Date:

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Place:

Anderson Room
Richmond City Hall

Present:

Councillor Linda Barnes, Chair
Councillor Sue Halsey-Brandt, Vice-Chair

Councillor Cynthia Chen
Councillor Bill McNulty
Councillor Harold Steves

Also Present:

Councillor Rob Howard

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, February 26, 2008, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

2.

Tuesday, April 29, 2008 (tentative date) at 4:00 p.m. in Room M. 2.004 (Temporary Anderson Room).

PARKS, RECREATION AND CULTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT

3.

Richmond Museum Feasibility Study - Background for Council Discussion

(Report:  March 18, 2008, File No.: 11-7141-01) (REDMS No. 2360013)

Connie Baxter, Supervisor, Richmond Museum and Heritage Services, advised that the Arlington Group – Planning and Architecture Inc. is leading the Richmond Museum Feasibility Study and the purpose of this meeting was to seek input from Council and the public to assist in finalizing the vision for the proposed museum and determining the criteria for choosing a location.

With the aid of a power point presentation (copy on file, City Clerk’s Office), Graham Farstad, from the Arlington Group, reviewed the Study, noting this presentation was a follow-up to the one made before the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Committee on February 26, 2008.

During the ensuing discussion, the following points were raised by members of Council in relation to the proposed museum:

·         

it should reflect Richmond’s rich history and multicultural community; it should tell the ‘Richmond story’;

·         

it was questioned whether the City could feasibly have a destination museum;

·         

it should have space allocated for touring exhibitions that would attract local residents, not just visitors;

·         

it would be nice to know why Storyeum failed as a museum in Vancouver’s Gastown district;

·         

having it located on the water would be ideal as Richmond is an island and water is a big component of Richmond’s community;

·         

it was questioned how the proposed museum would incorporate the past, present, and the future in not only physical space, but also conceptually;

·         

the size of the proposed museum creates funding challenges;

·         

the history of the Musqueam people should be integrated into the museum’s focus;

·         

it should attempt to tie all of Richmond’s heritage assets together and act as a hub to entice people to visit other Richmond heritage assets;

·         

a strategy to increase the chances of having a successful museum should be explored;

·         

it should be within walking distance to other major heritage assets;

·         

a destination museum could generate a lot of attention, while pulling away attraction from other heritage assets such as the Gulf of Georgia, and London Farm etc.;

·         

it could bring like-minded shows together by relating them to the local industrial history;

·         

it should be more than a showcase of the past; new trends are important in generating interest;

·         

it should act as a gathering place for local communities, where they come together and share their history with each other;

·         

the focus of the museum should be presented in a new and different manner;

·         

there was uncertainty regarding the purpose of the proposed museum;

·         

it should incorporate programming, whereby visitors participate and have a rich learning experience;

·         

at this stage in the proposed museum’s process, expectations should not be limited based on money; 

·         

the issue of why locals do not visit other heritage sites in Richmond should be addressed; and

·         

its programming component should present the relevance of the past to the present, while incorporating various different performing arts such as art, dance, and theatre etc.

David Jensen, Design Consultant from D. Jensen and Associates Ltd., advised that in order for the proposed museum to be sustainable, the programming component would help utilize vacant space during downtimes.

Jack Wong, Chair, Richmond Museum Society, congratulated the Committee on embarking on this project and encouraged the Committee to continue with the process of bringing the museum’s vision from concept to reality.

In reply to a query from the Chair, Mr. Wong believed that the proposed museum should present heritage and history in an attractive manner in order to connect with youth.

Graham Turnbull, Chair, Richmond Heritage Commission, expressed concerns with the direction of the proposed museum.  Mr. Turnbull emphasized that the museum must have big attractions in order to draw people in, while simultaneously illustrating Richmond’s history.  Mr. Turnbull also stated that location of the proposed museum should be in close proximity to the Canada Line.

Peter Mitchell, 6271 Nanika Crescent, noted that there are several museums in downtown Vancouver in close proximity to hotels.  This is an important factor as tourists do not have to go far to visit the museums.  Mr. Mitchell also noted that most of Richmond’s hotels are at the north end of the City, in close proximity to the airport and bridges to Vancouver, however all potential sites should be explored.

At this point Councillor Chen left the meeting and did not return.

Discussion then ensued among the Committee, the Consultants, and staff and the following information was provided:

·         

the proposal should be updated to reflect Council’s comments and indicate the next steps;

·         

it was acknowledged that many of the Councillors’ comments are conflicting;

·         

this proposal is separate from the PRCS Facilities Strategic Plan and priorities have not changed;

·         

the Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Services Department is simultaneously embarking on feasibility studies related to the City Center Community Centre,  the Minoru Aquatic Centre, the Minoru Place Activity Centre, and the Hamilton Community Centre.

It was moved and seconded

That the report of the Director of Recreation and Cultural Services dated March 18, 2008 be received for information.

CARRIED

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:38 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 Wednesday, March 26, 2008.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Councillor Linda Barnes
Chair

Hanieh Floujeh

Committee Clerk