February 23, 2016 - Minutes
 |
|
Date: |
Tuesday, February 23, 2016 |
|
Place: |
Anderson Room |
|
Present: |
Councillor Harold Steves, Chair |
|
Absent: |
Councillor Linda McPhail |
|
Also Present: |
Councillor Alexa Loo |
|
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 January 26, 2016, be adopted as circulated. |
|
|
|
CARRIED |
|
|
|
NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE |
|
|
|
Wednesday, March 30, 2016, (tentative date) at 4:00 p.m. in the Anderson Room |
|
|
|
DELEGATIONS |
|
|
1. |
(1) |
With the aid of a PowerPoint presentation (copy on file, City Clerk’s Office), and speaking notes (attached to and forming part of these minutes as Schedule 1), John Braaten and Dan Marriott, representing Richmond City Baseball Assoication (RCBA), spoke on a proposal for possible baseball development in South Arm Park, noting that: |
|
|
|
|
|
§ |
the proposed baseball development will be able to accommodate younger players and players will be able utilize facilities closer to the city centre; |
|
|
|
|
§ |
the RCBA is proposing the redevelopment of Whiteside park in three phases through 2018; |
|
|
|
|
§ |
the proposed baseball development will increase the amenities and concession facilities and will complement existing park amenities; |
|
|
|
|
§ |
the RCBA will develop financial support for the proposed development through community partnerships and donations; |
|
|
|
|
§ |
the RCBA anticipates that the proposed development will increase foot traffic and participation by 14,000 people annually; |
|
|
|
|
§ |
the proposed development will establish a quadraplex at Whiteside field; |
|
|
|
|
§ |
the RCBA is committed to contribute $20,000 towards the proposed development and will actively pursue funding sources; however, the proposed development will require support from the City. |
|
|
|
|
Discussion ensued with regard to (i) parking needs of the proposed development, (ii) presenting the proposed development to the Richmond Sports Council and other community stakeholders and (iii) prioritizing potential recreation projects in the City. |
|
|
|
|
|
In reply to queries from Committee, Mike Redpath, Senior Manager, Parks, advised that staff can work with the RCBA to examine the feasibility of the proposed development. He added that typically improvements completed by the City on Richmond School District No. 38 property are owned by the City. He further noted that the City currently maintains the facilities in South Arm Park. |
|
|
|
|
|
Discussion took place with respect to potential funding contributions by the RCBA and the different age groups that currently utilize baseball facilities in the city. |
|
|
|
|
|
In reply to queries from Committee, Mr. Braaten noted that (i) there is participation growth in the sport and RCBA promotes the sport in schools; (ii) the proposed designs are preliminary and placement of the proposed baseball facilities can be adjusted, and (iii) youngest players are approximately four years old and teams are typically coed. |
|
|
|
|
|
Discussion then took place regarding (i) consulting with Richmond School District No. 38 on potential development sites, (ii) park facilities used by other sports such as soccer; (iii) partnering with softball organizations on the proposed project, (iv) current facilities in the city that are utilized by younger players, and (v) the potential usage rates of the proposed project. |
|
|
|
|
|
As a result of the discussion, the following referral was introduced: |
|
|
|
|
|
It was moved and seconded |
|
|
|
|
|
That staff: |
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
examine the feasibility of developing baseball facilities in South Arm Park; and |
|
|
|
|
(2) |
consult with the Richmond Sports Council, Richmond School District No. 38 and the South Arm Community Association on the potential development of baseball facilities in South Arm Park and report back. |
|
|
|
CARRIED |
||
|
|
|
(2) |
With the aid of a PowerPoint Presentation (copy on file, City Clerk’s Office) and their submission (attached to and forming part of these minutes as Schedule 2), Thomas Love, student, and Dalton Taylor, student, spoke in favour of developing new user-friendly skateboard parks or improving existing skateboard parks in city, highlighting that: |
|
|
|
|
|
§ |
the skateboarding elements at Thompson Youth Park cater more to advanced skaters; |
|
|
|
|
§ |
the skateboard park at No. 2 Road is aging and the skateboarding elements do not efficiently use the space; |
|
|
|
|
§ |
unused or decommissioned swimming pools could be repurposed as a skateboarding facility; |
|
|
|
|
§ |
skateboarding is a relatively cost-effective sport that supports the City’s Official Community Plan; |
|
|
|
|
§ |
there are examples of effective skateboard parks in the Lower Mainland; |
|
|
|
|
§ |
skateboarding requires a dry surface and an effective skateboard park would include a roof and lights; and |
|
|
|
|
§ |
a potential location for a new skateboard park in the city would be under the No. 2 Road Bridge. |
|
|
|
|
Discussion ensued with regard to (i) construction process of the existing No. 2 Road skateboard park, (ii) resources required to construct a new skateboarding facility under the No. 2 Road Bridge, and (iii) potential legal issues of a skateboard facility under the No. 2 Road Bridge. |
|
|
|
|
|
In reply to queries from Committee, Mr. Redpath advised that (i) site selection for a new skateboarding facility would involve a variety of criteria including access to transit and amenities, (ii) the existing skateboarding park at No. 2 Road can be upgraded with City and community support, and (iii) staff were able to visit skateboard parks in surrounding municipalities to gauge best practices. |
|
|
|
|
|
In reply to queries from Committee, Jamie Esko, Manager, Park Planning and Design, noted that the youth and the community were consulted during the design process for Thompson Youth Park and that the park was designed as a multi-use facility. |
|
|
|
|
|
Discussion then ensued with respect to (i) the potential number of users of a new skateboard park facility, (ii) the advantages of a covered skateboarding facility, and (iii) proposed park development along the River Road waterfront. |
|
|
|
|
|
As a result of the discussion, the following referral was introduced: |
|
|
|
|
|
It was moved and seconded |
|
|
|
|
|
That staff examine potential sites and costs of a skateboard park in the city and report back. |
|
|
|
|
CARRIED |
||
|
|
|
COMMUNITY SERVICES DIVISION |
|
|
2. |
2015 RICHMOND FILM OFFICE ANNUAL REPORT |
|
|
|
Jodie Shebib, Film and Major Events Liaison spoke on the 2015 Richmond Film Office Annual Report, noting that film activity in the city is at an all-time high, (ii) the low Canadian Dollar and Provincial tax incentives have been factors in the increase of film activity in the city, (iii) the City’s Film Office provides coordination for services required to process film production applications, (iv) various sites in the city can provide a variety of settings for film productions, and (v) the Film Office has received positive response from film productions. |
|
|
|
Discussion ensued with regard to (i) Provincial subsidies for the film industry, (ii) allocation of film revenue within the City, and (iii) transparency in the allocation of film revenue. |
|
|
|
In reply to queries from Committee, Ms. Shebib noted that a portion of revenues received from in location rentals are returned to the site. She added costs of Richmond RCMP services are recovered from the filming revenue. |
|
|
|
Discussion then took place with respect to future filming productions and current filming sites in the city. |
|
|
|
It was moved and seconded |
|
|
|
That the staff report titled, “2015 Richmond Film Office Annual Report”, dated February 5, 2016 from the Director, Arts, Culture and Heritage Services, be received for information. |
|
|
|
CARRIED |
|
|
3. |
MANAGER’S REPORT |
|
|
|
|
(i) |
Garden City Lands Update |
|
|
|
Ms. Esko provided a preliminary Garden City Lands (GCL) Project Schedule (attached to and forming part of these minutes as Schedule 3) and spoke on the progress of the GCL Project, highlighting that (i) there are regular presentations to the Advisory Committee on the Environment and the Agricultural Advisory Committee on the GCL Project, (ii) consultation is on-going with the community and stakeholders, and (iii) staff are preparing a non-farm use application to the Agricultural Land Commission. |
|
|
|
|
In reply to queries from Committee, Ms. Esko advised that staff anticipate that construction and design details will be brought forward in May 2016 and that the design of the perimeter trails will be part of the overall design process. |
|
|
|
|
Discussion ensued with respect to consultation with stakeholder groups such as Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) and the Garden City Conservation Society. |
|
|
|
|
In reply to queries from Committee, Marie Fenwick, Manager, Parks Programs, noted that there is a meeting with stakeholder groups tentatively scheduled for March 2016 where staff will report research results. |
|
|
|
|
In reply to queries from Committee, Mr. Redpath noted that staff will invite GCL Project consultants to attend the upcoming stakeholder meeting. |
|
|
|
|
Discussion ensued with regard to KPU’s role in the GCL Project and the consultation process. |
|
|
|
|
As a result of the discussion, the following motion was introduced: |
|
|
|
|
It was moved and seconded |
|
|
|
|
That the verbal report from staff regarding the Garden City Lands Project be received for information. |
|
|
|
|
CARRIED |
|
|
|
|
(ii) |
Announcement of Mary’s Barn in Terra Nova Rural Park |
|
|
|
The Chair announced that the barn under construction in Terra Nova Rural Park will be named Mary’s Barn in honour of Mary Gazetas, a founding member of the Sharing Farm Society. |
|
|
|
|
The Chair noted that (i) Ms. Gazetas established the Sharing Farm Society to distribute fresh fruits and vegetables to the Richmond Food Bank, (ii) the barn will be used by the Sharing Farm Society to store farmed goods and equipment, and the Sharing Farm Society has contributed $50,000 to the project. |
|
|
|
|
James Gates, representing the Sharing Farm Society, expressed his thanks for the City’s contribution to the project. |
|
|
|
|
ADJOURNMENT |
|
|
|
It was moved and seconded |
|
|
|
That the meeting adjourn (5:02 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, February 23, 2016. |
|
_________________________________ |
_________________________________ |
|
Councillor Harold Steves |
Evangel Biason |