February 6, 2023 - Minutes

Date:

Monday, February 6, 2023

Place:

Council Chambers
Richmond City Hall

Present:

Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie, Chair
Councillor Chak Au
Councillor Carol Day
Councillor Laura Gillanders
Councillor Kash Heed
Councillor Andy Hobbs
Councillor Alexa Loo
Councillor Bill McNulty
Councillor Michael Wolfe

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 January 23, 2023, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

The Chair advised that the order of the agenda would be varied to consider Item No. 7 before Item No. 6.

COMMUNITY SERVICES DIVISION

1.

2023 ARTS AND CULTURE GRANTS

(File Ref. No. 03-1085-01) (REDMS No. 7079502)

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the 2023 Arts and Culture Grants be awarded for the total recommended amount of $124,258, as identified in Attachment 1 of the staff report titled “2023 Arts and Culture Grants”, dated January 10, 2023, from the Director, Arts, Culture and Heritage Services; and

(2)

That the grant funds be disbursed accordingly following Council approval.

CARRIED

2.

2023 PARKS, RECREATION AND COMMUNITY EVENTS GRANTS

(File Ref. No. 03-1085-01) (REDMS No. 7107643)

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the 2023 Parks, Recreation and Community Events Grants, less the proposed grant to KidSport, be awarded for the total recommended amount of $95,017, as identified in Attachment 1 of the staff report titled “2023 Parks, Recreation and Community Events Grants”, dated January 10, 2023, from the Director, Recreation and Sport Services and the Director, Parks Services; and

(2)

That the grant funds be disbursed accordingly following Council approval.

The question on the motion was not called as a brief discussion ensued with regard to marketing grant opportunities, the application process and criteria.

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

In accordance with Section 100 of the Community Charter, Cllr. Loo declared a conflict of interest as she is involved in KidSport fundraising activities, and Cllr. Loo left the meeting – 4:05 p.m.

Discussion ensued with regard to the recommended grant for KidSport, and as a result, the following motion was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the grant to KidSport be awarded in the amount of $20,000; and

(2)

That $5,000 be held back and that staff be directed, in consultation with the President, Richmond Sports Council, to allocate and administer grants for sports groups not recognized by KidSport, and that any remaining balance at the end of the year would again be adjudicated by staff in conjunction with the President, Richmond Sports Council, and can be given to KidSport.

The question on the motion was not called as a brief discussion ensued with respect to individual sports groups that missed the 2022 grant opportunity, and it was suggested that staff reach out to those individual sports groups to ensure sufficient grant application timing going forward.

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

Cllr. Loo returned to the meeting – 4:09 p.m.

3.

2023 ENVIRONMENTAL ENHANCEMENT GRANTS

(File Ref. No. 03-1085-01) (REDMS No. 7099784)

Discussion ensued with respect to the grant application process and criteria, noting that the budget was the same as last year and that an increase to the budget would further expand environmental enhancement opportunities.

In response to queries from the Committee, staff noted (i) all applicants are receiving funding, (ii) as total grant requests were in excess of the budget, reductions were made for items such as food and beverage and marketing expenses, and (iii) honorarium costs, limited to a maximum of $350, as per grant guidelines.

It was requested that in advance of the 2024 grant program considerations, staff provide feedback on the program overall, including recommendations with respect to the budget amount.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the 2023 Environmental Enhancement Grants be awarded for the total recommended amount of $36,393, as identified in Attachment 1 of the staff report titled “2023 Environmental Enhancement Grants”, dated January 9, 2023, from the Director, Parks Services; and

(2)

That the grant funds be disbursed accordingly following Council approval.

CARRIED

PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DIVISION

4.

2023 HEALTH, SOCIAL AND SAFETY GRANTS

(File Ref. No. 07-3300-01) (REDMS No. 7086433)

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the 2023 Health, Social and Safety Grants be awarded for the total recommended amount of $661,312.00, as identified in Attachment 1 of the staff report titled “2023 Health, Social and Safety Grants”, dated January 3, 2023, from the Director, Community Social Development; and

(2)

That the grant funds be disbursed accordingly following Council approval.

The question on the motion was not called as discussion took place regarding the allocation of the remaining balance of $5,605.

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

It was moved and seconded

That the balance of the remaining funds from the 2023 Health, Social and Safety Grants in the amount of $5,605, as identified in Attachment 1 of the staff report titled “2023 Health, Social and Safety Grants,” dated January 3, 2023, from the Director, Community Social Development, be disbursed equally between the Multicultural Helping House Society, Parish of St. Albans, and Richmond Poverty Reduction Coalition.

CARRIED

The question on the main motion which reads as follows:

(1)

That the 2023 Health, Social and Safety Grants of $661,312 as identified in Attachment 1 of the staff report titled “2021 Health, Social and Safety Grants”, dated January 18, 2021, from the Director, Community Social Development, be adjusted to include the balance of $5,605 to be disbursed equally between the Multicultural Helping House Society, Parish of St. Albans, and Richmond Poverty Reduction Coalition, and that the adjusted total recommended amount of $666,917 be awarded; and

(2)

That the grant funds be disbursed accordingly following Council approval.

was then called and it was CARRIED.

5.

2023 CHILD CARE GRANTS

(File Ref. No. 03-1085-01) (REDMS No. 7055435)

A brief discussion ensued with respect to equipment expenses.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the Child Care Capital Grants be awarded for the total recommended amount of $49,936.46, as identified in the staff report titled “2023 Child Care Grants”, dated January 4, 2023, from the Director, Community Social Development;

(2)

That the Child Care Professional and Program Development Grants be awarded for the total recommended amount of $10,000.00; and

(3)

That the grant funds be disbursed accordingly following Council approval.

CARRIED

The Agenda was varied to consider Item 7 before Item 6.

COUNCILLOR CHAK AU

7.

RICHMOND COMMUNITY PROTOCOL: RESPONDING TO RACISM AND HATE

(File Ref. No.)

Deirdre Whalen, Richmond resident and President, Richmond Poverty Reduction Coalition, provided a brief background to the establishment of the “Richmond Community Protocol: Responding to Racism and Hate” (the “Protocol”), noting that the Richmond Poverty Reduction Coalition endorsed the Protocol at their AGM in June, 2022.  It was further noted the Protocol is a living document, providing the opportunity for proposed changes and improvements over the next few months.

Rahim Othman, Richmond resident, spoke to the many community members and representatives of various organizations throughout Richmond that have been working on the Protocol for a number of years, noting the wide support and representation, and encouraging the City’s endorsement.

Discussion ensued regarding the rationale for the endorsement of the Protocol.  It was noted that the Protocol was created in collaboration with many Richmond stakeholders and launched formally by Richmond Multicultural Community Services, the lead organization for the realization of the Protocol.

It was moved and seconded

That Richmond endorses the “Richmond Community Protocol: Responding to Racism and Hate”, as created in collaboration with many Richmond stakeholders, including the RCMP, Richmond School Board, City of Richmond and Richmond Library, and set out protocols to help organizations, community members, and stakeholders tackle racism and respond promptly and effectively to incidents of racism and hate.

Before the question was called, a brief discussion ensued with respect to the alignment with the City’s Cultural Harmony Plan.  Staff noted the Protocol aligns with the City’s Cultural Harmony Plan, calling for participation in initiatives that respond to instances of racism and hate.  Staff further noted that there is currently a subcommittee being formed to look at how the Protocol would work in practice, which will require further steps taken for organizations to come up with an implementation plan.

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

COUNCILLOR ALEXA LOO

6.

ADOPTION OF TERMINOLOGY AND DEFINITIONS IN CANADA’S ANTI-RACISM STRATEGY

(File Ref. No.)

Richmond resident and activist for the Palestinian youth movement in Richmond, spoke to the proposed adoption of terminology and definitions in Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy, noting that the document is not comprehensive as it does not recognize the anti-Palestinian movement in Richmond.

Rahim Othman, Richmond resident, spoke to the proposed motion, noting that the document attached is from 2019 to 2022, and will likely trigger a federal government review and updates.  It was further noted the document is not comprehensive as it does not include the definition for other hates or actions against other communities and is mostly theoretical and should be reviewed further before it is endorsed.

In response to queries from the Committee, Mr. Othman expressed his preference for the Protocol considered in Item No. 7.

Discussion ensued regarding the rationale for adopting the terminology and definitions in Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy.  It was noted that the terminology is a positive step forward to combating racism and does not endorse a specific government, regime or their policies.

It was moved and seconded

That the City of Richmond adopt the terminology and definitions in pages 21-24 of Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy 2019-2022 in its entirety.

The question on the motion was not called as discussion ensued with respect to (i) terminology and definitions being all-inclusive, all-encompassing and comprehensive, (ii) timeliness of anticipated updates, and (iii) the terminology and definitions as reviewed and passed by the federal government.

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

It was moved and seconded

That the matter be tabled until the March 6, 2023 General Purposes Committee meeting.

The question on the motion was not called as a brief discussion ensued on Strategy definitions.

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

Discussion ensued regarding further amendments in terminology.  As a result, the following amendment to the main motion was then introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That the motion be amended by adding a Part (2):

(2)

That, for clarity, adopting these definitions does not preclude the criticism of specific actions of a particular government or state.

CARRIED
Opposed:  Cllrs. Heed and Loo

The question on the main motion which reads as follows:

(1)

That the City of Richmond adopt the terminology and definitions in pages 21-24 of Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy 2019-2022 in its entirety; and

(2)

That, for clarity, adopting these definitions does not preclude the criticism of specific actions of a particular government or state.

was then called and it was CARRIED with Cllr. Heed opposed.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:18 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, February 6, 2023.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie
Chair

Lorraine Anderson
Legislative Services Associate