December 7, 2015 - Minutes

Date:

Monday, December 7, 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

Absent:

Councillor Harold Steves

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 November 16, 2015, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

FINANCE AND CORPORATE SERVICES DIVISION

1.

2016 Council and Committee Meeting Schedule
(File Ref. No. 01-0105-00) (REDMS No. 4779755)

It was moved and seconded

That the 2016 Council and Committee meeting schedule, attached to the staff report, dated November 16, 2015, from the Director, City Clerk’s Office, be approved, including the following revisions as part of the regular August meeting break and December holiday season:

(1)

That the Regular Council meetings (open and closed) of August 8, August 22, and December 28, 2016 be cancelled; and

(2)

That the August 15, 2016 Public Hearing be re-scheduled to September 6, 2016 at 7:00 pm in the Council Chambers at Richmond City Hall.

CARRIED

ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION

2.

Signing the Call for Action on Energy and Climate in the Building Sector
(File Ref. No. 10-6125-07-02) (REDMS No. 4773892 v. 3)

In reply to queries from Committee, Peter Russell, Senior Manager, Sustainability and District Energy, commented that (i) the intent of the report is to advocate for the inclusion if the energy and climate action targets in the revised Provincial Climate Leadership Plan, (ii) staff was not aware of the Province’s actions related to their public buildings, and (iii) it is anticipated that the Province’s revised Plan will be released in March 2016.

It was moved and seconded

That the City join other regional stakeholders in the Call for Action on Energy and Climate in the Building Sector in support of a new provincial “Climate Leadership Plan”,  as presented in the staff report titled “Signing the Call for Action on Energy and Climate in the Building Sector,” dated November 17, 2015, from the Director, Engineering.

CARRIED

3.

Harvest Power Air Quality Permit Review
(File Ref. No. 10-6175-02-01) (REDMS No. 4813746 v. 9)

In response to queries from Committee, Peter Russell, Senior Manager, Sustainability and District Energy, provided the following comments:

§   

Metro Vancouver (MV) regulates both solid waste and air quality;

§   

meat products are processed through the bio-digester in an enclosed facility and products composted go through a different process with additional levels of odour control;

§   

staff are requesting that MV clearly define pollution and indicate the health impacts being considered through the permit process;

§   

MV Permit and Enforcement Departments monitor the odour and air quality at the Harvest Power facility and staff is requesting MV enforce their bylaws and conditions of the Air Quality Permit;

§   

MV monitors the facility by reviewing the emission and concentrate flow rates reports submitted by Harvest Power and investigating complaints registered regarding odour and pollution in the area;

§   

discussions with Harvest Power related to odour and pollution are ongoing;

§   

the City will have an opportunity to examine the outcomes between MV and Harvest Power regarding the Air Quality Permit process and that the City’s concerns are addressed; and

§   

MV compliant process involves (i) identifying the source, such as the Harvest Power facility or a farm operation, (ii) meeting with Harvest Power to examine the operation, and (iii) enforcing the permit with the issuance of a ticket.

In reply to a query from Committee, Robert Gonzalez, General Manager, Engineering and Public Works, advised that Harvest Power have made a number of changes with their filtration, storage, and handling processes; however, the modifications have not proven successful.  He further advised that MV enforcement would have curtailed any odour issues.

In response to questions from Committee, Mr. Russell stated that odour management can be achieved through (i) reducing the pile heights, (ii) ensuring more balanced chemical environments, (iii) effectively managing the collection of material on-site, (iv) requiring effectively treating air emissions through the use of more biofilters and/or stack or carbon filters, and (v) installing adequate dispersal equipment.

Discussion ensued regarding (i) the need to address the odour issue, (ii) consulting with Vancouver Coastal Health on the matter, (iii) the feasibility of placing a moratorium on the volume of product processed at the Harvest Power facility, (iv) potential technologies not being utilized by Harvest Power, and (v) the need for effective enforcement of the permit by MV.

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

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That comments regarding Harvest Fraser Richmond Organics Ltd. air quality permit renewal application in the staff report titled “Harvest Power Air Quality Permit Review,” dated November 17, 2015, from the Director, Engineering, be forwarded to Metro Vancouver’s Environmental Regulation and Enforcement branch;

(2)

That the staff report titled “Harvest Power Air Quality Permit Review,” dated November 17, 2015, from the Director, Engineering, be forwarded to Vancouver Coastal Health, including James Lu, Environmental Health, for their comments and recommendations; and

(3)

That the comments stress the need with Metro Vancouver for more effective enforcement.

The question on the motion was not called as staff was directed to seek public input through Let’s Talk Richmond and forward said comments to Metro Vancouver.

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

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:33 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 December 7, 2015.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie
Chair

Heather Howey
Legislative Services Coordinator