Date:

Monday, September 17, 2012

Place:

Anderson Room

Richmond City Hall

Present:

Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie, Chair

Councillor Chak Au

Councillor Linda Barnes

Councillor Derek Dang

Councillor Evelina Halsey-Brandt

Councillor Bill McNulty

Councillor Linda McPhail

Councillor Harold Steves

Absent:

Councillor Ken Johnston

Call to Order:

The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:02 p.m.

MINUTES

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on Tuesday, September 4, 2012, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

FINANCE AND CORPORATE SERVICES DEPARTMENT

1.

LIQUOR LICENCE AMENDMENT APPLICATION 0755 RESTAURANT & LOUNGE INCORPORATED – UNIT 2188 - 3779 SEXSMITH ROAD
(File Ref. No. 12-8275-30-001/2012-Vol 01) (REDMS No. 3612005)

It was moved and seconded

That a letter be sent to the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch advising that:

(1)

The application by 0755 Restaurant & Lounge Incorporated,to amend their hours of liquor service under Food Primary Liquor License #304745 from Monday through Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. to Monday through Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m., be supported.

(2)

Council comments on the prescribed considerations are:

(a)

There is little potential for additional noise if the application is approved;

(b)

The amendment would not pose a negative impact on the community based on the lack of comments received from the public; and

(c)

The amendment to permit extended hours of liquor service under the Food Primary Liquor License 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)

Council comments on the views of residents were gathered as follows:

(a)

Property owners and businesses within a 50 metre radius of the subject property were contacted by letter detailing the application and provided with instructions on how community concerns could be submitted; and

(b)

Signage was posted at the subject property and three public notices were published in a local newspaper.  The signage and notice provided information on the application and instructions on how community comments or concerns could be submitted.

Based on the lack of negative responses from residents and businesses in the nearby area and the lack of responses received from the community through notifications, Council considers that the application is acceptable to a majority of residents.

CARRIED

ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT

2.

Gateway Theatre Sewer Heat Recovery System
(File Ref. No. 10-6600-10-01) (REDMS No. 3537486 v.13)

In response to questions from members of the Committee, Cecilia Achiam, Interim Director, Sustainability and District Energy, joined by Alan Postolka, District Energy Manager, provided the following information:

·          

installation of the sewage wastewater heat recovery system at Gateway Theatre will reduce energy use to one-third of the current rate;  

·          

Metro Vancouver is working with the City to further explore this technology;

·          

the Gateway Theatre installation will be the first in Canada that will use raw wastewater from the municipal sewer pump station; and

·          

sewage wastewater heat recovery technology has been developed and used in China for many years. 

Lynn Mueller, President, International Wastewater Heat Exchange Systems Inc. advised that sewer heat recovery technology has been used at a development in North Vancouver for two years, and the building has realized a 75% energy savings.  He further advised that he would be subsidizing the project in Richmond, which will take approximately 10 days to install, and result in a reduction of green house gas emissions equivalent to removing 75 vehicles from the streets.

Discussion also ensued about the feasibility of future expansion of the sewage wastewater heat recovery system at Gateway Theatre for cooling as well as heating. 

It was moved and seconded

That the incorporation of the Sewage SHARC wastewater heat recovery system into the existing building heating system at Gateway Theatre (as described in the staff report titled Gateway Theatre Sewer Heat Recovery System dated August 15, 2012 from the Interim Director, Sustainability and District Energy), be endorsed.

CARRIED

3.

Provincial Carbon Tax Review – Recommended Input from the City of Richmond
(File Ref. No. 01-0370-01) (REDMS No. 3636786 v.2)

A discussion took place among members of Committee and Margot Daykin, Manager, Sustainability about:  

·          

the very limited information available on the economic impact of the BC Carbon Tax;

·          

the impact the BC Carbon Tax has on those in the farming and fishing industries;

·          

how studies show that carbon taxes are one of the most effective methods for reducing green house gas emissions; and

·          

the view that the current administration of the BC Carbon Tax is unfair. 

As a result of the discussion, staff was directed to work with local groups including the Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Richmond, the Richmond Farmer’s Institute, and other organizations to collect local information regarding the impact of the BC Carbon Tax.  

It was moved and seconded

That as input to the Provincial carbon tax review, a letter be sent to the Minister of Finance, with copies to the Premier, Minister of Environment, UBCM and Metro Vancouver Board of Directors, conveying that:

(1)

The City of Richmond supports the continuation of the carbon tax as a means to reduce greenhouse gas emissions with the understanding that:

(a)

the tax is applied in a manner that offsets disproportionate impacts to low-income or other vulnerable populations;

(b)

the tax is applied in a manner that does not result in a loss in competitiveness for local businesses; and

(c)

the Province continues the Climate Action Revenue Incentive Program (CARIP) for local governments;

(2)

The City of Richmond requests that the Province conduct detailed studies and incorporate further public consultation and engagement with local governments and other stakeholders, to evaluate appropriate tax rates, scope and structure; and

(3)

The City of Richmond requests that the Province direct a significant portion of the carbon tax revenue, and/or establish alternative funding sources, to support local government actions and other investments that will reduce community emissions, including public transportation and renewable energy projects.

CARRIED

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:41p.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, September 17, 2012.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie

Chair

Shanan Sarbjit Dhaliwal

Executive Assistant

City Clerk’s Office