Time:

4:00 p.m.

Place:

Anderson Room

Richmond City Hall

Present:

Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie

Councillor Linda Barnes

Councillor Derek Dang

Councillor Evelina Halsey-Brandt (Participated electronically)

Councillor Greg Halsey-Brandt (Participated electronically)

Councillor Sue Halsey-Brandt

Councillor Ken Johnston

Councillor Bill McNulty

Director, City Clerk’s Office – David Weber

Absent:

Councillor Harold Steves

Call to Order:

Mayor Brodie called the meeting to order at 4:06 p.m.

RES NO.

ITEM

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

SP09/1-1

1.

It was moved and seconded

That Council resolve into Committee of the Whole to hear delegations on  and consider agenda Item 3 in detail (4:07 p.m.).

CARRIED

2.

Delegations from the floor on Agenda items:

Item No. 3– Richmond Community Tourism and Sport Hosting Strategy

Scott Johnson, Executive General Manager, Sandman Signature Hotel & Resort, spoke on behalf of the Richmond Hotel Community, and expressed general support for the Sport Hosting Strategy.  He stated that the strategy offered a great benefit to Richmond, as well as the hotel industry. 

Mr. Johnson advised that he was speaking on behalf of the following hotels:

Best Western Abercorn Inn; Best Western Richmond Hotel; Delta Vancouver Airport Hotel; Executive Airport Plaza and Conference Centre; Four Points by Sheraton; Hilton Vancouver Airport; Hampton Inn By Hilton; Sandman Signature Hotel and Resort; Sandman Richmond Inn; Holiday Inn Express Riverport; Executive Inn Express; Days Inn – Vancouver Airport; La Quinta – Vancouver Airport; and Fairmont – Vancouver Airport. 

Mr. Johnson indicated that although the hotel community had not yet had an opportunity to formally meet to come to a consensus regarding the proposed Strategy, general support had been expressed. 

BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT

3.

RICHMOND COMMuNITY TOURISM AND SPORT HOSTING STRATEGY

(Report:  January 16, 2009, File No.: 11-7000-10-02) (REDMS No. 2563056)

The Manager of Economic Development, Neonila Lilova, accompanied by Senior Manager, Corporate Communications, Ted Townsend, provided a brief overview of the report.

A discussion ensued about the Richmond Community Tourism and Sport Hosting Strategy, and in particular on:

§    

the financial impact associated with implementation of the Richmond Community Tourism and Sport Hosting Strategy.  Staff advised that funding would be sought from the Hotel Tax;

§    

the Richmond Sports Council, and its role in the future with regard to the Strategy.  Staff advised that the Sports Council would be fully consulted at the time the detailed work and business plan are developed, as well as upon implementation of the Strategy;

§    

the rationale of hiring a Sport Hosting Manager prior to the development of the Strategy’s business plan;

§    

the requirement for written support of at least 51% of the hotels and hotels representing 51% of the hotel beds in Richmond, in order to re-allocate the funds accumulated through the Hotel Tax revenue, and to re-new the tax for another term;

§    

the new bylaws would need to be drafted in order to renew the 2% Hotel Tax, and re-allocate the funds accumulated through the Hotel Tax.  It was also noted that there were time limitations associated with the bylaws, as they would require Provincial approval;

§    

the establishment of a Richmond Sport Hosting Task Force, which would include key stakeholders from the City, the Richmond Sports Council, Tourism Richmond, and the Oval Corporation; and

§    

the timeline associated with developing an appropriate, detailed business plan.  It was noted that development of the Plan would be the first priority of the future Sport Hosting Manager.

In response to a concern, staff advised that all work related to both the Tall Ships and Senior’s Games events was progressing, and City staff had been coordinating these events with the relevant Council appointed Committees.  It was noted that a full review of the status and program related to the Senior’s Games would be forthcoming. 

SP09/1-2

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the Richmond Community Tourism and Sport Hosting Principles outlined in the report dated January 16, 2009 from the General Manager, Business & Financial Services be adopted, provided that a comparable, suitable, and available substitute such as a consultant may be retained to temporarily act as a Sport Hosting Manager;

(2)

That staff report back to Council with a business plan for the Sport Hosting Strategy, subject to receiving external funding and after full consultation with the Richmond Sports Council, the Olympic Oval Corporation and Tourism Richmond; and

(3)

That, staff report back to Council with the necessary Bylaws for renewal of the 2% Hotel Tax from October 2009 to October 2014 and amendment to reallocate the funds accumulated in the Richmond Trade and Exhibition Centre Designated Project Fund, subject to receiving the express written support of at least 51% of the hotels and hotels representing 51% of the hotel beds in Richmond.

The question on Resolution No. SP09/1-2 was not called, as discussion continued, and the following was noted:

§    

if the City was to receive a timely response and consensus on the matter from the hotels, it may be feasible to present the draft bylaws at the subsequent Council meeting.  However, due to requirements for Provincial approval, it may take several months to obtain final approval;

§    

it was difficult to move forward with the Strategy without Council’s approval of the related principles.  Resources were required in order to undertake a proper consultation by someone qualified to do so;

§    

a proper recruitment process would take place to fill the Sport Hosting Manager position.  The business plan related to the Sport Hosting Strategy may be developed by a consultant rather than a full-time permanent employee, with funding resources to be provided by Tourism Richmond; and

§    

impact on the existing sports community, and facility operations resulting from the implementation of the Sport Hosting Strategy would need to be given consideration.

The question on Resolution No. SP09/1-2 was then called and it was CARRIED.

SP09/1-3

4.

It was moved and seconded

That Committee rise and report (5:16 p.m.).

CARRIED

RATIFICATION OF COMMITTEE ACTION

SP09/1-4

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the Richmond Community Tourism and Sport Hosting Principles outlined in the report dated January 16, 2009 from the General Manager, Business & Financial Services be adopted, provided that a comparable, suitable, and available substitute such as a consultant may be retained to temporarily act as a Sport Hosting Manager;

(2)

That staff report back to Council with a business plan for the Sport Hosting Strategy, subject to receiving external funding and after full consultation with the Richmond Sports Council, the Olympic Oval Corporation and Tourism Richmond; and

(3)

That staff report back to Council with the necessary Bylaws for renewal of the 2% Hotel Tax from October 2009 to October 2014 and amendment to reallocate the funds accumulated in the Richmond Trade and Exhibition Centre Designated Project Fund, subject to receiving the express written support of at least 51% of the hotels and hotels representing 51% of the hotel beds in Richmond.

CARRIED

ADJOURNMENT

SP09/1-5

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:17 p.m.).

CARRIED

Certified a true and correct copy of the Minutes of the Special Meeting of the Council of the City of Richmond held on Monday, January 19, 2009.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Mayor (Malcolm D. Brodie)

Corporate Officer (David Weber)