October 16, 2023 (Minutes)

Date:

Monday, October 16, 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 (by teleconference)

Call to Order:

The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:01 p.m.

MINUTES

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on October 3, 2023, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

DELEGATIONS

1.

Phil Karlsson, Harold Steves, and Linda Barnes, Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site Society, referenced their submission “Living in Harmony” (copy on file, City Clerk’s Office), which provides a plan of interpretive themes to portray the history and development of Steveston into a reconstructed Phoenix Gillnet Loft building.

Discussion ensued regarding an outstanding referral on the options for the Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site.

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

It was moved and seconded

That staff review the Phoenix Gillnet Loft Project in the context of the existing referral regarding options for the Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site.

CARRIED

Delegations from the floor on Agenda items.

Item No. 4 – TransLink Bus Rapid Transit Program – Update on Proposed Richmond Corridor

Nathan Davidowicz, former Richmond resident, discussed the history of bus routes and the proposed R7 RapidBus route.

Devyn Cairns, HUB Cycling Richmond/YVR Local Committee representative, spoke on HUB Cycling’s position on the proposed R7 RapidBus route.

Francis Leung expressed his concerns regarding the R7 Rapidbus Corridor as proposed in the staff report and referenced his submission (copy on file, City Clerk’s Office).

Steve Ostrowski, CEO, Municipal Transit Solutions Inc., discussed an alternative approach to transit systems construction.

Item No. 6 – Homeless Crisis

De Whalen, President, Richmond Poverty Reduction Coalition (RPRC), expressed their full support with the intent of Item No. 6, referencing her submission (copy on file, City Clerk’s Office).

COMMUNITY SAFETY DIVISION

2.

SEASONAL PATIO - 0873663 BC LTD DBA: COUNTRY VINES WINERY – 12900 STEVESTON HWY
(File Ref. No. 12-8125-01) (REDMS No. 7375489)

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the application from 0873663 BC Ltd doing business as: Country Vines Winery, for an addition of two Seasonal Patios for a Farm Based Winery with a Manufacturers Liquor Licence requesting:

(a)

An addition of a Seasonal Patio area to permit outdoor wine tasting between April 1 and October 31, each year, with 15 seats; and

(b)

A second Seasonal Patio area for private bookings between April 1 and October 31, each year for 4 seats; and

(c)

Total person capacity to remain the same at 65 occupants;

be endorsed; and

(2)

That the Country Vines Winery's transfer from a Temporary Outdoor Patio (TOP) to a Seasonal Patio Permit be approved.

CARRIED

PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DIVISION

3.

DRAFT RICHMOND ACCESSIBILITY PLAN 2023–2033

(File Ref. No. 08-4055-05) (REDMS No. 7286442)

In reply to queries from Committee, staff advised that (i) the City frequently brings in consultants to assist with accessibility work, many of those being people with lived experience, (ii) consulting expenses were approximately $44,000, (iii) the intention of the Accessible British Columbia Act is to identify and remove barriers throughout the province, and as the legislation continues to evolve, it is expected that other sectors will be legislated beyond public sectors, (iv) City will look into what staff training and resources are required based on provincial requirements as legislation evolves, (v) Council adopted the Enhanced Accessibility Design Guidelines and Technical Specifications in 2018 to assist City staff and the development community in incorporating accessibility features in City-owned facilities, and (vi) the City’s Enhanced Accessibility Design Guidelines follow the existing national standard, which is closely aligned with the Rick Hansen Foundation.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the draft Richmond Accessibility Plan 2023–2033, as outlined in the staff report titled “Draft Richmond Accessibility Plan 2023–2033” dated September 15, 2023 from the Director, Community Social Development, be approved;

(2)

That staff be authorized to seek public feedback on the draft Richmond Accessibility Plan for the purposes of finalizing the plan; and

(3)

That staff report back to City Council with the final Richmond Accessibility Plan, including a summary of the public feedback received.

CARRIED

4.

TRANSLINK BUS RAPID TRANSIT PROGRAM – UPDATE ON  PROPOSED RICHMOND CORRIDOR 
(File Ref. No. 10-6480-03-01) (REDMS No. 7373357)

In reply to queries from Committee, staff advised that (i) if Council endorsed the TransLink proposal for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), the City would be dedicating one of the two lanes in each direction on Cambie Road for a bus that comes approximately once every ten minutes, (ii) the intersection improvement project at Cambie Road and No. 5 Road is awaiting property acquisition, (iii) based on TransLink’s ridership per kilometre, the proposed route ranks in the top three routes in the region for BRT, (iv) bike lanes on Cambie Road are included in the medium-term route improvements of the Cycling Network Plan, (v) staff are suggesting that BRT could potentially include an HOV lane instead of a bus-only lane, (vi) BRT is a top priority for TransLink at this time, (vii) there are some trade-offs when an HOV lane is created, however encouraging the use of HOV lanes does have merit, (viii) TransLink work indicates there is a desired line between Richmond’s city centre and Metrotown and the proposed BRT route is a service that would benefit Richmond, (ix) TransLink has not indicated that any other services would be impacted as a result, (x) TransLink is seeking municipal support on proposed BRT routes, (xi) TransLink would fund the on-off ramp to Knight Street Bridge via Cambie Road, and (xii) the City of Vancouver endorsed multiple bus corridor improvements on October 4, and the City of Burnaby is considering their proposed resolution on the North Shore-Metrotown BRT route on October 16.

It was moved and seconded

That, as presented in the staff report titled "TransLink Bus Rapid Transit Program - Update on Proposed Richmond Corridor" dated October 5, 2023 from the Director, Transportation, the following be endorsed:

(a)

The resolution for Bus Rapid Transit commitment by the City as identified in Attachment 2; and

(b)

The R7 RapidBus corridor, as identified in Figure 3, in Richmond in principle.

DEFEATED

Opposed: Cllrs. Au
Day
Gillanders

Heed
Hobbs

McNulty

LAW AND LEGISLATIVE SERVICES DIVISION

5.

2024 COUNCIL AND COMMITTEE MEETING SCHEDULE

(File Ref. No. 01-0105-01) (REDMS No. 7373386)

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the 2024 Council and Committee meeting schedule, as shown in Attachment 1 of the staff report dated October 3, 2023, from the Director, City Clerk’s Office, be approved; and,

(2)

That the following revisions as detailed in the staff report titled “2024 Council and Committee Meeting Schedule” dated October 3, 2023, from the Director, City Clerk’s Office, be approved:

(a)

That the Regular Council meetings (open and closed) of August 12 and August 26, 2024 be cancelled; and

(b)

That the August 19, 2024 Public Hearing be rescheduled to September 3, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Richmond City Hall.

The question on the motion was not called as discussion ensued with regard to alternate options for the meeting schedule.

In reply to queries from Committee, staff advised that the schedule can be adjusted by a Council resolution at any time.

Discussion ensued regarding potential options for the meeting schedule. As a result of the discussion, a referral motion to defer the matter to the next General Purposes Committee Meeting was introduced, but failed to receive a seconder.

The question on the motion was not called as the following amendment motion was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That the 2024 Council and Committee Meeting Schedule be amended to move the September 16 General Purposes Committee meeting to September 11.

The question on the amendment motion was not called as discussion ensued regarding changing the date of the September 16, 2024 General Purposes Committee meeting.

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

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

COUNCILLOR KASH HEED

6.

HOMELESS CRISIS

(File Ref. No.)

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That Staff research, analyse, and recommend to the Committee a process to immediately implement action plans to mitigate the homeless crisis;

(2)

That Staff review and recommend a formal position to be considered by this Committee on secure care for the acute drug addicted and/or persons with critical mental illness that are homeless;

(3)

That other levels of Government and the Health Authority are apprised of this examination and to work collaboratively with Staff; and

(4)

That Staff report back to the Committee with recommendations within 45 days.

The question on the motion was not called as in reply to queries from Committee, staff noted that (i) within the 45 day window, they would be able to report back on various City strategies and initiatives currently in place, and more time would be required to address Item 2 of the motion, (ii) City actions and initiatives include but are not limited to: the expansions of shelters, construction of supportive housing projects, working with senior government on additional projects, a City-supported emergency response centre through the pandemic period, a drop-in centre at Brighouse Park, the expansion of warming centres within Richmond, and a robust outreach program, (iii) they have identified the need for outreach positions as part of the budget considerations for next year, (iv) the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions has a Provincial responsibility for addressing the issues of secure care outlined in Item 2 of the motion, and (v) the City has strong communication and relations with staff in other levels of government.

Discussion ensued regarding the homeless crisis and the need for immediate action. As a result of the discussion, the following amendment motion was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That the motion be amended to add:

(5)

That, in order to determine further steps for local government to take further action to immediately address homelessness, the following be invited to present on the issue:

(a)

The Minister of Mental Health and Addictions;

(b)

The Minister of Housing; and

(c)

The Minister of Social Development; and

(6)

That staff review what groups are involved in the Richmond Community Homelessness Table and report back.

The question on the amendment motion was not called as further discussion ensued.

The question on the main motion as amended, which reads as follows:

(1)

That Staff research, analyse, and recommend to the Committee a process to immediately implement action plans to mitigate the homeless crisis;

(2)

That Staff review and recommend a formal position to be considered by this Committee on secure care for the acute drug addicted and/or persons with critical mental illness that are homeless;

(3)

That other levels of Government and the Health Authority are apprised of this examination and to work collaboratively with Staff;

(4)

That Staff report back to the Committee with recommendations within 45 days;

(5)

That, in order to determine further steps for local government to take further action to immediately address homelessness, the following be invited to present on the issue:

(a)

The Minister of Mental Health and Addictions;

(b)

The Minister of Housing; and

(c)

The Minister of Social Development; and

(6)

That staff review what groups are involved in the Richmond Community Homelessness Table and report back.

was then called, and it was CARRIED.

COUNCILLOR BILL MCNULTY

7.

SPONSORSHIP - CITY OF WAKAYAMA

(File Ref. No.) (REDMS No.)

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the City of Richmond sponsor a dinner for the delegation and host clubs in celebration of the 50^th Anniversary of Richmond Twinning with Wakayama, Japan; and

(2)

That the sponsorship of the Sayanara Dinner for $5,000 be taken from the Council contingency account.

CARRIED

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (6:01 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, October 16, 2023.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie
Chair

Shannon Unrau
Legislative Services Associate