Richmond Review, March 21, 2012

Page 1

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 2012

Memorial garden, museum among council goals for next three years Richmond council is open to borrowing to get facilities built, report says by Matthew Hoekstra Staff Reporter Developing a waterfront destination museum and memorial garden are among Richmond city council’s goals for the next three years. In a report Monday, civic politicians laid out their hopes and dreams for this council term—ending November 2014—offering few details of how to achieve them. Itemizing council priorities is a regular process at the start of each new term, but in a departure from the previous set of goals, new civic facilities rank high. Council has asked staff for a comprehensive facility plan, one that not only includes a museum and memorial garden, but also replacements for the No. 1 Fire Hall, Bridgeport Fire Hall, Minoru Place Activity Centre and Minoru Aquatic Centre. Coun. Harold Steves floated the concept of a waterfront museum in 2006, saying at the time it was long overdue. Three sites were identified at the

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Don Fennell photo Toshi Uchiage of the Steveston Karate Club demonstrates the form that earned him a fourth consecutive senior national men’s kata title last weekend at the Richmond Olympic Oval. More than 300 athletes from across Canada competed in the 2012 Karate Canada National Championships. See story, Page 20.

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time—Imperial Landing, the foot of No. 2 Road and Phoenix Net Loft—but now only the Phoenix site seems likely, as the other two are being developed. In 2009, the city made a push for a $45-million destination museum modelled after the Royal B.C. Museum in Victoria. City staff invested months on the concept, spent thousands on research trips and $110,000 more on consultants before council had a change of heart, citing a challenging economy, other priorities and competition for tourism dollars. A memorial garden has also long been planned. In 2003, the Memorial Park Feasibility Strategy concluded, “The timing for a memorial garden cemetery seems ideal given the rising death rate, the growing preference for cremation, the cultural preference for cremation by most residents of Asian descent, and a growing frustration with the cost, inconvenience and loss of heritage resulting from interment outside of Richmond.” In 2008, then councillor Sue HalseyBrandt criticized the city for “dragging our heels” on what would be Richmond’s answer to a cemetery. Monday’s report, from corporate planning director Lani Schultz, also revealed council would consider borrowing to get facilities built. “Given the current low interest rate environment, council members are open to considering financial strategies that include strategic borrowing opportunities to help with the pace of facility development,” Schultz said in the report.

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