MINUTES

1.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on Monday, May 30^th, 2005, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

It was moved and seconded

That the matter of “Grow-Ops – Commercial and Industrial Buildings” be added to the agenda as an additional item.

CARRIED

DELEGATION

2.

Tracy Lakeman, Executive Director, Tourism Richmond, and Lorenzo Lepore, regarding Tourism Week in Richmond, and to present a plaque to Mayor Brodie in recognition of the City’s support with building tourism in the community. (File No.:  0185-04)

Mr. Lepore, accompanied by Ms. Lakeman, spoke about tourism being the ‘key driver’ of economic growth and prosperity not only in Richmond but throughout all levels of government, and about the opportunities given to Canadian citizens to discover and enjoy their country.  He noted that the week of June 19^th to 25^th, 2005 had been proclaimed “Tourism Week in Richmond”.  At the conclusion of the presentation, Mr. Lepore presented a plaque to Mayor Brodie in recognition of the City’s support of this project.  In turn, the Mayor presented Mr. Lepore with copies of the proclamation which had been issued.

ENGINEERING & PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION

3.

Proposed Interim Response Strategy to the Riparian Areas Regulations (RAR

(Report:  June 3/05, File No.:  10-6125-01/Vol 01) (REDMS No. 1574976)

The Assistant Manager – Environmental Programs, Margot Daykin, in response to questions, advised that the UBCM was requesting a meeting with Provincial officials to address the many outstanding issues relating to the Riparian Areas Regulations. 

A brief discussion then ensued among Committee members and staff on this matter, during which suggestions were made that the proposed letter to the UBCM, should also be sent to the Minister of the Environment, the GVRD Mayors, the LMMA, and the Department of Fisheries.  

As a result, the following amended recommendation was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the City of Richmond Interim Strategy for Responding to the Riparian Areas Regulations (RAR) (as outlined in Attachment 1 to the report dated June 3, 2005, from the Manager, Emergency & Environmental Programs), be adopted.

(2)

That a letter be written to the UBCM, the Minister of the Environment, the GVRD Mayors, the LMMA, and the Department of Fisheries, advising them that it is Council’s position that the UBCM not sign the tri-party agreement among the Province, DFO and UBCM until affected local municipalities have been provided with the opportunity to provide meaningful input on appropriate roles and responsibilities.

(3)

That staff continue to monitor the RAR and report to Council on any amendments required to the Interim Strategy once key implementation tools and procedures have been completed.

CARRIED

FINANCE & CORPORATE SERVICES DIVISION

4.

Guidelines for Managing Requests for Temporary Changes to Existing Liquor , Free-Standing Licensee Retail Store Rezoning Applications and Liquor Primary Licensed Establishment Rezoning Applications

(Report:  June 7/05, File No.:  12-8275-00; xr 08-4105-00) (REDMS No. 1509204, 1521654, `503153, 1450614, 1508283)

Discussion ensued among Committee members, the Manager, Customer Service, Anne Stevens, and Program Coordinator, Wayne Craig, on the following three proposed policies:

Managing Requests for temporary changes to existing liquor licences

Discussion took place on whether Council permission should be required for the approval of three-day events; or whether Council could be advised by memorandum on those temporary change applications approved by staff. 

Guidelines for Free-Standing Licencee Retail Store (LRS) Rezoning Applications

Reference was made to the proposed criteria and factors contained in these Guidelines, and discussion took place on:

§           

whether Criteria No. 1 was necessary

§           

whether, with respect to Criteria No. 2, the words ‘community benefit and’ should be deleted

§           

the intent of the words ‘publicly owned buildings’ in Criteria 4(b) and whether the word ‘used’ should be substituted for ‘owned’

§           

the purpose of Criteria No. 6, and whether the intent was as indicated by staff

§           

Criteria No. 10, and whether noise issues could be an issue.

During the discussion, an opinion was voiced about the unreasonableness of the proposed policy.  Comments were made about the intent of the term ‘to be considered’; as well as about the need for ‘simplicity’, and the over-use of such words as ‘may’ or shall’ which could result in confusion for the applicants. 

The comment was made that the proposed policy should restrict free-standing licence retail stores to major commercial developments; as well, that the proposed policy was too tenuous and cumbersome to regulate. 

(Councillor Dang entered the meeting at 4:29 p.m., during the above discussion.)

Also discussed was the need to locate these type of liquor stores away from parks, schools and community centres.  Comments were also made about the need to implement guidelines which reflected sound principles and common sense.

Guidelines for Liquor Primary Licenced Establishment Rezoning Applications

Discussion ensued among Committee members and staff on:

§           

Criteria No. 2, with the suggestion being made that the words ‘community benefit’ should be deleted

§           

Criteria No. 4(b), with the suggestion made that the words ‘publicly owned buildings’ should be deleted

§           

Criteria No. 1, and whether the City was trying to avoid or create a concentration of these Liquor Primary Licenced Establishments in any one area; the comment was made that it appeared that Committee was indicating that with respect to ‘concentration’, the concentration had to be analyzed and planned for within the context of the area.

As a result of the discussion on the proposed policies, it was agreed that the proposed policy on Managing Requests For Temporary Changes To Existing Liquor Licences, would remain unchanged.  However, it was also agreed that the entire report would be referred to staff for review in light of the comments made by Committee.  As a result, the following referral motion was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That the report (dated May 25, 2005, from the Acting Director of Development and the Manager, Customer Services), regarding Guidelines for Managing Requests for temporary changes to Existing Liquor Licences, Free-Standing Licensee Retail Store Rezoning Applications and Liquor Primary Licensed Establishment Rezoning Applications, be referred to staff to incorporate the comments made by the Committee.

CARRIED

5.

Seventh Heaven Cafe Ltd, Unit 2792 - 4151 Hazelbridge WayFood-Primary Liquor Licence Amendment – Change to Hours of Sale & Patron Participation Entertainment Endorsement.

(Report:  June 1/05, File No.:  12-8275-30-015/Vol 01) (REDMS No. 1363305, 1539582)

It was moved and seconded

That the following amendments to the Food-Primary liquor licence held by Seventh Heaven Café Ltd located at unit 2792-4151 Hazelbridge Way,

(1)

Change to hours of sale from 9:00 am – 2:00 am Mondays through Saturdays, and until 12:00 midnight on Sundays; and

(2)

Patron Participation Entertainment Endorsement (entertainment must end by midnight),

be supported (for the reasons outlined in the staff report dated June 1, 2005, from the Manager, Customer Services).

CARRIED

6.

GROW-OPS – COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS

It was moved and seconded

That staff examine the feasibility of extending Property Maintenance & Repair Bylaw No. 7897 to include commercial and industrial properties with regard to “duty to inspect”, and to review the adequacy of the cost recovery provisions in the bylaw relating to commercial and industrial buildings.

Prior to calling the question on the motion, staff were directed to:

(1)

refer the matter to the HAZMAT Team and to the City Solicitor;

(2)

submit their recommendations to the Community Safety Committee prior to seeking input from stakeholders; and

(3)

provide information on:

(a)

the warehouse ‘grow-op’ fire which occurred on Bridgeport Road

(b)

whether the City was in peril because of the response of the entire Fire Department to the fire;

(c)

the costs which were incurred as a result of the fire, including personnel; and

(d)

the length of time which fire and other personnel were in attendance at the event.

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

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:56 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, June 20^th, 2005.

_________________________________

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Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie
Chair

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