April 6, 2021 - Minutes

Date:

Tuesday, April 6, 2021

Place:

Council Chambers
Richmond City Hall

Present:

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

Call to Order:

The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:02 p.m.

AGENDA ADDITION

It was moved and seconded

That Food Trucks in Steveston be added to the agenda as Item No. 5.

CARRIED

MINUTES

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on March 15, 2021, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

COMMUNITY SAFETY DIVISION

1.

Application To Amend Liquor Manufacturer Licence # 306407 to include a Lounge Endorsement - 0873663 BC Ltd Doing Business as: Country Vines - 12900 Steveston Hwy. 
(File Ref. No. 12-8275-30-001) (REDMS No. 6625428)

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the application from 0873663 BC Ltd., doing business as, Country Vines, for an amendment to Liquor Manufacturer Licence # 306407 to operate its winery manufacturing  facility to include an outdoor Lounge endorsement at the premises located at 12900 Steveston Hwy., be supported for:

(a)

Outdoor Lounge with total person capacity set at 65 persons;

(b)

Proposed hours of liquor sales from Monday to Sunday, from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM; and

(2)

That a letter be sent to Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch, which includes the information attached as Appendix A, advising that Council recommends the approval of the licence amendment for the reasons that this amendment has been determined, following public consultation, to be acceptable in the area and community.

CARRIED

ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION

2.

Accelerated Flood Protection Program Concept and Flood Protection Rate Structure Review 
(File Ref. No. 10-6060-04-01) (REDMS No. 6627045 v. 5)

In reply to queries from Committee, staff noted that (i) increases to the utility rates would be brought forward for Council consideration through the annual budget process, (ii) currently the utilities generate approximately $13M per year, (iii) there is no immediate necessity to accelerate the program; however, the City would be in a better position should sea level rise, (iv) currently there is approximately $28M in the utility reserve, (v) environmental staff positions have been accounted for in the calculations; however, the scope of the work requires additional review to determine cost, (vi)  due to the pandemic in 2020 Council delayed the utility rate increases, and (vii) an in depth review of single-family residents on agricultural land will be undertaken within the next year.

Discussion took place on ensuring that sufficient public consultation is conducted to allow the community to provide feedback and proceeding with the increase immediately is necessary as maintenance of the dikes is important.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That a target annual revenue level of $30 million by 2031, for the Drainage and Diking Utility, be endorsed for use in future utility budget planning in order to support Option 1 – 50 Year Implementation Period for an accelerated flood protection program; and

(2)

That new rate classes be introduced for the Drainage and Diking Utility as presented in Table 2 of the report titled “Accelerated Flood Protection Program Concept and Flood Protection Rate Structure Review” dated February 26, 2021 from the Director, Engineering and be incorporated in the preparation of the 2022 utility budget and rates.

The question on the motion was not called as discussion took place on delaying the increase of utility rates and as a result, the following amendment motion was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That the following items be added as Parts (3) and (4):

(3)

That a public consultation and communication plan be developed; and

(4)

That implementation of the new utility rates commence in 2023.

The question on the amendment motion was not called as discussion took place on the need for a utility rate increase and ensuring the public is provided with the opportunity to offer feedback.

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

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

(1)

That a target annual revenue level of $30 million by 2031, for the Drainage and Diking Utility, be endorsed for use in future utility budget planning in order to support Option 1 – 50 Year Implementation Period for an accelerated flood protection program;

(2)

That new rate classes be introduced for the Drainage and Diking Utility as presented in Table 2 of the report titled “Accelerated Flood Protection Program Concept and Flood Protection Rate Structure Review” dated February 26, 2021 from the Director, Engineering and be incorporated in the preparation of the 2022 utility budget and rates;

(3)

That a public consultation and communication plan be developed; and

(4)

That implementation of the new utility rates commence in 2023.

was then called and it was CARRIED with Cllrs. Steves and Wolfe opposed.  

FINANCE AND CORPORATE SERVICES DIVISION

3.

City Participation in the Circular Cities and Regions Initiative 
(File Ref. No. 10-6125-07-01) (REDMS No. 6631823 v. 6)

It was moved and seconded

That as described in the report titled “City Participation in the Circular Cities and Regions Initiative” dated March 2, 2021 from the Director, Sustainability and District Energy, the City of Richmond’s application to participate in the Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (CCRI), be endorsed.

The question on the motion was not called as in reply to queries from Committee, staff noted that (i) there was extensive engagement with internal and external stakeholders through the procurement policy, (ii) stakeholder workshops were held in 2019 with local vendors that supply services to the City, and (iii) the reclaimed asphalt pilot project is performing as expected and the same process will be used on neighbourhood streets.  

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

DEPUTY CAO’S OFFICE

4.

Sister City Advisory Committee 2020 Year in Review 
(File Ref. No. 01-0100-20-SCIT1) (REDMS No. 6637158)

It was moved and seconded

That the staff report titled “Sister City Advisory Committee 2020 Year in Review”, dated March 8, 2021, from the General Manager, Community Safety, be received for information.

CARRIED

5.

Food trucks in steveston 
(File Ref. No.)

Discussion took place on mobile food trucks renting parking lots in Steveston.

It was moved and seconded

That staff:

(a)

provide an analysis on the need and options for regulation of food trucks in Steveston;

(b)

be directed to consult with the public and local merchants on this issue;

and, report back.

The question on the referral motion was not called as discussion took place on (i) ensuring mobile food trucks were not conflicting with other restaurants in the area, (ii) designating a specific area just for mobile food trucks, (iii) examining other cities and how they manage mobile food trucks, (iv) creating new opportunities while protecting the existing businesses, and (v) ensuring appropriate traffic management is in place. 

In reply to queries from Committee, staff advised that (i) two mobile food trucks in Steveston have gone through the approval process and received licences to operate on properties approved for restaurants, (ii) there is a requirement in the Business Regulation Bylaw that denotes a mobile food truck can not operate directly outside or in the normal flow of traffic to any business which offer the same or similar items for sale, (iii) mobile food truck vendors are required to find locations themselves that meet zoning and business regulation bylaw requirements, and (iv) any changes requested by Council would require bylaw changes as well as a public consultation period.

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

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:58 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, April 6, 2021.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie
Chair

Sarah Goddard
Legislative Services Associate