December 15, 2014 - Minutes

Date:

Monday, December 15, 2014

Place:

Anderson Room
Richmond City Hall

Present:

Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie, Chair
Councillor Chak Au
Councillor Derek Dang
Councillor Carol Day
Councillor Ken Johnston
Councillor Alexa Loo
Councillor Bill McNulty
Councillor Linda McPhail
Councillor Harold Steves

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 Tuesday, December 2, 2014, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

ENGINEERING & PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT

1.

Trans Mountain Pipeline Project NEB – Update and Intervenor Opportunities
(File Ref. No. 10-6125-30-005) (REDMS No. 4447578)

Amarjeet Rattan, Director, Intergovernmental Relations and Protocol Unit, advised that the National Energy Board extended the deadlines for Intervenors to submit (i) Phase 2 information requests from Friday, January, 9, 2015 to Friday, January 16, 2015, (ii) written evidence from Friday, May 1, 2015 to Wednesday, May 27, 2015, and (iii) Phase 3 information requests from Monday, May 25, 2015 to Monday, June 22, 2015.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the staff report titled Trans Mountain Pipeline Project National Energy Board (NEB) – Update and Intervenor Opportunities, dated December 1, 2014, from the Director, Engineering and Director, Intergovernmental Relations & Protocol Unit, providing details on the Kinder Morgan-led pipeline expansion project and National Energy Board (NEB) review process, be received for information; and

(2)

That staff proceed with a submission for Information Requests to the NEB, detailed in Attachment 1 of the staff report titled Trans Mountain Pipeline Project National Energy Board (NEB) – Update and Intervenor Opportunities, dated December 1, 2014, from the Director, Engineering and Director, Intergovernmental Relations & Protocol Unit, for the January 9, 2015 NEB deadline for Intervenor’s Status.

The question on the motion was not called as discussion ensued regarding (i) reports that groups are requesting that the Proponent abandon the proposed route in favour of a route along the Fraser River, (ii) liability insurance in the event of a spill, and (iii) further opportunities to request information or to provide comments, particularly with regard to possible mid-stream changes to the project footprint.

In reply to queries from Committee, Mr. Rattan commented that groups supporting a route along the Fraser River advocate that, in the long term, the route would be more economical and environmentally cleaner; conversely, costs for the project would increase by approximately $1.2 billion.  He further commented that the safety concerns identified in the staff report are the City’s first submission to the Proponent; however, the process allows for another opportunity, and as such any further matter of interest or concern (i.e., liability insurance) identified by Council can be addressed at that time.  Additionally, Mr. Rattan noted that, given the tight deadlines for submissions, route changes introduced at intermediate or late stages of the process may potentially provide insufficient opportunity for review and comment.

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

FINANCE & CORPORATE SERVICES DEPARTMENT

2.

2015 Council and Committee Meeting Schedule
(File Ref. No.:  01-0105-00) (REDMS No. 4335773)

It was moved and seconded

That the 2015 Council and Committee meeting schedule, attached to the staff report dated December 2, 2014, from the Director, City Clerk’s Office, be approved, including the following revisions as part of the regular August meeting break and December holiday season:

(1)

That the Regular Council meetings (open and closed) of August 10, August 24, and December 29, 2015 be cancelled; and

(2)

That the August 17, 2015 Public Hearing be re-scheduled to Tuesday, September 8, 2015 at 7:00 pm in the Council Chambers at Richmond City Hall.

CARRIED

COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT

3.

City Support for Richmond Division of Family Practice: A GP for Me Initiative
(File Ref. No. 07-3000-00) (REDMS No. 4452150 v.2)

John Foster, Manager, Community Social Development, advised that representatives from the Richmond Division of Family Practice (RDFP) were available to answer questions from Committee.

Committee expressed support for the RDFP and the following comments were noted:

§   

Council’s willingness to participation in finding solutions to ensure that an appropriate level of health care is provided in Richmond;

§   

details of any further City support would be outlined in a subsequent staff report;

§   

the implementation of a mechanism to address Goal #1 “enabling patients who want a family doctor to find one” should be a priority;

§   

sharing the RDFP’s survey results to stakeholders and other interested groups (i.e., Richmond Community Services Advisory Committee) is an important step in educating and engaging the community on the challenges faced by the RDFP;

§   

the need to identify and, if necessary, remove barriers for health practitioners wishing to relocate to Richmond;

§   

the benefits of preparing information packages on the business licence application process and the availability of commercial space would assist potential health practitioners in relocating to Richmond; and

§   

the feasibility of petitioning the Federal government for means to attract international health practitioners to Canada.

In response to queries from Committee, Dr. Jack Kliman, Chair, RDFP, advised that the RDFP welcomed the City’s input on the challenges faced by the RDFP, including (i) the distribution and recruitment of health practitioners, nutritionists, and nurses, (ii) health literacy and delivery concerns, (iii) the implementation of Richmond specific strategies, and (iv) liaising with other interest groups.  Additionally, Dr. Kliman advised that the RDFP will be submitting its implementation process request to the “GP for Me” funders in January 2015.

It was moved and seconded

That a letter be sent to the Richmond Division of Family Practice indicating the City’s willingness to assist the Division in advancing the objectives of the “GP for Me” initiative, as described in the staff report titled City Support for Richmond Division of Family Practice: A GP for Me Initiative dated December 8, 2014, from the General Manager, Community Services.

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, December 15, 2014.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie
Chair

Heather Howey
Committee Clerk