Council in Committee of the Whole

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COUNCIL IN COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

September 13, 2010, 3:03 p.m.

Committee Room 2, City Hall MINUTES

PRESENT:

Mayor Wayne Wright Councillor Bill Harper Councillor Bob Osterman Councillor Jaimie McEvoy Councillor Betty McIntosh Councillor Lorrie Williams

PRESENT:

Councillor Jonathan Coté

STAFF:

Mr. Paul Daminato - City Administrator

Mr. Rick Page - Corporate Officer/Director of Legislative Services Ms. Lisa Spitale - Director of Development Services

Mr. Jim Lowrie - Director of Engineering Services

Mr. Randy Grant - Acting Director of Finance & Information Technology Ms. Joan Burgess - Director of Human Resources

Mr. Dean Gibson - Director of Parks and Recreation Ms. Judi Turner - Assistant Corporate Officer ADDITIONS TO AGENDA

The Agenda was varied as follows:

Home Based Businesses (added as Item 14) Recycling Depot (added as Item 15)

Tree Bylaw (added as Item 16)

Lower Mainland Treaty Advisory Committee (added as Item 17)

Boucher Institute Proposal for a Botanical Garden at Westminster Pier or Other Site (added as Item 18)

CONSENT AGENDA

MOVED and SECONDED

THAT the Consent Agenda be approved with the following revisions:

Deleted: Items 2, 7, 8

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THAT the recommendations arising from the Consent Agenda, as amended, be approved as follows:

Director of Development Services

2. Development Variance Permit No. 514 for 610 Sixth Street – Sign for Safeway Store

3. 101/107 Agnes Street – Rescind Heritage Revitalization Agreement Amendment (101/107 Agnes Street) Bylaw No. 7413, 2010 and refer the revised and attached Heritage Revitalization Agreement Amendment (101/107 Agnes Street) Bylaw No.

7413, 2010 to Regular Council for Third Reading and Adoption.

** THAT third reading of Heritage Revitalization Agreement Amendment (101/107 Agnes Street) Bylaw No. 7413, 2010, be rescinded;

THAT the Bylaw be amended by inserting the name of an additional property owner into the Agreement document attached to the Bylaw; and

THAT the amended Heritage Revitalization Agreement Amendment (101/107 Agnes Street) Bylaw No. 7413, 2010 be forwarded to the Regular Council meeting of September 13, 2010, for consideration of third reading and adoption, as amended.

4. 1109, 1117, 1129 and 1135 Ewen Avenue and 301 and 305 Gifford Street

a) Advisory Planning Commission report “1109, 1117, 1129 and 1135 Ewen Avenue and 301 and 305 Gifford Street – Draft Results of July 20, 2010 Meeting”

b) Director of Development Services report “Proposed Rezoning of 1109, 1117, 1129 and 1135 Ewen Avenue and 301 and 305 Gifford Street”

** THAT Zoning Amendment Bylaw 7411, 2010 be forwarded to the Regular Council meeting of September 13, 2010 for consideration of first and second reading.

5. Old Terminal Pub / Application to Amend Liquor License

** WHEREAS New Westminster City Council considered a staff report dated September 13, 2010 regarding an application from the Old Terminal Pub located at 115 Twelfth Street to change its hours of operations;

WHEREAS the application is not opposed by the New Westminster Police Service;

WHEREAS the business has not generated noise complaints or negative community impacts and the proposed changes are not expected to result in noise or other negative impacts to the community; and

WHEREAS the applicant placed a site sign in front of the premises for 30 days and published two newspaper notices providing details of the application and inviting comments on the application and no objections to the application have been received;

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12:00 midnight on Sundays to Thursdays and 9:00 am – 1:00 am on Fridays and Saturdays.

6. Electrical Statutory Right of Way for Plaza 88

** THAT Council approve the Statutory Right of Way Agreement for Plaza 88; and THAT the Mayor and City Clerk be authorized to sign the Agreement on behalf of the City.

Director of Parks, Culture and Recreation

9. New Westminster Amateur Radio Club Lease Agreement

** THAT the Mayor and City Clerk be authorized to sign the lease agreement between the City and the New Westminster Amateur Radio Club for the use of a section of the Parks and Recreation Administration Building Basement, for the term September 1, 2010 to August 31, 2015, subject to required public notification; and

THAT New Westminster Amateur Radio Club Lease Authorization Bylaw No. 7343, 2010 be forwarded to the Regular Council Meeting of September 13, 2020 for consideration of three readings.

CARRIED.

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

ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA Director of Finance and Information Technology

7. Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) Paid by Metro Vancouver

A letter from Port Metro Vancouver dated September 8, 2010, regarding payment in lieu of taxes was circulated on table (and will be added to the agenda). The Port refuses to pay taxes on unoccupied river land which they claim has no value.

A member of Council asked whether there will be a legal opinion obtained on the matter.

The City Administrator advised a working group was convened to deal with the matter.

They are presently in negotiations with the Port Authority. In discussion, a new amount was identified in connection with river lots.

** MOVED and SECONDED and CARRIED, this Committee recommends

THAT the Mayor write a letter (similar to the DRAFT letter attached to the staff report) directed to the Chair of the Board of Directors of Port Metro Vancouver requesting full payment of unpaid PILT for the years 2000 through 2010.

CARRIED.

All members of the Committee voted in favour of the motion.

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2. Development Variance Permit No. 514 for 610 Sixth Street – Sign for Safeway Store

Kathleen Stevens, Development Services, responded to questions regarding the signage proposed for the Safeway store.

THAT Council give notice that it will consider a resolution to issue Development Variance Permit 514 for Safeway at 610 Sixth Street to allow:

three fascia signs to be mounted on the Sixth Avenue façade;

one fascia sign to have a sign area of 26.47 m² (284.96 ft²) on the Sixth Avenue façade; and

two fascia signs on the Sixth Avenue façade to exceed the maximum permitted copy area of 50% of the sign area.

CARRIED.

8. 2010 Community Grant to the New Westminster Salmonbellies

THAT a community grant consisting of donations in the amount of $8,600 plus an additional $3,500 from the City amounting to $12,100 be approved to the New Westminster Salmonbellies Lacrosse Club.

CARRIED.

NEW BUSINESS

14. Home Based Businesses

A member of Council raised a concern on behalf of a citizen who did not feel welcomed when applying for a home based business. The Director agreed to review the matter with staff. She also noted that the Chamber of Commerce has objected to the operation of businesses from homes as this represents competition from business operators who do not have the same overhead expenses.

It was noted that when setting policy it is good for the City to have businesses operating out of their homes, as it generates employment and may be prudent during a recession, etc.

15. Recycling Depot

A Councillor raised the following:

If green recycling were removed from the Recycling Depot, there would be room at the for all other necessary recycling

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The Director of Engineering Services agreed to look into the matter. He confirmed there no current plans to move the facility. Councillor McEvoy agreed to add the matter of the Recycling Depot to the agenda of the next Environment Advisory Committee.

Staff was asked to supply a report to Council in due course on whether there is a reduction in clean green resulting from the automation of garbage collection.

REPORTS FOR ACTION Director of Human Resources

10. Respectful Workplace and Human Rights Policy

Joan Burgess, Director of Human Resources, responded to questions regarding the Policy entitled “Respectful Workplace and Human Rights Policy”, noting it:

Replaces existing policies throughout the City Was vetted by legal counsel

Supports Collective Agreement language.

** MOVED and SECONDED and CARRIED, this Committee recommends THAT the Respectful Workplace and Human Rights Policy be adopted.

CARRIED.

Director of Engineering

12. Active and Safe Routes to School Program Update

Jenyfer Neumann, Environmental Coordinator, made a presentation on the Transportation Demand Management Program noting that due to its success, there is an interest in expanding it into the Middle Schools. It was suggested that a presentation be made to the School Board about the program/

On a related matter, a concern was raised over safety and risk to residents from motorists travelling on residential roads which are operating as highways because of the lack of signage.

THAT expansion of the Active and Safe Routes to School Program be endorsed, including the creation of Best Routes to School maps as well as outreach and engagement, to the City’s Middle Schools.

CARRIED.

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** MOVED and SECONDED and CARRIED, this Committee recommends THAT expansion of the Active and Safe Routes to School Program be endorsed,

THAT a copy of the September 13, 2010, report entitled “Active and Safe Routes to School Program Update be forwarded to the School Trustees; and

THAT Councillor Osterman attend a School Trustee meeting with staff to make a presentation on the program.

CARRIED.

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

Staff was also directed to make a presentation on the program at a Regular Council meeting.

Director of Legislative Services 11. Council Procedures

Members discussed the September 13, 2010 report from the director of Legislative Services. The following comments were made:

Reduce volume of paper

Additions to agendas are to be submitted to the Corporate Office who will assemble them for submission to the Mayor to determine whether to add to the agenda

A template should be developed for the purpose Consider a consent agenda for evening meetings

Public Hearings: Agreed to schedule one public hearing meeting per month for 2011 – create Council schedule on that basis; PH to start at 6:00 p.m; Director of Legislative Services to summarize the PH statement; to be followed by a Regular meeting for the sole purpose of bylaw readings

Note many presentations are not for City business

Limit Regular Council Open Delegations to 3 minutes per speaker

The Mayor will announce the number of speakers who have signed up to speak The Mayor will request that one person speak for all on a topic of interest to several Segment is to be treated with more formality with all comments directed to the Chair Points of order will be used to effect this

Raise screens once need for them is over

Delegations are not to circulate handouts to Council; this should be done by the Clerk.

Council reports - are to be limited to three minutes each Mayor will begin and have five minutes

Councillors may speak as a presentor when reporting back from conferences; time should be limited

Condolences will be separate.

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Council Packages – staff will review the suggestions to circulate Council packages possibly on the Tuesday

Council would support receiving information electronically

Public Hearings over Summer:

No controversial hearings in the summer

May hold non controversial hearings during first three weeks of July None in last week of July or August

Review what Burnaby, Richmond and Coquitlam are doing in terms of Standing Committees, contents of those meetings, process.

PRESENTATION

1. United Way Campaign - Lani Ng, Resource and Development Coordinator for the United Way and Barry Waitt, City of New Westminster

Lani Ng, Resource and Development Coordinator for the United Way and Barry Waitt, Chair of 2010 United Way Campaign, City of New Westminster, were in attendance to report on the 2010 campaign:

Events were outlined

What investment dollars accomplish in the community

Prevention focus on three issues: that young children are prepared to start school when they arrive in kindergarten in terms of having had breakfast, gross motor skills, language skills; children in middle childhood (6-12 years) – development support, mentorship, recreation opportunities, role models; seniors are kept strong and connected to their communities – programs, living independently

Participation via United Way donations can be directed to a focus group

Pool of matching funds for those who have not previously donated and for those who are increasing their gift by 15% (matching funds for the additional 15%)

Every focus area is directly supported by United Way in New Westminster.

NEW BUSINESS 16. Tree Bylaw

A member of Council asked whether a report can be expected on a tree bylaw for the City. The Director of Parks, Culture and Recreation advised that the matter is on the pending list for a report to Council hopefully in 2011.

17. Lower Mainland Treaty Advisory Committee

Councillor Osterman requested that Council receive the LMTAC Discussion Paper on Federal Additions of Non Reserve Property onto Reserves.

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THAT the Lower Mainland Treaty Advisory Committee Discussion Paper on Federal Additions of Non Reserve Property onto Reserves be received and no further action was taken.

CARRIED.

All members of Council voted in favour of the motion.

18. Boucher Institute Proposal for a Botanical Garden at Westminster Pier or Other Site

Council was advised that the Boucher Institute has proposed to commit $3000 toward the development of a teaching botanical garden either at Westminster Pier or another site in the city. The Director of Parks, Culture and Recreation has referred the suggestion to the Pier Architect and directed him to show how such a garden could be accommodated. The Director was asked to report back to Council.

REPORTS FOR ACTION Councillor Bob Osterman

13. Strata Plan BCS-2742 – Copperstone – Public Safety Concerns

THAT the matter of the Strata Plan BCS-2742 – Copperstone – Public Safety Concerns be referred to the Director of Engineering for follow up.

CARRIED.

ADJOURNMENT

ON MOTION, the meeting adjourned at 5:19 p.m.

Certified Correct,

WAYNE WRIGHT RICHARD L. PAGE

MAYOR CORPORATE OFFICER

** Denotes recommendations referred to Regular Council meeting of September 13, 2010 for ratification.