MINUTES

1.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on Monday, July 16^th, 2007, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

BUSINESS & FINANCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT

2.

GREATER VANCOUVER REGIONAL STEERING COMMITTEE ON HOMELESSNESS - CALL FOR PROPOSALS FOR 2007/2009 HOMELESSNESS PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE

(Report:  August 23, 2007, File No.:  06-2270-20-02) (REDMS No. 2262824, 2268952)

The Manager, Real Estate Services, Robert Kates, advised that an amendment was required to Part (1)(a) of the staff recommendation to delete the words “and CHIMO Crisis Services”.  A brief discussion ensued between the Chair and Mr. Kates on whether Council should be given the opportunity to give its approval to the final proposal, and the suggestion was made that a further amendment should be made to Part (1)(a) to add the words “subject to Council approval.”

Discussion then took place among Committee members and Mr. Kates regarding the proposal, and in response to questions, the following information was provided:

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the City would be responsible for the initial renovations to the selected home, while the on-going maintenance and repairs would be the responsibility of the Family Services of Greater Vancouver (FSGV)

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the potential cost of renovating the home would be included in the next report to Committee on this matter

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staff were of the opinion that there would not be any ramifications to the City in supporting the Richmond Youth Service Agency application for funding under the Homelessness Partnership Initiative (HPI)

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the primary focus of the application would be to purchase a suitable property and to renovate an existing building on that site to a maximum cost of $950,000

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staff were not aware of any additional funding requests

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staff were proposing that the FSGV and CHIMO would be responsible for all costs of operating the facility including property taxes and all costs of maintenance and repair

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the FSGV would be responsible for providing services and CHIMO would be responsible for providing the funding for these services.

During the discussion, Committee members expressed agreement that the matter should be returned to Council for final approval.  Support for the project was offered by Committee members, with the proponents being urged to complete the project as soon as possible because a facility of this type was long overdue in the City.

Also during the discussion, with respect to programming costs, advice was given that the two partners would be responsible for all programming at the facility.  Information was provided that the entire HPI initiative and part of the criteria was to prove sustainability, and that sustainability was one of the primary criteria which would be considered in awarding the grant.

Discussion also take place on the need to ensure that there would be sufficient funds available in the future for the operation of the facility.

At the conclusion of the discussion, the following amended staff recommendation was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That staff be authorized to:

(a)

offer to purchase a property with an existing building suitable for the proposed use and to be registered in the City’s name that can be renovated for use by and leased to the Family Services of Greater Vancouver (FSGV) as an emergency shelter for homeless women and youth/children at up to a total cost of $950,000 plus applicable taxes and expenses with $475,000 coming from the City’s available approved Affordable Housing capital funding on the condition that a similar amount of $475,000 is received through the Greater Vancouver Regional Steering Committee on Homelessness Call For Proposals For 2007/2009 Homelessness Partnership Initiative, subject to Council approval;

(b)

enter into a lease of no less than 20 years with the FSGV for the proposed emergency shelter at a rental rate of $1 per year with the operator responsible for the complete operation, maintenance and repair of the facility and all related costs thereto including property taxes and other terms and conditions as acceptable to the Manager, Real Estate Services; and

(c)

take all necessary steps to complete such matters including authorizing the Manager, Real Estate Services, to negotiate, settle and execute all agreements and documentation to effect the transactions contemplated or required pursuant to items no. 1 (a) and (b) above.

(2)

That written confirmation of Council's support for the Richmond Youth Services Association submission under the 2007/2009 Homelessness Partnership Initiative with the aim of developing a sustainable youth homeless housing model for the future be conveyed to the Greater Vancouver Regional Steering Committee on Homelessness.

CARRIED

3.

LIQUOR LICENCE RELOCATION PLAZA PREMIUM LOUNGE B.C. LTD VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL - DOMESTIC

(Report:  August 27, 2007, File No.:  12-8275-30-001) (REDMS No. 2272712)

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That Council decline comment to the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch with regard to the application by Plaza Premium Lounge B.C. Ltd., to relocate their Liquor-Primary licence from the International Terminal to the Domestic Terminal at the Vancouver International Airport.

(2)

That a copy of the resolution be forwarded to the LCLB in accordance with the legislative requirements.

CARRIED

ENGINEERING & PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT

4.

Award of Contract T.3060 - Hydro Undergrounding - River Road, No. 2 Road to Hollybridge Way, Elmbridge Way and Alderbridge Way to Westminster Hwy.

(Report:  August 14, 2007, File No.:  03-1000-20-T.3061) (REDMS No. 2266894)

It was moved and seconded

That Contract T.3060: Hydro Undergrounding - River Road, No. 2 Road to Hollybridge Way, Elmbridge Way and Alderbridge Way to Westminster Hwy., be advanced and awarded to the lowest bidder Fred Thompson Contractors (1991) Ltd. for the total amount of $1,962,122.00 (with $311,514 to be recovered from Bell and Shaw) from the 2007 River Road Re-Alignment capital project, in order to;

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Take advantage of a BC Hydro Beautification Grant (up to a potential maximum of $480,000); and

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Meet timelines to service the Oval as committed by BC Hydro to VANOC.

CARRIED

5.

T.3042 - Aztec Area Drainage Upgrades and Water main Replacement - Transfer of Funds

(Report:  August 21, 2007, File No.:  03-1000-20-T.3042) (REDMS No. 2266932)

It was moved and seconded

That transfer of $500,000 in funding from the 2006 No. 2 Road – Steveston Highway to Monteith Road (40449), Broadmoor AC water main replacement (40446), and Comstock AC water main replacement (40447) projects to the 2006 Aztec water main replacement and drainage upgrades (40333) project be approved to award Contract T.3042.

CARRIED

PARKS, RECREATION AND CULTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT

6.

Rosewood Manor - Richmond Intermediate Care Society Bus Donation

(Report:  August 20, 2007, File No.:  03-1076-19) (REDMS No. 2262010)

Ms. Deborah Goegan, Administrator of Rosewood Manor, spoke in support of the proposed bus donation, but asked that the Committee consider Option D, which would allow for the implementation of a capital replacement program. 

Discussion then ensued among Committee members and the Director of Parks and Public Works Operations, Dave Semple, who indicated with reference to the option being recommended by staff, that Option C seemed to be the most suitable choice to pursue at this time.  Questions were then raised as to the rationale for not supporting capital replacement of the vehicle and discussion took place among Committee members and staff on this issue, during which Committee members voiced support for Option D over Option C.  It was noted during the discussion that approval of Option D would require the submission of an additional level request to the 2008 budget process.

As a result of the discussion, the following amended staff recommendation was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the donation of a 2007 low-rider bus (6 wheelchair, 11 passenger) from the Rosewood Manor – Richmond Intermediate Care Society, be accepted;

(2)

That staff prepare a Memorandum of Understanding between the Rosewood Manor Intermediate Care Society and the City of Richmond which outlines responsibilities for each party; and,

(3)

That Option D be approved (City accepts the vehicle donation, integrates it into the City fleet and accepts responsibility for transportation coordination and training costs of $26,292 per year) and that staff identify existing funding through cost savings in the existing budget or if that is not possible, to account for this expense through the 2008 budget process; and,

(4)

That $11,000 from the 2007 Council Contingency be approved to cover operating costs plus one-time vehicle preparation.

CARRIED

PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

7.

Permanent Tree Protection Bylaw – One-year Status Report

(Report:  August 21, 2007, File No.:  12-8060-20-8263/12-8060-20-8288; xr: 10-6550-01) (REDMS No. 2246354, 2252174, 2262061)

Discussion took place with the Director, Building Approvals, John Irving, and Tree Preservation Coordinator Nancy Stair, on whether information was available on the number of conifers which were being planted as replacement trees.  A comment was made during the discussion that specific numbers were not available and that in many cases, conifers would not be suitable for development sites.

A brief discussion then took place on whether deciduous or conifer trees provided the most oxygen in the atmosphere.  During the discussion information was provided on complaints received from residents in the area of No. 5 Road and Steveston Highway about the replacement of the existing conifers with deciduous trees.  Staff were asked to keep a record of the number of conifers which were being replaced with other conifers.

Questions were raised about whether fruit trees were suggested to residents as possible replacement trees.  Advice was given that staff did not limit the types of species of trees being planted at the present time and would allow fruit trees to be planted, however, residents were not specifically encouraged to plant these types of trees.  Also addressed was the question of whether the taking of funds from the Tree Conservation Fund to plant trees had any direct impact on the City’s tree planting program, and whether funds from the Tree Conservation Fund could be used to create an urban forest.

The ability of residential home owners to apply to remove a single tree a year without paying for a permit was also addressed, with information being provided that the same criteria used with respect to applications for multiple tree removal was also applied to the application for the removal a single tree.  Questions were raised about the $250,000 budget and the cost to the City related to the number of trees which were saved; the cost per tree to plant new trees, and whether there might be a more cost effective way to plant trees which would provide a better benefit to the City.

A brief discussion also took place on whether the definition of “DBH (Diameter Breast Height) contained in the Tree Preservation Bylaw should be amended to reflect the use of the term ‘caliper’ rather than DBH in the amending bylaw.

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

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the Richmond Tree Protection Bylaw 8057, Amendment Bylaw 8263 be introduced and given first, second and third readings.

(2)

That the Richmond Municipal Ticketing Information Authorization Bylaw 7321, Amendment Bylaw 8288 be introduced and given first, second and third readings.

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 Tuesday, September 4^th, 2007.

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Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie
Chair

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