October 6, 2025 - Minutes

Date:

Monday, October 6, 2025

Place:

Anderson Room
Richmond City Hall

Present:

Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie, Chair
Councillor Chak Au (by teleconference)
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 September 15, 2025, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

DELEGATION

1.

Dr. Jeff Zabudsky, BCIT President, spoke to his presentation “BCIT and the City of Richmond – Collaborating for a Vibrant and Prosperous Community” (copy on file, City Clerk’s office), and highlighted the following:

§   

BCIT is one of Canada’s largest polytechnics, serving almost 50,000 (full/part time) students per year;

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There are five campuses, offering 300+ programs and a range of credentials from entry level Certificate programs through to Master’s Degrees;

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The Richmond Aerospace Technology Campus (ATC) is one of Canada’s largest post-secondary aerospace trainers, providing a workforce for the thriving air sector;

§   

BCIT is the only post-secondary in North America offering globally recognized accreditation in all modes of transportation: air, sea, road, and rail, and the exclusive provider within BC of Avionics, Aviation Management and Operations, and Gas Turbine Technician programs;

§   

A new five year strategic plan, “Future Ready: Student Success for a Complex World” (copies circulated to Committee and on file, City Clerk’s office), sets out the BCIT Strategic Plan 2025-2030, aligning BCIT’s mission and vision to bring together industry and education for the success of the students, noting that everything done at BCIT is connected to industry, ensuring there is market demand and that there are jobs upon completion of study; and

§   

New to BCIT Richmond campus within the last year is BC’s first-ever BC site for biomanufacturing training, a state-of-the-art centre, in partnership with the government of Canada and BC, a thriving and growing field that the Province is looking to see growth in the sector.

In response to queries from Committee, Dr. Zabudsky noted (i) given what BCIT is and how core it is to the economy of BC, the vast majority of students are from BC, with 10-11% of the total student population being international students, and (ii) on site there are operating engines where students have to maintain them and ensure they are operational.

ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION

2.

Steveston Highway Multi-Use Pathway Project – Next Steps

(File Ref. No. 10-6500-01) (REDMS No. 8160500)

Staff reported the first three phases of the Steveston Highway Multi-Use Pathway (MUP) project is complete, with significant cost savings to bring forward Phase 4 to complete the project goal to the Steveston interchange, to provide a connection to the entertainment district and the future tunnel.

In response to queries from Committee, staff noted (i) there has been some preliminary design work for consideration of the MUP link up with the Steveston interchange, with the route straight along the south side of Steveston Highway considered the preferred option, (ii) the MUP route through the industrial neighbourhood on the south side would cost slightly less but receive considerably less TransLink funding, increasing the City’s cost, and (iii) there are approximately 116 trees along that portion of Steveston Highway of which 34 may be impacted, however there would be sufficient space to add 48 new trees should the 34 trees identified be removed.

Further discussion ensued with respect to the anticipated funding to complete Phase 4 of the MUP project.  Staff noted (i) currently there is funding from TransLink as part of the existing project, with a further application for $2,000,000 dedicated grant funding from TransLink anticipated for 2026, and (ii) should Phase 4 not move ahead, the remaining grant funds from TransLink would be returned.

In response to further queries from Committee, staff noted (i) a final design for the tunnel is not available at this time, but a connection from the tunnel at the east side of the new interchange, which will have bicycle facilities on it, has been designed so far and anticipated to complete by the end of November 2025, (ii) there are future long term plans (five plus years) to consider a Phase 5 to extend further east, (iii) Phase 4 MUP is anticipated to begin following completion of the Steveston interchange; currently in the design phase and will need public consultation, and (iv) it is planned for the lanes to be narrowed, consistent with the current MUP, noting the intent to undertake the project with minimal tree loss.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That Option 1, to amend the scope and budget of the Steveston Multi-Use Pathway Phase3 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.

CARRIED
Opposed:  Cllrs. Day
Heed

The following referral motion was then introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That staff consider the possibility of a multi-use pathway, including road consideration, between the east side of Highway 99 to Riverport on Steveston Highway.

The question on the referral motion was not called as a brief discussion on the merits of the referral motion ensued.

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

FINANCE AND CORPORATE SERVICES DIVISION

3.

2026 Council and Committee Meeting Schedule

(File Ref. No. 01-0105-01) (REDMS No. 8171088)

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

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:01 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, October 6, 2025.

_________________________________

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Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie
Chair

Lorraine Anderson
Legislative Services Associate