MINUTES

1.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Committee held on Tuesday, June 27, 2006, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

2.

Tuesday, September 26, 2006, (tentative date) at 4:00 p.m. in the Anderson Room.

The Chair directed that the following items be added to the agenda:

Item 7. Steveston Museum

Item 8. Moncton Street Property

Item 9. London Farm

DELEGATION

3.

RICHMOND GATEWAY THEATRE’S NEW PROGRAM eyeGO

 (0060-20-RGTH1-01)

Suzanne Haines, General Manager of Richmond Gateway Theatre, accompanied by Sarah Sawatsky, eyeGO Youth Co-ordinator and Adrian Bustamante, a member of the eyeGO council, submitted a proposal to the Committee (Schedule 1), seeking $4,470 financial and $1,000 in-kind support to launch the eyeGO Fusion event, to be held at Gateway Theatre on Thursday, September 28, 2006.

Ms. Sawatsky stated that eyeGO is a program developed for high school students to promote interest in, and access to, the arts. The program began in Ontario and Richmond is the first community in British Columbia to implement the program. Gateway Theatre assembled a team of partners to form a committee to manage the outcomes of the program. In addition, eight students are on the program’s youth council. The council promotes the eyeGO program to high school students and other youth in the community.

eyeGO council member Mr. Bustamante stated that being involved in the arts has improved his life, and that the arts is a way for youth to challenge themselves.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the City support in principle the eyeGO Fusion event, to be held on Thursday, September 28, 2006 at Richmond Gateway Theatre; and

(2)

That staff investigate whether the City Grants Budget, the Council Contingency, or another option could be the source for the $4,470 requested by Richmond Gateway Theatre.

CARRIED

PARKS, RECREATION AND CULTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT

4.

CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT - REPLACEMENT OF THE READ-O-GRAPH AT THE CORNER OF NO. 1 ROAD AND FRANCIS

(Report:  June 12, 2006, File No.: 03-1000-03-036) (REDMS No. 1888150)

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the contribution agreement between the West Richmond Community Association and the City, be approved and executed; and

(2)

That the installation of the Digital Display Board coincide with Hugh Boyd Park redesign.

CARRIED

5.

BRITANNIA HERITAGE SHIPYARD MARKETING PLAN
(Report:  July 13, 2006, File No.:  11-7140-20-BSHI1/2006-Vol 01) (REDMS No. 1996480)

Jane Fernyhough, Manager of Heritage and Cultural Services, and Bryan Klassen, Site Supervisor, Britannia Heritage Shipyard (BHS), addressed the Committee and stated that Mitchell James, a Vancouver-based marketing research and strategy company, had developed a marketing plan for the BHS.

The consultants recommended that BHS use a positioning statement to quickly and effectively communicate what the site is, what it has to offer, and what makes it unique.

The plan submitted by the consultants recommends 12 key strategies for promoting BHS, and these include building partnerships within the community, so that the site works cooperatively with other attractions in Steveston to enhance the visitors’ experiences.

In answer to a query from the Committee, Mr. Klassen advised that BHS volunteers are effective in communicating a consistent message to those people who visit the site, and that volunteers are the site’s most effective spokespeople.

It was moved and seconded

That the strategies and phased actions recommended in the Britannia Marketing and Communications Roadmap be built into ongoing work plans and operational budgets of Britannia.

CARRIED

DELEGATION

6.

RICHMOND CHINESE COMMUNITY SOCIETY (RCCS)

Henry Beh, Executive Director and Mimi Chan, President of RCCS, addressed the Committee, outlining the history of the Society and how its role has evolved since it was founded in 1989 (Schedule 2).

Mr. Beh stated that, due to the success and popularity of its various programs, RCCS needs more space in which to conduct its activities. He asked that the City provide RCCS with free community space in exchange for the organization’s continued creation of publicly accessible programs.

Mr. Beh answered questions from the Committee:

·      

the organization has a membership of over 1,000;

·      

RCCS is hopeful that 8,000 square feet will accommodate its needs;

·      

a space that is on the ground level rather than on an upper storey of a building, is better for seniors who participate in the programs;

·      

a site on No. 3 Road located near a Canada Line station would be ideal;

·      

RCCS programs are designed for people in every age group, from the young to the old;

·      

the organization charges a token amount for its programs and RCCS undertakes many fundraising initiatives to supplement the money it earns from fees for programs.

Cathryn Volkering Carlile, General Manager, Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services stated that the City is in the process of creating a City Centre Area Plan which will consider Parks, Recreation & Cultural amenities. She stated that during the planning process, staff could take into consideration RCCS’s request for more space. She confirmed that the City Centre Area Plan will be completed in November, 2006.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That staff consider the request made by the RCCS to provide free community space in exchange for RCCS’s continued creation of publicly accessible programs and report back to the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Committee, and;

(2)

That staff research having a policy that addresses requests for free City space by organizations that are not city sanctioned, and report back to the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Committee.

CARRIED

7.

Steveston Museum

Councillor McNulty referred to a letter dated July 24, 2006, written by Graham Turnbull, Chairman, Steveston Historical Society (Schedule 3) to Kelvin Tung, Retail Business Manager, Canada Post, River Road, Richmond.

Mr. Turnbull addressed the Committee and stated that Mr. Tung had suggested that another postal outlet be established in Steveston, in addition to the postal outlet located at the Steveston Museum. Mr. Turnbull was concerned that if a second postal outlet was established in Steveston the outcome would be the closure of the Steveston Museum.

It was moved and seconded

That a letter from the Mayor be sent to the Canada Post Richmond Retail Business Manager, and to Canada Post representatives in Ottawa, seeking a response to Canada Post’s suggestion that, in addition to the Canada Post outlet at Steveston Museum, another  postal outlet be established in Steveston.

CARRIED

8.

Moncton STREET Property

Councillor McNulty asked staff to update the Committee on the status of the City owned property on Moncton Street.

Cathryn Volkering Carlile reported that Robert Kates, Strategic Lands Manager, would look at each City-owned property, including the one in question.

9.

London Farm

In response to a question from Councillor McNulty, Dave Semple, Director of Parks and Public Works Operations, reported that a meeting would take place the week of July 31, 2006, during which the issue of parking at London Farm would be discussed.

10.

Manager’s report

Dave Semple reported that the trail between the Gulf of Georgia Cannery and the Steveston Hotel has been completed. Trees will be planted in the fall, 2006.

Mr. Semple reported that the City will advise the public that the Shell Road trail is closed for safety reasons during the dry weather. In addition, the City is monitoring the situation at the Nature Park, as well as along street edges.

Mike Redpath, Manager, Parks -  Programs, Planning and Design, reported that the field turf at Hugh Boyd Secondary School will be installed over the next month, with completion slated for the beginning of October, 2006.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:43 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 25, 2006.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Councillor Bill McNulty
Chair

Sheila Johnston
Committee Clerk