MINUTES

1.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on Tuesday, April 18, 2006, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

DELEGATION

2.

Jeff Coleman, Chief Operating Officer, Richmond Health Services, Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, to provide an update regarding Richmond Health Service Activities and strategic planning initiatives.

(File No.: 01-0151-01)

Dr. Jeff Coleman, accompanied by Carole Gillam the Director for Continued Care Network, Jan Weaver the Director, Primary Care, Mental Health and Addictions Networks, and Dr. James Lu the Medical Health Officer, used a power point presentation to review the Authority’s achievements from the past year and to introduce its Key Priorities for 2006/2007. A copy of Dr. Coleman’s presentation is on file at the City Clerk’s Office.

Following the presentation, discussion ensued among the Committee and the delegation on:

·         

the success of the Richmond Hip and Knee Project which, in the last year, has undertaken approximately 650 procedures;

·         

the challenge of retaining staff as the workforce ages and the challenge of recruiting new doctors and nurses to fill vacancies;

·         

the need for Richmond Health Services to grow to keep pace with the population growth in the city;

·         

the adequacy of the current hospital site to accommodate future expansion, in particular, that a sufficient amount of land exists to accommodate a new tower;

·         

the success of patient flow and access as reflected in the capacity of the Emergency Department to handle a high volume of clients;

·         

the success of Richmond Bridge House, which opened in December of 2005, in addressing clients with mental health and/or addictions issues;

·         

the treatment of addiction problems using a resource team approach;

·         

the implementation of an intensive demand modeling process to better project needs in order to plan ahead for such things as support housing units;

·         

the use of overtime to respond to staffing shortages; and

·         

the completion of the 50 assisted living units at the Austin Harris site, now under construction.

      The Chair thanked the delegation for their presentation and they then left the meeting.

PARKS, RECREATION & CULTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT

3.

REVIEW – NUMBER OF MEMBERS ON THE RICHMOND PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD

(Report:  Apr. 11/06, File No. 01-0155-04) (REDMS No.)

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the number of members on the Richmond Public Library Board remain the same at nine.

(2)

That the Library Board review the file of applicants to the Board and identify those applicants with a special skill or knowledge that could contribute to the Library Board’s activities and invite them to participate in a Board committee or special project.

CARRIED

PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

4.

STEVESTON SALMON FESTIVAL PARADE– JULY 1, 2006

(Report:  Apr. 5/06, File No.  11-7400-20-PARA1) (REDMS No. 1794213)

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the Steveston Community Society be granted approval to conduct the annual Steveston Salmon Festival Parade and that Moncton Street (3rd Avenue to Bayview Street) and No. 1 Road (Bayview Street to Chatham Street) be closed from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Canada Day, Saturday, July 1, 2006 to support the parade and related festival activities.

(2)

That the cost for police services, temporary traffic control signing and barricades, estimated at $4,000.00, be charged to Special Events Account 4426-10-241-24100 (Steveston Salmon Festival).

CARRIED

CORPORATE SERVICES DEPARTMENT

5.

DISPOSITION OF LAND – RIGHT OF WAY FOR TELUS WORKS WITHIN RIVER ROAD

(Report:  Apr. 24/06, File No.:06-2285-30-116) (REDMS No. 1812634)

It was moved and seconded

That the granting of a right of way be approved to Telus over existing works within the portion of River Road to be closed between No. 2 Road and Hollybridge Way, to be registered after the road is closed and title raised, and that staff be authorized to take all necessary steps to finalise the matter including advertising, as required by the Community Charter.

CARRIED

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:50 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 1, 2006

_________________________________

_________________________________

Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie
Chair

Sheila Johnston

Committee Clerk, City Clerk’s Office