Date:

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Place:

Anderson Room

Richmond City Hall

Present:

Councillor Harold Steves, Chair

Councillor Sue Halsey-Brandt

Councillor Ken Johnston

Councillor Bill McNulty

Mayor Malcolm Brodie (arrived at 4:04 p.m.)

Absent:

Councillor Greg Halsey-Brandt, Vice-Chair

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 24, 2009, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

2.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009 (tentative date) at 4:00 p.m. in the Anderson Room.

DELEGATION

3.

Mike Pearce, Head Coach and General Manager of the John MS Lecky Boathouse, regarding the Boathouse’s annual report on community programming.

In lieu of Mike Pearce, Craig Pond, Women’s Head Coach, reviewed the Boathouse’s activities and the following information was presented with the aid of a PowerPoint:

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from October 2007 to October 2008 – the facility had 2,263 participants; 70% of those participants were Richmond residents;

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the hall had 154 bookings with over 11,000 people visiting the facility;

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the Boathouse hosted three major events in 2008: (i) four Community Corporate Challenges; (ii) the Richmond Dragon Boat Festival; and (iii) two Rowing Regattas – Head of the Fraser 4s & Corporate Challenge;

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the Boathouse has partnered with PacificSport and Rowing BC and will operate as provincial training academy; and

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in 2009 and 2010, the Boathouse is seeking to expand programs and events, and enhance relationships with local community centre program coordinators to increase public access.

Mr. Pond distributed statistical information pertaining to the Boathouse’s program participants and visitors.  A copy of Mr. Pond’s submission is attached as Schedule 1 and forms part of these minutes.

In reply to queries from Committee, Mr. Pond advised that (i) information regarding upcoming programs are distributed to local high schools and recently, as a result, the National Team Identification Camp attracted sixteen local high school students; (ii) high school student participation is limited as students must complete the ‘Get Wet’ program prior to being allowed on the water; (iii) low asset kids are given the opportunity to participate in various programs offered by the Boathouse through the City’s Roving Youth Outreach Leader; and (iv) currently, it is anticipated that the Boathouse provide equipment for the 2009 BC Senior Games.

PARKS, RECREATION AND CULTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT

4.

Smoke Free Outdoor Sport Facilities and Playgrounds

(Report:  March 17, 2009, File No.:  12-8060-02-37 Xr: 12-8060-0237, 11-7200-01) (REDMS No. 2582497, 2585129, 2585914)

In reply to queries and comment made by Committee, Eric Stepura, Manager, Sports & Community Events, advised the following:

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although the number has decreased, the Parks department continues to receive complaints regarding smoking around artificial turf fields and the adjacent seating areas;

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user groups are not expected to enforce the proposed bylaw amendment, instead the public awareness campaign will educate people and allow individuals who feel comfortable to point to no smoking signage that  quote a bylaw;

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staff have the proper means to enforce extreme cases of violation;

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it is anticipated that the proposed signage could be installed as soon as May 2009; and

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the Public Health Protection Bylaw is enforced by Vancouver Coastal Health staff, Community Bylaw Officers, and the Richmond RCMP.

Discussion ensued and Committee expressed concerns related to public enforcement, and asked that the progress of this model be monitored to determine its effectiveness.

Jim Lammond, Chair of the Richmond Sports Council, spoke in favour of staff’s recommendation to ban smoking at all outdoor sport facilities and playgrounds.  He stated that the proposed bylaw would facilitate enforcement.

In reply to a question from Committee, Mr. Lammond advised that groups visiting Richmond would be informed of the proposed bylaw amendment via coaches.

It was moved and seconded

That:

(1)

Public Health Protection Bylaw No. 6989, Amendment Bylaw No. 8481 be introduced and given first, second and third reading;

(2)

all affiliated community organizations be informed that a condition of use of the City's outdoor sport facilities will include their cooperation in promoting and monitoring the Smoke Free program;

(3)

funding for signage ($25,000) for the Smoke Free program be derived from Parks General Development projects; and

(4)

Richmond School District No. 38 be informed by letter of the foregoing recommendations.

CARRIED

5 A.

steveston harbour dredging and harbour redevelopment update

(Oral Report)

The Chair provided background information regarding dredging the Steveston harbour.

In reply to the Chair’s comments, Dave Semple, Director of Parks and Public Works Operations, advised that a staff report addressing the Chair’s comments is anticipated to be brought to the next Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Committee meeting in April 2009.

5.

MANAGER’S REPORT

(a)

New Acting Manager of Arts & Cultural Services

Cathryn Volkering Carlile, General Manager – Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services introduced Kim Somerville as the Acting Manager, Arts and Cultural Services.

(b)

O Zone Impact on Cultural Centre

Ms. Somerville advised that a memorandum has been sent out to all users of the Cultural Centre advising of the Cultural Centre’s closure during the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.  Ms. Somerville noted that it is anticipated that many of the regular winter and school year classes be relocated to other facilities.  Staff have highlighted to users of the Cultural Centre that this is an extraordinary opportunity and encouraged those affected to participate and experience Richmond’s live celebration site – the O Zone.

(c)

Museum Operating Grant

Vern Jacques, Acting Director, Recreation and Cultural Services, highlighted that the museum’s operating grant has increased up to 20%, and noted that the increase is in light of recognition from senior levels of government.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:49 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, March 24, 2009.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Councillor Harold Steves

Chair

Hanieh Floujeh

Committee Clerk