June 19, 2023 - Minutes

Date:

Monday, June 19, 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 Bill McNulty
Councillor Michael Wolfe

Absent:

Councillor Alexa Loo

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 June 5, 2023, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

DELEGATION

1.

Dr. Meena Dawar, Chief Medical Officer, Vancouver Coastal Health and Karen Barclay, Director of Operations, Vancouver Coastal Health, with the aid of a PowerPoint presentation (Copy on File, City Clerk’s Office) spoke on (i) unregulated drug deaths in BC and Richmond, (ii) deaths by geography in Richmond, (iii) overdose-related emergency department visits to Richmond Hospital by substance categories, (iv) EHS call rates per 100,000 for 2022 and 2023 by CHSA in Richmond and Vancouver, (v) Decriminalization in BC: Shift approach to substance use as a health matter, (vi) Building a Provincial System of Care, (vii) Richmond Mental Health and Substance Use Community Service Expansion 2021 – 2023, and (viii) supportive housing.

COMMUNITY SAFETY DIVISION

2.

TOUCHSTONE FAMILY ASSOCIATION RESTORATIVE JUSTICE ANNUAL PERFORMANCE OUTCOME EVALUATION REPORT

(File Ref. No. 03-1000-05-069) (REDMS No. 7185084)

It was moved and seconded

That the staff report titled “Touchstone Family Association Restorative Justice Annual Performance Outcome Evaluation Report” dated May 9, 2023 from the General Manager, Community Safety, be received for information.

CARRIED

3.

PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO BYLAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER BYLAW NO. 9742

(File Ref. No. 12-8375-01) (REDMS No. 7198574)

It was moved and seconded

That Bylaw Enforcement Officer Bylaw No. 9742, Amendment Bylaw No. 10462 be introduced and given first, second and third readings.

CARRIED

4.

EXPANDING THE INTER-MUNICIPAL TNS BUSINESS LICENCE

(File Ref. No. 12-8375-01) (REDMS No. 7208159)

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That Inter-Municipal Business Licence Agreement Bylaw No. 10134, Amendment Bylaw No. 10468, to expand the participating municipalities for ride-hailing services, be introduced and given first, second and third readings; and

(2)

That Inter-Municipal Business Licence Bylaw No. 10159, Amendment Bylaw No. 10471, with minor housekeeping revisions, be introduced and given first, second and third readings.

The question on the motion was not called as in reply to queries from Committee, staff noted that (i) ride hailing drivers require a class 4 drivers licence which requires a background check and a business licence, various law enforcement agencies such as Bylaws and RCMP are involved,
(iii) illegal ride hailing in Richmond is related to many factors such as proximity to a major airport, and (iv) requests to the Province have been made with regards to an educational awareness campaign to deter illegal ride hailing.

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

It was moved and seconded

That staff review the experience of licenced and unlicenced ride hailing services in Richmond and report back.

CARRIED

5.

SEASONAL PATIO & EXTENSION OF SERVICE HOURS - EMPEROR'S KITCHEN LTD. DBA: GRILL PARTY - 120 – 8511 ALEXANDRA RD., RICHMOND, BC

(File Ref. No. 12-8275-30-001) (REDMS No. 7225768)

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the application from Emperor’s Kitchen Ltd. doing business as: Grill Party, for an amendment to Food Primary Liquor Licence No. 305936 requesting:

(a)

An addition of a Seasonal Patio area to permit liquor and food service between April 1 and October 31 each year with 20 seats;

(b)

Total person capacity to remain the same at 98 occupants; and

(c)

An increase to hours of liquor service currently set at Monday to Sunday, 9:00AM to Midnight, be supported for change to Monday to Sunday, 9:00 AM to 2:00 AM, be supported; and

(2)

That a letter be sent to the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch, which includes the information attached as Appendix A (Attachment 1 ), advising that Council recommends the approval of the licence amendments for the reasons that these amendments have been determined, following public consultation, to be acceptable to the neighbouring community.

The question on the motion was not called as in reply to queries from Committee, staff advised that (i) the applicant is requesting an extension of operating hours for inside the restaurant, (ii) the reason for the extension is for increased income and profitability, and (iii) the patio is required to close at 10 pm.  

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

COMMUNITY SERVICES DIVISION

6.

PILOT PROJECT FOR THE CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL IN PUBLIC PARKS

(File Ref. No. 11-7200-20-01) (REDMS No. 7238902)

In response to queries from Committee, staff advised that (i) parks identified in the staff report were considered for their geographical spread and location in various neighbourhoods, (ii) should there be an issue  or complaint, bylaws or the RCMP can be contacted, (iii) there have been no requests from the public with regards to a pilot project of this nature, (iv) should the pilot project be approved, public consultation will take place during the implementation of the pilot project, (v) the Criminal Code prohibits drinking and driving, (vi) a site selection criteria was created using pilot projects throughout the region, (vii) there is a buffer between sensitive areas and any complaints will be handled by Bylaws, (vii) a communications plan will be developed and distributed through various City social media channels, and the City’s website, which will include maps as well as signage on-site, (viii) in consultation with internal City departments, the RCMP and other municipalities, no serious areas of concern were identified, and (ix) the pilot project will run until September 30, 2023.

Dr. Meena Dawar, Chief Medical Officer, Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH), with the aid of a PowerPoint presentation (Copy on File, City Clerk’s Office) spoke on (i) statutory responsibilities of Medical Health Officers, (ii) alcohol health impacts, (iii) increasing consumption, harm and costs, (iv) annual per capita alcohol consumption in British Columbia and Canada, (v) annual per capita alcohol consumption in Richmond, 2002-2021, (vi) alcohol-related hospitalization rates (per 100,000 pop.) in Richmond, 2007-2019,
(vii) Alcohol and tobacco attributable hospitalizations in VCH, (viii) alcohol consumption driven by youth in Richmond, (ix) healthcare costs associated with substance use in BC, (x) the main drivers of alcohol consumption,
(xi) different approaches needed for different public health harms, and
(xii) key considerations should the pilot project be approved.

It was moved and seconded

That a Bylaw be drafted to permit the implementation of a Pilot Project for the consumption of liquor in designated areas in a limited number of City of Richmond parks as detailed in the report "Pilot Project For the Consumption of Alcohol in Public Parks," dated May 25, 2023, from the Directors of Parks Services and Community Bylaws.

The question on the motion was not called as discussion took place on
(i) testing the pilot project and seeing if its successful, (ii) redefining areas in some parks, (iii) ensuring proper signage, (iv) uses of parks, (v) drinking and driving, (vi) consulting the residents in the neighbourhoods, (vii) proximity to children and families, and (viii) potential trash problems.

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

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That Minoru Park be removed from the Pilot Project;

(2)

That the areas in the remaining parks be reduced and better demarcations be used; and

(3)

That Garry Point Park be confined to the south east quadrant of the park.

The question on the amendment motion was not called, as there was agreement to deal with Parts (1) (2) and (3) separately.

The question on Part (1) was then called and it was DEFEATED with Cllrs. Au, Day, Heed, McNulty and Wolfe opposed.

The question on Part (2) was then called and it was DEFEATED with Cllrs. Au, Day, Heed, McNulty and Wolfe opposed.

The question on Part (3) was then called and it was DEFEATED with Cllrs. Au, Day, Heed, McNulty and Wolfe opposed.

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

PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DIVISION

7.

RICHMOND ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE 2023 WORK PROGRAM

(File Ref. No. 08-4055-05) (REDMS No. 7225033)

It was moved and seconded

That the proposed work plan for the Richmond Accessibility Advisory Committee as outlined in the staff report titled “Richmond Accessibility Advisory Committee 2023 Work Program,” dated May 19, 2023, from the Director, Community Social Development, be approved.

CARRIED

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:43 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, June 19, 2023.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie
Chair

Sarah Goddard
Legislative Services Associate