Date:

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Place:

Anderson Room

Richmond City Hall

Present:

Councillor Harold Steves, Chair

Councillor Ken Johnston, Vice-Chair

Councillor Linda Barnes

Councillor Evelina Halsey-Brandt

Councillor Bill McNulty

Also Present:

Councillor Chak Au

Councillor Linda McPhail

Call to Order:

The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:06 p.m.

MINUTES

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meetings of the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Committee held on Wednesday, December 14, 2011 and Tuesday, March 27, 2012, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

Tuesday, June 26, 2012 (tentative date) at 4:00 p.m. in the Anderson Room

COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT

Suzanne Haines, General Manager, Gateway Theatre, introduced Jovanni Sy, Gateway Theatre’s new Artistic Director.  Mr. Sy provided background information regarding his work in the theatre industry and stated that he was pleased to join Gateway Theatre.

1.

Britannia Heritage Shipyard National Historic Site

(File Ref. No.) (REDMS No. 3526790)

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the Terms of Reference for a Britannia Heritage Shipyard Building Committee, as outlined in the report dated May 3, 2012 from the Director, Arts, Culture and Heritage Services, be endorsed; and

(2)

That a Britannia Heritage Shipyard Building Committee be established as per the Terms of Reference.

The question on the motion was not called as discussion ensued and Committee suggested that Councillor Bill McNulty and Councillor Harold Steves be appointed to the Britannia Heritage Shipyard Building Committee.

Discussion further ensued regarding when works would begin on the remaining buildings and in reply to a query from Committee, Bryan Klassen, Britannia Site Supervisor, advised that staff anticipate commencing budgeted works in Fall 2012.

The question on the main motion, which now reads as:

(1)

That the Terms of Reference for a Britannia Heritage Shipyard Building Committee, as outlined in the report dated May 3, 2012 from the Director, Arts, Culture and Heritage Services, be endorsed;

(2)

That a Britannia Heritage Shipyard Building Committee be established as per the Terms of Reference; and

(3)

That Councillor Bill McNulty and Councillor Harold Steves be appointed to the Britannia Heritage Shipyard Building Committee.

was then called and it was CARRIED.

2.

Steveston Interurban Tram Building Public Art Project

(File Ref. No. 11-7000-09-20-134) (REDMS No. 3527761)

Eric Fiss, Public Art Planner, accompanied by artist Mia Weinberg.  Mr. Fiss spoke of the public art decision-making process for a City initiated public art project.  He noted that as per the administrative procedures for artist selection, a selection panel reviewed the artist qualification of fifteen artists who responded to the open Call to Artists.  The panel unanimously recommended artist Mia Weinberg for the proposed public art project.  Mr. Fiss further commented that the artist has collaborated with the tram building public art project team to develop the proposed public art concept design.

Jim Kojima, 7611 Moffatt Road, President of the Steveston Community Society, cited concerns related to the proposed concept design consultation process.  He stated that the Society’s representative on the selection panel had not seen the final concept proposed and was not aware that the proposed concept was being presented to Committee.

In reply to the concerns cited, Mr. Fiss clarified that the selection panel’s role was to recommend an artist.  As this is a civic public art project, the proposed project does not include community consultation.  Also, Mr. Fiss stated that information regarding the proposed concept and its presentation to Committee was discussed at subsequent meetings with the public art project team, attended by the representative from the Steveston Community Society.

Discussion ensued and the following Committee comments were noted:

§          

the proposed concept design should be referred back to staff for adequate consultation with community stakeholders;

§          

the proposed concept design itself is not a concern; and

§          

staff have followed proper procedures in relation to the proposed public art project.

Discussion further ensued and Mr. Fiss clarified the process for civic public art projects and in reply to queries from Committee advised that (i) the selection panel is an arms length group appointed through the Public Art Advisory Committee to review artist submissions; (ii) once the panel has recommended an artist, the panel is dismissed;  (iii) a Steveston Community Society representative also sits on the tram public art project team; and (iv) once a concept design is approved by Council, the artist continues to refine the concept in consultation with the public art project team and various community stakeholders.

Artist Mia Weinberg commented on her meetings with the various stakeholders and noted that the proposed concept design is not substantially different than what was previously discussed with the tram public art project team.

It was moved and seconded

That the concept proposal and installation of the Steveston Interurban Tram Building Public Art Project “Interurban Map” by artist Mia Weinberg, as presented in the report from the Director, Arts, Culture & Heritage Services dated May 7, 2012, be endorsed.

The question on the motion was not called as discussion ensued regarding the staff recommendation and it was noted that Committee is merely considering endorsement of the project concept.

Staff was directed to address the Steveston Community Society’s concerns prior to the matter being presented to Council.

The question on the motion was then called and it was CARRIED with Councillor McNulty opposed.

PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT

3.

Richmond Children's Charter

(File Ref. No.) (REDMS No. 3527945)

Elizabeth Ayers, Manager, Community Recreation Services, introduced Helen Davidson, Community Coordinator, Richmond Children First.

In reply to a query from Committee, Ms. Ayers advised that the endorsement of the proposed Richmond Children’s Charter would act as a symbolic gesture as it would further demonstrate the City’s commitment to making Richmond the best place in North America to raise children and youth.

Ms. Davidson noted that she would like to play a video of a group of Richmond children reading the Charter at a future Council meeting.  Also, Ms. Davidson spoke of the various ways Richmond Children First engaged with Richmond children in an effort to identify what Richmond children value.  She stated that throughout various projects, it was evident that Richmond children value the right to play and the right to learn. 

In reply to queries from Committee, Ms. Davidson advised that other local governments, such as the City of Kamloops, the City of Revelstoke, and the City of Powell River, are endorsing children charters specific to the values of the children in their respective communities.

Discussion ensued and it was noted that the format of the Children’s Charter is well done as the quotations from children provide context.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the Richmond Children First’s “Richmond Children’s Charter,” as presented in the report dated May 3, 2012, from the Acting Director, Recreation, be endorsed; and

(2)

That the video of Richmond children reading the Richmond Children’s Charter be played at a future Council meeting.

CARRIED

4.

MANAGER’S REPORT

(i)

Floating Net Shed

Jane Fernyhough, Director, Arts, Culture & Heritage, updated Committee on discussions with the owner of the floating net shed.  Ms. Fernyhough advised that the owner would like the City to purchase the net shed at a cost of $350,000; otherwise she has indicated that she will continue to look for a new site to situate it.

(ii)

Parks Department Updates

Mike Redpath, Senior Manager, Parks, provided an update on various Parks Department activities and the following information was noted:

§          

there will be a public open house for the Terra Nova play environment on Wednesday, June 6^th at Thompson Community Centre from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m;

§          

the Thompson Youth Park is scheduled to open on Thursday, June 21^st at 7:00 p.m;

§          

staff are working with Metro Vancouver’s Parks Committee on developing a Richmond parks application for mobile devices;

§          

the tall ship Kaisei has confirmed its appearance at the Ships to Shore Steveston 2012 event;

§          

staff have engaged a consultant for the detail design of the Railway Avenue Corridor; and

§          

staff anticipate consulting with the Thompson Community Centre, West Richmond Community Centre and the Steveston Community Centres in regards to the development of the Railway Avenue Corridor.

In reply to queries from Committee, Mr. Redpath advised that giant hogweed found along the Shell Road Trail would be removed immediately.  Also he stated that the Richmond parks application for mobile devices will eventually also include bike trails.  It was requested that Mr. Redpath provide members of Council with the MAXguide application for mobile devices.

(iii)

Ships to Shore Steveston 2012

Serena Lusk, Manager, Parks Programs, stated that the Ships to Shore Steveston 2012 will be held June 29^th to July 1, 2012 at Imperial Landing and  spoke of the various activities being offered during the event.

(iv)

Boat Moorage at Imperial Landing

Ms. Lusk commented on the City’s pilot program to gauge interest and viability in transient boat moorage at Imperial Landing and noted that moorage is free for up to three hours.

(v)

Steveston Farmers Market

Dave Semple, General Manager, Parks and Recreation, commented on staff discussions with representatives of the Steveston Farmers Market and the Steveston Hotel.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:00 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 29, 2012.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Councillor Harold Steves

Chair

Hanieh Berg

Committee Clerk