Time:

4:00 p.m.

Place:

Council Chambers

Richmond City Hall

Present:

Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie

Councillor Linda Barnes

Councillor Derek Dang (4:21 p.m.)

Councillor Sue Halsey-Brandt

Councillor Ken Johnston

Councillor Bill McNulty

Councillor Harold Steves

Director, City Clerk’s Office – David Weber

Absent:

Councillor Evelina Halsey-Brandt

Councillor Greg Halsey-Brandt

Call to Order:

Mayor Brodie called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.

RES NO.

ITEM

LAW AND COMMUNITY SAFETY DEPARTMENT

1.

Site Clean Up of an Unsightly Property Civic Address: 23951 Thompson Gate Legal Description: West 66 Feet Lot “C”, Section 36, Block 5 North Range 4 West, New Westminster District Plan 8270

(File Ref. No.:  12-8075-20-AMANDA#/Vol 01) (REDMS No. 3069095)

Wayne G. Mercer, Manager, Community Bylaws and Magda Laljee, Supervisor, Community Bylaws provided the most recent set of pictures of the property at 23951 Thompson Gate, taken on Thursday, January 6^th, 2011 (on file City Clerks Office). 

Ms. Laljee indicated that the site clean up would deal with the discarded debris and over grown brush and vegetation.  Safety concerns and other issues related to the buildings and structures on the property would be dealt with by the City’s Building Department. 

In answer to queries, staff provided the following information:

§        

the property owner had made some progress in removing debris, but did not meet the requirements to satisfy the Order to Comply.  There are  safety concerns related to tripping hazards and combustible materials on the property.  Staff were in support of the recommendation to hire a contractor to remove and dispose of the debris at 23951 Thompson Gate;

§        

the quote for removing the discarded items on the property is higher than usual due to the intensive labour involved, and the City’s contractor had difficulty in determining if there was anything under the debris.  Also it was noted that an administrative fee of 20% charged by the City, as specified in the Unsightly Premises Regulation Bylaw 7162, had been included in the quote;

§        

vehicles on the property would not be removed by the City’s contractor; and 

§        

the combustible materials stored in the shed on the property cannot be dealt with via the Unsightly Premises Regulation Bylaw 7162.

Leon Higman, property owner of 23951 Thompson Gate, advised Council that although it appears that nothing has been removed from the property, he has removed a large amount of debris.  He stated that as he removes debris from the back of the property to the front, it appears as if there is more debris.  Mr. Higman requested additional time of two months to deal with the clean up, as it has been difficult for him to work in the current weather conditions. 

Councillor Derek Dang entered the meeting at 4:21 p.m.

SP11/1-1

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the appeal submitted by Mr. Leon Higman, owner of 23951 Thompson Gate, against the “Order to Comply” issued on November 12, 2010 regarding the unsightly condition of 23951 Thompson Gate pursuant to the Unsightly Premises Regulation Bylaw No. 7162 and section 17(1) of the Community Charter, be denied;

(2)

That Walden Disposal Services, as contractor for the City, be authorized to remove the discarded materials at 23951 Thompson Gate in accordance with the “Order to Comply” of November 12, 2010 issued under the Unsightly Premises Regulation Bylaw No. 7162 and section 17(1) of the Community Charter on or after February 28^th, 2011; and

(3)

That the final cost of this remediation, estimated at a maximum of $23,520.00 (including fees and taxes), be invoiced to the owner of the property located at 23951 Thompson Gate.

The question on the motion was not called, as staff were requested to provide Council with a memo indicating the final cost charged to the property owner for the removal of the discarded materials on the property.

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

Mr. Higman was advised that he had until February 28^th, 2011 to complete the clean-up of the property at 23951 Thompson Gate, Richmond, otherwise the City would have no choice but to take further action by hiring a contractor to remove and dispose of the materials on the property.

ADJOURNMENT

SP11/1-2

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:27 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 10, 2011.

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Mayor (Malcolm D. Brodie)

Corporate Officer (David Weber)