February 28, 2017 - Minutes

Date:

Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Place:

Anderson Room
Richmond City Hall

Present:

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

Absent:

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 January 24, 2017, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

March 28, 2017, (tentative date) at 4:00 p.m. in the Anderson Room

COMMUNITY SERVICES DIVISION

1.

2016 Events Review
(File Ref. No. 11-7000-01) (REDMS No. 5235642)

Jane Fernyhough, Director, Arts, Culture and Heritage Services, presented a video highlighting 2016 City events (copy on file, City Clerk’s Office).

Concern was expressed with regard to the use of City parks for political events. Cathryn Volkering Carlile, General Manager, Community Services, advised that City parks are open to all users and any political events were organized independently.

It was moved and seconded

That the staff report titled “2016 Events Review”, dated February 1, 2017, from the Director, Arts, Culture and Heritage Services, be received for information.

CARRIED

2.

Programming at McDonald Beach Park
(File Ref. No. 11-7000-01) (REDMS No. 5315665 v. 5)

It was moved and seconded

That no changes be undertaken to the existing dog off-leash area at McDonald Beach Park as detailed in the staff report titled “Programming at McDonald Beach Park,” dated February 10, 2017, from the Senior Manager, Parks.

The question on the motion was not called as discussion ensued with regard to reviewing the park’s dog off-leash area.

The Chair expressed concern that users of the dog off-leash area were not Richmond residents and added that there are regional parks in proximity to McDonald Beach that can accommodate dog use.

In reply to queries from Committee, Mike Redpath, Senior Manager, Parks, advised that staff is anticipating that the future report on McDonald Beach Park can be presented at a closed Council meeting by the end of the year.

Discussion then ensued with regard to community support for the dog off-leash area and the use of the Woodwards Landing campsite by the Girl Guides of Canada.

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

3.

Committee Standing items

(i)

Garden City Lands

Questions on the Garden City Lands (GCL) soil installation and photographs of the site were distributed (attached to and forming part of these minutes as Schedule 1).

In reply to queries from Committee, Jamie Esko, Manager, Parks Planning, Design and Construction, spoke on (i) the development of the dike and perimeter trails, (ii) the soil composition of the site, and (iii) the materials used for the different layers of the dike.

Ms. Esko noted that the top mulch layer used on the GCL originated from a site on General Currie Road and No. 4 Road. She further noted that soils are tested before installation on-site.

It was suggested that the questions and photographs related to GCL development (Schedule 1) be referred to staff for review.

In reply to queries from Committee regarding promotion of the GCL, Mike Redpath, Senior Manager, Parks, noted that information on GCL development is available on the GCL webpage and on the City’s website. He added that aerial drone footage of the site can be uploaded to the website.

Discussion ensued with regard to the GCL development timeline.

In response to queries, Mr. Redpath advised that the GCL Legacy Landscape Plan, approved by Council, provides information on the GCL’s perimeter trail and farmland development.

As a result of the discussion, staff were directed to provide a memorandum to update Council on the stages of GCL development.

In reply to queries from Committee, Ms. Esko noted that (i) the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) has advised that construction of the perimeter trails may commence 60 days after approval of the non-farm use application in March 2016, (ii) parking areas are planned for the GCL and that a non-farm use application to the ALC is required to develop parking areas on-site, and (iii), staff can examine opening portions of the trails to the public as they are completed.

The Chair expressed concern with regard to the construction methods and the 8-inch minus gravel used on the GCL central dike.

The Chair distributed a map of the Britannia Historic Shipyard and Dyke Road (attached to and forming part of these minutes as Schedule 2), and spoke on developing tour bus access to the Britannia Historic Shipyard along Dyke Road.

The following referral motion was then introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That staff consider:

(1)

repaving a portion of Dyke Road from Trites Road around Paramount Pond to London Landing; and

(2)

remove speed bumps; and

report back to the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Committee and Public Works and Transportation Committee.

The question on the motion was not called as discussion ensued with regard to current condition of Dyke Road.

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

The Chair distributed correspondence from Kelvin Higo, dated February 16, 2017, regarding the preservation of the Atagi/Yamanaka Boatworks buildings east of the Britannia Heritage Shipyard (attached to and forming part of these minutes as
Schedule 3).

The Chair commented on the historical significance of the Atagi/Yamanaka Boatworks buildings and the City’s discussions with the Steveston Harbour Authority to preserve them.

The following referral motion was then introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That staff review the protections available to preserve the Atagi/Yamanaka Boatworks buildings and report back.

CARRIED

4.

MANAGER’S REPORT

None.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:33 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 28, 2017.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Councillor Harold Steves
Chair

Evangel Biason
Legislative Services Coordinator