November 26, 2019 - Minutes

Date:

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Place:

Anderson Room
Richmond City Hall

Present:

Councillor Harold Steves, Chair
Councillor Michael Wolfe
Councillor Chak Au
Councillor Bill McNulty 
Councillor Linda McPhail

Also Present:

Councillor Alexa Loo 
Councillor Carol Day

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 October 29, 2019, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

December 18, 2019, (tentative date) at 4:00 p.m. in the Anderson Room

DELEGATION

1.

Jim McGrath and Eileen Donovan to presented the petition requesting improved hours of access at Steveston Pool (copy on-file, City Clerk’s Office), and expressed that increased utilization of the Steveston Pool has extensive community support and would be cost-effective as the potential additional revenue would help offset additional staffing costs. Mr. McGrath suggested that the Pool be opened seven days a week starting in May and ending in September and that proposed schedule could accommodate usage by the local swim club and special swim meet events. He distributed a sample resolution presented to the City of Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation to extend the schedule of their outdoor pools (attached to and forming part of these minutes as Schedule 1).

Discussion ensued with regard to (i) the demographics of the users of the pool, (ii) previous proposals to install a roof over the Steveston Pool for all-year use, and (iii) reviewing different pricing structures during off-peak hours.

In reply to queries from Committee regarding alternative outdoor pools in the City, Ms. Donovan noted that the South Arm Pool is a recreational pool that is not suitable for lap swimming. Staff added that site options for the proposed new Steveston Community Centre are currently under review.

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

It was moved and seconded

That staff review extending the Steveston Pool’s schedule from May to September and the budget implications of such an extension and report back to the December 18, 2019 Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Committee meeting.

CARRIED

COMMUNITY SERVICES DIVISION

2.

Steveston Harbour Authority Archway Sign - Request for Funding 
(File Ref. No. 11-7000-01) (REDMS No. 6336689)

Robert Kiesman, Steveston Harbour Authority, expressed that the proposed sign has community support and that its installation can be completed in a cost-effective manner.

It was moved and seconded

That funding of $50,000 from the Council Community Initiative Account to the Steveston Harbour Authority to support the Steveston Harbour Authority Archway Sign, and that the expenditure be included in the Consolidated 5 Year Financial Plan (2020-2024), as outlined in the staff report “Steveston Harbour Authority Archway Sign – Request for Funding” dated November 1, 2019 from the Director, Arts, Culture and Heritage Services.

CARRIED

3.

The Public Tree Management Strategy 2045: A Plan for Managing Richmond’s Public Urban Forest 
(File Ref. No. 10-6550-07) (REDMS No. 6266663)

Staff presented a video on the proposed Public Tree Management Strategy (copy on-file City Clerk’s Office), noting that (i) the proposed Strategy targets planting up to 850 trees annually, (ii) GIS data and data gathered from analyzing the city’s tree canopy will be used to identify areas for planting, and (iii) drought resistant tree species will be examined for new plantings.

Cllr. Loo left the meeting (4:20 p.m.) and did not return.

Discussion ensued with regard to (i) enhancing the city’s natural areas, parks and suburban areas, (ii) identifying potential areas for tree planting along the city’s streets and greenways, (iii) protecting trees during landscaping, (iv) composting fallen leaves, (v) sourcing alternative best practices standards, (vi) options to increase the targets for tree plantings, (vii) encouraging the growth of lower layers of the urban forest canopy, and (viii) timing of tree transplantations during the year.

In reply to queries from Committee, staff noted that the Strategy will be posted on the City’s website and that opportunities for community engagement and awareness will be explored.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the Public Tree Management Strategy 2045, as detailed in the staff report titled “The Public Tree Management Strategy 2045: A Plan for Managing Richmond’s Public Urban Forest,” dated October 31, 2019 from the Director, Parks Services, be endorsed; and

(2)

That the Council Policy for the Public Urban Forest, as detailed in the staff report titled “The Public Tree Management Strategy 2045: A Plan for Managing Richmond’s Public Urban Forest,” dated October 31, 2019 from the Director, Parks Services, be endorsed.

CARRIED

4.

Garden City Lands Update and Site Activation Plan 
(File Ref. No. 06-2345-20-GCIT1) (REDMS No. 6329663)

Discussion ensued with regard to attaining accurate costs estimates for the Garden City Lands soil remediation options and staff noted that further analysis and soil evaluation is recommended.

Cllr. Wolfe left the meeting (5:01 p.m.) and returned (5:02 p.m.).

It was moved and seconded

That the staff report titled “Garden City Lands Update and Site Activation Plan,” dated October 31, 2019, from the Director, Parks Services, be received for information.

CARRIED

Information related to soil remediation on the Garden City Lands was distributed (attached to and forming part of these minutes as Schedule 2).

Discussion then ensued with regard to contaminated soils received from Harvest Power and locating clean soil sources within the city.

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

It was moved and seconded

That Parks staff consider composting and soil remediation for the Garden City Lands at the Garden City Lands, and no compost from other facilities unless guaranteed of organic quality and free of contaminants.

CARRIED

5.

MANAGER’S REPORT

(i)

Dedication Program Renewal Process

Paul Brar, Manager, Parks Programs, updated Committee on the Dedication Program renewal process, noting that some contacts were sent incorrect letters. Mr. Brar added that corrected letters have since been sent to the appropriate recipients.

(ii)

Richmond Sports Council Facility Needs Assessments

Gregg Wheeler, Manager, Sport and Community Events, noted that a memorandum regarding the timeline of the prioritization of the Richmond Sports Council Facility Needs Assessment has been distributed to Council members.

(iii)

Richmond Events

Marie Fenwick, Director, Arts, Culture and Heritage Services, updated Committee on on-going events in the city, including Christmas in the Village in Steveston and the upcoming ArtRich event at the Richmond Art Gallery starting on December 6, 2019.

(iv)

Minoru Centre for Active Living Fitness Centre

Elizabeth Ayers, Director, Recreation  and Sport Services, noted that the Fitness Centre in the Minoru Centre for Active Living will be opening in January 2020.

The Chair advised that Sturgeon Banks Eco Walkway will be considered as Item No. 5A, Maritime Festival Tall Ship Gun Battle as Item No. 5B, and Richmond Sister City Program as Item No. 5C.

5A.

Sturgeon Banks Eco Walkway 
(File Ref. No.)

Discussion ensued with regard to constructing an eco walkway along Sturgeon Banks, and information on the proposed walkway was distributed (attached to and forming part of these minutes as Schedule 3).

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

It was moved and seconded

That the City of Richmond consider building an Eco Walkway out over Sturgeon Banks. A walkway was previously recommended straight out from the West Dyke but the land was crown owned. A smaller walkway was approved in the Richmond Trails Plan in 1979. Richmond now owns the foreshore at Terra Nova.

CARRIED

5B.

Maritime Festival Tall Ship Gun Battle 
(File Ref. No.)

Discussion ensued with regard to the upcoming 2020 Maritime Festival and inviting one tall ship to participate in the gun battle with schooner Providence.

Information on the proposal was distributed (attached to and forming part of these minutes as Schedule 4).

In accordance with Section 100 of the Community Charter, Cllr. McPhail declared to be in a conflict of interest as her husband has an interest in the schooner Providence, and Cllr. McPhail left the meeting – 5:14 p.m.

Discussion then ensued with regard to the potential cost of the proposed tall ship gun battle and in reply to queries from Committee, staff noted that the participating ships have not been confirmed and staff can examine whether the proposed event can be accommodated into the Maritime Festival’s budget.

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

It was moved and seconded

That the City of Richmond consider an annual gun battle between the halibut schooner Providence and a visiting tall ship at the Maritime Festival. A cannon could be purchased and a different ship challenged every year.

CARRIED

Cllr. McPhail returned to the meeting – 5:16 p.m.

5C.

Richmond Sister City Program 
(File Ref. No.)

A proposed resolution on the Richmond Sister City Program was distributed (attached to and forming part of these minutes as Schedule 5).

Discussion ensued with regard to incorporating a climate knowledge exchange into the Richmond Sister City Program, and as a result, the following resolution was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

Whereas the Richmond Sister City program is for Cultural and Sport exchanges, to promote intercultural learning opportunities;

Whereas the City of Richmond has declared a Climate Emergency and is working to achieve carbon reduction in line with the IPCC targets to hold warming to 1.5C;

Whereas the City of Richmond is a climate leader in district energy and other areas;

Whereas there are international cities which are more advanced in achieving carbon reductions in active transportation and other areas;

Therefore be it resolved that the City of Richmond incorporated Climate Knowledge exchange into the program goals for the Richmond Sister City Program, to achieve mutually beneficial opportunities to further reduce carbon emissions and create additional opportunities for citizens to be part of the economic and social transition to a low-carbon society.

The question on the resolution was not called as discussion ensued with regard to exploring expanding the Richmond Sister City Program to include climate-leading cities in Europe.

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

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:21 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, November 26, 2019.

_________________________________

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Councillor Harold Steves
Chair

Evangel Biason
Legislative Services Coordinator