MINUTES

1.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on Monday, October  21^st, 2002, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

COMMUNITY SAFETY DIVISION

2.

strategies to discourage street racing
(Report:  Oct. 18/02, File No.:  6450-09) (REDMS No. 883548, 893108)

Supt. Ward Clapham, Officer in Charge of the Richmond Detachment of the RCMP, accompanied by the Manager, Transportation Planning, Victor Wei, identified the current initiatives and action taken to date by the RCMP, the City and the community to deal with aggressive driving and street racing.  He also briefly reviewed short and long term strategies which were being proposed as ways to address this issue.

Mr. Wei then commented on the report, referring to a memorandum which detailed an error in the report.  He noted that staff had incorrectly reported under the heading Revised Insurance Premiums that ICBC had revised the auto insurance premiums of drivers most likely to be involved in street racing in May 2002.  He advised that this was not the case, and therefore, the entire paragraph pertaining to this initiative should be deleted from the report.

Discussion then took place among Committee members and the delegation on the issue of street racing, during which the following information was provided in response to questions:

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if additional staffing was approved to establish a dedicated Criminal Driving Behaviour Enforcement Team, the new officers would not be in the detachment until approximately September of 2003

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the issue of the installation of governors on motor vehicles would have to be pursued by legislators and car manufacturers, but was an option which could be considered; with the collective support of the RCMP, City Council and the City, it could be possible to convince ICBC and other government partners to address speeding through such options as the use of governors

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speeding drivers were not the sole reason for motor vehicle accidents occurring; the recklessness of drivers was also a contributing factor

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the additional police officers (if approved) should have little impact on City staff within the transportation section as a majority of the education programs were already being carried out with existing staff; as well, proposed engineering measures could be implemented with existing staff.

During the discussion, emphasis was placed on the need for education initiatives, and comments were made that driver education programs should be mandatory for all students; and that children at the elementary school level should be taught about street and road safety.  Concern was also expressed that if education was not emphasized, then the City would be continually faced with the need for additional officers, and the delegation was urged to place an emphasis on educating the community about the dangers of speeding and aggressive driving behaviour.  With reference to the education of younger students, the suggestion was made that, as a long term solution, driver education programs should begin at the kindergarten level.

Also discussed was:

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the availability of surveillance aircraft and its effectiveness;

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the need for properly equipped unmarked vehicles; implementation of an intersection monitoring program and the availability of technology to monitor these intersections and to alert the detachment about motorists speeding through intersections;

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the feasibility of implementing a public hotline to allow citizens to report speeding and aggressive drivers;

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the feasibility of installing moving radar sets in marked and unmarked police vehicles;

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the importance of including youth in the discussions on speeding, and ensuring that the message sent out to youth and the public was consistent and repetitive; .

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the reaction of the public if photo radar was reintroduced as a means of dealing with speeding motorists;

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the no nonsense attitude of the Detachment with respect to modified vehicles as opposed to zero tolerance and the training being given to officers to recognize legal and illegal modifications;

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the degree to which driving prohibitions and vehicle impoundments were being enforced;

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the need to convince the public that speeding and aggressive driving behaviour was a community problem and that some residents could be indirectly part of the problem; adults and youth alike need to recognize that they need to be responsible for their actions;

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the need to send a message out to the public that anyone coming to Richmond to street race would pay the price; the City would not tolerate street racing and would not allow street racing to continue;

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the need to educate parents about (i) the dangers of purchasing high powered vehicles for their children, and (ii) their moral responsibility to educate their children to the danger not only to themselves, but to the community as a whole, if they choose to street race.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the report (dated October 18^th, 2002, from Supt. Ward Clapham, OIC Richmond RCMP Detachment), regarding Strategies to Discourage Street Racing, be referred to the Community Safety Committee, for detailed consideration of prioritization and funding issues, regarding the proposed short and long term strategies to discourage street racing, and

(2)

That this report be considered as part of the review of the RCMPs five year service plan. 

Prior to the question on the motion being called, discussion ensued on the timing of the presentation of the report to the Community Safety Committee. 

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

URBAN DEVELOPMENT DIVISION

3.

A LOCATION FOR RICHMOND FAMILY PLACE (RFP)
(Report:  Oct. 31/02, File No.:  1000-14-015) (REDMS No. 893705, 101910)

It was moved and seconded

That (as outlined in the report dated October 31^st, 2002, from the Manager, Policy Planning Department):

(1)

the City provide Richmond Family Place with an extension to its existing lease from August 23, 2003 to August 31^st, 2004, at 6560 Gilbert Road, at a minimal cost ($10 per annum);

(2)

no expansion to the existing Richmond Family Place building on this site be permitted; and

(3)

the City assist in finding a future permanent location for the Richmond Family Place.

The question on the motion was not called, as discussion ensued on (i) whether Richmond Family Place should be allowed to expand on a temporary basis at its present location to address current space needs; (ii) a future permanent location for the facility and whether this location should be within Minoru Park; and (iii) whether Richmond Family Place should be given a long term lease for the site. 

During the discussion, general agreement was expressed that the City should provide a permanent location for Richmond Family Place at its present site.  However, comments were also expressed that a decision on a permanent site should not be made until the completion of the City-wide master park planning process in late 2003.

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

It was moved and seconded

That Parts (2) and (3) of the main motion be referred to staff to address the issues of (i) interim expansion of Richmond Family Place at the existing site; and (ii) designating the current site as the permanent home for Richmond Family Place, for report to the General Purposes Committee.

The question on the motion was not called, as discussion continued on the future location of the Richmond Family Place facility; the expansion required to address current space needs; and the timing of the report to Committee.  During the discussion, staff were directed to include in the report, information on the type of temporary expansion proposed (including design and construction materials) as well as a plan for the permanent structure.

The question on the referral motion was then called, and it was CARRIED with Cllr. Barnes opposed.

The question on Part (1) of the main motion was then called, and it was CARRIED.

PARKS, RECREATION & CULTURAL SERVICES DIVISION

4.

Richmond Tall Ships 2005
(Report:  October 30/02, File No.:  7400-20-TALL1) (REDMS No. 892609)

It was moved and seconded

That:

(1)

staff prepare a letter of intent to the American Sail Training Association (ASTA) indicating the City's interest in hosting the 2005 Tall Ship Challenge; and,

(2)

staff prepare a comprehensive report on the impact of hosting Richmond Tall Ships 2005.

The question on the motion was not called, as Councillor Steves spoke about the need to seek out contacts in addition to those provided through the American Sail Training Association.  He suggested that the matter should be addressed in greater detail at a future Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services Committee meeting.  A brief discussion ensued among Committee members on the need for a financial report on the City's recent Tall Ship event prior to sending out contact letters.

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

FINANCE & CORPORATE SERVICES DIVISION

5.

THE HEART OF RICHMOND AIDS SOCIETY
(Report:  Oct. 15/02, File No.:  1085-01) (REDMS No. 880276)

It was moved and seconded

That the City provide $10,000 to the Heart of Richmond Aids Society, with funding to be taken from the 2002 Casino Revenue Account.

The question on the motion was not called, as comments were made about the valuable service being provided by the Heart of Richmond Aids Society.  It was noted that the funding for the part time Project Co-ordinator position was provided through the BC Gaming Commission and that the next funding allocation for that position would not be distributed by the Commission until March, 2003.

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

6.

Disposition of Surplus Election Campaign Funds held In Trust by the City
(Report:  October 31/02, File No.:  8125-01) (REDMS No. 880334)

It was moved and seconded

That surplus election campaign financing funds currently held by the City in general revenue be transferred to a specially created Former Candidate Scholarship Fund, and that the City Clerk prepare a policy on this proposal and report to Council on the status of any such funds and on any requests on the disposition of those funds.

WITHDRAWN

It was moved and seconded

That the City Clerk solicit the opinion of the former candidates whose funds comprise the surplus election campaign financing funds currently held by the City in general revenue, on their preferences as to how such funds should be expended, and that the City Clerk report to Council with an appropriate policy reflecting this direction.

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, on the understanding that the names of the former candidates would not be publicly divulged.

The question on the motion was then called, and it was CARRIED with Cllrs. Kumagai and E. Halsey-Brandt opposed.

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

It was moved and seconded

That a letter be written to the Minister responsible for local government legislation expressing the concern of Richmond City Council about the inequity in the current Local Government Act under which candidates in a civic election who were not endorsed by an elector organization, must remit to the general revenue of the City, all surplus election campaign funds, where such surplus exceeds $500, whereas an elector organization is not required to do so in the same circumstances.

CARRIED

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:43 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, November 4^th, 2002.

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Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie
Chair

Fran J. Ashton
Executive Assistant