May 15, 2017 - Minutes

Date:

Monday, May 15, 2017

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
Councillor Harold Steves

Call to Order:

The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.

AGENDA

It was moved and seconded

That Shaw Television Coverage be added to the agenda as Item No. 6.

CARRIED

MINUTES

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on May 1, 2017, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

COMMUNITY SERVICES DIVISION

1.

Canada 150 Legacy Public Art Concept Proposal
(File Ref. No. 11-7000-09-20-232) (REDMS No. 5366639 v. 4)

In reply to a query from Committee, Eric Fiss, Public Art Planner, advised that there will be didactic signage adjacent to the artwork for informational purposes.

It was moved and seconded

That the concept proposal and installation for the Canada 150 Legacy public artwork by artists Henry Lau and David Geary, as presented in the report titled “Canada 150 Legacy Public Art Concept Proposal,” dated  April 12, 2017, from the Director, Arts, Culture and Heritage Services, be endorsed.

The question on the motion was not called as in reply to a further query from Committee, Mr. Fiss advised that a memorandum illustrating the final rendering of the artwork would be circulated to Council for information.  Also, it was suggested that, should there be an unveiling ceremony of the artwork, Rick Hansen be invited.

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

DEPUTY CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR’S OFFICE

2.

Sister City Advisory Committee 2016 Year In Review
(File Ref. No. 01-0100-30-SCIT1-01) (REDMS No. 5380164)

It was moved and seconded

That the staff report titled “Sister City Advisory Committee 2016 Year In Review” dated April 19, 2017, from the Director, Intergovernmental Relations and Protocol Unit, be received for information.

CARRIED

ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION

3.

Solar Energy Systems Project for Fire Hall No. 1
(File Ref. No. 10-6125-05-01) (REDMS No. 5325224 v. 25)

Discussion took place on the feasibility of utilizing the proposed solar photovoltaic system and concerns were expressed regarding its costs, its payback timeframe and the region’s low annual levels of sunshine.

John Irving, Director, Engineering, provided background information with regard to the City’s extensive sustainability framework efforts, noting that solar photovoltaic systems have always been on the City’s radar; however, due to its costs, its use has never been brought forward for Council consideration.  Mr. Irving highlighted that the cost of solar photovoltaic systems has dropped significantly and staff believe that the proposed installation of solar photovoltaic energy generation and innovative storage technology at the new Fire Hall No.1 is a good value proposition.

In reply to queries from Committee, Levi Higgs, Corporate Energy Manager, advised that (i) energy systems develop and become more efficient in terms of their size and capacity, however the technology remains relatively the same, (ii) the technology is flexible in that it can be modified to benefit from new efficiencies like new batteries, (iii) the economic challenge with utilizing solar photovoltaic systems is due to the current cost of the infrastructure, the low Lower Mainland’s electricity prices, the current electricity rate structure, and the comparably low annual levels of sunshine the Lower Mainland receives.

In response to a query from the Chair, Robert Gonzalez,  General Manager, Engineering and Public Works, advised that the City is committed to corporate energy conservation, efficient resource use and GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions reductions, and Policy 2307 – Sustainable “High Performance” Building Policy – City Owned Facilities entails that City buildings meet specific energy criteria.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the report titled “Solar Energy Systems Project for Fire Hall No. 1” dated April 9, 2017 from the Director, Engineering, be approved in the amount of $450,000; and

(2)

That the 5 Year Financial Plan (2017-2021) be amended accordingly.

CARRIED

FINANCE AND CORPORATE SERVICES DIVISION

4.

Application for A New Liquor Primary Liquor Licence - 1063035 BC Ltd Doing Business As: V + Club, 8171 Ackroyd Rd Unit 140
(File Ref. No. 12-8275-30-001) (REDMS No. 5378064 v. 4)

In reply to queries from Committee, Carli Edwards, Manager, Customer Services and Licencing, provided the following information:

§   

the applicant’s proposed operating hours of liquor service are Monday to Sunday, 12:00 PM to 2:00 AM, which is consistent with Policy 9400 – Applications for Liquor Licences – New or Amended;

§   

staff liaise with the Richmond RCMP with regard to liquor licence applications as the RCMP conducts background and criminal record checks on the principals of the company;

§   

the proposed total capacity of the karaoke business is 100 persons with 17 rooms for karaoke singing;

§   

of the 1311 letters sent to businesses, residents and property owners within the 50 meter radius of the subject property, the City received ten responses, five of which were complaints not related to this business in particular; and

§   

the City has the ability to regulate business activity through the Business Regulation Bylaw No. 7538.

Discussion took place and Committee commented that it would be valuable to know the names of the principals of numbered companies when such applications come before Council.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the application from 1063035 BC Ltd., doing business as, V + Club, for a new Liquor Primary Liquor Licence to operate a Karaoke Box Room, at premises located at 8171 Ackroyd Rd Unit 140, with liquor service, be supported for;

(a)

A new Liquor Primary Liquor Licence with primary business focus of entertainment, specifically Karaoke Box Room with total person capacity of 100 persons;

(b)

Family Food Service to permit minors in all licensed areas until 10:00 PM when accompanied by a parent or guardian;

(c)

Liquor service hours for Monday to Sunday, from 12:00 PM to 2:00 AM;

(2)

That a letter be sent to Liquor Control and Licensing Branch advising that:

(a)

Council supports the conditions as listed above, for a new Liquor Primary Liquor Licence as the issuance will not pose a significant impact on the community; and

(b)

Council’s comments on the prescribed criteria (set out in Section 71(9) of the Liquor Control and Licensing Regulations) are as follows:

(i)

The potential for additional noise and traffic in the area  was considered;

(ii)

The impact on the community was assessed through a community consultation process; and

(iii)

Given that this is a new business, there is no history of non-compliance with this operation;

(c)

As the operation of a licenced establishment may effect nearby residents the City gathered the views of the residents as follows:

(i)

Property owners and businesses within a 50 meter radius of the subject property were contacted by letter detailing the application, providing instructions on how community comments or concerns could be submitted; and

(ii)

Signage was posted at the subject property and three public notices were published in a local newspaper. The signage and the notice provided information on the application and instructions on how community comments and concerns could be submitted; and

(d)

Council’s comments and recommendations respecting the views of the residents are as follows:

(i)

That based on the number of letters sent and the few responses received from all public notifications, Council considers that the approval of this application is acceptable to the majority of the residents in the area and the community.

CARRIED
Opposed: Cllr. Au

PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DIVISION

5.

Building Permit Application at 7251 No. 6 Road
(File Ref. No. 12-8360-20-01) (REDMS No. 5382274 v. 2)

It was moved and seconded

That Building Permit Application No. 17-770896 for a single family dwelling at 7251 No. 6 Road, with a total floor area (including garage) of 1,246.3 m² (13,414.9 ft²) be withheld for a period of 30 days beginning on the date of application (April 26, 2017) pursuant to Section 463(1) of the Local Government Act, as Council considers that the proposed house size, farm home plate and setbacks are in conflict with the proposed Zoning Bylaw amendments under preparation.

CARRIED
Opposed: Cllr. Loo

6.

SHAW TELEVISION COVERAGE
(File Ref. No.)

Ted Townsend, Director, Corporate Communications and Marketing, advised that Shaw Communications has announced the closure of its local television station in Vancouver, among other cities.  Mr. Townsend remarked that staff are currently examining its effects and in particular the equipment utilized to record City Council meetings and the operation of said equipment.

As a result, the following referral was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That staff examine the upcoming Shaw Television changes and report back.

CARRIED

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:42 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 Monday, May 15, 2017.

_________________________________

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Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie
Chair

Hanieh Berg
Legislative Services Coordinator