MINUTES

1.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on Tuesday, October 21^st, 2003, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

2.

The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Tuesday, November 4^th, 2003, at 4:00 p.m. in the Anderson Room.

URBAN DEVELOPMENT DIVISION

3.

SOCIAL SERVICES INVENTORY

(Report:  September 18/03, File No.:  4055-01) (REDMS No. 1052452, 1021005, 1063671, 1062864)

The Manager, Policy Planning, Terry Crowe, Lesley Sherlock, Planner, and Mr. Michael McCoy, Co-Chair of the Richmond Community Services Advisory Council, were present.

Discussion ensued amongst Committee, staff and Mr. McCoy that included the following:

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community services benefit everyone;

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social services are directed to benefit a certain segment of society;

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in determining a strategy the City should determine the core basis of the  need and then determine the length and duration of that need;

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the worth of proposals could be reviewed independently;

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education is a large part of prevention;

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52% of families are now blended which has resulted in an increase to intervention work;

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the City could promote the existing RCSAC Information Referral Service as the first contact for assistance;

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the Richmond Community Services Advisory Council (RCSAC) would take a more proactive role in getting the message out and ensuring that services are understood;

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a service list indicating what Health, Education and the RCMP currently fund was not yet available;

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the future role of the RCSAC should be discussed by Council and the RCSAC; and,

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that the need to advocate for the retention of services begins at the municipal level.

It was moved and seconded

That the Inventory of Social Services, as outlined in the report dated September 18^th, 2003 from the Manager, Policy Planning, be referred to staff in order that a discussion paper be prepared on the topic of the development of a policy framework for making decisions on social policy issues.

Prior to the question being called discussion ensued that included direction being given:

a)

that the framework include sustainable Social, Economic and Environmental components;

b)

to identify those social planning activities in which the City is already involved eg.  the Parks and Recreation Master Plan;

c)

to identify existing policies that support those existing social activities eg. the City Grants program;

d)

to provide several options that would identify in the Social component:

i)

how Council could assist in building community capacity within the City;

ii)

short vs. long term City and community goals;

iii)

strategic planning that would focus on Council priorities;

iv)

the role of the RCSAC;

v)

how Council might advocate for social services within the community;

e)

to prepare a best practices policy of how service providers can be assisted in delivering service; and,

f)

to address other matters as necessary.

The question was then called and it was CARRIED.

4.

RICHMOND WOMEN'S RESOURCE CENTRE REQUEST FOR FUNDS

(Report:  October 7/03, File No.:  1085-20-RWRC1) (REDMS No. 1072709, 1071837, 1029992)

The Manager, Policy Planning, Terry Crowe, and Lesley Sherlock, were present.

Also present were several members of the Richmond Women's Resource Centre (RWRC) Ms. Karen Martin, Ms. Doreen Thorliefson, Ms. Linda McNab and Ms. Mary Phillips.

The discussion that ensued included the following:

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that the RWRC was investigating the possibility of a social enterprise that would provide a long term way to create funds;

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whether attempts had been made to create partnerships;

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the RWRC Board had discussed the possibility of giving RWRC staff notice effective January 1^st, 2004;

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memberships have doubled and donations increased;

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the City was a difficult place to live for those on limited incomes;

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the centre services 4000 to 5000 individuals each year 99% of which are Richmond residents; and

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if the centre were to close there are no alternative services for women experiencing severe problems in their lives

It was moved and seconded

That the City award $12,000 to the Richmond Women's Resource Centre.

Prior to the question being called direction was given that i) staff investigate options of applying the funds towards rent and operational expenses; and ii) issue a letter to the RWRC indicating that this is emergency funding only and that long term sustainable funding was still required.

The question was then called and it was CARRIED.

5.

MANAGERS REPORT

There were no reports.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (6:13 p.m.).

CARRIED

Certified a true and correct copy of the Minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee of the Council of the City of Richmond held on Tuesday, October 28^th, 2003.

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Councillor Bill McNulty
Chair

Deborah MacLennan
Administrative Assistant