Date:

Monday, July 20, 2009

Place:

Anderson Room

Richmond City Hall

Present:

Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie, Chair

Councillor Linda Barnes

Councillor Derek Dang

Councillor Evelina Halsey-Brandt

Councillor Greg Halsey-Brandt

Councillor Ken Johnston

Councillor Bill McNulty

Councillor Harold Steves

Absent:

Councillor Sue Halsey-Brandt

Call to Order:

The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:11 p.m.

MINUTES

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on Monday, July 6, 2009, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

1.

Richmond Grant Program Revisions

(File Ref. No.:  ) (REDMS No. 2655587)

It was moved and seconded

That the revised Richmond Grant Program (Attachment 2 of the staff report dated June 17, 2009 from the General Manager, Planning and Development) be adopted.

CARRIED

BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL SERVICES

2.

Canada Line Information & Advertising Displays Implementation

(File Ref. No.:  ) (REDMS No. 2667847)

Amarjeet Rattan, Director, CPMG, circulated updated images of the proposed locations for the LED electronic displays along the Lansdowne and Aberdeen Station guideways (Schedule 1).

A discussion ensued and the following was noted:

§      

a cylinder type LED screen display had been proposed on the City right of way under the Canada Line guideway near the Brighouse Station;

§      

a time period of five years may be too long for the program to be considered a “pilot program”;

§      

the City would receive approximately 3.5 hours of daily screen time, between all three LED displays;

§      

the City would be requested to provide a reasonable amount of notice to Lamar Transit Advertising Canada Ltd. (Lamar) regarding any new messages or revisions.  However, public safety emergency bulletins may be displayed almost immediately;

§      

expenses related to the power consumption by the LED screens would be dealt with by Lamar;

§      

provisions for combating graffiti include protection of the guideway columns by using green screens; and

§      

the LED screens may pose a hazard to motor vehicles.

It was moved and seconded

That:

(1)

staff be directed to implement a program of Canada Line information and  advertising displays as outlined in the attached report; and

(2)

the General Manager of Business & Financial Services be authorized to execute the agreements in relation to the approved program.

The question on the motion was not called, as Committee members expressed their views and concerns related to safety with regard to the advertising displays.

The question on the motion was then called, and it was CARRIED with Mayor Brodie, and Cllrs. E. Halsey-Brandt, and Steves opposed. 

CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER’S OFFICE

3.

2010 Olympic Games Related Business and Major Projects Achievements

(File Ref. No.:) (REDMS No. 2667154)

Lani Schultz, Director, Corporate Planning, circulated a synopsis to the subject report, (Schedule 2) and briefly reviewed the contents.

A discussion then took place about:

§      

the importance of providing this information to the public;

§      

the benefits associated with securing the right to use the Olympic rings rather than naming rights alone; 

§      

the costs associated with funding the O Zone;

§      

the reporting of travel expenses incurred by City staff related to the Olympics and construction of the Oval;  

§      

the feasibility of having staff provide updates to this report in the fall as well as after the 2010 Olympic Games;

§      

the feasibility of having staff provide a report on the benefits realized by Richmond residents from the Richmond Olympic Oval building; and

§      

the need to recognize the advisory committees that assisted with the development of the Oval.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That staff be directed to reformat this staff report and attached synopsis on  2010 Olympic Games Related Business and Major Projects Achievements to make it more suitable for publication and distribution for general community viewing;

(2)

That staff submit the reformatted version of this report for publication in the next City Page Section of the Richmond local newspapers in accordance with usual practice; and

(3)

That staff be directed to regularly update the information in this report, including a description of those who have contributed to the development of the Richmond Olympic Oval, and an outline of the Oval’s Legacy value. 

The question on the motion was not called, as in answer to a query, staff clarified that this report was intended to address financial accountability, and that another report highlighting the story behind the Olympic Oval was expected in the near future.

The question on the motion was then called and it was 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 Monday, July 20, 2009.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie

Chair

Shanan Dhaliwal

Executive Assistant, City Clerk’s Office