March 2, 2015 - Minutes

Date:

Monday, March 2, 2015

Place:

Anderson Room
Richmond City Hall

Present:

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

Absent:

Councillor Ken Johnston
Councillor Bill McNulty

Call to Order:

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

AGENDA DELETION

It was moved and seconded

That Item No. 3 - Gaming Revenue Update be deferred to the Monday, March 16, 2015 General Purposes Committee meeting.

CARRIED

MINUTES

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on Monday, February 16, 2015, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

DELEGATION

1.

With the aid of a PowerPoint presentation (copy on file, City Clerk’s Office) Kleo Landucci, Vice President, Projects and Development, Ashcroft Terminal, accompanied by Bob Landucci, Owner, Ashcroft Terminal, provided an overview of the Terminal’s operations. Ms. Landucci noted that the privately-owned inland terminal operates on 10% of its 320-acre geographical footprint, and that its internal rail track services the needs of clients from the rail, mining, oil and gas, forestry, chemical, and agricultural industries.  Ms. Landucci spoke of a partnership with Transport Canada in financing a $7.2 million expansion of the lead line which was completed in May 2014, and highlighted that this project increased rail fluidity through this crucial gateway.

In response to queries from Committee, Ms. Landucci and Mr. Landucci provided the following information:

§   

in May 2015, the Terminal will begin shipping approximately 200 to 300 containers per week in anticipation of weekly projections increasing to 700 to 1,000 containers;

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the terminal will not have exclusive contracts with any of the container shipping lines as its vision is to utilize empty rail containers in an effort to maximize efficiencies;

§   

the Terminal’s objective is to synergize various levels of government, port authorities, and shipping companies to work together to achieve efficient and economical transportation practices for industry producers;

§   

Port Metro Vancouver’s (PMV) position on the Terminal’s development is not favourable;

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the Terminal does not directly compete with PMV; rather it services and assists in the operational fluidity of the rail lines in the transportation of product for import and/or export through Lower Mainland ports;

§   

the Alameda Corridor, a freight rail “expressway” through the city of Los Angeles, California, demonstrated that efficiencies are possible through a collaborative effort;

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the Terminal has submitted an application under the Building Canada Fund with Infrastructure Canada with regard to improvements to rail line fluidity; and

§   

local initiatives, such as the Corporation of Delta’s Economic Impact of Traffic Congestion study, are instrumental in identifying the benefits of an inland terminal.

Discussion ensued regarding (i) the Port’s encroachment on agricultural land, (ii) transportation issues related to truck traffic, and (iii) manners in which the City can assist in promoting the Terminal.

Also, Committee recognized the willingness of Metro Vancouver to meet with members of the Port Metro Vancouver Board and the Ministry of Transportation to discuss alternatives to the regional transportation issues.

As a result of the discussion, the following referral was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That the Ashcroft Terminal presentation be referred to staff for further analysis.

CARRIED

ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION

2.

LED Street Light and Adaptive Controls Trial Program Agreement with BC Hydro
(File Ref. No. 10-6125-05-01) (REDMS No. 4478762 v. 19)

In reply to a query from Committee, Levi Higgs, Corporate Energy Manager, advised that the City indirectly pays for the electrical and operational costs for the proposed LED street lighting.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the staff report titled LED Street Light and Adaptive Controls Trial Program Agreement with BC Hydro, dated February 16, 2015, from the Director, Engineering, be endorsed;

(2)

That the Chief Administrative Officer and the General Manager, Engineering and Public Works be authorized to negotiate and execute an agreement with British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) for a street lighting pilot project; and

(3)

That an amendment to the City’s Five Year Financial Plan (2015-2019) to include capital costs of $17,000 in 2015 with funding from the Enterprise Fund provision be approved for this pilot project.

CARRIED

FINANCE AND CORPORATE SERVICES DIVISION

3.

Gaming Revenue Update
(File Ref. No. 03-0905-01) (REDMS No. 4266078 v. 2)

Please refer to Page 1 for action on this item.

COMMUNITY SERVICES DIVISION

4.

Funding for Major Events and Festivals 2015
(File Ref. No. 11-7000-01) (REDMS No. 4508535 v. 4)

In response to queries from Committee, Bryan Tasaka, Manager, Major Events and Film, noted that a staff report regarding the renaming of the proposed “Block Party” will be presented at an upcoming Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Committee meeting.  Also, he noted that the proposed sponsorship funding target is an estimate and that the scope of the events would be increased should additional sponsorship funding opportunities arise.  Mr. Tasaka spoke of the proposed “Block Party” noting that staff’s extensive research efforts and the City’s well-established relations with local production companies will allow planning to move ahead quickly.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That $150,000 be transferred from the Major Events Provision Fund to support Ships to Shore 2015;

(2)

That $180,000 be transferred from the Major Events Provision Fund to support Maritime Festival 2015;

(3)

That $40,000 be transferred from the Major Events Provision Fund to support Richmond Days of Summer marketing campaign 2015;

(4)

That $170,000 be transferred from the Major Events Provision Fund to support Richmond World Block Party in the City Centre in 2015;

(5)

That $60,000 be transferred from the Major Events Provision Fund to support Richmond Children’s Arts Festival 2016;

(6)

That $10,000 be transferred from the Major Events Provision Fund to purchase festival infrastructure and City branded assets;

(7)

That $50,000 be transferred from the Major Events Provision Fund for planning and potential ship recruitment building to enhance events in 2017; and

(8)

That the expenditures totalling $945,000 for Major Events, of which $660,000 is funded from the Major Events Provision Fund, and $285,000 funded from projected sponsorships and grants be included in the 5 Year Financial Plan (2015-2019).

CARRIED

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:44 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 2, 2015.

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Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie
Chair

Heather Howey
Committee Clerk