It was moved and seconded

That the 2003-2005 Achievements Brochure be added to the agenda as an additional item.

CARRIED

MINUTES

1.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on Monday, August 29^th, 2005, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

DELEGATION

2.

Sylvia Gwozd, Chairperson, Sister City Committee, regarding a recommendation to increase membership by six members and to revise the Terms of Reference accordingly.  (File No.:  0100-20-SCITI-04)

It was moved and seconded

That the terms of reference for the Sister City Committee be amended to increase the membership to 12 citizens appointed by Council, in addition to the current requirement of a Council representative, a School Board Trustee representative, and a School Board staff member, for a total of 15 members.

Prior to the question on the motion being called, a brief discussion ensued among Committee members and the delegation on whether (i) there would be any financial cost implications resulting from the increase in membership; and (ii) the Committee would be pursuing sister city relationships with countries other than China.

(Cllr. Dang entered the meeting – 4:05 p.m.)

Reference was made to the expertise of the Sister City Committee, and the question was raised about whether it was necessary to limit the number of years to which an individual could be a member of the Committee.

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

It was moved and seconded

That the question of the term limit for members of the Sister City Committee be referred to City staff and to the Sister City Committee for review.

CARRIED

FINANCE & CORPORATE SERVICES DIVISION

3.

2005 PERMISSIVE EXEMPTION – BYLAW 7968

(Report:  Aug. 30/05, File No.:  12-8060-20-7968) (REDMS No. 1647762, 1602662)

It was moved and seconded

That Property Tax Exemption Bylaw No. 7968 be introduced and given first, second and third readings.

Prior to the question being called, discussion ensued among Committee members and Revenue Manager Ivy Wong on the action taken by staff regarding those properties which were not maintaining agricultural activity.  As a result, staff were requested to provide Council with a memorandum following staff visits to those properties which receive permissive exemptions, with information on the status of these properties.

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

4.

IRONWOOD PUB, 11000 NO. 5 ROAD – NEW LIQUOR-PRIMARY LICENCE APPLICATION
(Report:  Sept. 12/05, File No.:  12-8060-20-7884) (REDMS No. 1651834, 1656155, 1459806)

The Manager, Policy Development & Corporate Programs, Shawn Issel, accompanied by Customer Service Clerk, Cynthia Lussier, confirmed in response to a question, that even though the applicant had applied for a designated smoking room, the City’s ‘no smoking’ bylaw would not permit such a request.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the application by 717229 BC Ltd, doing business as “Ironwood Pub”, for a new Liquor-Primary licence at 11000 No. 5 Road, be supported (for the reasons outlined in the staff report dated September 12, 2005 from the Manager, Customer Services).

(2)

That a copy of the resolution be forwarded to the Liquor Control & Licensing Branch in accordance with the legislative requirements.

The question on the motion was not called, as Committee members expressed their opinions either in support of, or in opposition to, the application.  The Committee members opposed to the application voiced concerns that (i) the surrounding neighbourhood did not appear to support the application; and (ii) that the support received had been from outside of the notification area.  Concern was also voiced about the results of the traffic review undertaken by G. D. Hamilton Associates Consulting Ltd., which indicated that the addition of a neighbourhood pub would generate approximately 2% more traffic to the surrounding road system. 

As well, concerns were expressed about (a) the lack of a survey to determine whether the community supported the pub, rather than being asked their preferences on the proposed hours of operation, menu and entertainment, (b) the change in the application process by the City immediately prior to the submission of the application for rezoning; and (c) the timing of the survey.

Support was also given for the project, with comments being made about (i) whether Council should be seen to be restricting competition for the existing restaurants and pubs in the area by denying the application; (ii) the support given for the pub as indicated in Attachment 9, a 33 page petition signed by individuals who were in favour of the pub, (which had been submitted by an unknown person, and which, for that reason, had not been considered in the review process); and (iii) the results of the traffic review, with opinion being expressed that a 2% increase in traffic would be insignificant based on the overall picture.

During the discussion, reference was made to a 200 name petition which had supposedly been submitted to the City, signed by area residents who were opposed to the neighbourhood pub, and the Mayor asked that staff determine if this petition had been received.

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

5.

2003-2005 ACHIEVEMENTS BROCHURE

Cllr. Evelina Halsey-Brandt referred to the 2003-2005 Achievements Brochure, copies of which had been provided to all members of Council, and she expressed concern about (i) the perception that the document, because of the timing of its release to the public, could be considered as election advertising; and (ii) the lack of input into the document by Council.  She suggested that it was inappropriate to distribute the brochures during the election period, and asked that the brochures not be distributed until after the civic election had been held.

Discussion ensued among Committee members and staff on this matter, and as a result, the following motion was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That the City withhold distribution of further copies of the 2003-2005 Achievements Brochure to the public until after the conclusion of the upcoming civic municipal election.

CARRIED

OPPOSED:  Cllr. Dang

Howard

Kumagai

McNulty

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:10 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, September 19^th, 2005.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie
Chair

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