on 1000 with 35% women and 65% men.
(v) Costs of installation and maintenance shared with building owners or paid for by rental.
(vi) Supervision and cleaning to be the responsibility of building tenant.
(d) A urinal building for men should be considered in the street, providing that views of the persons using the facility were not totally excluded from people outside (for personal safety and to control undesirable behaviour). A modern, visually pleasing version of the French "pissoir" was suggested. This would also be acceptable from a public health perspective.
5. DESIGN PROPOSAL
Discussions are in progress with a building owner in the vicinity about the installation of a public toilet for women (2 pans) in an existing building in the vicinity that is to be remodelled. It is envisaged that the tenant would be responsible for supervision and cleaning and that the Council would pay a floor rental. An agreement between the building owner and the Council would need to cover the situation of a change of tenant or demolition of the building.
A suggested location for the urinal is on the triangle of space on Oxford Terrace near the proposed petanque court. A semi-enclosed but roofed building is proposed with 10 urinals. The building itself could be designed as a feature for the area - "Clochemerle". Budget provision of $30,000 needs to be provided in the 1997/98 draft annual plan for the annual rental and the construction of a men's urinal.
6. LICHFIELD CAR PARK TOILETS
These toilets are accessible from Plymouth Lane when the car park is open. However, they are not signposted and are not easily reached through the driveways in the parking building. For the use of women and children in the daytime, it is suggested that new toilets could be built in a tenanted area on the north side of the car parking building. This location would be much more satisfactory, being just at the end of Plymouth Lane, easily accessible from the Mall.
Recommendation: 1. That the signs to public toilets in this area of the city be improved.
2. That investigation be made into providing public toilets for daytime use in an existing tenancy on the north side of the Lichfield Parking Building, including the possible relocation of existing toilets, and that budget provision of $30,000 be made for public toilets in this area in the 1997/98 draft annual plan.
3. That the Council acknowledge there is a problem in the City Mall and that provision be made in the 1997/98 draft annual plan for public toilets in the western end of the City Mall, and that discussions continue to establish men's and women's public toilets, including unisex toilets, in an existing building in the vicinity.
PART B - ITEMS DEALT WITH BY THE COMMITTEE AND
REPORTED FOR INFORMATION ONLY
3. WORCESTER STREET IMPROVEMENTS RR 4701
| Officer responsible | Author |
| City Streets Manager | Tony Lange, Area Roading Engineer (Central) and Andrew Craig, Landscape Architect |
| Corporate Plan Output: Capital Works Output 9.5.60 |
The purpose of this report is to obtain approval for the amended scheme plan for Worcester Street between Cathedral Square and Manchester Street as reported in November 1996. It is proposed to pave the carriageway as part of the reconstruction of Worcester Street and remove the four existing trees.
BACKGROUND
This project will provide a wide cobbled footpath and avenue of trees along Worcester Street from Cathedral Square to Latimer Square in sympathy with the Worcester Boulevard. The design will enhance the historic Old Government Building and most importantly tie into the new Cathedral Square redevelopment. The work from the Square to Manchester Street is programmed for this financial year and the remainder in the 1997/98 year.
PAVING OF CARRIAGEWAY
The original scheme did not include paving the carriageway apart from the "bus only" right turn lane. However, in hindsight the change was made for the following reasons:
The paving work will be funded from within the City Streets Capital Works Budget.
STREET TREES
The Council will be aware, from the initial scheme, of the need to remove the four existing trees. The four trees will be replaced with 15 lime trees (the same tree species as in Worcester Boulevard) to create an avenue effect (plan tabled). Because of this and for other reasons to follow, the existing trees should be removed. If they were to remain they would negate the avenue effect. The other reasons the trees should be considered for their removal are as follows:
In December 1996 the Council delegated to the City Services Committee the power to authorise the removal of street trees (other than those protected by the City Plan).
It was therefore necessary for the Central City Committee to refer this matter to the City Services Committee for a decision.
DISCUSSION
Considerable opposition to the proposal to remove the four trees outside the Old Government Buildings was expressed by the Central City Committee. Suggestions were put forward for carrying out the proposed planting (acknowledging that the trees need not necessarily be planted in a straight line), whilst retaining the existing trees. A review of the issue was advocated once the new trees had reached a certain size, subject to technical appraisal. It was suggested that the design be revisited with a view to retaining the trees.
It was resolved that carriageway paving in Worcester Street between Cathedral Square and Manchester Street be approved.
The Committee resolved that the City Services Committee be advised that the Central City Committee strongly supported the retention of the four trees outside the Old Government Buildings for the present.
4. STEWART FOUNTAIN DEVELOPMENT RR 4618
The Committee considered a report from Andrew Craig, Landscape Architect, on the progress being made to implement the Stewart Fountain project. Since October last year, when the Council approved the implementation of the Stewart Fountain, the Design Team has proceeded with further research, development and planning. As a result some minor changes have been made to the original design in order to accommodate site variables such as the proximity of old tram tracks (now underground), nearby trees and access for fire brigade vehicles. Despite these minor changes the design remains intact.
Some concern had been expressed by retailers in the vicinity of the Fountain that the proposed development would impede pedestrian flows. Subsequent research has indicated this would not be the case, and in fact the area would receive the highest rating possible for a pedestrian precinct. These points were conveyed in a letter to local retailers.
The implementation process remains on target with work due to begin in June this year, and the project is currently within budget.
The Committee resolved that the information be received.
5. LABYRINTH PROPOSAL RR 4659
The idea of a Labyrinth for Christchurch was presented last year by Mr J Beagle to Councillors Margaret Murray, Carole Evans and David Close and to Council officers. The proposal is for construction of a maze as an outdoor feature, requiring a secluded but public space of ten metres by ten metres. A suitable location would appear to be in the Botanic Gardens or a similar large open space.
The Committee resolved that the project be referred to the Parks Unit for consideration and report to the Parks & Recreation Committee.
6. P60 HIGH STREET AND TUAM STREET RR 4630
Approval was sought to introduce a short section of P60 metered parking in High Street and Tuam Street as a result of changes to bus services and relocation of postal services in the Tuam/High Street area.
The Committee resolved:
1. That a P5 loading zone at all times be created on the south western side of High Street commencing at a point 13 m measured in a north westerly direction from a point opposite the northern kerbline of Tuam Street and extending in a north westerly direction for a distance of 15 m.
2. That a P60 metered parking restriction be introduced on the south western side of High Street commencing at a point 28 m measured in a north westerly direction from a point opposite the northern kerbline of Tuam Street and extending in a north westerly direction for a distance of 26 m.
3. That a P60 metered parking restriction be introduced on the northern side of Tuam Street commencing at a point 39 m measured in an easterly direction from a point opposite the eastern kerbline of Manchester Street and extending in an easterly direction for a distance of 12 m.
4. That the existing bus stop, loading zone and P10 parking restrictions in the above described areas be revoked.
7. TAXI STAND - MANCHESTER STREET/GLOUCESTER STREET/ OXFORD TERRACE RR 4629
The proposed construction of a bus terminal in the north-western quadrant of Cathedral Square necessitates the relocation of the existing taxi stand. It is proposed to create three new taxi stands on: the northern side of Gloucester Street adjacent to the Farmers Department Store; the eastern side of Manchester Street to the north of Cashel Street intersection; and on the eastern side of Oxford Terrace opposite Scott Statue.
It was noted that the proposed recommendations are generally supported by representatives of the taxi industry, the Police, the Parking Operations Manager and representatives of the adjacent properties, whilst acknowledging it had been difficult to achieve a balance between the increasing number of taxis within the city and the demands of adjacent businesses.
The Committee resolved:
1. That a taxi stand be created on:
(a) The northern side of Gloucester Street commencing at a point 32 m measured in a westerly direction from a point opposite the western kerbline of Colombo Street and extending in a westerly direction for a distance of 33 m.
(b) The eastern side of Oxford Terrace commencing at a point 15 m measured in a southerly direction from a point opposite the southern kerbline of Worcester Street and extending in a southerly direction for a distance of 30 m.
(c) The eastern side of Manchester Street commencing at a point 30 m measured in a northerly direction from a point opposite the northern kerbline of Cashel Street and extending in a northerly direction for a distance of 32 m.
2. That the existing P60 metered parking restrictions in the above described areas be revoked.
8. OXFORD TERRACE (MANCHESTER - MADRAS) UPGRADING RR 4643
This report, prepared by the Asset Planning Manager and the Area Traffic Engineer, identified options and timing for upgrading this section of Oxford Terrace.
The two major areas of the block of Oxford Terrace where upgrading works have been proposed involve:
1. Road Stopping at the Madras Street end;
2. Upgrading options in conjunction with Centennial Pool.
It was resolved that the upgrading of Oxford Terrace be carried out in the 1997/98 financial year to coincide with the opening of the Centennial Pool, with this recommendation to be forwarded directly to the Strategy & Resources Annual Plan Working Party.
9. CITY MALLS CONFERENCE - 1998 RR 4267
The Committee considered a report recommending that funding provision be made in the 1997/98 draft Annual Plan for the initial planning costs for the City Malls Conference to be held in Christchurch in 1998.
Although the conference is expected to be financially self-supporting, some seeding funding will be required to cover the initial plan costs.
The Committee resolved that provision of $30,000 be made in the 1997/98 draft Annual Plan for seeding funding for the City Malls Conference.
10. 1996/97 CORPORATE PLAN MONITORING REPORTS
It was resolved that the six monthly Unit reports from Parking Operations, Communications & Promotions, and City Streets, be held over for consideration at the April meeting.
11. SPECIAL COMMITTEE MEETING
It was noted that a special meeting of the Central City Committee would be held at 3.00 pm on Friday 21 March 1997 to consider further design concept issues relating to the redevelopment of Cathedral Square and car parking north of Cathedral Square.
The meeting concluded at 6.10 pm.
CONSIDERED THIS 26TH DAY OF MARCH 1997
MAYOR