March 18, 2019 - Minutes
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General Purposes Committee
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Date: |
Monday, March 18, 2019 |
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Place: |
Anderson Room |
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Present: |
Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie, Chair |
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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 4, 2019, be adopted as circulated. |
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CARRIED |
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DELEGATION |
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1. |
Update from the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, Province of BC, on the George Massey Crossing Project |
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With the aid of a PowerPoint presentation, Lina Halwani, George Massey Crossing Project Director, accompanied by Dawn Hinze, Regional Manager, Business Management Services, and Pam Ryan, Engagement Advisor, Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, provided an update on the George Massey Crossing Project and the following information was noted: |
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the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) is committed to moving forward with the Crossing project and invites the City of Richmond to be involved throughout the process; |
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Phase I aims to better align the Crossing project with regional plans by establishing goals and objectives, identifying and reviewing options, and preparing a business case for the selected option; Phase I is scheduled to be completed by April 2019; |
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immediate improvements related to safety are scheduled to commence in the summer of 2019; interim improvements such as upgrades to the Steveston Highway – Highway 99 interchange are scheduled to be tender-ready by fall of 2020; |
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Phase II will include the evaluation of shortlisted options and is scheduled to be completed by November 2019; Phase II incorporates public engagement with all audiences and includes public open houses; and |
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Phase III of the Crossing project will be of a technical nature, with completion of a business case earmarked for the fall of 2020. |
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She then commented on draft preliminary objectives, noting that Goal #1 is to support sustainability of communities south of the Fraser River, Goal #2 is to facilitate increased share of sustainable modes of transport, Goal #3 is to enhance regional goods movement and commerce, and Goal #4 is to support a healthy environment. |
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Ms. Halwani spoke to the MOTI’s understanding of the City’s interests, noting that the MOTI would like Council’s input in further developing goals and objectives for the Crossing project; also, she requested that City of Richmond staff be permitted to work with the MOTI on developing and evaluating crossing options. Ms. Halwani then remarked that Council’s formal input and endorsement of the proposed preliminary goals and objectives would be appreciated by April 1, 2019. |
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Discussion took place and Committee members cited areas of particular concern and interest to Richmond, namely as they relate to (i) BC Hydro infrastructure, (ii) traffic congestion as a result of trucks utilizing the Crossing during peak hours, (iii) the best suitable option for a Crossing, (iv) the extension of Rice Mill Road to alleviate traffic congestion, (v) a potential interchange at Blundell Road and Highway 99, (vi) a potential parking facility south of the Crossing, (vii) the interchange at Westminster Highway and Highway 99 and its proximity to an Environmentally Sensitive Area, and (viii) rapid transit ready infrastructure. |
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Ms. Halwani confirmed that Council’s comments will be considered as part of Phase II of the Crossing project, and then commented on immediate improvements to the Crossing, noting that a lighting upgrade is scheduled for the summer of 2019. |
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The Chair remarked that individual opinions of Council members’ have been heard however, Richmond City Council’s position will be confirmed by way of Council resolution. |
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As a result of the discussion, the following referral motion was introduced: |
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It was moved and seconded |
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That the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure’s presentation on the George Massey Crossing project be referred to staff for comment and to report back as soon as possible in an effort to meet the Ministry’s deadline for input of April 1, 2019. |
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CARRIED |
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COUNCILLOR KELLY GREENE & COUNCILLOR CAROL DAY |
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2. |
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It was noted that approximately $911 is requested per Councillor to attend the Columbia Institute’s Civic Governance Forum. |
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Discussion took place on vehicular allowances for Council members and in reply to a query from Committee, Andrew Nazareth, General Manager, Finance and Corporate Services, advised that Council members may claim half of the mileage costs for travel outside the Lower Mainland. |
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The following motion was introduced: |
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It was moved and seconded |
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(1) |
That Councillor Kelly Greene and Councillor Carol Day be approved to attend the Columbia Institute’s Civic Governance Forum as set out in the email dated March 14, 2019 with mileage commensurate with City mileage allowances; and |
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(2) |
That staff report back with policy options on Council travel, conferences and related procedures. |
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The question on the motion was not called as discussion took place on a previous policy related to Council members’ attendance at conferences and the rationale to rescind said policy. |
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The question on the motion was then called and it was CARRIED. |
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ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION |
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3. |
Accelerating Local Action on Climate Change: Community Energy & Emissions Plan (CEEP) Renewal |
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In reply to queries from Committee, Peter Russell, Senior Manager, Sustainability and District Energy, and Nicholas Heap, Sustainability Project Manager, advised that the City’s emissions target align with those listed in the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s report of October 2018. Staff noted that the targets set out in the Richmond Community Energy and Emissions Plan (CEEP) are reviewed every five years in an effort to be current and responsive to changes in tools for energy reduction, funding for energy reduction and so forth. |
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Discussion took place on the City’s sustainability efforts as a whole and in particular with regard to other measures the City can implement or enhance that would positively affect the City’s energy and emission targets. For instance, it was noted that the City strives to encourage the use of green modes of transport such as bicycles by improving the cycling network however fails to address the need to direct delivery vehicles to the back of buildings so that they do not block bike lanes. |
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Discussion further ensued and Committee commented that the declaration of a climate emergency is symbolic and that public engagement should not be limited to particular stakeholders as all groups are affected by climate change. Also, Committee spoke to the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s report, emphasizing the need to endorse targets for greenhouse gas reduction. |
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As a result of the discussion, the following motion was introduced: |
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It was moved and seconded |
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That the public consultation program defined in the report titled “Accelerating Local Action on Climate Change: Community Energy & Emissions Plan (CEEP) Renewal” from the Director, Engineering dated February 27, 2019, to gain feedback from residents and stakeholders regarding the recommended revised greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction target and revised climate action strategies and measures consistent with and in response to the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report, be endorsed. |
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CARRIED |
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Discussion took place on declaring a climate emergency and the following motion was introduced: |
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It was moved and seconded |
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That the City of Richmond declares and confirms a climate emergency. |
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The question on the motion was not called as discussion took place on the meaning of a “climate emergency.” It was noted that the term is widely used with different meanings and therefore there is a need to better define Richmond’s position on a climate emergency. As a result, the following amendment motion was introduced: |
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It was moved and seconded |
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That the main motion be amended to include the word “global” immediately prior to “climate emergency.” |
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DEFEATED |
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The question on the main motion was then called and it was CARRIED. |
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Discussion continued regarding the City’s CEEP and the following referral motion was introduced: |
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That staff report back on: |
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(1) |
a specific statement in conjunction with the City’s Community Energy and Emissions Plan; |
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(2) |
the consideration of more energy and emissions targets and more often; and |
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(3) |
strategies for enforcement relating to the City’s bike lanes. |
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CARRIED |
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FINANCE AND CORPORATE SERVICES DIVISION |
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4. |
Options for an Online Council Member Voting Record |
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David Weber, Director, City Clerk's Office, reviewed the proposed four options as described in the staff report titled “Options for an Online Council Member Voting Record,” dated February 26, 2019. |
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In reply to queries from Committee, Mr. Weber advised that (i) both Option 3 and Option 4 can be implemented with little operational impact, (ii) should Option 4 be selected, staff anticipate a Capital submission for the 2020 budget cycle, and (iii) should Option 3 be selected, the Council Contingency account has been identified as a potential source of funding. |
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The following motion was introduced: |
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It was moved and seconded |
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That Option 3 (voting record built as an add-on to an existing City database) with funding from the Council Contingency account as per the staff report titled “Options for an Online Council Member Voting Record,” dated February 26, 2019, from the Director, City Clerk’s Office, be approved. |
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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 (5:40 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 18, 2019. |
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_________________________________ |
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Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie |
Hanieh Berg |