A10
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: July 11, 1995
Dept. File No. NE
TO: Vancouver City Council
FROM: Associate Director of Planning - Central Area
Director of Social Planning
Manager of the Housing Centre
SUBJECT: Consultant Selection for the
East Downtown Community Impacts Study
RECOMMENDATION
A. THAT City Spaces Consulting Limited and Domain Consulting
Limited be contracted to undertake Phase I of the East
Downtown Community Impacts Study.
B. THAT funding from Contingency Reserve for Phase I of the East
Downtown Community Impacts Study be confirmed to a maximum of
$25,000, including taxes and disbursements, for hiring
consultants and to a maximum of $5,000 for public consultation
costs, including staff overtime.
GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS
The General Manager of Community Services RECOMMENDS approval of A
and B.
COUNCIL POLICY
In February 1994 when adopting the Central Waterfront Port Lands Policy
Statement, Council also resolved:
"THAT a social impacts assessment of large development
projects, including the Port Lands project, on the communities
in the northeast sector of Downtown be completed prior to
consideration of the Port Lands Development Agreement;
AND THAT the assessment involve residents and leaders of the
affected communities."
On June 21, 1994 Council approved an outline Terms of Reference and
funding of $30,000 for Phase I of the East Downtown Community Impacts
Study.
PURPOSE
This report recommends selection of consultants and confirmation of
funding to undertake the already approved East Downtown Community
Impacts Study.BACKGROUND
The Central Area of Vancouver has been the subject of major development
initiatives since the mid 1980's. Concerns have emerged about the
impacts of new developments on the easterly portion of the downtown in
terms of worsening conditions for people within their communities or
forcing their displacement.
On June 21, 1994, Council approved an outline Terms of Reference and
funding of $30,000 for Phase I of a Community Impacts Study for the
area, which has recently been called East Downtown. It includes the
Downtown Eastside, Strathcona, Victory Square, Chinatown and Gastown
neighbourhoods.
Staff were authorized to adjust and refine the Terms of Reference as
needed through discussions with the affected communities, noting that
substantive changes will be reported back to Council for direction.
They have been modified as shown in Appendix A to reflect an August,
1995 starting date.
DISCUSSION
In May 1995, an invitation to submit proposals for Phase I of the
Impacts Study was advertised in the Vancouver Sun and Province and sent
to 8 firms which had expressed interest in the project. A total of 10
firms submitted proposals (see Appendix 'B'). All firms were evaluated
according to the following criteria:
o relevant experience
o ability to meet deadlines
o cost
o involvement of senior principals
o quality of proposal and methodology
o ability to interact with a diverse public
o familiarity with similar studies and issues.
Recommended Consultants
Staff concluded that the following proposal best satisfied the terms of
reference approved by Council:
Names: City Space Consulting Limited and
Domain Consulting Limited
Principals: Felicity Adams, Andy Hiscox and Bob Burgess
Cost: $23,500
Staff recommend this consultant group, because they offer the best
combination of experience in researching market and social housing,
social impacts, and development trends. In addition, they have a
demonstrated record of success in working with hard to reach residents
as well as business people, non-profit societies and government
agencies. Staff have checked references on a variety of relevant
projects they have undertaken for the GVRD, BC Housing Management and
the cities of Nanaimo, Prince George and Vancouver. In every instance
they have been highly recommended.Confirmation of Funding
The funding for this project was originally approved on June 21, 1994.
With the new year's budget, this allocation needs to be confirmed. This
includes the following:
$23,500 - consultants
$ 1,500 - taxes and disbursements
$ 5,000 - public consultation
for a total of $30,000 from Contingency Reserve.
IMPLEMENTATION
Staff expect the study to begin in mid-August 1995, with a report to
Council in early April, 1996. Phase II, implementation of the proposed
monitoring system, should be in place by the end of June, 1996, with a
report back on any initial proposals for mitigation measures by
September.
* * * * *