Date:

Monday, July 4, 2011

Place:

Anderson Room

Richmond City Hall

Present:

Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie, Chair

Councillor Derek Dang

Councillor Evelina Halsey-Brandt

Councillor Greg Halsey-Brandt

Councillor Ken Johnston

Councillor Bill McNulty

Councillor Harold Steves

Absent:

Councillor Linda Barnes

Councillor Sue Halsey-Brandt

Call to Order:

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

MINUTES

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on Monday, June 20, 2011, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

There was agreement that Item No. 1, Reaching Carbon Neutrality - Proposed Richmond Strategy, and Item No. 2, Reaching Carbon Neutrality: Energy and Emissions Inventory and Recommended Early Action, be dealt with simultaneously.

COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT

1.

Reaching Carbon Neutrality – Proposed Richmond Strategy

(File Ref. No. 01-0370-01/2011-Vol01) (REDMS No. 3230864)

2.

Reaching Carbon Neutrality: Energy and Emissions Inventory and Recommended Early Action

(File Ref. No. 01-0370-01/2011-Vol01) (REDMS No. 3086030)

Margot Daykin, Manager, Sustainability, noted that both reports were pertaining to the City’s voluntary commitment to Carbon Neutrality, with the report for Item No. 1 providing an overall strategy for meeting the commitment, and the report for Item No. 2 providing specific actions and steps. 

Ms. Daykin then reviewed the reports, and explained how reducing internal greenhouse gas emissions and making investments to offset unavoidable emissions were the two main actions required in reaching Carbon Neutrality.

Ms. Daykin stated that although City Council had adopted a comprehensive approach to climate change, signing the BC Climate Action Charter had accelerated the City’s commitment to sustainability and climate change, and promoted leadership and collective wide action.  It was noted that the BC Climate Action Charter had been endorsed by over 170 municipalities. 

A discussion then took place about:

§    

the City’s action initiatives to promote sustainability including the High Performance Building Policy, the Corporate Green Fleet Policy, the Corporate Recycling Program, the Corporate Energy-Retrofit Program and the City Carpool Program;

§    

the need for a wider scope for sustainability initiatives currently recognized under the provincial framework;

§    

the major sources of energy consumption.  It was noted that out of all the types of civic facilities, aquatic facilities and ice arenas had the highest energy consumption and green house gas emissions.  It was further noted that the Watermania Pool facility had reduced its net energy consumption by 20%;

§    

the Carbon Neutral Provisional Fund, adopted by Council, had a balance of approximately $300,000 of which approximately $150,000 was recouped from carbon taxes;

§    

how the City’s Corporate Energy and Emissions Inventory provided a foundation to develop an efficient inventory system, and identified strategic opportunities for further reducing corporate greenhouse gas emissions;

§    

how emissions for different sources of energy (e.g., electricity and natural gas) are measured; 

§    

the rationale used to compile the City’s Corporate Energy and Emissions Inventory.  It was noted that energy consumption was compiled by account, and some buildings had multiple accounts, therefore those buildings were listed more than once in the inventory;

§    

the use of natural gas rather than gasoline for the City’s Fleet without compromising the life span of the vehicles; and

§    

retaining carbon tax funds by investing locally within the community.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the Carbon Responsible Strategy, as outlined in Attachment 5 of the staff report entitled “Reaching Carbon Neutrality – Proposed Richmond Strategy”, dated June 1, 2011 be adopted;

(2)

That the City work with the Province and UBCM to establish carbon compensation credits for Richmond-based initiatives; and

(3)

That greenhouse gas emission reduction action in corporate facilities and civic fleet use through the 2012 budget process and the other targeted action as presented in the report titled “Reaching Carbon Neutrality: Energy and Emissions Inventory and Recommended Early Action”, dated June 1, 2011, be endorsed.

CARRIED

PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

3.

Report from City Representatives on Vancouver International Airport Aeronautical Noise Management Committee (YVR ANMC) and Status Update of Richmond Airport Noise Citizens Advisory Task Force Report Recommendations

(File Ref. No. 01-0153-04-01) (REDMS No. 2996497)

Victor Wei, Director, Transportation, introduced Haydn Acheson, City Representative on the Vancouver International Airport Aeronautical Noise Management Committee (YVR ANMC). 

Mr. Acheson reviewed the report and highlighted that reverse thrust usage was now restricted on both the north and south runways, and that at a meeting attended by City staff, the City’s YVR ANMC representatives, and major float plan operators, a discussion had taken place about the community’s concerns related to float plane operations.  A follow up meeting is anticipated in the near future. 

A discussion then took place about: (i) float plane arrivals and departures and whether operators were following the recommended flight paths; (ii) concerns associated with altitudes that had been observed for different aircrafts during flight; and (iii) protocol for night operations at Vancouver International Airport.  It was noted that no set guidelines for night operations at YVR has been established.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That a letter be sent to the Vancouver Airport Authority to:

(a)

acknowledge the positive efforts made by the Authority towards addressing the Richmond Airport Noise Citizens Advisory Task Force recommendations; and

(b)

request that the Authority provide a status report on its progress towards any outstanding Task Force recommendations as part of its next annual presentation to Council; and

(2)

That the term of the Richmond Airport Noise Citizens Advisory Task Force be extended to March 2012 in order to provide feedback on the initiatives of the Control Zone Procedures Working Group of the YVR ANMC.

CARRIED

4.

TEMPORARY LIQUOR LICENSES

Prior to adjournment, Councillor Bill McNulty made a query related to the renewal of temporary liquor licenses, particularly the temporary liquor license granted annually to the Buck and Ear Pub in Steveston for an outdoor beer garden on Canada Day.  Councillor McNulty questioned who was responsible for the cost of cleaning the vicinity after the event, and if consideration could be given to requesting that some of the proceeds from the event be used to benefit the community.

It was moved and seconded

That staff report back on the experience with Licensed Liquor Establishments which have been granted Temporary Liquor Licences on the July 1st weekend. 

CARRIED

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:02 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 4, 2011.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie

Chair

Shanan Dhaliwal

Executive Assistant

City Clerk’s Office