March 18, 2013 - Minutes

Date:

Monday, March 18, 2013

Place:

Anderson Room
Richmond City Hall

Present:

Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie, Chair
Councillor Chak Au
Councillor Derek Dang
Councillor Evelina Halsey-Brandt
Councillor Ken Johnston
Councillor Bill McNulty
Councillor Linda McPhail
Councillor Harold Steves

Absent:

Councillor Linda Barnes

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, March 4, 2013, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

DELEGATION

1.

Kerry Starchuk and Ann Merdinyan shared their views about business signage in the City of Richmond and presented a slide show with various signs lacking English and French throughout the City of Richmond.  Ms. Merdinyan noted that there has been an increase in the number of ethnic advertising being distributed on leaflets and displayed on buses, and at bus shelters.  She also spoke about how people from all ethnic backgrounds that are unable to read Asian characters are experiencing exclusion.  A copy of Ms. Merdinyan’s presentation is attached as Schedule 1 and forms part of these minutes.    

Upon concluding the presentation, the delegation submitted a petition (on file, City Clerk’s Office) consisting of 1000 signatures, of which 800 were acquired from Richmond residents and the remaining 200 belong to residents of other municipalities. Mayor Brodie read the petition aloud, and noted that the petition is to draw the attention of Mayor and Councillors to consider introducing a bylaw or policy that would make it necessary for commercial signs that are publicly displayed to include one of the official languages of Canada preceding the use of other world languages.

It was moved and seconded

That the presentation regarding signage in the City of Richmond and the related Resident’s Petition be received for information.

The question on the motion was not called, as a discussion then ensued about the feasibility of referring the matter to staff for further investigation and consultation with various community groups including the delegation, local merchants, and the Chinese community.  Discussion also took place about breaking the issue down further and reaching a consensus on how to deal with the various kinds of signage and promotional materials.  As a result of the discussion, the following amendment motion was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That the matter of signage in the City of Richmond be referred to staff for a consultation process with various community groups, with the focus being on the  following three types of promotional material:

(1)

basic signage, which would include business name and building information;

(2)

promotional material found in locations such as windows and bus stops; and

(3)

inserts that are delivered to residences.

The question on the amendment motion was not called, as further discussion ensued about how legislation of signage may be encroaching upon a business’ right to attract the kind of customers it is seeking.     

The question on the amendment motion was then called and it was DEFEATED with Mayor Brodie and Councillors Dang, Halsey-Brandt, Johnston, McNulty, McPhail, and Steves opposed.

The question on the main motion was then called, and it was CARRIED with Cllr. Au opposed.

COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT

2.

Vancouver Biennale Proposal for Charles Jencks Land Form Public Art Project for Alexandra Neighbourhood Park

(File Ref. No. 11-7000-09-20-139) (REDMS No. 3808265 v.2)

In response to a questions, Eric Fiss, Public Art Planner, advised that: (i) budget information for the proposal is anticipated to be available in three or four months time for Council’s review; and (ii) that Vancouver Biennale has been requested to ensure that Canadian artists are involved in the process.

It was moved and seconded

That staff be authorized to investigate the participation of American architectural theorist, landscape architect and designer Charles Jencks in the design of a permanent land based public art project for the Alexandra Neighbourhood Park for the 2013-2015 Vancouver Biennale, including financial implications and terms of conditions and report back, as presented in the staff report from the Director, Arts, Culture & Heritage Services dated February 28, 2013.

CARRIED

FINANCE AND CORPORATE SERVICES DEPARTMENT

3.

UPDATE ON SIDEWALK VENDING SERVICES PILOT PROJECT AND BUSINESS REGULATION BYLAW NO. 7538, AMENDMENT BYLAW NO. 8800

(File Ref. No. 10-6360-03-04) (REDMS No. 3794980 v.4)

Cecilia Achiam, Director, Administration and Compliance, and Aida Sayson, Manager, Corporate Compliance, were available to answer questions. 

It was moved and seconded

That:

(1)

Business Regulation Bylaw No. 7538, Amendment Bylaw No. 8800, be introduced and given first, second, and third readings;

(2)

a pilot project to allow sidewalk vending services at the intersection of No. 3 Road and Westminster Highway be endorsed; and

(3)

a report be brought back to Council following a one year review of the sidewalk vending services pilot project.

The question on the motion was not called as a brief discussion ensued about:  (i) how vendor truck size requirements would determine the appropriate vendor locations; and (ii) various ways for the City to monitor vendor activities to ensure compliance with business license regulations.

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

LAW & COMMUNITY SAFETY DEPARTMENT

4.

Sister City Advisory Committee 2012 Year in Review

(File Ref. No. 01-0100-20-SCIT1) (REDMS No. 3808514)

Amarjeet Rattan, Director, Intergovernmental Relations & Protocol Unit was available to answer questions. 

It was moved and seconded

That the Sister City Advisory Committee 2012 Year in Review, attached to the staff report dated March 5, 2013, from the Director, Intergovernmental Relations and Protocol Unit, be received for information.

CARRIED

5.

Non-Farm Use Fill Application by Sunshine Cranberry Farm Ltd No. BC735293 for Property Located at 12871 Steveston Highway

(File Ref. No.12-8080-12-01) (REDMS No. 3802363 v.5)

Terry Crowe, Manager, Policy Planning, and Magda Laljee, Supervisor, Community Bylaws, were available to answer questions. 

It was moved and seconded

That the non-farm use application submitted by Sunshine Cranberry Farm Ltd to fill the property located at 12871 Steveston Highway to an agricultural standard suitable for the purposes of blueberry farming be referred back to the Agricultural Advisory Committee to review. 

The question on the motion was not called, as a discussion ensued about requesting the Agricultural Advisory Committee (AAC) to further review the application, in particular the issues related to the drainage and irrigation on the site, and to provide information regarding the type of fill required for blueberry farming, and whether the land will then be limited to blueberry farming only. 

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

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:55 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, March 18, 2013.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie
Chair

Shanan Sarbjit Dhaliwal
Executive Assistant
City Clerk’s Office