MINUTES

1.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on Monday, October 4th, 2004, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

DELEGATION

2.

Sylvia Gwozd, Chairperson, Richmond Sister City Committee, to request approval of a trip to Japan to participate in the Canadian Pavilion of Expo 2005.
(Letter:  Oct. 12/04; File No.:  0100-20-SCITI-01)  (REDMS No. 1343980)
 

Ms. Sylvia Gwozd, accompanied by Vice Chair Jim Kojima and Francis Turmeau, representing the Sister City Committee, advised that the Sister City Committee had been invited to host a special day at the upcoming 2005 World Exposition to be held in Aichi, Japan.  She then reviewed the following three objectives of ‘Richmond Day’ – to engage Canadians in the Pacific Rim; to tell Canada’s story; and to support on-going trade and political relationships.

Ms. Gwozd commented on the urgency of the matter, stating that facilities in Aichi, Japan were already 60% booked.  As well, she advised that the Richmond School Board was organizing a student exchange from May 10^th to 20^th, 2005 and that it made sense to combine ‘Richmond Day’ with the student exchange.  Ms. Gwozd also provided information on the facilities and services which would be provided at no charge to the Canadian sister cities.

Ms. Gwozd advised that a plan had been developed which the Committee felt would have significant benefits to the City in the areas of tourism, trade and education, with the strategy being to promote Richmond as the gateway to North America.  She stated that the Committee had been working with Tourism Richmond and individually with hotels, the Great Canadian casino, and other attractions to have Richmond recognized as a destination stop rather than a transfer point.

Mr. Kojima spoke about the benefits of having the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver-Whistler and the opportunities for Richmond with visitors, coaches and other individuals staying at local hotels and using local facilities prior to, during, and after the Olympic Games.  He talked about how the Committee’s attendance at the 2005 World Exposition and hosting ‘Richmond Day’ would help to showcase what the City had to offer. 

Reference was made to the proposed budget for the trip, and information was provided that the total cost would be approximately $34,000; that six members of the Sister City Committee paying their own way, and that efforts were being made to arrange home stays for the Wakayama portion of the trip.  Further advice was given that a sponsorship program was being developed to help offset costs of the trip even more.

Discussion then ensued among Committee members, the delegation and staff on the benefits and opportunities which could be achieved from the proposed trip.  However, also discussed was the amount of the proposed budget, whether there were any other available sources of funding, and the staff resources which would be required for the next six months to prepare the materials to be displayed on ‘Richmond Day’.

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

Discussion continued among Committee members and staff on probable sources of funding, with reference being made to the Council Contingency Account.  As a result of information given on the status of this account, the Director of Finance, Andrew Nazareth, was requested to prepare a written report on the funds which were available in the Council Contingency Account.

Also discussed was the amount of staff time which would be required and whether the twenty hours per week of time suggested by staff would be sufficient, as well as the lack of detailed budget information.  The suggestion was made that approval in principle could be given to the request for funding, with staff preparing a report to the next General Purposes Committee meeting to provide a detailed budget and more accurate staff time involvement.  However, concern was expressed about the difficulties which Council could have in rejecting the proposal after giving such approval in principle.

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

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That Richmond City Council confirm its approval in principle to send a delegation to the 2005 World Exposition to be held in Aichi, Japan, at a cost not to exceed $40,000, with staff time defined prior to final approval; and

(2)

That staff report to the General Purposes Committee as soon as possible on the amount of staff time which would be required.

The question on the motion was not called, as concern was expressed about the lack of information on (i) the budget for the event, and (ii) the staff resources which would be required to prepare for the trip.  Concern was again expressed about the feasibility of Council reversing its decision once approval in principle had been given.

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

FINANCE & CORPORATE SERVICES DIVISION

3.

ECONOMIC ADVISORY TASK FORCE – TERMS OF REFERENCE
(Report:  Oct. 8/04, File No.:  0100-20-EADVI-01) (REDMS No. 1342563, 1343077)

The Manager, Economic Development, Marcia Freeman, was present to respond to questions from the Committee.

Reference was made to the proposed Terms of Reference, and the Mayor requested that the following amendments be made:

§           

Item No. 1 of Objectives, to delete the words ‘this paper’, and to substitute the following, ‘the Economic Advisory Task Force Report’;

§           

Item No. 2 of Objectives, to add to the end of the sentence, the words ‘and our priorities’; and

§           

with reference to the Term, the wording to read as follows, ‘The terms for member appointments be for staggered two year periods.’

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the Terms of Reference (attached to the report dated October 8^th, 2004, from the Manager, Economic Development), be adopted as revised; and

(2)

That approval be given for the recruitment of members for an Economic Advisory Task Force.

CARRIED

4.

CANCELLATION OF THE CHRISTMAS PERIOD REGULAR OPEN AND CLOSED COUNCIL MEETINGS
(Report:  Oct. 12/04, File No.:  0105-01) (REDMS No. 1343587)
 

It was moved and seconded

That both the Regular Open and Regular Closed Council Meetings scheduled for the week between Christmas and the New Year, be cancelled (as permitted by Council Procedure Bylaw No. 7560).

CARRIED

5.

Wet Restaurant, 165 - 8460 Alexandra ROAd
(Report:  Oct. 14/04, File No.:  8275-30-001/2004-Vol 01) (REDMS No. 1345384)
 

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That Resolution No. R04/18-6 (adopted by Council on October 12^th, 2004, ), which supported the Wet Restaurant extension of hours, BE RESCINDED.

(2)

That the application to amend the liquor licence for the Wet Restaurant at 165- 8460 Alexandra Road, NOT BE SUPPORTED (for reasons outlined in the report dated October 14^th, 2004, from the Manager, Customer Services).

CARRIED

6.

COUNCILLOR ROB HOWARD – PROPOSED RESOLUTION REGARDING TOURISM
(REDMS No. 1345740)
 

It was moved and seconded

WHEREAS:

British Columbia’s tourism industry employees over 100,000 people in communities like Richmond;

Tourism is an important source of economic diversification, especially in small and medium-sized businesses at the local level;

Tourism generates $1 billion in revenues to support various levels of government to support programs such as health care and education;

Tourism marketing and promotion are critical to realizing the industry’s growth opportunities and potential;

At the recent Union of BC Municipalities convention, the Premier of British Columbia announced a doubling of Tourism BC’s marketing budget from $25 million to $50 million and $25 million to local governments through UBCM.
 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

The City of Richmond expresses its support for the recent tourism initiatives of the Premier of British Columbia and acknowledges the important role this will help play in our region and our community, and
 

That this support be conveyed to the Premier and MLAs of British Columbia, the Greater Vancouver Regional District Mayors, the Council of Tourism Association (COTA), the UBCM and the LMMA.

CARRIED

7.

COUNCILLOR ROB HOWARD – PROPOSED RESOLUTION REGARDING THE TWINNING OF THE PORT MANN BRIDGE AND THE WIDENING OF HIGHWAY 10

It was moved and seconded

WHEREAS:

The City of Richmond

-

Recognizes the efficient movement of goods, people and services in and through the Lower Mainland is integral to a strong provincial economy;

-

Acknowledges the cost of congestion to Lower Mainland businesses is an impediment to the provincial economy;

-

Recognizes the heavy environmental and quality of life costs associated with idling and slow moving traffic; and

-

Agrees that the Port Mann Bridge and Highway #10 (120^th Street to 196^th Street) are critical transportation routes to the region.
 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

The City of Richmond supports the City of Surrey, TransLink and the Provincial Government in their efforts to address these problems by acting immediately to twin the Port Mann Bridge and widen Highway #10 from 120^th Street to 196^th Street;
 

And be it further resolved that the City of Richmond support the TransLink’s proposed Richmond-Airport-Vancouver and Northeast Sector rapid transit lines, and other elements of the TransLink 10-Year Plan to facilitate faster movement of goods, people and services in the Lower Mainland;
 

And be it further resolved that the LMMA circulate this resolution for distribution to all LMMA members to encourage their endorsement of this resolution;
 

And be it further resolved that the UBCM circulate this resolution for distribution to all UBCM members to encourage their endorsement of this resolution;
 

And be it further resolved that copies of this resolution be forwarded to the Premier and MLAs of British Columbia, our Federal Members of Parliament, the Greater Vancouver Regional District Mayors, TransLink, the City of Surrey, the UBCM, the LMMA and any other appropriate organizations.
 

The question on the motion was not called, as several Committee members expressed their opposition to supporting the twinning of the Port Mann Bridge.  The suggestion was made that the issue of the Port Mann Bridge be separated from the resolution and referred to staff for comment.

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

It was moved and seconded

That staff comment on the proposed twinning of the Port Mann Bridge.

CARRIED

OPPOSED:  Mayor Brodie
Cllr. Dang
E. Halsey-Brandt
Howard

The question on the balance of the motion which did not deal with the twinning of the Port Mann Bridge, was then called, and it was CARRIED.

8.

APPOINTMENT OF COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE AND ALTERNATE TO THE LOWER MAINLAND TREATY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

It was moved and seconded

That Councillor Linda Barnes be appointed as the Council representative to the Lower Mainland Treaty Advisory Committee, and that Councillor Evelina Halsey-Brandt be appointed as the alternate.

CARRIED

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:30 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, October 18^th, 2004.

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Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie
Chair

Fran J. Ashton
Executive Assistant, City Clerk’s Office