July 20, 2017 - Minutes

Date:

Thursday, July 20, 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.

The Chair advised that staff will be presenting a video regarding the 2017 Canada Day Celebrations and that Steveston Post Office will be considered as Item No. 6A, Smoking Prohibition for Public Parks and School Grounds as Item No. 6B, Delegation to Mystic, Connecticut as Item No. 6C, and Feasibility of a Tram in Steveston as Item No. 6D.

MINUTES

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Committee held on June 27, 2017, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

September 20, 2017, (tentative date) at 4:00 p.m. in the Anderson Room

DELEGATIONS

1.

(1)

Sarah Drewery, Executive Director of the Sharing Farm, thanked Council for their contribution towards a tractor for the Sharing Farm. She noted that approximately 21,000 pounds of food have been donated to the Richmond Food Bank.

Discussion ensued with regard expanding operations at the Sharing Farm.

Ms. Drewery extended an invitation to Council to visit the Sharing farm.

(2)

Jon Hunter, Gino Suarez, and Jerry Lo, Minoru Park Tennis Association, introduced the Minoru Park Tennis Association, noting that (i) the Association was created in May 2017 to represent the users of Minoru Park tennis courts, (ii) the Association promotes social interaction through tennis, and (iii) the Association currently has 150 members.

Discussion ensued with regard to the capacity of tennis court facilities in the city.

In reply to queries from Committee, Mr. Hunter noted that staff were able to provide a resolution to the use of the Minoru Park tennis courts by the Richmond Tennis Club. Also, staff added that the City monitors usage of tennis facilities and can explore potential upgrades.

(3)

Bryan Tasaka, Manager, Major Events and Film, updated Committee on the 2017 Canada Day celebrations that took place in Steveston and presented a video on the event (copy on-file, City Clerk’s Office).

It was suggested that the 2017 Canada Day Video be presented at the upcoming Council meeting on July 24, 2017.

COMMUNITY SERVICES DIVISION

2.

Nikkei Memorial Public Art Project Terms of Reference
(File Ref. No. 11-7000-09-20-238) (REDMS No. 5428546 v. 3)

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the staff report titled, “Nikkei Memorial Public Art Project Terms of Reference,” dated July 7, 2017, from the Director, Arts, Culture and Heritage Services, to implement the Nikkei Memorial Public Art Project, be endorsed;

(2)

That $300,000 be allocated to commission a Nikkei Memorial public artwork from the Council Provision; and

(3)

That the City’s Five-Year Financial Plan (2017-2021) be amended to include the $320,000 additional expenditure funded by the Council Provision for $300,000 and contributions from the Nikkei Memorial Committee for $20,000.

CARRIED

3.

Richmond Art Gallery Collections Policy
(File Ref. No. 11-7142-00) (REDMS No. 5387871 v. 2)

Discussion ensued with regard to opportunities to display collections in various places in the city and acquiring works from local artists.

In reply to queries from Committee, staff noted that the Richmond Art Gallery is inviting Council to view their collections. Also, it was noted that the Richmond Art Gallery currently does not have the budget allocated for the acquisition of artwork and primarily receives artwork through donations.

It was moved and seconded

That the report titled “Richmond Art Gallery Collections Policy,” dated June 1, 2017 from the Director, Arts, Culture & Heritage Services be adopted.

CARRIED

4.

Museum Artefact Visible Storage
(File Ref. No. 11-7000-01) (REDMS No. 5403143 v. 2)

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the report titled ‘Museum Artefact Visible Storage’ dated June 27, 2017 from the Director, Arts, Culture and Heritage Services, be received for information; and

(2)

That the concept of artefact visible storage be considered in the Artefact Storage Warehouse project and the Museum Models Evaluation Study.

CARRIED

5.

Special Event Permits Pilot Project
(File Ref. No. 11-7000-01) (REDMS No. 5439235 v. 8)

Marie Fenwick, Manager, Parks Programs, commented on the Special Event Permits Pilot Project, noting that (i) the Province have revised liquor regulations to facilitate options for site-wide liquor licensing, (ii) the City will be seeking to obtain special event permits from the British Columbia Liquor Control and Licensing Branch for select City events such as the upcoming Richmond Harvest Festival, (iii) Richmond brewers will be featured in the Richmond Harvest Festival, and (iv) the entrances and exits to the Richmond Harvest Festival will be controlled and attendants will be able to consume liquor within the site.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That a one-year pilot project to obtain special event permits from the British Columbia Liquor Control and Licensing Branch for select City events, as detailed in the staff report titled, “Special Event Permits Pilot Project”, dated June 28, 2017 from the Director, Arts, Culture and Heritage Services and the Senior Manager, Parks, be endorsed; and

(2)

That a report be brought back to Council with the results of the pilot project.

CARRIED

6.

Parks Ageing Infrastructure Plan – 2017 Update
(File Ref. No. 06-2345-01) (REDMS No. 5426577 v. 10)

Mike Redpath, Senior Manager, Parks, reviewed the Parks Ageing Infrastructure Plan, noting that staff have identified parks structures that may require replacement. Also, he noted that staff have estimated replacement costs to be approximately $2.5million.

Discussion ensued with regard to (i) requesting funding from senior levels of government, (ii) partnering with Richmond School District No. 38 to replace playground equipment, (iii) replacing the No. 3 Road pier.

In reply to queries from Committee, staff noted that the City’s piers are periodically inspected and repaired.

It was moved and seconded

That the priorities identified in the staff report titled “Parks Ageing Infrastructure Plan – 2017 Update” dated July 4, 2017, from the Senior Manager, Parks, be used as the basis for a submission to the annual 2018 Capital Program process.

CARRIED

6A.

Steveston Post Office
(File Ref. No.)

Discussion ensued with regard to (i) the status of the Steveston Post Office, (ii) management options for operation of the Steveson Post Office once the contract between the Steveston Historical Society and Tourism Richmond terminates, and (iii) consideration of a separate tourism organization to manage operations of the Steveston Post Office.

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

It was moved and seconded

That staff:

(1)

provide a status update on the Steveston Post Office;

(2)

explore options to manage the operations of the Steveston Post Office in conjunction with the Steveston Historical Society; and

(3)

consider a separate tourism organization to provide services in Steveston;

and report back.

CARRIED

6B.

Smoking Prohibition for Public Parks and School Grounds
(File Ref. No.)

Discussion ensued with regard to options to expand smoking restrictions to public parks and school grounds.

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

It was moved and seconded

That staff investigate ways to implement expanded smoking prohibitions in Richmond public parks and school grounds and report back to Council.

CARRIED

6C.

Delegation to Mystic, Connecticut
(File Ref. No.)

Discussion ensued with regard to sending a Richmond delegation to Mystic, Connecticut in the Fall 2017 to view their waterfront development.

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

It was moved and seconded

That staff examine the costs of sending a Richmond delegation to Mystic, Connecticut in the Fall of 2017 to view their waterfront development, and report back.

CARRIED

6D.

Feasibility of a Tram in Steveston
(File Ref. No.)

The Chair distributed a copy of a staff report titled “Steveston Interurban Tram Feasibility Study”, dated September 9, 2002 (attached to and forming part of these minutes as Schedule 1).

Discussion ensued regarding (i) the feasibility of installing a tram in Steveston, (ii) the City of Vancouver proposals to install a tram line along False Creek, and (iii) the potential operating costs of a tram in Steveston.

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

It was moved and seconded

That staff investigate the feasibility of a Steveston tram running from:

(1)

the existing tram barn along No. 1 Road and Bayview Street to the Gulf of Georgia Cannery; or

(2)

the existing tram barn along Moncton Street to the Gulf of Georgia Cannery:

and report back.

7.

MANAGER’S REPORT

Garden City Lands Update

Jamie Esko, Manager, Parks Planning, Design and Construction, provided an update to the development of the Garden City Lands, noting that (i) soil placement on-site is ongoing, (ii) work on the trail is nearing completion, and (iii) on-site planting will commence in Fall 2017.

Discussion ensued with regard to utilizing native plant species on-site. Staff noted that a list of the plants can be provided to Council prior planting.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:55 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 Thursday, July 20, 2017.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Councillor Harold Steves
Chair

Evangel Biason
Legislative Services Coordinator