Time:

4:00 p.m.

Place:

Anderson Room
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 4:02 p.m.

RES NO.

ITEM

CALL TO ORDER

LAW AND COMMUNITY SAFETY DEPARTMENT

1.

Site Clean Up of an Unsightly Property, Civic Address: 11460 Seabay Road, Legal Description: Lot 13, Section 36-4-6, Plan 19945

(Report:  January 9, 2008 File No.: 12-8080-05) (REDMS No. 2313838)

Wayne Mercer, Manager, Community Bylaws, and Jodie Shebib, Supervisor Community Bylaws circulated a set of photos of the unsightly property at 11460 Seabay Road, taken on Friday, February 29^th, 2008 (Schedule 1). It was noted that the new photos did not reflect any changes in the condition of the premises.

Ulf Areskoug, (owner of 11460 Seabay Road), accompanied by Crystal Land (Ms. Land looked after the property in Mr. Areskoug’s absence), expressed numerous concerns related to a break and enter robbery that he indicated had occurred at 11460 Seabay Road while he had been away. He stated that when he came home in June, his driveway was a mess. He indicated that the robbery was partly the reason for his unsightly property.

Mr. Areskoug stated that the thieves had damaged many items from his home and moved them to his driveway, including brand new appliances. He indicated that he had asked the police to try to obtain finger prints from the appliances, and therefore had left them in the driveway. However, the police never came to get finger prints, so he gave up and took the appliances to the scrap yard.

He made reference to a vehicle that he indicated had been stolen from his property, and expressed concerns associated with the level of police services and the police’s response times to calls made by Ms. Land and himself regarding the stolen vehicle and the robbery at his property. He stated that it was more stressful to deal with the police than the crime.

Mr. Areskoug advised that his job requires frequent travel, and he works shifts that are twelve to eighteen hours long, seven days a week, up to sixty days at a time. He further advised that he spent his spare time sorting his driveway and carport, as well as cleaning up after the thieves who had destroyed his property in his absence.

He spoke about several items that had been lost during the robbery, and expressed distress over the loss of irreplaceable pictures in aluminum frames of his children, a train set that he and his son had spent thousands of hours working on, and a cradle that his wife had kept.

Mr. Areskoug then expressed concerns associated with the following:

§      

a hedge that he believed City workers had cut down in his backyard, which provided shade to the grass that had since died, as it could not handle direct sunlight;

§      

a drainage issue that causes his yard to flood, which he believed was due to the height of the adjacent school property. He also felt that the drainage issue was a hazard to his health, and advised that there had been ducks swimming in the water, and that he has had to shovel water out of his yard;

§      

vandalism of his fence by school children, as well as broken posts. He believed both issues were a result of the removal of the hedge; and

§      

a blackberry hedge that had been removed when the City had cut back the hedge.

Ms. Land stated that the photos circulated by staff (Schedule 1) were not accurate, and that since the hedge had been torn down, Mr. Areskoug’s yard was visible. In answer to a question, Ms. Land advised that Mr. Areskoug would require one month’s time to clean his property. She stated that clean up of his wood shed was almost complete.

In answer to questions, Mr. Areskoug advised that he spent all of his free time to sort out the property crimes, and that his wife had very recently passed away.

In answer to questions, Ms. Shebib advised that she had attended 11460 Seabay earlier that morning, and she could confirm that the photos taken on Friday, February 29^th, 2008 (Schedule 1) were very accurate.

Reference was made to the blackberry bushes that Mr. Areskoug claimed had been removed by the City, and advice was provided that staff were not aware of any removal, and that the bushes could have been located on the neighbouring school property. Advice was also provided that staff had tried to work with Mr. Areskoug on several occasions, and that he could provide a cover for his carport to store items he wished to keep. Staff further advised it could be more cost effective for Mr. Areskoug to utilize the services of the City contractor.

A discussion ensued amongst staff and members of Council about the feasibility of adjourning the hearing in order to give Mr. Areskoug an extension to clean the property in recognition of his current situation, as his wife had recently passed away.

SP08/2-1

It was moved and seconded

That the appeal submitted by Ulf Areskoug, (owner of 11460 Seabay Road, Richmond) against the “Order to Comply” issued on November 20, 2007 regarding the condition of his property under the Unsightly Premises Regulation Bylaw No. 7162 and section 17(1) of the Community Charter, be adjourned to a Special Council Meeting to be held on April 7^th, 2008.

The question on the motion was not called, as further discussion took place and members of Council expressed their sympathy and compassion about Mr. Areskoug’s circumstances. However they asked him not to take the extra month as a lack of resolve, and advised him that the City was giving him one last opportunity to clean the property at 11460 Seabay Road.

The question on the motion was then called, and it was CARRIED. 

ADJOURNMENT

SP08/2-2

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:57 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 Monday, March 3^rd, 2008.

_________________________________

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Mayor (Malcolm D. Brodie)

Corporate Officer (David Weber)