The Public Hearing reconvened at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 19, 2008, in the Council Chambers, at Richmond City Hall, with all members present except Councillors Linda Barnes and Sue Halsey-Brandt.

The Acting Corporate Officer provided an update on the correspondence received on March 19, 2008, which had been circulated to Council and forms part of these minutes as Schedule 51.

Submissions from the floor continued:

Randy Fasan, CLC, offered no new information but advised that the consultant team was present to answer questions.

Jim Reynolds, Musqueam legal representative, offered no new legal information, noting that his latest submission included a response to some of the comments made in opposition to the application.  He expressed gratitude for the patience shown by Council in hearing all presentations offered.  A copy of Mr. Reynolds’ submission forms part of these minutes, and is attached as Schedule 52.

City of Richmond representatives offered no further remarks.

It was moved and seconded

PH08/3-12

That Council endorse the “Block Application” (Attachment 1) to exclude the properties known as the “Garden City Lands” bounded by Garden City Road, Alderbridge Way, No. 4 Road and Westminster Highway from the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) on behalf of the Musqueam Indian Band (Musqueam), the City of Richmond and the Canada Lands Company (CLC), collectively known as “the partners”.

The question on the motion was not called as members of Council offered their comments on the subject matter.

Comments provided in opposition to the application follow:

§          

this debate should reflect whether to preserve the Garden City Lands as bog or use it for urban gardens and agriculture, not whether to develop 65% of the Lands;

§          

Bogs remove gases and pollutants from the air and work positively in the face of climate change;

§          

Richmond has lost 48 acres of farm land, per year, since 1974;

§          

the previous use as a rifle range actually occurred in the Richmond Nature Park area, not on the Lands;

§          

there are financial savings to be realized through non-development of the Lands;

§          

consideration of alternative land use options needs to be encouraged; and

§          

the Lands are suitable for the Kwantlen Agricultural Education Program.

Several supporting documents were referenced by Councillor Steves and tabled to be included with the City’s submission, as follows – “A Commitment to the Future”, a 347 page scientific study titled “Project of the Richmond Nature Park Society Ecology Committee” by editors Neil Davis and Rose Klinkenerg, and quoted from a March 17, 2008 memorandum on the subject: Richmond Needs a Plan B for the Garden City Lands and related fact sheets.  Councillor Steves’ submissions form part of these minutes, and are attached as Schedule 53.

Comments provided in support to the application follow:

§          

strong support has been heard from the community for the Garden City Lands application;

§          

this debate is centered on land Richmond does not own, and the current owners have offered half ownership in a formal contractual way, which represents a good deal for Richmond;

§          

over the course of the Public Hearing Council has heard that the Lands are not capable, suitable, or viable for farming due to the urban setting and activities which result in rural-urban conflicts;

§          

irrigation by City metered water would be necessary to run a viable farm, and this would be operationally cost-prohibitive;

§          

Council voted 8 to 1 to support the deal on these Lands, and must live up to its word, commitment and reputation;

§          

the City of Richmond is the only partner that has the legal requirement to hold a Public Hearing as an avenue to consider public input;

§          

meeting the needs of the community is a priority to Council, and various studies and community needs assessments have been undertaken over the years to balance the requirements of the diverse groups in the community both now and in the future;

§          

it is evident that community needs exceed the reasons for keeping the lands in the ALR;

§          

the MOU is a legal contract, and provides the City of Richmond with some rights to the lands for more green space and the potential for a twin of Minoru Park in a well-located area;

§          

public input was appreciated and respected;

§          

since the 1980s, lobbying for the Lands has taken place on behalf of the community for sports and recreational use, and the need has not changed;

§          

Musqueam interests in the Lands must be satisfactorily realized;

§          

all public input will be forwarded to the ALC along with the “Block Application”;

§          

food security is a global issue and people need to be encouraged to grow food in their own back yards;

§          

the New Relationship is based on recognition, respect and reconciliation of Aboriginal rights and title, and the negotiations in Richmond took place as the courts and senior government would have wanted it to;

§          

the Federal Treasury Board set the mandate for the land transaction – citing that the rights of the Musqueam are to be accommodated and a sizeable portion of the Lands are to be allocated to Richmond;

§          

no farming or other use would be carried out on this land without the agreement of the owner;

§          

only under the MOU would Richmond retain zoning control over development on the land and establish the agricultural endowment fund;

§          

visions for the Lands are similar, relative to environmental sustainability and community use, although on a smaller scale;

§          

it is a misconception that land in the ALR is always green and environmentally friendly; and

§          

details of development will be clarified during the master planning stage.

The question on the motion was then called and it was CARRIED with Councillor Steves opposed.

ADJOURNMENT

PH08/3-13

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (8:07 p.m.).

CARRIED

Certified a true and correct copy of the Minutes of the Regular Meeting for Public Hearings of the City of Richmond held on March 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, and 19, 2008.

Mayor (Malcolm D. Brodie)

Acting Corporate Officer, City Clerk’s Office (Gail Johnson)