April 19, 2021 - Minutes

Date:

Monday, April 19, 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 4:00 p.m.

MINUTES

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on April 6, 2021, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

DELEGATION

1.

Nancy Small, CEO, Tourism Richmond, and Eda Koot, Chair, Board of Directors, Richmond Tourism, with the aid of a PowerPoint presentation (copy on file, City Clerk’s Office) noted that Tourism Richmond:

§   

is examining its future;

§   

has developed its vision and mission statements for a post-pandemic world;

§   

is looking into the future of travel and community benefits; and

§   

is working with key partners to explore new experiences for the summer.

FINANCE AND CORPORATE SERVICES DIVISION

2.

Municipal and Regional District Tax (MRDT) Five Year Renewal 2022-2027 
(File Ref. No. 08-4150-03-06) (REDMS No. 6616108)

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That staff prepare an application to the Province of British Columbia for the renewal of the three percent (3%) Municipal and Regional District Tax (MRDT) for an additional five-year period from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2027; and

(2)

That a bylaw be drafted requesting that the Province of British Columbia levy the Municipal and Regional District Tax (MRDT) on the municipality’s behalf for the purposes of delivering tourism marketing and development services during the period from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2027.

The question on the motion was not called as in reply to queries from Committee, staff noted that during the last renewal agreement there was a one time transfer to the Richmond Olympic Experience and the funding for the next 5 years does not include that item.

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

COMMUNITY SAFETY DIVISION

3.

Proposed New Soil Deposit and Removal Bylaw No. 10200 
(File Ref. No. 12-8080-12-01) (REDMS No. 6629457)

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That each of the following Bylaws be introduced and given first, second and third readings:

(a)

Soil Deposit and Removal Bylaw No. 10200;

(b)

Notice of Bylaw Violation Dispute Adjudication Bylaw No. 8122, Amendment Bylaw No. 10192;

(c)

Municipal Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw No. 7321, Amendment Bylaw No. 10193; and

(d)

Consolidated Fees Bylaw No. 8636, Amendment Bylaw No. 10194.

(2)

That staff report back to Council in two years to provide a status update regarding the implementation and enforcement results following adoption of Soil Deposit and Removal Bylaw No. 10200.

(3)

That the Consolidated 5 Year Financial Plan (2021-2025) be amended to include the temporary Soil Bylaw Officer position, which will be funded by an increase in permit and volume fees.

The question on the motion was not called as in reply to queries from Committee, staff noted that (i) the revised maximum security deposit will be $200,000, (ii) the security deposit is dependent on the size of the project,
(iii) changes to a number of regulatory requirements were also made,
(iv) recommendations from the Food Security and Agricultural Advisory Committee supported the maximum $200,000 security deposit to ensure it was not cost prohibitive for farmers, (v) only Maple Ridge, Surrey and Pitt Meadows do not have a maximum security deposit requirement, (vi) the proposed changes lower the exemption requirements, therefore the number for stop work orders would likely increase, and (vii) the proposed amendment allows the addition of a soil officer should the department require it.

Discussion took place on removing the maximum security deposit and as a result, the following amendment motion was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That staff provide appropriate wording to remove the maximum security deposit requirement in the bylaw.

The question on the amendment motion was not called as in reply to further queries from Committee, staff advised that (i) the Agricultural Land Commission issues large securities for applications and without a maximum applicants could be paying large sums of money from $500,000 to $1M,
(ii) security deposits are based on the size of the project, and (iii) a memorandum can be provided with a comparison of current costs for applicants versus potential costs under the proposed new bylaws.

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

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

4.

BC POLICE ACT REFORM 
(File Ref. No. 09-5355-00) (REDMS No. 6649966)

Discussion took place on including data on mental health issues to corroborate the City’s position.

In reply to queries from Committee, staff noted that (i) an overall percentage for mental health issues can be included, (ii) there is a privacy component that is standardized by the Province, that allows the police and mental health workers to share information in case of a public safety issue, (iii) the primary reason for the call is usually determined once officers are on scene, (iv) the Vulnerable Persons Unit and the joint team with Vancouver Coastal Health are two unique units to Richmond, (v) the Special Constable Program would adhere to policing standards set by the Province and Police Services and the RCMP Auxiliary Employees adhere to national standards set by the RCMP and (vi) Vancouver does not participate in the integrated teams system as they have their own homicide squad.

Direction was provided to staff to liaise with City of Vancouver staff with regard to participation in the integrated teams.  

It was moved and seconded

That the feedback set out in the staff report titled “BC Police Act Reform”, dated March 28, 2021, from the General Manager of Community Safety, be approved for submission to Special Committee on Reforming the Police Act.

CARRIED

PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DIVISION

5.

Report from the City Citizen Representatives on the Vancouver International Airport Aeronautical Noise Management Committee (YVR ANMC) for 2020 
(File Ref. No. 01-0153-04-01) (REDMS No. 6628674)

It was moved and seconded

That the staff report titled “Report from the City Citizen Representatives on the Vancouver International Airport Aeronautical Noise Management Committee (YVR ANMC) for 2020”, dated March 17, 2021, from the Director, Policy Planning, be received for information.

The question on the motion was not called as in reply to a query from Committee, staff noted that the issue of the north runway will be brought up at the Airspace Modernization Program, including using the runway for departures and arrivals.  

Staff were directed to provide an update on the latest situation with regard to the north runway and a summary of the previous response received from the ministry.

Staff advised that a memorandum can be provided with additional information regarding the use of the north runway and communications with pilots and airlines with regard to noise reduction procedures during take off and landing.

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

COUNCILLOR HAROLD STEVES

6.

rESOLUTION SUPPORTING OLD-GROWTH FORESTS 
(File Ref. No.)

Staff advised that it would take 2-3 months to provide an extensive analysis on the matter.

Discussion took place on ensuring Richmond is a leader on the matter and including Richmond specific information.

It was moved and seconded

That the City of Richmond endorse and support the old-growth forest resolution passed by the City of Port Moody on March 23, 2021 and provide a letter of support to the City of Port Moody.

CARRIED

FINANCE AND CORPORATE SERVICES DIVISION

7.

Need and Options for Regulation of Food Trucks in Steveston 
(File Ref. No. 08-4150-01) (REDMS No. 6655983 v. 3)

In reply to queries from Committee, staff noted that (i) the two licenced mobile food vendors in Steveston would be notified of the proposed cancellation of their business licence and Council would have to consider the cancellation, (ii) the bylaw defines mobile food vendor as truck or trailer, (iii) there are mobile food vendors that operate on private property and some on city property, with only 7 that have licences to operate on private property,
(iv) should the two vendors in Steveston agree to relocate there would be no need to cancel their business licences, (v) during the temporary commercial use permit process, surrounding properties are notified of the application and feedback is gathered, (vi) through the ongoing mobile food vendor program, vendors are allowed to obtain licences to operate on streets, sidewalks and parks as long as they adhere to a set of guidelines, and (vi) public surveys and outreach with Steveston merchants have taken place and plenty of feedback has been received.

It was moved and seconded

That Council:

(1)

Receive for information the preliminary results of the public consultation regarding the need and options for the regulation of food trucks in Steveston;

(2)

Direct staff to give notice to two mobile food vendors, licenced to operate at 3551 Moncton Street and 3971 Bayview Street, Salty’s Lobster Shack and Shameless Buns Inc., of the proposed cancellations of their business licences, including a notice of an opportunity to be heard at that meeting of Council when the proposed cancellations will be considered;

(3)

Authorize staff to withhold enforcement for up to six months against the five mobile food vendors that are operating on private property, and that have not been the subject of verifiable complaints, provided these licence holders take steps to relocate or obtain Temporary Commercial Use Permits for those locations;

(4)

Amend the process for issuing Temporary Commercial Use Permits to Mobile Food Vendors as described in the report “Need and Options for Regulation of Food Trucks in Steveston” from the General Manager, Community Safety, dated April 16, 2021, by giving first, second, and third readings to:

(a)

Development Permit, Development Variance Permit and Temporary Commercial and Industrial Use Permit Procedure Bylaw No. 7273, Amendment Bylaw No. 10264; and

(b)

Consolidated Fees Bylaw No. 8636, Amendment Bylaw No. 10262;

(5)

Add requirements for Mobile Food Vendors in Steveston as described in the report “Need and Options for Regulation of Food Trucks in Steveston”, dated April 16, 2021, by giving first, second, and third readings to Business Regulation Bylaw No. 7360, Amendment Bylaw No. 10263; and

(6)

Direct staff to identify suitable public locations for food trucks, including select parks locations in Steveston, to include in the City’s ongoing Mobile Vendor Program.

CARRIED

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:27 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, April 19, 2021.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie
Chair

Sarah Goddard
Legislative Services Associate