General Purposes Committee Meeting Minutes - February 4, 2002

CARRIED

That the report (dated January 30^th, 2002, from the General Manager, Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services), regarding the budget for the Richmond Tall Ships 2002, be received for information.

Prior to the question on the motion being called, in response to questions, the General Manager, Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services, Cathy Volkering Carlile, advised that the figure in the budget of $115,000 represented confirmed cash from other sources, and was not being used to fund current costs related to the Tall Ships event. She noted that Council had approved the expenditure of $82,500 in June of 2001 to cover staffing and other costs.

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

PRELIMINARY STAFF COMMENTS ON THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT RESTRUCTURING
(Report: Jan. 25/02, File No.: 0150-01) (REDMS No. 614144)

The Manager, Policy & Research, Lauren Melville, reviewed the report with the Committee.

Discussion ensued briefly among Committee members and staff on the implications to the City of the Provincial Governments restructuring program as it related to transportation, agriculture, environment, and social programs, and the importance of the Community Charter in the restructuring program.

(Councillor Barnes entered the meeting at 4:05 p.m., during the above discussion.)

That the report (dated January 25^th, 2002, from the Chief Administrative Officer), regarding Preliminary Staff Comments on the Provincial Government Restructuring, be received for information.

CARRIED

The Chair of the Land and Capital Team, Joe Erceg, accompanied by the General Manager, Finance & Corporate Services, Jim Bruce, reviewed the proposed capital plan with the Committee.

Discussion ensued among Committee members on various matters relating to the five year capital plan, including:

the impact of the elimination of the Provincial Cycling Network program on the City's bicycle route construction program

the length of the drainage assessment program (7 year program)

the inclusion of the proposal to fill in the ditch on the north side of Steveston Highway, from No. 1 Road east to Seventh Avenue in the 2002 Capital Program, and whether the intention was to fill in the south side as it was believed that the north side ditch had already been filled in

the proposed cost of the Minoru Park Fieldhouse and Caretaker Suite the comment was made that additional information was required before the project was approved to determine (i) if a caretaker suite was required, and (ii) whether the estimated cost could be reduced by using existing infrastructure

the proposed improvements to the Minoru Arena and the rationale for proceeding with these improvements without the completion of a master plan for the area; also questioned was the proposal to install an artificial turf sports field at Minoru Park without first preparing a master plan

the proposed dredging of the Britannia Shipyard and improvements to the front dock and whether this project was connected to the dredging approved for the Tall Ships event.

During the discussion, questions were raised and answered by staff on such issues as (i) how projects which had been placed on the not recommended list due to lack of funding could be considered for future budgets; (ii) the impact, if any, of future reduced capital programs on the City's work force; and (iii) what the appropriate budget levels would be for water and sewer programs to meet the funding requirements identified in the ageing infrastructure report currently being prepared by staff.

Also during the discussion, staff were requested to indicate in the next report to the Committee, when certain programs were implemented and the time remaining on those programs (i.e. the ten year City Centre undergrounding capital program).

With reference to the proposed Minoru Park Fieldhouse and Caretaker Suite, advice was given that because the project was more than $250,000, staff were required to submit a report to Council for approval on the scope of the project. Discussion then ensued among Committee members and staff on the options available to access the funds for a different use, in the event that Council made a decision not to proceed with the Minoru Park Fieldhouse and Caretaker Suite project.

With reference to the proposed renovations to the Britannia Heritage Site Seine net loft and cannery office, questions were raised about whether the completion of the upgrade to the seine loft would allow public occupancy. The suggestion was made that if public occupancy did not occur, then the matter should be reviewed and rebudgeted over two years, if necessary.

The comment was also made that the Britannia Heritage Shipyard Building Committee should be given the opportunity to review the proposed work to ensure that it was compatible with the business plan, if this had not already occurred. Questions were also raised about the proposed renovations to the seine net loft and what these renovations would entail.

With reference to the Steveston tram restoration project, questions were raised about the status of the project and whether the tram would be relocating to Surrey, and the funding feasibility study which was to have been undertaken in 2001. Concern was expressed that completion of the study would imply that the City was prepared to proceed with the project, and the 2002 budget (because the project had not been included in the recommended capital program projects) did not provide that opportunity. A brief discussion ensued among Committee members on this matter, during which the suggestion was made that the Tram Society could be challenged to raise $100,000, which the City could match dollar for dollar to $100,000. Information was also provided by staff on how the Steveston tram restoration project could be included in a future budget.

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

That the report (dated January 29^th, 2002, from the General Manager, Finance & Corporate Services and the Chair, Land and Capital Team), regarding the Five Year Capital Plan 2002 to 2006, be referred to staff for report to the February 18^th, 2002 General Purposes Committee, and that the report provide details on the following matters:

when long-running programs were implemented and the time remaining on those programs;

the proposed Minoru Park Fieldhouse and Caretaker Suite and Minoru Arena renovations;

the proposed renovations to the Britannia Heritage site seine net loft and cannery office; and 

the status of the Steveston tram restoration project and funding feasibility report.

CARRIED

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 4^th, 2002.