Date:

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Place:

Anderson Room

Richmond City Hall

Present:

Councillor Harold Steves, Chair

Councillor Greg Halsey-Brandt, Vice-Chair

Councillor Sue Halsey-Brandt

Councillor Ken Johnston

Councillor Bill McNulty

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, April 28, 2009, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

2.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009 (tentative date) at 4:00 p.m. in the Anderson Room.

PRESENTATION

3.

Vern Jacques, Acting Director, Recreation and Cultural Services, regarding the Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services Community Needs Assessment Study.

The above matter was deferred to the next Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Committee meeting.

BUSINESS & FINANCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT

4.

Bell Mobility Inc. Telecommunications Proposal at King George Park Over Portions of 12260, 12280 and 12360 Cambie Road

(File Ref. No.:  03-1000-14-132/Vol 01) (REDMS No. 2607330)

Robert Kates, Manager, Real Estate Services, provided background information related to the King George Park proposal.

In reply to queries from the Committee, Mr. Kates advised that the funds collected through the proposed agreement will go towards the City’s general revenue account, and that staff are not aware of any health concerns related to cell towers.  He also highlighted that the proposed agreement holds that if the proposed cell tower has any ill effects, it is deemed a breach of contract, and Bell Mobility Inc. would be required to immediately cease operations and remediate the situation.

It was moved and seconded

That:

(1)

a license from the City to Bell Mobility Inc. to develop and use a portion of King George Park for the development of a cell tower and related infrastructure be approved as detailed in the staff reports dated November 14, 2006 and May 6, 2009 and other terms as deemed necessary by the City; and

(2)

staff be authorized to take all necessary steps to complete the matter including authorizing the General Manager, Business & Financial Services to execute all documentation to effect the transaction, including all license documentation.

CARRIED

PARKS, RECREATION & CULTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT

5.

2009 Richmond BC Seniors Games Preliminary Budget

(File Ref. No.:  11-7200-01/2009-Vol 01) (REDMS No. 2597889v6)

Dave Semple, Director of Parks and Public Works Operations, distributed a memorandum dated May 25, 2009 from the Director of Parks and Public Works Operations (Schedule 1) outlining revisions made to the 2009 Richmond BC Seniors Games Preliminary Budget report.  Mr. Semple reviewed the report changes and noted that the changes were related to value-in-kind services from the City.

Discussion ensued and in reply to queries, staff advised that:

§         

sponsorship is the only area of risk related to the preliminary budget, however, the 2009 Richmond BC Seniors Games Board of Directors has secured a strong sponsor and will continue to seek other sponsors;

§         

the one time additional level of funding requested is not a part of the budget process as the BC Seniors Games (the Games) is not an ongoing event for the City;

§         

honoraria / travel expenses, as listed in the staff report, are costs associated to the Games’ officials such as referees and linesmen;

§         

the Games requires that a courtesy car be available to participants as an alternative means of transportation; and

§         

Tourism Richmond has currently not contributed any funds to the Games.

Jim Lamond, President of the 2009 Richmond BC Seniors Games Board of Directors (the Board), joined by Roger Barnes, Vice President of the Board, spoke of initiatives the Board has taken in order to get the best hotel rates for athletes.  Mr. Lamond spoke of concerns related to the amended budget and noted that the Board did not approve of the changes.

Discussion ensued regarding the changes made to the Board’s budget and Mr. Semple stated that the Board’s original budget is outlined in the distributed memorandum (Schedule 1). 

In reply to a query from Committee, Cathryn Volkering Carlile, General Manager –  Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services, advised that the changes made to the Board’s budget were due to an accounting exercise.  Ms. Carlile explained that the original budget included value-in-kind services, however, they appeared as an expense and did not have a corresponding revenue to balance it out.  Therefore, in order to look at the overall value of the project, and not just the budget, value-in-kinds services were included but at no cost.

Discussion ensued regarding the supplemental information provided in the memorandum (Schedule 1) and Committee expressed that this information supersede the information presented in the staff report.

It was moved and seconded

That the staff report (as revised) entitled ‘2009 Richmond BC Seniors Games Preliminary Budget’ from the Director of Parks and Public Works Operations be received for information.

CARRIED

A brief discussion took place regarding Tourism Richmond and the Richmond Chamber of Commerce’s level of involvement in the 2009 Richmond BC Seniors Games.  As a result of the discussion, the following motion was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That staff contact Tourism Richmond and the Richmond Chamber of Commerce requesting direct support for the 2009 Richmond BC Seniors Games.

CARRIED

Discussion ensued regarding budgeting protocol related to City sponsored events.  As a result, the following referral motion was made:

It was moved and seconded

That staff investigate options for a standard financial and budgeting procedure for City sponsored events, and report back.

The question on the referral motion was not called as further discussion occurred regarding investigating other municipalities’ standards related to City sponsored events.  The question of the referral motion was then called and it was CARRIED.

6.

MANAGER’S REPORT

(a)

Minoru Place Activity Centre

The Chair advised that a member of the Minoru Place Activity Centre could not utilize their Minoru Place Activity Centre parking this past weekend and this individual has mobility concerns.

(b)

Minoru Park – Read-O-Graph Display Signage

It was noted that many events take place at Minoru Park and often the boulevard median at Granville Avenue and Minoru Gate display sandwich boards advising of such events.  Staff were asked to explore the possibility of permanent signage for Minoru Park.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:51 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, May 26, 2009.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Councillor Harold Steves

Chair

Hanieh Floujeh

Committee Clerk