This week at city council, topics such as voting divisions for the upcoming election, plans for road improvements and a crackdown on a local karaoke establishment are on the agenda.
Richmond's city council meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Monday, May 28 in council chambers at 6911 No. 3 Rd. This week, there is also a special council meeting at 4 p.m. in the Anderson Room. The public is welcome to attend or watch an online broadcast of the meetings. Here’s a deeper look at these three agenda items:
Voting divisions for the 2018 election
There’s no doubt that Richmond has changed in the last four years. In fact, population alone has increased by nearly eight per cent — or by more than 16,500 people — since 2014.
As a result and with a municipal election coming up in October, the City of Richmond is reassessing the way the city is split into voting divisions, particularly keeping in mind that some areas have experienced significant population growth.
According to a staff report to the general purposes committee from earlier this month, voters are required to cast their ballot at a specific voting place on election day, which helps to balance and distribute the resources needed for the election. As a result, the divisions must have “balanced and manageable portions of the local population.”
At Monday’s council meeting, city council is expected to approve the creation of four new voting divisions as well as some adjustments to current voting divisions across Richmond.
“The intention behind the establishment of new divisions, or the adjustment of existing divisions, is to provide a better experience for the electorate and a more manageable election operation,” said the staff report.
Proposed road improvements for 2018
In partnership with ICBC, city staff are recommending several road improvement projects be taken on for 2018.
Some of these improvements include:
- Special crosswalks at No. 1 Road and Tucker Avenue, Cedarbridge Way and Elmbridge Way, Woodwards Road and Railway Avenue, Deagle Road and Williams Road, 8200-block of Ackroyd Road
- Installation of pedestrian signals at some locations
- New traffic signal at Kwantlen Street and Lansdowne Road
- Installation of LED street signs, traffic video cameras and multi-use pathways, pedestrian pathways and traffic calming measures in several locations.
Crackdown of Zodiac Karaoke bar
At a special council meeting scheduled for 4 p.m., council will consider suspending the license of Richmond-based Zodiac Karaoke for 10 days.
Holding a business license since 2013, Zodiac Karaoke has been issued warnings and fines on multiple occasions for allowing smoking inside the building — which violates a Richmond health bylaw.
“Despite the insistence of the business owners that they will no longer allow smoking...it is felt that they have received enough warnings and a business licence suspension is warranted at this time,” says a staff report to council.
“Staff recommend a suspension for a period of 10 days, encompassing two weekends, for a period of June 1, 2018 to June 10, 2018, inclusive.”
