December 9, 2019 - Minutes (Special)

Place:

Anderson Room
Richmond City Hall

Present:

Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie
Councillor Chak Au
Councillor Carol Day
Councillor Kelly Greene
Councillor Alexa Loo
Councillor Bill McNulty
Councillor Linda McPhail
Councillor Harold Steves 
Councillor Michael Wolfe

Corporate Officer – Claudia Jesson

Call to Order:

Mayor Brodie called the meeting to order at 4:21 p.m.

RES NO.

ITEM

LEGAL AND LEGISLATIVE SERVICES DEPARTMENT

1.

PROPERTY MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR BYLAW NO. 7897 – 11780 KINGFISHER DRIVE FEE APPEAL 
(File Ref. No.: 12-8060-20-007897; 01-0275-20-2019-027) (REDMS No. 6262777 v. 6; 62627777; 6361488; 6361493; 6361499; 6361501; 6361503; 6361506)

Dominic Tung, Richmond resident, spoke on behalf of the owner of 11780 Kingfisher Drive, Jing Cong (the appellant), noting that Ms. Cong had suffered a series of financial hardships and the Property Maintenance and Repair fee for violations at 11780 Kingfisher Drive would further exacerbate her financial position. Mr. Tung further noted that Ms. Cong has owned multiple properties in Richmond and had to sell one property due to a conflict with a neighbour. Also, Ms. Cong opted to rent her property at 11780 Kingfisher Drive as she had to attend to business interests overseas. Mr. Tung added that as a result of damages related to the drug manufacturing operation at 11780 Kingfisher Drive operated by the tenant, the house had to be demolished, however Ms. Cong plans to rebuild the property as her primary residence and has expressed no interest in speculative activities.

SP19/13-1

It was moved and seconded

That the appeal by Jing Cong of fees imposed pursuant to the Property Maintenance and Repair Bylaw No. 7897 in respect to the drug lab located at 11780 Kingfisher Drive, Richmond, B.C., be dismissed.

The question on the motion was not called as discussion ensued with regard to (i) the timeline of potential building permit violations in one of Ms. Cong’s properties, (ii) obligations by the property owner to secure their property and screen potential tenants, (iii) reducing cost impacts to taxpayers and the City’s options to recover costs associated with the site’s remediation, and (iv) supporting the City’s rental market.

In reply to queries from Council, Mr. Tung expressed that given Ms. Cong’s financial position, the proposed fees are excessively punitive and encouraged the City to waive the proposed fees. It was noted that the remediation costs the City incurred were significant and that the City has already reduced the proposed fees.

The question on the motion was then called and it was CARRIED with Mayor Brodie and Cllrs. Au and Loo opposed.

ADJOURNMENT

SP19/13-2

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:56 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, December 9, 2019.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Mayor (Malcolm D. Brodie)

Corporate Officer (Claudia Jesson)