MINUTES

1.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on Tuesday, March 17, 2008, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

BUSINESS & FINANCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT

2.

Business Licence Bylaw No. 7360, Amendment Bylaw No. 8334; Vehicle For Hire Bylaw No. 6900, Amendment Bylaw No. 8335

(Report:  February 27^th, 2008, File No.: 12-8060-20-8334/8335 ) (REDMS No. 2333333)

Amarjeet Rattan, Manager, Business Liaison circulated literature featuring information on the design of pedicabs (on file in the City Clerk’s office).

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That Business Licence Bylaw No. 7360, Amendment Bylaw No. 8334, to add a definition and licence fee for a Pedicab operation, be introduced and given first, second and third readings.

(2)

That Vehicle For Hire Bylaw No. 6900, Amendment Bylaw No. 8335, to add regulations and requirements for the operation, of a Pedicab, be introduced and given first, second and third readings. 

The question on the motion was not called as discussion took place among Committee members, Mr. Rattan and Victor Wei, Director, Transportation on:

·            

the City would not be involved in setting fares as those would be determined by the individual operators;

·            

operators require a regular B.C. drivers licence;

·            

the Province’s Motor Vehicle Act includes a definition that governs all aspects of pedicab operation;

·            

Transportation staff has reviewed safety issues with regard to the proposed pedicab route;

·            

if the pedicab proposal is accepted by Council, Transportation and Business Licence staff will be involved in the process;

·            

Transportation has no plan to install special signage along the proposed pedicab route, but the City will use the City Page in the Richmond Review to advise the public that a pedicab service is coming to Steveston; in addition, it is expected that pedicab operators will distribute flyers; and the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services department has cultivated partnerships in Steveston and news of the pedicab service could be included in newsletters in the neighbourhood;

·            

pedicab operators will not compromise safety nor will they inconvenience other vehicles or pedestrians;

·            

to date Transportation has not identified staging areas, but will work with pedicab operators to ensure that the public is not inconvenienced;

·            

at present the number of pedicab operators involved stands at one, and staff is awaiting information from that operator with regard to the number of pedicabs that will be in operation; the proposed bylaw amendment provides for a maximum of 15 pedicabs;

·            

the business licence that would cover the operation of pedicabs is for one year, and it would be at the discretion of the operator how many months the service would run;

·            

to date the City has not had any discussions with Tourism Richmond, the Richmond Chamber of Commerce or Steveston based organizations, but the potential operator has indicated that he has discussed the idea with the various organizations;

In response to a request from Committee, Mr. Wei advised that it is staff’s intention to report back in a year’s time to advise Council regarding the success of the pedicab operation, any concerns the public might have, and a sense of the response to the pedicab operation by Steveston area residents.

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

OLYMPIC BUSINESS AND MAJOR PROJECTS DEPARTMENT

3.

CITY OF RICHMOND 2010 OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC WINTER GAMES STRATEGID OPERATIONAL PLAN

(Report:  March 19, 2008, File No.:  01-0340-25-OBUS1) (REDMS No. 2350858, 2359170, 2353847, 2354825)

Discussion took place among Committee members and: Jeff Day, General Manager, Olympic Business & Major Projects, Jason Kita, Manager, 2010 Operations and Programs, Denise Tambellini, Manager, Community Relations and Protocol, Ann Phelps, Events Development Manager and Ted Townsend, Senior Manager, Corporate Communications on:

·         

financing – the status of the accumulated Casino revenues is presently $4,100,000; this financial commitment is for one time expenditures and not for ongoing costs; staff will report to Committee in six months with further information on the $4 million earmarked for the O Zone; financial figures will be adjusted between now and the follow-up report that will come before Committee in six month’s time;

·         

access to the site – fencing will surround the festival area and gates will be used by the public for access to the O Zone; discussions are ongoing with VANOC and other government partners regarding a safe and secure celebration site; an idea to either remove the rail tracks or to build over top of the tracks in order to ensure a safe use of the track-bed as a thoroughfare;

·         

security – whether $500,000 was enough for safety and security; adequate lighting to illuminate walkways in the O Zone;

·         

location of the celebration site – the proximity of the Aberdeen Centre Mall and its CanadaLine station at the north-east end of the proposed O Zone, and the ease with which pedestrians can access that point;

·         

potential partnerships – preliminary discussions with a variety of organizations in the City, such as Gateway Theatre, have taken place regarding gathering sites and other issues;  the short time frame for these types of discussions to take place and plans to be created; the need for partnerships with community groups to be successful; community partners’ long term plans will be considered in the City’s overall plan; past Winter Fests have provided opportunities for the City to co-ordinate with community groups and organizations;

·         

sponsorship – the Richmond Olympic Business Office (ROBO) is creating a sponsorship plan; Richmond is as well placed as Vancouver and Whistler to attract sponsors; if Committee supports this report potential sponsors will be encouraged to commit to the project;

·         

branding – the City is working on branding material and staff will bring it forward for approval;

·         

gathering areas – City staff has had preliminary discussions with community groups and organizations and the scope of the report does not include other gathering areas at this time;

·         

school district – the Olympic Youth Awareness Program has been established and City staff regularly attends meetings at the School Board to discuss how to activate students, teachers, and parent advisory groups in order to engage the school district in the 2010 Winter Olympic celebrations; City staff is exploring ways to further increase engagement by the School Board;

·         

feedback from the public – overwhelming positive; over half but not all respondents indicated a desire to volunteer during the Games; however, respondents were not informed of the costs of the O Zone;

·         

legacies – they include the world’s largest sports and wellness building, building community capacity in the volunteer sector, positioning Richmond to be able to host large events in the future, permanent infrastructure in the Oval, creating a sense of community spirit and pride, leveraging the 2010 Winter Olympics to enhance and showcase the arts and culture sector;

George Duncan, Chief Administrative Officer, in response to Committee’s queries advised the following:

·         

the City made a presentation at a recent forum held in Whistler and potential sponsors were impressed with Richmond’s ideas; after the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games conclude negotiations with potential sponsors will commence;

·         

Richmond will be a primary destination of the 2010 Winter Olympics due to the presence of the Oval sport venue;

·         

the report reflects cost estimates and the City will pursue partnerships and sponsorships in the coming months;

·         

the City discussed Gateway Theatre’s original concept with the theatre’s Board and senior staff and the decision was made that it was too ambitious and too costly; the theatre continues to plan for the 2010 Winter Games; and the City has responded to the theatre’s request to be put in touch with representatives of the IOC regarding the Cultural Olympiad;

·         

the report reflects an allowance for security and the General Manager of Law and Community Safety will verify and confirm the costs of emergency services;

·         

tax dollars from the City’s operating budget will not been used to cover the O-Zone costs;

·         

in terms of enticing sponsors the City has gone as far as it can go at this time to attract sponsors and have had indications from potential sponsors of their interest;

·         

the bid proposal established that the Oval program could be accomplished for approximately $1 million per year, and that figure was arrived at before the final program was designed or the amount of legacy funding was established;

·         

regarding what Richmond can do to ensure economic prosperity after the 2010 Olympics, the only requirement for funding beyond 2010 is to pay for the Oval; everything else associated is defined as ‘one time’ funding; the O Zone funding comes from funds generated as surplus to all operational needs in the City’s budget; the plan is to have zero impact on taxpayers, and this is possible if the scale of the activities is based on this plan;

·         

the process to establish if Richmond can use the Olympic rings is underway, and will be finalized after an agreement with the IOC and with VANOC is reached, but the process was delayed due to Richmond having the option to go with either the rings or with the naming rights commercial option;

As a result of the discussion staff was directed to submit an outline of possible options for consideration for the Oval business plan.

It was moved and seconded

That:

(1)

the City of Richmond’s 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Strategic Operational Plan be approved;

(2)

$4,000,000 from excess accumulated Casino Revenues be approved to plan and implement Olympic-related programs, services and initiatives outlined in the Plan; and

(3)

Staff transfer $4,000,000 from excess accumulated Casino Revenues to the Olympic Opportunity Fund.

CARRIED

4.

RICHMOND OVAL PRECINCT ART PLAN 2008 UPDATE

(Report:  March 26^th, 2008, File No.:  11-7000-09-20-053/Vol 01) (REDMS No. 2353827)

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the Oval Precinct Art Plan 2008 Update as outlined in this report be endorsed; and

(2)

That the change in the colour of the glass in the lobby to clear glass on the lobby stairways and to translucent white on the elevator shafts be approved.

The question on the motion was not called as discussion ensued among Committee members and Greg Scott, Director, Major Projects, Jane Fernyhough, Manager of Heritage and Cultural Services and Eric Fiss, Public Art Planner on:

·            

it is the intent of the art plan to include stories of First Nations peoples;

·            

the essence of the art plan is to be a celebration, and educational outcomes are part of that celebration;

·            

the plan will be a boost to Richmond’s arts and culture endeavours and the interpretive programme will be a welcome component;

·            

to achieve flexibility and balance in the Oval lobby, among (i) building elements, (ii) informational displays, and (iii) the ‘Suspended Lobby Artwork & Legacy Plaza’, staff recommended that the glass on the lobby stairways be clear glass and that the glass on the elevator shafts be translucent white;

·            

the proposed costs are within the public art budget for the Oval Precinct as approved previously;

·            

the goal to tell stories and histories of Richmond is admirable, and the suggestion was made that, bearing in mind the location of the Oval across the Middle Arm from the airport, a prominent theme could celebrate flight and all aspects of flight history;

·            

an opportunity exists for the lobby art to feature one theme and to be singular and spectacular, and that will depend on the artist proposal that is selected;

·           C

Council will have the final say on the outcome of the artist proposal call for the lobby art opportunity, the community art opportunity, and the ‘Site Furnishings’ opportunity.

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

5.

BUSINESS LICENCE FOR THE STEVESTON FARMERS’ MARKET

Mr. Rattan reported that City staff and market organizers have met to discuss plans for the Market and to determine how the market can meet the City’s business regulations.

The current Business Licence Bylaw does not contain a definition for a farmers market. Staff is preparing a report that will include a definition of a farmers market, as well as information regarding the scope of what can be sold at the proposed Steveston Farmers Market.

Mr. Rattan advised that market organizers informed staff that: (i) it would be a six month market operating on 22 Sundays between May and October, 2008; (ii) it is estimated that 50 vendors would participate; (iii) the proposed registration fee is $10 with an additional $395 per vendor if the vendor attends all 22 Sundays.

Mr. Rattan outlined the three options staff is considering:

(1)

charge the current fee of $114 for a one year licence;

(2)

charge each vendor $57 for a six-month licence; or

(3)

charge the market organizer a single business license fee of $114 for one licence, for a six month trial period, with all vendors falling under the one business licence.

Mr. Rattan advised that staff’s inclination is to propose option (3) and do so on a trial basis for the 2008 farmers market.

Discussion then took place among Committee members and Mr. Rattan on:

·         

what the City charged the Richmond Night Market operator for his licence;

·         

the kind of restrictions in terms of what items can be sold at a farmers market

·         

the organizers, and not the City, would determine such things as (i) a charge per vendor (i.e. a flat fee, a fee per table, etc.) and (ii) the geographical area from which they will draw vendors;

·         

if a business licence is applied to the proposed Steveston Farmers Market, what impact, if any, that would have on community organizations that host one-time events, such as an antique sale at London farm;

·         

the proposed site for the farmers’ market is Federal land, but that despire this, anyone carrying on business on Federal lands will be required to have a business licence;

·         

the farmers’ market organizers do not require a building licence or building inspections;

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

It was moved and seconded

That the concept to charge the organizer of the proposed Steveston Farmers Market a single business license be endorsed in principle.

CARRIED

Councillor Howard OPPOSED

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:46 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, April 7, 2008.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie
Chair

Sheila Johnston

City Clerk’s Office