February 20, 2017 - Minutes
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General Purposes Committee
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Date: |
Monday, February 20, 2017 |
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Place: |
Anderson Room |
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Present: |
Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie, Chair |
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Call to Order: |
The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. |
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AGENDA |
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It was moved and seconded |
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That Bed and Breakfast Operations be added to the Agenda as Item No. 3. |
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CARRIED |
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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 February 6, 2017, be adopted as circulated. |
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CARRIED |
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DELEGATION |
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1. |
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Debbie Tobin and Ying Wang, representatives of the Richmond Arts Coalition, spoke in favour of repurposing the existing Seniors Centre as arts space. Ms. Wang requested that members of the audience demonstrate their support by show of hands for the Richmond Arts Coalition’s request to Council. |
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Ms. Tobin commented on the opening of the current Cultural Centre in 1993, noting that the City has grown significantly since then; however there has been no increase in dedicated arts space. She remarked that arts programs have waitlists, while new programs are challenging to introduce as it would displace popular existing ones. Ms. Tobin highlighted that the Seniors Centre provides an opportunity for additional dedicated arts space, and spoke of the location’s benefits such as its proximity to the Cultural Centre. |
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Ms. Wang spoke of new programs introduced at the Cultural Centre and the City’s growing demographics, noting that there has been no increase to dedicated arts. She requested that the City work with the Richmond Arts Coalition to bring forward options to rectify the lack of additional dedicated arts space. |
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Also, Ms. Tobin highlighted that their submission includes many letters of support, representing an array of arts groups. |
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In reply to a query from the Chair, Cathryn Volkering Carlile, General Manager, Community Services, stated that staff are examining options for the future use of the Minoru Activity Centre as a result of a referral made at the December 21, 2016 Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Committee meeting. |
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Discussion ensued and it was noted that it would be valuable to know how much space individual arts groups require. Also, in reply to a query from Committee, Ms. Carlile spoke to the public consultation process, noting that the general public will be consulted as part of phase two. |
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LAW AND COMMUNITY SAFETY DIVISION |
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2. |
Purchase of Two Fire Pumper Apparatus |
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It was moved and seconded |
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(1) |
That the staff report titled “Purchase of Two Fire Pumper Apparatus”, dated February 6, 2017 from the Acting Fire Chief, Richmond Fire-Rescue, be received for information; and |
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(2) |
That the Chief Administrative Officer and General Manager, Law and Community Safety be authorized to execute a contract with Wholesale Fire & Rescue Ltd. for the purchase of two Fire Pump apparatus in 2017. |
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CARRIED |
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In accordance with Section 100 of the Community Charter, Councillor Carol Day declared herself to be in a conflict of interest with respect to Item No. 3 as she and her spouse are owners of a bed and breakfast and left the meeting at 4:15 p.m. |
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FINANCE AND CORPORATE SERVICES DIVISION |
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3. |
bed and breakfast operations |
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Discussion ensued regarding the results of inspections of licenced bed and breakfasts (B&B’s) and it was noted that additional information regarding the nature of the violations was needed. |
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Carli Edwards, Manager, Customer Services and Licencing, remarked that businesses listed in Category B in the referenced memorandum represent minor violations that can be quickly remedied; for instance, a B&B that has a fire evacuation plan but has failed to post the plan would be listed under Category B. |
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In reply to further queries from Committee regarding the nature of the violations, Ms. Edwards advised that businesses listed in Category C represent complex violations that cannot be simply remedied; for instance, a B&B that has an additional bedroom or the addition of a kitchen represents work done without permits, which requires further investigation. |
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The Chair remarked that the nature of the violations would be valuable information and should be publicly available. |
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Discussion took place on (i) the City’s capacity to manage bed and breakfast operations and short-term rentals, and (ii) the potential to mirror Vancouver Coastal Health’s model on inspection reports being made publicly available in regards to restaurants and child care facilities. |
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In reply to a query from Committee, Daniel McKenna, Acting Senior Manager, Community Safety, advised that the City is in the process of hiring four additional bylaw enforcement officers to manage short-term rentals and that enforcement will be prioritized based on public feedback and data mining. |
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ADJOURNMENT |
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It was moved and seconded |
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That the meeting adjourn (4:29 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 Monday, February 20, 2017. |
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Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie |
Hanieh Berg |