PARKS, RECREATION & CULTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT

1.

SISTER CITY INITIATIVES

(Report:  May 24/07, File No.:  01-0135-04-01) (REDMS No. 2236224, 2226576)

The Manager, Community Recreation Services, Anne Stevens, advised that since the preparation of the report, a number of amendments had arisen -

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the number of cities to be visited in China had been reduced from seven to five with the elimination of Jiaxin and Zhongshan

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even though it appeared in the report that there were three staff members participating in the trip, only one member would be accompanying the delegation for the duration of the trip and one member would be meeting up with the delegation in Beijing to establish relationships and contacts with officials connected with the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games

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with respect to the side trip to Wakayama, the Mayor of Wakayama would not be available in July and would like to change the date to November; as a result the visit to Wakayama could be deleted from the itinerary for this trip and the budget reduced by $1,000

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with regard to sponsorship, the sponsors contacted by the Sister City Committee were in agreement that the funds could be used for the China trip as long as material regarding the individual companies was distributed by the delegation during the trip

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the sponsorship funds received would be sufficient to cover the cost of the trip.

Discussion then ensued among Committee members and staff, during which, in response to questions, advice was given that:

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the trip would begin in Shanghai and that approximately one and a half days would be spent in each city being visited by the delegation

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the Sister City Committee would not have to reimburse the City for any shortfall covered by the City as sufficient sponsorship funds had been obtained, on the understanding that brochures relating to the companies providing the funds was distributed during the trip.

At the conclusion of the discussion, the following amended motion was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the revised China friendship city list (as presented in the report dated May 24^th, 2007, from the Manager of Community Recreation Services), be approved, with the deletion of Jiaxin and Zhongshan from the list of cities to be visited;

(2)

That the Sister City delegates representing the City (as presented in the report dated May 24^th, 2007, from the Manager of Community Recreation Services), be approved;

(3)

That the funds for the Council representative and Richmond Olympic Business Office staff representative of up to $19,000, be approved, with funds to come from Council Contingency;

(4)

That letters from the Mayor’s office be sent to each candidate city (as outlined in the report dated May 24^th, 2007, from the Manager of Community Recreation Services).

CARRIED

LAW & COMMUNITY SAFETY DEPARTMENT

2.

PROHIBITION OF SMOKING ON ARTIFICIAL TURF SPORTS FIELDS – AMENDMENT TO PUBLIC HEALTH PROTECTION BYLAW NO. 6989

(Report:  May 15/07, File No.:  12-8060-20-8254) (REDMS No. 2234088, 2233879)

Discussion took place among Committee members and the General Manager, Law & Community Safety, Phyllis Carlyle, the Director of Parks & Public Works Operation, Dave Semple, and the Manager, Sports & Community Events, Eric Stepura, regarding the proposed elimination of smoking at the Minoru Park and Hugh Boyd Park artificial fields, and in particular, on:

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whether the proposed cost of $18,000 to cover the cost of a part-time auxiliary position for enforcement was ‘overkill’; whether the cost of erecting large signs at each corner of the artificial turf fields to indicate that smoking was not allowed on these fields would be equivalent to the cost of the part-time auxiliary position (advice was given that staff would have to report to Committee in the future on the type and format of sign and the cost of erecting such signs)

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whether any consultation had taken place with the Sports Council or coaches (advice was given that staff had spoken to Sports Council representatives with regard to education, however, staff were reluctant to put anyone into a situation where confrontation could occur with an individual who was smoking in the area of playing fields)

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the rationale for including a distance in the bylaw amendment; whether the distance of 10 metres should be increased to 50 metres

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whether the action being proposed by staff was appropriate at this time

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the amount of damage which had occurred to date to the artificial turf fields as a result of smoking

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the need for larger signs being posted in public parks

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the duties of the part-time auxiliary bylaw enforcement officer (if hired), and how enforcement of the no-smoking regulations would be achieved

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the responsibility of the City to use and maintain all public fields, the contracts entered into with the various sports groups to use these fields, and whether the responsibility for ensuring that people do not smoke at playing fields should be responsibility of the user groups

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how other events and tournaments with beer gardens were regulated

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the feasibility of reminding people using playing fields about the rules related to using these fields rather than having confrontations.

During the discussion, the suggestion was made that the cost of the part-time auxiliary position be for 2007 only and that 2007 be used to educate the public about not smoking in the area of the artificial turf fields.  Staff voiced support for this proposal, especially as staff were to report to Committee in the future on the new legislation to be enacted by the Provincial Government.  However, the comment was made that if the Provincial Government did not take any action on banning smoking in public areas, then it would be likely that staff would be submitting a request for the staff position in 2008.

Also during the discussion, reference was made to the artificial turf field which had been installed as a joint project with the Richmond School Board at Richmond High School.  Questions were raised about whether the School District had a different set of rules regarding smoking and whether the City would have any jurisdiction to post no smoking signs, etc., on school property.  In response, comments were made about the need to work in partnership to address the problem with the School District with regard to damage at the Richmond High artificial turf field.

Mr. Jim Lamond, President, Sports Council, accompanied by Mr. Roger Barnes, Vice President, in answer to questions about the Sports Council handing out educational material about smoking, advised that the Sports Council was already working in conjunction with the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority to distribute information relating to smoking at local events.  A further comment was made in response to a suggestion that the coaches could watch for smokers, that the main job of a coach was to coach his team and that coaches did not have time to worry about smokers.

Mr. Barnes indicated that all means of communication between parents and youth groups promoted a tobacco-free environment, however, the adult groups were different.  Mr. Barnes also commented briefly on the problems occurring at the Richmond High field.

Discussion then took place among Committee members and the delegation on whether the proposed $18,000 needed to finance the auxiliary part-time position was money well spent.  Information was provided during the discussion that the Sports Council had the support of a majority of the sports groups with regard to smoking and that the five youth groups had included no smoking as part their regulations.  Information was also provided that the most effective time for a bylaw enforcement officer to be in attendance would be either during the weekend games, or at half time and at the end of the adult games.

With respect to the serving of liquor at adult games, advice was given that a permit was required to sell the liquor, and that the RCMP sent an officer to undertake spot checks.  Further advice was given that if any liquor was found outside the beer garden area, then the liquor would be disposed of.

As a result of the discussion, the following motion was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That Public Health Protection Bylaw No. 6989, Amendment Bylaw No. 8254, as amended to alter the figure ‘10’ to ‘25 metres’ in subsection 6.3.1, be introduced and given first, second and third readings.

The question on the motion was not called, as the following amendment was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That Public Health Protection Bylaw No. 6989, Amendment Bylaw No. 8254 be amended by altering the figure ‘25’ to ‘10 metres’.

DEFEATED

OPPOSED:  Mayor Brodie

Cllrs. Dang

S. Halsey-Brandt

McNulty

Steves 

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

It was moved and seconded

That the cost of adding a part-time auxiliary position for enforcement be funded for the 2007 year.

The question on the motion was not called, as discussion ensued on the size and type of signs which could be erected at the two artificial turf fields rather than funding the part-time auxiliary position to undertake enforcement.  During the discussion, advice was given that approval of a budget of $2,500 for the two parks would allow upgrading of the existing signage to indicate that smoking was not permitted on these fields.  Further information was provided that the cost of preparing educational material would be absorbed through the existing budget.

The question on the motion was then called, and it was DEFEATED with Mayor Brodie and Cllrs. Barnes, Chen, Dang, E. Halsey-Brandt, Howard and McNulty opposed.

It was moved and seconded

That staff, with a budget limit of $2,500, be directed to place larger and more prominent ‘no smoking’ signs on the artificial turf fields.

CARRIED

It was moved and seconded

That staff be directed to discuss with the School Board, the rules relating to the artificial turf field at Richmond High School, as well as smoking enforcement, signage and cost implications.

CARRIED

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:54 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 28^th, 2007.

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Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie
Chair

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