ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: July 20, 1999
Author/Local: A. Higginson/7556
RTS No.00915
CC File No. 1366

Council: September 14, 1999

TO:	Vancouver City Council
FROM:	Subdivision Approving Officer
SUBJECT:	Appointment of Deputy Approving Officer

RECOMMENDATION

THAT Mr. Tom Timm, Deputy City Engineer, be appointed Deputy Approving Officer effective October 4, 1999.

CITY MANAGER'S COMMENTS

The City Manager RECOMMENDS approval of the foregoing.

COUNCIL POLICY

Council's policy is to appoint both an Approving Officer and a Deputy Approving Officer to act in his/her absence.

PURPOSE

This report proposes to appoint a new Deputy Approving Officer.

BACKGROUND

The City's Subdivision By-law, No. 5208, provides for the designation, by resolution of Council, of a Deputy Approving Officer who is intended to act as an alternate to the Approving Officer, appointed by resolution of Council under the Land Title Act.

The Deputy acts as Approving Officer when the Approving Officer is absent from his/her duties, and usually functions in that capacity several times throughout the year, during vacation or other absences.

The role of Deputy Approving Officer was delegated to Mr. Brent MacGregor, in his former position of Deputy City Engineer, in 1994, following the resignation of the then Deputy, Mr. Tom Fletcher. It is now apparent, however, that the duties of Mr. MacGregor's new position as Deputy City Manager are impacting his ability to continue to carry out his role as Deputy Approving Officer for lengthy periods when the Approving Officer is unavailable. Beyond an upcoming vacation period when Mr. MacGregor will continue to act as Deputy Approving Officer, he has requested that a long-term replacement be found.

In 1994 it was considered that moving the Deputy role into the Engineering Department, from the Planning Department, where it had been for many years, would benefit the organization and staff, based on a broadening of perspectives and a sharing of knowledge.

This relationship has worked well. As a result, it is recommended that the role of Deputy Approving Officer remain with the Deputy City Engineer, now Mr. Tom Timm. His appointment would be effective in early October, when the Approving Officer returns from vacation.

The delay in the appointment of Mr. Timm will provide adequate time for "training" by subdivision staff, to apprise him of subdivision practises, considerations and legal precedents, as he has had no former direct experience in the subdivision review process.

CONCLUSION

Based on the foregoing, the Subdivision Approving Officer recommends that Mr. Tom Timm, be appointed as Deputy Approving Officer effective October 4, 1999.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver