September 25, 2023 - Minutes

Place:

Council Chambers
Richmond City Hall

Present:

Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie
Councillor Chak Au
Councillor Carol Day
Councillor Laura Gillanders
Councillor Kash Heed
Councillor Andy Hobbs
Councillor Alexa Loo (by teleconference)
Councillor Bill McNulty
Councillor Michael Wolfe (by teleconference)

Corporate Officer – Claudia Jesson

Call to Order:

Mayor Brodie called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

RES NO.

ITEM

MINUTES

R23/16-1

1.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the Regular Council meeting held on September 11, 2023, be adopted as circulated

CARRIED

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

R23/16-2

2.

It was moved and seconded

That Council resolve into Committee of the Whole to hear delegations on agenda items (7:01 p.m.).

CARRIED

3.

Delegations from the floor on Agenda items – None.

R23/16-3

4.

It was moved and seconded

That Committee rise and report (7:02 p.m.).

CARRIED

CONSENT AGENDA

R23/16-4

5.

It was moved and seconded

That Items No. 6, No. 7, No. 9, and No. 11 through No. 14 be adopted by general consent.

CARRIED

6.

COMMITTEE MINUTES

That the minutes of:

(1)

the Community Safety Committee meeting held on September 12, 2023;

(2)

the Planning Committee meeting held on September 13, 2023;

(3)

the Public Works and Transportation Committee meeting held on September 13, 2023; and

(4)

the General Purposes Committee meeting held on September 18, 2023;

be received for information.

ADOPTED ON CONSENT

7.

APPLICATION BY LUNG DESIGNS LTD. FOR REZONING AT 7560 ASH STREET FROM “SINGLE FAMILY (RS1/F)” ZONE TO “SINGLE FAMILY (RS2/E)” ZONE

(File Ref. No. 12-8060-20-010491, RZ 22-021110) (REDMS No. 7065366, 3218459, 7341578, 7065366)

That Richmond Zoning Bylaw 8500, Amendment Bylaw 10491, for the rezoning of 7560 Ash Street from the “Single Family (RS1/F)” zone to the “Single Family (RS2/E)” zone, be introduced and given first reading.

ADOPTED ON CONSENT

8.

APPLICATION BY GURJIT POONI FOR REZONING AT 9371 DOLPHIN AVENUE FROM “SINGLE DETACHED RS1/B” ZONE TO “SINGLE DETACHED (RS2/K)” ZONE

(File Ref. No. 12-8060-20-010485, RZ 23-014545) (REDMS No. 7278914, 7011173, 7322207, 7278914)

See Page 7 for action on this matter.

9.

CHILD CARE STRATEGY GUIDING PRINCIPLES

(File Ref. No. 07-3070-04) (REDMS No. 7250888)

(1)

That the guiding principles detailed in the staff report titled “Child Care Strategy Guiding Principles”, dated August 28, 2023, from the Director, Community Social Development, be endorsed; and

(2)

That the guiding principles be used to inform the strategic directions and actions of the draft Child Care Strategy.

ADOPTED ON CONSENT

10.

HOMELESSNESS STRATEGY 2019–2029: 2022 UPDATE

(File Ref. No. 08-4057-11-03) (REDMS No. 7178822, 7117603)

See page 7 for action on this matter.

11.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT CLIMATE ACTION PROGRAM (LGCAP) YEAR 2 SURVEY REPORT AND 2021 / 2022 CORPORATE EMISSION INVENTORIES

(File Ref. No. 10-6125-05-01) (REDMS No. 7247859)

That as described in the report titled “Local Government Climate Action Program (LGCAP) Year 2 Survey Report and 2021 / 2022 Corporate Emission Inventories” from the Director, Sustainability and District Energy, dated August 28, 2023:

(1)

The LGCAP Year 2 Survey Report and Attestation Form be endorsed and posted on the City’s website for public information, in accordance with Provincial requirements;

(2)

A funding application to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities be submitted in the amount of $200,000 for undertaking a GHG Reduction Pathway Feasibility Study for civic facilities;

(3)

The Chief Administrative Officer and General Manager, Engineering and Public Works, be authorized to enter into a funding agreement with Federation of Canadian Municipalities, should the funding agreement be successful; and

(4)

The Consolidated 5 Year Financial Plan (2023-2027) be amended to include the GHG Emission Pathway Feasibility Study in the amount of $525,000, which will be funded from the Energy Operating Provision Account for $325,000 and an additional $200,000 contingent upon confirmation from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.

ADOPTED ON CONSENT

12.

CAMBIE ROAD OVERPASS REPAIR

(File Ref. No. 10-6350-07-10) (REDMS No. 7328755)

That funding of $1,400,000 from the MRN Rehabilitation Provision for the Cambie Road Overpass repair be approved and that the Consolidated 5 Year Financial Plan (2023-2027) be amended accordingly, as detailed in the report titled “Cambie Road Overpass Repair” dated August 4, 2023, from the Director, Engineering.

ADOPTED ON CONSENT

13.

2023 ZERO CARBON STEP CODE AND BC ENERGY STEP CODE REQUIREMENTS FOR NEW BUILDINGS

(File Ref. No. 10-6125-07-02; 12-8060-20-010467) (REDMS No. 7315264, 7341585, 7342449, 7315264)

(1)

That Building Regulation Bylaw 7230, Amendment Bylaw 10467, which amends Sections10.1.1 and 16.1 regarding updates to existing BC Energy Step Code and greenhouse gas intensity requirements for Part 9 residential buildings and Part 3 residential, hotel, commercial retail and office buildings, be introduced and given first reading;

(2)

That an owner would be permitted to submit a Building Permit application in compliance with prior requirements if:

(a)

A Development Permit was issued by Council prior to adoption of Amendment Bylaw No. 10467; or,

(b)

An in-stream Development Permit application in accordance with existing Zoning Bylaw provisions is issued by Council within one year of the adoption of Amendment Bylaw No. 10467, and an acceptable Building Permit application has also been submitted to the City within this timeframe.

ADOPTED ON CONSENT

14.

BC UTILITIES COMMISSION - REGULATORY EFFICIENCY INITIATIVE INTERVENER REQUEST

(File Ref. No. 10-6600-10-01) (REDMS No. 7374506)

(1)

That authorization and approval be given for the City of Richmond to seek Intervener status and exercise full participatory rights, including making submissions, filing evidence, asking questions, and responding in the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) Regulatory Efficiency Initiative.

(2)

That the City of Richmond, as the sole shareholder of Lulu Island Energy Company Ltd. (LIEC), endorse the decision of LIEC's Board of Directors to seek Intervener status and exercise full participatory rights, including making submissions, filing evidence, asking questions, and responding in the BCUC Regulatory Efficiency Initiative.

(3)

That a Letter be sent to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, the Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation and to local Members of the Legislative Assembly, expressing the City's concerns that:

(i)

the BCUC's Regulatory Efficiency Initiative is inadequate in its scale and scope to address the Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation's mandate to "Work with the BC Utilities Commission to identify an appropriate role for the Commission in supporting B.C. 's clean energy transition, in alignment with our province's climate goals to achieve net zero by 2050 and affordability objectives", as detailed in the report; and,

(ii)

the Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation appoint an Independent Task Force to review and advise on how BCUC can deliver on the Minister's mandate.

ADOPTED ON CONSENT

CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA

8.

APPLICATION BY GURJIT POONI FOR REZONING AT 9371 DOLPHIN AVENUE FROM “SINGLE DETACHED RS1/B” ZONE TO “SINGLE DETACHED (RS2/K)” ZONE

(File Ref. No. 12-8060-20-010485, RZ 23-014545) (REDMS No. 7278914, 7011173, 7322207, 7278914)

R23/16-5

It was moved and seconded

That Richmond Zoning Bylaw 8500, Amendment Bylaw 10485, for the rezoning of 9371 Dolphin Avenue from “Single Detached (RS1/B)” zone to “Single Detached (RS2/K)” zone, be introduced and given first reading.

CARRIED

Opposed: Cllr. Wolfe

10.

HOMELESSNESS STRATEGY 2019–2029: 2022 UPDATE

(File Ref. No. 08-4057-11-03) (REDMS No. 7178822, 7117603)

Discussion took place on (i) the difference between homeless and homelessness, (ii) goals of the strategy, (iii) examining the issues around homelessness, and (iv) collaborating with various levels of government to accomplish goals.

In response to queries from Council, staff advised that (i) Lu'ma Native Housing Society, provided an update to the Richmond Community Homelessness Table in 2022, on the  coordinated access system, which provides standardized procedures for client intake and assessment of need along with a community-wide housing support service database, (ii) the purpose of the current report is to provide an update on the strategy adopted in 2019, and (iii) Fox 80 is a joint task force between RCMP and mental health nurses who can diagnose on scene and commit individuals under the Mental Health Act.

R23/16-6

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the Homelessness Strategy 2019–2029: 2022 Update, as outlined in the staff report titled “Homelessness Strategy 2019–2029: 2022 Update”, dated August 28, 2023, from the Director, Community Social Development, be received for information; and

(2)

That the Homelessness Strategy 2019–2029: 2022 Update be distributed to key partners and organizations, local Members of Parliament, local Members of the Legislative Assembly and posted on the City’s website.

CARRIED

Further discussion ensued and as a result the following motion was introduced:

R23/16-7

It was moved and seconded

That a letter be written to the Province to build a modern Riverview Hospital for homeless people to provide proper assessments.

The question on the motion was not called as discussion took place on obtaining additional detailed background information from staff, and as a result there was agreement from the mover, the seconder and all members present to withdraw the motion, and the motion was WITHDRAWN.

BYLAW FOR ADOPTION

R23/16-8

It was moved and seconded

That Richmond Zoning Bylaw 8500, Amendment Bylaw No. 10273 be adopted.

CARRIED

Opposed: Cllrs. Day

Gillanders

Wolfe

DEVELOPMENT PERMIT PANEL

R23/16-9

15.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the minutes and the Chair’s report for the Development Permit Panel meeting held on October 20, 2022, be received for information; and

(2)

That the recommendation of the Panel to authorize the issuance of Development Permit (DP 21-934726) for the property located at 6700 Francis Road, be endorsed and the Permit so issued.

CARRIED

ADJOURNMENT

R23/16-10

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (8:07 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, September 25, 2023.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Mayor (Malcolm D. Brodie)

Corporate Officer (Claudia Jesson)