Date:

Monday, October 3, 2011

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 Sue Halsey-Brandt

Councillor Ken Johnston

Councillor Bill McNulty

Councillor Harold Steves

Call to Order:

The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:14 p.m.

AGENDA ADDITION

It was moved and seconded

That the Public Consultation Program for the Proposed Noise Regulation Bylaw be added to the agenda as Item 3.

CARRIED

MINUTES

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on Monday, September 19, 2011, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

DELEGATION

1.

Barrie Mowatt, President and Founder, Vancouver Biennale, accompanied by Miriam Blumek, Biennale publicist, addressed Committee and thanked Richmond City Council for its support in helping the 2009–2011 Vancouver Biennale Exhibition realize its success.

Mr. Mowatt circulated a publication that featured all 33 sculptures that comprised the 2009-2011 Biennale (on file in the City Clerk’s Office).

Mr. Mowatt commended the City for its strength and courage during the controversy that surrounded the sculpture at the corner of Elmbridge and Alderbridge Way entitled “Miss Mao Trying to Poise Herself at the top of Lenin’s Head”. The controversy brought media attention to Richmond at the local, national and international levels.

He remarked that the Vancouver Biennale arts organization creates accessibility to art in “an open-air museum”.

Mr. Mowatt concluded by requesting that Council encourage the Richmond School Board to partner with the Biennale in the future. A comment was made that the two Councillors who sit on the Council/School Liaison Committee will take Mr. Mowatt’s comment to School Board personnel.

A brief discussion ensued between Committee and the Biennale representatives regarding the economic benefits to Richmond as a result of the Biennale. 

COUNCILLOR LINDA BARNES

2.

LMTAC – VOTING IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS & REFERENDA BY RESIDENTS LIVING ON INDIAN RESERVES

(Report by Councillor Linda Barnes) (File Ref. No. 01-0005-01/2011-Vol 01) (REDMS No. 3366491)

Councillor Barnes provided background information on her report with respect to the jurisdictional overlap of Indian Reserves contained within municipal, and regional district, boundaries and some Reserves considered part of the local government electoral area. 

A brief discussion among Committee ensued, with the City of Squamish cited as an example where Reserve and municipal boundaries overlap, and the potential impact on municipal elections.

There was general agreement that the issue of having Indian Reserves counted as part of local government boundaries, with regard to local government elections, be examined further.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That Council endorse the recommendations (Attachment 1) of the Lower Mainland Treaty Advisory Committee (LMTAC), as outlined in the draft discussion paper entitled ‘Voting In Local Government Elections & Referenda by Residents Living on Indian Reserves’ (Attachment 2); and

(2)

That Council communicate their views and endorsement directly to Minister Ida Chong, Ministry of Community, Sport, and Cultural Development, with a copy forwarded to the Hon. Mary Polak, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation.

CARRIED

COUNCILLOR EVELINA HALSEY-BRANDT

3.

PUBLIC CONSULTATION PROGRAM FOR THE PROPOSED NOISE REGULATION BYLAW

Councillor E. Halsey-Brandt queried staff regarding the outline of the City’s work plan for the proposed Noise Regulation Bylaw public participation process, as outlined in a confidential memo to Council from Community Bylaws.

She expressed concern that: (i) the memorandum from Community Bylaws was marked ‘confidential’, impairing her ability to discuss the proposed work plan with residents; (ii) a public field test, based on the parameters set out in the proposed bylaw to be conducted in the Caithcart Road and Andrews Road neighbourhoods, had been delayed and the confidential memorandum did not indicate the dates for the field test; and (iii) the proposed work plan included a workshop for business stakeholders, but did not include a workshop for residents.

Phyllis Carlyle, General Manager, Law & Community Safety, clarified that both the public and business stakeholders will be consulted, and staff are following the detailed direction given by Council as a result of the staff report dated March 21, 2011. Staff will meet with residents affected by noise in the two neighbourhoods mentioned by Councillor E. Halsey-Brandt, and residents will be consulted.

It was agreed that a revised version of the confidential memo, one that can be shared with residents, detailing the City’s proposed work plan, will be distributed to Council within 24 hours.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:46 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 3, 2011.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie

Chair

Sheila Johnston

Committee Clerk