General Purposes Committee Meeting Minutes - May 7, 2001

Date:

Monday, May 7^th, 2001

Place:

Anderson Room
Richmond City Hall

Present:

Mayor Greg Halsey-Brandt, Chair
Councillor Linda Barnes
Councillor Malcolm Brodie
Councillor Derek Dang
Councillor Lyn Greenhill (4:52 p.m.)
Councillor Kiichi Kumagai
Councillor Bill McNulty

Absent:

Councillor Ken Johnston
Councillor Harold Steves

Call to Order:

The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:51 p.m.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on Tuesday, April 17^th, 2001, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

LIQUID WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN - STAGE 3 - PROPOSED GVRD AMENDMENT
(Report: April 20/01, File No.: 0157-20-LWMP1) (REDMS No. 359352)

It was moved and seconded

That Addendum No. 1 to the "Greater Vancouver Regional District Liquid Waste Management Plan, February 2001", be adopted.

(Councillor Lyn Greenhill entered the meeting at 4:52 p.m.)

Prior to the question being called, the Manager, Engineering Planning, Paul Lee, briefly reviewed the report with Committee members. In response to questions, he provided the following information:

primary treatment meant screening some sedimentation and disinfection; secondary treatment meant adding chemicals to further assist in enhancing the discharge quality of the sewage; while full biological treatment would enhance secondary treatment even more by using specific types of bacteria to remove harmful bacteria

the primary and secondary treatment plants were meeting criteria at the present time

before the primary treatment plants reached capacity, the GVRD instead of redesigning such facilities for expansion, would evaluate the feasibility of enhancing secondary treatment plants.

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

BIKE MONTH - JUNE, 2001
(Report: April 27/01, File No.: 7400-01) (REDMS No. 314471)

Senior Transportation Engineer Victor Wei, accompanied by Transportation Planner Joan Caravan, reviewed the report with Committee members.

Discussion ensued among Committee members and staff about the proposal to contribute $1,500 to Better Environmentally Sound Transportation (BEST). Staff were asked to provide information to the May 14^th, 2001 Council Meeting on (i) the organization and its composition; (ii) its budget, and (iii) the amount of staff time required to undertake the proposed activities. The suggestion was also made that rather than giving BEST $1,500, a better use for the funds might be to motivate Richmond residents to participate in the "Bicycle Tour of Richmond" planned for June 10^th, 2001.

It was moved and seconded

That:

The overall objectives of the Bike Month campaign planned by Better Environmentally Sound Transportation (BEST) for June, 2001, (as outlined in the report dated April 27^th, 2001, from the Manager of Transportation), be supported.

The City participate in the various regional and local activities, (as described in the report dated April 27^th, 2001, from the Manager of Transportation), to encourage cycling as a sustainable form of transportation and reduce the use of single occupant vehicles during the Bike Month 2001 campaign; and that staff co-ordinate these activities with BEST and other municipalities in the region.

That the City support the regional Bike Month activities by contributing $1,500 to BEST for campaign costs, with the source of funds to be the 2001 Minor Capital Program (Traffic Safety Initiatives).

CARRIED

YOUTH OUTREACH PROJECT
(Report: April 25/01, File No.: 3425-01) (REDMS No. 364863, 371300)

The Coordinator, Youth Recreation Services, Wayne Yee, accompanied by the Director, Recreation & Cultural Services, Kate Sparrow, reviewed the report and proposed recommendations with the Committee.

Discussion then ensued among Committee members and staff on:

how the proposed recommendations would be implemented

where in the budget had the Outreach program been included

the desire of the youth to have a safe place to be with their friends, with minimal adult supervision

the use of casino revenue to provide funding for an on-going program, and whether funding would be available in 2002 to continue with the program

whether the School District would agree to carry out recommendation 6, which if adopted, would require the School Board to name a coordinator to assist City staff in the implementation of the outreach program in District high schools

the involvement of the community associations, and whether the existing youth coordinators could be used to assist with the implementation of the project, rather than creating two additional positions

the proposed program and who it would target, as well as the types of activities which would be offered

whether public/private partnerships would be feasible to help defray program expenses

the need to focus on and attract those groups of youth which roam the City causing damage to public and private property

whether there was a way to coordinate the community policing station program with the outreach program to reach youth

whether funding for the program would be available from other resources, such as the National Crime Prevention Centre

whether it would be possible to make adoption of the recommendations subject to obtaining commitment from the community associations to provide financial assistance.

(At this point in the meeting - 5:55 p.m., Councillor Derek Dang left the meeting and did not return.)

Discussion continued on the provision of funding for the project. While there was general support among Committee members for the project, concern was reiterated about the use of casino funding to finance the project for one year. As a result of the discussion, the following motion was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That the following recommendations be adopted:

That funding be allocated from the City's Casino Grants for 2 full-time detached youth outreach staff for one year at a cost of $70,000.

That staff report to Council with a project review at the end of the granting period;

That funding partners be sought to share in the cost of these initiatives;

That staff develop strategies for design and implementation of after school hour activities; and

That the School Board be requested to name a coordinator to assist City staff in the implementation of these initiatives with all of the District high schools.

That the following recommendation be referred to staff to report to the General Purposes Committee on possible funding partners for the program:

That funding be allocated from the City's Casino Grants to expand the late night program, Night Shift, to 3 other community centres for one year at a cost of $81,000.

CARRIED

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (6:02 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, May 7^th, 2001.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Mayor Greg Halsey-Brandt
Chair

Fran J. Ashton
Executive Assistant