November 4, 2019 - Minutes
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General Purposes Committee
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Date: |
Monday, November 4, 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 4:01 p.m. |
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AGENDA ADDITION |
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It was moved and seconded |
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That the Ferry Terminal on Sea Island be added to the agenda as |
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CARRIED |
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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 October 21, 2019, be adopted as circulated. |
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CARRIED |
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DELEGATION |
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1. |
Sean Spear, RainCity Housing, spoke on the management of the housing facility at 6999 Alderbridge Way, noting the following: |
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the housing facility has a capacity of 40 residents and to date, only one resident has moved on from the program; |
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residents have access to in-unit kitchens, a meal program and social activities; |
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the program collaborates with local community groups such as local churches; |
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a Community Advisory Committee was established with community representatives from groups such as neighbouring residents, Richmond RCMP, the City of Richmond, and Vancouver Coastal Health; |
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the program management conducts daily inspections of the site’s surrounding area for litter and drug paraphernalia; |
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a 24-hour complaint line is available and the program management actively responds to complaints; and |
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the program works collaboratively with other community groups to provide support for the homeless population in the city. |
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Discussion ensued with regard to (i) the program’s tenant selection process, (ii) available temporary shelters during the winter, (iii) and unit accessibility. |
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In reply to queries from Committee, staff noted that future expansion of housing facilities in the city are being examined. |
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FINANCE AND CORPORATE SERVICES DIVISION |
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2. |
Municipal and Regional District Tax (MRDT) Revenue from Online Accommodation Platforms |
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Discussion ensued with regard to the distribution of the general MRDT revenue to Tourism partners. In reply to queries from Committee, staff noted that the proposed bylaw would permit the distribution of Online Accommodation Platforms revenues to Affordable Housing initiatives. |
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As a result of the discussion, staff were directed to provide a memorandum on the distribution structure of the general MRDT revenue. |
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It was moved and seconded |
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(1) |
That staff be directed to submit the necessary documentation to Destination BC for allocation of future Online Accommodation Platform (OAP) Municipal and Regional District Tax (MRDT) revenue to affordable housing initiatives in accordance with the City’s Affordable Housing Strategy; and |
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(2) |
That Municipal and Regional District Tax Imposition Bylaw No. 9631, Amendment Bylaw No. 10099, to add “affordable housing initiatives” as a permitted use for Online Accommodation Platform (OAP) MRDT revenue be introduced and given first, second and third reading. |
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CARRIED |
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3. |
2020 Council and Committee Meeting Schedule |
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A proposal to amend the Planning Committee meeting schedule was distributed (attached to and forming part of these minutes as Schedule 1). |
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Discussion ensued with regard to (i) reviewing the distribution schedule for Council and Committee meeting agendas (ii) accommodating the meeting schedule for the UBCM convention meeting, (iii) agenda distribution structures in other municipalities and, and (iv) simplifying the public posting of the Council and Committee agendas. |
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It was suggested that the first Committee meetings in 2020 be delayed to January 7 and 8, 2020 to accommodate for the winter break. |
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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 staff review the Council and Committee meeting schedule and agenda distribution process, and identify opportunities to optimize the schedule, and report back. |
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CARRIED |
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ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION |
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4. |
2020 District Energy Utility Rates and Bylaw Housekeeping Amendments |
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It was moved and seconded |
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(1) |
That the Alexandra District Energy Utility Bylaw No. 8641, Amendment Bylaw No. 10085 be introduced and given first, second and third readings; and |
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(2) |
That the Oval Village District Energy Utility Bylaw No. 9134, Amendment Bylaw No.10086 be introduced and given first, second and third readings; and |
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(3) |
That the City Centre District Energy Utility Bylaw No. 9895, Amendment Bylaw No.10087 be introduced and given first, second and third readings. |
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The question on the motion was not called as discussion ensued with regard to the proposed rates for services and the service fees associated with pre-development of sites and incentivizing development of energy efficient buildings. |
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The question on the motion was then called and it was CARRIED. |
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COMMUNITY SAFETY DIVISION |
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5. |
Review of Licencing and Enforcement of Short-Term Rentals |
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In accordance with Section 100 of the Community Charter, Cllr. Day declared to be in a conflict of interest as her husband owns a short-term rental business, and Cllr. Day left the meeting – 4:41 p.m. |
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A revised staff recommendation on the Review of Licensing and Enforcement of Short-Term Rentals was distributed (attached to and forming part of these minutes as Schedule 2). |
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In reply to queries from Committee, staff noted that (i) staff are recommending that two temporary bylaw enforcement officers be added and that those positions be reviewed in one year, (ii) bylaw officers are able to issue multiple fines for multiple violations, (iii) the proposed bylaw amendments will introduce a licencing program for commercial short-term boarding and lodging and will exclude non-profit activities such as sports hosting or cultural exchanges, (iv) there is a 500m buffer restriction between bed and breakfast businesses, however there are no distance restrictions between board and lodging sites, (v) board and lodging sites must be occupied by the permanent resident living in the same site, (vi) should the proposal proceed, news releases on the matter will be produced to increase public awareness of the new regulations, and (vii) staff can examine options to incorporate outstanding violation fines into the owner’s property taxes. |
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Discussion ensued with regard to (i) introducing permanent bylaw enforcement officer positions, (ii) reviewing options to permit additional bed and breakfast businesses by reducing the 500m buffer regulation, (iii) tracking the number of illegal boarding and lodging sites on online posting platforms, (iv) reviewing the ownership structure of bed and breakfasts and boarding and lodging operations to restrict such operations to a sole-proprietorship structure, (v) reviewing the licensing fees, (vi) the implementation timeline, and (vii) examining an increase of the minimum rental period for long-term housing to 90 days. |
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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 staff report “Review of Licencing and Enforcement of Short-Term Rentals” dated October 1, 2019, from the General Manager, Community Safety, be referred to staff to review the ownership and occupation requirements in relation to boarding and lodging sites and that such requirements be consistent with current regulations related to the ownership and occupation requirements of bed and breakfast sites, and report back. |
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CARRIED |
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Discussion ensued with regard to the incorporation of short-term rental violation fines into the owner’s property taxes, and as a result, the following referral motion was introduced: |
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It was moved and seconded |
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That staff examine the process to include short-term rental violation fines to the property taxes, and report back. |
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CARRIED |
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Discussion then took place on the 500m siting requirements for bed and breakfast businesses, and as a result a referral motion was introduced to review siting requirements for bed and breakfasts, but failed to receive a seconder. |
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Cllr. Day returned to the meeting – 5:15 p.m. |
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6. |
Review of Staffing and Service Levels Related to Bylaw Enforcement (Excluding Short-Term Rentals) |
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Discussion ensued with regard to the bylaw staffing levels, and as a result there was agreement that the staffing and service levels be reviewed after one year. |
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It was moved and seconded |
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(1) |
That “Option A – Enhanced Enforcement” as described in the report titled, “Review of Staffing and Service Levels Related to Bylaw Enforcement (Excluding Short-Term Rentals)”, dated October 10, 2019, from the General Manager Community Safety, be endorsed; |
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(2) |
That a position complement control number be assigned to create a new Regular Full-Time Business License Inspector position using existing funding; and |
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(3) |
That staffing and service levels related to bylaw enforcement be reviewed in one year. |
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CARRIED |
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COMMUNITY SERVICES DIVISION |
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7. |
Local Art Plans, Vision and Themes, Opportunities for Young and Emerging Artists and Council Approval of Private Development Public Art and Developer Contributions – New Policy |
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Discussion ensued with regard to (i) introducing an art review process for Council only during the initial art project phase, (ii) encouraging opportunities to support local and emerging artists, and (iii) considering options to escalate the review process for higher-cost projects. |
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In reply to queries from Committee, staff noted that (i) currently, the terms of reference for a proposed project are presented to Council, followed by the final selection process, (ii) the proposed policy would grant Council the ability to refuse public art contributions on private property, (iii) the public art program is a voluntary contribution made by developers and there is a high participation rate by developers, and (iv) a review of the amenity contribution rates by developers can be considered. |
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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 staff report titled, “Local Art Plans, Vision and Themes, Opportunities for Young and Emerging Artists and Council Approval of Private Development Public Art and Developer Contributions – New Policy” from the Director, Arts, Culture and Heritage Services dated September 17, 2019, be referred back to staff to examine: |
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(1) |
the harmonization of procedures for public art development on private and public property, which provides the terms of reference and concepts for Council consideration only at the initial application phase; |
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(2) |
potential monetary thresholds and options for the allocation of voluntary developer public art contributions; and |
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(3) |
whether preference can be given to local and emerging artists in public art projects; |
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and report back. |
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The question on the motion was not called as discussion ensued with regard to allocation options for the voluntary developer public art contributions, including allocation to art programs and defining a transparent public art approval process. |
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The question on the referral motion was then called and it was CARRIED. |
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8. |
Ferry Terminal on Sea Island |
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An article from the Richmond News titled, “Ferry Terminal at YVR ‘suggested as province looks at B.C. Ferris’ future”, dated October 22, 2019, was distributed (attached to and forming part of these minutes as Schedule 3). |
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Discussion ensued with regard to the history of ferry terminal proposals in Sea Island and utilizing local waterways for transportation alternatives. |
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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 staff examine the status of the proposal by the Province to develop a B.C. Ferry terminal in Sea Island, and report back. |
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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 (5:56 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, November 4, 2019. |
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Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie |
Evangel Biason |