April 7, 2015 - Minutes
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General Purposes Committee
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Date: |
Tuesday, April 7, 2015 |
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Anderson Room |
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Present: |
Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie, Chair |
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Call to Order: |
The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. |
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AGENDA ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS |
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It was moved and seconded |
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(1) |
That Item No. 2 – Richmond Public Library Steveston Branch Short Term Options be deleted from the agenda; and |
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(2) |
That the New Provincial Riding in Richmond be added to the agenda as Item No. 3. |
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CARRIED |
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MINUTES |
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It was moved and seconded |
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That the minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on Monday, March 16, 2015, be adopted as circulated. |
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CARRIED |
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COMMUNITY SERVICES DIVISION |
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1. |
Richmond Women's Resource Centre Funding Request |
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In reply to queries from Committee, Lesley Sherlock, Social Planner, provided the following information: |
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the Richmond Women’s Resource Centre (RWRC) offers unique programming that is not constrained by any qualifying funding criteria under the BC Gaming grant program; |
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due to increased gaming revenues, it is anticipated that grant funding allocations will increase for 2016, however there are no guarantees that said funding will continue to increase on an annual basis; |
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a list of possible grant organizations was provided to the RWRC to assist in their pursuit of further revenue sources; |
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it is anticipated that any funding requests approved as part of the 2016 Health, Social and Safety Grant Program would be disbursed in March 2016; and |
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in the event additional funding sources are not forthcoming, the RWRC would have to consider further program and service reductions. |
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Mary Scott, Interim President, RWRC, highlighted the range of programs and services provided in response to the needs of the women and children of Richmond. Ms. Scott advised that efforts to become more financially viable have included conducting fundraising events, drawing from GICs, reducing staff hours, closing the Centre during summer months, and pursuing provincial and federal funding opportunities. She further advised that a loan would not be a viable option under the Centre’s current financial hardship. |
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In response to queries from Committee, Ms. Scott commented that it is anticipated that the Centre will be closed for approximately eight weeks in the summer in an effort to reduce costs. With regard to partnerships and other funding opportunities, Ms. Scott advised that the Centre will be approaching (i) other non-profit organizations to discuss amalgamating services, (ii) the Richmond Night Market regarding a funding initiative, and (iii) the Richmond Community Foundation. |
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It was moved and seconded |
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That the Richmond Women’s Resource Centre’s request for additional funding be considered as part of the 2016 Health, Social and Safety Grant Program review. |
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The question on the motion was not called as discussion ensued regarding (i) support for the additional funding request, (ii) the potential need to review the Grant Program process, and (iii) the City’s role versus the organizations responsibility in providing a financially viable service. |
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The question on the motion was then called and it was CARRIED with Cllrs. Au and Steves opposed. |
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2. |
RICHMOND PUBLIC LIBRARY STEVESTON BRANCH SHORT TERM OPTIONS |
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Please refer to Page 1 for action on this item. |
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3. |
New Provincial riding |
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The Chair referenced a staff memorandum titled “Update: Proposed Revised Provincial Electoral Boundaries” dated March 27, 2015, from the Manager, Policy Planning (copy on file, City Clerk’s Office), noting that the deadline for Council to submit comments to the Electoral Boundaries Commission is Wednesday, May 26, 2015. As a result of the discussion the following referral was introduced: |
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It was moved and seconded |
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That the Proposed Revised Provincial Electoral Boundaries be referred to staff for further analysis and to report back to Committee. |
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The question on the referral was not called as discussion ensued regarding staff reporting on any potential impacts and on the projected population within the proposed electoral boundaries. |
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In reply to a query from Committee, Terry Crowe, Manager, Policy Planning, commented that the projected population by 2031 in the Hamilton/Queensborough area is approximately 26,000. |
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The question on the referral was then called and it was CARRIED. |
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ADJOURNMENT |
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It was moved and seconded |
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That the meeting adjourn (4:26 p.m.). |
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CARRIED |
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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 Tuesday, April 7, 2015. |
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_________________________________ |
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Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie |
Heather Howey |
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