October 14, 2025 - Minutes

Place:

Council Chambers
Richmond City Hall

Present:

Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie
Councillor Chak Au
Councillor Carol Day
Councillor Laura Gillanders
Councillor Kash Heed
Councillor Andy Hobbs
Councillor Alexa Loo
Councillor Bill McNulty
Councillor Michael Wolfe

Corporate Officer – Claudia Jesson

Call to Order:

Mayor Brodie called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

RES NO.

ITEM

MINUTES

R25/17-1

1.

It was moved and seconded

That:

(1)

the minutes of the Regular Council meeting held on September 22, 2025, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

R25/17-2

2.

It was moved and seconded

That Council resolve into Committee of the Whole to hear delegations on agenda items (7:01 p.m.).

CARRIED

3.

Delegations from the floor on Agenda items

Item No. 15 – Application by Sanstor Farms Ltd. For an Agricultural Land Reserve Non- Farm Use (Sand Storage And Truck Parking) at 14671 Williams Road

Brian French, Agrologist and Bruce Mathers, owner, Sanstor Farms spoke to Sanstor Farms business operations, and the limitations they have faced farming their site. They noted that their commercial truck parking proposal is in response to Sanstor Farm’s understanding that there is a lack of legal truck parking in Richmond.

In response to queries from Council, the delegation noted that (i) they have plans to address the sulfur and salt content in the soil at the reclamation phase, (ii) the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) has the ability to approve all or part of the application, and (iii) they have not had any communication with Vancouver Fraser Port Authority with respect to the application.

R25/17-3

4.

It was moved and seconded

That Committee rise and report (7:12 p.m.).

CARRIED

CONSENT AGENDA

R25/17-4

5.

It was moved and seconded

That Items No. 6 through No. 12 be adopted by general consent.

CARRIED

6.

COMMITTEE MINUTES

That the minutes of:

(1)

the  Finance Committee meeting held on October 6, 2025;

(2)

the General Purposes Committee meeting held on October 6, 2025; and

(3)

the Planning Committee meeting held on October 7, 2025;

be received for information.

ADOPTED ON CONSENT

7.

Amendments to the Consolidated 5 Year Financial Plan (2025-2029) Bylaw No. 10622

(File Ref. No. 2-8060-20-010709) (REDMS No. 8091284, 8140620, 8091340 )

That the Consolidated 5 Year Financial Plan (2025-2029) Bylaw No. 10622, Amendment Bylaw No. 10709, which incorporates and puts into effect the changes as outlined in the staff report titled “Amendments to the Consolidated 5 Year Financial Plan (2025-2029) Bylaw No. 10622” dated September 23, 2025, from the General Manager, Finance and Corporate Services, be introduced and given first, second and third readings.

ADOPTED ON CONSENT

8.

Consolidated Fees Bylaw No. 8636, Amendment Bylaw No. 10702

(File Ref. No. 12-8060-20-010702) (REDMS No. 8132107, 8133239)

That the Consolidated Fees Bylaw No. 8636, Amendment Bylaw No. 10702 be introduced and given first, second and third readings.

ADOPTED ON CONSENT

9.

Permissive Property Tax Exemption (2026) Bylaw No. 10670

(File Ref. No. 12-8060-20-010670) (REDMS No. 8017839, 8017845)

That Permissive Property Tax Exemption (2026) Bylaw No. 10670 be introduced and given first, second and third readings.

ADOPTED ON CONSENT

10.

Referral Response – Finance and Audit Committee

(File Ref. No. 01-0107-12-01; 01-0107-00) (REDMS No. 8151003, 8108685)

That the amended Terms of Reference for the Finance and Audit Committee as outlined in the report dated September 19, 2025, titled “Referral Response – Finance and Audit Committee,” from the Director, City Clerk’s Office, be approved.

ADOPTED ON CONSENT

11.

Appointment of Approving Officer

(File Ref. No. 01-0172-02) (REDMS No. 8140014)

That Chris Bishop, Manager, Development – East, be appointed as an Approving Officer in accordance with Section 77 of the Land Title Act.

ADOPTED ON CONSENT

12.

Housing Agreement Amendment Application for 7811 Alderbridge Way

(File Ref. No. 08-4057-05; 12-8060-20-010645) (REDMS No. 8159105, 8015935, 8017830)

That Housing Agreement (7811 Alderbridge Way) Bylaw No.10090, Amendment Bylaw No. 10645 be introduced and given first, second, and third readings.

ADOPTED ON CONSENT

NON-CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS

GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE

Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie, Chair

13.

Steveston Highway Multi-Use Pathway Project – Next Steps

(File Ref. No. 10-6500-01; 10-6340-20-P.2020CR00107) (REDMS No. 8160500)

R25/17-5

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That Option 1, to amend the scope and budget of the Steveston Multi-Use Pathway Phase 3 project to include construction of Phase 4 with no additional City funding, as described in the staff report titled “Steveston Highway Multi-Use Pathway Project – Next Steps”, dated September 23, 2025, from the Director, Transportation, be approved;

(2)

That a submission to TransLink for funding as part of the 2026 Cost-Share Program for Steveston Multi-Use Pathway – Phase 3 and Phase 4 be endorsed; and

(3)

That the Consolidated 5 Year Financial Plan (2025-2029) be amended accordingly.

The question on Resolution No. R25/17-5 was not called as discussion ensued with respect to (i) the TransLink grant funding and the total funding allocated for Phases 1, 2 and 3, (ii) the benefits of connecting Shell Road to the Steveston Interchange through Phase 4 of the project, and closing the existing gap which will complete east-west connectivity along Steveston Highway and facilitate connection to the future tunnel crossing, and (iii) connecting users to the Ironwood Plaza commercial centre and the Riverport Entertainment District through existing on-street bicycle lanes on Steveston Highway east of Highway 99.

In response to queries from Council, staff noted that (i) Ministry of Transportation and Transit (MOTT) is completing all work on the Steveston Interchange program with the Multi- Use Pathway (MUP) in mind, including bike lanes, sidewalks, and overpass connections that support the MUP integration, (ii) it is planned for the lanes to be narrowed, consistent with the current MUP, and (vi) construction for Phase 4 will not begin until the Steveston Interchange project is complete at the end of November.

The question on Resolution No. R25/17-5 was then called it was CARRIED with Cllrs. Day and Heed opposed.

14.

2026 Council and Committee Meeting Schedule

(File Ref. No. 01-0105-01) (REDMS No. 8171088, 8108685, 8151003)

R25/17-6

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the 2026 Council and Committee meeting schedule, as outlined in Attachment 2 of the staff report dated September 19, 2025, from the Director, City Clerk’s Office, be approved; and

(2)

That the Council Procedure Bylaw No. 7560 be varied to allow for the following revisions as detailed in the report titled “2026 Council and Committee Meeting Schedule”, dated September 19, 2025, from the Director, City Clerk’s Office, be approved:

(a)

That the Regular Council meetings (open and closed) of August 12 and August 26, 2026 be cancelled; and

(b)

That the August 18, 2026 Public Hearing be rescheduled to September 8, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Richmond City Hall.

CARRIED

Opposed: Cllr. Day

PLANNING COMMITTEE

Councillor Bill McNulty, Chair

15.

Application by Sanstor Farms Ltd. for an Agricultural Land Reserve Non- Farm Use (Sand Storage and Truck Parking) at 14671 Williams Road

(File Ref. No. AG 25-019652) (REDMS No. 8166569, 8172996)

R25/17-7

It was moved and seconded

That the Application by Sanstor Farms Ltd. for an Agricultural Land Reserve Non-Farm Use application for the storage of sand and commercial vehicle truck parking as presented to the Planning Committee be forwarded to the Agricultural Land Commission.

The question on Resolution No. R25/17-7 was not called as in response to a query from Council, staff noted that should Council endorse the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) Non-Farm Use application, it will be forwarded to the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) for consideration. Upon ALC approval, a rezoning application and Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) Development Permit application would be required to be submitted to the City.

Further discussion ensued with respect to (i) ALC’s ability to approve both or either component of the application, impose conditions, and choose to split the application, whether it’s submitted as a comprehensive application or not, (ii) the need for commercial truck parking, (iii) splitting the proposal into two separate components, (iv) improving irrigation systems for agricultural land, (v) concerns that Triangle Road and Williams Road lack the infrastructure to support increased commercial vehicle traffic, (vi) the proposed non-farm use application’s inconsistency with City land use policies for Official Community Plan (OCP) designated Agricultural areas within the ALR, (vii)  reclamation of the land after 25 years to a farmable condition, and (viii) concerns with the sand component of the application not being approved by the ALC if submitted with the commercial truck parking component.

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

R25/17-8

It was moved and seconded

That the motion be amended to:

That the Application by Sanstor Farms Ltd. for an Agricultural Land Reserve Non-Farm Use application for the storage of sand as presented to the Planning Committee be forwarded to the Agricultural Land Commission

DEFEATED

OPPOSED: Mayor Brodie

Cllrs. Au

Heed

Hobbs

Loo

McNulty

The question on resolution R25/17-7 was then called and CARRIED with Cllrs. Day, Gillanders and Wolfe opposed.

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Mayor Brodie advised that:

The name “Minns Road” has been selected for the proposed new road in the Oval Village area; and

The October 20, 2025 Public Hearing has been cancelled. The next scheduled Public Hearing will be Monday, November 17, 2025.

BYLAWS FOR ADOPTION

R25/17-9

It was moved and seconded

That the following bylaws be adopted:

Richmond Zoning Bylaw No. 8500, Amendment Bylaw Bylaw No. 10470;

Wharves Regulation Bylaw, Bylaw No. 10182, Amendment Bylaw No. 10698; and

Consolidated Fees Bylaw No. 8636, Amendment Bylaw No. 10699

CARRIED

DEVELOPMENT PERMIT PANEL

R25/17-10

16.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the  Chair’s report for the Development Permit Panel meeting held on October 9, 2024, be received for information; and

(2)

That the recommendation of the Panel to authorize the issuance of Development Permit (DP 23-029476) for the properties at 5800, 5840, 5860 Granville Avenue, be endorsed, and the Permit so issued.

CARRIED

PUBLIC DELEGATIONS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS

R25/17-11

17.

It was moved and seconded

That Council resolve into Committee of the Whole to hear delegations on non‑agenda items (8:17 p.m.).

CARRIED

(1)

Mary-Ann Isinger, Richmond resident spoke to her and her neighbors concerns with the lack of maintenance and upkeep of City owned trees on Fairfax Crescent and Seafair Drive, highlighting the issues of fallen debris and branches, property damage and a general decline of neighborhood aesthetic from lack of upkeep.  She proposed that the city undertake a 3-5 year maintenance program and that a City arborist come out on an annual basis to maintain the trees.

Discussion ensued with respect to referring the presentation to staff for further review.  As a result of the discussion, the following referral motion was introduced:

R25/17-12

It was moved and seconded

That the presentation by Mary-Ann Isinger with respect to maintenance and upkeep of City owned trees on Fairfax Crescent and Seafair Drive be referred to staff to investigate and report back.

Discussion ensued with respect to (i) the City’s tree strategies, (ii) safety concerns caused by lack of upkeep, and (iii) staff communications with the resident.

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

(2)

Jerome Dickey, Richmond resident, spoke to his submission with respect to low voter turnout and improving democratic engagement. (copy on file, City Clerk’s Office)

Discussion ensued with respect to referring the presentation to staff for further review.  As a result of the discussion, the following referral motion was introduced:

R25/17-13

It was moved and seconded

That the submission including a cost estimate for the proposed survey from Jerome Dickey be referred to staff to examine and report back.

DEFEATED

Opposed: Mayor Brodie

Cllrs. Au

Heed

Hobbs

Loo

McNulty

R25/17-14

18.

It was moved and seconded

That Committee rise and report (8:41 p.m.).

CARRIED

ADJOURNMENT

R25/17-15

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (8:42 p.m.).

CARRIED

Certified a true and correct copy of the Minutes of the Regular meeting of the Council of the City of Richmond held on Tuesday, October 14, 2025.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Mayor (Malcolm D. Brodie)

Corporate Officer (Claudia Jesson)