General Purposes Committee Meeting Minutes - July 3, 2001

Date:

Tuesday, July 3^rd, 2001

Place:

Anderson Room
Richmond City Hall

Present:

Acting Mayor Linda Barnes, Chair
Councillor Malcolm Brodie
Councillor Derek Dang
Councillor Lyn Greenhill
Councillor Kiichi Kumagai
Councillor Harold Steves

Absent:

Councillor Bill McNulty

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, June 18^th, 2001, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

RICHMOND TRADE AND EXHIBITION CENTRE: A SECOND LOOK AT TOURISM Richmond's PROPOSAL FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THE FEDERAL LANDS SITUATED SOUTH-EAST OF ALDERBRIDGE WAY AND GARDEN CITY ROAD
(Report: June 18/01, File No.: 0060-20-TRIC1) (REDMS No. 445980)

The Manager, Policy Planning, Terry Crowe, accompanied by Senior Planner Suzanne Carter-Huffman, briefly reviewed the report with the Committee. Reference was made to a memorandum (dated June 27^th, 2001) which had been circulated regarding the "Richmond Trade & Exhibition Centre Sun Tech City Versus the DFO Site", and Ms. Carter reviewed this memorandum with the Committee. A copy of this memorandum is on file in the City Clerks Office.

A lengthy discussion then ensued among Committee members and staff on the proposed recommendation and what staff hoped to accomplish with the adoption of such recommendation. Reference was made to the original proposal to include the trade and exhibition centre in the Sun Tech City development, and questions were raised about the status of that development in the event that the rezoning application was approved.

Advice was given that following adoption of the zoning amendment bylaw, the City would take control of the land in question and at that point, would initiate the process to either rezone the land for some form of public use, or for another use, if staff felt that public use was no longer appropriate.

Discussion continued, during which it was noted that Council, as a whole, had been supportive of the trade and exhibition centre proposal, however, concern was expressed that the focus now seemed to be only on the Department of Fisheries & Oceans (DFO) land. Opinions were expressed that all options should be considered as it was felt that because of the many challenges which would have to be successfully addressed, it was unrealistic to expect the Federal Government to work with the City on this matter.

Reference was made to staffs need for a development plan for the property. Councillor Steves commented that a vision already existed which indicated that the land would be developed as park and playing fields, and suggested that other locations should be considered as potential sites for the trade and exhibition centre. He also questioned whether the size of the centre now being proposed (400,000 sq. ft.) was the most economical, rather than the 200,000 sq. ft. centre first proposed as part of the Sun Tech City development. In response, advice was given that the smaller size would not meet objectives for the future. Further advice was given that the proposed size of the trade and exhibition centre would be one of the issues addressed as part of next report to Council; as well as the issue of "net benefit to agriculture".

Reference was made to the Agricultural Land Use study which was currently underway, and the request was made that the results of the study be submitted in conjunction with the vision report. The request was also made that the report provide information on the positioning of the trade and exhibition centre on the site.

Ms. Gloria Hatfield, President, accompanied by Mr. Francis Parkinson, Chair Facility Committee, and Mr. Rob Tivy, Executive Director, of Tourism Richmond, addressed the Committee on their proposal that the trade and exhibition centre be located on DFO property. A copy of their response to the June 18^th, 2001 staff report is attached as Schedule A and forms part of these minutes.

Mr. Tivy reviewed the contents of the response with the Committee, during which he spoke about the variables which affected the project. He noted that Tourism Richmond had considered other sites and was of the view that the DFO property was the most suitable location.

Discussion then ensued among Committee members and the delegation on such matters as:

the economic viability of a 400,000 sq. ft. centre as opposed to a 200,000 sq. ft., and the difficulties in dealing with a large, empty building, if the market should change and the demand for a trade and exhibition centre declined

the rationale for increasing the size of the building to 400,000 sq. ft.

the anticipated cost of completing the trade and exhibition centre and how funding for the project would be obtained

the status of the land devolvement process with the Federal Government (DFO)

whether Tourism Richmond was prepared to pay market value for the subject land

the revised recommendation which Tourism Richmond was suggesting be substituted for the second recommendation proposed by staff in their report, and how Tourism Richmond could suggest that this recommendation be put forward without waiting until Council had had the opportunity to analyze the question of how the subject property should be developed.

In response to questions from the Chair about the content of the vision plan, Mr. Crowe advised that in addition to the development of a plan for the Federal Government lands, staff would (i) provide information and clarification on the suitability, including the size, of the sites reviewed to date, and (ii) revisit the Sun Tech City and the former Bridgepoint Market properties.

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

It was moved and seconded

That:

staff prepare a "vision" in accordance with the Terms of Reference (Attachment 4 to the report dated June 18^th, 2001 from the Manager, Policy Planning) for the development of Sections 2 and 3 of 4-6, and examine the potential role of the proposed Richmond Trade and Exhibition Centre within that development, for consideration by Council in conjunction with the Agricultural Land Use Study; and

the Terms of Reference be amended to add as part of the process, (i) a review of the Parks DCC Program, and (ii) determination of where the proposed trade and exhibition centre should be positioned on the site; and

That staff analyze and report to Committee on the various potential sites available for a trade and exhibition centre, including size.

The question on the motion was not called, as Councillor Steves circulated to the Committee, information on the Parks DCC Program and the calculations made within that program previously to identify overall parkland acquisition requirements within the City. (A copy of the information circulated by Cllr. Steves is on file in the City Clerks Office.) He spoke about the importance of reviewing this program as part of the trade and exhibition centre proposal. As a result, it was agreed that a review of the Parks DCC Program would be added as a friendly amendment to the motion now being considered by the Committee.

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

At this point in the meeting, the Chair introduced and welcomed to the City, the new General Manager, Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services, Cathyrn Carlile.

The Chair also advised that she wished to report on her attendance at the recent "Cascadia Mayors Council", which was held in Whistler on June 28^th to June 29^th, 2001. The Committee agreed to add this matter to the agenda as an additional item.

(Councillor Dang left the meeting 5:10 p.m.)

FRASERWOOD EAST SUBDIVISION SD00-086734
ROAD EXCHANGE BYLAW NO. 7241
(Report: June 11/01, File No.: 8060-20-7241) (REDMS No. 442078, 442423)

It was moved and seconded

That Road Exchange Bylaw No. 7241 be endorsed and forwarded to Council for introduction and first, second and third readings.

CARRIED

POLICY AND PROCEDURES ON THE USE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES
(Report: June 11/01, File No.: 1300-01) (REDMS No. 438058, 265539)

The Manager, Information Technology, John Lindberg, reviewed the proposed policy with the Committee, during which the following information was provided in response to questions:

the policy now being considered was the result of a recommendation from the City's auditors

copies of the proposed policy had been circulated to the City Clerks Office, the Law Department and to the Union for their review and input

the IT Department would monitor users to ensure compliance with the policy only if the department was approached when a problem arose; and that the IT Department would be monitored by senior management

the IT Department would have the final say on the acquisition of new equipment and software programs to ensure that the computer system could support the equipment and programs being requested.

(Councillor Dang returned to the meeting during the above discussion 5:12 p.m..)

It was moved and seconded

That the proposed policy (attached to the report dated June 11^th, 2001, from the Director, Information Technology), on the use of Information Technology Resources, adopted.

CARRIED

BUSINESS LICENCES MOBILE VENDORS
(Report: June 27/01, File No.: 8060-20-7167/7168) (REDMS No. 451196, 449933, 451092)

It was moved and seconded

That the following recommendation be forwarded to the July 9^th, 2001 Council meeting:

That the third reading of:

Business Regulation Bylaw No. 7148, Amendment Bylaw No. 7167; and

Municipal Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw No. 7139, Amendment Bylaw No. 7168,

each be rescinded.

That Bylaw Nos. 7167 and 7168 each be given third reading.

(Before calling the question on third reading, the following amendments would be in order:)

That subsection 15.1.1 of Bylaw No. 7167 be amended by:

(i)

deleting clause (a);

(ii)

renumbering clause (b) as clause (a); and

(iii)

adding the following as clause (b):

"directly outside or in the normal flow of traffic to any premises which offer the same or similar items for sale as the mobile vendor."

That Section 1 of Schedule B3 of Bylaw No. 7168 be amended by:

(i)

deleting the offence (Mobile vendor carrying on business within 200 metres of premises which offer the same or similar items for sale), the bylaw section and the fine amount ;

(ii)

amending the bylaw section reference for the offence "Mobile vendor carrying on business on or adjacent to a school ground" from 15.1.1(b) to 15.1.1(a); and

(iii)

adding the following:

15.1.1(b)

$100

(The question should now be called on the above amendments, and then on third reading of each bylaw, as amended.)

Prior to the question on the motion being called, information was provided to the Committee that an ice cream vendor selling products on school property could be approached by a City licence inspector to determine if that person had obtained the appropriate permission to sell ice cream on school property. In response to the comment that the principal of the school in question authorized the sale of ice cream on the property and not the Superintendent of Schools, the General Manager, Finance & Corporate Services, Jim Bruce, advised that he would review this matter further.

In response to further questions, Mr. Bruce provided information on the few problems which had been encountered with mobile vendors at the Steveston Salmon Festival.

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

NEW UNSIGHTLY PREMISES REGULATION BYLAW
(Report: June 28/01, File No.: 8060-20-7162/7216) (REDMS No. 451376, 184366, 295654)

The Supervisor, Community Bylaws, Bob Lang, in response to questions, advised that:

the requirement to maintain grass at a maximum height of 20 centimetres (8 inches) was based on discussions which determined that grass generally went to seed when it was approximately 8 inches tall

the proposed requirement was intended to be consistent with the proposed Boulevard Maintenance Regulation Bylaw, however, the Unsightly Premises regulations were intended primarily for the proper maintenance of residential properties

the proposed requirements regarding the serving of the Order to Comply mirrored those contained in the current bylaw as it was necessary to ensure that all parties were properly notified.

It was moved and seconded

That the following bylaws each be introduced and given first, second and third readings:

Unsightly Premises Regulation Bylaw No. 7162, and

Municipal Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw No. 7139, Amendment Bylaw No. 7216.

CARRIED

CASCADIA MAYORS COUNCIL
(Oral Report)

Acting Mayor Linda Barnes reported on the Cascadia Mayors Council meeting held at Whistler on June 28^th and 29^th, 2001. She noted that while Richmond was not a member of the Council, the Mayor had been invited to attend, and she suggested that following the election of a new Mayor in the Fall, that Richmond become a participant.

In reviewing the agenda for the meeting, which focused on public safety, transportation, growth and environmental management, and tourism, she advised that the keynote speaker had been the Honourable Greg Halsey-Brandt, Minister of State for Intergovernmental Relations.

It was moved and seconded

That the oral report from Acting Mayor Linda Barnes regarding the Cascadia Mayors Council meeting held in Whistler, BC on June 28^th and 29^th, 2001, be received for information.

CARRIED

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:30 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 Tuesday, July 3^rd, 2001.

_________________________________

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Acting Mayor Linda Barnes
Chair

Fran J. Ashton
Executive Assistant