MINUTES

1.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on Monday, August 26^th, 2002, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

The Chair advised that the matter of public/private partnerships in the City's parks would be added to the agenda as an additional item.

DELEGATION

2.

Mr. Tim Wilkinson, Secretary, accompanied by Mr. Corey Parker, representing Richmond Firefighters Local 1286, addressed the Committee on the purchase of past service (Item No. 7 of the agenda).

Mr. Wilkinson spoke in support of the staff recommendation, stating that this would provide Richmond firefighters with the opportunity to purchase their past service at a reasonable cost through the proposed payroll deduction plan.

Mr. Wilkinson also provided information on a resolution adopted at the recent International Association of Firefighters Convention which thanked the citizens of Canada for their efforts on September 11^th, 2001.  He stated that he was bringing this matter forward because of the action of the City to provide assistance to travellers whose flights had been diverted to Richmond.  Mr. Wilkinson then read the resolution aloud to the Committee, and the Chair asked that each member be provided with a copy for their information.

The delegation was thanked for their presentation and they then left the meeting.

URBAN DEVELOPMENT DIVISION

3.

CITY WIDE FLOOD PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT STRATEGY
(Report:  Aug. 22/02, File No.:  6045-01) (REDMS No. 295625)

The Manager, Policy Planning, Terry Crowe, accompanied by Planner David Brownlee, indicated that they were available to answer any questions from the Committee.  In response to a question from the Chair, advice was given that the $50,000 required in 2003 for Phase One would be submitted as an additional level request as part of the upcoming budget process. 

Discussion then ensued among Committee members and staff on the proposed strategy, and in particular, on such issues as:

whether there was a need for a mid-island dyke, especially with the increase in the level of the dyke in the Queensborough area which had resulted in a diminished possibility of flooding in that area

the impact which a mid-island dyke could have on farming in the area, and the commitment made to Richmond farmers to examine other options

whether a consultant was required to complete the study, or whether City staff could complete the work

how funding would be provided for the strategy and the feasibility of entering into partnerships with public and private agencies

how funding was provided for annual dyke maintenance.

During the discussion, Committee members expressed their support for the project but some Councillors voiced their opposition to a mid-island dyke.

Councillor Kumagai, as a member of the Lower Mainland Municipal Association's Flood Control and River Management Committee, provided information on steps which that Committee was taking to pursue funding for dyke improvements, and he suggested that the City should approach the Federal Government about funding the strategy.

It was moved and seconded

That, (as per the report dated August 22, 2002, from the Manager, Policy Planning), Phase One of the Work Program for preparing a comprehensive updated City-wide 2021 Flood Protection and Management Strategy be approved.

CARRIED

4.

INTERMUNICIPAL - FRASER RIVER PORT AUTHORITY (FRPA) ACCORD
(Report:  July 30/02, File No.:  0140-20-FRHA1) (REDMS No. 808728)

Mr. Crowe briefly reviewed the report with the Committee. 

During the discussion which ensued, the following information was provided:

the accord would only be in effect with those municipalities and cities whose representatives had signed the agreement

staff were satisfied that the timeline proposed in the Dispute Resolution Process could be met; the timeline was only intended to serve as a guideline to ensure that the process was followed in a timely manner

one of the issues to be dealt with in Phase 2 of the accord document would be the matter of the possible payment of property taxes by port authorities

a similar accord agreement would be prepared for the North Fraser Port Authority once the document now being proposed had been accepted

the accord could be reviewed at any time by the City.

It was moved and seconded

That, the proposed Intermunicipal - Fraser River Port Authority (FRPA) Accord be endorsed (in accordance with the report dated July 30, 2002 from the Manager, Policy Planning).

CARRIED

5.

City of Richmond Position Paper PROVINCIAL ENERGY TASK FORCE
(Report:  Aug. 29/02, File No.:  0035-01) (REDMS No. 843205)

Mr. Crowe indicated that he was available to respond to any questions from the Committee.

Reference was made to the resolution which had been adopted by the District of Maple Ridge, and which staff were recommending be endorsed by Richmond City Council, and discussion ensued on whether the wording of that resolution met the needs of the City.  As a result of the discussion, the following amended resolution was introduced: 

It was moved and seconded

(1 )

That the Provincial Task Force on Energy Policy implement an open, transparent and inclusive consultation process so that the full impacts and benefits can be researched and accounted for on a local, regional and provincial basis.

(2 )

That the Task Force and Minister consider the direct economic and social impact and costs to local governments and residents as a result of:

(a )

electricity deregulation

(b )

gas storage in the lower mainland,

(c )

right-of-way management of transmission and distribution corridors

(d )

increased coal use on the environment, and

(e )

changing existing electricity rate endowment mechanisms that current customers currently enjoy.

(3 )

That the Energy Policy:

(a )

honour existing agreements between local governments and B.C. Hydro, and

(b )

enable local government the right to control, manage and collect revenues for the use of rights of way; and

(4 )

That the GVRD be requested to compile and coordinate concerns of member municipalities and other input to the Task Force.

The question on the motion was not called, as the following amendment was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That Part (3) of the main motion be amended by adding the following as clause (c), improve or extend environmental stewardship programs.

(Councillor Greenhill left the meeting 5:04 p.m.)

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

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

It was moved and seconded

That the Provincial Task Force on Energy Policy, the Greater Vancouver Regional District, the Union of B.C. Municipalities, the Local Municipal Managers Association, and Richmond's MLAs be informed of Councils decision.

CARRIED

(Councillor Greenhill returned to the meeting 5:06 p.m.)

FINANCE & CORPORATE SERVICES DIVISION

6.

REVISIONS TO Positions on the Community Charter
(Report:  Aug. 27/02; File No.:  0035-02) (REDMS No. 841728, 841650)

It was moved and seconded

That Richmond's recommendations on the Community Charter, (as presented in Attachment 1 to this report, dated August 14, 2002, and as amended by the report dated August 27^th, 2002, from the City Solicitor), be forwarded to the Ministry of State of Community Charter, the Executive of the UBCM, and the Community Charter Council

The question on the motion was not called, as City Solicitor Paul Kendrick responded to questions from Committee members on various components of the proposed Community Charter, including:

conflict of interest

nomination fees

ownership of parks, and the impact which this could have on the City when dedicating land for parks in the future

Provincial Home Owner Grant

alternate approval process.

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

7.

PURCHASE OF SERVICE RICHMOND FIRE-RESCUE DEPARTMENT
(Report:  Aug. 8/02, File No.:  1450-02) (REDMS No. 828644)

It was moved and seconded

That funding for the purchase of past service be offered to all interested employees, and that such funds be reimbursed to the City through a payroll deduction program.

CARRIED

8.

CASINO FUNDS
(Report:  July 24/02, File No.:  1085-01) (REDMS No. 819807)

It was moved and seconded

That the remaining $79,000 (one time only) of Casino funds be allocated to the 2003 Grants Program, for distribution in 2003.

The question on the motion was not called, as discussion ensued among Committee members and staff on the proposed recommendation.  Concern was expressed about the manner in which the casino revenue had been handled and about the lack of a specific process to deal with this revenue.  Concern was also expressed that placement of the $79,000 in the 2003 Grants Program could raise the expectation that the grant amounts for the next year would be increased, even though this allocation was to be for one time only. 

The question on the motion was then called, and it was DEFEATED ON A TIED VOTE.

OPPOSED:  Cllr. Greenhill
Howard
Kumagai
Steves

9.

ECONOMIC IMPACT/BENEFIT ASSESSMENT RICHMOND TALL SHIPS FESTIVAL
(Report:  Aug. 27/02, File No.:  7400-20-TALL1) (REDMS No. 841451, 835162)

It was moved and seconded

That the report (dated August 27^th, 2002, from the Manager, Business Liaison & Development), regarding the Economic Impact/Benefit Assessment Richmond Tall Ships Festival, be received for information.

The question on the motion was not called, as discussion ensued among Committee members and staff on the proposed economic impact/benefit assessment and whether the services of a consultant should be obtained.  The comment was made that even though it was thought to be too late to obtain information on spectator spending, it would be possible to obtain other information, such as the number of vendors who participated, the number of tickets purchased, etc., through a survey which could be completed in‑house. 

Reference was also made to the report currently being prepared by staff on the Tall Ships Festival, and questions were raised about the type of information which would be included in that report.  As a result, the Manager, Business Liaison & Development, Marcia Freeman, was asked to provide a memorandum to Council prior to the September 9^th, 2002 Council Meeting, on the specific areas which would be addressed in that report.

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

10.

private funding and investments in public parks

(Councillor Barnes left the meeting 6:08 p.m.)

It was moved and seconded

That staff examine policies and principles with regard to the use of private funding in public parks, for report to the Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services Committee.

The question on the motion was not called, as staff were requested to take into consideration, the fact that the private dedication of a public park would be impacted by the proposed Community Charter.

(Councillor Barnes returned to the meeting 6:11 p.m.)

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

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (6:12 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, September 3^rd, 2002.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie
Chair

Fran J. Ashton
Executive Assistant