May 19, 2015 - Minutes

Date:

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Place:

Anderson Room
Richmond City Hall

Present:

Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie, Chair
Councillor Chak Au
Councillor Derek Dang
Councillor Carol Day (entered at 4:06 p.m.)
Councillor Ken Johnston
Councillor Alexa Loo
Councillor Bill McNulty
Councillor Linda McPhail
Councillor Harold Steves (entered at 4:05 p.m.)

Call to Order:

The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.

AGENDA ADDITION

It was moved and seconded

That bed bugs be added to the agenda as Item No. 6.

CARRIED

MINUTES

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the special meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on Monday, May 11, 2015, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

DELEGATION

Craig Richmond, President and Chief Executive Officer, Vancouver Airport Authority (VAA), accompanied by Anne Murray, Vice President, Community and Environmental Affairs, VAA, and Howard Jampolsky, City of Richmond representative on the Vancouver International Airport Board, provided an update on the Airport Authority’s activities over the past year and spoke of upcoming economic opportunities.

Councillor Steves entered the meeting (4:05 p.m.).

Councillor Day entered the meeting (4:06 p.m.).

In response to Committee comments, Mr. Richmond was of opinion that the conditional environmental approval for the jet fuel pipeline is the best alternative, noting that environmental standards will be maintained.  Also, he commented that the VAA is subject to federal regulations regarding provisions for multilingual personnel and signage in both official languages; however, where possible, additional translation is provided for international flights.

ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION

1.

Amendments to Water Use Restriction Bylaw and Consolidated Fees Bylaw to Support Chafer Beetle Biocontrol
(File Ref. No. 10-6125-04-01; 12-8060-20-009247/9248) (REDMS No. 4561394 v. 3)

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That Water Use Restriction Bylaw No. 7784, Amendment Bylaw No. 9247 be introduced and given first, second and third readings; and

(2)

That Consolidated Fees Bylaw No. 8636, Amendment Bylaw No. 9248 be introduced and given first, second and third readings.

The question on the motion was not called as in reply to queries from Committee, Lesley Douglas, Manager, Environmental Sustainability, advised that the effectiveness of the insecticide will be dependent on the infested lawn area receiving ample water before and after its application.

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

COMMUNITY SERVICES DIVISION

2.

London/Steveston Park Concept Plan
(File Ref. No. 06-2345-20-LSTE1) (REDMS No. 4540721 v. 8)

Mike Redpath, Senior Manager, Parks, accompanied by Clarence Sihoe, Park Planner, provided background information on the London/Steveston Park Concept Plan.

In response to queries from Committee, Mr. Redpath provided the following information:

§   

the geographic distribution of off-leash dog parks throughout the city identified a need for such a park in the London-Steveston area;

§   

a wider multi-use trail is proposed to allow for two-way circulation;

§   

the existing park washrooms are anticipated to be open from dawn to dusk, which is an extension of what is permitted at other parks;

§   

the two smaller ball diamond backstops will be re-located elsewhere within the City’s park system;

§   

the proposed off-leash dog park will be reviewed and an update provided to Committee accordingly;

§   

design details for the play area have not been determined; however, preliminary designs do not include a water feature; and

§   

several options are being explored regarding the proposed hard surface trail for the site.

Discussion ensued regarding promoting public awareness for the Park.  Committee requested that staff provide an update on (i) the current park space inventory, (ii) minimum standards for park space, (iii) future needs, and (iv) Park hours of operation.

It was moved and seconded

That the London/Steveston Park Concept Plan, as outlined in the staff report titled “London/Steveston Park Concept Plan,” dated May 1, 2015, from the Senior Manager, Parks, be approved.

CARRIED

LAW AND COMMUNITY SAFETY DIVISION

3.

Sister City Advisory Committee 2014 Year In Review
(File Ref. No. 01-0100-30-SCIT1-01) (REDMS No. 4562749)

In reply to a query from Committee, Amarjeet Rattan, Director, Intergovernmental Relations and Protocol Unit, advised that the Sister City Advisory Committee (SCAC) is currently working on a three-year work plan that will be presented at a future Committee meeting.

It was moved and seconded

That the staff report titled “Sister City Advisory Committee 2014 Year in Review,” dated May 1, 2015, from the Director, Intergovernmental Relations and Protocol Unit, be received for information.

The question on the motion was not called as in reply to a query from Committee, Mr. Rattan stated that the budget for the current three-year term for SCAC activities is approximately $220,000, which included allocations for the annual Richmond-Wakayama Student Exchange program, the Youth Honour Park, and the Wakayama-Richmond Anniversary commemoration.

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

FINANCE AND CORPORATE SERVICES DIVISION

4.

Update on Signage on Private Properties
(File Ref. No. 03-0900-01) (REDMS No. 4403117 v. 12)

Cecilia Achiam, Director, Administration and Compliance, provided background information and commented that, in an effort to promote community harmony, staff are recommending Option 2 that includes continuing of outreach efforts to improve compliance with Sign Bylaw No. 5560, and updating Sign Bylaw No. 5560.

In response to queries from Committee, Cathryn Volkering Carlile, General Manager, Community Services, advised that plans to address the language issue are based on creating opportunities for Richmond’s cultural mosaic to gather together.  Also, Doug Long, City Solicitor, commented that an Ontario court upheld minimum language on signage regarding Canada’s official languages; however, no case law has been established under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms on foreign language signage.

In response to further queries from Committee, Ms. Achiam provided the following information:

§   

staff have spoken with the 13 business owners whose signage is strictly in a foreign language in an effort to seek voluntary compliance with Sign Bylaw No. 5560;

§   

it is anticipated that costs associated with a temporary full-time sign/business license inspector will be recovered through application fees;

§   

approximately 60% of respondents favoured some form of combined outreach education and regulation to address the matter;

§   

respondents held strong views on the matter;

§   

the Canadian Sign Association will provide valuable input in any future proposed sign regulations; and

§   

Sign Bylaw No. 5560 regulates exterior signage; however, staff anticipate that updates to the bylaw would include limiting store front window advertising.

Discussion ensued regarding (i) the merits of continuing outreach and education efforts to business owners, (ii) the need to update Sign Bylaw No. 5560, (iii) the community’s will to seek voluntary compliance with regard to sign regulations, and (iv) the feasibility of regulating exterior and interior signage and/or implementing a “Sign Watch” program.

In reply to a query from Committee, Mr. Long commented that forthcoming revisions to Sign Bylaw No. 5560 would be comprehensive, including regulations related to advertisements, posters, and maximum window area coverage.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That Option 2: “De-cluttering without a language provision” which entails the continuation of outreach effort and updating Sign Bylaw No. 5560 be approved.  The Sign Bylaw update will include de-cluttering without a language provision and addressing non language related regulatory gaps; and

(2)

That staff be directed to review the Sign Permit Application fees and bring an update to the Consolidated Fees Bylaw No. 8636 for consideration by Council along with the new Sign Bylaw.

CARRIED

CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR’S OFFICE

5.

Council Term Goals 2014-2018
(File Ref. No. 01-0105-07-01) (REDMS No. 4537297 v. 12)

Discussion ensued regarding (i) creating a separate theme for the “community social services component” included as part of Theme 2, (ii) expanding the definition of a well-informed citizenry under Theme 9, (iii) adding to subsection 8.2 to include City policies and regulations related to the maintenance of the city’s industrial land base, and (iv) ensuring that each Term Goal Theme is of equal priority.

It was moved and seconded

That Council consider the information contained in this report from the Corporate Programs Consultant, dated May 5, 2015, and either adopt the 9 themes and priorities presented herein as their Council Term Goals for the 2014-2018 term of office, or identify and adopt any modifications, deletions or additions to this information for their Council Term Goals for the 2014-2018 term of office.

The question on the motion was not called as the following amendments were introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That the community social services component, including subsection 2.2 and other references to social service networks, be separated to create “Theme 10” to the Council Term Goals 2014-2018.

Discussion ensued on the merits of the community social services component being a stand-alone theme.

The question on the amendment motion was then called and it was DEFEATED with Mayor Brodie and Cllrs. Dang, Johnston, Loo, and Steves opposed.

It was moved and seconded

That the second bullet of subsection 8.2 be amended to include the following at the end, “and to protect the industrial land base.”

DEFEATED
Opposed:  Mayor Brodie
Cllrs. Au
Dang
Johnston
Loo
McNulty
McPhail
Steves

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

6.

bed bugS
(File Ref. No.)

Councillor McPhail circulated background information regarding the potential of a bed bug infestation at public facilities and/or public places (copy on file, City Clerk’s Office) and the following referral was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That the matter of bed bugs be referred to staff to discuss with Vancouver Coastal Health the potential of a bed bug infestation at public facilities and/or public places, the protocols, and report back.

The question on the referral was not called as discussion ensued regarding staff liaising with other facilities and organizations for best practices.

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

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:39 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 Tuesday, May 19, 2015.

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Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie
Chair

Heather Howey
Committee Clerk