Time:

7:00 p.m.

Place:

Council Chambers
Richmond City Hall

Present:

Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie
Councillor Linda Barnes
Councillor Cynthia Chen
Councillor Derek Dang
Councillor Evelina Halsey-Brandt
Councillor Sue Halsey-Brandt
Councillor Rob Howard
Councillor Bill McNulty
Councillor Harold Steves

Director, City Clerk’s Office – David Weber

Call to Order:

Mayor Brodie called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

RES NO.

ITEM

MINUTES

R07/19-1

1.

It was moved and seconded

That:

(1)

the minutes of the Regular Council Meeting held on Monday, October 22^nd, 2007; and

(2)

the minutes of the Special Council Meeting held on Monday, October 29^th, 2007,

each be adopted as circulated, and that the GVRD “Boards in Brief” dated September 21^st, 2007 and October 5^th`, 2007, be received for  information.

CARRIED

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

R07/19-2

2.

It was moved and seconded

That Council resolve into Committee of the Whole to hear delegations on agenda items (7:01 p.m.).

CARRIED

3.

Delegations from the floor on Agenda items –

Item No. 15 – Sister City Program Report 1:  Review and Update; and Sister City Program Report 2:  Expansion - China

Ms. Sylvia Gwozd, Chair, Sister City Committee, accompanied by Francis Turmeau and Benny Yung, spoke about the success of the Sister City program over the years.  She also talked about the importance of establishing friendship city relationships with the four recommended cities in China, and she commented on the definitions for “Sister City” and “Friendship City” relationships.

Mr. Turmeau spoke in support of entering into negotiations with the four recommended cities in China to establish friendship city relationships.  He also talked about City’s sister city relationship with Pierrefonds, Quebec, and the importance of sister city and friendship relationships to the City as they related to education, business and culture.

Mr. Yung urged Council to take a leading role in entering into relationships with cities in China, and he spoke about the action being taken by the Provincial Government to enter into a similar relationship with China.

R07/19-3

4.

It was moved and seconded

That Committee rise and report (8:03 p.m.).

CARRIED

CONSENT AGENDA

R07/19-4

5.

It was moved and seconded

That Items 6 through 14, with the removal of Item No. 7 – Taxation Equity, be adopted by general consent.

CARRIED

6.

COMMITTEE MINUTES

That the minutes of:

(1)

the Finance Committee meeting held on Thursday, November 5^th, 2007;

(2)

the General Purposes Committee meeting held on Monday, November 5^th, 2007;

(3)

the Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services Committee meeting held on Tuesday, October 23^rd, 2007; and

(4)

the Planning Committee meeting held on Tuesday, November 6^th, 2007,

be received for information.

ADOPTED ON CONSENT

7.

TAXATION EQUITY

(Report:  Nov. 9/07, File No.:  03-1240-01/2007-Vol 01) (REDMS No. 2301382, 2298880, 2269210)

Please see Page 6 of these minutes for action taken on this matter.

8.

2008 UTILITY BUDGETS

(Report:  Oct. 25/07, File No.:  03-0970-01) (REDMS No. 2285380)

(1)

That the 2008 Utility Expenditure Budgets (outlined in Option 3 of the report dated October 25, 2007, from the Managers of Revenue, Water, Sewerage & Drainage, and Fleet & Environmental Programs), be approved as the basis for establishing the 2008 Utility Rates.

(2)

That staff report directly to Council with the necessary amendment bylaws to bring into effect the proposed Sewer Connection Charges, amendments to the Waterworks and Water Rates Bylaw, changes outlined in the staff report to the Solid Waste and Recycling Regulation Bylaw and the 2008 Utility Rates option recommended by Committee.

ADOPTED ON CONSENT

9.

2008 OPERATING BUDGET

(Report:  Nov. 1/07, File No.:  03-0970-01/2007-Vol 01) (REDMS No. 2301390, 2290057)

(1)

That the base budget increase , the increased plant from development, the estimated tax growth and the revised priority 1 additional programs, excluding No. 5 – Sister City Committee – Program Costs, and levels of service which total 2.01% be approved for inclusion in the 2008 Operating Budget (as outlined in the report dated November 1, 2007 from the Director of Finance);

(2)

The remaining additional programs and levels of service including the Oval operating rate stabilization and No. 5 – Sister City Committee – Program Costs, be referred back to staff to be prioritized and brought back to the next Finance Committee meeting.

ADOPTED ON CONSENT

10.

BUSINESS LICENCE BYLAW NO. 7360, AMENDMENT BYLAW NO. 8302 – REVISED FEE SCHEDULES

(Report:  Oct. 9/07, File No.:  12-8060-20-8302) (REDMS No. 2288499, 2289644)

That Business Licence Bylaw No. 7360, Amendment Bylaw No. 8302, which creates revised fee schedules, be introduced and given first, second and third readings.

ADOPTED ON CONSENT

11.

Richmond - A Community of Excellence for Sports & Wellness

(Report:  October 9, 2007, File No.:  11-7000-01/2007-Vol 01) (REDMS No. 2288631)

(1)

That the “Community of Excellence for Sport and Wellness” initiative, be endorsed; and

(2)

That staff report progress to Council as the initiative moves forward.

ADOPTED ON CONSENT

12.

Older Adults Service Plan

(Report:  October 10, 2007, File No.:  11-7000-07/2007-Vol 01) (REDMS No. 2286480, 2135901)

(1)

That staff:

(a)

seek feedback on the DRAFT Older Adults Service Plan (Attachment 1 to the report dated October 10^th, 2007, from the Director, Recreation & Cultural Services)) from key stakeholders; and

(b)

report to Council through the Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services Committee.

(2)

That the Richmond Older Adults Service Plan Steering Committee be thanked for their effort in developing the DRAFT Older Adults Service Plan.

ADOPTED ON CONSENT

13.

APPLICATION FOR REZONING - AMARJIT S. CHATHA, BIKRAMJIT S. CHATHA, AND BAJINDER S. DEOL

(RZ 06-348261 - Report:  October 1, 2007, File No.:  12-8060-20-8251) (REDMS No. 2231369, 2285534)

That Bylaw No. 8251, for the rezoning of 9940 and 9960 No. 4 Road, 10020 Albion Road and a portion of Albion Road from “Single-Family Housing District, Subdivision Area E (R1/E)” and “Two-Family Housing District (R5)” to “Single-Family Housing District (R1-0.6)”, be introduced and given first reading.

ADOPTED ON CONSENT

14.

ROAD NAMING

(Forwarded from the Monday, October 22, 2007, Regular (closed) Council Meeting.)

That the name BREDEN AVENUE be selected for the proposed new road in the McLennan South, Sub Area Plan, Section 15-4-6.

ADOPTED ON CONSENT

CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA

7.

TAXATION EQUITY

(Report:  Nov. 9/07, File No.:  03-1240-01/2007-Vol 01) (REDMS No. 2301382, 2298880, 2269210)

R07/19-5

It was moved and seconded

(1)

Whereas local governments are front line public service providers facing an undue burden of costs as a result of ageing infrastructure and provision of critical services such as police, fire protection, roads, recreation, parks, water, sewer, garbage and recycling, and a major source of municipal revenue is property tax which is not directly responsive to economic activity; therefore, be it resolved that local governments work with senior levels of Government to determine a more equitable and sustainable manner of cost and revenue sharing, and immediately revisit the tax structure without increasing the overall taxes.

(2)

Whereas local governments are best equipped and qualified to host events and programs that result in positive economic spin-offs with limited direct financial benefit to the local governments, therefore, be it resolved that the local governments work with senior levels of Government to determine a an equitable and sustainable share in the direct tax gains (GST/PST/Corporate/Personal taxes) associated with the event in order to provide some funding and incentive for event hosting.

(3)

That the above resolutions and the accompanying background paper be immediately submitted to the LMLGA and other area associations, the UBCM, the FCM, and Metro Vancouver, and request those agencies, along with the City of Richmond and the appropriate business and community groups that we collectively engage, lobby the Government of BC and the Government of Canada.

(4)

That staff be requested to assemble further materials in support of the above resolutions which can be forwarded to these organizations in the future.

CARRIED

GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE –
Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie, Chair

15.

Sister City Program Report 1: Review and Update

(Report:  November 2, 2007, File No.:  01-0100-20-SCITI-01; xr 01-0135-04-01) (REDMS No. 2298339, 2298571, 2300651)

Sister City Program Report 2: Expansion - China

(Report:  November 2, 2007, File No.:  01-0135-04-04; xr: 01-0135-04-01) (REDMS No.2297982, 2298557)

R07/19-6

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the renewed objectives and new policies and procedures for the City of Richmond’s Sister City Program, be approved (as outlined in the revised document found attached to the November 9, 2007 memo from the Senior Manager, Policy Development and Corporate Programs).

(2)

That based on these renewed Program objectives and new policies and procedures, that the updated Terms of Reference for the Sister City Committee (as outlined in the revised document found attached to the November 9, 2007 memo from the Senior Manager, Policy Development and Corporate Programs), be approved, provided that the voting membership shall be comprised of 13 citizens and 1 voting Board of Education of School District No. 38 (Richmond) non-staff representative and the non-voting membership be comprised of the Council liaison and City staff.

(3)

That a new Sister City Committee annual operating fund of $10,000 be approved, starting in 2008 and a Sister City Program three-year fund of up to $225,000 for 2008-2010 (as outlined in the report dated November 2, 2007 from the Senior Manager, Policy Development and Corporate Programs), conditional on approval of additional levels funding in the 2008 operating budget.

(4)

That staff be directed to conduct a facilitated Planning and Budgeting Workshop with the Sister City Committee to develop three-year Activity Plans for each Sister and Friendship City relationship and an accompanying budget showing allocations of Program funding.

(5)

That three-year Activity Plans be presented to Council for final approval by the end of the first quarter of 2008 and thereafter in accordance with the new Program policies and procedures and updated Sister City Committee Terms of Reference.

(6)

That approval be given for an annual increment for staff in the amount of $37,000 (as outlined in the report dated November 2, 2007 from the Senior Manager, Policy Development and Corporate Programs).

(7)

That the Sister City Committee report (dated September 2007) on the June 2007 visit to Pierrefonds, Quebec and the July 2007 visit to China (attached to the report dated November 2^nd, 2007, from the Chief Administrative Officer),  be received for information.

(8)

That the City of Richmond pursue Friendship City relationships with four cities in China (Xiamen, Yangzhou, Yantai and Qingdao), and that staff, with consideration of advice from the Sister City Committee, be directed to provide Council with recommendations on a process and criteria for evaluation of the identified candidate Friendship Cities and selection of one Sister City in China by the end of the first 3 year program term.

(9)

That for each city selected through the above process, an invitation be sent to the proposed friendship city and if a positive response is received, that a formal agreement (accompanied by a three year Activity Plan) be developed as specified in the new program policies and procedures.

(10)

That the City of Richmond pursue a special ‘Olympic Twin’ relationship with the City of Qingdao, China, and that an agreement and two year Activity Plan be developed.

(11)

That if, for any reason, official relationships are not formed with any or all of the proposed Friendship Cities in China, namely Xiamen, Yangzhou, Yantai or Qingdao, that substitute cities are not to be considered unless approved by Council and that the program budget will be adjusted accordingly.

The question on Resolution No. R07/19-6 was not called, as Cllr. Evelina Halsey-Brandt requested that Parts (3), (6) and (8) be dealt with separately.  However, the Chair ruled that the parts in question could not be dealt with separately because they related to the budget for the Sister City program and were integral to the overall resolution.  Cllr. Halsey-Brandt then challenged the ruling of the Chair. 

Mayor Brodie then put the question, “Shall the Chair be sustained?”, to the rest of Council.  The question was called, and it was DEFEATED with Cllrs. Barnes, Chen, Dang, E. Halsey-Brandt and Steves opposed.  Mayor Brodie advised that the challenge of the Chair was successful and that the Chair’s ruling was not sustained.  In response to a question from Cllr. Evelina Halsey-Brandt, he advised that Parts (3), (6) and (8) could be dealt with separately when the question was called.

The question on Resolution No. R07/19-6 was not called, as the following amendment was introduced:

R07/19-7

It was moved and seconded

That Resolution No. R07/19-6 be amended as follows:

(1)

In Part (3), by replacing the figure ‘$225,000’ with the figure ‘$150,000’;

(2)

By deleting Part (6) in its entirety, and renumbering the subsequent Parts accordingly;

(3)

By deleting Part (7) in its entirety, and by substituting the following,

‘That the City of Richmond pursue a Friendship City relationship with one of the following four cities in China (Xiamen, Yangzhou, Yantai and Qingdao); and that staff, with consideration of advice from the Sister City Committee following the facilitated Planning and Budgeting Workshop, be directed to provide Council with a recommendation on a Friendship City and a process for formalizing one Sister City relationship in China by the end of the first 3 year program term.’

(4)

In Part (8), by replacing the word ‘each’ in the first line with the word ‘the’;

(5)

By deleting the renumbered Part (10) in its entirety, and by substituting the following,

‘That if, for any reason, official relationships are not formed with any or all of the proposed current and future Friendship Cities (Qingdao and one other city) in China, that substitute cities are not to be considered unless approved by Council and that the program budget will be adjusted accordingly.’

CARRIED

OPPOSED:  Cllr. Barnes

Howard

McNulty

The question on Resolution No. R07/19-6, as amended by Resolution No. R07/19-7, was not called, as a further amendment was introduced:

R07/19-8

It was moved and seconded

That Resolution No. R07/19-6, as amended by Resolution No. R07/19-7, be amended by adding the following as Parts (11) and (12) respectively,

‘(11)

That the Richmond Sister City Committee develop an action plan of education and community engagement to involve the broader community in the events and programs of the Committee, and inform them of the benefits - cultural, social, educational, economic - of a Sister /Friendship relationship.

(12)

That, in addition to the three year activity plan and the yearly activity updates, the Sister City Committee report to Council on an annual basis on the measurable outcomes of the specific activities undertaken by the Sister City Committee with our various Sister/Friendship cities.’

CARRIED

(Cllr. Dang left the meeting – 9:28 p.m.)

The question on Resolution No. R07/19-6, as amended by Resolution Nos. R07/19-7 and R07/19-8, was not called, as a further amendment was introduced:

R07/19-9

It was moved and seconded

That Part (3) of Resolution No. R07/19-6, as amended by Resolution Nos. R07/19-7 and R07/19-8, be amended by adding the following to the end of the sentence, ‘or as a one-time appropriation from the 2007 surplus.’

(Cllr. Dang returned to the meeting – 9:30 p.m.)

CARRIED

The question on Resolution No. R07/19-6, as amended by Resolution Nos. R07/19-7, R07/19-8 and R07/19-9, which now reads as follows,

(1)

That the renewed objectives and new policies and procedures for the City of Richmond’s Sister City Program, be approved (as outlined in the revised document found attached to the November 9, 2007 memo from the Senior Manager, Policy Development and Corporate Programs).

(2)

That based on these renewed Program objectives and new policies and procedures, that the updated Terms of Reference for the Sister City Committee (as outlined in the revised document found attached to the November 9, 2007 memo from the Senior Manager, Policy Development and Corporate Programs), be approved, provided that the voting membership shall be comprised of 13 citizens and 1 voting Board of Education of School District No. 38 (Richmond) non-staff representative and the non-voting membership be comprised of the Council liaison and City staff.

(3)

That a new Sister City Committee annual operating fund of $10,000 be approved, starting in 2008 and a Sister City Program three-year fund of up to $150,000 for 2008-2010 (as outlined in the report dated November 2, 2007 from the Senior Manager, Policy Development and Corporate Programs), conditional on approval of additional levels funding in the 2008 operating budget, or as a one-time appropriation from the 2007 surplus.

(4)

That staff be directed to conduct a facilitated Planning and Budgeting Workshop with the Sister City Committee to develop three-year Activity Plans for each Sister and Friendship City relationship and an accompanying budget showing allocations of Program funding.

(5)

That three-year Activity Plans be presented to Council for final approval by the end of the first quarter of 2008 and thereafter in accordance with the new Program policies and procedures and updated Sister City Committee Terms of Reference.

(6)

That the Sister City Committee report (dated September 2007) on the June 2007 visit to Pierrefonds, Quebec and the July 2007 visit to China (attached to the report dated November 2^nd, 2007, from the Chief Administrative Officer),  be received for information.

(7)

That the City of Richmond pursue a Friendship City relationship with one of the following four cities in China (Xiamen, Yangzhou, Yantai and Qingdao); and that staff, with consideration of advice from the Sister City Committee following the facilitated Planning and Budgeting Workshop, be directed to provide Council with a recommendation on a Friendship City and a process for formalizing one Sister City relationship in China by the end of the first 3 year program term.

(8)

That for the city selected through the above process, an invitation be sent to the proposed friendship city and if a positive response is received, that a formal agreement (accompanied by a three year Activity Plan) be developed as specified in the new program policies and procedures.

(9)

That the City of Richmond pursue a special ‘Olympic Twin’ relationship with the City of Qingdao, China, and that an agreement and two year Activity Plan be developed.

(10)

That if, for any reason, official relationships are not formed with any or all of the proposed current and future Friendship Cities (Qingdao and one other city) in China, that substitute cities are not to be considered unless approved by Council and that the program budget will be adjusted accordingly.

(11)

That the Richmond Sister City Committee develop an action plan of education and community engagement to involve the broader community in the events and programs of the Committee, and inform them of the benefits - cultural, social, educational, economic - of a Sister /Friendship relationship.

(12)

That, in addition to the three year activity plan and the yearly activity updates, the Sister City Committee report to Council on an annual basis on the measurable outcomes of the specific activities undertaken by the Sister City Committee with our various Sister/Friendship cities,

was then called, and it was CARRIED with Cllr. Howard opposed.

PLANNING COMMITTEE –
Councillor Harold Steves, Chair

16.

ROAD CLOSURE AND REMOVAL OF ROAD DEDICATION AND SALE OF CLOSED ROAD

(Recommendation forwarded from the Tuesday, November 13^th, 2007, Regular (closed) Council Meeting.)

R07/19-10

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That Road Closure and Removal of Road Dedication Bylaw 8248 be introduced and given 1st, 2nd and 3rd readings;

(2)

That the required notice of road closure and disposition of the road closure be advertised prior to final adoption; and

(3)

That staff be authorized to take all necessary steps to raise title to the road closure area and transfer the road closure area of 223.3 square metres (2,403.6 square feet) to the Developer or its designate for $146,000 (as detailed in the report dated September 26^th, 2007, from the Manager, Real Estate Services), including authorizing the Manager, Real Estate Services or the General Manager, Business & Financial Services to negotiate and execute all documentation to effect the transaction, including all contracts, surveys and Land Title Office documentation.

CARRIED

BYLAWS FOR ADOPTION

R07/19-11

It was moved and seconded

That the following bylaws be adopted:

Soil Removal and Fill Deposit Regulation Bylaw No. 8094

Zoning & Development Bylaw No. 5300, Amendment Bylaw No. 8276 (8151 No. 3 Road, RZ 07-370928)

Road Closure and Removal of Road Dedication Bylaw No. 8287

Zoning & Development Bylaw No. 5300, Amendment Bylaw No. 8291 (13060 No. 2 Road, RZ 06-331350)

CARRIED

ADJOURNMENT

R07/19-12

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (9:57 p.m.).

CARRIED

Certified a true and correct copy of the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Richmond held on Tuesday, November 13^th, 2007.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Mayor (Malcolm D. Brodie)

Corporate Officer (David Weber)