Wednesday, March 12, 2008 - Minutes

The Public Hearing reconvened at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 12, 2008, in the Council Chambers, at Richmond City Hall, with all members present.

The Acting Corporate Officer provided an update on correspondence received on March 12, 2008, which had been circulated to Council and form part of these minutes as Schedule 7.

Submissions from the floor continued:

Howard Jampolsky, 5531 Cantrell Road, suggested that the City hold a referendum during this year’s General Local and School Election to seek the public’s opinion on the Lands’ exclusion application.  This would provide credibility to the ALC if support for the removal of the Lands was indicated.  A copy of Mr. Jampolsky’s submission is attached as Schedule 8, and forms part of these minutes.

Jim Wright, 8300 Osgoode Drive, stated that he felt the public had been “shut out” of this Public Hearing. He then spoke in opposition to the ALR exclusion, and questioned why the City was applying on behalf of the Musqueam and CLC, as he believed that the City had already met its obligations.  Mr. Wright made the following points during his presentation:

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under the proposed agreements, the CLC and Musqueam would have a great deal of control over the rezoning;

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the CLC are interested in removing the Lands from the ALR only to increase the value of the Lands;

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the City is not prepared for alternative scenarios;

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the City’s promotional material related to the Lands is propaganda, paid for by taxpayers;

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the proposed development would cause a deficit in parkland;

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saving the Lands for agricultural parkland within the ALR would save Richmond taxpayers millions of dollars in the future; and

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the Lands are suitable for farming and food security, and exclusion from the ALR would not provide a net benefit to agriculture.

A copy of Mr. Wright’s presentation is attached as Schedule 9 and forms part of these minutes. 

Roland Hoegler, 6560 No. 4 Road, spoke in opposition to the exclusion of the Lands from the ALR, and provided a history associated with Richmond’s erosion of farmland as well as the creation of the ALR. Mr. Hoegler also stated that:

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the City has a fiduciary duty to obtain the best legal advice, and not base its decision on “boogie man fear”;

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the City is being used as a puppet by its partners, and  there is nothing in place to prevent the Musqueam from establishing a reserve on the Lands;

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the purchase price for the Lands even with the ALR protection is far too low; and

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property prices in the City Centre have risen since the signing of the MOU, and the MOU is a one sided agreement.

A copy of Mr. Hoegler’s submission is attached as Schedule 10, and forms part of these minutes. 

Derek Blackstock, 6480 No. 4 Road, spoke about the difficulties he has encountered while trying to have the ALR designation removed from his property. His property backs onto concrete developments, and is surrounded by a hospice and school, making it un-farmable. Mr. Blackstock questioned how a large property such as the Garden City Lands could even be considered for ALR exclusion while a  small un-farmable property such as his could be denied exclusion. 

Council requested that Mr. Blackstock contact the Planning and Development Department staff to discuss his application, as well as provide the Planning Committee with an update related to the changes in his immediate neighbourhood.

Doug McArthur, c/o 2301 – 1331 Alberni Street, Professor of Public Policy, Simon Fraser University, and Agrologist, spoke in favour of excluding the Lands from the ALR.  He expressed his belief that if the City did not proceed with the application, it would break its dealings of good faith with the First Nations, and a court injunction would be a rational decision by the Musqueam. Mr. McArthur gave a brief history related to First Nations and reserve lands, and stated that B.C. had failed to meet its lawful and moral obligations to the First Nations people.  He requested that Council make a decision about the Lands, taking into consideration the possibility of a full aboriginal title claim if the ALR exclusion application failed.  A copy of Mr. McArthur’s submission is attached as Schedule 11, and forms part of these minutes.

Donna Passmore, 13821 Blackburn, White Rock, spoke in opposition to the exclusion application, stating that she was not against giving land to the Musqueam, but was against giving away potential food security lands. She stated that depriving future generations of food security, which she believed was the greatest of all community needs,  was immoral, and that Council had an opportunity to stand up for Richmond’s future generations.

Ms. Passmore referenced her unofficial poll of fellow transit riders, which disclosed a low level of support for exclusion of the Lands.  A copy of Ms. Passmore’s submission is attached as Schedule 12, and forms part of these minutes.

Deirdre Whalen, 13631 Blundell Road, retired biologist, spoke in opposition to the application encouraging members of Council to reconsider it based on several points including Richmond’s needs,  how Richmond could benefit if the Lands were used for ALR permitted uses, necessities for liveability, and possible outcomes if the MOU was “scrapped”.  A copy of Ms. Whalen’s submission is attached as Schedule 13 and forms part of these minutes.

Barbara Huisman, 6611 Gainsborough Drive, spoke in opposition to the application citing Richmond’s need for more open space, not less.  She expressed concern about a survey on the Lands, which was geared towards choosing a preference of development for the Lands, rather than expressing an opinion about the exclusion from the ALR.  She also called into question statistics obtained from form letters of support. A copy of Ms. Huisman’s submission is attached as Schedule 14, and forms part of these minutes.

Mary Phillips, # 219 – 5500 Andrews Road, spoke in opposition to the application stating that she supported all levels of government and the Musqueam working together to create an urban agriculture facility on the Lands to benefit all residents of Richmond.  Ms. Phillips also expressed her frustration about the length of time she had to wait prior to being heard at the Public Hearing, and stated that it was difficult for ordinary citizens to participate and speak.  A copy of Ms. Phillips’ submission is attached as Schedule 15, and forms part of these minutes

PH08/3-2

It was moved and seconded

That, if the Public Hearing is not completed and adjourned by the end of the evening on March 13, 2008, then the Hearing be recessed and reconvened at 6:30 p.m. on March 26, 2008 in the Council Chambers.

The question on Resolution No. PH08/3-2 was not called, as a discussion took place about the availability of Council members, as well as the possibility of electronic participation by those members of Council who would be away on pre-scheduled vacations. 

The question on Resolution No. PH08/3-2 was then called, and it was DEFEATED with Mayor Brodie, and Councillors Barnes, Chen, Dang, E. Halsey-Brandt, Howard, and McNulty opposed.

PH08/3-3

It was moved and seconded

That the Public Hearing proceed past 11:00 p.m..

CARRIED

PH08/3-4

It was moved and seconded

That the Rules of Procedure which limit the use of teleconference technology to Special Council Meetings only, be waived in order to allow the participation of Council members by electronic means at this Public Hearing.

CARRIED

PH08/3-5

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting be recessed, and be reconvened on Thursday March 13, 2008 at 6:30 p.m., in the Council Chambers at Richmond City Hall.

CARRIED

RECESSED – 11:15 p.m..