July 27, 2020 - Minutes (Special)

Date:

Monday, July 27, 2020

Place:

Council Chambers
Richmond City Hall

Present:

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

Call to Order:

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

COUNCILLOR HAROLD STEVES

1.

OPEN  LETTER RE: Resilient Food Systems 
(File Ref. No.)

Cllr. Steves provided background information on proposals for resilient food systems and discussion ensued with regard to advocating the Province on adopting food system strategies.

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

It was moved and seconded

That the letter to the Premier advocating for resilient food systems and the attachment outlining the strategies and policies be referred to staff to examine aspects that apply to Richmond, and report back.

The question on the motion was not called as staff were directed to (i) examine opportunities to discuss the matter with the BC Minister of Agriculture through the upcoming Union of BC Municipalities Annual Convention, (ii) examine opportunities to consider the matter together with a review of Fraser River management, and (iii) provide Council with information related to the City’s current policy on the matter.

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

FINANCE AND CORPORATE SERVICES DIVISION

2.

2020 Annual Tax Sale Options 
(File Ref. No. 03-1240-01) (REDMS No. 6491657)

Discussion ensued with regard to (i) options to defer the tax sale and the timing of the tax sale during the COVID-19 Pandemic, (ii) utilizing larger City venues such as the Richmond Olympic Oval to host the tax sale, and (iii) the potential financial impact to delay the tax sale.

In reply to queries from Committee, staff noted that (i) Council would have until August 31, 2020 to defer this year’s tax sale to 2021, (ii) should the tax sale proceed, the event would be relocated to the Minoru Centre, and (iii) the City works with property owners to arrange payment of tax delinquencies to reduce the potential number of properties designated for the tax sale.

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

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the 2020 Annual Tax Sale be deferred;

(2)

That the Bylaw to Defer Annual Tax Sale for 2020, Bylaw No. 10199 be introduced and given first, second, and third readings; and

(3)

That the Bylaw to Defer Annual Tax Sale for 2020, Bylaw No. 10199 be adopted.

The question on the motion was not called as discussion ensued with regard to the potential interest earned through the deferral of the tax sale.

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

Discussion then ensued with regard to reducing the number of outstanding tax accounts and monitoring potential financial distress as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

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

It was moved and seconded

That the report titled “2020 Annual Tax Sale Options” be referred back to staff and staff continue efforts to work with property owners to arrange payment of tax delinquencies and report back to Council with a status update on the number of tax delinquencies before the end of August 2020.

CARRIED

COMMUNITY SAFETY DIVISION

3.

Provincial Consultation on Money Services Businesses Regulation 
(File Ref. No. 09-5350-01) (REDMS No. 6503179)

It was moved and seconded

That the responses included in Attachment 2 of the staff report titled “Provincial Consultation on Money Services Businesses Regulation”, dated July 17, 2020, from the General Manager, Community Safety be endorsed for submission to the BC Ministry of Finance.

The question on the motion was not called as discussion ensued with regard to  (i) cooperation with external agencies such as FINTRAC and the RCMP, (ii) opportunities to regulate Money Services Businesses (MSB), and (iii) advocating the Province to expedite legislation regulating MSBs.

It was suggested that should Council adopt the proposed motion, staff prepare a public announcement on the matter.

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

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:32 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 27, 2020.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie
Chair

Evangel Biason
Legislative Services Coordinator