March 3, 2025 - Minutes

Date:

Monday, March 3, 2025

Place:

Anderson Room
Richmond City Hall

Present:

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

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 General Purposes Committee held on February 18, 2025, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

PRESENTATION

1.

Barbara Tomasic, Executive Artistic Director, and Jane Fernyhough, Board Chair, Gateway Theatre, presented their annual report with the aid of a PowerPoint presentation (copy on file, City Clerk’s office) highlighting the following information:

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In 2024, the Lunar New Year was celebrated with a sold out performance of the Flame, of a story telling series;

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On Family Day, Gateway Theatre presented Division Infinity Saves the World, a children’s show in collaboration with the Richmond Children’s Festival;

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2024/2025 Season opened in July with a Pride story telling event and continued with a celebration of the mid autumn festival in September with a sold out concert in Minoru Park;

§   

Gateway Theatre’s holiday musical Oliver received Ovation Awards for Best Director, Set Design, and Outstanding Performances;

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The Gateway Theatre Academy delivered more then 562 hours of theatre education to 259 students;

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Community rentals is thriving and included 45 rental performances;

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To attract younger ticket buyers and families Gateway is offering 2 for 1 Thursdays and Pay What You Will on preview night, where patrons pay what they can;

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Gateway Theatre has applied for a Canada Cultural Spaces Fund Grant, which would be used to fund up to 40 percent of the cost of their technical upgrades; and

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On Saturday March 8, 2025, Gateway Theatre is hosting their 40^th Anniversary Gala, Ruby Reflections and an Online Auction.  More information can be found at www.gatewaytheatre.com.

LAW AND COMMUNITY SAFETY DIVISION

2.

Application For A New Liquor Primary Liquor Licence - Spark Karaoke Ltd - 8291 Alexandra Rd Unit 155

(File Ref. No. 12-8275-30-001) (REDMS No. 7934593)

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the application from Sparke Karaoke Ltd., for a new Liquor Primary Liquor Licence seeking the following capacity, hours of liquor sales, and endorsement terms for a new Karaoke Lounge at the premises located at 8291 Alexandra Road Unit 155, with liquor service, be supported:

(a)

A new Liquor Primary Liquor Licence with total person capacity of 150 occupants;

(b)

Proposed hours of liquor sales from Monday to Sunday, from 9:00 AM to 2:00 AM; and

A Family Foodservice Endorsement to allow minors when accompanied by a parent/guardian until 10 PM, where the service of food will be served from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM; and

(2)

That a letter be sent to the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch, which includes the information as set out in Attachment 1 to this report, advising that Council recommends the approval of the liquor licence.

CARRIED

DEPUTY CAO’S OFFICE

3.

Sewer Heat Recovery Central Energy Plant - Concept Design

(File Ref. No. 01-0060-20-LIEC1) (REDMS No. 7827724)

In response to queries from Committee, staff advised that (i) the Plant will occupy approximately 5 percent of the future Lulu Island Park, (ii) staff will provide Council with an updated rendering of  Attachment 3 -  Sewer Heat Recovery Central Energy Plant- Renders (Future Vision), (iii) the Plant will interconnect to other neighborhood sections in the City Centre area such as the Aberdeen neighborhood and portions of the Capstan neighborhood, (iv) this system has been proven to be successful technology in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, (v) the back up technology for the system will be a combination of natural gas and electric boilers, (vi) a $6.2 Million CleanBC Communities Fund grant towards the Sewer Heat Recovery Plant is fully executed, and Metro Vancouver has also authorized up to $20 Million in funding towards the project, and (vii) there are plans for driveway access for vehicles to pull up in front of the facility, specific details will be refined during the detailed design stage.

It was moved and seconded

That, as presented in the staff report titled “Sewer Heat Recovery Central Energy Plant – Concept Design”, dated January 18, 2025:

(1)

The concept design for the Sewer Heat Recovery Central Energy Plant be approved; and

(2)

The Sewer Heat Recovery Central Energy Plant project to be referred to the Major Projects Oversight Committee.

CARRIED

PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DIVISION

4.

Homelessness Strategy 2019–2029: 2024 Update

(File Ref. No. 08-4057-11-03) (REDMS No. 7937840)

Discussion ensued with respect to (i) the inclusion of all stakeholders in discussions regarding the homelessness strategy, (ii) second stage housing, (iii) pathway out of supportive housing, (iv) establishment of a community health clinic, (v) challenges with the housing continuum with regards to individuals transitioning through various stages of independent housing, (vi) prevention of pathways into homelessness, (vii) targeted housing needs, (viii) progress reporting, (ix) reimagining the strategy and updating with a new date and name, and (x) the benefits of stakeholder coordination.

In response to queries from Committee, staff advised that (i) the Homelessness Strategy was developed in collaboration with a range of individuals in the community, including people with lived experience, and the service providers that were in place at the time, (ii) the temporary winter shelters have provided overnight shelter to an average of 35 individuals since early November 2024, (iii) the Integrated Outreach Team is comprised of representation from the City of Richmond, Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reductions, Community Integration Specialists, Vancouver Coastal Health, and the Operators of the drop-in centre and the temporary winter shelters, (iv) between May and December 2024, the Integrated Outreach Team helped 77 individuals exit from unsheltered homelessness including 51 percent who moved into housing or supportive housing, 19 percent who entered treatment or detox and 10 percent who left Richmond, and by December 2024, 51 percent of the individuals involved with the team did have an identified housing plan they were working towards, (v) there is no detox program in Richmond, (vi) homelessness is a very complex issue with different mandates and different levels of responsibility which falls under many Ministerial levels, at the Municipal level, staff work with counterparts to address problems in Richmond, (vii) there are a wide range of people and services providing support in Richmond to people facing homelessness, such as, food security programs, a range of outreach from faith based organizations, government funded organizations and the City Outreach team, and (viii) the Metro Vancouver Special Issues Sub Committee shares information with regards to homelessness initiatives across all the municipalities.

Staff will provide Council with a memorandum with respect to how the City is doing in terms of advocacy, funding and providing services.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the Homelessness Strategy 2019–2029: 2024 Update, as outlined in the staff report titled “Homelessness Strategy 2019–2029: 2024 Update”, dated February 5, 2025, from the Director, Community Social Development, be received for information; and

(2)

That the Homelessness Strategy 2019–2029: 2024 Update be distributed to key community partners, including Vancouver Coastal Health, local Members of Parliament, local Members of the Legislative Assembly, including the Minister of Health, the Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction and the Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs, and posted on the City’s website; and

(3)

That the matter be referred to staff to consult with City Council,  public stakeholders and facility users regarding:

(a)

further strategies to address the issues arising out of those who are unhoused; and,

(b)

further support services needed for those affected, such as detox facilities or community health clinics.

CARRIED

5.

Bill 16 – Request to Extend June 30, 2025 Deadline to Existing Bonus Density Zones

(File Ref. No. 08-4000-01) (REDMS No. 7962815)

It was moved and seconded

That a letter be sent to the Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs requesting an extension to Provincial deadlines to allow the continuation of the use of existing density bonusing zones until December 31, 2026, with copies of this letter sent to Richmond Members of the Legislative Assembly.

CARRIED

6.

.Referral Motion – Proposed policy on the routine release of Closed Council resolutions.
(File Ref. No.) (REDMS No.)

Discussion ensued with respect to (i) receiving quarterly reports of resolutions from past closed meetings that can be released to the public, and (ii) more comprehensive closed minutes.

It was moved and seconded

That staff be directed to amend the relevant policies to provide for the periodic/routine release of the Closed Council information contemplated by the policies.

The question on the motion was not called as further discussion ensued with respect to (i) new policy implementation timeline, (ii) accountability and transparency, (iii) embedding practices in the current policies that take a systemic approach to how information is released, and (iv) disclosure of closed matters.

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

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:49 p.m.).

CARRIED

Certified a true and correct copy of the Minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee of the Council of the City of Richmond held on Monday, March 3, 2025.

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Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie
Chair

Raman Grewal
Legislative Services Associate