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ITEM

MINUTES

1

1.

Motion to adopt the minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on Monday, November 15th, 2004 and on Monday, November 22nd, 2004.

COUNCILLOR ROB HOWARD

14

2.

YVR RESOLUTIONS ON OPEN SKIES AND FIFTH FREEDOM RIGHTS

(Memo:  Nov. 12/04; File No.:  )  (REDMS No. 1354217)
 

Federal Rent and Airport Competitiveness

RECOMMENDATION

WHEREAS the Vancouver International Airport is an economic generator and facilitates job creation province wide with the most recent economic impact study showing that the airport is responsible for a total economic output of $5.183 billion and 54,182 person years of employment;

AND WHEREAS the Vancouver International Airport Authority has paid over $660 million in rent to the federal government for a facility which had a historical cost of $255 million;

AND WHEREAS the return from Vancouver International Airport should be provincial and national economic growth, not rent;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Richmond call upon the federal government to adopt a new rent policy that is fair, equitable, transparent and sustainable and includes:  a 50% reduction of total rent throughout the airport system; the elimination of rent entirely for all but the eight largest airports, and tying future increases directly and proportionately to changes in passenger and freight traffic;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution be conveyed to the UBCM, the LMMA, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, requesting their support, and the provincial and federal governments.

Federal Aviation Policies and BC’s Competitiveness

RECOMMENDATION

WHEREAS the Vancouver International Airport is an economic generator and facilitates job creation province wide with the most recent economic impact study showing that the airport is responsible for a total economic output of $5.183 billion and 54,182 person years of employment;

AND WHEREAS the connectivity provided by the airport is essential both to keeping British Columbia companies competitive in a global economy and to attracting new economic development and high quality jobs to the Province;

AND WHEREAS only 40% of Canada’s current bilateral air treaties with other nations allow access by foreign carriers to YVR;

AND WHEREAS this restrictive International Aviation Policy puts the Vancouver International Airport at a competitive disadvantage with U. S. West Coast airports and prevents it from maximizing its potential as a Gateway between Asia and North America;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Richmond urge the federal government to:

(1)

enter into immediate negotiations with the United States for a true Open Skies agreement including fifth freedom rights;

(2)

pursue planned aviation negotiations with the Government of China to seek substantial liberalization and improved market access; and

(3)

introduce Canada’s own Open Skies aviation policy and pursue it on a global basis with its trading partners;

AND FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that this resolution be conveyed to the UBCM, LMMA, Federation of Canadian Municipalities, requesting their support, and the provincial and federal governments.

FINANCE & CORPORATE SERVICES DIVISION

26

3.

TRIPLE SIX BAR & K, 8320 ALEXANDRA ROAD – EXTENSION OF HOURS

(Report:  Nov. 9/04, File No.:  12-8275-30-006/2004-Vol 01) (REDMS No. 1281516)

Designated Speaker:  Anne Stevens

STAFF RECOMMENDATION

That the application to amend the liquor licence for Green Culture Enterprises Inc. doing business as Triple Six Bar & K at 8320 Alexandra Road, to extend hours of operation from Sunday through Saturday 12:00 noon to 2:00 a.m., NOT BE SUPPORTED (for reasons outlined in the staff report dated November 9, 2004 from the Manager, Customer Service).

30

4.

Sale of Surplus Land from 7280 Garden City ROAD (RZ 04-262818)
(Report:  Nov. 17/04, File No.:  06-2290-20-054/Vol 01) (REDMS No. 1356466)

Designated Speaker:  Christine McGilvray

STAFF RECOMMENDATION

That the sale of 438 square metres of surplus land from 7280 Garden City Road to Am-Pri Construction be approved for $207,449, and that staff be authorized to carry out the necessary steps to complete the transaction.

URBAN DEVELOPMENT DIVISION

35

5.

DRAFT RICHMOND PROBLEM GAMBLING PREVENTION & TREATMENT STRATEGY

(Report:  Nov. 30/04, File No.:  08-4040-04-01/2004-Vol 01) (REDMS No. 1362982)

Designated Speaker:  Terry Crowe

STAFF RECOMMENDATION

That:

(1)

The draft Richmond Problem Gambling Prevention and Treatment Strategy (Attachment 1 to the report dated November 30^th, 2004 from the Manager, Policy Planning) be endorsed.

(2)

The draft Richmond Problem Gambling Prevention and Treatment Strategy be forwarded to the Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch (GPEB) of the Ministry of Public Safety & Solicitor General (MPS&SG), and the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) and that they be requested to:

(a)

take a leadership role by finalizing the Strategy in collaboration with other stakeholders,

(b)

recognize the final Strategy as a five-year Provincial pilot strategy, and

(c)

fund the final Strategy.

(3)

The draft Richmond Problem Gambling Prevention and Treatment Strategy be forwarded to the:

(a)

BC Ministry of Education;

(b)

Great Canadian Casino Corporation;

(c)

Richmond Royal Canadian Mounted Police;

(d)

Richmond School District Board #38, and

(e)

Richmond Addiction Services (RAS),

for their comments and support.

(4)

Richmond Addiction Services (RAS) be thanked for their valuable service and that their continued collaboration be requested in finalizing the Strategy.

(5)

City staff host a meeting of all stakeholders in early 2005, to encourage them to finalize the Strategy and implement it.

(6)

City staff report progress to Council through the General Purposes Committee, before April 30, 2005.

ADJOURNMENT