September 27, 2011 - Minutes


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City of Richmond Meeting Minutes

 

Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services Committee

 

Date:

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Place:

Anderson Room

Richmond City Hall

Present:

Councillor Harold Steves, Chair

Councillor Evelina Halsey-Brandt, Vice-Chair

Councillor Sue Halsey-Brandt

Councillor Ken Johnston

Councillor Bill McNulty

Also Present:

Councillor Greg Halsey-Brandt

Call to Order:

The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.

 

 

 

MINUTES

 

 

 

It was moved and seconded

 

 

That the minutes of the meeting of the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Committee held on Thursday, July 21, 2011, be adopted as circulated.

 

 

CARRIED

 

 

 

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

 

 

 

Tuesday, October 25, 2011 (tentative date) at 4:00 p.m. in the Anderson Room.

 

 

 

COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT

 

 

1.

City Centre Area Public Art Plan

(File Ref. No. 11-7000-09-00) (REDMS No. 3358529)

 

 

Eric Fiss, Public Art Planner, provided background information.  In reply to  queries from Committee, Mr. Fiss provided the following information:

 

 

§          

it is anticipated that the City work with transit authorities (InTransit and TransLink) to fund art programs to enhance Richmond’s transit routes;

 

 

§          

the City would utilize the Public Art Reserve fund to finance artwork;

 

 

§          

any artwork that would be situated on City property would go through the full review process, including a report to Council and a donation / transfer process of the artwork to the City; and

 

 

§          

there are several filters in place to ensure that public art adheres to specific parameters such as theme.

 

 

Discussion ensued and it was noted that the Middle Arm Waterfront currently has several large pieces of equipment such as play structures along the dyke.  Therefore, any public art installed adjacent to these pieces should stand out.

 

 

In reply to queries from Committee, Kim Somerville, Manager, Arts Services, advised that (i) staff need to continue discussions regarding public art at the Brighouse Station; and (ii) Biennale artwork is scheduled to be uninstalled by the end of 2011.

 

 

It was moved and seconded

 

 

(1)

That the revised City Centre Area Public Art Plan as reviewed by the Public Art Advisory Committee and as presented in the report dated September 14, 2011, from the Acting Director, Arts, Culture & Heritage Services, be approved as a guide for the placement of public art in the City Centre; and

 

 

(2)

That staff bring forward amendments to the Richmond Official Community Plan Schedule 2 of Bylaw 7100 to update Public Art Section 2.4.1(c) of the City Centre Area Plan to incorporate the proposed Public Art Plan strategy.

 

 

CARRIED

 

 

Discussion ensued regarding public art along the Canada Line, and in particular the Brighouse Station.  As a result of the discussion, the following referral was introduced:

 

 

It was moved and seconded

 

 

That staff come forward with two to three different options on how to proceed in a timely manner with the completion of the Canada Line and the installation of artwork.

 

 

CARRIED

 

 

2.

MANAGER’S REPORT

 

 

(i)

Britannia Shipyard National Historic Site

 

 

The Chair provided background information and distributed materials related to the Britannia Shipyard National Historic Site (attached to and forming part of these Minutes as Schedule 1).

 

 

It was moved and seconded

 

 

That the materials distributed from Councillor Harold Steves, dated September 27, 2011 regarding the Britannia Shipyard National Historic Site be referred to staff, with particular attention to the following:

 

 

(1)

“that staff investigate and report back to Committee the means of maintaining full public access to the wharf and fleet”;

 

 

(2)

“that staff review and consider implementation of the remaining recommendations of the Britannia Heritage Business Plan”; and

 

 

(3)

“that staff consider the establishment of a Building Committee to determine the uses of the final three buildings, the Seine Net Loft, Japanese Duplex and Longhouse and develop a timeline and costs to bring them up to code for those uses”.

 

 

CARRIED

 

 

Discussion ensued and Committee queried the status of past referrals from the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Committee and the costs associated with completing those referrals.

 

 

As result of the discussion, the following motion was introduced:

 

 

It was moved and seconded

 

 

(1)

That the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Committee establish a referral list to be included in each Agenda package; and

 

 

(2)

That the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Committee request Council to have all Committees have such referral lists.

 

 

CARRIED

 

 

(ii)

Parks Department Update

 

 

Mike Redpath, Senior Manager, Parks, provided an update on the Parks Department’s activities and it was noted that (i) the construction of a prospect point and boardwalk are underway at Terra Nova Rural Park; (ii) the pier at Garry Point will be relocated to the Britannia Heritage Shipyard for repairs; and (iii) the Thompson Youth Park is anticipated to be completed by the end of November 2011.

 

 

Discussion ensued regarding the possibility of constructing a pier similar to the one at Imperial Landing at Garry Point Park.

 

 

Dee Bowley-Cowan, Acting Manager, Parks Programs, referenced a memorandum dated September 27, 2011 regarding raccoons (copy on file, City Clerk’s Office) and noted that staff will continue to provide information to the public regarding raccoons.

 

 

Discussion ensued and in reply to a query from Committee, Ms. Bowley-Cowan advised that staff are developing a webpage for the City’s website to address wildlife issues.

 

 

Also, Ms. Bowley-Cowan referenced a memorandum dated September 27, 2011 regarding community gardens (copy on file, City Clerk’s Office).  She highlighted that the City has approximately 240 community garden plots at six locations, with a waiting list of approximately 100.

 

 

Mr. Redpath added that future community garden locations are being examined in the Steveston and Shellmont areas.

 

 

(iii)

Community Recreation Services Update

 

 

Elizabeth Ayers, Manager, Community Recreation Services, referenced a memorandum dated September 21, 2011 regarding Richmond Children First (copy on file, City Clerk’s Office) and provided an update on how staff is working with the Richmond Children First Committee.

 

 

Ms. Ayers referenced a memorandum dated September 6, 2011 regarding the City Centre Community Centre (copy on file, City Clerk’s Office) and spoke of the various ways the public is being engaged to participate in the development of the new Community Centre.

 

 

Ms. Ayers commented on the future of the Lang Centre (currently the City Centre Community Centre) and noted that the Association wishes to continue operating at the Lang Centre in addition to the future City Centre Community Centre.

 

 

Discussion ensued regarding the square footage of the future City Centre Community Centre and Ms. Ayers advised that the new Centre is expected to provide approximately 33,000 square feet of space.

 

 

Discussion further ensued regarding several past community centre expansions and it was noted that space has not been taken away from a community centre in light of an expansion or new facility being constructed.

 

 

(iv)

Sports & Community Events Update

 

 

Eric Stepura, Manager, Sports & Community Events, referenced a memorandum dated September 16, 2011 regarding the Richmond Lawn Bowling Club (copy on file, City Clerk’s Office) and commented on the Club’s request for a new clubhouse.  He noted that a Capital project submission for $2.5 million has been put forward in the Five Year Capital Budget, however this request will be weighed against several high priority sport and recreation Capital projects.

 

 

Discussion ensued and it was noted that the Richmond Sport Council is in the midst of developing a sport facility needs assessment for Richmond based community groups, including the Richmond Lawn Bowling Club.

 

 

In reply to a query from Committee, Cathryn Volkering Carlile, General Manager – Community Services, advised that the City has a minimum standard of LEED Silver for new City buildings.

 

 

Also, Mr. Stepura reviewed upcoming community events.

 

 

(v)

Parks Programs Update

 

 

Ms. Bowley-Cowan commented on several upcoming parks programs and highlighted the following: (i) Applepalooza – an event held at the apple orchard on Gilbert Road on October 2, 2011; (ii) Wild Things – a popular Halloween festival that invites families to take an evening walk along a forest trail lit by hundreds of jack-o-lanterns; and (iii) the Halloween fireworks.

 

 

Also, Ms. Bowley-Cowan spoke of a tree planting event at the Terra Nova Rural Park and a shore line clean up event.

 

 

(vi)

Arts Services Update

 

 

Ms. Somerville commented on Culture Days, highlighting that Richmond has 35 events planned to take place September 30, 2011 through October 2, 2011.

 

 

Ms. Somerville spoke of the Terra Cotta Warriors Public Art Project.

 

 

(vii)

Parks Operations Update

 

 

Ted G. deCrom, Acting Manager Parks Operations, provided background information regarding a request to remove a City-owned hedge in west Richmond. 

 

 

Also, Mr. deCrom commented on the recent wind storms and its effects on trees.

 

 

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

 

 

It was moved and seconded

 

 

That the meeting adjourn (5:18 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, September 27, 2011.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Councillor Harold Steves

Chair

Hanieh Floujeh

Committee Clerk

 

 

 

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