Date:

Monday, October 20, 2008

Place:

Anderson Room

Richmond City Hall

Present:

Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie, Chair

Councillor Linda Barnes

Councillor Cynthia Chen

Councillor Derek Dang

Councillor Evelina Halsey-Brandt

Councillor Sue Halsey-Brandt

Councillor Rob Howard

Councillor Bill McNulty

Councillor Harold Steves

Call to Order:

The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.

It was moved and seconded

That the agenda be varied to add the matter of the Gulf of Georgia / Musqueam Indian Band project as Item No. 4.

MINUTES

1.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on Monday, October 6, 2008, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

PARKS, RECREATION AND CULTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT

2.

School Community Connections Funding

(Report:  October 7, 2008, File No.:  11-7200-00/Vol 01) (REDMS No. 2511771)

It was moved and seconded

That the joint application by the Richmond School Board and the City of Richmond for a grant in the amount of $8000 from the UBCM's School Community Connections Program "Strengthening the Connections", to undertake a school community garden at Richmond Secondary School, be approved.

CARRIED

BUSINESS & FINANCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT

3.

Empress Lounge Ltd. – 8711 Alexandra Road, Richmond, BC

(Report:  October 2, 2008, File No.: 12-8275-05/2008-Vol 01) (REDMS No. 2510707)

Chief Licence Inspector, Amarjeet Rattan, was available to answer questions.

It was moved and seconded

That the application by Empress Lounge Ltd., to amend the hours of liquor service from 2:00 pm to midnight, Monday through Sunday to 2:00 pm to 2:00 am, Monday through Sunday, be supported, and that a letter be sent to the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch advising that:

(1)

Council recommends the amendment of the license as no substantive negative comments have been received from the public or from internal and external agencies consulted, and the amendment would not pose a negative impact on the community.

(2)

Council's comments on the prescribed considerations are as follows:

(a)

There is little potential for additional noise if the application is approved; and

(b)

The amendment would not pose a negative impact on the community, based on the lack of comments received from the public.

(3)

Council's comments on the views of residents are as follows:

(a)

As per City Policy, residents, property owners and businesses within a 100 metre radius of the subject property were contacted by letter detailing the amendments and providing         instructions on how comments or concerns could be submitted.

(b)

In addition, signage was posted at the subject property and three public notices were published in a local newspaper.  This notice provided information on the amendments and instructions on how comments or concerns could be submitted.  No comments were received from residents, property owners or businesses within a 100 metre radius of the subject property.  One letter of objection was received from a similar business located 400       metres (0.4 km) from the applicant's business.

The question on the motion was not called, as a discussion took place about liquor licensing, and concerns associated with businesses serving liquor until 2:00 a.m. on Sunday nights were expressed.  Mr. Rattan was requested to provide (prior to this matter going forward to the Council meeting of Monday, October 27, 2008) information related to the number of Richmond businesses that currently remain open until 2:00 a.m..

The question on the motion was then called, and it was CARRIED, with Cllr. Sue Halsey-Brandt opposed.

4.

Gulf of Georgia / Musqueam Indian Band

Councillor Linda Barnes, Liaison to the Gulf of Georgia Cannery Society, spoke about the Society’s next project, related to Richmond’s fishing history. She indicated that several attempts to contact the Musqueam Indian Band to request participation in the project, had been unsuccessful.

A brief discussion took place, and Cllr. Barnes requested City staff for assistance in contacting the Band.  A suggestion was also made that Cllr. Barnes advise the Society to contact Bob Guerin, Fisheries Coordinator for the Musqueam.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:11 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, October 20, 2008.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie

Chair

Shanan Dhaliwal

Executive Assistant, City Clerk’s Office