April 26, 2016 - Minutes

Date:

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Place:

Anderson Room
Richmond City Hall

Present:

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

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 March 30, 2016, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

May 25, 2016, (tentative date) at 4:00 p.m. in the Anderson Room

COMMUNITY SERVICES DIVISION

1.

Am-Pri Developments (2012) Ltd. Transfer of Ownership of Public Art
(File Ref. No. 11-7000-09-20-189) (REDMS No. 4961697 v. 2)

Discussion ensued with respect to the dimensions of the art piece and opportunities to work with partners such as Emily Carr University on future art projects.

It was moved and seconded

That the transfer of ownership of public art by Am-Pri Developments (2012) Ltd. to the City of Richmond, as presented in the report from the Director, Arts, Culture and Heritage Services, titled “Am-Pri Developments (2012) Ltd. Transfer of Ownership of Public Art”, dated March 29, 2016, be approved.

CARRIED

2.

Richmond Public Art Program 2015 Annual Report and Public Art Advisory Committee 2016 Work Plan
(File Ref. No. 01-0100-30-RPAR1-01) (REDMS No. 4968335 v. 3)

Eric Fiss, Public Art Planner, offered comments on the Richmond Public Art Program 2015 Annual Report and Public Art Advisory Committee 2016 Work Plan, noting that (i) the City supports local artists and advertises art opportunities locally, (ii) the Art Program provides learning opportunities for students, and (iii) art acquired internationally may not provide the best value in some cases due to factors such as the low Canadian Dollar.

Discussion ensued with respect to the successful PechaKucha night and Mr. Fiss added that bus tours of new artwork in the city took place during Culture Days in 2015 and that Council is invited to attend an upcoming bus tour scheduled in June 2016 for the Richmond Public Art Advisory Committee.

In reply to queries from Committee, Jane Fernyhough, Director, Arts, Culture and Heritage Services, and Mr. Fiss, noted that the Richmond Public Art Advisory Committee (RPAAC) is appointed by Council and has a Terms of Reference approved by Council.

Discussion took place regarding Council’s input on public art contributions and Mr. Fiss noted that: (i) developer public art contributions are optional and applicants are encouraged to develop art instead of a cash contribution, (ii) the applicant’s proposed public art plan typically accompanies the Development Permit application for Council approval, and (iii) staff can review inclusion of all proposed public art plans in the Development Permit application process.

In reply to queries from Committee, Cathryn Volkering Carlile, General Manager, Community Services advised that developer public art contributions are voluntary and that staff are responding to a referral to review community amenity contributions.

Discussion then took place regarding the placement of developer public art contributions on City property.

It was moved and seconded

That the Richmond Public Art Advisory Committee 2016 Work Plan, as presented in the report titled, “Richmond Public Art Program 2015 Annual Report and Public Art Advisory Committee 2016 Work Plan,” from the Director, Arts, Culture and Heritage Services, dated April 7, 2016, be approved.

CARRIED

Discussion ensued with regard to the suitability of Richmond-themed art on City spaces.

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

It was moved and seconded

That staff review the City’s Public Art Policy regarding developer voluntary public art contributions and the City’s approval process for developer voluntary public art contributions on private property and report back.

CARRIED

3.

Cultural Focus for Events and Activities
(File Ref. No. 11-7000-01) (REDMS No. 4928726 v. 5)

Ms. Fernyhough commented on the Cultural Focus for Events and Activities, noting that City approved community events may receive City support, and the majority of community events are privately organized and funded.

It was moved and seconded

That the report titled “Cultural Focus for Events and Activities” dated April 7, 2016 from the Director, Arts, Culture and Heritage Services, be received for information.

CARRIED

4.

Recreation Fee Subsidy Program Review
(File Ref. No. 07-3000-01) (REDMS No. 4971157 v. 8)

Kim Somerville, Manager, Community Social Develop, and Sean Davies, Coordinator - Special Needs, reviewed the Recreation Fee Subsidy Program Review, noting that the Program will be centrally administered in City Hall and the application process would verify eligibility.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the proposed Guiding Principles for the Recreation Fee Subsidy Program as described in the staff report titled, “Recreation Fee Subsidy Program Review,” dated April 4, 2016 from the General Manager, Community Services be approved;

(2)

That staff be authorized to consult with the City’s Community Partners on the findings and proposed options developed from the Recreation Fee Subsidy Program Review; and

(3)

That, following consultation with Community Partners, a Draft Recreation Fee Subsidy Program Update including a proposed funding strategy be brought back to Council for consideration.

CARRIED

5.

Committee Standing item

Garden City Lands

Jamie Esko, Manager, Park Planning and Design, and Kevin Connery, Research Planner 2, provided a revised schedule (attached to and forming part of these minutes as Schedule 1) and updated Committee on the Garden City Lands project, noting that (i) the Water Management Study is in the final stages and preliminary results are being utilized, (ii) the water systems between the bog and agricultural component can be separated, (iii) community consultation on the perimeter trail is on-going, (iv) the permeable dike bisecting the site will have a straighter alignment, and (v) drainage capacity has been added by the expansion of the pond area.

Discussion ensued with regard to (i) community consultation on the cycling and pedestrian trail design, (ii) capturing rain water from adjacent sites, (iii) water storage and drainage on the site, (iv) options to treat and cover ditches to gain additional area, and (v) the progression of the site’s design and information available to the public.

In reply to queries from Committee regarding the flex fields, Ms. Esko and Mr. Connery noted that the flex fields were open meadow spaces and descriptors of the site features are available to the public.

Jim Wright, representing the Garden City Conservation Society, offered comments on the Garden City Lands and expressed concern with respect to (i) the public consultation process and survey, (ii) utilizing Agricultural Land Reserve principles, and (iii) trail design and park accessibility.

Discussion ensued with regard to the consultation process and survey and staff were requested to provide Committee with a copy of the survey.

Cllr. McNulty left the meeting (5:02 p.m.) and did not return.

Discussion then ensued with regard to park accessibility and materials that would be suitable for the site’s trail system.

6.

MANAGER’S REPORT

(i)

Steveston Outdoor Pool Repairs

John Woolgar, Manager, Aquatic and Arena Services, updated Committee on the repairs to the Steveston Outdoor Pool, noting that the Kigoos Swim Club is being accommodated at other facilities and staff are reviewing repair options.

In reply to queries from Committee, John Irving, Director, Engineering, noted that the City has a maintenance budget that can be utilized for the repairs.

(ii)

Richmond Ice Centre Mould

In reply to queries from Committee, Mr. Irving noted that the arena has the potential for mould and the City performs annual washing and periodic air quality tests in the facility to manage potential mould issues.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:11 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, April 26, 2016.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Councillor Harold Steves
Chair

Evangel Biason
Legislative Services Coordinator