April 25, 2023 - Minutes

Date:

Tuesday, April 25, 2023

Place:

Council Chambers
Richmond City Hall

Present:

Councillor Chak Au, Chair
Councillor Michael Wolfe
Councillor Laura Gillanders
Councillor Andy Hobbs
Councillor Bill McNulty

Also Present:

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 March 28, 2023, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

DELEGATION

1.

Dean Markel, President of Richmond Delta Youth Orchestra, Gordon Smith, President of the Richmond Community Concert Band, and Linda Barnes, Board Chair, Richmond Arts Coalition, spoke on their loss of rehearsal and storage space due to the pending sale of the current property. They referenced their submission (attached to and forming part of these minutes as Schedule 1) and commented on the emerging and immediate need for purpose-built musical arts space in Richmond.

In reply to queries from Committee, the delegation advised that (i) they are looking for interim storage space for musical equipment as well as support for finding rehearsal spaces, (ii) storage space is difficult to find because it needs to be heated, insect and rodent proof, accessible during rehearsals, and of ample size, and (iii) finding appropriate rehearsal space is challenging due to the needs for noise mitigation and acoustic treatment, and the music groups are looking for purpose-built space in the long-term.

Discussion ensued regarding the consideration of solutions for performance and storage locations for non-profit musical arts groups. As a result of the discussion, the following referral motion was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That staff investigate:

(a)

interim support with these immediate and emerging Musical Arts Space Needs;

(b)

launching an External Arts Needs Assessment; and

(c)

long-term vision to build purpose-built space for Music and Performing Art in Richmond; and

(2)

That staff consult with Richmond School District No. 38 to explore opportunities to utilize any potential space;

and report back.

CARRIED

In reply to queries from Committee, staff advised that (i) the sports facility needs assessment is expected to come forward in the third quarter, (ii) staff are not aware of specific requests for outdoor amphitheatre space, and (iii) a memorandum advising the nature of other groups being displaced by the closure and sale of Brighouse United Church can be provided to Committee.

COMMUNITY SERVICES DIVISION

2.

MUSEUM AND HERITAGE SERVICES YEAR IN REVIEW 2022
(File Ref. No. 11-7141-01) (REDMS No. 7181796)

Staff presented the Museum and Heritage Services Year in Review 2022 video (copy on-file, City Clerk’s Office).

In reply to queries from Committee, staff advised that (i) ten heritage sites were lost due to demolition, 8 of which were privately-owned, (ii) with completion of the heritage inventory update, all sites are flagged for City planning staff, (iii) the 2022 review and records update of indigenous belongings enables easier access for First Nations wishing to support future repatriation efforts, (iv) the Richmond Museum plans to continue offering take-home activity kits, and (v) visitation rates overall are approximately 40% lower than 2019 statistics, and vary depending on the site location or event.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the Museum and Heritage Services Year in Review 2022, as presented in the staff report titled “Museum and Heritage Services Year in Review 2022,” dated March 20, 2023, from the Director, Arts, Culture and Heritage Services, be received for information; and

(2)

That the Museum and Heritage Services Year in Review 2022 be circulated to Community Partners and Funders for their information.

CARRIED

3.

2023 NEIGHBOURHOOD CELEBRATION GRANTS ALLOCATION
(File Ref. No. 03-1085-05) (REDMS No. 7186538)

In reply to queries from Committee, staff advised that (i) applicants that did not meet the criteria have been directed to an alternate funding source and
(ii) in 2022, 61 out of 105 applicants met the eligibility criteria, and in 2023, 67 out of 76 applicants met the eligibility criteria, with 33 applicants returning from last year.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the Neighbourhood Celebration Grants be awarded for the recommended amount of $78,983.70 as identified in Attachment 2 of the staff report titled, “2023 Neighbourhood Celebration Grants Allocation,” dated March 24, 2023, from the Director, Arts, Culture and Heritage Services; and

(2)

That the grant funds be disbursed accordingly.

CARRIED

4.

LANSDOWNE MAJOR PARK AND OPEN SPACE GUIDING PRINCIPLES AND NEXT STEPS
(File Ref. No. 06-2345-20-LSCP1) (REDMS No. 7119072)

Staff highlighted that the report presents the guiding principles of the Lansdowne Major Park and Open Space development, currently in phase 1 of 3 of the master plan process.

In reply to queries from Committee, staff advised that (i) a staff workshop took place during the first phase of the project, (ii) the proposed layout and size of the open space complies with the Official Community Plan (OCP)/City Centre Area Plan (CCAP) Amendment and is consistent with the City’s Development Cost Charges (DCC) bylaw, (iii) the final reading of the OCP Amendment related to the Lansdowne land use plan is forthcoming, (iv) there are opportunities for refinement of site components through the rezoning process of individual parcels, which will require Council consideration,       (v) details on amenities, programming, retention of trees, and landscaping have yet to be determined and the final master concept plan would be brought forward to Council for consideration, with opportunities for additional input, (vi) input regarding regeneration in relation to ecological restoration was incorporated into the guiding principles, (vii) the OCP Amendment related to the Lansdowne land use plan establishes the broad framework for redevelopment of the site and the road pattern is consistent with the City Centre transportation plan and the existing CCAP, and detailed design will be further refined through individual rezoning applications, (viii) the parking calculations are projections based on land uses and building forms studied to develop the master plan, and includes parking estimates required for the continued interim operations of the mall, (ix) the OCP Amendment envisions approximately 3.8 million square feet of residential development, with an estimate of 10,000 residents, and (x) as part of the OCP Amendment, staff have had discussions with Richmond School District No. 38 in regards to potential school sites in the area.

Evan Dunfee, Richmond resident, spoke on the future vision of Richmond city centre, including incorporating various modes of transportation, the desire to provide more space to people, and prioritizing a pedestrian-friendly city.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the Lansdowne Major Park and Open Space Guiding Principles as outlined in the staff report titled “Lansdowne Major Park and Open Space Guiding Principles and Next Steps,” dated March 31, 2023, from the Director, Parks Services, be endorsed;

(2)

That the Lansdowne Major Park and Open Space Master Plan Process proceed to Phase 2 – development of master plan concept options as outlined in the staff report titled “Lansdowne Major Park and Open Space Guiding Principles and Next Steps,” dated March 31, 2023, from the Director, Parks Services; and

(3)

That prior to implementing Phase 2, staff conduct a workshop with Council members.

CARRIED

5.

MANAGER’S REPORT

(i)

Earth Week Celebrations

Staff briefed Committee on the 2023 Earth Week activities, including over 24 programs such as invasive plant pulls and tree planting, highlighting the planting of the first mini forest on municipal property in western Canada.

In response to queries from Committee, staff noted that (i) it is standard protocol for bird surveys to be completed prior to any work in parks during nesting season, (ii) planted plants include species that are visited by any of the 50 or more native bumblebees in BC, (iii) the project area was cleared of blackberry and the roots were removed to the extent that the group was able to manage, and (iv) the invasive blackberry removal was primarily focused at Terra Nova Park.

(ii)

Richmond Museum Updates

Staff noted that the Richmond Museum is organizing the Richmond Regional Heritage Fair, an annual showcase of history project displays created by local elementary and secondary students, taking place on Friday, May 12, 2023 at the Richmond Cultural Centre. Staff also noted that the Richmond Museum will be supporting the Steveston Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre’s installation of a new display about Steveston Nikkei history entitled ‘Contributing to a Diverse and Multicultural Canada’, which will be installed in the City Hall Galleria next week in honour of Asian Heritage Month.

In response to a query from Committee, staff noted that planning is underway for the return of the Steveston Salmon Festival parade on July 1, 2023.

(iii)

BC Youth Week

Staff highlighted that the City has multiple activities planned to celebrate BC Youth Week, a provincial celebration of youth held annually during the first week of May, including a scavenger hunt, t-shirt design contest, movie night, and the U-ROC awards ceremony on Thursday, May 4.

(iv)

Garry Point Park Concession Services

In response to a query from Committee, staff noted that details surrounding the new vendor at Garry Point Park Concession are being finalized and a public announcement is forthcoming.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:46 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 25, 2023.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Councillor Chak Au
Chair

Shannon Unrau
Legislative Services Associate