February 23, 2021 - Minutes

Date:

Tuesday, February 23, 2021

Place:

Council Chambers
Richmond City Hall

Present:

Councillor Harold Steves, Chair (by teleconference)
Councillor Michael Wolfe (by teleconference)
Councillor Chak Au (by teleconference)
Councillor Bill McNulty (by teleconference)
Councillor Linda McPhail (by teleconference)

Also Present:

Mayor Malcolm Brodie (by teleconference)

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, 2021, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

March 23, 2021, (tentative date) at 4:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers.

COMMUNITY SERVICES DIVISION

1.

2021 Community Mural Program Projects 
(File Ref. No. 11-7000-09-01) (REDMS No. 6602983 v. 2)

Discussion ensued with regarding suggestions that staff review the financial contribution to the mural program to enable it to be increased and extended to private and public areas in the City in the next year.

In reply to queries from the Committee, staff advised that (i) the selection panel only considered pre-existing murals that were located on the exterior of a building and visible to the public, (ii) the allocation of funding from the Federation of Canadian Municipality (FCM) to Lehigh Hanson is consistent with the grant program, (iii) Lehigh Hanson will be responsible for the in-kind costs of maintaining the mural for five years and making two walls available for the mural, and (iv) an open call for applications for the mural program is issued annually.

It was moved and seconded

That the 2021 Community Mural Program projects as presented in the staff report titled “2021 Community Mural Program Projects” dated January 18, 2021, from the Director, Arts, Culture and Heritage Services, be approved and included in the Consolidated 5 Year Financial Plan (2021-2025).

CARRIED

2.

Steveston Community Park Playground Renewal Next Steps 
(File Ref. No. 06-2345-20-STEV2) (REDMS No. 65981954 v. 6)

In reply to queries from the Committee, staff advised that (i) the playground renewal plan was developed following two rounds of community consultation, (ii) Council will be provided with opportunities to provide further comments through the process of detailed design, and (iii) the review and design of future washrooms for the park is included in the scope of the project in light of the selection of the location of the Steveston Community Centre.

In reply to queries from the Committee, Alan Clark, Vice-President, Steveston Community Centre, confirmed the need to include washrooms in Steveston Community Park.

It was moved and seconded

That the Steveston Community Park Playground Renewal Project proceed to detailed design and costing, as detailed in the staff report titled “Steveston Community Park Playground Renewal Next Steps,” dated January 20, 2021, from the Director, Parks Services, and that capital requests for implementation be submitted during the annual capital budget process.

CARRIED

COUNCILLOR HAROLD STEVES

2A.

steveston post office 
(File Ref. No.)

Discussion ensued with regard to the need undertake a public education campaign about the significance of the Steveston Post Office, Great Northern Bank building and Nikkei Museum.

In reply to queries from the Committee, staff advised that (i) external funding will be explored to support the variety of operations at the Steveston Museum, including the Steveston Post Office, when the services to be provided are determined upon the completion of consultation, (ii) a virtual community engagement event on the future of the Steveston Museum is scheduled for March 14, 2021, and (iii) printed copies of the survey are available at the Steveston Post Office for those who are unable to participate in the virtual event.

Linda Barnes, Co-Chair, Steveston Historical Society, commented on (i) partnership with the City and Tourism Richmond in engaging the public to determine the future of the Steveston Museum, (ii) challenges faced by the Steveston Historical Society in operating the Steveston Post Office, (iii) the Steveston Historical Society Board’s preference to focus on the delivery of signature events, and (iv) the current consultation will inform the development of a strategic plan on the future of the Steveston Museum and to support future grant funding requests.

In response to a question from the Committee, Ms. Barnes advised that the Steveston Historical Society would be willing to consider having the City staff operate the Steveston Post Office, similar to a community centre.

Loren Slye, Steveston resident, commented on the need to have the Steveston Post Office and the Great Northern Bank Building to be given official historic designations to ensure their survival.

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

It was moved and seconded

That following completion of the current consultation on the services to be provided at the Steveston Museum, staff investigate:

(1)

amending  the document titled “Steveston Museum, A Vision for Improving the Visitor Experience”, dated September 25, 2020, to include the operation of a Post Office in both Options A and B;

(2)

a $20,000 annual payment to the society by the City if and when Tourism Richmond vacates the premises, plus the additional minimum of $5,000 fee for service for operating the Post Office if needed, as approved in the working agreement dated November 12, 2019;

(3)

a Living Wage to be paid to the postal workers as auxiliary staff, with the added responsibility of monitoring activities in the museum and eliminating the need for additional museum staff;

(4)

the reopening of the upper floor of the Post Office with the installation of a stair lift elevator for seniors and/or a video on the ground floor depicting the upper floor museum display for people unable to use a stair lift;

and, report back.

CARRIED

3.

MANAGER’S REPORT

(i)

Watermania

Staff reported that watermania will be reopened to the general public during spring break 2021.

(ii)

Visual Arts

Staff updated the Committee on (i) an exhibit titled “Inaction” will be on display at the Richmond Art Gallery until April 3, 2021; and (ii) three Richmond artists will be showcased on the pillars of the Aberdeen Canada Line station from the week of March 1,2021 through summer 2021.

(iii)

Erase Bullying Day

Staff reported that February 24, 2021 is Erase Bullying Day in Richmond and will be recognized in a variety of ways with the goal of encouraging kindness and embracing differences.

(iv)

Use of City-Owned Property on Gilbert Road

In response to a request from the Committee, staff undertook to provide Council with information on the use of City-owned property in the vicinity of the south end of Gilbert Road, opposite London Farms.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:47 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, 2021.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Councillor Harold Steves
Chair

Carol Lee
Recording Secretary