MINUTES

1.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on Monday, January 15^th, 2007, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

2.

2007 CITY GRANTS PROGRAM

(Report:  Jan. 24/07, File No.:   03-1085-01) (REDMS No. 2062239, 2068317) 

Discussion took place among Committee members, the Manager, Policy Planning, Terry Crowe, and Social Planner Lesley Sherlock, on grant applications relating to:

·            

CARS BC – a question was asked as to whether staff were aware of possible financial difficulties being experienced by this organization, and the request was made that the grant application for CARS BC be tabled until such time as the financial issues had been dealt with

·            

Touchstone Family Services – the Restorative Justice Initiative which had been developed as a partnership between the RCMP, Touchstone and the Youth Intervention Program, and whether there was an outside agency involved and whether this initiative would augment such a program; the need to search for other sources of funding to continue with this important program; the suggestion was made that the City’s MLAs should be included in any discussions about the Restorative Justice program, and that the matter should be added to the list of topics for the next meeting with the City’s MLAs

·            

the VIP Club of Richmond – information was provided on the rationale for the application being submitted after the deadline, and comments were made about the need for this group to obtain funding to continue assisting the visually impaired in the City

·            

Multicultural Helping House Society (late application) – the request was made that consideration be given to supporting the organization as the service provided by the Multicultural Helping House Society was invaluable; questions were also raised as to why the grant application had been categorized as a ‘Category 1’

·            

Kajaks Track and Field Club – staff were requested to delete the word ‘private’ from the “Grant Recommendation Comments/Conditions” section of the Club’s grant application as the club made no distinction as to who could be a member

·            

Richmond Responsible Dog Owner’s Group – comments were made that this organization had the opportunity to provide a valuable link to dog owners throughout the City, and the suggestion was made that a small grant could be approved to help this group get started

·            

Chinese Mental Wellness Association of Canada – a comment was made about the need to dialogue with this organization, and others, as to whether or not these organizations were partnering with other organizations for service delivery

·            

Minoru Seniors Society – whether the recommended amount of $4,000 would provide sufficient funds for the Society to continue to offer the Richmond Seniors Abuse Prevention Project

·            

Richmond Addiction Services (RAS) – whether the City Grants Program was the appropriate funding source for this agency; the suggestion was made that perhaps the City should consider a permanent source of funding for RAS in future years, such as the City’s base budget, and whether there were other items which should be considered for the base budget

·            

Women’s Resource Centre Association – a question was raised about the provision of funding for a Volunteer Coordinator and whether funding had not been provided for this position because it was felt to part of a duplication of services.

During the discussion, staff were congratulated on the preparation of an excellent, easy to follow report.

General discussion also took place on the number of grant applications received as part of the ‘Health, Social and Safety Services’ category, and the large amount of funds provided by the City for programs which it was felt should be supported by other levels of government.  Concern was also expressed about the lack of funding from other areas.

As a result of the discussion and questions raised, the Chair indicated that the report would be referred to staff for further consideration, and in response to a question, information was provided that staff would provide a new report to the next General Purposes Committee meeting.

Discussion continued on the issue of funding for RAS and Touchstone Family Services, as well as on the matter of the ever increasing grants budget to provide funds for services which were the result of downloading from other levels of government.

It was moved and seconded

That the report (dated January 24^th, 2007, from the Manager of Policy Planning), regarding the 2007 City Grants be referred to staff to:

(1)

provide comments on the merits of the Multicultural Helping House Society grant application and on the category to which the application had been assigned;

(2)

provide comments on the CARS grant application;

(3)

provide additional comments on the merits of the VIP grant application;

(4)

(a)

provide comments on the merits of the Kajaks Track and Field Club grant application, and to clarify why staff were recommending that a grant not be approved;

(b)

examine all sporting groups with similar requests to the Kajaks Track and Field Club, and give consideration to the preparation of a policy and/or guidelines for this type of application; and

(c)

provide an explanation on the purpose of the City Grants budget;

(5)

provide comments on the Richmond Responsible Dog Owner’s Group grant application; and

(6)

provide comments on the Chinese Mental Wellness Association of Canada grant application.

CARRIED

3.

PROPOSED MERGER OF LOWER MAINLAND PORTS

(Report:  Jan. 24/07, File No.:  01-0140-20-TCAN1-01/2007-Vol 01; xr:  0140-20-FRHA1; 0140-20-NFHA1; 0140-20-SHAR1) (REDMS No. 2070796, 2038902)

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the proposed merger of the three Lower Mainland ports not be supported unless the following conditions are fully met to the satisfaction of the City:

(a)

greater consultation occur amongst the port authorities and all affected municipalities, operators and user groups in order to fully discuss and resolve concerns prior to the finalization of any merger;

(b)

a commitment from the federal Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities that the interests of Fraser River municipalities, tenants and user groups including issues such as flood protection, dredging, debris trap, environmental/habitat impacts, and river operations, will be recognized and made as part of new port’s primary mandates; and

(c)

a commitment from the federal Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities that Fraser River municipalities, tenants and user groups will have adequate representation on the Board of the new entity.

(2)

That federal Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities staff and the Transition Committee of the three port authorities be requested to organize a joint meeting of all the affected municipalities and port authorities to fully discuss and develop means to address the concerns raised by the municipalities before any merger occurs.

(3)

That a letter be written to the federal Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities requesting that the City’s concerns be addressed prior to any merger, with copies distributed to all GVRD municipalities, MLAs and MPs whose constituencies include the affected municipalities, and the three port authorities.

The question on the motion was not called, as the Director, Transportation, Victor Wei, circulated a memorandum to the Committee which provided information on the response of other municipalities with respect to the proposed merger.  A copy of this memorandum is on file in the City Clerk’s Office.

Discussion then ensued among Committee members and staff on the matter, with information being provided about a meeting being held on Friday, February 9^th, 2007, with the Chair of the GVRD and the Mayors of the cities located along the lower Fraser River.  Comments were made that the upcoming meeting would be critical to ensure that all were made aware of the City’s concerns and unique issues.  A suggestion was made during the discussion that the City’s MPs and MLAs should be advised of Richmond’s concerns about the proposed merger.

During the discussion, the following comments were made:

·            

the merger could be beneficial to the City but only if some of Richmond’s concerns were addressed

·            

the City had unique concerns and issues which were different from any other municipality located further up the Fraser River

·            

Richmond should have its own representative on the new board

·            

the proposal to include river operations with the Vancouver Port operations did not offer any advantage to the City or any other municipality on the Fraser River

·            

the proposal to have one representative for sixteen municipalities was ludicrous and until these issues were addressed, the City should withhold any kind of support for the proposed merger

·            

the merger could result in economic benefits to the City

During the discussion, concern was voiced about the lack of consultation regarding the merger and a comment was made that Richmond’s only hope was to say ‘no’ to the proposed merger.  Concern was also voiced about the tactics of the Vancouver Port Authority.

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

ENGINEERING & PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT

4.

ENERGY MANAGEMENT GRANT – NATURAL RESOURCES

(Report:  Jan. 15/07, File No.:  03-0970-01-2007; xr: 06-2045-01) (REDMS No. 2050862)

Reference was made to a third recommendation shown on the General Purposes Committee agenda cover sheet regarding the authorization of Andrew Nazareth, General Manager of Business and Financial Services, and Phil Hogg, Manager, Facility Management, Maintenance and Operations, to execute agreements or documents relating to the Energy Management Grant, and advice was given that this recommendation had been deleted from the report but not the cover sheet. 

Information was provided that the recommendation had been deleted because the City did not have an updated authority from Council to sign agreements.  Advice was given that staff would be addressing the matter and submitting a report to Committee in the future.

A brief discussion then ensued among Committee members and the Director, Engineering, Robert Gonzalez and the Manager, Facility Management, Maintenance and Operations, Phil Hogg, on the projects which would comprise the energy management improvements initiative.  Confirmation was also given that 25% of the capital project costs would be expended by March 31, 2007, as stipulated in the agreement with Natural Resources Canada.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the 2007 Capital Budget be amended for the new capital submission “Energy Management Improvements” with a total project budget of $866,300.

(2)

That funding of $866,300 through the Enterprise Fund be approved as the funding source for the “Energy Management Improvements” capital project.

CARRIED

BUSINESS & FINANCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT

5.

EMPRESS LOUNGE LTD., 8711 ALEXANDRA ROAD – LIQUOR PRIMARY LICENCE

(Report:  Jan. 23/07, File No.:  12-8275-30-024) (REDMS No. 2070419, 1814079, 1965067)

It was moved and seconded

That the Liquor Control and Licencing Branch be advised that the City supports a Liquor Primary Licence for Empress Lounge Ltd., at 8711 Alexandra Road, with the hours of liquor sales ending at midnight Mondays through Sundays.

The question on the motion was not called, as discussion ensued on the feasibility of issuing temporary liquor licences for a probationary period as a way to deal with potential illegal activities sooner rather than later.  Advice was given that this requirement was a responsibility of the Liquor Control & Licencing Branch (LCLB) and not the City, and as a result, it was agreed that the following would be added to the staff recommendation as Part (2):

“That a letter be written to the Provincial Government, the Liquor Control & Licencing Branch and the City’s local MLAs, requesting that there be a process established for the issuance of temporary liquor licences in appropriate circumstances.”

Discussion continued with information being provided on the City’s ability to close businesses.  The comment was made that this ability could be the reason why the LCLB had indicated that they did not issue temporary licences.  Discussion then took place on the matter of business licence issuance, enforcement and licence renewal.

Concern was expressed about approving the issuance of a liquor licence in light of the steps taken by Council earlier today to cancel the business licences of two businesses, where illegal activities had taken place. 

Concern was also expressed about whether any additional karaoke establishments were needed in the City, and information was provided that the original proposal, which Council subsequently approved on June 26^th, 2006, had authorized a karaoke establishment and a lounge.  It was also noted that the proposed liquor licence would only apply to the lounge area which was to be located on the second floor of the building, and not the karaoke component, which would be located on the first floor.  Further information was provided that a business licence had not yet been approved, and that the applicant would not receive the liquor licence until the LCLB had completed its inspections and given its approval to the facility.

The question on the motion, as amended to read as follows:

(1)

That the Liquor Control and Licencing Branch be advised that the City supports a Liquor Primary Licence for Empress Lounge Ltd., at 8711 Alexandra Road, with the hours of liquor sales ending at midnight Mondays through Sundays.

(2)

That a letter be written to the Provincial Government, the Liquor Control & Licencing Branch and the City’s local MLAs, requesting that there be a process established for the issuance of temporary liquor licences in appropriate circumstances.”

was then called, and it was CARRIED with Cllr. Steves opposed.

CORPORATE SERVICES DEPARTMENT

6.

2007 COUNCIL AND COMMITTEE MEETING SCHEDULE

(Report:  Jan. 23/07, File No.:  01-0105-01/2006-Vol 01) (REDMS No. 2041222)

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the Regular Council Meetings (open and closed) of August 13, August 27, and December 24, 2007, be cancelled.

(2)

That the following Standing Committee meetings be cancelled:

(a)

General Purposes Committee meetings of August 7 and 20, 2007;

(b)

Planning Committee meetings of August 8 and 21, 2007;

(c)

Community Safety Committee meeting of August 14, 2007;

(d)

Public Works and Transportation Committee meeting of August 15, 2007; and

(e)

Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Committee meeting of August 28 and December 27, 2007.

(3)

That the August 20, 2007 Public Hearing be re-scheduled to Wednesday, September 5, 2007 at 7:00 PM in the Council Chambers at Richmond City Hall.

(4)

That the Planning Committee meeting scheduled for Wednesday, September 5, 2007 be re-scheduled to Thursday, September 6, 2007.

CARRIED

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (6:10 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, February 5^th, 2007.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie
Chair

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