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

R08/5-1

1.

Motion to adopt:

(1)

the minutes  of the Regular Council Meeting held on Monday, February 25, 2008 (distributed previously);

(2)

the minutes of the Special Council Meeting held on Monday, March 3, 2008;

to receive for information, the GVRD “Board in Brief” dated January 25, 2008.

CARRIED

AGENDA ADDITIONS & DELETIONS

R08/5-2

It was moved and seconded

That Bylaw No. 8020 be deleted from the from Council Agenda.

CARRIED

PRESENTATION

Paul Brar, Coordinator, Parks Programs, announced the winning designs for the City of Richmond’s 2008 Street Banner program. He noted that 611 designs had been submitted, based on the theme “Richmond in Focus” and that the panel of volunteer judges selected nine designs. The new banners will be installed in March, 2008 in selected areas of Richmond’s downtown core and gateways and will remain on display until March, 2009.

The  winning artists, and the titles of their banner art, are: Eric Lee – “Team Spirit on the Middle Arm”; Vicky Ng – “Seaplane Into the Sunset”; John Bates – “Dog Walker at Dusk”; Parvinder Notta – “Hiker at Sunset”; Hamid Ebrahimi – “Soaring Heron”; Carol-Ann Leoppky – “Scotch Pond at Dusk”; Michaela Lynn – “Passing Through”; Kwok-Yuen Lam – “Waterlilies” and “Temple”

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

R08/5-3

2.

It was moved and seconded

That Council resolve into Committee of the Whole to hear delegations on agenda items (7:18 p.m.).

CARRIED

3.

Delegation from the floor on Agenda item – No. 6 (1)

Item No. 6 – (1) – Minutes of the February 25, 2008 Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Meeting

Peter Mitchell, 6271 Nanika Crescent, submitted a letter to Council (attached as Schedule 1 to these Minutes) requesting clarification on the process by which delegations appear before Standing Committees. He cited that at the February 26, 2008 meeting of the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Committee, the agenda was amended to add consultants who made a presentation on the feasibility of a Richmond Museum. The Mayor advised that Mr. Mitchell should bring the issue, and his questions to the attention of the Chair of the individual Standing Committees. Cllr. Barnes, Chair, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Committee advised there will be a special meeting of the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Committee to discuss the feasibility study for the proposed Richmond Museum. Mr. Mitchell concluded his remarks by stating that he would attempt to attend the PRCS meeting during which the Museum study would be discussed.

R085-4

4.

It was moved and seconded

That Committee rise and report (7:22 p.m.).

CARRIED

CONSENT AGENDA

R08/5-5

5.

It was moved and seconded

That Items 6 through 8 be adopted by general consent.

CARRIED

6.

COMMITTEE MINUTES

That the minutes of:

(1)

the Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services Committee meeting held on Tuesday, February 26, 2008;

(2)

the General Purposes Committee meeting held on Monday, March 3, 2008,

be received for information.

GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE –
Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie, Chair

7.

MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT TWINNING RELATIONSHIPS

(Report:  February 2919, 2008, File No.: 03-1000-18-041; xr 01-0135-04-01) (REDMS No. 2350666, 2352323)

(1)

That Council approve entering in to this Memorandum of Agreement On Local Government Twinning Relationships with the Province and commit to meeting the Agreement deliverables on the basis that the funding be used for Official Representatives of the City or the Sister City Committee consistent with the City’s policies.

(2)

That the General Manager, Business and Financial Services be authorized to execute the attached Memorandum of Agreement.

ADOPTED ON CONSENT

PARKS, RECREATION AND CULTURAL SERVICES COMMITTEE –
Councillor Linda Barnes, Chair

8.

2008 Artificial Turf Field Site Recommendation

(Report:  February 8, 2008, File No.:  06-2345-20-MINO1) (REDMS No. 2330820)

That the Minoru Park Oval field be approved as the location for construction of an artificial turf sports field in 2008.

ADOPTED ON CONSENT

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS ARISING FROM CLOSED COUNCIL

The Mayor made the following announcements:

(1)

Item Arising from the Closed Council Meeting of April 23, 2007 Relating to the City’s Candidates for the Police Review Steering Committee

That the following list of candidates for the Police Review Steering Committee be approved:

Chief Constable Jim Cessford, Delta Police Department,

Chief Constable Lorne Zapotichny, New Westminster Police Department,

Chief Constable Ian Mackenzie, Abbotsford Police Department,

Gail Stephens, CEO, BC Pensions; and

Dr. Paul Brantingham.

(2)

Item Arising from the Closed Council Meeting of June 11, 2007 Relating to the Purchase of a Subdivided Portion of the Property at 9680 Odlin Road for Open Space (Parks)

1.

That the acquisition of a subdivided portion of the property at 9680 Odlin Road for $1,605,939 for Park acquisition, be approved; and

2.

That staff to take all necessary steps to complete the matter, including authorizing the Manager, Real Estate Services, to execute all documentation to effect the transaction.

(3)

Item Arising from the Closed Council Meeting of June 25, 2007 Relating to the Acquisition of City Utility Statutory Right-of-Way for the Property at 8760 General Currie Road

That:

1.

The acquisition of a City utility statutory right-of-way over Lot 384 … Plan 61488 at 8760 General Currie Road, be approved; and

2.

Staff be authorized to take the necessary steps to complete the matter, including authorizing the Manager, Real Estate Services, to execute all documentation to effect the transaction.

(4)

Item Arising from the Closed Council Meeting of June 25, 2007 Relating to the Purchase of Property at 9660 and 9700 Cambie Road for Future Fire Hall

That:

1.

The acquisition of the property located at 9660 and 9700 Cambie Road at $1,300,000 for each lot (total cost of $2,600,000) for future Fire Hall development to replace Bridgeport Fire Hall #3 be approved; and

2.

Staff be authorized to take the necessary steps to complete the matter, including authorizing the Manager, Real Estate Services, to execute all documentation to effect the transaction.

(5)

Item Arising from the Closed Council Meeting of July 9, 2007 Relating to the Purchase of Property at 6620 Eckersley Road for Open Space (Parks)

That:

1.

The acquisition of the property at 6620 Eckersley Road for $800,000 for Park acquisition be approved; and

2.

Staff be authorized to take all the necessary steps to complete the matter including authorizing the Manager, Real Estate Services, to negotiate and execute all documentation to effect the transaction.

(6)

Item Arising from the Closed Council Meeting of October 9, 2007 Relating to the Acquisition of 7400 River Road

That:

1.

the City acquire the property known as 7400 River Road at a purchase price of $13,000,000 plus an additional $500,000 for lease and mortgage buy-outs as well as additional related acquisition expenses as identified in the staff report dated October 4, 2007, with funding based on $12,000,000 cash plus a donation receipt of $1,500,000;

2.

Staff be authorized to take all necessary steps to complete the matter including authorizing the Manager, Real Estate Services, to negotiate and execute all documentation to effect the transaction including all contracts and land title office documentation; and

3.

Should the City acquire the property and receive any lease buy-out funds from existing tenants, that such funds be deposited back into the Parks DCC reserve.

(7)

Item Arising from the Closed Council Meeting of November 26, 2007 Relating to the Rental of 2420 Westminster Highway

That:

1.

The property at 2420 Westminster Highway be approved for rent (as outlined in the report dated November 7th, 2007, from the Manager, Real Estate Services); and

2.

Staff be authorized to take all the necessary steps to complete the matter including authorizing the Manager, Real Estate Services or the General Manager of Business & Financial Services to negotiate and execute all documentation to effect the transaction, including executing the rental agreement.

(8)

Item Arising from the Closed Council Meeting of November 26, 2007 Relating to the Purchase of Property at 9211 Granville Avenue for Open Space (Parks)

That:

1.

The purchase of the property at 9211 Granville Avenue for $801,650 for Park acquisition, be approved; and

2.

Staff be authorized to take all the necessary steps to complete the matter including authorizing the Manager, Real Estate Services or the General Manager of Business & Financial Services, to negotiate and execute all documentation to effect the transaction, including all contracts and Land Title Office documents.

(9)

Item Arising from the Closed Council Meeting of November 26, 2007 Relating to the Sub-Lease of 5440 Hollybridge Way

1.

That the City sub lease office space at 5440 Hollybridge Way (as outlined in the report dated November 15, 2007 from the Director, Engineering & Public Works and the General Manager, Business & Financial Services); and

2.

That staff be authorized to take all necessary steps to complete this matter including authorizing the Manager, Real Estate Services or the General Manager of Business & Financial Services to execute the sub lease and all other documents in connection with the same.

(10)

Official Signing with Xiamen and Qingdao

(1)

That a change in the date for the signing of the friendly cooperative relationship agreement with Xiamen, Fujian Province, People’s Republic of China, and of an ‘Olympic’ relationship agreement with Qingdao, People’s Republic of China, be moved from November 2007 to April 2008; and

(2)

That the official delegation as outlined in the report be approved to attend the official signing of the two relationship agreements.

NEW BUSINESS

Cllr. Harold Steves introduced the following Notice of Motion to appear for consideration on the agenda for the Tuesday, March 25, 2008 Regular Council Meeting:

Whereas, the City of Richmond is part of a consortium composed of the City of Richmond, the Canada Lands Corporation and the Musqueam Indian Band; and

Whereas, the consortium is engaged in applying to the Agricultural Land Commission to remove the Garden City Lands from the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR); and

Whereas, the consortium has hired public relations firms, consultants and lawyers to promote the views of the consortium to the public; and

Whereas, the consortium is in the unusual position of being judge and jury over its own submission by holding a public hearing under the auspices of a partner in the consortium, and

Whereas, the consortium has used surveys and held open houses, prepared by those hired by the consortium, that tell only one side of the story, in order to influence public opinion; and

Whereas, a written survey did not provide the options for either opposing the removal of the land from the ALR, or support or opposition for the use of the land for high rise housing; and

Whereas, an online survey would not accept a refusal to answer, or substitute answers that were contrary to the prepared answers on the survey; and

Whereas, Council minutes and information items provided in the application to the Agricultural Land Commission show one point of view only, while minutes and information that do not support the application are not included; and

Whereas, the outside legal counsel for the City of Richmond indicated that he does not have experience with Indian Land Claims in the metropolitan area of British Columbia; and

Whereas, much of the information provided by the consultants hired by the Consortium is misleading and can be refuted by agrologists using on-site analysis, the City of Richmond’s own Agricultural Profile reports, and information provided by B.C. Ministry of Agriculture; and

Whereas, the City of Richmond is spending a considerable amount of money and staff time indoctrinating the public and preparing a submission to the Agricultural Land Commission; and

Whereas, it is accepted and standard practice for senior governments to provide proportional research funding and staff to all of their elected representatives;

Therefore be it resolved, that the City of Richmond provide funds to the three City Councillors who voted against the application to remove the Garden City Lands from the ALR proportional to the money being spent in support of removing the land from the ALR on behalf of the six City Councillors that voted in favour.

BYLAWS FOR ADOPTION

R08/5-6

It was moved and seconded

That the following bylaws be adopted:

Local Improvement Projects Charges Bylaw No. 7189, Repeal Bylaw No. 8318

Municipal Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw No. 7321, Amendment Bylaw No. 8320

Zoning & Development Bylaw No. 5300, Amendment Bylaw No. 8235

(9351 and 9391 Ferndale Road, RZ 07-355977)

Zoning & Development Bylaw No. 5300, Amendment Bylaw No. 8265

(8500 Francis Road, RZ 07-370956)

Zoning & Development Bylaw No. 5300, Amendment Bylaw No. 8321

(8571 Ash Street, RZ 07- 377838)

CARRIED

ADJOURNMENT

R08/5-7

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (7:54 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 10, 2008.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Mayor (Malcolm D. Brodie)

Corporate Officer (David Weber)