April 19, 2022 - Minutes

Date:

Tuesday, April 19, 2022

Place:

Council Chambers
Richmond City Hall

Present:

Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie, Chair
Councillor Chak Au
Councillor Carol Day
Councillor Andy Hobbs
Councillor Alexa Loo
Councillor Bill McNulty
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 4:00p.m.

AGENDA ADDITION

It was moved and seconded

That Affordable Housing Development Procedures be added to the agenda as Item No. 3.

CARRIED

MINUTES

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on  April 4, 2022, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION

1.

City Centre District Energy Utility Bylaw No. 9895, Amendment Bylaw No. 10112
(File Ref. No. 10-6600-10-04) (REDMS No. 6326977)

A brief discussion ensued with respect to the City’s district energy system’s ability to utilize different low carbon fuel sources and the future low carbon fuel switching capability of the technology.

Staff noted there are approximately 5,000 residential units connected to the system so far, with full buildout in the City Centre anticipated to be at least 50,000 units.

It was moved and seconded

That the City Centre District Energy Utility Bylaw No. 9895, Amendment Bylaw No. 10112, presented in the “City Centre District Energy Utility Bylaw No. 9895, Amendment Bylaw No. 10112” report, dated March 10, 2022, from the Director, Sustainability and District Energy, be introduced and given first, second, and third readings.

CARRIED

COMMUNITY SAFETY DIVISION

2.

Sister City Advisory Committee 2021 Year in Review
(File Ref. No. 01-0100-30-SCIT1-01) (REDMS No. 6857517)

Staff noted that planning is underway for the SCAC 2023–2026 Four Year Activity Plan, anticipated to be brought forward to Council in fall 2022.

A brief discussion ensued with respect to additional funding sources for student/sport exchange opportunities.

It was moved and seconded

That the staff report titled “Sister City Advisory Committee 2021 Year in Review”, dated March 23, 2022, from the General Manager, Community Safety, be received for information.

CARRIED

MAYOR’S OFFICE

3.

Affordable Housing Development Procedures
(File Ref. No.)

It was noted that the City of Victoria recently approved a new policy that abolishes the need to rezone or hold a public hearing for affordable housing building development proposals.

Discussion ensued with respect to the potential for a similar policy appropriate for the City of Richmond, noting that additional information is needed, e.g. the number of units (ratio) in a complex that would qualify for affordable housing.

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

It was moved and seconded

That the City of Victoria policy on affordable housing development procedures be referred to staff to analyze, including what is involved and what the options are, and provide recommendations as to whether this would be an appropriate approach in whole or in part for the City of Richmond.

CARRIED

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:15 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, April19, 2022.

_________________________________

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Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie
Chair

Lorraine Anderson
Legislative Services Associate