MINUTES

1.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on Monday, May 7th, 2007, on Tuesday, May 22nd, 2007 and on Monday, May 28th, 2007, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

The Chair advised that the order of the agenda would be varied to deal with Item No. 3 at this time.

BUSINESS & FINANCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT

3.

Shiang Garden Restaurant Ltd., doing business as Shiang Garden Seafood Restaurant at 4540 No. 3 Road Unit 2200, RichmondFood-Primary Liquor Licence Amendment - Patron Participation Endorsement
(Report:  June 7/07, File No.:  12-8275-30-028) (REDMS No. 2237352)

It was moved and seconded

That the following amendment to the Food-Primary liquor licence held by Shiang Garden Seafood Restaurant located at 4540 No. 3 Road, Unit 2200:

§            

Patron Participation Endorsement (entertainment must end by midnight),

be supported (for the reasons outlined in the report dated June 4^th, 2007, from the Manager, Business Liaison); and that a Letter of Resolution be forwarded to the Manager of the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch in support of the amendment.

(Councillor Evelina Halsey-Brandt entered the meeting – 4:02 p.m.)

Prior to the question on the motion being called, the Manager, Business Liaison, Amarjeet Rattan advised in response to questions, that the inspection undertaken by the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority were related to operational issues and would have been undertaken regardless of the application to amend the existing liquor licence.

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

PARKS, RECREATION AND CULTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT

2.

PRCS FACILITIES STRATEGIC PLAN

(Report and Attachments 1 and 2)  (Attachments 3, 4 and 5)
(Report:  June 5/07, File No.:  11-7000-20-01/2007-Vol 01) (REDMS No. 2239103)

The Director, Parks Recreation & Cultural Services, Kate Sparrow, the Director of Parks and Public Works Operations, Dave Semple, and consultant Brian Johnston, of PERC (Professional Environmental Recreation Consultants), through a PowerPoint presentation, reviewed and provided comments on the proposed Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services (PRCS) Facilities Strategic Plan.  A copy of the PowerPoint presentation is on file in the City Clerk’s Office.

Wolf Strecko, a member of the Hamilton Community Association, voiced appreciation for recognition of the needs of the Hamilton community within the PRCS Strategic Plan; for the support of Council and staff for the overall process, and for endeavouring to improve the facilities and services in the Hamilton area.  Mr. Strecko advised that the top priorities for the area, immediately after the provision of child care, were a library, a fitness facility and space to accommodate a multitude of programs for seniors, youth, etc.  He concluded his presentation by asking for the timely installation of the new space.

Lois Carson Boyce, addressed the Committee regarding specific questions relating to the proposed PRCS Facilities Strategic Plan.  A copy of her submission is attached as Schedule A and forms part of these minutes.

In answer to Ms. Boyce’s questions, advice was given by the Chair that amendments relating to the report referred to in her submission - Oval Lands Development Revenue Allocations – A Strategic Policy-Based Approach To Allocating Proceeds of Sale – The Establishment of Community Legacy Funds, would not delay the availability of funds for the preparation of feasibility studies, planning, etc.  With respect to the second question, advice was given that the opportunity for public consultation regarding the siting of the joint CCCA/Seniors facility, (provided that staff recommendation three of the report being considered today was adopted), could proceed immediately.  The Mayor added that public input would be obtained in a number of different locations and through many agencies.

Bob Mukai, a member of the Museum Society Board, thanked Council for its support of the Museum and Heritage Strategy, which had been adopted by Council on June 11^th, 2007. 

Discussion then took place among Committee members and staff on the proposed PRCS Facilities Strategic Plan, and in particular, on:

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how the Library strategy, once completed, would fit into the PRCS Facilities Strategic Plan; the rationale for not including the Library and its facilities in the Strategic Plan

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the physical condition of the existing community centres, and the criteria which was used to determine the need for new facilities

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the proposed Field Sport Tournament Centre and whether Minoru Park would be suitable for such a facility

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funding options and the availability of grants to help finance the various components of the Strategic Plan; the need to work with private facilities and organizations through partnership agreements to address funding issues; the need to (i) identify funding sources in the feasibility study, and (ii) adjust these figures to reflect rising construction costs and inflation over the coming years

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the possible relocation of the Thompson Community Centre Annex

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the proposed location of the Richmond Environmental Centre

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the feasibility of accessing space within private high-rise developments as a means of providing community programs

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the status of the Minoru Seniors Centre – whether the building should be replaced

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whether any consideration had been given to an Archives/Museum partnership

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the Nature Park

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the criteria used to evaluate the twenty-one projects which were being proposed, and how staff had developed this criteria

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the meshing of the PRCS Strategic Plan with the needs of the City Centre Plan

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how public/private partnerships would be determined, or whether a project would be suitable for such an arrangement

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the feasibility of including seniors housing as part of a new Minoru Seniors Centre in Minoru Park

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the rationale for using the term “Older Adults” rather than Seniors

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whether the estimate cost of the PRCS Strategic Plan included amounts for any potential land acquisition which might be required

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the proposed City Centre Community Centre South facility and whether the current RCMP/School Board facility sites would be available in the future as a possible location for the new facility

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the possible location of the Aquatic Centre Pool to another location

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the Richmond Museum and the need for more space than is being proposed; the need to consider a waterfront location which could connect a new museum with other waterfront museums; consideration should also be given to the Oval and River Rock sites as potential sites for a new museum.

During the discussion relating to the availability of funding, the request was made that a preliminary source of funding and an analysis be completed to indicate the potential funding which might be available for a particular project.  As well during the discussion, reference was made to the uniqueness of some of the City’s community centres and comments were made about the need to review the status of these buildings to determine if these facilities had any heritage value.

Reference was made to the proposed construction of a City Centre North community centre, and the comment was made that construction of this facility should be included in Phase 2 and not Phase 3 of the Strategic Plan.

During the discussion, Committee members commended staff and the consultant on the preparation of an excellent report.

Reference was made to a proposal in the report, that consideration be given to locating the proposed Field Sport Tournament Centre on the Garden City Lands.  Concern was expressed that approving the proposed Strategic Plan would in turn, approve the location of the facility on the Garden City Lands, and advice was given in response that the Garden City Lands was the preferred location however, Committee may wish to consider other locations.

The Chair, in concluding the discussion, talked about the plans which had been approved by Council over the past year, such as the long term City Centre Plan and the Museum and Heritage Strategy, and he commented that to achieve the type of community which Council wanted, in-depth planning such as was being considered this afternoon was required, along with the foresight to carry out these plans despite the potential high cost.  During his comments, Mayor Brodie suggested amendments to the proposed staff recommendation, and as a result, the following amended recommendation was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That:

(1)

The Evaluation Toolkit: Facility Evaluation Framework (Attachment 4 to the report dated June 5^th, 2007, from the Director, Recreation & Cultural Services and the Director of Parks and Public Works Operations) be adopted and  included in the PRCS Master Plan;

(2)

(a)

The Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services (PRCS) Facilities Strategic Plan (Attachment 5 to the report dated June 5^th, 2007, from the Director, Recreation & Cultural Services and the Director of Parks and Public Works Operations) be endorsed and incorporated into the corporate Facilities Implementation Plan being prepared by Facilities Management for submission to Council in Fall 2007; and

(b)

The issue of the field sport complex be referred to a public planning and consultation process, and that staff consider alternate locations for that facility;

(3)

Staff prepare a joint feasibility study, including a funding strategy, for three new facilities:  City Centre Community Centre, Older Adults’ Activity Centre and Minoru Aquatic Centre.  Funding for this to be considered within the 2008 Capital Budget program;

(4)

Staff prepare a feasibility study and funding strategy for Hamilton Community Space. Funding for this to be considered within the 2008 Capital Budget program; and

(5)

Staff develop an advocacy strategy for federal and provincial funding of recreation, sport and cultural infrastructure;

(6)

The question of funding strategies be referred to staff for a report on this matter.

The question on the motion was not called, as a question was raised about the feasibility of including the Library strategic plan in the overall PRCS Strategic Plan.  As a result, it was agreed that the following would be added as Part (7), to the main motion,

“(7)

Upon approval, the long term plan for the Library facilities be coordinated with the Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services (PRCS) Facilities Strategic Plan.”

The question on the main motion, as amended, which now reads as follows:

“That:

(1)

The Evaluation Toolkit: Facility Evaluation Framework (Attachment 4 to the report dated June 5^th, 2007, from the Director, Recreation & Cultural Services and the Director of Parks and Public Works Operations) be adopted and  included in the PRCS Master Plan;

(2)

(a)

The Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services (PRCS) Facilities Strategic Plan (Attachment 5 to the report dated June 5^th, 2007, from the Director, Recreation & Cultural Services and the Director of Parks and Public Works Operations) be endorsed and incorporated into the corporate Facilities Implementation Plan being prepared by Facilities Management for submission to Council in Fall 2007; and

(b)

The issue of the field sport complex be referred to a public planning and consultation process, and that staff consider alternate locations for that facility;

(3)

Staff prepare a joint feasibility study, including a funding strategy, for three new facilities:  City Centre Community Centre, Older Adults’ Activity Centre and Minoru Aquatic Centre.  Funding for this to be considered within the 2008 Capital Budget program;

(4)

Staff prepare a feasibility study and funding strategy for Hamilton Community Space. Funding for this to be considered within the 2008 Capital Budget program; and

(5)

Staff develop an advocacy strategy for federal and provincial funding of recreation, sport and cultural infrastructure;

(6)

The question of funding strategies be referred to staff for a report on this matter; and

(7)

Upon approval, the long term plan for the Library facilities be coordinated with the Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services (PRCS) Facilities Strategic Plan.”

was then called, and it was CARRIED.

BUSINESS & FINANCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT

3.

Shiang Garden Restaurant Ltd., doing business as Shiang Garden Seafood Restaurant at 4540 No. 3 Road Unit 2200, RichmondFood-Primary Liquor Licence Amendment - Patron Participation Endorsement

(Report:  June 7/07, File No.:  12-8275-30-028) (REDMS No. 2237352)

Please see Page 1 of these minutes for action taken on this matter.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:26 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, June 18^th, 2007.

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Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie
Chair

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