February 4, 2019 - Minutes

Date:

Monday, February 4, 2019

Place:

Anderson Room
Richmond City Hall

Present:

Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie, Chair
Councillor Chak Au
Councillor Carol Day
Councillor Kelly Greene
Councillor Alexa Loo
Councillor Bill McNulty
Councillor Linda McPhail
Councillor Harold Steves
Councillor Michael Wolfe

Call to Order:

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

AGENDA ADDITION

It was moved and seconded

That Chinese Canadian Museum 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 January 21, 2019, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

COUNCILLOR MICHAEL WOLFE

1.

Climate Emergency 
(File Ref. No.)

Councillor Wolfe provided background information and spoke on the need to declare a climate emergency.

It was moved and seconded

That the City of Richmond declare a climate emergency as climate change is a serious and urgent threat.

As staff review our commitment to the Blue Dot initiative, that, a report be prepared within six months with respect to our municipal climate action plan so that it will be updated with strategies and actions with respect to the climate emergency as outlined by the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in their October 2018 report. Richmond City Council will take leadership as our municipality faces immediate threats from sea level rise and coastal weather extremes. Food insecurity, low elevation geography, proximity to earthquake faults, and reliance on energy demanding pump-stations, are a few notable vulnerabilities. It is time to go beyond acknowledgement.

Direction to staff will include:

(1)

accelerated emissions targets to shorten our timeline of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

(2)

recommendations to achieve a whole city that is net zero carbon emissions, net zero waste, food self-sufficient and a rapid transition to an energy self-sufficient future.

(3)

collaboration with the cities of Vancouver, Halifax, London, and Los Angeles, who have recently passed similar declarations of climate emergency.

It was moved and seconded

That the motion on Climate Emergency be referred to staff.

Councillor Steves reviewed and distributed materials titled “Richmond State of the Environment Report” (attached to and forming part of these Minutes as Schedule 1), and referenced a referral motion made at the January 29, 2019 Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Committee, noting that it be coordinated with the Climate Emergency referral.

Discussion took place on the difference between the referral motion made at the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Committee and the need to consider the Climate Emergency declaration separately.

There was agreement to revise the scope of the referral motion to include only the portion starting at “As staff review our commitment to the Blue Dot initiative…” as follows:

That the following be referred to staff:

As staff review our commitment to the Blue Dot initiative, that, a report be prepared within six months with respect to our municipal climate action plan so that it will be updated with strategies and actions with respect to the climate emergency as outlined by the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in their October 2018 report. Richmond City Council will take leadership as our municipality faces immediate threats from sea level rise and coastal weather extremes. Food insecurity, low elevation geography, proximity to earthquake faults, and reliance on energy demanding pump-stations, are a few notable vulnerabilities. It is time to go beyond acknowledgement.

Direction to staff will include:

(1)

accelerated emissions targets to shorten our timeline of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

(2)

recommendations to achieve a whole city that is net zero carbon emissions, net zero waste, food self-sufficient and a rapid transition to an energy self-sufficient future.

(3)

collaboration with the cities of Vancouver, Halifax, London, and Los Angeles, who have recently passed similar declarations of climate emergency.

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

Discussion further took place on the motion to declare a climate emergency and it was noted that additional information and time is needed to make an informed decision – one which is robust and not simply symbolic in nature.

The Chair remarked that Richmond has a long history of leading on all facets of sustainability, climate action, environmental protection and so forth, referencing a staff memorandum titled “City of Richmond’s Action on Climate Change” dated January 31, 2019 (copy on file, City Clerk’s Office).

The question, which now reads,

That the City of Richmond declare a climate emergency as climate change is a serious and urgent threat.

was then called and it was CARRIED with Cllrs. Au and Loo opposed.

Discussion took place on the timeline of reporting back and the Chair directed staff to provide a status update in six weeks.

COUNCILLOR CAROL DAY

2.

Agenda production 
(File Ref. No.)

It was moved and seconded

That staff be requested to review the current agenda production process and report back with options for earlier distribution of agenda packages.

CARRIED

COMMUNITY SERVICES DIVISION

3.

Minoru Park Vision Plan Update 
(File Ref. No. 06-2345-20-MINO1) (REDMS No. 5785945 v. 18)

With the aid of a PowerPoint presentation (copy on file, City Clerk’s Office), Jamie Esko, Manager, Parks Planning, Design and Construction and Miriam Plishka, Park Planner, provided an update to the Minoru Park Vision Plan.

Councillor Steves distributed material regarding the Minoru Park Plan and City Hall precinct (attached to and forming part of these Minutes as Schedule 2).  He commented on past planning studies for the area, referring to potential locations for new tall buildings, mixed-use development combining residential and commercial uses, seniors housing, a museum, art gallery and other recreational facilities.  Councillor Steves then remarked that, prior to any decisions on the citation of buildings around Minoru Park, the area comprised of the Minoru Aquatic Centre, the Minoru Place Activity Centre, the Brighouse Library, the former RCMP building, the City Hall parking lot and School District Office should be examined in its entirety as a City Precinct study area.

Discussion took place and the following comments from Committee were noted:

§   

health and environmental concerns related to the Minoru Lakes have not been adequately addressed;

§   

cyclists and pedestrians cannot share pathways and therefore cycling through Minoru Park cannot be supported;

§   

alternate sites, such as the Garden City Lands, for the relocation of the cricket pitch should be examined;

§   

the Gateway Theatre’s parking should be noted as an alternate parking site for park users considering peak park use is in the daytime and not in the evening when the Theatre has shows;

§   

it is premature to consider the Minoru Park Vision Plan as a whole when there are unanswered questions such as the relocation of the cricket pitch, the use of the Minoru Aquatic Centre and so forth;

§   

the level of density adjacent to the Park necessitates that cycling be permitted throughout the Park, particularly for children;

§   

any additional buildings on the park grounds would take away from the essence of the Park and its open space;

§   

the Garden City Lands is agricultural land and not parkland; and

§   

Minoru Park should remain a park and additional buildings should not be considered; instead, in keeping with the City Centre Area Plan, sites identified in north Richmond should be further examined for cultural activities.

In reply to queries from Committee, staff advised that (i) active bike use throughout the entirety of a park is currently not permitted in any other City park, (ii) the fountain currently located at the Library / Cultural Centre’s plaza is proposed to be removed to improve the functionality of the plaza, (iii) signage and thoughtful design are some ways to manage the movement of cyclists, and (iv) cycling groups were not consulted as part of staff’s review.

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

It was moved and seconded

That the Minoru Park Vision Plan, as detailed in the staff report titled “Minoru Park Vision Plan Update,” dated January 14, 2019, from the Director, Parks Services, be referred back to staff.

The question on the referral motion was not called as staff was directed to consider Committee’s comments with regard to the Minoru Park Vision Plan under advisement.  Also, it was noted that many of the existing buildings in the Minoru Park precinct have large footprints and perhaps their relocation could be examined in an effort to increase green space.

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

ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION

4.

Viability of Repurposing Minoru Aquatic Centre – Low Cost Options 
(File Ref. No. 06-2052-55-02-01) (REDMS No. 6119659)

Correspondence related to the repurposing of the Minoru Aquatic Centre was distributed on table (copy on file, City Clerk’s Office).

In reply to queries from Committee, Jim Young, Senior Manager, Capital Buildings Project Development, and Elizabeth Ayers, Director, Recreation and Sport Services, advised that (i) at the time of writing the staff report, staff had not received cost related information on the potential conversion of the Minoru Aquatic Centre, (ii) should the conversion be approved, the project would go through to the City’s procurement process, and (iii) costs have been estimated utilizing quantity surveyors.

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

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the Minoru Aquatics Centre Demolition ($3,392,000) be removed from the proposed 2019 Capital Budget;

(2)

That the Minoru Aquatics Centre not be demolished; and

(3)

That Option 1 – Infill Only (allows for only very limited programming use) as per the staff report titled “Viability of Repurposing Minoru Aquatic Centre – Low Cost Options” dated February 1, 2019 from the Senior Manager, Capital Buildings Project Development be referred to staff for consideration and various groups be invited to make submissions on how to possibly use the Minoru Aquatics Centre.

The question on the motion was not called as in reply to queries from Committee, Mr. Young advised that if the pool were to be infilled, a geotechnical or structural specialist would be retained.  He commented on the cost of mould and asbestos abatement, and stated that asbestos poses health risks when disturbed; therefore, if the building were to be converted, features of the building like accessibility would be examined; for instance, if a new ramp were required, mould and asbestos abatement would be required in the areas disturbed by the construction of the new ramp.

Discussion ensued on the potential to repurpose the Minoru Aquatics Centre and Ms. Ayers advised that a call to various community groups could be placed in an effort to solicit proposals for the use of space; however, she stated that a converted space would not be conducive to vigorous activities like dance; instead, the converted space would be best suited for passive activities.

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

COMMUNITY SAFETY DIVISION

5.

Health Canada Questionnaire on Cannabis Edibles, Extracts and Topicals 
(File Ref. No. 09-500-01) (REDMS No. 6105948 v. 4)

It was moved and seconded

That the responses summarized in the staff report titled "Health Canada Questionnaire on Cannabis Edibles, Extracts and Topicals", dated January 22, 2019, from the General Manager, Community Safety be approved for submission to Health Canada.

CARRIED

6.

CHINESE CANADIAN MUSEUM 
(File Ref. No.)

Councillor McPhail distributed a flyer titled “Preserving Chinese Canadian Cultural Heritage in B.C.” (attached to and forming part of these Minutes as Schedule 3).  She provided background information, noting that the Province of British Columbia and the City of Vancouver are working together to have Vancouver’s Chinatown designated a United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage site.

Councillor McPhail then remarked that the preliminary vision includes a hub in Vancouver’s Chinatown and spokes across B.C.; ideally Richmond could be one of those spokes.

As a results, the following referral motion was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That staff analyze and report back on opportunities to work with the Province regarding the Chinese Canadian Museum.

CARRIED

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:39 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, February 4, 2019.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie
Chair

Hanieh Berg
Legislative Services Coordinator