June 5, 2017 - Minutes

Date:

Monday, June 5, 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.

MINUTES

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on May 15, 2017, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

COMMUNITY SERVICES DIVISION

1.

Canada 150 Public Art Modular Seating Concept Proposal
(File Ref. No. 11-7000-09-20-234) (REDMS No. 5372654)

In reply to queries from Committee, Eric Fiss, Public Art Planner, advised that the proposed seating will be blue, and spoke on the proposed project’s budget, noting that cost would be definitive once a mold for the seating is fabricated.

It was moved and seconded

That the concept proposal and fabrication for the Canada 150 Artist Designed Modular Seating public artwork by artists and designers Becki Chan and Milos Bergovic, as presented in the staff report titled “Canada 150 Public Art Modular Seating Concept Proposal,” dated May 10, 2017, from the Director, Arts, Culture and Heritage Services, be endorsed.

CARRIED

COMMUNITY SAFETY DIVISION

2.

new sign regulation bylaw
(File Ref. No. 12-8060-20-009700/9719/9720/9721) (REDMS No. 5337264 v. 4)

Carli Edwards, Manager, Customer Services and Licencing, provided background information and highlighted the following information regarding the proposed new Sign Regulation Bylaw:

§   

it addresses de-cluttering and other non-language related regulatory gaps;

§   

it provides incentive to voluntarily minimize clutter by allowing businesses to cover up to 25% of the storefront window without a sign permit; permits will still be required for other signs such as facia, awning etc; also, window coverage beyond 25% will require a permit, up to a maximum of 50%; and

§   

it provides clarity about what is and is not permitted and addresses temporary signs including the number, location and duration of the display of each type of sign.

Ms. Edwards remarked that the proposed changes are a result of a comprehensive public consultation process, noting that staff took a balanced approach based on the feedback received from the public and stakeholders.  Also, she spoke of language based enquires, noting that education has been pivotal in encouraging the inclusion of English on signage and advertising.

Discussion took place and it was noted that the level of cooperation from businesses to include English in their signage is encouraging and as a result, it was suggested that it may be appropriate to include a language provision in the proposed new Sign Regulation Bylaw.

In reply to queries from Committee, Ms. Edwards advised that language in the proposed Bylaw has been modernized to provide clarity in areas that were previously ambiguous, and four open house signs are permitted per real estate listing in the proposed Bylaw.

Cecilia Achiam, General Manager, Community Safety, commented on the number of complaints, noting that 80% were related to real estate signs and the proposed bylaw addresses such signs. 

In response to further queries from Committee, Ms. Edwards stated that staff believe the proposed new Sign Regulation Bylaw is balanced in addressing concerns while remaining constructive.

Discussion took place on the interpretation of what constitutes a sign and concern was expressed regarding the consideration of an image without text as a sign.

Discussion further ensued regarding the cost of a variance permit, the need to review the proposed new Sign Regulation Bylaw in one year, and the value of a public information package regarding the proposed new requirements.

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

It was moved and seconded

In respect to implementing de-cluttering, and modernizing the regulations in the existing Sign Bylaw No. 5560, that:

(1)

each of the following Bylaws be introduced and given first, second and third readings:

(a)

Sign Regulation Bylaw 9700;

(b)

Notice of Bylaw Violation Dispute Adjudication Bylaw 8122, Amendment Bylaw 9719;

(c)

Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw 7321, Amendment Bylaw 9720; and

(d)

Consolidated Fees Bylaw 8636, Amendment Bylaw 9721;

(2)

a Full Time Sign Inspector position and the associated costs, to provide outreach and enforcement of the Sign Regulations, be considered during the 2018 budget process;

(3)

Richmond Zoning Bylaw, Amendment Bylaw 9723 to make housekeeping adjustments that align with the new Sign Regulation Bylaw be introduced and given first reading; and

(4)

That Sign Regulation Bylaw 9700 be reviewed in one year.

The question on the motion was not called as discussion took place on the potential to include a language provision in the proposed new Sign Regulation Bylaw.  As a result, the following amendment was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That the Bylaws be revised to include provisions that all future signage require a minimum of 50% of one of Canada’s official languages.

The question on the amendment was not called as Jennifer Hayes, Staff Solicitor, commented that such a language provision would likely be challenged in the courts for impeding rights under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

The Chair stated that the subject of language has been fully canvassed by staff and Council resolved to exclude a language provision in the proposed Sign Regulation Bylaw due to challenges under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and in an effort to promote community harmony.

The question on the amendment was then called and it was CARRIED with Mayor Brodie, Cllrs. Au, Dang and McPhail opposed.

The Chair directed staff to provide Council with a memorandum prior to the June 12, 2017 Council meeting that includes legal opinions previously received regarding the language matter as well as any reports that relate to this issue.

It was moved and seconded

That an image without text be excluded from the definition of sign.

DEFEATED
Opposed: Mayor Brodie
Cllrs. Au
Dang
Day
Johnston
McNulty
McPhail
Steves

The question on the main motion, as amended to read as follows,

In respect to implementing de-cluttering, and modernizing the regulations in the existing Sign Bylaw No. 5560, that:

(1)

each of the following Bylaws be introduced and given first, second and third readings:

(a)

Sign Regulation Bylaw 9700, as revised to include provisions that all future signage require a minimum of 50% of one of Canada’s official languages;

(b)

Notice of Bylaw Violation Dispute Adjudication Bylaw 8122, Amendment Bylaw 9719;

(c)

Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw 7321, Amendment Bylaw 9720; and

(d)

Consolidated Fees Bylaw 8636, Amendment Bylaw 9721;

(2)

a Full Time Sign Inspector position and the associated costs, to provide outreach and enforcement of the Sign Regulations, be considered during the 2018 budget process;

(3)

Richmond Zoning Bylaw, Amendment Bylaw 9723 to make housekeeping adjustments that align with the new Sign Regulation Bylaw be introduced and given first reading; and

(4)

That Sign Regulation Bylaw 9700 be reviewed in one year.

was then called and it was CARRIED with Mayor Brodie, Cllrs. Au, Dang, McPhail opposed.

3.

Business Licence Bylaw No. 7360, Amendment Bylaw No. 9722
(File Ref. No. 12-8060-20-009722) (REDMS No. 5389421)

In reply to a query from the Chair, Ms. Edwards advised that staff are examining how other municipalities administer taxicab licences.

Discussion took place on the potential to revise the City’s current practice with regard to administering taxicab licences, and it was suggested that the matter be referred to staff.

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

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That Business Licence Bylaw No. 7360, Amendment Bylaw No. 9722, which increases the maximum number of Class A Taxicabs to 124 and Class N Taxicabs to 48, be given first, second and third readings; and

(2)

That staff report back with criteria upon which taxicab licences may be issued by staff.

CARRIED

FINANCE AND CORPORATE SERVICES DIVISION

4.

Economic Impact Assessment of Richmond Olympic Oval
(File Ref. No. 08-4150-01) (REDMS No. 5394278)

With the aid of a PowerPoint presentation (copy on file, City Clerk’s Office), Neonila Lilova, Manager, Economic Development, reviewed the economic impact assessment of the Richmond Olympic Oval.

In reply to queries from Committee, Ms. Lilova advised that (i) capital and operating costs were fed into the BC Input-Output Model that uses industry multipliers to assess impacts, and (ii) lift in property values is a measure often used to assess the feasibility and economic impact of large facilities like sports stadiums.

Discussion took place and Committee spoke on the development of the Richmond Olympic Oval and various aspects of the project that were made possible as a result of the City’s ability to leverage with the Vancouver Organizing Committee.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the staff report titled “Economic Impact Assessment of Richmond Olympic Oval”, dated May 16, 2017 from the General Manager, Finance and Corporate Services, be received for information; and

(2)

That the proposed communications campaign in the above staff report, highlighting the economic impacts and benefits of the Richmond Olympic Oval to the community, be implemented.

CARRIED

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:19 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, June 5, 2017.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie
Chair

Hanieh Berg
Legislative Services Coordinator