September 29, 2015 - Minutes

Date:

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Place:

Anderson Room
Richmond City Hall

Present:

Councillor Harold Steves, Chair
Councillor Ken Johnston
Councillor Carol Day
Councillor Bill McNulty
Councillor Linda McPhail
Mayor Malcolm Brodie

Call to Order:

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

AGENDA ADDITIONS

It was moved and seconded

That the Council Community Initiatives Fund and the Garden City Lands be added to the agenda as Items No. 2A and 2B.

CARRIED

MINUTES

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Committee held on July 23, 2015, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

October 27, 2015, (tentative date) at 4:00 p.m. in the Anderson Room

PRESENTATIONS

1.

(1)

With the aid of a PowerPoint presentation (attached to and forming part of these Minutes as Schedule 1), Serena Lusk, Senior Manager, Recreation and Sport Services, accompanied by Charlene Phung, Research Planner, presented the Community Needs Assessment.

Mayor Brodie left the meeting (4:10 p.m.) and returned (4:13 p.m.).

In response to queries from Committee, Ms. Lusk and Ms. Phung provided the following additional information:

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statistical information was obtained through a study conducted in 2009  based on the census data at that time; however, statistics may shift once current census data is available;

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the sample respondents represented a good cross-section of Richmond’s population;

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the Assessment did not specifically identify needs related to the lack of park or pool facilities;  facility projections will be presented in a future staff report regarding the Facilities Strategic Plan;

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staff will be expanding neighbourhood programs such as the Art truck and programming at community schools, to reach specific population groups;

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on a scale from 1 to 5, with 5 being the most satisfied, respondents’ average rating for heritage programming was 3.56; and

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a number of communication tools will be used to share the information with community associations.

Discussion ensued regarding the proposed 2016 Childcare Needs Study, the need for communication improvements, and heritage programming.  Committee requested that a copy of the Community Needs Assessment presentation be distributed to Council.

(2)

With the aid of a video presentation (copy on file, City Clerk’s Office), Dee Bowley-Cowan, Britannia Site Supervisor, presented “A Caption of Memories, the Murakami Family.”

In reply to a query from Committee, Ms. Bowley-Cowan advised that the video will be available on the City’s YouTube, iBeacons, and website.

ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION

2.

Sanitary Dump for Recreational Vehicles
(File Ref. No. 10-6400-01) (REDMS No. 4611472)

Discussion ensued regarding Metro Vancouver’s rationale in not installing a public sanitary dump station at either Iona or Lulu Island treatment plants.  As a result of the discussion the following motion was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the staff report titled “Sanitary Dump for Recreational Vehicles,” dated September 1, 2015, from the Director, Public Works, be received for information; and

(2)

That a letter be sent to Metro Vancouver requesting further consideration of establishing a regional sanitary dump for recreational vehicles.

The question on the motion was not called as in response to queries from Committee, Romeo Bicego, Manager, Sewerage and Drainage, commented that the installation of a sanitary dump for recreational vehicles would cost approximately $80,000, not including staff costs.  Also, he noted that in past discussions, Metro Vancouver indicated that there were public safety concerns related to providing such service at either the Iona or Lulu Island treatment plants.

In reply to a query from Committee, Mike Redpath, Senior Manager, Parks, advised that, with regard to the referral made at the April 28, 2015 Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Committee meeting for a proposed trailer park, staff is completing the site selection and analysis work and a staff report is forthcoming.

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

2A.

COUNCIL Community Initiatives Fund
(File Ref. No.)

Discussion ensued regarding proposed submissions for the Council Community Initiatives Fund (CCIF), such as (i) the restoration of the Britannia Phoenix Gillnet Loft for an art centre, (ii) the construction of two-approach floats for use at the Imperial Landing pier at Garry Point Park, and (iii) the renovations at South Arm Community Centre.  It was suggested that staff include the amount designated in the Fund in the 2016 budget as a contingency and that staff prepare a report identifying potential projects  eligible for such funding, including those discussed.

In reply to a query from Committee, Mr. Redpath commented that the structural assessment of the sub-structure at the Phoenix Gillnet Loft has been completed and Facility Services staff will be reporting to a future Britannia Building Committee meeting.

In response to a query from Committee, Cathryn Volkering Carlile, General Manager, Community Services, advised that the CCIF terms of reference would be distributed to Council along with further information regarding the October 2, 2015 submission deadline. Also, she noted that funding requests under the CCIF should occur concurrently with the City’s budget process in order to ensure the information is captured in the City’s five year financial plan bylaw.

2B.

Update on the Garden City Lands
(File Ref. No.)

Mr. Redpath provided an update on the Garden City Lands noting that (i) the hydrology study has been completed and that the consultants’ report will be submitted in the near future, (ii) the hydrology report is critical to the future design for the bog and mid-dyke areas currently underway, and (iii) a staff report on the detailed design of the perimeter trail as well as the construction of the water management system and dyke will be presented at a future General Purposes Committee meeting.  He further noted that the business terms for the agreement for use of part of the Lands for agricultural purposed with Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) have been endorsed.  Mr. Redpath advised that a KPU soil sampling class has been granted permission to take core samples for analysis which will assist in determining the most appropriate area to be used for KPU’s agricultural purposes.

Committee requested that staff investigate the status of the Committee referral related to the Garden City Lands Legacy Landscape Plan dated March 25, 2014.

In reply to a query from Committee, Mr. Redpath commented that it is anticipated that construction of the perimeter trail will commence in early 2016.  Also, he commented that advanced design and engineering costs, including draining and/or filling of the bog, will be provided in the upcoming staff report.

3.

MANAGER’S REPORT

Community Services Division Updates

Dave Ince, Manager, Community Recreation Services, commented on the City Centre Community Centre grand opening held on September 19, 2015 and the Harvest Moon Festival parade from Lang Park to the new Centre held on September 26, 2015.  In addition, Mr. Ince commented that staff will be meeting with community associations to review their respective operating agreements.

Ted de Crom, Manager, Parks Operations, spoke of the damage to City Hall’s north plaza turf due to a chafer beetle infestation and to the decline of a tree in the Plaza area.  Mr. de Crom commented that Parks staff were able to save the majority of the City trees throughout the drought season; however, a significant number of shrubs will need to be replaced.

Committee thanked Parks staff for their efforts to use recycled water when irrigating City trees.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:54 p.m.).

CARRIED

Certified a true and correct copy of the Minutes of the meeting of the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Committee of the Council of the City of Richmond held on Tuesday, September 29, 2015.

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Councillor Harold Steves
Chair

Heather Howey
Legislative Services Coordinator