May 21, 2019 - Minutes

Date:

Tuesday, May 21, 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.

MINUTES

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on May 6, 2019, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

COMMUNITY SERVICES DIVISION

1.

Richmond Museum Development Options 
(File Ref. No. 11-7000-01) (REDMS No. 6155447 v. 4)

Discussion took place with regard to (i) the proposed museum models, (ii) museum size options, (iii) strengthening the City’s current network of museum and heritage sites, (iv) incorporating various aspects of Richmond’s history, (v) museum models developed in other cities, (v) utilizing static or rotating museum exhibits, (vi) the timeline to develop the proposed museum, (vii) opportunities to acquire senior government funding, (viii) the potential locations of the proposed museum, and (ix) transportation options between the City’s museum and heritage sites.

In reply to queries from Committee, Marie Fenwick, Senior Manager, Arts, Culture and Heritage Services, noted that the Richmond Museum Society has expressed support for a city museum model and details on budget, business models, museum design and museum programming will be explored in future planning phases.

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

It was moved and seconded

That staff be directed to examine a plan for a strengthened network of heritage sites, other City facilities and rotating displays before the related museum building is considered further, and report back in the Fall.

The question on the motion was not called as discussion ensued with regard to (i) developing a hub and spoke model for the proposed museum and the City’s other museum and heritage sites, (ii) encouraging visits to the City’s museum and heritage sites, and (iii) installing exhibits that focus on Richmond’s history.

The question on the motion was then called and it was CARRIED with Cllr. Loo opposed.

It was moved and seconded

That staff be directed to consider the size for the museum to be between
20,000 ft² and 60,000 ft².

The question on the motion was not called as discussion ensued on community partnership opportunities and the public consultation process.

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

2.

Richmond Lawn Bowling Clubhouse Program Options 
(File Ref. No. 06-2052-25-LBOW1) (REDMS No. 6168707 v. 41)

Discussion ensued with regard to (i) the number of Richmond Lawn Bowling Club members, (ii) the estimated cost of the proposed replacement facility, (iii) options to rent the proposed facility to community groups, (iv) future Minoru Park vision and planning, and (v) utilizing the proposed replacement facility to host large tournaments.

A site layout of Minoru Park from an earlier staff report was distributed, and it was suggested that the site for the lawn bowling clubhouse and an adjacent parking lot be combined to accommodate the replacement facility. The Chair noted that Council has previously considered and decided on the site layout of the lawn bowling grounds and clubhouse location.

Kion Wong, President, Richmond Lawn Bowling Club (RLBC), spoke on the proposed replacement facility, noting that the RLBC is willing to extend use of the facility to other community groups, but would prefer that the RLBC maintain primary use.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That Program Option 3 be approved, as outlined in the staff report titled “Richmond Lawn Bowling Clubhouse Program Options,” dated April 26, 2019, from the Director, Recreation and Sport Services and the Acting Director, Facilities;

(2)

That the additional amount of $1.30 million, as described in the staff report titled “Richmond Lawn Bowling Clubhouse Program Options,” dated April 26, 2019, from the Director, Recreation and Sport Services and the Acting Director, Facilities, be funded by the Rate Stabilization Fund ($1.21 million) and the Richmond Lawn Bowling Club ($90,000), and the Consolidated 5 Year Financial Plan (2019-2023) be amended accordingly; and

(3)

That staff be directed to work with the Richmond Lawn Bowling Club to discuss arrangements with other groups for community needs for the new building.

The question on the motion was not called as discussion ensued with regard to options to construct additional storeys and establishing community partnerships.

In reply to queries from Committee, staff noted that the City pays for some of the utility costs associated with the RLBC’s clubhouse; however RLBC pays for the daily operating costs of the facility. Staff added that the estimated net revenues generated from facility rentals would be negligible.

The question on the motion was then called and it was CARRIED with Cllrs. Day, Greene, Steves and Wolfe opposed.

ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION

3.

2018 Climate Action Revenue Incentive Program and Corporate Carbon Neutral Progress Report 
(File Ref. No. 10-6125-01) (REDMS No. 6171365 v. 2)

Peter Russell, Senior Manager, Sustainability and District Energy, reviewed the 2018 Climate Action Revenue Incentive Program, noting that the updated estimated emission credits surplus to be carried forward has increased to 9,071 credits and that the City will look for additional opportunities to conserve bog forests. Also, Mr. Russell noted that the City’s emissions data can be presented using graphic visuals in future reporting.

It was moved and seconded

That, in accordance with Provincial requirements, the Climate Action Revenue Incentive Program Report and Carbon Neutral Progress Report be posted on the City’s website for public information.

CARRIED

4.

Integrating Circular Economy Criteria into City Procurements 
(File Ref. No. 10-6000-00) (REDMS No. 6167654 v.6)

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the work plan outlined in the staff report titled, “Integrating Circular Economy Criteria into City Procurements”, dated March 20, 2019 from the Senior Manager, Sustainability and District Energy, be endorsed; and

(2)

That expenditures in the amount of $150,000 be approved, with funding from the Carbon Tax provision, and that the 5-Year Financial Plan (2019-2023) be amended accordingly.

The question on the motion was not called as discussion ensued with regard to the cost of the proposed approach and examining best practices from other jurisdictions.

It was suggested that staff provide a memorandum to Committee that itemizes the proposed $150,000 expenditures.

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

5.

Single-Use Plastic Items – City of Vancouver Proposals 
(File Ref. No. 10-6370-01) (REDMS No. 6172192 v. 9)

Discussion ensued with regard to (i) regional initiatives to restrict use of single-use plastic items, (ii) potential alternatives that can be used instead of single-use plastics, (iii) single-use plastic restrictions in other jurisdictions, (iv) the levels of fines imposed on offenders, (v) the public consultation process, and (vi) restricting the commercial distribution of single-use plastics.

A resolution on single-use item reduction strategy that was submitted to Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) was distributed (attached to and forming part of these minutes as Schedule 1).

In reply to queries from Committee, Suzanne Bycraft, Manager, Fleet and Environmental Programs, noted that Metro Vancouver is developing a tool kit that can be used by local governments to develop policies on single-use plastics and that the City of Vancouver has not proceeded with a ban on plastic bags to give local businesses an opportunity to explore potential alternatives.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That:

(a)

staff be directed to bring forward appropriate bylaw amendments to the Business Regulation Bylaw No. 7360 to ban the commercial use or commercial distribution of foam cups, foam plates and foam take-out containers effective January 1, 2020, with exceptions provided for charitable organizations and hospital/care facilities;

(b)

staff be directed to bring forward appropriate bylaw amendments to the Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 7321 to incorporate a ticketing provision for those businesses who violate Business Regulation Bylaw 7360 as amended per item (a) above, effective January 1, 2020; and

(c)

staff be directed to bring forward appropriate bylaw amendments to the Notice of Bylaw Violation Dispute Adjudication Bylaw No. 8122 to incorporate a fine of $250 for each instance where a business violates Business Regulation Bylaw No. 7360 as amended per item (a) above, effective January 1, 2020;

(2)

That the implementation plan, as outlined in Attachment 2, with funding in the amount of $300,000, from the Sanitation and Recycling provision, to support implementation of a foam cups, foam plates and foam take-out containers ban, be approved;

(3)

That funding for ongoing support, education and bylaw enforcement, for item (a) above, be included for Council’s consideration in the 2020 and future Sanitation and Recycling utility budget and rates;

(4)

That staff bring forward two resolutions for the 2019 Union of British Columbia Municipalities convention requesting the provincial government’s support to address single-use items by:

(a)

adopting a comprehensive provincial single-use item reduction strategy; and

(b)

developing provincial standards for compostable single-use items ensuring they are designed to fully biodegrade if littered in the natural environment, that any standards and certifications for compostability are aligned with provincial composting infrastructure, and that compostable single-use items are collected and managed through an extended producer responsibility program that covers the residential and commercial sectors as well as materials from the public realm;

(5)

That the Mayor write the Chair of the Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage District Board and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy to develop a provincial single-use item reduction strategy;

(6)

That staff be directed to bring forward appropriate bylaw amendments to ban straws, similar to the City of Vancouver’s approach, together with an implementation plan and budget effective January 1, 2020, and also report back on the City of Vancouver’s research being undertaken regarding the ban on straws;

(7)

That staff be directed to examine the issue of single-use food utensils, and report back;

(8)

That staff be directed to bring forward appropriate bylaw amendments to prohibit the commercial use or commercial distribution of plastic checkout bags and regulate paper and reusable bags with incremental fees, effective January 1, 2020, with appropriate exemptions listed in Table 2, in the staff report titled “Single-Use Plastic Items – City of Vancouver Proposals”, dated May 12, 2019 from the Director, Public Works, with a six-month grace period to permit the use of existing plastic bag stock that was purchased by a business prior to the first reading of the bylaw; and

(9)

That staff be directed to bring forward an implementation plan and budget to prohibit plastic checkout bags, for item (8) above.

The question on the motion was not called as discussion ensued with regard to (i) business costs to recover the use of reusable bags, (ii) public awareness and education on the restriction of single-use plastic products, (iii) restricting other single-use utensils and foam products such plates, lids, meat trays and chop sticks.

In reply to queries from Committee, Ms. Bycraft noted that staff can examine options to restrict compostable plastic bags and research definitions of single-use plastics and foam containers.

Cllr. Steves left the meeting (5:50 p.m.) and returned (5:54 p.m.).

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

6.

Single-Use Plastic Items – Preliminary Research Scan 
(File Ref. No. 10-6370-01) (REDMS No. 6176240 v. 4)

Ms. Bycraft noted that in Page 8 of the staff report under “A Summary of Potential Options” Part (1), the date should read May 12, 2019 instead of April 25, 2019.

It was moved and seconded

That the staff report dated May 2, 2019 titled “Single-Use Plastic Items – Preliminary Research Scan” from the Director, Public Works Operations, be received for information.

CARRIED

COUNCILLOR KELLY GREENE

7.

House Boarding Fee 
(File Ref. No.)

Discussion ensued with regard to (i) the potential advantages of the fee to increase the availability of affordable housing and reduce the number of vacant homes, (ii) current tax initiatives established provincially, such as the Speculation and Vacancy Tax which is designed to target foreign speculation and increase housing supply, and (iii) establishing incentives to encourage development of affordable housing.

It was noted that the City of Port Moody has submitted a similar motion to UBCM (attached to and forming part of these minutes as Schedule 2).

There was agreement to deal with Parts (1) and (2) separately.

It was moved and seconded

Therefore be it resolved that the UBCM call on the Province of British Columbia to extend the authority to introduce a surtax on vacant residential properties to local governments across British Columbia, providing communities with the discretion to decide whether to introduce an additional tax to discourage vacant and derelict buildings, and encourage the occupancy, maintenance, and improvement of buildings to address housing affordability and public safety.

The question on the motion was not called as discussion ensued with regard to establishing a separate vacancy tax for Richmond

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

Discussion ensued with regard to Richmond remitting the tax revenues generated from the Provincial Speculation and Vacancy Tax for properties within the city.

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

It was moved and seconded

That a letter be written to the Premier, appropriate ministers, Leader of the Opposition, Leader of the Third Party and local MLAs, requesting that the Province remit the money collected from the Speculation and Vacancy Tax to the cities for the sole purpose of affordable housing.

CARRIED

Discussion ensued with regard to the proposed house boarding fee and staff noted that should a property owner be non-compliant in the boarding up of a building, the City, in coordination with Richmond Fire-Rescue (RFR), can proceed with the boarding up of the building at the owner’s expense. Staff added that the City can issue inspection and re-inspection fees should the property owner remain non-compliant.

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

It was moved and seconded

That staff explore bylaw enforcement provisions for nuisance homes and report back.

The question on the motion was not called as discussion ensued with regard to ticketing provisions in other municipalities and cost recover options for return inspections and site visits.

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

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (6:24 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, May 21, 2019.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie
Chair

Evangel Biason
Legislative Services Coordinator