Date:

Monday, November 19, 2012

Place:

Anderson Room

Richmond City Hall

Present:

Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie, Chair

Councillor Chak Au

Councillor Linda Barnes

Councillor Ken Johnston

Councillor Bill McNulty

Councillor Linda McPhail

Councillor Harold Steves

Absent:

Councillor Derek Dang

Councillor Evelina 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, November 5, 2012, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT

1.

Richmond Celebrates Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada 2013(File Ref. No. 11-7400-20-HDAY1/2012) (REDMS No. 3685824 V.6)

A discussion ensued among members of Committee and Cathryn Volkering Carlile, General Manager, Community Services about:

·          

the impact of the National Hockey League (NHL) strike on the Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada 2013 event. It was noted that discussions with CBC indicated that the event may not be televised nationally, and that there is no impact anticipated for the event as a result of the NHL strike;

·          

the budget for the 2013 event in comparison to 2012.  It was noted that the budget had been reduced for 2013;

·          

how the event will be taking place on the Family Day long weekend as well as Chinese New Year.  A brief discussion took place about the feasibility of combining the event with Chinese New Year’s events; and

·          

the need to provide opportunities for youth to interact with hockey idols and other celebrities.

It was moved and seconded

That:

(1)

the City contribute up to $58,000 from the Major Event Provisional Fund for the Richmond Celebrates Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada event at the Richmond Olympic Oval on February 9, 2013; and

(2)

that the City’s budget for the 2013 Hockey Day event be included in the 5 Year Financial Plan (2013-2017).

CARRIED

2.

Richmond Olympic Experience Advisory Committee Council Liaison
(File Ref. No. 01-0005-01/2012) (REDMS No. 3702547)

It was moved and seconded

That Councillor Bill McNulty be appointed as Council Liaison to the Richmond Olympic Experience Advisory Committee as outlined in the staff report from the Director, Arts, Culture and Heritage Services dated November 6, 2012.

CARRIED

ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT

3.

2013 Utility Budgets and Rates
(File Ref. No.:  03-0970-01/2012) (REDMS No.3699344 v.3)

Suzanne Bycraft, Manager, Fleet & Environmental Programs, accompanied by Jerry Chong, Director, Finance, highlighted the key impact on the budget as a result of challenges related to increasing costs outside of the City’s control.

A discussion then ensued about the various service sections and in particular on:

·          

opportunities for expansion of the toilet rebate program;

·          

opportunities for expansion of the residential water metering program.  It was noted that participation in the water metering program was still on a voluntary basis, and discussion took place about the feasibility of making the program mandatory in the future; and

·          

the increased annual operating costs of the solid waste and recycling program and how the associated costs reflected in the budget are pro-rated to correspond with the June, 2013 implementation date.  Discussion also took place about the success and future expansion of the solid waste and recycling program.

It was moved and seconded

That:

(1)

the 2013 Utility Expenditure Budgets, as outlined under Option 3 for Water, Sewer, Drainage & Diking, and Option 2 for Solid Waste & Recycling as contained in the staff report dated November 14, 2012 from the General Managers of Finance & Corporate Services and Engineering & Public Works, be approved as the basis for establishing the 2013 Utility Rates and for preparing the 5 Year Financial Plan (2013-2017) Bylaw;

(2)

the Chief Administrative Officer and General Manager, Engineering & Public Works be authorized to negotiate and execute an amendment to Contract T.2988, Residential Solid Waste & Recycling Collection Services, to:

(a)

include acquisition, storage, assembly, labelling, delivery, replacement and related tasks for the carts and kitchen containers associated with an expanded yard trimmings/food scraps recycling program at a one-time cost of up to $3 million (excluding HST);

(b)

add yard trimmings/food scraps collection and large item pickup services to townhomes with blue box service, effective June 3, 2013;

(c)

add collection of yard trimming/food scraps using City-provided carts and large item pickup services to residents in single-family homes effective June 3, 2013;

(d)

revise the annual contract amount to approximately $5,788,664 (depending on contract variables such as inflationary and unit count increases), effective June 3, 2013;

(e)

extend the term of the contract to December 31, 2017;

(3)

the existing agreement (dated September, 2010) with Neptune Technology be extended for one year, ending December 31, 2013, using the 2010 unit rates with an adjustment made for the HST to GST/PST conversion effective April 1, 2013.

The question on the motion was not called, as a brief discussion ensued about the green cart program.  It was noted that a contingency fund has been build into the program to provide new residents with complimentary carts and for the replacement of damaged carts.  Staff was requested to present a report on the implementation of the program before it is rolled out.

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

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:29 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, November 19, 2012.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie

Chair

Shanan Sarbjit Dhaliwal

Executive Assistant

City Clerk’s Office