MINUTES

1.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on Tuesday, May 20^th, 2003, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

It was moved and seconded

That the order of the agenda be varied to deal with Item Nos. 3 and 4 prior to Item No. 2.

CARRIED

ENGINEERING & PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION

3.

Canada/British Columbia Infrastructure Program Applications
(Report:  June 9/03, File No.:  1087-19-01) (REDMS No. 1020992)
 

It was moved and seconded

That the grant application for the East Richmond Branch Library with a municipal priority ranking of 9, be withdrawn from the Canada/British Columbia Infrastructure Program.

CARRIED

FINANCE & CORPORATE SERVICES DIVISION

4.

SISTER CITY COMMITTEE
(Report:  June 2/03, File No.:  0135-04-02) (REDMS No. 998907)

The Manager, Customer Service, Anne Stevens, accompanied by Mr. Jim Kojima, a member of the Sister City Committee, indicated that they were available to respond to questions. 

Discussion then ensued among Committee members and staff on the need, if any, and the cost, to place banners around City Hall and in Steveston.  The suggestion was made during the discussion that banners should be placed throughout Richmond to advertise the 30^th anniversary of the twinning of Richmond and Wakayama. 

Also discussed was the criteria which would be used to determine who would be attending the opening dinner, as well as the cost of the dinner.  Advice was given that the Sister City Committee would be pursuing a suggestion that efforts be made to find a sponsor for the dinner.

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

It was moved and seconded

That Council approve funding of $10,000 from Council contingency to cover the costs of the Wakayama 30th Anniversary celebrations in the Fall of 2003.

CARRIED

It was moved and seconded

That Part 2, That Council approve the placement of Sister City banners in Steveston  and around City Hall during the 30th anniversary celebrations, be referred to staff to examine various options, along with alternate  proposals, with regard to the proposed banner program.

CARRIED

It was moved and seconded

That staff explore methods of utilizing the print media to advertise the 30^th anniversary celebration of the twinning of Richmond with Wakayama, Japan.

Prior to the question on the motion being called, the suggestion was made that a crossword or puzzle feature be introduced in local newspapers to increase the publics interest about the celebration event. 

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

DELEGATION

2.

Dr. Martin Murenbeeld To provide an economic update. (File No.:  4150-01)
 

The Director of Finance, Andrew Nazareth, introduced Dr. Martin Murenbeeld, of M. Murenbeeld & Associates, through a PowerPoint presentation, provided an economic and financial overview to the Committee on the status of the Canadian and American economy.  A copy of the presentation is attached as Schedule A and forms part of these minutes.
 

A brief discussion then ensued among Committee members and the delegation on such issues as:
 

previous recessions and recoveries

the links between the Canadian and American economies and which economy was riskier

the Richmond and Lower Mainland economy as it related to the housing market in comparison to the rest of Canada.
 

The Chair thanked Dr. Murenbeeld for his presentation.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:24 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, June 16^th, 2003.

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Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie
Chair

Fran J. Ashton
Executive Assistant, City Clerks Office