MINUTES

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on Tuesday, March 2, 2010, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

BUSINESS & FINANCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT

1.

J & B INVESTMENT LTD. DOING BUSINESS AS ZODIAC KARAOKE UNIT 155 - 8291 ALEXANDRA ROAD

(File Ref. No.:) (REDMS No. 2832786)

In reply to queries from Committee, Glenn McLaughlin, Chief Licence Inspector & Risk Manager, advised that no correspondence was received from the public, and that the City is unaware of the nature of the RCMP’s thirteen ‘minor occurrence’ visits to the business.

Discussion ensued and Committee expressed concerns regarding the ‘minor occurrences’ and whether the City’s noise and smoking bylaws are followed.

In response to a query from Committee, Mr. McLaughlin advised that the City has suspended the applicant’s business licence in the past due to non-compliance with the smoking bylaw. 

As a result of the discussion,

It was moved and seconded

That the staff report entitled ‘J & B Investment Ltd. Doing Business As Zodiac Karaoke Unit 155 - 8291 Alexandra Road’ be referred back to staff for more information on:

(a)

the business’ history with Vancouver Coastal Health and the RCMP; and

(b)

details of the recent past business licence suspension and the business’ record since the suspension.

CARRIED

2.

APOWER INTERNATIONAL TRADING INC., DOING BUSINESS AS JANG MO JIB KOREAN RESTAURANT – RICHMOND 8320 ALEXANDRA ROAD

(File Ref. No.:) (REDMS No. 2838969)

It was moved and seconded

That the application by Apower International Trading Inc., doing business as Jang Mo Jib Korean Restaurant - Richmond, for an amendment to increase the hours of liquor service under Food Primary Liquor License No. 301639 from Monday to Sunday 9:00 a.m. to Midnight to Monday to Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m., and to add patron participation, be supported and that a letter be sent to the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch advising that:

(1)

Council recommends the amendment of the increase in liquor service hours and the patron participation endorsement as no negative comments have been received from the community and will not have a significant impact on the community.

(2)

Council’s comments on the prescribed criteria (set out in section 53 of the Liquor Control and Licensing Regulations) are as follows:

(a)

The potential for additional noise and traffic in the area if the application is approved was considered.

(b)

The impact on the community if the application is approved was assessed through a community consultation process and considered.

(c)

That the amendment to permit patron participation and extend the hours of liquor service under the Food Primary liquor licence should not change the establishment so that it is operated in a manner that is contrary to its primary purpose as there has been no history of non-compliance with this operation.

(3)

As the operation of a licensed establishment may affect nearby residents the City gathered the views of the residents as follows:

(a)

Property owners and businesses within a 100 metre radius of the subject property were contacted by letter detailing the application and provided instructions on how community 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 signage and notice provided information on the application and instructions on how community comments or concerns could be submitted.

(4)

Council’s comments and recommendations respecting the views of the residents are as follows:

(a)

That based on the number of letters sent and the lack of response received from all public notifications, Council considers that the amendment is acceptable to the majority of the residents in the area and the community.

CARRIED

3.

Disposal of unclaimed bicycles and used surplus computers

(File Ref. No.:) (REDMS No. 2850416)

It was moved and seconded

That 30 unclaimed bicycles and 42 used surplus computers be donated to the Refilwe Community Project through the Richmond Sunset Rotary Club.

The question on the motion was not called as discussion ensued and in reply to queries from Committee about using the bicycles for a bicycle sharing program in Richmond.  Victor Wei,  Director, Transportation, advised that a pilot bike-sharing program in Montreal was not successful, perhaps due to the helmet law, but that TransLink had been looking into such a program for Metro Vancouver.

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

Discussion ensued regarding a bike-sharing program in Richmond and as a result the following referral was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That a bike-sharing/rental program be referred to staff to discuss the matter with other interested cities and report back.

CARRIED

PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARMENT

4.

UBCM Resolution on the Prohibition of Sales of Rabbits in Richmond

(File Ref. No.:) (REDMS No. 2853360)

Discussion ensued and Committee commented that the proposed UBCM resolution should indicate that Richmond has a considerable rabbit problem.  As such, Committee agreed that the first whereas clause would read as follows: WHEREAS the City of Richmond seeks to reduce the significant number of abandoned domestic rabbits at large in City parks and to encourage responsible pet ownership.

It was moved and seconded

That the proposed resolution (Attachment 1 to the staff report dated March 10, 2010 from the General Manager, Parks and Recreation, entitled “UBCM Resolutions on the Prohibition of Sales of Rabbits in Richmond”) encouraging the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) to request that the Province of British Columbia enact legislation to ban the sale of rabbits in pet stores, be forwarded to the UBCM for consideration.

CARRIED

5.

OTHER ITEM

In reply to a query from Committee regarding parking concerns in Burkeville, Mr. Wei advised that staff are aware of the problem and are in discussion with the residents.  Also, he noted that staff are working with TransLink and Coast Mountain Bus Company to reinstate bus service to the area.  Mr. Wei indicated that the British Columbia Institute of Technology and Vancouver International Airport Authority are also involved in an effort to resolve the parking issues.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:22 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, March 15, 2010.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie

Chair

Hanieh Floujeh

Acting Executive Assistant

City Clerk’s Office