The Chinese Benevolent Association site on Agnes Street is currently being used as an off-leash area for dogs, but a more respectful use for the site will be considered.
At Monday's committee of the whole meeting, council considered a progress report about the Chinese reconciliation process that resulted in a September 2010 apology for the city's discriminatory treatment of the Chinese community in the early days.
"It's a process we are committed to," said Coun. Bob Osterman. "We want to make sure it is done properly."
The city embarked on the process in response to requests made by Bill Chu, founder of the Canadians for Reconciliation Society.
Osterman was among those who recently joined Chu when he called on the B.C. government to take similar action.
"Bill is very appreciative of the work New Westminster has done," Osterman said. "We have done it properly."
The City of New Westminster's apology came after an extensive review by city staff of city records from 1860 to 1926.
"The city is actively working towards the other steps in support of reconciliation with the Chinese community, including creating a memorial on the New Westminster Secondary School site and exploring appropriate uses for the former Chinese Benevolent Association site at 824 Agnes St.," said the report.
"It is also augmenting the research and developing ways of demarcating the boundaries of the former Chinatowns and documenting and possibly protecting Chinese artifacts that have been unearthed during excavation work."
A dog park was created on the downtown site in 2009 as part of a nuisance abatement strategy meant to deter criminal activity and loitering.
City staff retain the services of a landscape architect to explore appropriate uses for the site, which could include a Chinese garden and historic artifacts and interpretive signage to tell the story of Chinese settlement in New Westminster.
This work will be included in the city's 2012 capital plan.
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