February 24, 2020 - Minutes

Place:

Council Chambers
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 7:00 p.m.

RES NO.

ITEM

MINUTES

R20/4-1

1.

It was moved and seconded

That:

(1)

the minutes of the Regular Council meeting held on February 10, 2020, be adopted as circulated; and

(2)

the Metro Vancouver ‘Board in Brief’ dated January 31, 2020, be received for information.

CARRIED

PRESENTATION

With the aid of a PowerPoint presentation (copy on file, City Clerk’s Office) Diane Purvey, Chair, Gateway Theatre Society Board, and Camilla Tibbs, Executive Director, Gateway Theatre, briefed Council on the Gateway Theatre’s 2019 activities, operations and finances, and thanked the City for its support.

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

R20/4-2

2.

It was moved and seconded

That Council resolve into Committee of the Whole to hear delegations on agenda items (7:07 p.m.).

CARRIED

3.

Delegations from the floor on Agenda items – None

R20/4-3

4.

It was moved and seconded

That Committee rise and report (7:08 p.m.).

CARRIED

CONSENT AGENDA

Mayor Brodie noted that Item No. 7 would be removed from the Consent Agenda.

R20/4-4

5.

It was moved and seconded

That Item No. 6 and Items No. 8 through No. 11 be adopted by general consent.

CARRIED

6.

COMMITTEE MINUTES

That the minutes of:

(1)

the Community Safety Committee meeting held on February 11, 2020;

(2)

the General Purposes Committee meeting held on February 18, 2020; and

(3)

the Public Works and Transportation Committee meeting held on February 19, 2020;

be received for information.

ADOPTED ON CONSENT

7.

proposed sister city travel for 2020 
(File Ref. No. 01-0100-30-SCIT1-01) (REDMS No. 6295105 v. 5; 5762724)

See Page 5 for action on this item.

8.

Regional Harmonization of Vehicle Weight and Dimension Limits 
(File Ref. No. 12-8060-20-010123) (REDMS No. 6361233; 6361510)

That Traffic Bylaw No. 5870, Amendment Bylaw No. 10123, to harmonize municipal vehicle weight and dimension limits and cargo securement requirements with the British Columbia Commercial Transport Regulations and Motor Vehicle Act Regulations, be introduced and given first, second and third reading.

ADOPTED ON CONSENT

9.

Application to 2020/2021 BC Active Transportation Infrastructure Grants Program 
(File Ref. No. 03-1087-19-02) (REDMS No. 6379120 v. 4)

(1)

That the submission for cost-sharing to the 2020/2021 BC Active Transportation Infrastructure Grants Program for the Garden City Road Pedestrian and Cyclist Enhancements (Lansdowne Road-Westminster Highway) as described in the staff report titled “Application to 2020/2021 BC Active Transportation Infrastructure Grants Program” dated January 13, 2020, from the Director, Transportation be endorsed;

(2)

That, should the above application be successful, the Chief Administrative Officer and the General Manager, Planning and Development, be authorized on behalf of the City to execute the funding agreement; and

(3)

That the Consolidated 5 Year Financial Plan (2020-2024) be amended accordingly.

ADOPTED ON CONSENT

10.

2020 Clothes washer rebate program 
(File Ref. No. 10-6650-02) (REDMS No. 6386389 v. 2)

(1)

That the City of Richmond partner with BC Hydro to the end of 2020 to offer a combined rebate of $100 for both spring and fall campaigns, equally cost shared between BC Hydro and the City, for the replacement of inefficient clothes washers with new high efficiency clothes washers; and

(2)

That the Chief Administrative Officer and General Manager, Engineering and Public Works be authorized to execute an agreement, on behalf of the City, with BC Hydro to implement the Clothes Washer Rebate Program.

ADOPTED ON CONSENT

11.

City of Richmond Participation in the BC Building Energy Benchmarking Pilot Program 
(File Ref. No. 10-6125-07-02) (REDMS No. 6391961 v. 10)

(1)

That Council endorse the City’s participation in a voluntary regional building energy benchmarking program, as outlined in the report titled “City of Richmond Participation in the BC Building Energy Benchmarking Pilot Program” from the Director, Sustainability and District Energy, dated January 16, 2020; and

(2)

That staff be directed to report back to Council at the conclusion of the pilot program in 2021, on options to establish an energy benchmarking initiative and supportive policies in Richmond, as outlined in the report titled “City of Richmond Participation in the BC Building Energy Benchmarking Pilot Program” from the Director, Sustainability and District Energy, dated January 16, 2020.

ADOPTED ON CONSENT

CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA

7.

proposed sister city travel for 2020 
(File Ref. No. 01-0100-30-SCIT1-01) (REDMS No. 6295105 v. 5; 5762724)

R20/4-5

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the proposed travel budget of $16,925 be adjusted accordingly for five participants, including the Mayor or Acting Mayor, two Councillors, one City Staff member, and one Sister City Advisory Committee member, and the budget be funded from the Council Contingency account; and

(2)

That the Sister City Advisory Committee report back to Council annually to bring forward a finalized travel itinerary and budget for any Sister City related travel between 2021 to 2023.

The question on the motion was not called as discussion took place on (i) the climate emergency and reducing travel by air, (ii) benefits to the community, (iii) options for Sister City Advisory Committee members to contribute to travel costs, (iv) only sending Council members, and (v) input from Richmond with regard to design of the garden.

In reply to queries from Council, staff advised that (i) options for Sister City Advisory Committee members to contribute to travel costs can be considered, (ii) once the design portion of the garden begins, staff can consult with Pierrefonds with regard to potential input on design, (iii) the report outlines key milestones and each year a report will be brought forward for Council’s consideration with regard to delegates going to a Sister City or a Sister City visiting Richmond.

The question on the motion was then called and it was CARRIED with Cllrs. Greene and Wolfe opposed.

NON-CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS

GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE
Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie, Chair

12.

Phoenix Net loft options 
(File Ref. No. 06-2025-20-013) (REDMS No. 6352306 v. 28)

R20/4-6

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the Capital Program budget be amended from the previously approved $11.5M to $19.44M for the Phoenix Net Loft preservation project;

(2)

That the difference of the $11.5M and the proposed $19.44M ($7.94M) to be used for the Phoenix Net Loft preservation project be withdrawn from the Capital Building and Infrastructure Reserve Fund; and

(3)

That the Consolidated 5 Year Financial Plan (2020-2024) be amended accordingly.

The question on the motion was not called as discussion took place on (i) rebuilding the entire building, (ii) finalizing program options, (iii) consulting with museum and arts community, (iv) ensuring the space is used as a museum-style interpretive centre, (v) potentially reducing costs if construction and programming occur simultaneously, (vi) the importance of public consultation, (vii) potential increased costs for deferring construction, and (viii) funding for the museum concept.

In reply to queries from Council, staff advised that (i) a report will be brought forward in May with a public consultation proposal, (ii) costs for construction of the building will escalate if project is deferred, (iii) the $19.44M will provide a shell of a building, (iv) most museums have a mixed-use concept, and (v) buildings are currently funded through the Capital Building and Infrastructure Reserve Fund.

As a result of the discussion, a referral motion to refer the matter back to staff for a review of the allocation of the proposed funding of $19.44M and $16M was introduced, but failed to receive a seconder.

As a result of the discussion, the following amendment motion was introduced:

R20/4-7

It was moved and seconded

That recommendation 1 be amended by inserting the wording “for Option C – Museum-Style Interpretative Centre use.”

The question on the amendment motion was not called as discussion took place on (i) the benefits of a Richmond museum, (ii) public consultation for the museum concept, (iii) the $16M estimated program implementation cost, (iv) concerns over high costs without public consultation, (v) access to the location, and (vi) obtaining more information on program options and public consultation prior to making a final decision.

In reply to further queries from Council, staff noted that a variety of program options can be tested and public consultation around museum themes and programs can be conducted.

The question on the amendment motion was then called and it was CARRIED with Mayor Brodie, Cllrs. Loo, McNulty and McPhail opposed.

The question on the main motion, as amended, which reads as follows:

(1)

That the Capital Program budget be amended from the previously approved $11.5M to $19.44M for Option C – Museum-Style Interpretive Centre use for  the Phoenix Net Loft preservation project; and

(2)

That the difference of the $11.5M and the proposed $19.44M ($7.94M) to be used for the Phoenix Net Loft preservation project be withdrawn from the Capital Building and Infrastructure Reserve Fund; and

(3)

That the Consolidated 5 Year Financial Plan (2020-2024) be amended accordingly.

was then called and it was CARRIED with Mayor Brodie, Cllrs. Loo, McNulty and McPhail opposed.

Discussion ensued with regard to cost estimates for the addition of a lean-to and restoration of the First Nations Bunkhouse.

As a result of the discussion, the following referral motion was introduced:

R20/4-8

It was moved and seconded

That staff examine costs for the addition of a lean-to, as part of the Phoenix Net Loft preservation project, and restoration of the First Nations Bunkhouse and report back.

CARRIED
Opposed: Mayor Brodie
Cllrs. Loo
McNulty
McPhail

BYLAW FOR ADOPTION

R20/4-9

It was moved and seconded

That Richmond Zoning Bylaw No. 8500, Amendment Bylaw No. 9946 be adopted.

CARRIED

ADJOURNMENT

R20/4-10

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (8:26 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, February 24, 2020.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Mayor (Malcolm D. Brodie)

Corporate Officer (Claudia Jesson)