REPORT TO COUNCIL

STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
ON CITY SERVICES AND BUDGETS

DECEMBER 14, 2000

A Regular Meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on City Services and Budgets was held on Thursday, December 14, 2000, at 9:30 a.m., in Committee Room No. 1, Third Floor, City Hall.

PRESENT:	Councillor George Puil, Chair Mayor Philip Owen Councillor Fred Bass Councillor Jennifer Clarke, Vice Chair Councillor Lynne Kennedy Councillor Daniel Lee Councillor Don Lee Councillor Tim Louis Councillor Sandy McCormick Councillor Gordon Price Councillor Sam Sullivan
CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE:	Judy Rogers, City Manager
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE:	Denise Salmon, Meeting Coordinator

RECOMMENDATION

1. 2000 Operating Budget Status Report File: 1605

The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated November 30, 2000, in which the General Manager of Corporate Services/Director of Finance in consultation with the Corporate Management Team, informed Council of the status of the revenue and expenditure appropriations in the 2000 Operating Budget and recommended several adjustments that reflect revised expectations. The report also provided a summary of the impact of the recent work stoppage on the Operating Budget.

Ken Bayne, Director of Financial Planning and Treasury and Jennifer Beresford, Manager of Budgets, reviewed the report, and responded to questions related to budget shortfall, impact of energy costs and mandatory overtime for exempt staff during the strike.

The City Manager agreed to discuss golf course revenue opportunities with the Park Board. Engineering Services staff agreed to look into potential compatibility problems with the City's parking meters accepting the newly minted Canadian coins.

The following motion by Councillor Clarke was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,

RECOMMENDED

A. THAT Council approve the proposed adjustments to the 2000 Operating Budget revenue and expenditure appropriations as outlined in this Administrative Report dated November 30, 2000.

B. THAT any shortfall in the 2000 Operating Budget at the end of the year, including any deficiencies in the Park Board revenue programs as contemplated in the Global Budget arrangement, be funded first, from the net savings from the 2000 work stoppage, and then, if necessary, the Director of Finance report back to Council on the year end position with recommended actions to maintain a balanced budget.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

2. Adjustments to Residential Recycling, Garbage and Yard

Trimmings Collection File: 3758

The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated November 28, 2000, in which the General Manager of Engineering Services recommended adjustments to residential recycling, garbage and yard trimmings collection.

Also before the Committee for consideration was a memorandum dated December 13, 2000, (on file) from the General Manager of Engineering Services, regarding the impact of the strike on solid waste services and the projected year end financial state of the solid waste utility.

Brian Davies, Assistant City Engineer, Solid Waste and Kevin van Vliet, Solid Waste Management Engineer, with the aid of handouts, provided Council with an overview of the report. Engineering Services staff responded to questions related to the definition of dwelling unit and revenue from the City's recycling programs. Staff also provided a rationale for the recommended charges per unit as outlined in the report. The December 13th memorandum referred to above provided Council with additional information related to the impact of the strike and outlined revenues generated from improvements to commodity prices for paper.

Ken Bayne, Director of Financial Planning and Treasury, and Dave Rudberg, General Manager of Engineering Services, responded to questions related to the City's Solid Waste Capital reserve.

A Council member requested staff consider possible incentives to encourage use of a single can, as opposed to the current two can limit, for single family residential dwellings.

The following motion by Councillor Clarke was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,

RECOMMENDED

A. THAT the 2001 residential recycling fees be determined by the addition of a single stop charge of $13 per property or "stop" plus a unit rate of $13 per dwelling unit, and that carryout and can account fees be applied as per Schedule B in Appendix II of the Administrative Report dated November 28, 2000.

B. THAT the 2001 Solid Waste Utility Fee for Garbage and Yard Waste collection be set at $123 per Basic Customer Unit ($95 for garbage and $28 for yard trimmings) as per Schedule B in Appendix II of the Administrative Report dated November 28, 2000. This fee includes a change to funding the Yard Waste Residential Drop-Off deficit from surplus commercial garbage revenues.

C. THAT commencing January 1, 2001 extra garbage service be available for purchase on an annual basis in single can increments at a cost of $48 per can per year.

Clause 2 Cont'd

D. THAT Engineering Services arrange with local retailers to have the City's garbage stickers available for purchase at local retail outlets.

E. THAT the limit for yard waste collection be increased to four items per collection period.

F. THAT commencing January 1, 2002 mandatory residential garbage collection service be assigned on a per dwelling unit basis as outlined in the Administrative Report dated November 28, 2000 to all residential properties not receiving collection via commercial container and that two temporary (6 months) staff be hired in 2001 to implement this program. Staff funding and implementation cost to come from the Solid Waste Utility fee for garbage collection.

G. THAT the City's can account program be phased out between July 1 and December 31, 2001 to coincide with the recommended improvements in accessing City garbage collection services.

H. THAT the Director of Legal Services make the necessary amendments to Bylaw No. 7832 to incorporate the changes to the solid waste collection system as outlined in the Administrative Report dated November 28, 2000 and approved by Council.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

The following motion by Councillor Louis was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,

RECOMMENDED

I. THAT the memorandum dated December 13, 2000, from the General Manager of Engineering Services, regarding the impact of the strike on solid waste services and the projected year end financial state of the solid waste utility, be received for information.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

3. Establishment of 2001 Sewer Rates File: 1755

The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated December 1, 2000, in which the General Manager of Engineering Services and General Manager of Corporate Services recommended sanitary sewer user fees for 2001 and recommended a 4.9% increase in the public sewer connection fees for 2001.

Ken Bayne, Director of Financial Planning and Treasury, provided Council with an overview of the report and responded to questions on the difference between storm sewer and sanitary sewer costs. Mr. Bayne advised storm sewer costs are not part of the user fees referred to in this report.

The following motion by the Mayor was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,

RECOMMENDED

A. THAT the 2001 consumption based sanitary sewer user fees be set as per Appendix 1 of the Administrative Report dated December 1, 2000.

B. THAT the 2001 public sewer connection fees be set as per Appendix 2 of the Administrative Report dated December 1, 2000.

C. THAT the Sewer and Watercourse By-law be amended to address the anomalies relating to industrial wastewater dischargers as described in the Administrative Report dated December 1, 2000.

D. THAT the Director of Legal Services be instructed to bring forward for enactment such amendments to the Sewer and Watercourse By-law as are required to implement Recommendations A, B and C of the Administrative Report dated December 1, 2000.

E. THAT the Report to Council on the timing and options for implementation of the lot-size sewer utility fee be deferred.

- CARRIED

(Councillors Bass and Louis opposed.)

4. Annual Review of Water Rates for 2001 File: 1755

The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated November 29, 2000, in which the Director of Finance and General Manager of Engineering Services recommended a general increase in water charges for 2001 to fund GVWD and City water system costs.

Peter Judd, Assistant City Engineer, Water and Sewers and Brian Crowe, Waterworks Engineer, reviewed the report and responded to questions related to the flat rate increase on metered service.

The following motion by the Councillor Kennedy was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,

RECOMMENDED

A. THAT Council approve an increase in water rates for 2001 of approximately 2% as detailed in this Administrative Report dated November 29, 2000:

… for single dwelling units be increased from $256 to $261,

… other flat water service charges for residential properties (Schedule "B"),

… flat service charges for unmetered fire service pipes (Schedule "C"),

… charges for metered water service (Schedule "D"), and

… meter service charges (Schedule "E"),

… charges for temporary water service during construction (Schedule "F")

… flat rate fees for installation of water meters (Schedule "G").

B. THAT flat rate water connection and removal fees for 2001 (Schedule "A" and Schedule "A.1") be increased by 5% as detailed in this Administrative Report dated November 29, 2000.

C. THAT Council approve an increase to the building site threshold to $95,000 consistent with the Sewer and Water Course By-law (No. 8093).

D. THAT the Director of Legal Services be instructed to bring forward the necessary amendments to the Water Works By-law for approval, including the rate changes and related revisions in this Administrative Report dated November 29, 2000.

- CARRIED

(Councillors Bass and Louis opposed.)

The Committee adjourned at 11:35 a.m.
- - - - -

CITY OF VANCOUVER

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL ON
CITY SERVICES AND BUDGETS

DECEMBER 14, 2000

A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Thursday, December 14, 2000, at 11:35 a.m., in Committee Room No. 1, Third Floor, City Hall, following the Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets meeting, to consider the recommendations of the Committee.

PRESENT:	Mayor Philip Owen Councillor Fred Bass Councillor Jennifer Clarke Councillor Lynne Kennedy Councillor Daniel Lee Councillor Don Lee Councillor Tim Louis Councillor Sandy McCormick Councillor Gordon Price Councillor George Puil Councillor Sam Sullivan
CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE:	Judy Rogers, City Manager
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE:	Denise Salmon, Meeting Coordinator

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Cllr. Don Lee,
SECONDED by Cllr. Bass,

THAT this Council resolve itself into Committee of the Whole, Mayor Owen in the chair.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Report of Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets
December 14, 2000

Council considered the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in the following clauses of the foregoing report:

Cl.1: 2000 Operating Budget Status Report
Cl. 2: Adjustments to Residential Recycling, Garbage and Yard

Trimmings Collection

Cl. 3: Establishment of 2001 Sewer Rates
Cl. 4: Annual Review of Water Rates for 2001

Clauses 1 and 2

MOVED by Cllr. Puil,

THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clauses 1 and 2 of this report, be approved.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Clauses 3 and 4

MOVED by Cllr. Puil,

THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clauses 3 and 4 of this report, be approved.

- CARRIED

(Councillors Bass and Louis opposed.)

RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Cllr. Daniel Lee,

THAT the Committee of the Whole rise and report.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

ADOPT REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Cllr. Louis,
SECONDED by Cllr. Sullivan,

THAT the report of the Committee of the Whole be adopted.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

BY-LAWS

1. A By-law to Amend By-law No. 8093, being the Sewer and Watercourse By-law

(Technical Changes Respecting Industrial Dischargers) By-law No. 8271

MOVED by Cllr. Don Lee,
SECONDED by Cllr. McCormick,

THAT the By-law be introduced and read a first time.

- CARRIED

(Councillors Bass and Louis opposed.)

The By-law was read a first time and the Presiding Officer declared the by-law open for discussion and amendment.

There being no amendments, it was

MOVED by Cllr. Don Lee,
SECONDED by Cllr. McCormick,

THAT the By-law be given second and third readings and the Mayor and City Clerk be authorized to sign and seal the By-law.

- CARRIED

(Councillors Bass and Louis opposed.)

2. A By-law to Amend By-law No. 8093, being the Sewer and Watercourse By-law

(Establishment of 2001 Sewer Use/Connection Rates) By-law No. 8272

MOVED by Cllr. Don Lee,
SECONDED by Cllr. McCormick,

THAT the By-law be introduced and read a first time.

- CARRIED

(Councillors Bass and Louis opposed.)

The By-law was read a first time and the Presiding Officer declared the by-law open for discussion and amendment.

There being no amendments, it was

MOVED by Cllr. Don Lee,
SECONDED by Cllr. McCormick,

THAT the By-law be given second and third readings and the Mayor and City Clerk be authorized to sign and seal the By-law.

- CARRIED

(Councillors Bass and Louis opposed.)

The Council adjourned at 11:40 a.m.

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