MINUTES

1.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Committee held on Tuesday, May 26th, 2004, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

DELEGATION

Barrie Jones, President, Richmond Art Gallery Association, introduced members of the Association who were in attendance.  He then presented the Association’s annual report through a PowerPoint presentation, a copy of which is on file in the City Clerk’s Office.  Also on file in the City Clerk’s Office is additional material which was distributed to the Committee.
 

Discussion then ensued among Committee members and Mr. Jones, Louise Hudson and Corrine Corry on:
 

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how the Association was able to increase its funding as a result of increased artist representation and the type and quality of programs being offered at the gallery; staff were also credited for the increase in funding

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whether participation in school programs offered at the Art Gallery had increased

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the meaning of ‘contemporary art’, which was described as ‘new’ rather than ‘old’ or historical art; the Gallery did not have a large collection of ‘old’ art, but instead was dealing with emerging artists connected to the community

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the need to work on the development of the Gallery’s unique identity and to educate the public that the Gallery was a separate entity from the City and did not exist on funding from City taxes

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the different levels of membership offered by the Gallery, and the purpose of life memberships

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funding received by the Gallery from corporate organizations for specific projects, and the use of gaming funds and income from special fund raising events

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the efforts of the Art Gallery Association to reach out to the City’s Asian population with respect to art

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how Association staff tabulated the number of visitors to the Art Gallery

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whether the Art Gallery Association was actively seeking private funding to hold events and exhibitions

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the accessibility of the Art Gallery to Richmond residents and the need to continue to provide free admission.
 

During the discussion, Councillor Linda Barnes, as Liaison Representative to the Art Gallery Association, congratulated the Association on its success over the past year.
 

Councillor Barnes referred to the presentation made by Mr. Jones and questioned whether it would be possible to have the presentation shown at a future Council Meeting.  A brief discussion ensued, during which the Chair referred to the other items on this agenda and suggested that individual presentations should be made on each of the three reports.  The General Manager, Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services Committee, Cathy Volkering Carlile, was requested to make the appropriate arrangements.
 

At this point in the meeting, the Committee dealt with the staff recommendation regarding the Richmond Arts Strategy.
 

It was moved and seconded

( 1)

That based on the results of the public consultation, the Richmond Arts Strategy (attached to the report dated June 11^th, 2004, from the Director, Recreation & Cultural Services), be adopted as the guide for developing the Arts Sector in the City; and

( 2)

That letters of thanks be sent to the members of the Arts Strategy Steering Committee and the committee be disbanded.

CARRIED

Discussion continued, with reference being made to the Arts Strategy.  Advice was given by the Manager, Heritage & Cultural Services, Jane Fernyhough, that minor amendments had been made to the Strategy as a result of the public consultation process. 
 

(Councillor Evelina Halsey-Brandt left the meeting at 4:45 p.m. and did not return.)
 

Reference was made to a proposal in the Arts Strategy to create a City of Richmond Arts Awards Program, and in response to questions, advice was given that this proposal was part of the 2005 work plan and that staff would be reporting to the Committee on this matter in the future. 
 

(Councillor Dang left the meeting at 4:47 p.m., during the above discussion.)
 

Councillor Barnes congratulated staff on the preparation of an excellent report, and then spoke about the strategy document.
 

(Councillor Dang returned to the meeting at 4:50 p.m.)
 

The Chair thanked the delegation for their presentation and they then left the meeting.

PARKS, RECREATION AND CULTURAL SERVICES DIVISION

2.

Richmond Arts Strategy
(Report:  June 11^th, 2004 File No.:  11-7000-01) (REDMS No. 1300838, 1215470, 1302341)  (Strategy) 

Please see the Page 2 of these minutes for action taken on this matter.

3.

McLennan South Park Design and Public Consultation
(Report:  July 15^th, 2004 File No.:  06-2345-20-MCLS) (REDMS No. 1309631)

The Manager, Parks Programs, Planning & Design, Mike Redpath, accompanied by Park Planner Jamie Esko, advised that there was nothing further to add to the report.

A brief discussion ensued among Committee members and staff on the proposed park design, during which staff were congratulated on the preparation of an excellent plan, which incorporated existing significant features of the area, including the woodlot and other mature trees and the ornamental garden.  During the discussion, staff responded to questions on:
 

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land ownership in the area of the park, and the possible acquisition of two adjacent properties

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the considerable amount of developer contributions to the park plan.

The Chair requested that the report be submitted to a future Council meeting with a presentation to explain the project to the public, at a separate meeting from the other reports being considered this evening.  He expressed concern that the public was not aware that the City was creating parks.

It was moved and seconded

That the Preferred Concept Plan for McLennan South Neighbourhood Park (as outlined in Attachment 4 to the report dated July 15^th, 2004, from the Director, Parks Operations), be approved.

CARRIED

4.

Terra Nova Rural Park Concept Plan
(Report:  July 16^th, 2004, File No.:  06-2345-01/2004-Vol 01) (REDMS No. 1307400)
 

Mr. Redpath introduced Mr. Chris Sterry, of PWL Landscape Architects, and Park Planner Yvonne Stich, and indicated that they were in attendance to respond to questions.
 

Prior to discussion taking place, Mr. Sterry and staff were congratulated on the preparation of an excellent and outstanding park plan. 
 

Discussion then ensued among Committee members, Mr. Sterry and staff on the concept plan, and in particular on:
 

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the financial impact outlined in the report, with the comment being made that the figure shown should be amended to include the cost of acquiring the properties which comprised the north-west quadrant of Terra Nova

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the proposal to include a dog off leash area inside the dyke at the north end of Sturgeon Banks

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the efforts of staff to maintain the natural ambience of the park as much as possible

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the rationale for including the community gardens on Westminster Highway mid-way between the West Dyke and the eastern perimeter of the park, rather than the south-east corner – advice was given that area residents had suggested the proposed location because of their concerns about the impact which the gardens might have on their quality of life; the comment was also made that the gardens were felt to be a natural extension to the existing hazelnut orchard

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on how the proposal to ‘daylight’ the buried heritage slough would be engineered

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whether development of the park plan would be phased in over a number of years

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the feasibility of constructing boardwalks into the marsh area of Sturgeon Banks

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the controlling of public access to the park through the installation of security gates, closing the park at night and hiring a caretaker to discourage vandalism

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the cost of the proposed development of the park; the short and long term funding strategies to facilitate development and whether alternative funding sources were being considered

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the location of the proposed field lookout tower and whether the design should be modified.
 

Reference was made to the proposal to include a dog off leash area within the park, and concern was expressed about the impact which such a proposal could have on the habitat and wildlife in the area.  Discussion continued on this issue, during which the comment was made by the Chair that dogs should not be allowed in the park area for any reason.  He then provided information on the damage to the habitat and environment in the marsh area on the outside of the West Dyke being caused by unleashed dogs which could not be controlled by their owners, and he talked about the need to enforce City bylaws.  Cllr. Steves stated that dogs should be kept on the dyke and away from the park habitat.
 

Agreement was expressed by Councillor Sue Halsey-Brandt about not allowing dogs into the park area at all, and the comment was made that other areas should be considered.  However, at the same time, an opinion was expressed by Councillor Dang that he was not totally opposed to dogs being permitted in the park.  He added however that he felt that dogs on the West Dyke were a problem.
 

The Chair, in commenting on the plan, noted that the design incorporated ‘almost everybody’s wish list’ as to what should be developed on the site.  However, he expressed concern about the ‘old’ fields and questioned the environmental value of having the old fields instead of the farmed crop fields, such as the area shown on the plan adjacent to the old field, identified as the ‘Seasonal Environmental Art Field’.  Discussion ensued on this matter and on whether the ‘old’ fields were dying.  Also discussed was the need for a floodgate to allow water from the Fraser River to enter the park to preserve the sloughs and ditches, and Cllr. Steves asked for information at the next Committee meeting on where floodgates could be installed.  He stated that farmers in East Richmond were losing their crops because the floodgates had not been opened to allow water into local ditches, and expressed concern that a closed system, without the benefit of a floodgate, would only result in stagnant water.
 

Discussion continued, with caution being expressed about the need to ensure that nothing was done which would mar the natural area of the park.

As a result of the discussion, the following referral motion was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That the Terra Nova Rural Park Concept Plan (attached to the report dated July 16^th, 2004, from the Director of Parks Operations and the Manager, Parks – Programs, Planning & Design), be referred to staff for revisions as follows to the park plan, and submission to the August 31^st, 2004 meeting of the Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services Committee:

( 1)

the complete removal of all dog related  areas from the park;
 

( 2)

the enhancement of the flow of water through the waterway;
 

( 3)

the provision of timelines for development of the park plan, along with information on applications for alternate funding; and
 

( 4)

information on how the concept of constructing boardwalks into the marsh area of Sturgeon Banks would be achieved as the approval of the DFO would be required.
 

The question on the motion was not called, as discussion continued, with the request that staff:
 

(a)

when presenting the report to Council, include in the PowerPoint presentation, provide additional information on the historical (farm) and environmental histories of the park; and
 

(b)

in amending the park design, relocate the children’s play area closer to the West Dyke, perhaps in the area which was previously designated as the ‘dog off leash’ area.
 

Reference was made to the proposal to eliminate dogs from the park, and discussion ensued on whether dogs on leash would be permitted, during which it was noted that this area of West Richmond did not have a dog off leash area.  Opinions were expressed that no dogs should be permitted on the site, and that it would be better to allow dogs on leashes on the West Dyke, which provided a natural boundary.  As a result of the discussion, it was agreed that staff would review the matter further, keeping in mind the opinions on the Committee on this issue.
 

Also discussed was the proposed First Nations Interpretation Centre, and information on the steps which were being taken to ensure that due process was being followed.  Reference was also made to a previous proposal for an interpretative centre at the Spul'u'kwuks Elementary School/Park site, and information was provided that that project did not proceed.
 

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

Reference was made to the issue of water flow in East Richmond, and staff were requested to review this problem, as well as a problem with stagnant water on the inside of the dyke at Garry Point Park. 

5.

MANAGER’S REPORT

Ms. Cathy Carlile provided an update on the status of the Parks Master Plan, stating that the Community Working Group would be preparing options in September, with recommendations being submitted to the Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services Committee in October.
 

Reference was made to complaints being received from residents in the area of King George Park about the large rabbit population residing under the portable school classrooms.  Advice was given by the Director of Parks Operations, Dave Semple that his staff would work with the School District and area residents to deal with the problem.  Staff were also requested to address the rabbit population on Gilbert Road.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:58 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 27^th, 2004.

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Councillor Harold Steves
Chair

Fran J. Ashton
Executive Assistant – City Clerk’s Office