May 3, 2021 - Minutes

Date:

Monday, May 3, 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 19, 2021, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

COMMUNITY SERVICES DIVISION

1.

Proposed Tidally Influenced Terra Nova Slough Update 
(File Ref. No. 06-2345-20-TNOV4) (REDMS No. 6656916 v. 8)

Staff provided background information and highlighted the following:

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the existing fresh water pond will connect to the middle arm of the Fraser River;

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the connection will go through the dike and underneath the river and  create a culvert that would have a concave structure;

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the structure will maintain the integrity of the flood protection system as well as the integrity of the dike;

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the structure will not prevent the City from raising the dike;

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as the tide goes up and down, the water goes in and out of the slough, making the current fresh water in the pond tidally influenced; and

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as the tide goes in and out, it will fill with juvenile chum salmon.

In reply to queries from Committee, staff noted that (i) option 1 has minimal impact to the surrounding area of the slough, (ii) the timeline will vary depending on the agreement and discussions with the Federal Department of Fisheries, (iii) the slough connects to federal water body and permitting salmon into the slough would mean that it would fall under federal jurisdiction, (iv) to maintain the slough, regular maintenance will be undertaken by staff and any debris coming from outside into the system will be stopped by the tide gate grating system, (v) the slough design will not support salmon spawning, (vi) the slough would be a side channel to the middle arm and would function as a rearing habitat for juvenile salmon, (vii) salmon that are one year old or younger come into the slough to feed and find shade under the overhang of the riparian vegetation and then swim back out with the tide into the middle arm of the river, (viii) a summary of all projects can be provided, (ix) option 1 is recommended as it provides excellent value for the scope, (x) building a dike around the existing slough would impact the existing Terra Nova Area, (xi)  certain species of fish are reluctant to enter dark spaces, (xii) mitigation impacts will be required to the existing fresh water pond prior to construction, (xiii) the size and depth of the slough would provide adequate protection for salmon from other animals, and (xiv) all opportunities for funding will be explored.

It was requested that a summary of similar projects, as referenced in report, and a cost estimate of option 5 be provided.

It was moved and seconded

That, as described in the report titled “Proposed Tidally Influenced Terra Nova Slough Update” dated April 13, 2021, from the Director, Parks Services, Option 1 (Floodbox with Self-Regulating Tide Gate)  be endorsed for the purposes of design, costing and evaluation of habitat compensation benefit and be submitted for consideration in the 2022 budget process.

CARRIED
Opposed: Cllr. Wolfe

2.

Application for a Permit to Allow for the Discharge of Firearms at 7340 Sidaway Road, Richmond 
(File Ref. No. 11-7000-10-01) (REDMS No. 6654726 v. 12)

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the application by the Vancouver Gun Club for a permit to allow for the discharge of firearms under the City of Richmond’s Regulating the Discharge of Firearms Bylaw No. 4183 for the property at 7340 Sidaway Road, Richmond be approved in the form and on the terms and conditions set out in APPENDIX “A” of this report, and that said permit be issued; and

(2)

That the General Manager, Community Services be authorized to sign and issue the permit.

The question on the motion was not called as in reply to queries from Committee, Marshall Wirawan, volunteer, Vancouver Gun Club, noted that
(i) this is a sport shooting facility, (ii) members and guests are hunters, (iii) a Canadian Firearms Safety Course is required to be completed, (iv) individuals have to bring their own guns, and (v) individuals that don’t have a licence can become certified through the Canadian Firearms Safety Course.

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

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:52 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, May 3, 2021.

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Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie
Chair

Sarah Goddard
Legislative Services Associate