July 15, 2019 - Minutes

Date:

Monday, July 15, 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 July 2, 2019, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION

1.

Single-Use Plastic and Other Items Bylaw and Implementation Plans 
(File Ref. No. 10-6370-01; 12-8060-20-010000/010063/10064) (REDMS No. 6213867 v. 7; 6197835; 6198746; 6198761)

Anthony Capuccinello Iraci, City Solicitor, spoke on the proposed bylaws and implementation plans, and read from a memorandum on the matter (copy
on-file, City Clerk’s Office).

A proposed revised recommendation that includes provisions for bylaw approval by the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy was distributed.

Discussion ensued with regard to (i) implementation of an education program during the bylaw approval process, (ii) provisions to allow more time for businesses to adopt non-plastic alternatives, (iii) the timeline of the bylaw approval process, (iv) the consultation process with local businesses, (v) repurposing the City’s old street banners for reusable bags, (vi) the varying regulations related to single-use plastics across different municipalities and regulatory bodies, and (vii) the court challenge to the City of Victoria’s ban on single-use plastics.

In reply to queries from Committee, staff noted that the City will be engaging with local businesses on the matter and that the City has not received a formal response from the Province on a request for a province-wide single-use plastics strategy. Staff added that the Federal government may introduce initiatives to address single-use plastic use; however such initiatives will not necessarily restrict the Province or municipalities from introducing their own regulations. Furthermore, staff noted that the proposed bylaws can be modified as new technologies and products are developed in the future.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the following bylaws to introduce a ban on single-use plastic and other items be introduced and given first, second and third readings with an effective date of six months following final adoption of the bylaws by Council:

(a)

Single-Use Plastic and Other Items Bylaw No. 10000;

(b)

Notice of Bylaw Violation Dispute Adjudication Bylaw No. 8122, Amendment Bylaw No. 10063; and

(c)

Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No.7321, Amendment Bylaw No. 10064; and

(2)

That the implementation plans for plastic straws and plastic bags, as outlined in Attachments 1 and 2 of the staff report dated July 5, 2019 titled, “Single-Use Plastic and Other Items Bylaw Bans and Implementation Plans” from the Director, Public Works Operations, with funding in the amount of $260,000, from the Sanitation and Recycling provision, be approved;

(3)

That approval for these bylaws be sought as soon as possible from the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy;

(4)

That following such approval by the Minister of Environment & Climate Change Strategy, 4th reading of these bylaws by Council shall be sought and implementation plans as approved by Council shall proceed; and

(5)

That staff be directed to provide information prior to the upcoming Council meeting on options to immediately commence educational outreach programs for the public and businesses.

CARRIED

As a result of discussion, staff were directed to request a meeting with the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy to discuss regulation of single-use plastics at the upcoming Union of British Columbia meeting in September 2019. 

COMMUNITY SERVICES DIVISION

2.

Animal Shelter Guiding Principles, Building and Program Options, and Site 
(File Ref. No. 06-2055-20-12) (REDMS No. 6152282 v. 49)

Paul Brar, Manager, Parks Programs, reviewed the proposed options for the expansion of the Animal Shelter, noting that the proposed expansion will accommodate additional space for animal care, volunteers and educational areas.

Discussion ensued with regard to (i) proposed cost of the upgraded facility, (ii) potential development of additional storeys to increase capacity, and (iii) the proposed upgrades to the parking area.

As a result of the discussion, staff were directed to provide a breakdown of the estimated cost of the proposed facility’s expansion prior to the upcoming Council meeting.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the Animal Shelter Guiding Principles, as described in the staff report titled “Animal Shelter Guiding Principles, Building and Program Options, and Site” dated June 14, 2019, from the Director, Recreation and Sport Services and the Acting Director, Facilities be endorsed;

(2)

That Building and Program Option 2, as described in the staff report titled “Animal Shelter Guiding Principles, Building and Program Options, and Site” dated June 14, 2019, from the Director, Recreation and Sport Services and the Acting Director, Facilities be approved; and

(3)

That the site located at 12071 No. 5 Road, as described in the staff report titled “Animal Shelter Guiding Principles, Building and Program Options, and Site” dated June 14, 2019, from the Director, Recreation and Sport Services and the Acting Director, Facilities be approved.

CARRIED

3.

Referral Response: Proposed Plan for Major Events and Programs in 2020 
(File Ref. No. 11-7400-01) (REDMS No. 6183746 v. 7; 6198265; 6198274; 6133366)

Discussion ensued with regard to the (i) cost increases to host major events, (ii) options to reduce the major events budget by 10%, (iii) expansion of the Neighbourhood Celebration Grant Program, (iv) criteria to evaluate an event’s success, (v) process to conduct public feedback on the City’s events, (vi) opportunities to utilize grants from senior levels of government.

In reply to queries from Committee, Bryan Tasaka, Manager, Major Events and Film, noted that staff can examine options to reduce costs by reducing programming and shortening an event’s schedule. He added that events such as the Maritime Festival may require multiple days to accommodate attractions and exhibits.

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

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the Major Events and Programs for 2020 as outlined in the staff report titled “Referral Response: Proposed Plan for Major Events and Programs in 2020” dated May 27, 2019, from the Director, Arts, Culture and Heritage Services, be referred back to staff for an evaluation of the City’s various major events; and

(2)

That staff provide a report to Council on the methodology and the criteria for review prior to the evaluation process.

CARRIED

CAO’S OFFICE

4.

ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM 
(File Ref. No. 01-0005-01) (REDMS No. 6132525)

Discussion ensued with regard to (i) evaluating the program, (ii) the training budget, and (iii) the Imagine Richmond Program to support cultural change and performance enhancement.

It was moved and seconded

That the report titled “Organizational Development Program” dated July 2, 2019 from the Director, Corporate Programs Management Group, be received for information.

CARRIED

FINANCE AND CORPORATE SERVICES DIVISION

5.

Intergovernmental Working Group re: Small Business and Property Tax 
(File Ref. No.) (REDMS No. 6232858)

In reply to queries from Committee, Jerry Chong, Director, Finance, noted that the City will be requesting changes to the Assessment Act to provide an equitable tax structure for businesses. He added that it is not anticipated that the proposed tax structure changes will have a major impact on residential property owners.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That Council support the recommendations provided by the Intergovernmental Working Group of Metro Vancouver; and

(2)

That a letter be sent from the Mayor’s office to the Premier of the Province of BC, advising of this support.

CARRIED

ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION

6.

Vancouver Airport Fuel Delivery Project 
(File Ref. No. 10-6060-01) (REDMS No. 6231550)

Staff reviewed the Vancouver Airport Fuel Deliver Project and highlighted terms of the Municipal Access Agreement (MAA), noting the following:

§   

the Vancouver Airport Fuel Facilities Corporation (VAFFC) has received all permits related to the development of the pipeline and has commenced construction of supporting facilities on Sea Island and the tank farm;

§   

the MAA would provide a term limit of 50 years and that breaches to the agreement may result in removal of the pipeline at VAFFC’s expense;

§   

the proposed pipeline would not impede on the City’s ability to proceed with road construction or improvements;

§   

the proposed pipeline will include an automated fire suppression system that can activate within five minutes and that the fuel receiving facility will be staffed at all times;

§   

the proposed pipeline will include development of an emergency spill protocol and that fuel vessels will be escorted and boomed during the fuel transfer process;

§   

the proposed pipeline will be built to current design and safety standards;

§   

the proposed pipeline will require temporary use of portions of the Agricultural Land Reserve during the construction period and that those areas will be restored to their original condition upon completion of the project;

§   

the BC Oil and Gas Commission will be the agency responsible for conducting inspections of the pipeline and that the City will be responsible for the inspections of the rights-of-way; and

§   

the MAA is favourable to the City and that the VAFFC may have legal options to pursue approval through the Province, if it is not approved.

Discussion ensued with regard to (i) establishing a fund dedicated to climate change initiatives and affordable housing from VAFFC contributions, (ii) developing a rapid automatic fire suppression system, (iii) potential response to a fuel spill and damage to fish habitat, (iv) the environmental assessment process, (v) updating regulations as spill prevention technology improves, and (vi) the probability of fuel spills.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the Chief Administrative Officer and the General Manager, Engineering & Public Works be authorized to execute, on behalf of the City, a Site Specific Municipal Access Agreement between the City and the Vancouver Airport Fuel Facilities Corporation containing the material terms and conditions as generally described in the staff report titled “Vancouver Airport Fuel Delivery Project”, dated July 10, 2019, from the City Solicitor and the Acting Director, Engineering;

(2)

That the Manager, Engineering Planning be authorized to execute, on behalf of the City,  a Servicing Agreement between the City and the Vancouver Airport Fuel Facilities Corporation, for the development of the Marine Terminal located at 15040 Williams Road, Richmond, BC, containing the material terms and conditions as generally described in the staff report titled “Vancouver Airport Fuel Delivery Project”, dated July 10, 2019, from the City Solicitor and the Acting Director, Engineering; and

(3)

That the Chief Administrative Officer and the General Manager of Engineering & Public Works be authorized to approve both Vancouver Airport Fuel Facilities Corporation’s reliance on the ALC Decision dated March 17, 2017 (ALC File: 55644) and Vancouver Airport Fuel Facilities Corporation making a replacement ALC application in the event reliance on the said ALC Decision becomes problematic for either the City or VAFFC.

The question on the motion was not called as discussion ensued with regard to utilizing funding from VAFFC to address climate change and affordable housing issues.

As a result of the discussion, the following amendment motion to add funding to provision accounts dedicated to climate change and affordable housing initiatives as Part (4) was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That if funding is received from the Vancouver Airport Fuel Facilities Corporation, that those funds be allocated equally to provision accounts dedicated to climate change initiatives, an affordable housing fund for a dedicated capital project, and accessibility initiatives.

The question on the motion was not called as discussion ensued with regard to dedicating funds for fuel spill prevention.

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

Discussion then took place on the jurisdiction that is responsible for fuel containment in an emergency and staff noted that the VAFFC will be fully responsible to respond to emergencies.

As a result of the discussion, the following amendment motion to add funding provisions dedicated to spill response and containment infrastructure as Part (4) was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That if funding is received from the Vancouver Airport Fuel Facilities Corporation, that those funds be allocated to spill response and containment infrastructure.

The question on the motion was not called as discussion ensued with regard to establishing a contingency emergency response and a Richmond fireboat.

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

Discussion then took place on emergency spill response and establishing a Richmond fire boat.

As a result of the discussion, the following amendment motion to add funding provisions dedicated to emergency response and a Richmond fire boat as Part (4) was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That if funding is received from the Vancouver Airport Fuel Facilities Corporation, that those funds be allocated towards emergency response and that staff explore options to establish a Richmond fire boat.

CARRIED 
Opposed: Cllr. Loo

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

(1)

That the Chief Administrative Officer and the General Manager, Engineering & Public Works be authorized to execute, on behalf of the City, a Site Specific Municipal Access Agreement between the City and the Vancouver Airport Fuel Facilities Corporation containing the material terms and conditions as generally described in the staff report titled “Vancouver Airport Fuel Delivery Project”, dated July 10, 2019, from the City Solicitor and the Acting Director, Engineering;

(2)

That the Manager, Engineering Planning be authorized to execute, on behalf of the City,  a Servicing Agreement between the City and the Vancouver Airport Fuel Facilities Corporation, for the development of the Marine Terminal located at 15040 Williams Road, Richmond, BC, containing the material terms and conditions as generally described in the staff report titled “Vancouver Airport Fuel Delivery Project”, dated July 10, 2019, from the City Solicitor and the Acting Director, Engineering;

(3)

That the Chief Administrative Officer and the General Manager of Engineering & Public Works be authorized to approve both Vancouver Airport Fuel Facilities Corporation’s reliance on the ALC Decision dated March 17, 2017 (ALC File: 55644) and Vancouver Airport Fuel Facilities Corporation making a replacement ALC application in the event reliance on the said ALC Decision becomes problematic for either the City or VAFFC; and

(4)

That if funding is received from the Vancouver Airport Fuel Facilities Corporation, that those funds be allocated towards emergency response and that staff explore options to establish a Richmond fire boat.

was not called, as there was agreement to deal with Parts (1) to (3) and (4) separately.

The question on Parts (1) to (3) was then called and it was CARRIED with Cllrs. Day, Greene, Steves and Wolfe opposed.

The question on Part (4) then called and it was CARRIED.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:56 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, July 15, 2019.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie
Chair

Evangel Biason
Legislative Services Coordinator