July 6, 2015 - Minutes

Date:

Monday, July 6, 2015

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 4:02 p.m.

MINUTES

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on June 15, 2015, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

DELEGATION

1.

Steve Veinot, Chair, Tourism Richmond Board, accompanied by Tracy Lakeman, Chief Executive Officer, Tourism Richmond, provided an overview of Tourism Richmond’s 2014 activities and highlighted the following:

§   

Richmond had the highest national hotel occupancy rate of over 75%;

§   

the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) in conjunction with Visa Canada released a report that showed Richmond as one of the top ten cities visited by four out of the top five inbound source countries;

§   

the report ranked Richmond 9^th in the summer and 8^th during the winter for travelers from the United States;

§   

in 2015, visitor surveys will be conducted year round focusing on leisure travelers, convention and meeting delegates, tour groups, as well as airline crews;

§   

approximately 8700 surveys were completed by May 2015 with approximately 45% of respondents being from outside the Lower Mainland with a breakdown of 30% from British Columbia, 28% from other provinces, 19% from the United States, and 24% were overseas travelers;

§   

Tourism Richmond and the Vancouver Airport Authority are hosting the 2016 SMART Airports and Regions Conference which attracts a global audience of over 600 key stakeholders;

§   

Tourism Richmond continues to ensure that its programming aligns with those of their partners and with Richmond’s Council Term Goals 2014-2018; and

§   

fully booked hotel rooms resulted in a 40% decrease in leisure promotional room nights.

In response to queries from Committee, Ms. Lakeman advised that competitors for the tourism market may include partner organizations or cities, such as Destination BC, Destination Canada, Vancouver, Kelowna, Kamloops, Victoria, Toronto, and Seattle. Also, she advised that, under the terms of the Tourism Richmond Association agreement with the City, approximately $900,000 of the annual Additional Hotel Room Tax (AHRT) is committed to support sports hosting and the ROX.

FINANCE AND CORPORATE SERVICES DIVISION

2.

1016879 B.C. Ltd., doing business as Tasty Kitchen Unit 1226 – 8338 Capstan Way
(File Ref. No.) (REDMS No. 4596740)

In reply to queries from Committee, Glenn McLaughlin, Chief Licence Inspector and Risk Manager, commented that the staff recommendation to support the change of hours of liquor sales was based on Tasty Kitchen being a food primary service.  He further commented that recent denials for similar requests were for liquor (pub or lounge) primary service establishments in which food may or may not be served.

It was moved and seconded

That the application from 1016879 B.C. Ltd., doing business as Tasty Kitchen, for an amendment to increase their hours of liquor service under Food Primary Liquor Licence No. 303675 from 9:00 a.m. to midnight Monday to Sunday to 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. Monday to Sunday, be supported and that a letter be sent to the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch advising that:

(1)

Council supports the amendment for an increase in liquor service hours as the increase will not have a significant impact on the community;

(2)

Council’s comments on the prescribed criteria (set out in Section 53 of the Liquor Control and Licensing Regulations) are as follows:

(a)

the potential for additional noise and traffic in the area was considered;

(b)

the impact on the community was assessed through a community consultation process;

(c)

given that there has been no history of non-compliance with the operation, the amendment to permit extended hours of liquor service under the Food Primary Liquor Licence should not change the establishment such that it is operated contrary to its primary purpose;

(3)

as the operation of a licenced establishment may affect nearby residents the City gathered the view of the residents as follows:

(a)

property owners and businesses within a 50 metre radius of the subject property were contacted by letter detailing the application, providing instructions on how community comments or concerns could be submitted;

(b)

signage was posted at the subject property and three public notices were published in a local newspaper.  This signage and notice provided information on the application and instructions on how community comments or concerns could be submitted; and

(4)

Council’s comments and recommendations respecting the view of the residents are as follows:

(a)

that based on the number of letters sent and the lack of response received from all public notifications, Council considers that the amendment is acceptable to the majority of the residents in the area and the community.

CARRIED

COMMUNITY SERVICES DIVISION

3.

Minoru Complex Aquatic Centre Public Art Concept Proposal
(File Ref. No. 11-7000-09-20-201) (REDMS No. 4578746 v. 2)

Eric Fiss, Public Art Planner, provided background information on the solar cloud public art concept.  In reply to a query from Committee, Mr. Fiss noted that the small scale prototype of the artwork mechanics will be used to test the performance and durability of the material.

It was moved and seconded

That the concept proposal and installation for the Minoru Complex Aquatic Centre public artwork by artists Germaine Koh and Gordon Hicks, as presented in the staff report titled “Minoru Complex Aquatic Centre Public Art Concept Proposal,” dated June 10, 2015, from the Director, Arts, Culture and Heritage Services, be endorsed.

CARRIED

4.

Minoru Complex Public Art, Entries and Arrivals Concept Proposal
(File Ref. No. 11-7000-09-20-202) (REDMS No. 4578013 v. 4)

Mr. Fiss advised that the “Multipole” artwork was developed in consultation with stakeholder groups in order to create a key landmark and gathering place at the Minoru complex.

In response to a query from Committee, Mr. Fiss advised that the budget for the artwork includes costs associated with the design, engineering, and plaza pavement treatment.  Additionally, he noted that further study will be required related to the light beacon to minimize any potential impact to neighbouring residents and air traffic.

It was moved and seconded

That the concept proposal and installation for the Minoru Complex Entries and Arrivals public artwork by artist Sheila Klein, as presented in the staff report titled “Minoru Complex Public Art, Entries and Arrivals Concept Proposal,” dated June 10, 2015, from the Director, Arts, Culture and Heritage Services, be endorsed.

The question on the motion was not called as discussion ensued regarding the costs associated with the project.  Staff was directed to prepare a memorandum providing a breakdown of the costs associated with the components of the project prior to the Council meeting.

The question on the motion was then called and it was CARRIED with Cllr. Day opposed.

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 July 6, 2015.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie
Chair

Heather Howey
Committee Clerk