January 3, 2017 - Minutes
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Date: |
Tuesday, January 3, 2017 |
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Place: |
Anderson Room |
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Present: |
Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie, Chair |
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Absent: |
Councillor Linda McPhail |
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Call to Order: |
The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. |
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MINUTES |
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It was moved and seconded |
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That the minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on December 19, 2016, be adopted as circulated. |
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CARRIED |
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The Chair advised that Harvest Power Lease with Port of Vancouver will be considered as Item No. 5. |
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COUNCILLOR LINDA McPHAIL |
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1. |
Britannia Heritage Shipyard Society Request Regarding Maritime Festival 2017 |
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Cathryn Volkering Carlile, General Manager, Community Services, advised that the proposal from the Britannia Heritage Shipyard Society (BHSS) to produce the wooden boat event in 2017 was sent to the Canada 150 Steering Committee for comment and staff will be preparing a report on the matter. |
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Discussion ensued with regard to establishing a business plan related to the proposal from BHSS. |
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It was moved and seconded |
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That staff: |
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(1) |
review the proposal from the Britannia Heritage Shipyard Society to produce the wooden boat event in 2017, including the formation of a business plan for a one year trial period; and |
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(2) |
consult with the Canada 150 Steering Committee with regard to the proposal from the Britannia Heritage Shipyard Society and report back. |
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The question on the motion was not called as discussion ensued with regard to (i) the potential operating model of the proposed event, (ii) the types of activities within the proposed event, (iii) incorporating the proposed event with the Richmond Maritime Festival, (iv) involving community groups such as the Richmond Arts Council, and (v) the role of the City and volunteers in organizing the proposed event. |
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In reply to queries from Committee, Mike Redpath, Senior Manager, Parks, noted that the $180,000 allocated for wooden boat activities is a one-time expenditure. |
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The question on the motion was then called and it was CARRIED. |
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CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR’S OFFICE |
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2. |
Sister City Advisory Committee Two Year Activity Plan (2017-2018) |
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In reply to queries from Committee Amarjeet Rattan, Director, Intergovernmental Relations and Protocol Unit, noted that (i) the Sister City Advisory Committee (SCAC) members propose and plan activities utilizing the activity budget, (ii) $8,000 was allocated for the inaugural Sister-Friendship Cities Youth Table Tennis tournament with the cities of Qingdao and Xiamen in 2016, and (iii) the SCAC is proposing an annual contribution of $8,000 for the Youth Table Tennis tournament, with Richmond hosting each alternate year, for Council’s endorsement. |
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Staff confirmed that there is no distinction between the terms “Sister City” and “Friendship City” and the terms are based on cultural preferences. |
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Discussion ensued regarding the benefits of student exchange programs between the Sister/Friendship cities and the status of the City’s relationship with Pierrefonds, Quebec. |
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The Committee raised concern with regard to the lack of activities between the Richmond and Pierrefonds. Staff noted that response from Pierrefonds has been limited, as it is now a Borough of Montreal and not an independent municipality. Discussion then took place with regard to maintaining the relationship with Pierrefonds. It was then suggested that staff examine alternative cities for a potential Sister City partnership. |
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It was moved and seconded |
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(1) |
That the report titled “Sister City Advisory Committee Two Year Activity Plan (2017-2018)”, dated December 7, 2016, from the Director of Intergovernmental Relations, be approved; |
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(2) |
That the 2017-2018 Sister City Advisory Committee Program Activity budget of $56,500 be funded from the Rate Stabilization Account and included in the 5 Year Financial Plan (2017-2021); and |
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(3) |
That staff consult with the Sister City Advisory Committee regarding the future relationship with Pierrefonds, Quebec, with recognition of the 50th Sister City anniversary between Pierrefonds and Richmond. |
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CARRIED |
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FINANCE AND CORPORATE SERVICES DIVISION |
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3. |
Business Licence Bylaw 7360, Amendment Bylaw 9632 |
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In reply to queries from Committee, Carli Edwards, Manager, Customer Services and Licencing, noted that the City was notified by the Passenger Transportation Board (PTB) in mid-December 2016 that temporary taxi licenses will be issued for a period of one month, however due to timeline constraints, the City was not able to respond with a bylaw amendment. |
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In response to a query, staff noted that the Vancouver International Airport licenses taxis separately and that there are 112 Class A taxis and 44 Class N (accessible) taxis licensed in the city. |
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Staff confirmed that the Province has not provided an update on potential policy changes related to ridesharing. |
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It was moved and seconded |
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That Business Licence Bylaw No. 7360, Amendment Bylaw 9632, which increases the maximum number of Class A Taxicabs to 112 and Class N Taxicabs to 44, be given first, second and third readings. |
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CARRIED |
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LAW AND COMMUNITY SAFETY DIVISION |
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4. |
Regulation of Short-Term Rental Units |
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In accordance with Section 100 of the Community Charter, Cllr. Day declared herself to be in a conflict of interest as she and her spouse are owners of a bed and breakfast. |
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Cllr. Day left the meeting (4:43 p.m.). |
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Doug Long, City Solicitor, reviewed the staff report on the Regulation of Short-Term Rentals, noting that (i) there are enforcement challenges with regard to legitimizing short-term rentals, (ii) there are options for the City to increase fines up to $1,000 per offence and $1,000 per day for continuing offenses, and in some cases, prosecute offenders, and (iii) compliance with proposed regulations can be achieved through consultation with stakeholders. |
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Discussion took place with respect to (i) compliance rates and enforcement practices in other jurisdictions, (ii) the potential demand on City resources to enforce regulations, (iii) the uneven regulatory framework between short-term rental units, hotels and traditional bed and breakfasts, and (iv) utilizing a proactive or a complaint-based approach to enforcement. |
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In reply to queries from Committee, Mr. Long noted that current bylaws cannot completely address the new forms of short-term rentals. |
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Discussion then ensued regarding (i) the potential economic benefits of short-term rentals, (ii) the number of short-term rental related complaints received, (iii) the impact of short-term rentals on residential neighbourhoods, (iv) the impact of short-term rentals on the city’s rental housing stock, and (v) the usage of oversized homes within the Agricultural Land Reserve for short-term rentals. |
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It was moved and seconded |
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(1) |
That the regulation of short-term rental units as set-out in the staff report from the City Solicitor and Chief Licence Inspector titled “Regulation of Short-Term Rental Units”, dated November 29, 2016, be endorsed in principle for the purpose of public consultation; |
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(2) |
That the public consultation process set-out in the staff report be approved; and |
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(3) |
That staff be directed to engage with the Province of British Columbia to discuss regulatory changes to the Provincial Sales Tax and Municipal and Regional District Tax in regards to accommodation providers and report back to Council as part of the one-year review of the City’s proposed short-term rental regulation. |
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CARRIED |
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Cllr. Day returned to the meeting (5:20 p.m.). |
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5. |
Harvest Power Lease with Port of Vancouver |
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It was moved and seconded |
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That a letter be sent to the Port of Vancouver Board requesting that they enforce any restrictive terms of their lease with Harvest Power relating to odours and emissions. |
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The question on the motion was not called as discussion ensued with regard to the action taken by Harvest Power to address issues related to odours and emissions. |
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In reply to queries from Committee, Robert Gonzalez, General Manager, Engineering and Public Works, noted that Harvest Power has been in contact with staff and staff will provide reports to Council on the matter. Staff noted that the 90-day review period of the City’s contract with Harvest Power will end in February 2017. |
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The question on the motion was then called and it was CARRIED. |
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ADJOURNMENT |
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It was moved and seconded |
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That the meeting adjourn (5:23 p.m.). |
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CARRIED |
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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, January 3, 2017. |
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Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie |
Evangel Biason |