MINUTES

1.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on Monday, November 6^th, 2006, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

BUSINESS & FINANCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT

2.

BUSINESS REGULATION BYLAW NO. 7538, AMENDMENT BYLAW NO. 8156 AND MUNICIPAL TICKET AUTHORIZATION BYLAW NO. 7321, AMENDMENT BYLAW NO. 8164

(Report:  Nov. 9/06, File No.:  12-87060-20-8156/8164) (REDMS No. 2037800, 2041090, 2041072)

It was moved and seconded

That the following bylaws each be introduced and given first, second and third readings:

(1)

Business Regulation Amendment Bylaw No. 8156,  which:

(a)

repeals and replaces Part 10, Karaoke Box Room Regulations of the Business Regulation Bylaw No. 7538;

(b)

regulates hours of operating for karaoke establishments.

(2)

Municipal Ticket Authorization Amendment Bylaw No. 8164, which establishes fines and introduces new ticketable offences for the Municipal Ticket Authorization Bylaw.

The question on the motion was not called, as discussion took place among Committee members and the Manager, Business Liaison, Amarjeet Rattan, on:

§            

the increase in the number of violations against karaoke establishments which were Food-Primary liquor establishments and those which offered no liquor

§            

the amount of the fine which could be charged and whether a higher amount than the $1,000 currently charged would be permitted

§            

the fact that the adoption of the new karaoke regulations would bring karaoke establishments in line with other liquor establishments which were required to clear all patrons from their businesses no later than 1/2 hour after closing

§            

whether the City could do anything else to ensure that patrons of liquor establishments, including karaoke establishments, left the premises quickly.

(Cllr. Sue Halsey-Brandt entered the meeting at 4:05 p.m., during the above discussion.)

During the discussion, staff were requested to provide information on whether the Community Charter permitted a graduated fine system which would allow higher amounts to be levied in response to the number of charges filed against a particular business for bylaw infractions.

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

PARKS, RECREATION & CULTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT

3.

UBCM COMMUNITY HEALTH PROMOTION FUND 2006

(Report:  Nov. 8/06, File No.:  03-1080-01) (REDMS No. 2040686, 1668983, 2017263)

It was moved and seconded

That Richmond City Council support the “Building Community Capacity – Walking for Health” project, and that the City take the lead on this initiative, working with community partners to make a significant improvement to the health of our community.

CARRIED

CORPORATE SERVICES DEPARTMENT

4.

UBCM/BCMSA FUNDED SAFETY COORDINATOR

(Report:  Nov. 1/06, File No.:  01-0060-20-UBCM1-01) (REDMS No. 2041017)

It was moved and seconded

That Richmond City Council support the proposed BC Municipal Safety Association funded Coordinator position, and that the UBCM Executive be advised accordingly.

The question on the motion was not called, as discussion ensued among Committee members and the Manager, Occupational Health & Safety, Robb Armstrong, on:

§            

the cost of investing in the program and the possible 15% reduction in WorkSafe BC assessments

§            

the Certificate of Recognition (COR) program and the pre-determined standards which had been established for municipal government health and safety programs

§            

the rationale for paying for an education program which it was felt was part of the mandate of WorkSafe BC

§            

the BC Municipal Safety Association (BCMSA), the rationale for its formation; and the need to now pool resources collectively throughout British Columbia and have an individual coordinate all of the health and safety programs

§            

the number of other municipalities which supported the proposal

§            

how the coordinator would measure the effectiveness of each municipality’s health and safety programs.

During the discussion, information was requested on the pre-determined standards established for the Local Government classification unit, and whether Richmond did not meet, met or exceeded these standards.  Staff were also requested to obtain information prior to the next Council Meeting on why WorkSafe BC was not assuming responsibility for the work proposed to be undertaken by the Safety Coordinator. 

Staff were also requested to provide a copy of the staff report to the City’s Safe Communities Alliance.

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

ENGINEERING & PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT

5.

RELOCATION OF COMMUNITY BYLAWS AND FIRE PREVENTION STAFF

(Report:  Nov. 9/06, File No.:  06-2052-01) (REDMS No. 2035857)

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That staff be authorized to expend the budgeted allocation of $371,877 to relocate the Community Bylaws section from City Hall, 3rd Floor, to 6931 Granville Avenue;

(2)

That Richmond Fire Rescue relocate the Fire Prevention Office and Community Relations staff from Fire Hall No. 1 to 6931 Granville Avenue and that funding be provided from previously allocated additional level funding for Fire Hall No. 1; and

(3)

That the balance of the floor space at 6931 Granville Avenue be reserved for future City expansion.

The question on the motion was not called, as discussion took place among Committee members and the Director, Engineering, Robert Gonzalez, Deputy Fire Chief Geoff Lake, and Project Manager, Mary Brunet on:

§            

the balance of floor space which would be available for future expansion, and the types of future uses which could be proposed for this space

§            

why consideration had not been given to using the balance of floor space for specific community groups, such as the Disability Resource Centre

§            

the anticipated length of time between the relocation of Community Bylaws and the Fire Prevention Office and Community Relations staff to 6931 Granville Avenue and the completion of construction of the new Community Safety building

§            

the life expectancy of the building at 6931 Granville Avenue

§            

whether the Fire Department staff would relocate to the new Community Safety building once construction of that facility had been completed

§            

whether there were any other City facilities available which could accommodate the Community Bylaws and the Fire Prevention Office and Community Relations staff.

During the discussion, with reference to Recommendation No. 3, and in response to concerns voiced by Committee members, the suggestion was made that this recommendation ‘be referred to staff to review and take into account the needs of the community groups and report to Committee accordingly.’ 

Questions were raised about the configuration of the building, and advice was given that the floor space was located around a central courtyard which would provide a natural division between Community Bylaws and the Fire Prevention Office and Community Relations staff and community groups. 

Discussion continued, with further questions being asked about the availability of other City facilities which could accommodate the proposed relocation, and staff were requested, prior to the next Council meeting, to review this question to determine if there was an alternate solution. 

A further question was asked about the feasibility of scaling back on the size of the proposed Community Safety building in the event that 6931 Granville Avenue became the permanent location for the Community Bylaws and the Fire Prevention Office and Community Relations staff.  Information was provided that this matter would be addressed as part of the programming report currently being prepared by staff.

The question on Parts (1) and (2) of the motion was then called, and it was CARRIED.

The question on Part (3) of the motion, which was amended to read as follows, ‘That the balance of the floor space at 6931 Granville Avenue be reserved for future City expansion, be referred to staff to review and take into account, the needs of the community groups and report to Committee accordingly’, was not called, as staff were requested to consider the suggestion made about the feasibility of 6931 Granville Avenue becoming the permanent location for Community Bylaws and the Fire Prevention Office and Community Relations staff.

The question on Part (3) of the motion, as amended, was then called, and it was CARRIED.

BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT

6.

OLYMPIC OVAL AND OLYMPIC BUSINESS RESOURCE ALLOCATION FOR THE 3RD QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2006

(Report:  Nov. 9/06, File No.:  0370-03-01) (REDMS No. 2039951)

It was moved and seconded

That the report on resource allocation relating to the Olympic Oval and Olympic business for the 3rd Quarter ended September 30, 2006 be received for information.

The question on the motion was not called, as discussion ensued among Committee members and the Manager, Finance & Administration, Olympic Business Office, Tom Andersson, the Acting Director Richmond Olympic Business Office, Gary Young, and the Senior Manager Corporate Communications, Ted Townsend, on:

§            

the cost of the advertising relating to the Olympic Oval which had recently appeared in local newspapers (staff were requested to provide information to the Committee on the actual cost of this advertising; advice was also given that the two newspapers had contributed to the cost of the advertising)

§            

the rationale for not including the public in the Oval Construction Kick-off ceremony held on Friday, November 17^th, 2006

§            

the need for a communication strategy which included the public, which did not rely on advertising in the local newspapers, and which included ‘fun community events’.

During the discussion, reference was made to approval given by Council to changes to the terms of reference for the three Olympic Oval volunteer committees, and advice was given that part of that approval had included the development of a significant community program.  Further advice was given that the public would be consulted about the functions and activities they would like to see take place at the Oval post-games.  As well, reference was made to the many community events which would comprise the celebration to take place each year as part of the Spirit of BC week.

Reference was made to comments made earlier in the discussion about ‘fun events’ and questions were raised about why events could not take place on the dyke adjacent to the Olympic Oval plaza area to allow the public to be part of the construction of the Oval.

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

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:05 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, November 20^th, 2006.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie
Chair

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