COUNCIL IN COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

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March 11, 2013 Committee of the Whole Minutes Page 1 Doc #393830

COUNCIL IN COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

March 11, 2013 3:00 p.m.

Council Chamber, City Hall

MINUTES

PRESENT:

Acting Mayor Jaimie McEvoy Councillor Jonathan Coté Councillor Bill Harper Councillor Chuck Puchmayr Councillor Lorrie Williams

REGRETS:

Mayor Wayne Wright Councillor Betty McIntosh

STAFF:

Mr. G. Dean Gibson - Director of Parks, Culture and Recreation

Mr. Gary Holowatiuk - Acting City Administrator/Director of Finance & Information Technology

Mr. Jim Lowrie - Director of Engineering Services Ms. Lisa Spitale - Director of Development Services

Ms. Jan Gibson - Acting Corporate Officer/Director of Legislative Services Ms. Jennifer Janzen - Committee Clerk

The meeting was called to order at 3:10 pm.

ADDITIONS / DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA

MOVED and SECONDED THAT the agenda be amended by:

• Adding new item 16 – Correspondence

o Letter dated February 28, 2013 from the Downtown New Westminster Business Improvement Association regarding the Appointment of a City Representative to the Downtown New West BIA Board

• Adding new item 17 - Request by Onni Group Regarding Waiver of Fees for the Development of Rental Housing at Parcel O

• Adding new item 18 - Recommendation to Council from the Arts Commission

• Adding new item 19 - Fraserside Community Services Society “Access to Recreation” Grant

CARRIED.

All members of Council present voted in favour of the motion.

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March 11, 2013 Committee of the Whole Minutes - Draft Page 2 Doc #393830

The Consent Agenda - Council members may adopt in one motion all recommendations appearing on the Consent Agenda or, prior to the vote, request an item be removed from the Consent Agenda for debate or discussion, voting in opposition to a recommendation, or declaring a conflict of interest with an item.

MOVED and SECONDED

THAT items 9 and 10 be removed from the Consent Agenda.

CARRIED.

THAT the remaining Consent Agenda items be approved.

CARRIED.

ADOPTION OF MINUTES

1. Motion to receive and adopt the minutes of Committee of the Whole meeting held January 28, 2013.

THAT the January 28, 2013 Committee of the Whole minutes be adopted.

CARRIED.

2. Motion to receive and adopt the minutes of Committee of the Whole meeting held February 4, 2013.

THAT the February 4, 2013 Committee of the Whole minutes be adopted.

CARRIED.

PRESENTATIONS 3. No items.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS 4. No items.

REPORTS FOR ACTION

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General Manager, Electric Utility Commission

5. 2013/ 2014 Electrical Utility Rates (Bylaw No. 7589, 2013)

Rod Carle, General Manager of the Electric Utility, introduced the proposed changes in Bylaw No. 7589, 2013 and notified Council that these rate changes are consistent with the rate increase approved by BC Hydro in July of 2012.

THAT electrical utility rates be increased by 1.44%, effective April 1, 2013;

THAT the BC Hydro rate rider remain unchanged at 5.00%, effective April 1, 2013; and

THAT the attached Electrical Utility Amendment Bylaw No. 7589, 2013 be given three readings (Attachment A).

CARRIED.

CONSENT AGENDA

Director of Development Services

6. 421 Oak Street

a) Advisory Planning Commission Report “421 Oak Street – Draft Results of February 19, 2013 Meeting”

THAT Council receive the recommendation of the Advisory Planning Commission that the application for 421 Oak Street to enter into a Heritage Revitalization Agreement (HRA) be approved.

CARRIED.

b) Staff Report “421 Oak Street – Heritage Revitalization Agreement Bylaw No.

7578, 2013 and Heritage Designation Bylaw No. 7577, 2013 - First and Second Readings and Request for Attendance at the April 2013 Public Hearing”(Bylaw No. 7578, 2013)

THAT Council refer Heritage Revitalization Agreement Bylaw No.7578, 2013 and Heritage Designation Bylaw No. 7577, 2013 for 421 Oak Street to Regular Council for First and Second Readings; and

THAT the Bylaws be placed on the agenda of the April 2013 Public Hearing.

CARRIED.

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7. Development Permit Application for Royal City Center at 610 Sixth Street

THAT the report dated March 11, 2013 from the Director of Development Services be received for information.

CARRIED.

8. Initiation of OCP Update Process

THAT Council direct staff to initiate the preparation of an interim Official Community Plan Regional Context Statement for submission to the Metro Vancouver Board of Directors for approval in fall 2013.

CARRIED.

11. Rezoning Application for 307 Boyne Street – Preliminary Report

THAT the report dated March 11, 2013 from the Director of Development Services be received for information.

CARRIED.

12. Rezoning and Special Development Permit for 314 Agnes Street Multiple Unit Residential Development – Preliminary Report

THAT Council receive the report dated March 11, 2013 from the Director of Development Services for information.

CARRIED.

13. 235 Durham Street – Proposed Heritage Revitalization Agreement - Preliminary Report

THAT Council direct staff to begin the public consultation component for a proposed Heritage Revitalization Agreement for 235 Durham Street.

CARRIED.

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Director of Engineering

14. 2013 Spring Freshet and Snow Pack Level

THAT the report dated March 11, 2013 from the Director of Engineering Services be received for information.

CARRIED.

ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA

9. Heritage Conservation Area Study as Part of Official Community Plan Review Process

Council spoke to the ability of Council to intervene in requests made for the demolition of a home in a Heritage Conservation Area. Ms. Julie Schueck, Heritage Planner, clarified that a Heritage Conservation Area has defined boundaries and can protect all properties within the boundaries or can list those that are protected. Protection within the conservation area results in heritage designation, and Council will have the ability to refuse demolition or changes to properties.

Council spoke to the need to preserve heritage in the city and how to balance that need with homeowner rights, and the ability to establish a Heritage Conservation Area.

THAT Council direct staff to carry out the “Next Steps” as identified in this report and conduct a study of Heritage Conservation Areas as per the attached maps for the following areas:

1) Bent Court (Uptown)

2) Ash Street/Gloucester (Brow of the Hill) 3) Wood Street (Queensborough)

4) Manitoba/Peele Street (Queen’s Park)

CARRIED.

Councillor Chuck Puchmayr voted in opposition.

10. Development Permit DPD00139 for 200 Royal Avenue, St. Mary’s Elementary School Site – Update

Council advised that they are looking forward to this project moving into the construction phase.

Council discussed the aesthetics of the Agnes Street frontage fencing and suggested that a wall with fencing is not the view they would prefer to see in front of the school. Council suggested that perhaps funds set aside for public art could be used to improve the look of the fence area.

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Council also expressed concern regarding the connectivity and pathways of the site.

Council recognized that this site is restricted by size and use and discussed the

importance of connectivity and pathways on the site. Council also spoke to the amount of work and the consensus reached by the New Westminster Schools Project Joint Task Force, and understand that a lot of factor have contributed to the final design, including:

• Availability of funding

• Site constraints (topography and size).

Council was also reminded that many of the City’s advisory committees were consulted prior to the decisions being made by the Joint Task Force.

THAT Council endorse the recommendations for the New Westminster Schools Project Joint Task Force as noted in this report; and

THAT Council direct staff to report back on outstanding items as noted in this report;

and

THAT Council refer the proposed design of the Agnes Street frontage to the Public Art Advisory Committee for discussion regarding the aesthetics of the fencing with the consideration of commemorating the site’s heritage (e.g. St. Mary’s Hospital) through public art.

CARRIED.

THAT Council refer the issues of pathways and connectivity of the site to the ACTBiPed Committee and John Robson Elementary School Parent Advisory Council for more discussion.

CARRIED.

Councillor Chuck Puchmayr voted in opposition.

CORRESPONDENCE

16. Letter dated February 28, 2013 from the Downtown New Westminster Business Improvement Association regarding the Appointment of a City Representative to the Downtown New West BIA Board

Councillor Bill Harper was nominated to be the City’s representative on the Downtown New Westminster BIA Board, as involvement in Economic Development initiatives will be an asset to the Business Improvement Association. Councillor Jonathan Coté indicated his interest in being considered, as he is a Downtown resident.

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THAT Councillor Bill Harper be appointed to the Downtown New Westminster BIA Board as the City’s Representative and Councillor Jonathan Coté be appointed as the alternate.

CARRIED.

NEW BUSINESS

17. Request by Onni Group Regarding Waiver of Fees for the Development of Rental Housing at Parcel O

Beverly Grieve, Manager of Planning, introduced the report to Council, and informed members that this report is in response to a letter from Onni Group. Ms. Grieve stated that the proposal requests the rate changes be added to the fee schedule.

Council spoke to the proposal stating that this is a progressive step for the City to take, in support of affordable housing.

THAT Council direct staff to reduce Building Permit fees for Parcel O non-market and rental housing development by 50%; and

THAT Council direct staff to waive the legal costs associated with the preparation and registration of Housing Agreements for the Parcel O non-market and rental housing development; and

THAT Council direct staff to initiate the preparation of the pertinent bylaw amendments to provide a 50% reduction in the Building Permit Fees for secured market rental housing.

CARRIED.

18. Recommendation to Council from the Arts Commission

At the March 7, 2013 meeting of the Arts Commission, a report was received from the Poet Laureate, Candice James, and the Commission forwarded the update to Council for information. The Arts Commission believes it is important that the work of the Poet Laureate, on behalf of the City, be shared with residents.

THAT Council receive the Arts Commission’s recommendation that the Poet Laureate Update be received for information; and

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THAT the Poet Laureate be invited to make an update to Council at an evening meeting of Council.

CARRIED.

19. Fraserside Community Services

Dean Gibson, Director of Parks, Culture and Recreation informed Council that Fraserside Community Services Society has operated the “Access to Recreation” Program for many years. The program provides eligibility screening for low income families in order that they can receive access to City recreation services at a discounted rate. As part of this service, families also receive referral services to assist with other aspects of their lives.

For 2013, Council approved a Partnership Grant to Fraserside Community Services Society in the amount of $20,000 for the “Access to Recreation” Program. Payment was to be made in equal quarterly installments ($5,000) pending staff review of the program and exploration of potential alternative methods of service delivery. Total annual “cost”

to deliver the program is $65,000. Staff has recently completed this review and will be recommending to Council, in a report to come in April, that the program continue to be coordinated through Fraserside Community Services Society.

Fraserside Community Services Society has advised that the quarterly installment method of grant disbursement is problematic and that the receipt of the remaining grant funds would support the program.

Council commented that Fraserside Community Services Society does provides great services to the residents of the City of New Westminster and in turn, the City must support their efforts.

THAT Council direct staff to release the balance of the Fraserside Community Services Society’s 2013 Partnership Grant in the amount of $15, 000 to continue coordinating the

“Access to Recreation” program.

CARRIED.

ADJOURNMENT

ON MOTION, the meeting was adjourned at 4:07 pm.

Certified Correct,

JAIMIE MC EVOY JAN GIBSON

ACTING MAYOR ACTING CORPORATE OFFICER

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