May 4, 2015 - Minutes

Date:

Monday, May 4, 2015

Place:

Anderson Room
Richmond City Hall

Present:

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

Absent:

Councillor Chak Au

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, April 20, 2015, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR’S OFFICE

1.

Visiting Delegation, Study Tour and City Hall Tour Policy - One Year Review
(File Ref. No. 01-0450-00; 12-8060-20-009068) (REDMS No. 4529679 v. 2)

In reply to a query from Committee, Amarjeet Rattan, Director, Intergovernmental Relations and Protocol, commented that the purpose of some visiting delegations and study tours may be specific, and as such, these groups may request an opportunity to meet with appropriate City staff.

It was moved and seconded

That the staff report titled Visiting Delegation, Study Tour and City Hall Tour Policy - One Year Review, dated April 2, 2015, from the Director, Intergovernmental Relations and Protocol Unit, be received for information.

CARRIED

2.

Proposed Revised Provincial Electoral Boundaries
(File Ref. No. 01-0150-03) (REDMS No. 4560643)

Discussion ensued and it was noted that, should Council support the proposed revised provincial electoral boundaries, the staff recommendation be endorsed and correspondence be sent to the Melnick Commission accordingly.

In response to queries from Committee, Mr. Rattan advised that (i) there was no significant increase to the geographical footprint for the proposed Richmond-Queensborough electoral district, (ii) public response at the Melnick Commission public hearing was favourable, and (iii) split ridings are common in both federal and provincial electoral districts.

Gary Cross, 8238 Saba Road, circulated a proposed revised provincial electoral boundaries map (attached to and forming part of these minutes as Schedule 1) and raised concern that the current boundaries proposed by the Melnick Commission would disenfranchise city centre residents. He requested that one city centre electoral district be considered rather than the Commission’s proposal, which divides the area between two districts.

In response to a query from Committee, Mr. Rattan advised that the Commission used specific population formulas to aid in balancing the proposed electoral boundaries.  Also, he noted that the submission deadline for the proposed provincial electoral districts is Tuesday, May 26, 2015.

Discussion ensued regarding the benefits of additional representation in the Legislative Assembly to the City.

As a result of the discussion the following motion was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the staff report titled Proposed Revised Provincial Electoral Boundaries, dated April 21, 2015, from the Director, Intergovernmental Relations and Protocol Unit, be received for information and endorsed; and

(2)

That a letter be sent to the Melnick Commission accordingly.

CARRIED

ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION

3.

Climate Action Revenue Incentive Program (CARIP) & Carbon Neutral Operations Update
(File Ref. No. 10-6000-01) (REDMS No. 4552758 v. 6)

In reply to queries from Committee, Levi Higgs, Corporate Energy Manager, advised that staff from the Sustainability and District Energy Department will continue to engage in community energy generation activities.  Also, he advised that the corporate emissions surplus will be carried forward and used as needed to achieve carbon neutrality in subsequent years.

Committee thanked staff for their work with the Richmond Weavers and Spinners Guild to repurpose invasive weeds.  Discussion ensued regarding the potential to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions through (i) the rehabilitation of the bog and agricultural lands as part of the Garden City Lands project, and (ii) the relocation of bungalows marked for demolition.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the staff report titled Climate Action Revenue Incentive Program (CARIP) & Carbon Neutral Operations Update, dated April 20, 2015, from the Director, Engineering, be forwarded to the Advisory Committee on the Environment for comment; and

(2)

That staff report back with a long term strategy for maintaining corporate carbon neutral operations.

CARRIED

COMMUNITY SERVICES DIVISION

4.

Minoru Complex Public Realm and Building Update
(File Ref. No. 06-2052-55-01) (REDMS No. 4560059 v. 6)

Serena Lusk, Senior Manager, Recreation and Sport Services, accompanied by Jim Young, Senior Manager, Project Development, provided background information and noted some housekeeping items in the staff report.

In response to queries from Committee regarding the primary second-storey multi-purpose room, the following information was provided:

§   

publically accessible views from the room would be diminished in Option 1;

§   

the Richmond Fitness and Wellness Association preferred the Base Option due to the room’s central location, the Richmond Sports Council preferred Option 1 as it allowed for better access and views to the north field, and Option 2 provided a compromise to both primary stakeholders;

§   

relocating the room to the north-east corner would require re-design to allow for public access;

§   

accommodating a multi-purpose room at the north-east corner of the building would require the mechanical room to be separated into two individual spaces;

§   

to accommodate Options 1 and 2 within the Council approved budget would require re-examination of the project’s scope and other items, such as finish and/or floor materials;

§   

the project had been proceeding based on the timelines previously approved by Council with an anticipated completion by summer 2017; however, the timeline can be extended at Council’s discretion;

§   

the various options do not reduce the overall net area of multi-purpose space;

§   

it is anticipated that the north plaza space would accommodate tents, trailers and food trucks for events;

§   

an additional elevator at the north-east corner of the building would approximately cost an additional $100,000 to $150,000;

§   

exterior stairs are provided in each option; and

§   

programming of the multi-purpose rooms were not determined by rental revenues.

Discussion ensued regarding (i) the challenges with providing accessibility to the second floor multi-purpose room, (ii) the need for sport tournament administration space, and (iii) staff providing further information related to trees, seating plans, and parking.

In reply to a query from Committee, Mike Redpath, Senior Manager, Parks, commented that a central “hub” in proximity to the Complex, which could support tournaments and provide a caretaker unit as well as concession space, was not designed as part of the public realm concept plan.

In reply to a query from Committee, Cathryn Volkering Carlile, General Manager, Community Services, commented that, as part of the Parks Master Plan, staff would examine how support for major events would be accommodated in the overall site plan for Minoru Park.

Mr. Redpath advised that it is anticipated that the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Master Plan be forwarded for Council’s consideration in 2017.  He further advised that the re-development of the greater area surrounding the Minoru Complex would be a long term initiative.

It was moved and seconded

That the staff report titled Minoru Complex Public Realm and Building Update, dated April 10, 2015, from the Senior Manager, Project Development, and Senior Manager, Recreation and Sport Services, providing additional information on the following topics related to the Minoru Complex:

(1)

the proposed trees on the east side of the Minoru Complex;

(2)

the placement of the multipurpose room and how to optimize it;

(3)

the proposed seating plans in the vicinity of the Minoru Complex;

(4)

the proposed plans and configurations for the parking and bike path along Granville Avenue; and

be received for information.

The question on the motion was not called as discussion ensued regarding the feasibility and costs to incorporate administrative space that would meet the needs for a tournament centre as identified by the Richmond Sports Council.  The question on the motion was then called and it was CARRIED with Cllr. McNulty opposed.

It was moved and seconded

That staff explore the possibility of facilitating a tournament centre within the Minoru site plan.

CARRIED

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:04 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, May 4, 2015.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie
Chair

Heather Howey
Committee Clerk