Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services Committee Meeting Minutes - April 10, 2001

Date:

Tuesday, April 10, 2001

Place:

Anderson Room
Richmond City Hall

Present:

Councillor Harold Steves, Chair
Councillor Derek Dang, Vice-Chair
Councillor Malcolm Brodie
Councillor Linda Barnes
Councillor Bill McNulty

Absent:

Councillor Ken Johnston

Also Present:

Mayor Greg Halsey-Brandt
Councillor Greenhill

Call to Order:

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

It was moved and seconded

That the following items be added to the PRCS Committee Agenda for April 10, 2001:

The MOT Lands;

Scotch Pond and the Britannia Seine Loft;

The BC Packers 45;

Bike Terrain Park;

Tall Ships

CARRIED

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Committee held on Tuesday, March 13, 2001, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

Volunteer Richmond Information Services - to provide an overview of the International Year of Volunteers (IYV) 2001 and the work of the Richmond IYV Steering Committee; and to request the Committee’s input and feedback to Volunteer Richmond’s initiatives.

Ms. Elizabeth Duda, Executive Director, Volunteer Richmond, provided a comprehensive report on the work of Volunteer Richmond, the Richmond IYV Steering Committee and the International Year of Volunteers, which is attached as Schedule 1 and forms a part of these minutes. Ms. Duda also acknowledged a number of the Steering Committee members that were present.

Ms. Duda then responded to the Committee on such issues as:

(a)

an invitation to School District 38 to participate on the Steering Committee to advise of ways to engage youth in volunteering;

(b)

the possibility of a standardized syllabus, on the topic of volunteer training, being made available as a resource;

(c)

the current trend of episodic volunteers;

(d)

the possibility of a liaison for the Committee. It was suggested that a staff review of current liaisons take place;

(e)

the number of volunteers presently working in the City. Ms. Duda suggested that the actual figures might be available later in the year.

Councillor Barnes, noting the benefits the community receives from volunteers, requested that the benefit to the volunteer also be reported upon.

It was moved and seconded

That the presentation and materials provided by Elizabeth Duda on behalf of Volunteer Richmond be received for information.

CARRIED

SPORTS COUNCIL SUB-COMMITTEE - "SPORTS FIELD ALLOCATION, POLICIES AND PROCEDURES"
(Report: March 2/01, File No.: 0100-20-RSP01) (REDMS No. 300774, 271763)

The Manager, Parks, Mike Redpath, briefly reviewed the report and provided the Committee with an update to Page 21 of the staff report. Mr. Redpath then introduced the representatives of the Sports Council who were present: Cheryl Taunton, Chair; Bonnie Beaman, Secretary; Kevin Greig, President Girls Soccer; and, Debbie Judd, President Richmond Youth (Boys) Soccer.

Cheryl Taunton came forth and thanked the Committee and staff for their involvement noting that the preparation of the report had been a valuable exercise. Ms. Taunton felt that at some point the growth of sports was going to be restricted and that monitoring of the growth and future needs was required. Ms. Taunton stated that there was a need for facility upgrades, such as lights, and quality practice fields.

A discussion then ensued which included the provision of the following information: (I) at present a booking system for outside teams was not available; (ii) field upgrades such as lights and turf would provide additional practice fields; (iii) pay for play facilities are not available in Richmond; and (iv) staff was in receipt of Affiliation Policies from seven municipalities and would be working to revamp the City’s Affiliation Policy.

Mayor Greg Halsey-Brandt expressed concern over the fact that senior men’s soccer had no time on the sand cell fields. Discussion then took place on field usage in Richmond with the note that youth have first priority on the sand cell fields. Mr. Redpath also said that adults are known to use unprogrammed space. Cheryl Taunton said that adult soccer users tend to be much harder on the fields, which was one of the concerns of scheduling.

Mr. Redpath noted that the report prepared in response to the Committee referral on girl’s soccer would be presented in July in preparation for the fall/winter season.

While artificial fields were noted to reduce the wear on regular fields and, if lit, provide maximum use as there is no worry about inclement weather, the Director, Parks, Dave Semple advised that the City has 18 sand cell fields of which 10 are lit. Mr. Semple said that team preference was for grass fields.

In response to a request by Councillor Barnes, the Home Field concept was described as a possible means of minimizing the impact on fields, and the definition of "opportunity for all" was given as the need for create the opportunity for everyone to have equal access based upon user group need, for example are facilities provided to ensure that the user groups have an opportunity to develop in equality.

The Manager, Parks Operations, Gord Barstow, advised that, due to the finite use of a field, the addition of an extra day to the scheduling might be too much unless a move is made to artificial turf.

Mr. Semple then said that the cost of lighting a sand cell field would be $250,000 unless the conduit is already in place which would see the cost reduced to $180,000.

It was moved and seconded

That:

(1)

the Report "Sports Council Sub-Committee-Sports Field Allocation, Policies and Procedures," prepared by the City of Richmond Sports Council be referred to staff for review to develop necessary policy and procedure changes affecting the use and allocation of sports playing fields in Richmond

(2)

staff report to the Committee on those policy and procedure changes in July, 2001.

CARRIED

MOT LANDS

Councillor McNulty referred to a letter received from the Richmond Sports Council, which is attached as Schedule 2 and forms a part of these minutes.

It was moved and seconded

That the Sports Council be supported in their endeavor to obtain the MOT/DOF/DND lands and that the Sports Council be involved in discussions pertaining to the use of the lands.

Prior to the question being Councillor Greenhill was concerned about using the MOT lands only for sports fields and green areas as per the Sport’s Council’s request. and Councillor Brodie expressed concern that Council was already considering the Tourism Richmond proposal which involved a Trade Exhibition Centre, high tech industry, and some recreational uses on these same lands and questioned whether additional staff comments were required. Councillor McNulty suggested that Council should be proactive in obtaining the MOT lands as it could then determine the most acceptable uses. Councillor Steves said he did not support the Tourism Richmond plan for the lands and therefore did not want the Tourism Richmond and Sports Council initiatives tied together. At this point the motion on the floor was WITHDRAWN.

It was moved and seconded

That the Sports Council’s concerns be referred to staff for review and coordination with other initiatives on the MOT lands.

Prior to the question being called the Manager, Policy Planning, Terry Crowe advised the Committee that as a report is already being prepared by Policy Planning staff to go to Planning Committee in May, 2001, the concerns of the Committee could be addressed in that report. The question was then called and it was CARRIED with Councillor McNulty OPPOSED.

SCOTCH POND AND THE BRITANNIA SEINE NET LOFT

Councillor McNulty reported that he was in receipt of a memo from Smith and Company in which it was noted that activity on the structure at Scotch Pond should be severely restricted.

David Naysmith advised that a warning had been posted that continued use of the wharf posed a risk as the structure was in serious condition and in danger of collapse. Mr. Naysmith was in the process of preparing a report which would address immediate remediation measures that would allow for time to address a permanent solution. The short term solution, at a cost of $20,000, would see the building stabilized. A complete restoration would be completed over a period of months.

Mr. Naysmith reported that the sub floor and actual building were in good condition, however, the piles presented the problem. Some piles were completely missing and a number along the wharf had collapsed.

Councillor Greenhill left the meeting.

Councillor McNulty questioned whether the structure was on the Heritage Inventory.

Discussion then ensued on the Britannia Seine Loft, specifically that certain staff had been advised that equipment could not be moved across the ramp. Mr. Naysmith and Pat Hartney were not aware of this and Mr. Naysmith said he would undertake to determine where the information was originating.

BC PACKERS 45

Councillor Steves reviewed the report noting that the City should work to acquire the BCP45, the seine boat previously depicted on the five dollar bill, and currently owned by the Maritime Museum.

The Manager, Cultural Services, Jane Fernyhough, advised that the Britannia Shipyard would be able to complete the necessary repairs to the boat.

It was moved and seconded

That the matter of the BCP45 be referred to staff for investigation of the potential of:

(1)

obtaining the boat; and

(2)

the Britannia Shipyard undertaking the repairs.

Prior to the question being called the Mayor requested a report on the current operation status of the Britannia Shipyard which would include what authority was held by the City. Councillor Barnes questioned the cost to the City.

The question was then called and it was CARRIED.

BIKE TERRAIN PARK

Councillor McNulty advised that he was in receipt of a letter from a member of the community who was concerned that BMX riders were using the lit skateboard facility.

Mayor Halsey-Brandt left the meeting.

It was moved and seconded

That the matter of the bike terrain park be referred to staff for suggestion as to how and where the City could challenge BMX bike riders with a small course.

Prior to the question being called a discussion ensued on the type of land that would be suited to this endeavor. The Director of Parks, Dave Semple, suggested that youth must be involved in the process of setting the criteria for the course, after which a location would be identified. The question was then called and it was CARRIED.

TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE AND SAIL KOREA 2002

Councillor Steves reviewed the report a copy of which is on file in the City Clerk’s Department.

It was moved and seconded

That the matter of the Tall Ships be referred to staff for a report on:

(1)

the economic impact;

(2)

what community structure would be required to support the venture;

(3)

whether the available moorage would be sufficient.

CARRIED

MANAGER’S REPORT

The Director, Recreation and Cultural Services, Kate Sparrow, provided an update on the process of "one stop shopping" registrations for programs offered by the City noting that general support had been given, at three recent stakeholder meetings, for moving the project ahead. Feedback gathered from customers regarding the current registration process indicates that the proposed changes will significantly improve service. It is also anticipated that this will also improve easy access to new users which should result in an overall increase in participation. The Association Boards that attended the stakeholder sessions also saw the benefits of moving in this direction; however, loss of identity for individual Associations was of concern to some. Staff will work with the Associations to develop a strategy which will raise the profile and promote the valuable contribution they make to the community. The addition of touch tone phone and internet registrations for aquatics programs was proposed for fall 2001. Arenas will be added later in the fall. In addition to this, in January 2002 all facilities in Richmond would be capable of taking registrations for any program offered in City facilities.

During the ensuing discussion information was requested on the following:

(1)

the costs that have been and will be incurred;

(2)

the future role of the community centre associations;

(3)

the future of volunteers and employees of the community associations;

(4)

the affect the new process will have on the historical independence of the associations;

(5)

the lack of equitability for the City;.

(6)

what impact there would be on staff.

In response to questions regarding the logistics of the program, Ms. Sparrow said that the monies collected at each facility would be deposited into one central account and then transferred electronically on a weekly basis to the individual accounts for each facility (via the Book It and Point of Sale systems). Ms. Sparrow offered to provide a more detailed presentation on the financial aspects of the porcess if the Committee so desired.

The Manager, Parks Operations, Gord Barstow reported that he had recently attended a seminar, "How to be a Judge for Communities in Bloom", in Saskatoon. Mr. Barstow also provided a photoboard which evidenced recent damage caused by a vehicle to a row of trees along the walkway in the Terra Nova Neighbourhood Park.

The Manager, Parks, Mike Redpath, announced the opening date for the Western Indoor Tennis Centre - Friday, April 27, 2001 at 7:00 p.m. The presence of the Mayor and Council was requested.

Mr. Redpath also provided a report on the extension received for the Millenium Project.

The Manager, Cultural Services, Jane Fernyhough reported on recent events involving the Steveston Post Office, after which the following motion was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That the status quo for postal services at the Steveston Postal outlet be supported.

CARRIED

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (6:27 p.m.).

CARRIED

Certified a true and correct copy of the Minutes of the meeting of the Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services Committee of the Council of the City of Richmond held on Tuesday, April 10, 2001.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Councillor Harold Steves
Chair

Deborah MacLennan
Administrative Assistant