September 4, 2018 - Minutes

Date:

Tuesday, September 4, 2018

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 July 16, 2018, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

AGENDA ADDITION

It was moved and seconded

That “Regulation on the Personal Cultivation of Cannabis” be added to the agenda as Item 4.

CARRIED

ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION

1.

BC Clean Growth Intentions Papers
(File Ref. No. 10-6125-07-02) (REDMS No. 5941101 v.4)

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That City comments on the Provincial Clean Efficient Buildings and Clean Transportation “Intentions Papers”, as outlined in the staff report titled “BC Clean Growth Intentions Papers” from the Senior Manager, Sustainability and District Energy, dated August 10, 2018, be forwarded to the Province; and

(2)

That staff evaluate the City’s medium-term GHG reduction targets in light of the new provincial targets, and bring back options for consideration.

The question on the motion was not called as a document was distributed to Committee on table regarding the use of living green roofs and solar panels in France and the Moncton development in Steveston (attached to and forming part of these minutes as Schedule 1.)

Discussion took place on emphasizing the use of solar panels and the potential financial impact of a tax on gasoline.

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

It was moved and seconded

That Part (1) of the motion be amended to read as follows:

(1)

That City comments, excluding item 12 regarding a proposed tax on the sale of gasoline,  on the Provincial Clean Efficient Buildings and Clean Transportation “Intentions Papers”, as outlined in the staff report titled “BC Clean Growth Intentions Papers” from the Senior Manager, Sustainability and District Energy, dated August 10, 2018, be forwarded to the Province.

CARRIED
Opposed: Mayor Brodie
Cllrs. Day
Johnston
Steves

The question on the main motion, which now reads as follows:

(1)

That City comments, excluding item 12 regarding a proposed tax on the sale of gasoline,  on the Provincial Clean Efficient Buildings and Clean Transportation “Intentions Papers”, as outlined in the staff report titled “BC Clean Growth Intentions Papers” from the Senior Manager, Sustainability and District Energy, dated August 10, 2018, be forwarded to the Province; and

(2)

That staff evaluate the City’s medium-term GHG reduction targets in light of the new provincial targets, and bring back options for consideration.

was then called and it was CARRIED.  

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

That staff consider the on table document titled, “Living Green Roofs or Solar Panels Now ‘Law of the Land’ in France” and provide an analysis and recommendations for low carbon options.  

CARRIED

COMMUNITY SAFETY DIVISION

2.

Application For a Permanent Change to Food Primary Liquor Licence # 170609 Requesting Patron Participation Entertainment Endorsement – Earls Restaurant (Lansdowne) Ltd – 304-5300 No. 3 Rd., Richmond, B.C.
(File Ref. No. 12-8275-30-001) (REDMS No. 5924711)

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the application from Earls Restaurant (Lansdowne) Ltd, operating at 304 – 5300 No. 3 Road, requesting a Food-Primary Entertainment Endorsement for Patron Participation to Food-Primary Liquor Licence # 170609, to enable patrons to dance at the establishment, be supported; and

(2)

That a letter be sent to Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch advising that:

(a)

Council supports the amendment for a Patron Participation Entertainment Endorsement on Food-Primary Liquor Licence # 170609 as the endorsement will not have a significant impact on the community;

(b)

The hours of liquor sales will remain the same at:

(i)

9:00 AM to 1:30 AM, Monday to Saturday

(ii)

9:00 AM to Midnight, Sunday;

(c)

There is no change to the seating capacity for the food primary licence, indoors and patio;

(3)

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

(a)

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

(b)

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

(c)

Given that there has been no history of non-compliance with the operation, the amendment to permit patron participation entertainment endorsement under the Food Primary Liquor Licence should not change the establishment such that it is operated contrary to its primary purpose;

(d)

As the operation of a licenced establishment may affect nearby residents, businesses and property owners, the impact assessment was conducted through the City’s  community consultation process as follows:

(i)

Residents, businesses and property owners within a 50 meter radius of the subject property were notified by letter. The letter provided information on the application with instructions on how to submit comments or concerns; and

(ii)

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

(e)

Council’s comments and recommendations respecting the view of the residents, businesses and property owners are as follows:

(i)

The community consultation process was completed as part of the application process; and

(ii)

The community consultation process resulted in only one comment or view submitted from residents, businesses and property owners.

(f)

Council recommends the approval of the permanent change to add patron participation entertainment endorsement to the Food Primary Licence for the reasons that the addition of the endorsement proposed is acceptable to the majority of the residents, businesses and property owners in the area and the community.

CARRIED

CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER’S OFFICE

3.

Council Term Goals 2014-2018: Achievement Highlights
(File Ref. No. 01-0005-01) (REDMS No. 5902441 v.3)

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the attached report titled “Council Term Goals 2014-2018: Achievement Highlights” from the Director, Corporate Programs Management Group outlining achievement highlights towards Council Term Goals 2014-2018, be received for information; and

(2)

That the attached reports be made available for download on the City of Richmond website.

The question on the motion was not called as direction was given to staff to provide a brief overview in the report of achievements of Richmond residents and how the City recognizes their successes.

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

4.

REGULATION ON THE PERSONAL CULTIVATION OF CANNABIS
(File Ref. No.: ) (REDMS No.)

A document regarding a proposed motion on the regulation of personal cannabis cultivation was distributed to Committee (attached to and forming part of these minutes as Schedule 2) and as a result, the following motion was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That staff be directed to seek clarification from the Province on the enabling legislations for local governments to regulate cannabis cultivation for personal use permitted under the Cannabis Act;

(2)

That staff be directed to seek clarification from the Province on how regulations in the Cannabis Act related to personal cultivation will be monitored, inspected, and enforced; and

(3)

 That a letter be written to the Premier, Solicitor General, Minister of Agriculture, and local MLAs to advocate for the Province to develop, administer, and enforce a provincial wide registration/permitting system for cannabis cultivation for personal use permitted under the Cannabis Act.

The question on the motion was not called as discussion ensued in regards to (i) the impact of cannabis growth and consumption on neighbours especially in multi-family dwellings, and (ii) seeking clarification on the regulatory powers of municipalities in relation to the personal cultivation and licencing of cannabis from the Provincial government.

In response to questions from Committee, Cecilia Achiam, General Manager, Community Safety, advised that there is currently no enabling legislation for municipalities to regulate personal cultivation and that the Province has not indicated what authority will be granted to municipalities. Barry Konkin, Manager, Policy Planning noted further that strata corporations could set further bylaws restricting personal cultivation in strata units.

Discussion further ensued regarding the creation of a registration system for cannabis cultivation for personal use.

The question on the motion was then called and it was CARRIED with Cllrs. Loo, McNulty, McPhail, and Steves opposed.

Direction was then given to staff to provide a memorandum prior to the next Council meeting regarding matters that have not been addressed by the Cannabis Act or the Cannabis Control and Licensing Act relating to municipal regulatory authority.  

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:28 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 Tuesday, September 4, 2018.

_________________________________

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Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie
Chair

Amanda Welby
Legislative Services Coordinator