November 3, 2026 - Minutes

Date:

Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Place:

Anderson Room
Richmond City Hall

Present:

Mayor Rob Howard, Chair
Councillor Kenny Chiu (4:03 p.m.)
Councillor Carol Day
Councillor Laura Gillanders
Councillor Andy Hobbs
Councillor Kevin Lai

Councillor Gary Law
Councillor Sheldon Starrett
Councillor Michael Wolfe

Call to Order:

The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:02 p.m.

MINUTES

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on October 19, 2026, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

AGENDA DELETIONS

It was moved and seconded

That Items No. 5 – 10, “Appointment of Members of Council (and their alternates) as the Liaisons to City Advisory Committees and Organizations”, “Appointment of Members of Council as Liaisons to Community Associations”, “Appointment of Members of Council as the Liaisons to various City Boards”, “Appointment of Members of Council as Liaisons to various Societies”, “Appointment of Parcel Tax Roll Review Panel for Local Area Services”, and “Appointment of Acting Mayors from November 2, 2026 to November 8, 2027”, be deferred to the November 16, 2026, Open General Purposes Committee Meeting.

CARRIED

LAW AND COMMUNITY SAFETY DIVISION

1.

Application For a Liquor Primary Liquor Licence # 307706 Structural Change (Capacity Increase) Xtreme Bowling Entertainment Corp., dba: Splitsville Riverport – Operating at 14200 Entertainment Boulevard Unit 150

(File Ref. No. 12-8375-3) (REDMS No. 8526008)

Councillor Starrett declared a conflict of interest due to employment with the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB) and left the meeting (4:03 p.m.)

Councillor Chiu entered the meeting (4:04 p.m.).

In reply to queries from Committee, staff advised that there has not been any reported noise complaints to date and the proposed increased capacity should not change the level of noise that already exists in the surrounding community.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the application from Xtreme Bowling Entertainment Corp. doing business as, Splitsville Riverport, seeking a permanent amendment to Liquor Primary Liquor Licence # 307706; for a Structural Change (Capacity Increase) to 500 persons, currently set at 460 persons, be supported; 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 amendment to the Liquor Primary Liquor Licence as described in Recommendation 1 of this report.

CARRIED

Councillor Starrett returned to the meeting (4:06 p.m.).

PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DIVISION

2.

Update on Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Funding Reductions and Eligibility Changes

(File Ref. No. 07-3300-01) (REDMS No. 8552770)

A brief discussion ensued in regard to increasing support and funding to the City of Richmond Immigrant Mentorship Program.

It was moved and seconded

That a letter be prepared for the Mayor’s signature addressed to senior levels of government, including the Prime Minister of Canada; the Premier of British Columbia; the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship; the Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills; and Richmond’s Members of Parliament and Members of the Legislative Assembly, advocating for the reinstatement of funding for intermediate and advanced English language training and the development of a sustainable funding model that is informed by immigration targets and responds to newcomers’ needs.

CARRIED

PARKS, RECREATION & CULTURE DIVISION

3.

City Signature and Community Events Program 2027

(File Ref. No. 11-7400-01) (REDMS No. 8524208)

In reply to queries from Committee, staff advised that (i) economic data for signature events are collected through a new geofencing program as well as Tourism Richmond’s Destination International Economic Impact calculator, (ii) the Steveston Salmon Festival and the Maritime Festival generate the most revenue, (iii) external sponsorship and school participation fees help fund the Children’s Art Festival, (iv) the City works collaboratively with community partners to organize the Steveston Salmon Festival, and (v) event programming has evolved from major events to community events with all events delivered in partnership with community groups.

Further discussion ensued regarding the proposed Minoru Lakes Festive Lights event and Christmas markets.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the City Signature and Community Events Program 2027, as outlined in Table 1 of the report titled "City Signature and Community Events Program 2027", dated October 22, 2026, from the General Manager, Parks, Recreation and Culture, be approved for the following events and initiatives:

(a)

Children's Arts Festival;

(b)

Richmond Cherry Blossom Festival;

(c)

Doors Open Richmond;

(d)

Community Celebration Grant Program;

(e)

Neighbourhood Block Party Program;

(f)

Steveston Salmon Festival;

(g)

Richmond Maritime Festival; and

(h)

Richmond Farm Fest.

(2)

That the expenditures totaling $1,115,000 for the City Signature and Community Events Program 2027 with funding of $960,000 from the Rate Stabilization Account, $95,000 estimated sponsorship and $60,000 estimated grant revenue be included in the 2027 budget process.

CARRIED

COUNCILLOR LAURA GILLANDERS

4.

Clarifying the City’s Position on Supervised Consumption Sites

(File Ref. No. ) (REDMS No.)

It was moved and seconded

WHEREAS public perception and uncertainty persist regarding whether the City of Richmond may pursue or consider a supervised consumption site in the future;

AND WHEREAS the City of Richmond has previously considered the feasibility of a supervised consumption site and subsequently confirmed that such a site would not proceed;

AND WHEREAS clarity regarding the City's position is important to ensuring that residents have an accurate understanding of this matter;

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the City of Richmond will not pursue, initiate, study, plan for, or advance the establishment of a supervised consumption site within the City of Richmond.

The question on the motion was not called as discussion ensued regarding the City’s stance on not pursuing the supervised consumption site and providing more clarity to Richmond residents.

As a result of the discussion, a motion to table the matter to the next General Purposes Committee meeting to provide a more comprehensive motion as well as opportunities for the public to speak was introduced, but failed to receive a seconder.

Committee spoke to former Mayor Brodie’s letter of February 23, 2024, (attached to and forming part of these minutes as Schedule 1), reiterating that the City is not pursuing a supervised consumption site.

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

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:33 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 Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Mayor Rob Howard
Chair

Andrea Mizuguchi
Legislative Services Associate