It was moved and seconded

That the agenda for the June 16^th, 2008 meeting of the General Purposes Committee be accepted with the deletion of Item No. 6 – Canada Line Information and Advertising Displays.

CARRIED

MINUTES

1.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on Monday, June 2^nd, 2008, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

CORPORATE SERVICES DEPARTMENT

2.

APPOINTMENT OF CHIEF ELECTION OFFICER AND DEPUTY CHIEF ELECTION OFFICER FOR THE 2008 GENERAL LOCAL AND SCHOOL ELECTION

(Report:  May 30/08, File No.:  12-8125-50-01/2008-Vol 01) (REDMS No. 2458061)

It was moved and seconded

That David Weber be appointed as Chief Election Officer, and that Gail Johnson be appointed Deputy Chief Election Officer, for the 2008 General Local and School Election.

CARRIED

3.

2008 GENERAL LOCAL AND SCHOOL ELECTION

(Report:  May 30/08, File No.:  12-8060-20-8386; xr: 12-8125-50-01/2008-Vol 01) (REDMS No. 2446435, 2450679, 2455429)

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That Civic Election Administration and Procedure Bylaw No. 7244, Amendment Bylaw No. 8386 be introduced and given first, second and third readings.

(2)

That a copy of the 2008 General Local and School Election report (dated May 30, 2008 from the Director, City Clerk’s Office) be forwarded to the Richmond Board of Education for information.

The question on the motion was not called, as the Director, City Clerk’s Office, David Weber, in response to a question, advised that any individual who knew that they would be absent from the City on Election Day could contact the City Clerk’s Office either in writing or be telephone, to request that they be provided with a mail-in ballot.  He indicated that this ballot, once completed, must be returned to City Hall prior to the closing of the polls on Election Day. 

Reference was then made to a statement in the staff report that local governments now had the opportunity to increase the number of nominators required for each candidate from 2 to either 10 or 25.  A comment was made that an increase in the required number of nominators would indicate to the public that the candidate had given some thought to the idea of putting their name forward for a position.  As a result, the following amendment was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That Civic Election Administration and Procedure Bylaw No. 7244, Amendment Bylaw No. 8386 be amended by adding the following,

“That the number of nominators required for each candidate be established at 10.”

The question on the motion was not called, as several Committee members voiced their opposition to the proposed amendment.  Comments were made that the requirement for additional nominators would only make the process more onerous.  However, support was also given to the proposed amendment, with the opinion being voiced that the requirement for ten people to support a candidate would indicate that the candidate ‘had done his homework’ and that ten people felt that the person in question was worthy.

The question on the motion was then called, and it was DEFEATED with Mayor Brodie and Cllrs. Dang, Evelina Halsey-Brandt, Sue Halsey-Brandt, McNulty and Steves opposed.

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

4.

10 by 10 Challenge
(Report:  May 13, 2008, File No.:  01-0130-01) (REDMS No. 2451862)

It was moved and seconded

That the City of Richmond participate with the Richmond Centre for Disability in promoting the “10 x 10 Challenge”.

The question on the motion was not called, as a brief discussion ensued among Committee members and the General Manager, Corporate Services, Mike Kirk regarding the information which would be provided on the number of employable disabled people living in the City.

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

LAW & COMMUNITY SAFETY DEPARTMENT

5.

External Legal Resources for Land DevelopmenT
(Report:  May 21, 2008, File No.:  01-0270-01/2008-Vol 01) (REDMS No. 2451642)

It was moved and seconded

That, at their cost, land developers be provided the opportunity of completing the required land development agreements with the City by interfacing with external legal counsel representing the City.

The question on the motion was not called, as Acting City Solicitor Doug Long, in response to questions, explained the process which would be followed if a developer chose to use the City’s external legal counsel to complete and register legal agreements.  He confirmed that the developer would pay for all expenses relating to this use. 

A brief discussion ensued, during which advice was given that this new option would complement the ‘fast track’ program which had been initiated by the Planning & Development Department approximately four years ago.

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

BUSINESS & FINANCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT

6.

CANADA LINE INFORMATION AND ADVERTISING DISPLAYS

(Report:  May 30/08, File No.:   10-6525-10-01) (REDMS No. 2460235)

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

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:18 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 16^th, 2008.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie
Chair

Fran J. Ashton
Recording Secretary