Date:

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Place:

Anderson Room

Richmond City Hall

Present:

Councillor Evelina Halsey-Brandt, Chair

Councillor Bill McNulty, Vice-Chair

Councillor Linda Barnes

Councillor Sue Halsey-Brandt

Councillor Harold Steves

Mayor Malcolm Brodie

Call to Order:

The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.

MINUTES

1.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on Tuesday, October 20, 2009, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

2.

The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Tuesday, November 17, 2009, at 4:00 p.m. in the Anderson Room.

It was agreed that TRANSLINK BUS FARES would be added to the agenda as Item 5A.

COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT

3.

10 YEAR RICHMOND SOCIAL PLANNING STRATEGY

(File Ref. No.:  08-4055-20-SPST1) (REDMS No. 2736270, 2736241, 2736242, 2705295, 2736245)

John Foster, Social Planning Co-ordinator provided background information on the Strategy. He stated that:

§          

the proposed Strategy is a high level document to guide the City’s decisions on social planning matters over the next decade, and should function like a social planning equivalent of the City’s Official Community Plan;

§          

on several occasions in the past Council indicated its desire to have a comprehensive Social Planning Strategy prepared, and a Strategy was most recently noted in Council’s stated Term Goals; and

§          

preparation of the Strategy should take approximately 12 months, the work would be coordinated by the Community Services Department, and regular verbal updates on the progress of the Strategy would be presented to the Planning Committee, with formal reports presented to Committee and Council as appropriate.

Discussion ensued between staff and Committee with regard to:

§          

work on the Strategy would be done by an inter-departmental staff team with no plans to bring in a consultant;

§          

it would be prudent to include a member of the City’s Transportation staff and someone versed in inter-governmental issues on the inter-department staff team;

§          

the 12 month timeline is challenging but feasible;

§          

Whether the community consultation process could expand to include special events such as the O-Zone; and

§          

the inclusion of ‘women’ as a category on the list of population groups, and the means of reaching ethnic communities during the Strategy preparation phase.

At the invitation of the Chair, two members of the public addressed Committee to express support for the Social Planning Strategy.

Jennifer Larsen, 8680 Foster Road, congratulated Council and City staff for embarking on a Social Planning Strategy. She remarked that the Strategy would bring cohesion and coordination to social planning challenges.

Susan Match, President, Richmond City Centre Community Association, stated that the Association witnesses societal changes taking place in the City Centre, including the increase of inter-generational families living in smaller spaces, the homeless living in City parks, and new immigrants who may not be familiar with the culture and who may not speak one of the two official languages. Ms. Match offered the assistance of the Association in preparing the Strategy.

The Chair stated that the Strategy represented a milestone in the City’s commitment to social planning policies and that the process should include political involvement. The Chair introduced the following motion:

It was moved and seconded

That a committee comprising appropriate staff and City Councillors Linda Barnes and Greg Halsey-Brandt be established to review the Social Planning Strategy to ensure that it reflects the needs of the community.

The question on the motion was not called as discussion ensued regarding: (i) the importance of political involvement at the beginning of the planning phase of the Strategy, and (ii) how political involvement would relate to the regular reports on the progress of the Strategy.

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

The question on the staff recommendation was then introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That:

(1)

the principles and objectives for preparation of a 10 Year Richmond Social Planning Strategy, as presented in the staff report dated October 20, 2009 from the General Manager – Community Services, be endorsed; and

(2)

staff be authorized to pursue preparation of a 10 Year Richmond Social Planning Strategy, in accordance with the report.

The question on the motion was not called as a comment was made that it is difficult to proclaim the end of the current economic downturn, and that the economic recession of 1983 gave rise to food banks that were supposed to be temporary, but that remain a necessary social service today. 

The Chair noted that a city is more than its roads and buildings, and that social issues are woven into the culture of the community. She added that the proposed Social Planning Strategy would be a thorough document that would aid Council in addressing social issues.

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

PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

4.

CITY APPOINTEE TO THE NEW METRO VANCOUVER REGIONAL GROWTH STRATEGY INTERGOVERNMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

(File Ref. No.:  01-0157-20-RGST) (REDMS No. 2736892)

It was moved and seconded

That Terry Crowe, Manager, Policy Planning Division be appointed as the City of Richmond representative to the new Metro Vancouver Regional Growth Strategy Intergovernmental Advisory Committee, with Joe Erceg, General Manager, Planning and Development Department as the City’s alternate representative.

CARRIED

5.

HOUSING AGREEMENT BYLAW NO. 8535 TO PERMIT THE CITY TO ENTER INTO A HOUSING AGREEMENT TO SECURE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS – 9420, 9460, 9480, 9500 ODLIN ROAD

(File Ref. No.:  06-2280-30-020) (REDMS No. 2715908)

Joan D'Angola, Affordable Housing Coordinator, remarked that this was the first Housing Agreement achieved under the final adopted Affordable Housing Strategy.

Committee congratulated staff on its endeavours to secure the affordable rental units.

It was moved and seconded

That Bylaw No. 8535 be introduced and given first, second and third readings to permit the City to enter into a Housing Agreement substantially in accordance with requirements of the Local Government Act (Section 905).

CARRIED

5A.

TRANSLINK BUS FARES

The Mayor advised that TransLink has applied for approval for a Canada Line/Vancouver Airport (YVR) “Add Fare” of $2.50. The “Add Fare” would apply to a passenger travelling between Bridgeport and Templeton Canada Line stations, in either direction, in addition to the normal zone fare. If approved, the “Add Fare” would commence on January 1, 2010

In addition, TransLink has applied for increases in prices for FareSaver 10-ticket books, starting April 1, 2010.

A brief discussion ensued regarding Burkeville residents, and YVR employees, and TransLink’s efforts to arrange a shuttle between Burkeville and the Templeton Canada Line station.

6.

MANAGER’S REPORT

(1)

11251 Kingfisher Drive

Joe Erceg, General Manager, Planning and Development reported that a building permit for 11251 Kingfisher Drive has been submitted and that staff is investigating the background of the property.

(2)

Condominium Towers at No. 3 Road and Westminster Highway

Brian Jackson, Director of Development, reported that a concrete wall that is part of the Camona development, adjacent to the Paloma building (on No. 3 Road, just south of Westminster Highway), compromised the view in a unit occupied by a tenant residing in the Paloma condominium tower.

Mr. Jackson advised that all development permit and notification processes had been followed before construction on the Camona condominium building commenced, and that no fault can be ascribed to the Camona developer. He added that measures to soften the wall, including trailing plants, are being considered.

A brief discussion ensued between staff and Committee regarding: (i) the timing of the development permit notification, and (ii) development permit notices are submitted to registered owners of units and any tenants.

Committee requested that staff investigate the notice requirements.

(3)

Draft Regional Growth Strategy

Terry Crowe, Manager, Policy Planning, reported that Metro Vancouver (MV) had submitted its Regional Growth Strategy (RGS) in draft form to the City, and that MV is seeking formal Council comments on the draft RGS by January, 2010.

Mr. Crowe added that after MV had collected formal comments from Richmond, and the other municipalities, MV would distribute another draft of the RGS.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:02 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, November 3, 2009

_________________________________

_________________________________

Councillor Evelina Halsey-Brandt

Chair

Sheila Johnston

Committee Clerk