MINUTES

1.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on Monday, October 6^th, 2003 and on Thursday, October 9^th, 2003, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

DELEGATION

2.

VANCOUVER COASTAL HEALTH Health Issues in Richmond
(15 Minute Presentation including PowerPoint)  (File No.:  0151-01)
 

Dr. Jeff Coleman, Chief Operating Officer, Richmond, introduced Dr. Nick Braithwaite, Senior Medical Director, Richmond Health Services; and Lesley Wood Bernbaum Senior Community and Government Relations Advisor, to the Committee.
 

Dr. Coleman, through a PowerPoint presentation, then spoke about the delivery of health service to Richmond.  A copy of the presentation is attached as Schedule A and forms part of these minutes. 
 

At the conclusion of the presentation, discussion ensued among Committee members and the delegation on:
 

how the City and the Hospital Board could communicate; the rationale for such a request and whether communication between the City and Vancouver Coastal Health was effective; the need for more in-depth information being given to Council; the need for communication with the City prior to the implementation of new processes, especially during these times of service cuts

the type of hospital which the Richmond Hospital was being developed as

the provision of core services at Richmond Hospital which would be necessary to deliver a majority of health services within the City, and the need to share this information with the community

whether Richmond was receiving its fair share of hospital funding from the Federal and Provincial governments

the Deloitte & Touche Study and whether hospital staff had been consulted about the proposed changes as a means of improving staff morale

Sustainable Workforce Initiatives and how service levels could be maintained despite reductions in the number of fulltime employees

how Vancouver Coastal Health was promoting wellness in the community

the complaints being received by City Council with regard to the operation of Richmond Hospital and whether a standing committee of Council was needed to deal with health issues

the dollars being spent on a per capita basis in Richmond as compared to the City of Vancouver

whether the proposed reductions in service at Richmond Hospital would have an impact on the Kidney Dialysis and Oncology Programs

whether there were any plans being formed to transfer surgical daycare to another hospital

the proposed development of the Campus of Care concept and whether the continuity of care would be lost; and whether the entire medical history of a patient would still be available even if that person visited five different health care providers

the proposed removal of Registered Nurses from certain areas as a way of optimizing staffing levels; the impact which this could have on the patients at Minoru Place; and the duties of the medical staff at this facility

the use of licenced Practical Nurses and Patient Care Aides in place of Registered Nurses

the need to change nursing models which were created over forty years ago to methods which would result in the better operation of the hospital.
 

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

It was moved and seconded

That the matter of the delivery of health services within Richmond be referred to staff for discussion on (i) the possible formation of a health liaison committee, and (ii) other arrangements which may be approved for better communication with Vancouver Coastal Health.

CARRIED

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

PARKS, RECREATION AND CULTURAL SERVICES DIVISION

3.

STEVESTON INTERURBAN TRAM REVENUE GENERATION OPTIONS
(Report:  Oct. 30/03, File No.:  6520-05 ) (REDMS No. 1006578)

The Director, Recreation & Cultural Services, Kate Sparrow, accompanied by the Manager, Community Recreation Services, Vern Jacques, advised that since the preparation of the staff report, correspondence had been received from the Richmond Heritage Railroad Society, which advised of the groups recent formation. A copy of the correspondence is on file in the City Clerks Office.

Discussion ensued among Committee members and staff on the proposed recommendations.  Concern was expressed about the interpretation of Recommendation No. 2 in relation to the correspondence received from the Richmond Heritage Railroad Society, which indicated in part, that the Society would be undertaking fundraising efforts to secure funds form a part or all of the funding required to design, build and operate a heritage railroad .  The suggestion was made that staff contact representatives of the Society to clarify whether the Society intended to operate the Steveston tram.

Discussion continued, during which in response to questions about the amount of staff time which would be required, advice was given that staff would be providing assistance with the preparation of the letters and supporting material for presentation to potential sponsors, however, a staff person would not be dedicated fulltime to the project and would not be actively involved in any fundraising activities.

The request was made during the discussion that staff provide (i) a map which delineated the proposed route of the tram, from east to west, to either the Gulf of Georgia Cannery or to Garry Point Park, and (ii) a breakdown of the proposed budget including an itemization of expenses.

Mr. Sean Lawson, a Director of the Richmond Heritage Railroad Society, stated that the Society was looking forward to working with staff on the project.  He advised that it was the Societys thought that staff would pursue federal and provincial grants while the Society would seek funding from private businesses and community organizations.  Mr. Lawson added that the Society had been divided into two components, fundraising and technical.  He added that the Society would be providing a clear business plan with a breakdown of all costs.

Mr. Dana Westermark, also a member of the Society, indicated that the Society did not want to be responsible for the operation of the tram, however, if the Steveston Interurban Restoration Society was unable to operate the tram, the objective of the Heritage Railroad Society was to put together a working railway.

Discussion continued briefly on the question of whether the Heritage Railroad Society intended to operate the tram, and the suggestion was made that the specific wording referred to in the correspondence, be changed to read and support the operation of the tram.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the sponsorship and granting sources (listed in the report dated October 30^th, 2003, from the Director, Recreation & Cultural Services), be received for information.
 

(2)

That the formation of a community based fundraising committee for the development of tram infrastructure, be encouraged.
 

(3)

That staff prepare letters of support, on the behalf of Council, for sponsorship requests and funding applications and that the Mayor be authorized to sign such correspondence on Councils behalf.

CARRIED

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:27 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 17^th, 2003.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie
Chair

Fran J. Ashton
Executive Assistant, City Clerks Office