General Purposes Committee Meeting Minutes - October 1, 2001

Date:

Monday, October 1^st, 2001

Place:

Anderson Room
Richmond City Hall

Present:

Acting Mayor Lyn Greenhill, Chair
Councillor Linda Barnes
Councillor Kiichi Kumagai
Councillor Bill McNulty
Councillor Harold Steves

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 Tuesday, September 4^th, 2001 be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

Ms. Z. K. Ramji, of 10275 Hayne Court, regarding interest and penalties levied on her 2000 property taxes. (File No.: 0925-13) (REDMS No. 455825)

Ms. Ramji was not in attendance.

Mr. Gary James Hiscox, of 4892 48B Avenue, Delta, regarding a financial contribution from the City to construct a glass dome over his art work, located on the south dyke east of London Farm.
(File No.: 7000-09-01) (REDMS No. 508889, 511286)

Mr. Hiscox advised that prior to his three motor vehicle accidents, he had been a professional painter, and that his dream now was to involve and to share his log artwork with the people of Richmond and the Lower Mainland. He stated that he was seeking a financial contribution from the City to construct a protective dome over his artwork.

Mr. Hiscox advised that he was also hoping to raise $10 Million to build a home and a school on the safety of Shady Island, as well as to construct a bridge to Shady Island and to purchase a ferry to transport people back and forth from the island to the mainland. In concluding his presentation, Mr. Hiscox urged the Committee to support him in his endeavours.

Discussion then ensued among Committee members and Mr. Hiscox on his artwork and the fact that he had located this artwork on City property without permission.

With reference to his desire to live on Shady Island, Mr. Hiscox stated that it was his intent to take care of Shady Island, to clean up and enhance the island and to feed and protect the wildlife living on that island. In response, Mr. Hiscox was advised that the City did not have any jurisdiction over Shady Island and that he would have to contact the Federal Department of Fisheries & Oceans if he wished to pursue the proposal further.

Discussion continued on the location of Mr. Hiscoxs artwork on City property, during which the suggestion was made that he should relocate his artwork to private property. However, Mr. Hiscox advised that he did not own any property and did not have the money to rent a facility.

In concluding the discussion, the Chair reaffirmed that Mr. Hiscox had two weeks from the date of the letter received by him from the City, to remove his artwork from the south dyke, and that if the artwork was not removed by that time, the City would remove it for him. In response, Mr. Hiscox advised that he had no money to remove his artwork and that the City would have to do it. The Manager, Parks Administration and Programs, Mike Redpath, was requested by the Chair to try and save some of the articles located on the logs, and to return these items to Mr. Hiscox.

FCM MUNICIPAL DRUG STRATEGY CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS
(Report: Sept. 24/01, File No.: 3000-09) (REDMS No. 505237)

The General Manager, Engineering & Public Works, Chuck Gale, reviewed the report with Committee members, during which he explained that since the preparation of the draft letter (attached to the staff report), which recommended the appointment of Councillor Greenhill as the City's representative to work with the FCM, it had been determined that the Mayor would be the most appropriate person to be appointed because the Mayors of other municipalities and cities would be participating in the project.

A brief discussion ensued during which the suggestion was made that Councillor Greenhill should also be appointed to the project. In response to questions, advice was given that adoption of the proposed recommendation would not guarantee the City's inclusion in the project, but would only allow the City to submit an application.

During the discussion, suggestions were made that the application should emphasize that Richmond has very different demographics than other cities, such as:

its proximity to Vancouver

Richmond is a port

the Vancouver International Airport is part of Richmond

existing drug trafficking problems

Richmond is the gateway to the Pacific

having a large container traffic industry

As well, the suggestion was made that the application should stress that the City would be interested in participating in the pilot project; and that there is a great deal of traffic coming through Richmond.

It was moved and seconded

That the letter of commitment (attached to the report dated September 24^th, 2001, from the General Manager, Community Safety) be submitted to the FCM offering to become part of the Municipal Drug Strategy Pilot Project.

CARRIED

It was moved and seconded

That the Mayor and. if acceptable to the FCM, Councillor Lyn Greenhill, be appointed as the City Representatives to the Municipal Drug Strategy Pilot project.

CARRIED

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:44 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, October 1^st, 2001.

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Acting Mayor Lyn Greenhill
Chair

Fran J. Ashton
Executive Assistant