HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-09-10 Workshop Meeting Agenda and Reports.pdf
District of Maple Ridge
1. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA
2. MINUTES – August 27, 2012
3. PRESENTATIONS AT THE REQUEST OF COUNCIL
3.1
4. UNFINISHED AND NEW BUSINESS
4.1 Provincial Funding for Cycling Infrastructure – UBCM Resolution
Report dated September 10, 2012 from the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Bicycle
Advisory Committee recommending that a resolution from Velo Village regarding
cycling infrastructure be supported at the UBCM Conference.
COUNCIL WORKSHOP AGENDA
September 10, 2012
9:00 a.m.
Blaney Room, 1st Floor, Municipal Hall
The purpose of the Council Workshop is to review and discuss policies and
other items of interest to Council. Although resolutions may be passed at
this meeting, the intent is to make a consensus decision to send an item to
Council for debate and vote or refer the item back to staff for more
information or clarification.
REMINDERS
September 10, 2012
Closed Council following Workshop
Committee of the Whole Meeting 1:00 p.m.
September 11, 2012
Council Meeting 7:00 p.m.
Council Workshop
September 10, 2012
Page 2 of 3
4.2 Financial Support for Agriculture – Follow Up Report
Staff report dated September 10, 2012 recommending the establishment of an
Agricultural Endowment Reserve Account.
4.3 Report on Ban of Shark Fin Products
Staff report dated September 10, 2012 recommending that the Business Licence
and Regulation Bylaw be amended for the purpose of banning the trade, sale or
distribution of shark fins or their derivatives in the District of Maple Ridge.
4.4 Invasive Species Strategy
Verbal update by the Director of Parks and Facilities
5. CORRESPONDENCE
The following correspondence has been received and requires a response. Staff is
seeking direction from Council on each item. Options that Council may consider include:
a) Acknowledge receipt of correspondence and advise that no further action will be
taken.
b) Direct staff to prepare a report and recommendation regarding the subject matter.
c) Forward the correspondence to a regular Council meeting for further discussion.
d) Other.
Once direction is given the appropriate response will be sent.
5.1
Recommendation:
6. BRIEFING ON OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST/QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL
7. MATTERS DEEMED EXPEDIENT
8. ADJOURNMENT
Checked by: ___________
Date: _________________
Council Workshop
September 10, 2012
Page 3 of 3
Rules for Holding a Closed Meeting
A part of a council meeting may be closed to the public if the subject matter being considered relates to one
or more of the following:
(a) personal information about an identifiable individual who holds or is being considered for a position as
an officer, employee or agent of the municipality or another position appointed by the municipality;
(b) personal information about an identifiable individual who is being considered for a municipal award or
honour, or who has offered to provide a gift to the municipality on condition of anonymity;
(c) labour relations or employee negotiations;
(d) the security of property of the municipality;
(e) the acquisition, disposition or expropriation of land or improvements, if the council considers that
disclosure might reasonably be expected to harm the interests of the municipality;
(f) law enforcement, if the council considers that disclosure might reasonably be expected to harm the
conduct of an investigation under or enforcement of an enactment;
(g) litigation or potential litigation affecting the municipality;
(h) an administrative tribunal hearing or potential administrative tribunal hearing affecting the municipality,
other than a hearing to be conducted by the council or a delegate of council
(i) the receiving of advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for
that purpose;
(j) information that is prohibited or information that if it were presented in a document would be prohibited
from disclosure under section 21 of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act;
(k) negotiations and related discussions respecting the proposed provision of a municipal service that are at
their preliminary stages and that, in the view of the council, could reasonably be expected to harm the
interests of the municipality if they were held in public;
(l) discussions with municipal officers and employees respecting municipal objectives, measures and
progress reports for the purposes of preparing an annual report under section 98 [annual municipal
report]
(m) a matter that, under another enactment, is such that the public may be excluded from the meeting;
(n) the consideration of whether a council meeting should be closed under a provision of this subsection of
subsection (2)
(o) the consideration of whether the authority under section 91 (other persons attending closed meetings)
should be exercised in relation to a council meeting.
(p) information relating to local government participation in provincial negotiations with First Nations, where
an agreement provides that the information is to be kept confidential.
District of Maple Ridge
COUNCIL WORKSHOP
August 27, 2012
The Minutes of the Municipal Council Workshop held on August 27, 2012 at 9:00
a.m. in the Blaney Room of the Municipal Hall, 11995 Haney Place, Maple Ridge,
British Columbia for the purpose of transacting regular Municipal business.
PRESENT
Elected Officials Appointed Staff
Mayor E. Daykin J. Rule, Chief Administrative Officer
Councillor C. Bell K. Swift, General Manager of Community Development,
Councillor C. Ashlie Parks and Recreation Services
Councillor J. Dueck P. Gill, General Manager Corporate and Financial Services
Councillor A. Hogarth R. Carmichael, Acting General Manager Public Works and
Councillor B. Masse Development Services
Councillor M. Morden C. Marlo, Manager of Legislative Services
A. Gaunt, Confidential Secretary
Other Staff as Required
F. Armstrong, Manager of Corporate Communications
D. Hall, Planner
S. Blue, Strategic Economic Initiatives
Note: These Minutes are posted on the Municipal Web Site at www.mapleridge.ca
1. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA
The agenda was adopted as circulated.
2. MINUTES
R/2012-372
Minutes It was moved and seconded
July 16, 2012
That the minutes of the Council Workshop Meeting of July 16,
2012 be adopted as circulated.
CARRIED
3. PRESENTATIONS AT THE REQUEST OF COUNCIL - Nil
Council Workshop Minutes
August 27, 2012
Page 2 of 5
4. UNFINISHED AND NEW BUSINESS
4.1 Maple Ridge Library Update - Joanne Sleeman – Community Librarian
Presentation by Caro O’Kennedy, Library Manager
The Library Manager gave a PowerPoint presentation providing an update on
the services and programs provided by the Maple Ridge library.
4.2 Kwantlen Polytechnic University Proposal – A Food System Design and
Implementation Plan for Southwest British Columbia
Staff report dated August 27, 2012 recommending that the request for
commitment to a proposal by the Sustainable Food Systems Working Group at
Kwantlen Polytechnic University to design and implement a region wide food
system be endorsed.
The Manager of Strategic Economic Initiatives and the Planner reviewed the
report.
R/2012-373
Kwantlen
Polytechnic It was moved and seconded
University Proposal
That the staff report dated August 27, 2012 titled “Kwantlen
Polytechnic University Proposal – A Food System Design and
Implementation Plan for Southwest British Columbia” be
forwarded to the August 28, 2012 Council Meeting.
CARRIED
4.3 Downtown Social Issues
Discussion of social issues in the downtown core as requested by Councillor
Masse
The Recreation and Social Planning Coordinator provided an overview and an
update on the current situation in the downtown area. She outlined the
community services network in Maple Ridge and the support provided by
those services.
Council Workshop Minutes
August 27, 2012
Page 3 of 5
R/2012-374
Downtown Social
Issues It was moved and seconded
That staff prepare a report regarding the social issues within
Maple Ridge presented by Councillor Masse and based on
discussions at the August 27, 2012 Workshop.
CARRIED
5. CORRESPONDENCE
Note: Items 5.1 and 5.2 were dealt with as one item
5.1 Premier’s UBCM Meeting Request Coordinator – 2012 UBCM Convention
Memo dated July 30, 2012 from Katherine Bergen, Premier’s UBCM Meeting
Request Coordinator, providing information on the submission of requests for
meetings with Ministers during the 2012 UBCM convention.
5.2 Province of British Columbia, Office of Minister Ida Chong – 2012 UBCM
Convention
Letter from Ida Chong, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural
Development, providing information on the submission of requests for
meetings with herself and other government, agency and commission staff
during the 2012 UBCM convention. A 2012 Provincial Appointment book is
attached.
Councillors provided requests for meetings with specific Provincial Ministries.
5.3 BC Government and Service Employees’ Union (BCGEU) – Privatization of the
BC Liquor Distribution Branch Warehouse and Distribution System
Letter dated July 5, 2012 from Darryl Walker, President, BCGEU, requesting
the adoption of a motion requesting a moratorium on the privatization of the
Liquor Distribution Branch.
Council Workshop Minutes
August 27, 2012
Page 4 of 5
R/2012-375
Liquor Distribution
Branch It was moved and seconded
Privatization
Receive for
Information
That the letter dated July 5, 2012 from Darryl Walker,
President, British Columbia Government Employees’ Union, be
received for information.
CARRIED
5.4 John Kelly – MP’s Pension Plan Funding
E-mail from John Kelly requesting support for changes to the Federal
Members of Parliament’s pension plan funding.
R/2012-376
MP’s Pension Plan
Funding – Receive It was moved and seconded
For Information
Letter to MP
That the e-mail from John Kelly requesting support for changes
to the Federal Members of Parliament’s pension plan funding
be received for information; and further
That a letter be sent to Randy Kamp, MP, including feedback
that revisions to pension plan funding for Federal Members of
Parliament need to be made.
CARRIED
Note: Item 5.5 was deferred from the July 9, 2012 Council Workshop Meeting
5.5 Federation of Canadian Municipalities (“FCM”) Update: Government of
Canada LTIP Roundtables
E-mail dated June 28, 2012 from Brock Carlton, Chief Executive Officer, FCM
providing clarification on the Government of Canada LTIP Roundtables and
encouraging endorsement of FCM’s Target 2014 campaign.
Council Workshop Minutes
August 27, 2012
Page 5 of 5
R/2012-377
Government of
Canada LTIP It was moved and seconded
Roundtables
That staff provide a report based on the information received
from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities pertaining to
Government of Canada LTIP Roundtables.
CARRIED
6. BRIEFING ON OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST/QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL – Nil
7. MATTERS DEEMED EXPEDIENT - Nil
8. ADJOURNMENT – 11:11 a.m.
_______________________________
E. Daykin, Mayor
Certified Correct
___________________________________
C. Marlo, Corporate Officer
1
District of Maple Ridge
TO: His Worship Mayor Ernie Daykin MEETING DATE: September 10, 2012
and Members of Council
FROM: Chief Administrative Officer MEETING: Workshop
SUBJECT: Financial Support For Agriculture - Follow Up Report
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Achieving the vision of prosperous, sustainable agriculture in Maple Ridge requires efforts in
many areas, as noted in the Maple Ridge Agricultural Plan that was completed in 2009. Some of
these areas have funding sources, some do not. One possible source of funding is from the
Municipal portion of land taxes from rural land conversion, which was supported by Council in a
previous memo.
The allocation of any monies from this funding source is the subject of this memo, and
recommendations are provided to create the reserve account, confirm the source, and define
funding allocation guidelines for actions consistent with the recommendations in the Agricultural
Plan.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. That an Agricultural Endowment Reserve Account be established for the purpose of
providing funding to support the research, promotional and infrastructure needs of the
Maple Ridge Agricultural Plan;
2. That the previously supported 10% of the Municipal portion of land taxes from the
conversion of rural property be set aside into that reserve account as the source of
contributions;
3. That available funding from the noted Reserve Account be allocated generally to the
following categories of action, which will be reviewed periodically over time:
a. Studies required to support agriculture – 25%
b. Marketing for agriculture – 25%
c. Infrastructure upgrades – 50%
2
DISCUSSION:
a) Background Context:
Council passed a two part resolution last year identifying opportunities to implement key
recommendations of the Maple Ridge Agricultural Plan relating to Goal #5, protecting the
agricultural land base:
1. Where a land use is converted to a non-residential use, 10% of the increase in municipal
taxes from the land value be set aside to support agriculture and that;
2. Our rezoning processes be reviewed to see if there is a way to seek contributions to
support agricultural initiatives at the rezoning stage.
This memo provides a follow-up report on Recommendation #1, by defining the framework
under which funding can be secured and directed to initiatives within the Municipal sphere of
influence.
Reserve Account Creation and Allocation:
The creation of a reserve account to hold funds raised by the conversion of rural land to non-
residential uses is straight forward. The amount of funding that will become available is difficult
to anticipate, but it is expected there may not be many rural land conversions to non-residential
usage that would be eligible to contribute to the recommended reserve account. As a consequence,
it may be some years before sufficient funds become available for certain categories of actions.
Nonetheless, it is the allocation of such funds that will require oversight to make determinations
on priority uses of whatever is available, and this evaluation role will require guidelines against
which to judge eligible projects. It is recognized many of the implementation efforts are the
responsibility of other levels of authority, such as the Ministry of Agriculture, Agricultural Land
Commission, or the Farmers’ Institute, and the District may not be able to effect rapid change.
However, there are many areas where the District can support improvements as identified in the
Recommended Action Plan of the Maple Ridge Agricultural Plan (Appendix Table 1 to that
Plan).
To ensure funding will be available over time for a range of initiatives, staff are proposing the
following general allocation split by category of action:
a. Studies required to support agriculture – 25%
b. Marketing for agriculture – 25%
c. Infrastructure upgrades – 50%
The procedures to gather eligible proposals and evaluate them have to be developed and will
likely be similar to the process for Property Tax Exemptions and Community Grants 1. These
procedures will focus on providing funding for initiatives that are the responsibility of the
municipality and have no other source of funding.
1 The recommended reserve account can be augmented from other funding sources, for example, the Federal Global Commerce
Support Program which also targets funding in support of agricultural projects in Maple Ridge, or funding from other agencies.
Strategic Economic Initiatives has targeted this Federal program, but program funding expires at the end of 2012. Such funding can
also be utilized to hire students, like from the agriculture program at Kwantlen Polytechnic for example, to undertake the efforts
necessary to develop policy proposals or actions to address some of the recommendations.
3
There are likely many projects that will be proposed over the years. Some initiatives will need to
be priorized over a multi-year investment program, particularly where infrastructure
enhancement is involved. Other projects, such as efforts in promotion and research, to
investigate more thoroughly issues specific to the unique context of agriculture in Maple Ridge,
is an area not typically funded by other levels of government. It is in this area some of the
reserve account monies noted above would be put to good use as well.
b) Desired Outcome:
The ability to set aside funding to support agricultural activities that are the responsibility of the
municipality.
c) Strategic Alignment:
The Official Community Plan defines the principles and policies to achieve the sustainability part of
the long-term vision for agriculture in this community. Protection for agriculture lands and
promotional initiatives are paramount. Providing funding for those initiatives that are the
responsibility of the municipality is consistent with these policies.
d) Interdepartmental Implications:
The Finance Department will need to establish a reserve account for the purpose of holding any
monies that become available through the transfer of taxes from an eligible agricultural land
conversion. Council will consider this transfer annually, as part of the Financial Plan approval
process.
The Strategic Economic Initiatives Department can continue to identify alternative funding sources
that can augment the proposed reserve account to support, such as the Federal Global Commerce
Support Program.
Procedures to gather eligible proposals and to evaluate them will have to be developed.
Council will provide final approval through the Financial Plan, and can periodically review and revise
the allocation of funding to the various categories of use.
e) Business Plan/Financial Implications:
The recommended contribution to the reserve account and its allocation will be reviewed as part of
the annual Financial Plan review.
f) Policy Implications:
Through support for the process defined herein, Council adds another set of tools to achieve the
long-term vision of the OCP, and support for a thriving agricultural sector. Council also provides an
outlet for the creativity of local energy to identify appropriate support projects consistent with goals
of the Agricultural Plan, and have available funding to see their success. These are all consistent
with current policy direction.
4
g) Alternatives:
There are no known regular funding support programs for some of the small project ideas
promoted by the Agricultural Plan as noted in the Background section above. The only
alternative is to create a grant program specifically designed to address these types of locally
sourced research and promotional projects. However to create such a grant program, without an
alternative funding source, will draw funds away from other areas of the Financial Plan.
There are mechanisms quite appropriate for raising the capital investments required in support
of agricultural infrastructure and in managing the land use impacts of land conversion. These
can be dealt with at the rezoning and subdivision stage, as well as in capturing the DCC
allocations, or in fact through allocations of the Capital Works Program. However, these fund
raising and allocation opportunities are typically constrained by the Local Government Act in
terms of where they can be raised and what they can be expended upon.
CONCLUSIONS:
Council has demonstrated it’s commitment to a viable agricultural sector of our economy by
supporting the land conversion tax allocation model as one support mechanism. This funding
source should go a long way, over time, to providing much needed support for work in areas
where there is no traditional funding source.
“Original signed by J. Bastaja”
_______________________________________________
Prepared by: J. Bastaja
Director Corporate Support
“Original signed by Paul Gill”
_______________________________________________
Approved by: Paul Gill
General Manager Corporate and Financial Services
“Original signed by J.L. (Jim) Rule
_______________________________________________
Concurrence: J.L. (Jim) Rule
Chief Administrative Officer
Page 1 of 3
District of Maple Ridge
TO: His Worship Mayor Ernie Daykin DATE: September 10, 2012
and Members of Council
FROM: Chief Administrative Officer ATTN: Council Workshop
SUBJECT: Proposed banning to the Possession, Sale or Consumption of Shark Fin Products
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
At Council’s Regular Council meeting of July 10, 2012 staff was directed to prepare a report on a
potential bylaw to ban the sale, possession or consumption of shark fin products by businesses
operating in the District. An amendment to the Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw would
facilitate a ban on the trade, sale or distribution of shark fins or their derivative in the District of
Maple Ridge.
Under a bylaw regulation of this nature, staff would have the ability to refuse a business licence
where applicants propose to trade, sell or distribute shark fins or their derivative and or issue fines
to businesses conducting this activity. Council or by delegation of authority staff would also have the
ability to suspend, cancel or refuse a business licence if the business was found to be conducting a
business contrary to the bylaw.
This report also recognizes that two resolutions to UBCM have been put forward by two other
municipalities. Those resolutions (attached as appendix I and II) state the following:
North Vancouver City:
Whereas shark fin harvesting is an inhumane and wasteful practice serving a very narrow and
sometimes criminal marketplace;
And whereas shark fin harvesting, by taking large and increasing numbers of an “apex” species
whose reduction in the ocean eco-system has significant impacts upon other species:
Therefore be it resolved that UBCM call on the provincial government to implement a province-wide
ban on the possession, sale, and distribution of shark fin;
And be it further resolved that the federal government ban the import of shark fin into Canada.
Port Moody:
Whereas the population of sharks, an important apex predator in our ocean ecosystems, is
plummeting around the world largely due to harvesting of sharks for their fins;
And whereas harvesting of sharks for their fins is an international conservation crisis as one-third of
all shark species is threatened with extinction:
Page 2 of 3
Therefore be it resolved that UBCM call upon the British Columbia provincial government to help
protect an endangered species that is essential to the sustainability of our global ecosystem by
enacting provincial legislation to ban the possession, sale, trade and distribution of shark fins.
It is understood that these resolutions will be considered and discussed at UBCM the week of
September 24. In the alternative section of this report it is identified that Council may wish to defer
consideration of a bylaw amendment pending the outcome of UBCM discussion.
RECOMMENDATION(S):
That staff be directed to amend the Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw for the purpose of
banning the trade, sale or distribution of shark fins or their derivatives in the District of Maple Ridge.
DISCUSSION:
a) Background Context:
“Shark Finning” refers to the removal and retention of shark fins while the shark is still alive
and then discarding the shark back into the ocean. Subsequently, the shark is unable to
maneuver through the water, then dies and is eaten by other predators. The act of ‘Shark
Finning’ is considered to be cruel and inhumane. ‘Shark Finning’ takes place at sea so that
the individuals engaged in this activity have only the fins to transport. Shark meat is of low
economical value and, therefore, not worth the cost of transporting the bulky shark bodies to
market.
b) Legal Context:
The practice of ‘Shark Finning’ in Canada is prohibited by Canadian Federal Law; however,
the use of shark fins is permitted. Banning the use of shark fins is not without risk of
challenge. There is not clear authority given to local governments enabling such bans and
Case Law on this topic or related ones is very limited. The City of Richmond provides closes
and most recent example or regulating specific ‘transactions’ of a business within its
community when it passed a bylaw to prohibit the sale of puppies by pet stores. The courts
upheld this bylaw, stating that it pet supplies was a valid use of its authority. It should be
noted; however, that this bylaw was also supported by the City’s other abilities to regulate
animals. The courts specifically rejected part of the argument made by the City of Richmond
that the ban of selling pets was required due to the health of puppies. What is important in
the Richmond case that supports the regulation of shark fins is that the courts upheld the
local governments’ authority to regulate specific transactions which form part of a business.
In creating such bylaws, one must ensure that it does not negatively impact the economical,
social and environmental well being of its community. A bylaw of this nature must take into
account how the action will benefit the community and must not be adopted only on “moral
grounds” alone. A bylaw adopted for this reason only would stand a good chance of being
overturned by the courts, if challenged. Staff has researched the use of shark fins within
businesses in Maple Ridge and could not find any restaurants that are serving shark fin
soup. Furthermore we have been unable to find stores that sell derivatives however these
are more difficult to detect and may take more time to flush out if they exist. Therefore, at
this time no other transactions of shark fins could be identified by staff within the District at
this time and, there is virtually no impact on the economy of social well being within Maple
Ridge that would result from the banning of the use of shark fins.
Page 3 of 3
c) Other Municipalities:
Currently, the City’s of Port Moody, Nanaimo and Coquitlam have adopted bylaws banning
shark fin products. The City of North Vancouver and the City of Langley are reviewing the
possibility of this legislation as are the City’s of Burnaby, Richmond and Vancouver. The City
of Toronto has a bylaw banning shark fin products however this bylaw is currently under
challenge in the Courts.
d) UBCM Resolutions:
If Council were to consider this type of Bylaw Sections 59(2) and (3) of the Community
Charter require that Council seek public input to those parties who may be affected by the
Bylaw prior to the adoption of the regulation. This requirement is typically met by placing
two consecutive advertisements in the local newspaper to provide residents and business
operators with advance information that the Bylaw is being considered for adoption providing
them with an opportunity to address any issues they may have with the propose legislation.
e) Alternatives:
Council may wish to defer consideration of a bylaw amendment pending the outcome of the
UBCM discussions.
CONCLUSIONS:
There is no clear authority to regulate shark fins at a local level within BC. Staff, in consultation with
the municipal Solicitor, believes the risk of challenge to a bylaw restricting the use of shark fins is
low. Further, staff has identified that the economic and social impact of restricting shark fin
transactions, such as shark fin soup, is minimal; This report recommends moving to the next step
which is to prepare amendments to the Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw. Alternatively Council
may wish to defer directing staff to prepare the amendments pending the outcome of the UBCM
discussions.
“Original signed by E.S. (Liz) Holitzki”
_______________________________________________
Prepared by: E. S. (Liz) Holitzki
Director: Licences, Permits and Bylaws
“Original signed by Frank Quinn”
_______________________________________________
Approved by: Frank Quinn, MBA, P.Eng
General Manager, Public Works & Development Services
“Original signed by J.L. (Jim) Rule”
_______________________________________________
Concurrence: J.L. (Jim) Rule
Chief Administrative Office
LH/jd
Appendix I – North Vancouver City Shark Fin Harvesting resolution to UBCM
Appendix II – Port Moody Ban on Possession, Sale, Trade & Distribution of Shark Fins
resolution to UBCM