MINUTES

1.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on Tuesday, September 3^rd, 2002, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

COMMUNITY SAFETY DIVISION

2.

RICHMOND SUBSTANCE ABUSE STRATEGY (FCM MUNICIPAL DRUG STRATEGY PILOT PROJECT) UPDATE
(Report:  Aug. 15/02, File No.:  3000-09) (REDMS No. 833749, 820630)

The Manager, Divisional Programs, Shawn Issel, reviewed the report with the Committee.  Discussion then ensued among Committee members and staff on such issues as:

the lack of interagency cooperation to provide effective treatment to clients

whether Richmond schools were mandated to provide drug education programs

the rationale for proposing to hire a consultant to conduct the focus group sessions, and whether those local agencies which deal with substance abuse issues could function as the facilitators at these sessions
 

the need to have the Needs Assessment reviewed by the School Board to make that agency fully aware of the drug problem and to encourage the Board to take a more proactive approach to deal with this matter
 

the need to place an emphasis on the education of school children about the dangers of using drugs.

During the discussion on whether local agencies could act as facilitators at the focus group sessions, concern was expressed about the perception that a local agency might not be impartial.

(Mayor Brodie entered the meeting at 4:11 p.m., during the above discussion, and assumed the Chair.)

The discussion continued, during which the suggestion was made that the report should be referred to the Council/School Board Liaison Committee for its review.  Reference was made to the request for $20,000 to retain a consultant to facilitate the focus group sessions, and advice was given that the estimated cost was based on the cost of holding similar meetings on the subject of the Community Safety buildings.  Further advice was given that the request for proposal would be sent out to the public without indicating a cost. 

At the conclusion of the discussion, the request was made that the recommendations be dealt with separately.

It was moved and seconded

That the update on the Richmond Substance Abuse Strategy (FCM Municipal Drug Strategy Pilot Project) be received for information.

CARRIED

It was moved and seconded

That $20,000 be taken from the casino funding set aside from the previous Mayors Task Force on Crime and Drugs to retain a consultant to conduct focus groups.

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

It was moved and seconded

That the main motion be amended by adding the following, and that the report be forwarded to the Council/School Board Liaison Committee for discussion.

CARRIED

The question on the main motion, as amended, was not called, as discussion ensued on the rationale for hiring a consultant to conduct the focus group sessions.  Concern was expressed about the proposed cost of $20,000, however others were concerned about the perception of bias which could result if a local agency was asked to conduct the focus group sessions.  Staff confirmed during the discussion that any of the funds not spent to hire a consultant would remain in the Casino Revenue account.

The question on the main motion, as amended, was then called, and it was CARRIED with Cllr. McNulty opposed to Part 1.

At this time, the Chair spoke about the death of Richmond RCMP Constable Jimmy Ng on Sunday, September 15^th, 2002, and the news release issued by the City.  Mayor Brodie advised that the release indicated that the City was in shock about the accident and had extended its condolences to Constable Ngs family and to the City family.  He further advised that the press release indicated the renewed commitment of the City to deal with speeding drivers on Richmond streets. 

A brief discussion ensued, during which the Mayor advised, in response to a question, that a letter of condolence from Council would be prepared and sent to Constable Ngs family.  Further advice was given that the funeral service for Constable Ng would be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 21^st, 2002 at the Bethany Baptist Church.

Mayor Brodie introduced to the Committee, his new Executive Assistant, Gail Johnson, who commenced her duties with the City on this date.

URBAN DEVELOPMENT DIVISION

3.

Animal Control Regulations
(Report:  September 5/02, File No.:  8060-20-7424) (REDMS No. 846103, 841790)

The Manager, Zoning, Alan Clark, reviewed the proposed bylaw amendments with the Committee.  In response to questions about the definition of a domestic farm animal, he advised that pot belly pigs were included in the definition because these animals were not deemed to be household pets.

It was moved and seconded

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

Animal, Bird & Beekeeping Regulation Bylaw No. 7137, Amendment Bylaw No. 7424; and

(2)

Business Regulation Bylaw No. 7148, Amendment Bylaw No. 7426.

CARRIED

4.

Regulation of Pet Stores
(Report:  September 5/02, File No.:  8060-20-7223) (REDMS No. 846074, 345513)

Mr. Clark, in reviewing the report with the Committee, advised in response to questions that there was only one pet shop within the City; that monitoring of the store would be undertaken by the SPCA; and that the proposed bylaw amendment had been initiated as a result of complaints received from the public.  Mr. Clark noted that the SPCA supported the proposed amendment.

It was moved and seconded

That Bylaw No. 7223, which amends Business Regulation Bylaw No. 7148 to regulate pet stores, be introduced and given first, second and third readings, with an amendment to the definition for Kitten and Puppy to reflect that these animals must be less than six months of age and not four.

CARRIED

FINANCE & CORPORATE SERVICES DIVISION

5.

service level review summary report
(Report:  September 10/02, File No.:  0975-01) (REDMS No. 847512, 837092)

The Director of Finance, Andrew Nazareth, reviewed the report with the Committee.  Discussion then ensued among Committee members and staff on various aspects of the report, including:

the rationale for preparing the proposed 2003 budget based on the 2002 tax base

whether any action had been taken to charge community associations for certain costs

whether steps were being taken to ensure that the City would receive a better return on its investments
 

the intent of the proposed recommendations

the rationale for including under additional levels, establishment of a quadrant recycling depot program, even though members of the Community Safety Committee had not expressed support for such a proposal
 

the rationale for not including proposed new efficiencies as part of the report.

During the discussion, advice was given that staff required direction from the Committee to begin preparing detailed departmental budgets based on the decisions made at this meeting.  Discussion then ensued on the reasoning for submitting the report now being considered to the General Purposes Committee and not the Finance Select Committee.

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

It was moved and seconded

(1)

The Program/Service Level Expenditure Review Summary 2002 Existing Funding Levels (as presented in Attachment 1, Existing Levels of the report dated September 10, 2002 from the Director of Finance) be approved as the basis for the preparation of the 2003 Operating Budget.

(2)

The Program/Service Level Review Summary 2003 Additional Levels (as presented in Attachment 2, Additional Levels of the report dated September 10, 2002 from the Director of Finance) be received for consideration.

(3)

The Program/Service Level Review Summaries for the 2002 Existing Funding Levels and 2003 Additional Levels, be referred to the Finance Select Committee for a detailed review as soon as possible, and report to the General Purposes Committee.

The question on the motion was not called, as discussion continued on the rationale for forwarding the report to the Finance Select Committee.  At the conclusion of the discussion, the request was made that the recommendations be dealt with separately.

The question on Part 1 of the main motion was then called, and it was CARRIED with Cllr. McNulty opposed.

The question on Part 2 of the main motion was then called, and it was CARRIED with Cllr. McNulty opposed.

The question on Part 3 of the main motion was then called, and it was CARRIED with Cllrs. Barnes, Greenhill and E. Halsey-Brandt opposed.

6.

NEWSPAPER ARTICLE REGARDING City's LOSS OF REVENUE

Cllr. McNulty expressed concern about a recent newspaper article which dealt with the City's apparent loss in revenue of $1.8 Million, and asked whether an explanation had been provided to the public.  As a result of the discussion, the following motion was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That an explanation be provided to the public on the $1.8 Million loss in revenue incurred by the City.

CARRIED

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:23 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, September 16^th, 2002.

_________________________________

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Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie
Chair

Fran J. Ashton
Executive Assistant