General Purposes Committee Meeting Minutes - February 19, 2001

Date:

Monday, February 19^th, 2001

Place:

W.H. Anderson Room
Richmond City Hall

Present:

Councillor Harold Steves, Acting Mayor
Councillor Linda Barnes
Councillor Malcolm Brodie
Councillor Derek Dang (4:05 p.m.)
Councillor Lyn Greenhill
Councillor Ken Johnston
Councillor Bill McNulty

Absent:

Mayor Greg Halsey-Brandt
Councillor Kiichi Kumagai

Call to Order:

The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on Monday, February 5^th, 2001, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

PROPOSED RICHMOND TRADE AND EXHIBITION CENTRE
(Report: Feb. 7/01, File No.: 0060-20-TRIC-1) (REDMS No. 279842, 280882, 248132, 280896)

The Senior Planner, Urban Design, Suzanne Carter-Huffman, accompanied by the Manager, Policy Planning, Terry Crowe, reviewed the report with Committee members. Introduced by Ms. Carter-Huffman were Mr. Rob Tivy, Executive Director, Tourism Richmond, and Mr. Ray Spaxman, of the Spaxman Consulting Group, who indicated they were present to respond to any questions which the Committee might have.

(Councillor Dang entered the meeting at 4:05 p.m., during Ms. Carter-Huffmans presentation.)

A lengthy discussion ensued among Committee members, the delegation and staff on the feasibility and financial viability of developing a trade and exhibition centre in Richmond. Among the issues addressed were:

the removal of land from the Agricultural Land Reserve

the uses which would form part of the dynamics of the trade and exhibition centre complex

the lack of consultation with the sporting community

the rationale behind Tourism Richmond's decision not to proceed with the development of a trade and exhibition centre as part of the Sun Tech City development as had been originally proposed

the involvement of the City in the proposal, and whether the City would be required to own the subject property

whether the former Bridgepoint Market site would provide a viable alternative to the Department of Fisheries & Oceans (DFO) property

the status of the DFO property with respect to First Nation land claims and future development proposals for the site by the Federal Government

the financial feasibility (and future success) of undertaking the construction of a trade and exhibition centre and whether there would be financial support from the private sector business community for such a venture.

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

It was moved and seconded

That the report (dated February 7^th, 2001, from the Manager, Policy Planning), regarding the proposed Richmond Trade and Exhibition Centre, be referred to staff for the provision of more comprehensive information on the following 5 issues:

the market feasibility of the project;

the projects impact on the Agricultural Land Reserve and possible compensation

sports, recreation, and public open space, and their potential roles in the development of the Richmond Trade and Convention Centre and the Department of Fisheries & Oceans site;

the nature of development on the Department of Fisheries & Oceans land and its opportunities for Richmond; and

the role of the City as the Richmond Trade and Convention Centre and the Department of Fisheries & Oceans developments unfold.

Prior to the question on the motion being called, discussion ensued among Committee members on the merits of the proposed referral. Concern was expressed that the same information would be resubmitted, while other opinions were expressed that sufficient information had not been given to provide Committee members with a certain level of comfort on each of the five issues.

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

OPPOSED: Cllr. Dang
Greenhill
Johnston

PROPOSED PROJECTS SUBMISSION TO THE CANADA/BC/
MUNICIPAL iNFRASTRUCTURE GRANT PROGRAM
(Report: Feb. 6/01, File No.: 0130-04) (REDMS No. 278316)

The Director, Engineering, Jeff Day, briefly reviewed the report with the Committee.

In response to concerns that some of the proposed projects were not included in the 5 Year Capital Plan, and the impact which approval of these projects could have on projects already included, Mr. Day advised that the intent would be to include the proposed projects as part of the 2002 capital program which would be reviewed by Council prior to 2002. He stated that the capital team would report to Council as part of the regular capital program process on the impact of undertaking the proposed projects and on the benefits of completing these projects.

Reference was made to the Chinese Bunk House and whether this project could be included in the City's submission. Advice was given, however, that the project was not part of a green infrastructure, which included water systems, water treatment plants and works, among others, used to collect, treat, store and distribute potable water.

It was moved and seconded

That the capital projects (identified in Appendix B to the report dated February 6^th, 2001, from the Director, Engineering), be submitted to the Canada/BC/Municipal Infrastructure Grant Program.

CARRIED

PROGRAMMING STRATEGY FOR CITY HALL
(Report: Feb. 2/01, File No.: 7140-20-CH) (REDMS No. 278537, 279709, 279616)

The City Hall Transition and Special Events Liaison, Richard Toda, and the Manager, Customer Service, Anne Stevens, reviewed their report with Committee members.

Discussion ensued briefly among Committee members and staff on the proposed programming strategy, during which concern was expressed about the use of the Council Chambers for music recitals, the purchase of a piano, the need for cost recovery, and the need to ensure that the City offers competitive rates for the facility rentals.

Advice was given that existing resources would be used for the next 6 months; market rates were being charged for rental of the various meeting rooms; the use of audio/video equipment would be an additional charge, and the cost recovery from community groups would generate sufficient funds to offset costs for the 6 month period.

It was moved and seconded

That staff proceed with Phase Two of the City Hall Programming Implementation Strategy on a Pilot Project basis, and report to the General Purposes Committee in six month's time.

CARRIED

CASINO FUNDING

Councillor Brodie advised that the Council Committee on Casino Funding met on February 16^th, 2001 to review applications received from the community and from Council, including an application from the Task Force on Drug and Crime, in the amount of $180,000. Cllr. Brodie indicated that the Committee was of the opinion that more information was required prior to making a decision on the request, and was of the view that the General Purposes Committee should provide the needed direction. As a result, the following referral motion was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That the application from the Drug and Crime Task Force for $180,000 from casino generated revenue, be referred to staff to obtain information on how the project would:

fit in with the current staff situation;

fit in with service providers in the field; and

in terms of a general approach, fit in with the current administration and co-ordination aspects;

for submission to the General Purposes Committee, through the Council Committee on Casino Funding.

CARRIED

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:36 p.m.).

CARRIED

Certified a true and correct copy of the Minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee of the Council of the City of Richmond held on Monday, February 19^th, 2001.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Acting Mayor Harold Steves
Chair

Fran J. Ashton
Executive Assistant