COUNCIL IN COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

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COUNCIL IN COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

February 17, 2014 at 3:00 p.m.

Council Chamber, City Hall

MINUTES

PRESENT:

Mayor Wayne Wright Councillor Jonathan Coté Councillor Bill Harper Councillor Jaimie McEvoy Councillor Betty McIntosh Councillor Chuck Puchmayr Councillor Lorrie Williams

STAFF:

Ms. Lisa Spitale - Chief Administrative Officer

Ms. Jan Gibson - Acting Corporate Officer/Director of Legislative Services Ms. Bev Grieve - Director of Development Services

Mr. G. Dean Gibson - Director of Parks, Culture and Recreation Mr. Gary Holowatiuk - Director of Finance & Information Technology Mr. Jim Lowrie - Director of Engineering Services

Mr. Blair Fryer - Manager of Communications and Economic Development Ms. Stephanie Lam - Council and Committee Clerk

The meeting was called to order at 3:52 p.m.

ADDITIONS / DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA

MOTION to amend the Council in Committee of the Whole agenda.

MOVED and SECONDED

THAT item 3, Festival Grant Applications, be tabled.

CARRIED.

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

THAT the agenda be amended by adding:

• New item 13 – Disposition of City Owned Lands – Ewen Avenue, Mercer Street, Blackley Street, and Duncan Street – Queensborough Comprehensive Development Area

CARRIED.

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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.

MOTION to remove items from the Consent Agenda.

THAT items 5, 10, and 11 be removed from the consent agenda.

CARRIED.

MOTION to approve the recommendations for items remaining in the Consent Agenda.

THAT the remaining consent agenda items be approved.

CARRIED.

ADOPTION OF MINUTES

1. MOTION to approve the minutes of the Committee of the Whole meeting held January 20, 2014

THAT the minutes of the Committee of the Whole meeting held January 20, 2014 be adopted.

CARRIED.

PRESENTATIONS 2. No Items

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

3. 2014 Festival Grant Applications, Director of Parks, Culture and Recreation This item was tabled.

REPORTS FOR ACTION 4. No Items

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CONSENT AGENDA

Director of Development Services

6. Shops at New West / Request for Construction Noise Bylaw Exemption

THAT Nu-Westech Engineering Ltd. Be granted an exemption from Construction Noise Bylaw No. 6063 in order to install a glass atrium within the Shops at New West mall between 1 a.m. and 7 a.m. during Mondays to Fridays from March 3 to June 30, 2014.

CARRIED.

Director of Development Services and Director of Engineering Services 7. Heritage Register Homes Workshop

THAT Council approve the Heritage Register Homes Workshop as outlined in this report.

CARRIED.

Director of Finance and Information Technology

8. Investment Report for the year ended December 31, 2013

THAT Council received for information the report dated February 17, 2014 regarding the status of the City’s investment portfolio.

CARRIED.

9. Development Cost Charge Expenditure Bylaw No. 7670, 2014

THAT Development Cost Charge Expenditure Bylaw No. 7670, 2014 (Attachment) to authorize a total expenditure of $6,000,000 from the Development Cost Charge Reserves, be forwarded to Regular Council for three readings.

CARRIED.

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ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA Chief Administrative Officer

5. 2014/2015 Economic Development Workplan

Blair Fryer, Manager of Communications and Economic Development, summarized the report dated February 17, 2014 regarding the 2014/2015 Economic Development Workplan and spoke to the five key deliverables noted on page 2.

Members of Council spoke to the ongoing Business Improvement Association (BIA) outreach activities, noting that $3K-$5K is made available to each BIA for holiday lighting displays. It was noted that many businesses are kept apprised of programs through the Chamber of Commerce.

Members of Council spoke to the subject of holiday lighting, and noted the following:

• $3K in matching funds is often not feasible for small businesses in the City;

• It was suggested that staff conduct an investigation to determine if programs, such as holiday lighting, are feasible for small business organizations to participate in the City.

Mr. Fryer provided details regarding the planned activities for 2014-2015, noting that the City anticipates taking an ombudsman role with the businesses.

Council spoke to the benefits of developing an economic work plan, noting that the City has been moving in a positive direction.

With respect to the closure of Thrifty Foods in Sapperton, it was noted that Overweightea Foods has purchased the location and will be retaining the same staff members. Further, it was reported that the store will be unionized and all wages will stay the same or could be increased. At this time, there has been no finalization of the store hours; however, representatives have advised that the hours of operation will be generous.

THAT Council endorse the proposed 2014/2015 Economic Development Work Plan as outlined in this report.

CARRIED.

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Committee Recommendations

10. Arts Commission: Lighting and Signage in Queens Park and Other Areas of the City

Council discussed the need for lighting and signage in Queen’s Park and other areas of the City and suggested that the City consider lighting cultural

infrastructure as a creative way to address the issue. Dean Gibson, Director of Parks, Culture, and Recreation advised that staff will report back with further details regarding park settings, lighting, and signage, noting that there can be value with installing infrastructure in the form of illumination.

With respect to Queen’s Park, staff advised that the City considered both signage and lighting through the Queen’s Park Master Plan process, adding that

investments have since been made to park lighting.

Moving forward, Council directed staff to ensure the Animal Shelter, Queen’s Park Facilities, and Queensborough Civic facilities can be searchable through GPS systems.

THAT the following Arts Commission recommendation dated January 16, 2014 be referred to staff:

THAT options be explored for art installations incorporating lighting and signage in Queens Park and other areas of the city that relate to cultural assets.

CARRIED.

11. Youth Advisory Committee: Child and Youth Friendly New Westminster Survey

Councillor Puchmayr, Chair of the Youth Advisory Committee, reported that the Committee received a presentation regarding the survey in order to discover how youth rate the City. The Committee has requested that the City make the survey available for students to complete during homeroom.

THAT Council seek approval from the School Board to formally distribute the Child and Youth Friendly New Westminster survey in the schools for students from grades seven to twelve.

CARRIED.

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CORRESPONDENCE

12. Correspondence for Action

a. City of Richmond letter dated February 12, 2014 regarding Hamilton Area Plan

Council questioned if there will be any impacts to New Westminster. Bev Grieve, Director of Development Services, reported that staff has

conducted a cursory review and has not discovered any issues with respect to the City’s planning.

Staff advised that as part of the Official Community Plan review process, the Local Government Act, requires a City to forward a copy of their draft bylaw to the adjacent municipalities. It was noted that the City of

Richmond has forwarded several drafts to the City throughout their

planning process, adding that staff have been responding with feedback.

THAT the correspondence be received.

CARRIED.

b. SFU Urban Studies and Geography/G2G letter dated February 11, 2014 regarding Getting to Groundbreaking Regional Study

Council questioned if there would be value for the City to participate in the Getting to Groundbreaking (G2G) Regional Study. Bev Grieve, Director of Development Services, provided details of the G2G study, and advised that a report will be drafted and forwarded to participants by Simon Fraser University’s Dr. Meg Holden and her students.

THAT the correspondence dated February 11, 2014 be received;

AND THAT the City participate in the “Getting to Groundbreaking (G2G) Regional Study”.

CARRIED.

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Correspondence for Information

c. Metro Vancouver letter to Minister Thomson and Minister Anton dated December 12, 2013 regarding Fraser River Flood Protection and New Erosion Arc – Abbotsford/Matsqui Dyke

THAT the correspondence be received for information.

CARRIED.

d. Metro Vancouver letter dated January 24, 2014 regarding Organics Ban for Metro Vancouver

Council questioned if Multi-Materials British Columbia (MMBC) has been involved with the Metro Vancouver organics ban. Jim Lowrie, Director of Engineering Services, advised that MMBC’s mandate is address only the production of packaging and printed paper with multi-residential.

Mr. Lowrie reported that staff will be attending the Metro Vancouver Organics Workshop held later this month.

CARRIED.

e. City of Parksville letter to UBCM dated January 27, 2014 regarding the provincial emergency notification system (PENS)

CARRIED.

f. Fraser health Authority letter dated January 30, 2014 regarding Fraser Health parking rates and policies – response to CNW letter dated January 21, 2014 (attached)

Council noted that the information provided in the letter has not been easily accessible by hospital visitors, and suggested that the letter be forwarded to the Seniors’ Advisory Committee for further discussion and comment, and that the comments be brought back to Council for

information. Council also requested the City forward the Fraser Health Authority’s response to local Senior’s Facilities in the City for information.

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With respect to parking violations, it was suggested that those who obtain a ticket may be able to have their ticket reversed if a call is made

immediately to the parking company.

THAT the correspondence be received;

AND THAT the correspondence from the Fraser Health Authority be referred to the Seniors’ Advisory Committee for further discussion regarding Fraser Health Authority’s response, that the comments of the discussion be forwarded to Council for information, and that the correspondence also be forwarded to local Seniors’ Facilities in the City (eg: Century House, Sapperton Pensioner’s Association, etc.) for information.

CARRIED.

g. Skeena-Queen Charlotte Regional District letter dated February 3, 2014 regarding BC Ferries Service Cuts

CARRIED.

h. Union of BC Municipalities Member Release dated February 7, 2014 regarding Special Committee on BC Ferries

Council noted that there has been negative impacts to those who utilize BC Ferries as a result of their cuts, adding that they are pleased that the Union of British Columbia Municipalities is addressing the matter.

CARRIED.

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NEW BUSINESS

13. Disposition of City Owned Lands – Ewen Avenue, Mercer Street, Blackley Street, and Duncan Street – Queensborough Comprehensive Development Area (On Table)

THAT the report dated February 17, 2014 be received for information.

CARRIED.

ADJOURNMENT

ON MOTION, the meeting was adjourned at 5:00 p.m.

Certified Correct,

WAYNE WRIGHT JAN GIBSON

MAYOR ACTING CORPORATE OFFICER