MINUTES

1.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on Monday, February 17^th, 2003 and on Wednesday, February 19^th, 2003, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

DELEGATIONS

2.

( 1 )

VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY To apprise the Committee on the status of the airline industry and to provide updates on several on-going airport initiatives. 
(Delegation:  Larry Berg, President, YVR; Anne Murray, Vice President Community & Environment, and Olga Ilich, Director.)

(Councillor Kumagai entered the meeting at 5:02 p.m.)

Director Olga Ilich introduced Larry Berg, President of YVR, and Anne Murray, Vice President Community & Environment, to the Committee.  She then spoke briefly about the issues on which Mr. Berg and Ms. Murray would speak.  A copy of the material circulated to the Committee and to which Mr. Berg referred during his presentation, is attached as Schedule A and forms part of these minutes.

Mr. Berg then provided an update on the Airports 2002 and 2003 work plans, while Ms. Murray spoke about the community and the environment as these two issues related to the Airport.  A copy of the speaking notes of the two presenters is attached as Schedule B and forms part of these minutes.

Discussion then ensued among Committee members and the delegation on such issues as:

the extension of the south runway, new engine run up facility and the criteria followed when the engine run up facility was in operation

the proposed UPS development on the north side of the airport property and the number of employees who could be working at this facility

the status of the proposed new BCIT aeronautics training facility on airport property

the anticipated employment figures for the airport and Sea Island for the next few years

the proposed expansion of the cargo area and whether the airports plans were still on track

the financial status of the businesses in operation at the airport

the impact of a possible war in the Middle East on future passenger and cargo traffic

the movement of passengers from the airport to cruise ship terminals

security provisions, including the iris recognition program and the use of visual geometry

the status of the airport improvement and security fees

the need to harmonize Canadian and American airport security systems.

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

( 2 )

RICHMOND AIRPORT VANCOUVER RAPID TRANSIT PROJECT UPDATE
(Delegation:  Jane Bird, Project Director, Richmond Airport Vancouver Rapid Transit Project)  (PowerPoint presentation.)

The Project Director for the Richmond Airport Vancouver Rapid Transit Project, Jane Bird, introduced to the Committee Mr. Tony Poulter, of Price Waterhouse Cooper, the financial consultant for RAV, and Mr. John Eastman, technical director.  Ms. Bird then gave a PowerPoint presentation to provide an update on the project.  A copy of the presentation is attached as Schedule C and forms part of these minutes.

Discussion then ensued among Committee members and the delegation on such issues as:

the challenge of dealing with the various mindsets of the region about the proposal

the choice of Cambie Street in Vancouver for the proposed route over Arbutus Drive and whether a final decision had been made that Cambie Street would be the route for the new transit system

the advantages and disadvantages of a fully separated system as compared to a partially separated system

anticipated ridership figures

the request for proposal call, the selection of the final technology and whether a dedicated bus way would be a viable alternative

how community consultation would proceed (the document entitled Community Consultation Discussion Guide and Feedback Form was provided to the Committee during the discussion on this particular item, and a copy is on file in the City Clerks Office)

who would be responsible for making the final decision on whether the route should be underground, at grade or cut away

the anticipated number of vehicles which could be removed from the streets once the system was in operation

the date by which funding would be required and a decision made to proceed with the project.

The Chair thanked the delegation for the presentation, and noted that Richmond City Council was fully supportive of the delegations efforts.  Mayor Brodie added that Council would be willing to provide assistance to the Project Committee to back that support.  In response, Ms. Bird thanked the Committee and City staff for their efforts.

It was moved and seconded

That the order of the agenda be varied to deal with Item No. 4 at this time.

CARRIED

PARKS, RECREATION & CULTURAL SERVICES DIVISION

4.

RICHMOND SUNSET ROTARY CLUB CENTENNIAL VEHICLE PROJECT
(Report:  Feb. 24/03, File No.:   0780-01) (REDMS No. 971006)

It was moved and seconded

That staff prepare a Memorandum of Understanding between the City and the Richmond Sunset Rotary Club which outlines the responsibilities of both parties with respect to the donation of a 22 seat lift-equipped passenger bus to the City of Richmond in 2005.

The question on the motion was not called, as discussion ensued between the Mayor and the General Manager, Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services, Catharine Volkering Carlile, on the proposed acquisition of the bus.  In response to questions, advice was given that the $100,000 contribution from the Sunset Rotary Club would reduce the City's capital replacement fund from $135,000 to $35,000.  Ms. Carlile added that the City would still receive the revenue from the annual events sponsored by the Rotary Club, and this revenue would be allocated to the operating budget.

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

ACTING CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER

3.

council term priorities
(Report:  Feb. 11/03, File No.:  0105-07) (REDMS No. 961871)

It was moved and seconded

That the Council Priorities 2003-2005 (as described in Appendix One of the report dated February 11^th, 2003, from the Acting Chief Administrative Officer), be endorsed.

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

It was moved and seconded

That the goal identified for Long Term Financial Management, as identified in the Council Priorities 2003-2005 (as described in Appendix One of the report dated February 11^th, 2003, from the Acting Chief Administrative Officer), be amended by:

( 1 )

inserting after the words revenue sources, the following, controls expenditure growth, rationalizes resources and reviews the relevancy of existing operating and capital costs; and

( 2 )

adding the following as a new bullet under Measures of Success for the same goal, There will be an on-going plan developed and implemented which will provide for the control of expenditure growth, the rationalization of resources and reviews the relevancy of existing operating and capital costs.

CARRIED

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

FINANCE & CORPORATE SERVICES DIVISION

5.

council remuneration and expenses
(Report:  Feb. 26/03, File No.:  0105-08) (REDMS No. 972110)

It was moved and seconded

That the report (dated February 26^th, 2003, from the General Manager, Finance & Corporate Services), regarding the Year 2002 Council Remuneration and Expenses, be received for information.

CARRIED

6.

2002 GENERAL LOCAL AND SCHOOL ELECTION REFERRALS
(Report:  Feb. 19/03, File No.:  8125-30-01) (REDMS No. 963600)

It was moved and seconded

That the report (dated February 19^th, 2003, from the Acting City Clerk), regarding 2002 General Local and School Election Referrals, be received for information.

CARRIED

COMMUNITY SAFETY DIVISION

7.

Community Safety Building Replacement - Fire Hall Construction Program
(Report:  Feb. 24/03, File No.:  2052-02-FH) (REDMS No. 930214)

It was moved and seconded

( 1 )

That the Fire Hall Replacement Schedule be amended, (as detailed in the report dated February 19, 2003 from the Fire Chief);

( 2 )

That structural preloading of the two fire hall sites at 22451 Westminster Highway (Hamilton) and 3911 Russ Baker Way (Sea Island), proceed using funds identified in the 2003 Capital Program for the Hamilton Fire Hall following rezoning of the properties; and

( 3 )

That the conceptual designs for both Hamilton Fire Hall and Sea Island Fire Hall (attached to the report dated February 19, 2003 from the Fire Chief), be approved in principle for the rezoning applications and to solicit further community input.

The question on the motion was not called, as discussion ensued among Committee members, Fire Chief Jim Hancock, and the Director of Engineering, Steve Ono, on:

whether community space had been provided in the Hamilton Fire Hall

the provision of an accessible public washroom at the Hamilton Fire Hall, the location of such washroom on the site, and whether the cost of providing this washroom in the outbuilding would increase the overall budget for the Fire Hall

the rationale for including public art funding at 1% of the actual construction cost.

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

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (7:20 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, March 3^rd, 2003.

_________________________________

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Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie
Chair

Fran J. Ashton
Executive Assistant