Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services Committee Meeting Minutes - July 24, 2001

Date:

Tuesday, July 24, 2001

Place:

Anderson Room
Richmond City Hall

Present:

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

Also Present:

Councillor Greenhill

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 Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Committee held on Tuesday, July 24, 2001, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

PARKS, RECREATION AND CULTURAL SERVICES DIVISION

2.

BCP 45
(Report: July 13/01, File No.: 0100-20-BHSH1-01) (REDMS No. 384419)

The Manager, Cultural Services, Jane Fernyhough, reviewed the report. Ms. Fernyhough distributed a copy of a letter from F.I. Hopkinson Marine Surveyors Ltd. which is attached as Schedule 1 and forms a part of these minutes.

A discussion then ensued on the matter which included the information that if a partnership with the Vancouver Maritime Museum was achieved the BCP 45 would be docked at Britannia for the time negotiated for it to be in Steveston.

The following suggestions were then put forth: i) that the City also research the possibility of obtaining the "rumrunner"; and ii) that an oral history of Mr. Allan Mearns memories of fishing on the BCP 45 could form a part of an interpretative exhibit.

The Chair provided a brief history of the rumrunner and its association with the Britannia Shipyard.

Mr. Graham Turnbull said that a call had been received, at the Gulf of Georgia, which was referred to the Britannia Heritage Shipyard Society, from a lawyer executing an estate which included a boat considered to be the "rumrunner".

It was moved and seconded

That staff work with the Britannia Heritage Shipyard Advisory Board and the Britannia Heritage Shipyard Society and negotiate a long term partnership agreement with the Vancouver Maritime Museum regarding the mooring, use, upkeep and promotion of the BCP 45.

CARRIED

It was moved and seconded

That:

(1)

staff research the possibility of locating and obtaining the rumrunner for the City; and

(2)

the wishes of the Britannia Historical Society, on the issue of the rumrunner being docked and housed at the Britannia Heritage Shipyard, be determined.

CARRIED

3.

Steveston Interurban
(Report: July 12/01, File No.: 0060-20-SIRSI) (REDMS No. 457528)

The Manager, Cultural Services, Jane Fernyhough, reviewed the report. The Director of Parks, Dave Semple, and Transportation Engineer, Jim Hnatiuk, were also present.

A brief discussion then took place on i) whether a future connection to light rail transit would be possible; ii) whether Railway/Granville Avenue could utilized as a rail corridor. A request was made that staff bring forth a previous report prepared on this proposal; and iii) the importance of the route running along the Steveston waterfront.

Mr. Michel Brisbois, Steveston Interurban Restoration Society, said that historical trams are used as flagships in other cities using the same concept as the Railway/Granville Avenue idea. Restoration costs for the tram, in Mr. Brisbois opinion, would be approximately $260,000 although the actual cost could be determined only once the restoration process was underway. Mr. Brisbois said that it was the Societys business to restore the tram and that while he would prefer the tram remain in the City, he would be satisfied with the tram remaining in BC. A lease arrangement with the Fraser Valley Rail Society in Surrey was currently receiving consideration as part of the Heritage Valley proposal to have several interurbans running in the near future. The Society views this as a way of completing the tram restoration and having it operating in the short term.

A discussion then ensued which included the following:

whether the $75,000 currently in the interurban account could be incorporated into the lease developed with the City of Surrey;

the legality of moving the tram out of the City;

whether the monies generated by the terms of the lease are rolled back into the costs of the tram restoration;

the worldwide composition of the members of the Steveston Interurban Restoration Society;

the group currently involved with the restoration of the tram would, during the period of the lease, continue the collection of historical artefacts and archival material;

the Steveston Interurban Restoration Society would be willing to sign an agreement that as a condition of the lease the tram would be returned to the City.

Mr. Bob Ransford said that he thought that the Society was not of the belief that the City had any control of the tram. He also thought that if the tram were to leave the City it would not come back. Due to the significant manner in which the tram would tie the heritage tourism sites together Mr. Ransford said that the City should continue to negotiate with the Society to ensure the tram remains in Richmond.

Mr. Graham Turnbull said that the tram running in Steveston had been a long term goal. Mr. Turnbull was concerned that the Fraser Valley Railway Society had provided a presentation and brochures indicating that the Steveston Interurban would be a part of their program. Mr. Turnbull suggested that, at the very least, the tram should be brought to running condition prior to its being leased in order that the City's stake in the tram be stronger.

A discussion took place on the financial aspects involved in the restoration process and the City's current equity in the tram.

Mr. Dana Westermark said that all projects that served to generate a focus to Steveston would be tied together by the tram and that the tram would provide a connection that was once provided by the river. Mr. Westermark pointed out that a $200,000 restoration investment in the tram would result in a $2,000,000 asset for the City.

It was moved and seconded

That the matter of the Steveston Interurban be referred to staff in order that:

(1)

the financial details be clarified;

(2)

possible corporate sponsors or available grants be identified; and

(3)

the five year phased development detailed in Option 2 of the report, dated July 12, 2001 from the Director of Recreation and Cultural Services, be extended to seven years.

CARRIED

Councillor Dang left the meeting.

4.

MANAGERS REPORT

The Director of Recreation and Cultural Services, Kate Sparrow, reported that notification had been received from the East Richmond Community Association that Multifest would be cancelled this year.

Ms. Sparrow also provided an update on the Community Needs Assessment. The Request For Proposal has been issued and the closing date is August 3. Associations have been notified and will have an opportunity for involvement.

The Manager, Parks Administration and Programs, Mike Redpath, reported that the Garden Contest was well underway. Mr. Dave Tarrant is to be the key note speaker at the awards ceremony scheduled for September 6.

Mr. Redpath extended to the Committee an invitation to join the Parks Department barbeque scheduled for July 26, 11:30 1:30, at the Britannia Shipyards.

The Manager, Parks Operations, Gord Barstow, reported that the health of a number of the trees on Chapmond Crescent that had been reported on at the previous Committee meeting, was improving.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:36 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, July 24, 2001.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Councillor Harold Steves
Chair

Deborah MacLennan
Administrative Assistant