March 20, 2017 - Minutes
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General Purposes Committee
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Date: |
Monday, March 20, 2017 |
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Place: |
Anderson Room |
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Present: |
Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie, Chair |
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Absent: |
Councillor Derek Dang |
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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 March 6, 2017, be adopted as circulated. |
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CARRIED |
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LAW AND COMMUNITY SAFETY DIVISION |
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1. |
Non-Farm Use Fill Application for the Property Located at the Eastern Terminus of Francis Road (PID: 023-860-481) – Cranberry Meadows Farms Ltd. |
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In reply to queries from Committee, Ron Graham, Acting Manager, Community Bylaws, advised that conditions of the permit are listed on the draft Soil Deposit Permit, which is included as Attachment 3 to the staff report. |
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Discussion took place on the type of conditions placed on past applications of a similar nature, and it was noted that consistency is key in treating such applications. |
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Gordon Maichin, Owner and representative of Cranberry Meadows Farms Ltd., provided background information with regard to the subject site and spoke of the farm’s soil composition. Mr. Maichin stated that the soil is currently rated as Class 3, which is a low classification with limitations that restrict the range of crops suitable for farming. He highlighted that, should the proposed permit be approved, the intent is to ameliorate the site’s soil composition to a Class 1; Class 1 soil does not have limitations in use for crops, meaning that it would be suitable to grow a wide range of crops. |
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Lucas Hoegler, Richmond Country Farms, spoke of the farm’s anticipated water needs for grape and raspberry production. He stated that the goal is to have the root system of the grape vines deep in the soil to reach the water level, thus not requiring other forms of irrigation. |
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It was moved and seconded |
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(1) |
That the application and corresponding staff report titled “Non-Farm Use Fill Application for the Property Located at the Eastern Terminus of Francis Road” (PID 023-860-481) – Cranberry Meadows Farms Ltd.”, dated March 1, 2017, by the Acting General Manager; Law and Community Safety be referred to the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC); and |
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(2) |
That should the ALC grant approval, the applicant must satisfy all City and ALC requirements and obtain a soil deposit permit with conditions from the City prior to any soil being deposited on the property. |
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CARRIED |
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PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DIVISION & ENGINEERINGS AND PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION |
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2. |
George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project – Analysis of Approved Environmental Assessment Certificate |
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In reply to a query from Committee, Peter Russell, Senior Manager, Sustainability and District Energy, and Donna Chan, Manager, Transportation Planning, advised that staff can include in the letter to the Province that the City is opposed to selling farmland to accommodate the expansion of Highway 99. |
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Discussion took place on the value to include relevant federal ministers in the proposed letter and there was agreement to write to the Premier of BC, the BC Minister of Transportation, the Leader of the Opposition, local MLAs, local MPs, the federal Minister of the Environment, and the Federal Minster of Transport. |
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Also, Committee commented on the potential benefits of Deltaport being open 24-hours a day, seven days a week and the Chair requested that staff provide Council with a status update regarding a Freedom of Information request submitted to the Province in relation to the George Massey Tunnel replacement project. |
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Discussion further ensued on Deltaport’s hours of operation, and Committee queried the City’s current bylaws with regard to time restrictions for commercial deliveries. |
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A letter from Deirdre Whalen was circulated on-table to Committee regarding the BC Environmental Assessment Office’s Table of Conditions (attached to and forming part of these minutes as Schedule 1). |
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It was moved and seconded |
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(1) |
That the City continue to reiterate its significant outstanding concerns to the Province regarding the George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project by sending a letter to the Premier of BC, the BC Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, the Leader of the Opposition, local MLAs, local MPs, the federal Minister of the Environment, and the federal Minster of Transport requesting that the Ministry address the concerns that were not resolved through the Environmental Assessment Application process for the Project; |
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(2) |
That staff be directed to continue seeking mitigation of any potential negative impacts of the Project on Richmond and the region through participation in Working Groups and input into management plans required by the Environmental Assessment Certificate as well as on-going involvement in the design and construction phases and related permit processes; and |
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(3) |
That staff report back on the potential implications for extended delivery and pick-up hours within the City. |
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CARRIED |
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LULU ISLAND ENERGY COMPANY |
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3. |
Special General Meeting of the Lulu Island Energy Company District Energy Assets Transfer Consideration Value Ratification |
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It was moved and seconded |
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That the ordinary resolution of the shareholder in Attachment 1 of the Lulu Island Energy Company report dated February 15, 2017 that ratifies the value of the district energy assets transferred to Lulu Island Energy Company (LIEC) be approved and adopted. |
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CARRIED |
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ADJOURNMENT |
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It was moved and seconded |
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That the meeting adjourn (4:37 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, March 20, 2017. |
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Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie |
Hanieh Berg |