November 2, 2015 - Minutes

Date:

Monday, November 2, 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 October 19, 2015, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

DELEGATION

1.

Robert Kiesman, Chair, Steveston Harbour Authority (SHA), and Bob Baziuk, General Manager, SHA, provided an update on the Authority’s present and future activities, and highlighted the Authority’s objectives to (i) enhance and expand the existing operations, (ii) become more visible in the public realm, (iii) tidy their properties, and (iv) encourage greater industry involvement in their operations.  Also, it was noted that the SHA received federal funding in the amount of $14 million for nine separate projects at the Paramount and Gulf of Georgia Cannery sites.

Mr. Baziuk commented on “Net-Works” - a net recycling program and advised that preliminary discussions are underway for the construction of a $20 million recycling facility in Richmond pending the establishment of a sufficient supply of nylon fishing nets.

Mr. Kiesman noted that the SHA Board approved a 1% Sediment Management Fee as a funding mechanism for future dredging of the Steveston Cannery Channel and encouraged Council to view the promotional video on the SHA.

In reply to queries from Committee, Mr. Kiesman advised that the SHA would not be pursuing Port Metro Vancouver’s East Tidal Marsh project as further study indicated that the projected 20% reduction in sediment in the Steveston channel would not be realized by the construction of the proposed tidal marsh.  He further advised that the SHA was in favour of the transfer of road rights-of-way between the Federal government and the City and suggested that any minor modifications could be considered at a later date.  Also, Mr. Baziuk commented that the net recycling program has resulted in disposal fee savings of approximately $50,000.

FINANCE AND CORPORATE SERVICES DIVISION

2.

Inter-Municipal Business Licence Bylaws
(File Ref. No. 12-8060-20-009492/009493; 12-8275-10) (REDMS No. 4741708)

In reply to queries from Committee, Glenn McLaughlin, Special Projects, accompanied by Cecilia Achiam, Director, Administration and Compliance, advised that the intention of the Inter-Municipal Business Licence program was to remain revenue neutral; therefore, the proposed bylaw amendments would ensure that municipalities are able to recover their operating costs particularly in the event the program expands to other Lower Mainland municipalities.  Also, Ms. Achiam commented that further consideration would be required in order to ensure revenue neutral conditions for the participating municipalities should there be interest in expanding the program to include other business industries.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That Inter-municipal Business Licence Agreement Bylaw No. 9493 be introduced and given first, second and third readings; and

(2)

That Inter-municipal Business Licence Bylaw No. 9040, Amendment Bylaw No. 9492 be introduced and given first, second and third readings.

CARRIED

LAW AND COMMUNITY SAFETY DIVISION

3.

Soil Management in the Agricultural Land Reserve
(File Ref. No. 12-8060-20-009002/009003) (REDMS No. 4757194 v. 4)

In response to queries from Committee, Ed Warzel, Manager, Community Bylaws, provided the following information:

§   

soil management applications are submitted to both the City and the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC);

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the proposed bylaw amendment allows the City to provide immediate enforcement in the event of a violation;

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an agrologist will be available to the City to assist in controlling the quality of soil deposits; and

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discussions were held with the ALC to further expand on collaboration efforts, however no new enhancements have been brought forward.

Discussion ensued regarding whether the ALC is considering expanding the City’s authority to exercise more ALC powers and whether additional staff or costs would be incurred by the City.  It was suggested that staff meet with the ALC to explore the possibility of further municipal control regarding soil management.

In response to questions from Committee, Mr. Warzel commented that the number of soil management complaints received in 2015 is an indication that the City’s Soil Watch Program has been effective.  Also, he commented that bylaw violation fines are limited to a maximum of $500; however the City may write a Municipal Ticket Information for serious offences, with fines of approximately $10,000 per incident per day.  Also, it was noted that approximately 30% of complaints received are indeed a violation of the City’s bylaw and that investigative timeframes vary.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the staff report titled “Soil Management in the Agricultural Land Reserve”, dated October 19, 2015, from the General Manager, Law and Community Safety, be received for information;

(2)

That the Soil Fill Deposit Regulation Bylaw No. 8094, Amendment Bylaw No. 9002 be introduced and given first, second and third readings; and

(3)

That the Notice of Bylaw Violation Dispute Adjudication Bylaw No. 8122, Amendment Bylaw No. 9003 be introduced and given first, second, and third readings.

CARRIED

ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION

4.

ODOUR MANAGEMENT FROM ORGANIC WASTE MANAGEMENT FACILITIES IN RICHMOND AND SURROUNDING AREAS
(File Ref. No. 10-6175-02-01) (REDMS No. 4756818 v. 8)

Peter Russell, Senior Manager, Sustainability and District Energy, introduced Ray Robb, Division Manager, Environmental Regulatory and Enforcement Services, Metro Vancouver, and Scott Kerr, Regional Regulatory Compliance Officer, Harvest Power.

In reply to a question from Committee, Mr. Robb advised that the majority of odour management complaints received by Metro Vancouver have been attributed to activities by Harvest Power and West Coast Reduction.

Mr. Kerr commented that Harvest Power has taken steps towards managing odour at the facility and that continued research to identify solutions are underway.  He further commented that (i) contaminate-free organics (i.e., no garbage and no plastics) generate less odour, (ii) over 50% of organic waste processed at the facility comes from outside of Richmond, and (iii) there is little risk of pesticide contamination due to municipal regulations.

In response to a query from Committee, Suzanne Bycraft, Manager, Fleet and Environmental Programs, noted that approximately 14,000 tonnes of Richmond’s organic waste is processed at Harvest Power.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That staff continue to monitor odour issues and work with Harvest Power and Metro Vancouver to develop durable odour mitigation strategies;

(2)

That a letter be sent to the Metro Vancouver Board expressing the City’s concerns regarding current air quality from local organic waste management facilities and requesting that it investigate the feasibility of implementing an organics management odour control regulation for composting facilities regionally;

(3)

That a letter be sent to the Metro Vancouver Board requesting that it consider a requirement that member municipalities be limited to disposing organic waste at facilities with air quality permits or approvals; and

(4)

That a letter be sent to the BC Minister of Environment requesting that Operational Certificates regulating air emissions and odours be required for existing and new municipal facilities managing organic waste.

CARRIED

5.

National Zero Waste Council – Food Waste Reduction Federal Tax Incentive Proposal
(File Ref. No. 10-6370-10-01) (REDMS No. 4775301)

The Chair advised that the Food Waste Reduction Federal Tax Incentive proposal was a result of the National Zero Waste Council’s (NZWC) Food Working Group efforts to tax safe, healthy, and edible food waste.  He further advised that should the proposal gain support across Canada, it would be presented at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities prior to examining the enforcement and national standards required to implement the proposed tax.

Committee expressed support for the tax proposal and discussed the potential for avenues to channel safe, healthy, and edible food to local food banks and other such agencies.

It was moved and seconded

That the following resolution be adopted and forwarded to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) for consideration at FCM’s upcoming Annual General Meeting:

BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Richmond supports the National Zero Waste Council’s food waste reduction federal tax incentive proposal and urges the Government of Canada to implement tax incentives for food producers, suppliers and retailers to donate unsold edible food.

CARRIED

COMMUNITY SERVICES DIVISION

6.

Canada 150 Celebration Steering Committee
(File Ref. No. 11-7400-01) (REDMS No. 4777603)

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That a Canada 150 Celebration Steering Committee comprised of three members of Council be established as per the Terms of Reference to help guide Richmond’s Canada 150 Program of activities, events and infrastructure projects; and

(2)

That the Terms of Reference for a Canada 150 Celebration Steering Committee as outlined in the staff report titled “Canada 150 Celebration Steering Committee,” dated October 23, 2015, from the General Manager, Community Services, be endorsed.

(3)

That Councillors Bill McNulty, Linda McPhail, and Harold Steves be appointed to the Canada 150 Celebration Steering Committee.

CARRIED

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:48 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 November 2, 2015.

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Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie
Chair

Heather Howey
Legislative Services Coordinator