MINUTES

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on Monday, May 3, 2010, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

CORPORATE SERVICES DEPARTMENT

1.

Sister City Committee 2009 Annual Report and 2010 Activity Plan

(File Ref. No.:) (REDMS No. 2870919)

Discussion ensued regarding the Sister City Committee’s (SCC) proposed 2010 activity plan and in response to queries from Committee, Richard Toda, Manager, Customer Service and Neonila Lilova, Manager, Economic Development, noted the following:

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travel and accommodation costs mentioned in the staff report are approximate and if the City were to develop an economic program for the 2010 Shanghai Expo, it is suggested that two to four staff participate at the Expo; and

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the Economic Advisory Committee’s (EAC) feedback in regards to Richmond’s participation at the Expo was neutral as major businesses represented on the Committee indicated they were not planning significant activation in Shanghai.

Sylvia Gwozd, Chair of the SCC, accompanied by Wei Liu, SCC member, commented on how the Committee reached its proposed 2010 budget and noted that the proposed 2010 plan is nearly identical to that of last year’s, with the exception of the Shanghai Expo. She advised that the Committee has made many business connections over the years and she anticipates in-kind contributions to partially fund some of the proposed 2010 undertakings.

Ms. Gwozd believed that the Shanghai Expo would have many worthwhile opportunities for the City.

In response to queries from Committee, Ms. Gwozd reviewed the proposed travel plans to the Shanghai Expo and visits to the Sister and Friendship cities.  Also, she noted that City Council’s support acts as a stimulus for the SCC with regard to fundraising efforts.

Discussion ensued and Committee indicated that detailed information regarding hosting and daily activity plans while in Asia would be valuable.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the staff report dated April 29, 2010 from the Deputy CAO, which includes the Sister City Committee 2009 Annual Report be received for information;

(2)

Subject to matters in Part (3), that the Sister City Committee 2010 Activity Plan be approved;

(3)

That staff be directed to work with the Sister City Committee on the program staff component, finances, timing and other details for Sister City trips including the Shanghai Expo;

(4)

That staff be directed to commence work with the Sister City Committee to draft a further 3 year plan for 2011 to 2013; and

(5)

That the balance of #4 on Page 3 and Page 4 of the 2010 Activity Plan and Budget be referred to staff.

The question on the motion was not called as discussion ensued and it was noted that staff are to begin working with the SCC immediately.  The question on the motion was then called and it was CARRIED.

LAW AND COMMUNITY SAFETY DEPARTMENT

2.

Regulation & Mitigation of Noise

(File Ref. No.:  12-8060-20-6989) (REDMS No. 2887911)

Wayne Mercer, Manager, Community Bylaws, provided background information and noted that should the proposed staff recommendation be adopted, it is anticipated that staff report back by Fall 2010.

Discussion ensued and in response to queries from Committee, Mr. Mercer noted that (i) the Minister of Health must concur to any amendments to the City’s Public Health Protection bylaw;  and (ii) to date, the Health bylaw review has been driven by the City as the Richmond Health Department has not indicated the City’s current bylaw is insufficient.

In response to queries from Committee, Steve Chong, Manager, Health Protection, Richmond Public Health, Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH), provided the following information:

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the Health Department reviews health related legislation from time to time;

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Richmond’s health bylaw has restrictive noise levels in place in comparison to other lower mainland municipalities; and

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it is difficult to utilize noise related information from the 2009 World Health Organization’s Annual report as the report’s findings reflect an annual average.

In response to a comment from Committee, Mr. Chong indicated that he would have to speak with other VCH officials regarding potentially co-financing the proposed health bylaw review.

Discussion ensued and in reply to queries from Committee, staff advised that a noise covenant is registered on title for units at RiverWind and the dB(A) scale measures what the human ear can hear and the dB(C) scale is designed to measure low frequency noise (LFN).

Jonathan Fung, a mental health physician and Richmond resident, noted that the dB(A) scale picks up frequencies more audible to the human ear and is not sensitive to high and low frequency ranges.  However, he advised that LFN causes vibration in structures and in the human body and people report significant sleep disruption/deprivation and stress due to LFN.  Mr. Fung commented that the City’s current health bylaw is restrictive but only to frequencies the human ear can pick up and the noise issues at RiverWind are also in part due to LFN.

Jason Robinson, RiverWind resident, emphasized that the point of perception is also a key issue and that other municipalities’ health bylaws use the property line as the point of perception.

David Porte, President of Porte Realty Ltd, owner of 12491 No. 2 Road, commented on the area’s growth and noted that his building is an industrial building on industrial zoned land.  He spoke of the noise covenant that is on title and the 21 foot high concrete wall between his building and the RiverWind complex.  He stated that the bylaw review is welcomed, but asked that the City be mindful of the existing businesses in his building.  Mr. Porte was of the opinion that the RiverWind complex should also take their own actions to mitigate the noise and noted that the bylaw review process should involve all affected parties. 

It was moved and seconded

That staff retain the necessary expertise to update and redraft, in consultation with the Richmond Medical Health Officer, the City’s Public Health Protection Bylaw No. 6989 to address further advances in sound technology; assessment of ambient noise impact; inventory of potential noise conflict boundaries; impact of any changes in objective measurement; successful enforcement models and collaborative neighbourhood impact models.

CARRIED

PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AND FACILITY MANAGEMENT DEPARMENT

3.

Hamilton Community Centre - Capital Project

(File Ref. No.:  06-2052-20-HCC) (REDMS No. 2883794)

With the aid of various artist renderings and materials sample boards, Greg Scott, Director, Project Development and Darryl Condon, Architect, Hughes Condon Marler Architects, reviewed the proposed project.

In response to queries from Committee, staff provided the following information:

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the portable on site belongs to the School District and is on the School District’s property;

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although the portable is not currently utilized by the School District, they anticipate it will be in the near future;

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rooms designated for preschool programs act as multipurpose rooms and would also be utilized for other purposes;

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the proposed project is targeting LEED Gold standards however, staff are not seeking LEED certification due to the costs associated with certification;

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the proposed solar panels will be on the north east corner of the roof and will be oriented for maximum sun exposure;

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geothermal heating will not be utilized as it is not cost effective for a project of this scale; and

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a green roof will cover the majority of the new addition, however access to the roof will not be provided due to costs associated with fall protection.

In response to comments from Committee, Mr. Scott advised that staff are hoping to construct most of the expansion during the summer months while kids are on summer break.  Also, he stated that access to the proposed green roof could be investigated if additional funding were made available.

It was moved and seconded

That:

(1)

the Hamilton Community Centre Capital Project as outlined in the staff report dated April 12, 2010 from the Director, Project Development be approved;

(2)

the Chief Administrative Officer and General Manager of Project Development and Facilities Services, or designate, be authorized to execute documents that permit this project to be constructed as per the staff report dated April 12, 2010 from the Director, Project Development, and review the operating agreement with the School Board and report back;

(3)

a $20,000 solar hot water system be approved as part of the Hamilton Community Centre project, and be funded by reducing the previously approved 2010 Building Improvement Capital program accordingly and re-allocating the transfer from the Capital Reserve to the Hamilton Community Centre capital budget;

(4)

a $125,000 commercial standard kitchen be approved as part of the Hamilton Community Centre project, and be funded from two sources: $62,500 from the Hamilton Community Centre Association and $62,500 from Minor Equipment Provision;

(5)

staff be directed to investigate the possibility of green uses for the roof and report back; and

(6)

staff be directed to investigate the future of the portable on site and report back.

CARRIED

4.

TRANSLINK BUSES

Discussion ensued regarding the age of TransLink buses in Richmond and as a result of the discussion, the following motion was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That the Mayor be authorized to write a letter to TransLink to emphasize the request of the City that a proportionate number of new low-emission buses be located at the Steveston Highway bus centre.

CARRIED

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (6:01 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, May 17, 2010.

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Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie

Chair

Hanieh Floujeh

Acting Executive Assistant

City Clerk's Office