MINUTES

1.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on Tuesday, December 21^st, 2004, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

FINANCE & CORPORATE SERVICES DIVISION

2.

MCLEAN PARK LAND EXCHANGE

(Report:  Dec. 13/04, File No.:  12-8060-20-7863) (REDMS No. 1357954, 1358002)

It was moved and seconded

That McLean Park Land Exchange Bylaw 7863 be introduced and given first, second and third readings, and referred to the electors for an alternative approval process prior to adoption.

CARRIED

3.

AMENDMENT TO COUNCIL PROCEDURE BYLAW - ELECTRONIC MEETING PROCESS

(Report:  Dec. 16/04, File No.:  12-8060-20-7873) (REDMS No. 1371082, 1371133, 1376803)

Discussion ensued among Committee members on the question of whether Council members should also be allowed to participate electronically at Regular Council Meetings.  However, it was agreed that a determination should be made on the success of electronic participation at Special Council Meetings before making a decision to expand this participation to include Regular Council Meetings.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That Council Procedure Bylaw No 7560, Amendment Bylaw No 7873, which sanctions the use of electronic equipment and participation by members of council electronically, at special Council meetings, be introduced and given first, second and third readings.   

(2)

That staff proceed with the statutory public notification of this proposed change to the Council Procedure Bylaw.

CARRIED

4.

CITY CONTRIBUTION TO TSUNAMI DISASTER RELIEF FUND

Mayor Brodie advised that he had directed that all City flags be lowered to half mast for this week in recognition of those persons who had lost their lives as a result of the tsunami which occurred in South East Asia on December 26^th, 2004.  He then made a number of suggestions on how the City might contribute to the relief effort being undertaken, and discussion ensued among Committee members on these suggestions, and on:

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whether the City’s financial contribution would be forwarded to CIDA (Canadian International Development Association) for distribution or to an international agency which was coordinating relief efforts in the South East Asia region

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whether the City’s funds should be directed to a specific need, such as a water purification system 

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the Federal Government’s pledge to match individual donations and whether this would include the City’s contribution

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the number of local families who may have been impacted by the disaster and whether any assistance was being provided to them.

As a result of the discussion, it was agreed that a special meeting of Council would be held at 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 5^th, 2005, to deal with the resolutions adopted at this meeting.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That a list of those organizations which are involved in the distribution of funds and resources in connection with the South East Asia region tsunami disaster be posted on the City web site on an on-going basis, for public review, to accommodate donations by the public; and

(2)

That local organizations which are holding fund-raising events be permitted to announce such events on the City web site.

CARRIED

It was moved and seconded

That staff review other needs in the region affected by the tsunami disaster in South East Asia, and the City’s own long term emergency plan.

CARRIED

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the City contribute $12,500 to the tsunami disaster relief efforts, and a further maximum amount of $12,500 be contributed to match potential employee contributions, with the source of funds to be the Council Contingency Account;

(2)

That City employees making contributions be requested to do so no later than 5:00 p.m., Monday, January 10^th, 2005;

(3)

That the funds contributed by the City and its employees be donated to the Canadian Red Cross or an other international agency which provides relief to the entire area affected by the tsunami; and

(4)

That the City endeavour to match as many of the individual and corporate funds as possible by Federal agencies.

CARRIED

A brief discussion ensued on how the Richmond families who had been impacted by the disaster could be helped, during which the suggestion was made that CHIMO and the Intercultural Advisory Committee be contacted.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:55 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 Tuesday, January 4^th, 2005.

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Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie
Chair

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