Date:

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Place:

Anderson Room

Richmond City Hall

Present:

Councillor Harold Steves, Chair

Councillor Sue Halsey-Brandt

Councillor Ken Johnston (arrived 4:06 p.m.)

Councillor Bill McNulty

Mayor Malcolm Brodie

Absent:

Councillor Greg Halsey-Brandt, Vice-Chair

Also Present:

Councillor Linda Barnes (arrived 4:05 p.m.)

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, May 26, 2009, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

2.

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

PRESENTATION

3.

Vern Jacques, Acting Director, Recreation and Cultural Services, regarding the PRCS Community Needs Assessment study.

With the aid of a PowerPoint presentation, Vern Jacques, Acting Director, Recreation and Cultural Services and Dave Semple, Director of Parks and Public Works Operations highlighted the following information regarding the PRCS Community Needs Assessment study:

§          

the 1,328 randomly selected Richmond residents phone survey was conducted in five languages (English, Cantonese, Mandarin, Punjabi, and Tagalog);

§          

the City does an exceptional job of providing parks, recreation and cultural services, with little indication of significant barriers;

§          

parks and trail usage is high, with the majority of respondents utilizing neighbourhood parks;

§          

concerns about dogs in parks and trails was the fifth most commonly mentioned barrier;

§          

there is high use of libraries, community centres, and swimming pools, versus lower use of other indoor facilities, such as museums and heritage sites, Gateway Theatre etc;

§          

lack of time to participate and lack of awareness were listed as two barriers to cultural and reaction programming;

§          

language related issues were not as much of a barrier as anticipated; and

§          

the City website has high usage for retrieving information regarding parks, recreational and cultural services, which is atypical when compared to other municipalities.

Staff addressed the primary findings of the study and spoke of recommendations to address barriers.  Mr. Jacques distributed a breakdown of Community Needs Assessment Recommendations and this forms of these Minutes as Schedule 1.

Mr. Jacques advised that a copy of the complete Needs Assessment Study will be available to Council in the Councillor’s Lounge.

In reply to queries from Committee, staff advised that (i) the City website includes all City related programs, and has links to other organizations’ websites; (ii)  a staff report on additional community space in the Hamilton area is forthcoming soon; (iii) the findings of the Needs Assessment study were not compared to other municipalities’, however the current statistics indicate higher participation from the figures of previous studies; (iv) the approach for the Needs Assessment study was service based versus previous studies that were facility based; and (v) various options are being considered to attract residents to the Nature Park.

It was moved and seconded

That the PRCS Community Needs Assessment study be received for information.

CARRIED

PARKS, RECREATION AND CULTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT

4.

Public Consultation on Dogs in Parks Task Force Report

(File Ref. No.:08-4105-10-08/2009) (REDMS No. 2589226, 1613203, 1518124, 2626694)

In reply to queries from Committee, Jodie Shebib, Acting Manager, Parks Programs, advised that (i) currently, up to three dogs may be off-leash at a designated off-leash area; and (ii) enforcement of uncollected dog waste is difficult as Bylaw Officers must witness the offence.

Discussion ensued and Committee expressed concerns regarding:

§          

the sale of dogs in stores;

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the use of school park fields and the west side of Minoru Park as potential off-leash areas;

§          

the number of dog off-leash offences, in particular on the west dyke, and the lack of enforcement of dogs off-leash in on-leash areas; and

§          

not considering designating a portion of the Railway Avenue right-of-way as a potential designated off-leash area.

Cathryn Volkering Carlile, General Manager – Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services, advised that five recommendations made by the Dogs in Parks Task Force are not supported by staff and do not form part of the proposed Dogs in Parks Management Strategy (the Strategy).

Joanne Mantie, owner of Bark N’Fly, provided background information regarding dog walking services and expressed concern regarding the proposed Strategy’s recommendation to only permit professional dog walkers one additional dog off-leash then what the public is permitted.  Ms. Mantie was of the opinion that more problems occur between dogs when some are on-leash and others off.

Tracy Odell, owner of Ruff Stuff Dog Services, Vancouver, spoke of protocols her company follows in an effort to ensure dog-walking services are carried out responsibly.  Ms. Odell noted that the number of dogs walked per company is more than what is stated in the staff report, which speaks to the number of clients.

Ms. Mantie stated that most dog walking business models are based on eight dogs at any given time.  She noted that with only four dogs permitted off-leash, this causes dog-walking companies to reduce walk times and increase rates.

Deborah Koyanagi, owner of Woof’N It (Pet Services), also spoke of practices her company follows to ensure for safe dog walking sessions and noted that unresponsive or misbehaved dogs are immediately leashed.

In reply to queries from Committee, the delegation advised that four dogs off-leash is half the number of dogs they have with them at any given time, and dogs are screened and walking groups are picked based on various dynamics.

Ms. Shebib clarified that the number of dogs permitted off-leash is not being reduced.  The proposed Strategy increases the number of dogs off-leash from three to four for professional dog walkers.

It was moved and seconded

That the first 29 recommendations as listed on pages four to six in the staff report dated June 8, 2009 from the Director of Parks and Public Works Operations, entitled "Public Consultation on Dogs in Parks Task Force Report", be endorsed.

CARRIED

It was moved and seconded

That staff investigate increasing the number of dogs permitted off-leash for professional dog walkers.

CARRIED

Opposed: Cllr. Steves

It was moved and seconded

That staff review and report back on what is required to implement a bylaw to ban the sale of dogs in storefronts.

CARRIED

It was moved and seconded

That staff consider sections of the Railway Avenue right-of-way as a designated off-leash area and report back.

CARRIED

A brief discussion took place and as a result the following referral was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That staff bring back a bylaw to ban the sale of unneutered rabbits in stores.

CARRIED

5.

TALL SHIPS 2011 Update

(File Ref. No.:  11-7400-20-RMFE1/2009-Vol 01) (REDMS No. 2619332, 2516940, 2629536)

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the City continue efforts to secure dates for a Tall Ships Festival as part of the American Sail Training Association’s Tall Ships Challenge 2011; and

(2)

That Stakeholder groups be consulted as to the opportunities and impacts associated with a Tall Ships Festival in the Steveston area.

The question on the motion was not called as discussion ensued and in reply to a query, Bryan Klassen, Site Supervisor, noted that no formal response has been received from the American Sail Training Association.

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

6.

Recommended Food Security Response for the City of Richmond

(File Ref. No.:  01-0370-01/2009-Vol01) (REDMS No. 2528004)

Discussion ensued among Committee regarding the need to establish a Food Policy Council (FPC) and a concern was raised that without a Food Security Coordinator in the near future, decisions made at the regional level regarding food security may affect Richmond without Richmond having the opportunity to provide input.

In response to questions and concerns raised by Committee, Margot Daykin, Sustainability Manager, CPMG, advised that staff (i) would like to further review FPCs prior to potentially recommending Richmond establish one; and (ii) hope to advance multiple sustainability objectives prior to potentially creating additional staffing levels.  Ms. Daykin commented that a future staff report regarding food security will speak to these issues and recommend accordingly.  She also noted that staff would continue to liaise with the Richmond Food Security Society (RFSS) and in 2010, initiate a strategic planning process to better understand food security for Richmond, which is anticipated to come forward in mid-2010.

Arzeena Hamir, Food Security Coordinator, RFSS, congratulated the City for taking a lead on the matter of food security, but wished that the City initiated actions.  She listed several concerns related to food security, most notable a 50% increase in those utilizing the Richmond Food Bank.

Ms. Hamir also spoke of (i) the lack of farming in Richmond and related skills and knowledge required to feed oneself; (ii) the large number of volunteers helping grow food for the Richmond Food Bank; and (iii) the waiting lists for community gardens.

Ms. Hamir was of the opinion that Richmond residents want to see more action on the City’s behalf, including but not limited to the following:

1.        

develop a non-for-profit community garden promotion team, including representatives from non-profit sections, community centres, the Parks Department, and the public to help identify areas of the City suitable for new community gardens;  this group would be independent, but possibly funded through City funds and its sole purpose would be to support community gardens and their gardeners;

2.        

support more farmers markets on City property, in particular the Richmond Cultural Centre site;

3.        

develop a joint task force among the City, Richmond Food Security, and other organizations committed to food security in order to propose a terms of reference for a Richmond Food Security Strategy; and

4.        

provide land for food production for non-profit agencies interested in growing food for the Richmond Food Bank.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the four items requested by the Richmond Food Security Society be referred to staff for further analysis and report back to the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Committee by mid-September 2009; and

(2)

That staff explore the potential for a grant to the Richmond Food Security Society, and that the Society be asked to recommend a member for delegation to the Metro Vancouver group.

CARRIED

Discussion ensued regarding the restrictions for potentially holding a farmers market at the Richmond Cultural Centre, and Glenn McLaughlin, Chief Licence Inspector, advised that a business licence could not be issued as is it not a conforming land use.

As a result of the discussion, staff was directed to submit a report to the General Purpose Committee, requesting Council authority to permit the Richmond Food Security Society the use of the Richmond Cultural Centre for the purposes of a farmers market.

It was moved and seconded

That:

(1)

a letter be sent to Metro Vancouver supporting the Metro Vancouver Board take a regional food security leadership role by preparing and implementing a collaborative regional Food Security Strategy and Implementation Program; and

(2)

the Food Security Response Agenda as outlined in Attachment 2 of the staff report dated June 12, 2009 from the Director of CPMG, be endorsed. 

CARRIED

Mayor Brodie left the meeting (6:32 p.m.) and did not return.

7.

MANAGER’S REPORT

None.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (6:33 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, June 23, 2009.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Councillor Harold Steves

Chair

Hanieh Floujeh

Committee Clerk