MINUTES

1.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on Monday, May 2^th, 2005, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

FINANCE & CORPORATE SERVICES DIVISION

2.

HIGHWAY CLOSURE AND REMOVAL OF HIGHWAY DEDICATION BYLAW 7233 HORSEHOE PLACE

(Report:  Mar. 8/05, File No.:  12-8060-20-7233) (REDMS No. 1379870, 1380305)

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That Highway Closure and Removal of Highway Dedication Bylaw No. 7233 be introduced and given first, second and third readings; and

(2)

That staff be authorized to take all necessary steps as required by the Community Charter to notify utility companies and the public, prior to adoption of Bylaw No. 7233.

CARRIED

ENGINEERING & PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION

3.

BIKE MONTH AND COMMUTER CHALLENGE – JUNE 2005

(Report:  May 2/05, File No.:  10-6460-01/2005-Vol 01) (REDMS No. 1477652)

The Acting Director, Transportation, Victor Wei, accompanied by Transportation Planner Joan Caravan, displayed a copy of the Richmond edition of “Free Wheeling” which provided information on local bicycle routes and trails.  He indicated that copies of this brochure had been provided to such facilities as the Library, Watermania and community centres for distribution to local residents.

Mr. Wei further advised that the City had been challenged by the Workers’ Compensation Board to have the greatest number of employees participating in the “Clean Air Day Commuter Challenge on June 8^th, 2005”.  He explained that a ‘punishment’ for the runner-up had not yet been determined.

Discussion then ensued among Committee members on:

§           

the many events planned for June 12^th, 2005 and whether efforts were being made to coordinate these events so the events would compliment each other

§           

the incentives being provided to encourage people to continue cycling year-round rather than just on Clean Air Day

§           

steps being taken to increase participation in the Bike Tour event on June 12^th  

§           

the request for funding in the amount of $1,000.

During the discussion, the feasibility of eliminating parking along arterial roads to make cycling safer for bicyclists was addressed.  Reference was made to the situation on Railway Avenue at Steveston Highway, where patrons of the pub were allowed to park their vehicles in the bicycle lane on Railway Avenue.  The suggestion was made that the City should obtain a lease for the rail right-of-way located adjacent to Railway Avenue and create parking on this right-of-way as a way to remove parked vehicles from the bicycle lane. 

Reference was also made to the dangerous situation which existed for cyclists in the downtown core, and information was provided that staff were undertaking an update of the City Centre Plan, including transportation and cycling within the City Centre.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the overall objectives of the Bike Month 2005 campaign, (as outlined in the report dated May 2^nd, 2005, from the Acting Director, Transportation), be endorsed.

(2)

That the City participate in various regional and local activities during the Bike Month 2005 campaign by registering in the annual Commuter Challenge to encourage cycling as a sustainable form of transportation and reduce the use of single occupant vehicles.

(3)

That staff co-ordinate the undertaking of the proposed activities with various campaign participants and other municipalities in the region (as outlined in the report dated May 2^nd, 2005, from the Acting Director, Transportation), and forward all information on event activities to the Richmond School Board for their information.

CARRIED

It was moved and seconded

That the City accept the challenge from the Workers’ Compensation Board to have the greatest number of employees participating in the “Clean Air Day Commuter Challenge” on June 8^th, 2005, and that staff report to Committee on an appropriate ‘punishment’.

CARRIED

It was moved and seconded

That staff:

(1)

examine the feasibility of locating bicycle lanes along major arterial roads ; and

(2)

review the parking situation at Railway Avenue and Steveston Highway, with consideration being given to obtaining a lease for the rail right-of-way located adjacent to Railway Avenue to create parking on the right-of-way as a means to remove parked vehicles from the bicycle lane. 

CARRIED

URBAN DEVELOPMENT DIVISION

4.

USE OF PUBLIC STREETS AND OTHER CITY PROPERTY BYLAW - PERMITTING NEWSPAPER DISTRIBUTION BOXES

(Report:  Apr. 25/05, File No.:  12-8060-20-7954) (REDMS No. 1501807, 1483622)

The Manager, Community Bylaws, Don Pearson, provided examples of various newspapers taken from newspaper boxes located on City property.  He also briefly reviewed the proposed bylaw.

Discussion then ensued among Committee members and staff on:

§           

the litter caused by individuals reading newspapers and not disposing of these papers in refuse containers

§           

how enforcement of the bylaw regulations would be pursued

§           

whether newspaper distributors would cooperate in complying with the new regulations

§           

whether the fee collected for each newspaper box would be sufficient to cover the cost of the removal of litter and staff supervision

§           

whether there was a public demand for the many different newspapers being distributed

§           

the proliferation of colours on the newspaper boxes

§           

the saturation of newspapers boxes within the City and whether consideration had been given to grouping a maximum number of newspaper boxes in a central location

§           

the placement of graffiti on the newspaper boxes, and whether the proposed bylaw could be amended to add the words “keep clear of graffiti”

§           

the possible permanent removal of newspaper boxes from Moncton Street

§           

whether recycling boxes should be placed alongside newspaper boxes to help reduce the amount of litter on the streets

§           

whether newspaper boxes should be allowed because of the many places where newspapers could be purchased (i.e. corner stores, etc.)

§           

whether the City had the ability to prohibit newspaper boxes on City streets.

During the discussion, staff were requested to report to Committee in six months’ time as to (i) how the new system was functioning, and (ii) the number of newspaper boxes which had been removed.

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

It was moved and seconded

That the report (dated April 25^th, 2005, from the Manager, Community Bylaws), regarding Newspaper Distribution Boxes, be referred to staff to examine:

(1)

the feasibility of identifying those areas were newspaper boxes should be located;

(2)

whether newspaper boxes had to be accepted within the City; and if so, whether the City had any control over the size and colour of these newspaper boxes; and

(3)

the City Sign Bylaw to determine if newspaper boxes could be banned on Moncton Street.

Prior to the question on the motion being called, staff were requested to review the maximum number of newspaper boxes which should be allowed in one location, and determine whether this requirement could be included in the proposed bylaw.

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

CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE

5.

OLYMPIC OPPORTUNITY FUND

(Report:  April 27/05, File No.:  03-1705-13) (REDMS No. 1508463)

Discussion ensued among Committee members and the Director, Richmond Olympic Business Office, Lani Schultz, on:

§           

the intent of the fund to find ways to encourage as many members of the community to participate at different levels in the Olympic festivities hosted by the City

§           

the goal to establish an Olympic Opportunity Fund through the process outlined in the staff and to find possibilities for matching funds through grant opportunities, etc.

§           

the purpose of ‘LegaciesNow’

§           

the proposal to provide funds from available surplus, and whether staff could predict that up to $250,000 would be available on an annual basis

§           

Council’s reluctance to pre-commit funds for future years to a particular project

§           

whether the anticipated surplus meant that City taxes had been increased more than was necessary

§           

the proposal to establish a new fund with funds taken from the annual surplus when other projects, such as the redevelopment of Steveston Harbour and the development of a Richmond Museum, were on hold

§           

the need for further discussion to establish a schedule and to determine the different issues which would have to be addressed.

During the discussion, the suggestion was made that the concept be approved on the basis that funding, including the source of funding, would only be approved when more information was available on the direction being taken by the City.  Discussion then ensued among Committee members on possible funding options.

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

It was moved and seconded

That an Olympic Opportunity Fund be established.

CARRIED

It was moved and seconded

That no monies be committed until a plan is in place, with a budget, criteria, process and information on who would be involved, and that staff report to Committee with an amount and source of funding at the end of each fiscal year.

CARRIED

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:29 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, May 16^th, 2005.

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Acting Mayor Evelina Halsey-Brandt
Chair

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