CITY OF VANCOUVER

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

May 2, 2000

A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Tuesday, May 2, 2000, at 2:00 p.m., in the Council Chamber, Third Floor, City Hall.

PRESENT: Mayor Philip Owen

Councillor Fred Bass
Councillor Jennifer Clarke
Councillor Lynne Kennedy
Councillor Daniel Lee
Councillor Tim Louis
Councillor Gordon Price
Councillor George Puil
Councillor Sam Sullivan

ABSENT: Councillor Don Lee (Leave of Absence)

Councillor Sandy McCormick (Leave of Absence)

CITY MANAGER'S
OFFICE: Judy Rogers, City Manager

CITY CLERK'S
OFFICE: Ulli S. Watkiss, City Clerk

Gail Johnson, Meeting Coordinator

PRAYER

The proceedings in the Council Chamber were opened with a prayer read by the City Clerk.

PROCLAMATION

Emergency Preparedness Week - The Mayor read a proclamation recognizing the week of May 1 - 7, 2000 as Emergency Preparedness Week, in acknowledgement of thepublic benefit provided by the emergency planning and response activities of volunteers, industry and government throughout the Province. The Mayor also explained that various public events will be taking place in the City, during this week.

"IN CAMERA" MEETING

MOVED by Cllr. Sullivan,
SECONDED by Cllr. Bass,

THAT Council will go into a meeting later this day which is closed to the public, pursuant to Section 165.2 of the Vancouver Charter, to discuss matters related to paragraphs:

(a) personal information about an identifiable individual who holds or is being considered for a position as an officer, employee or agent of the city or another position appointed by the city.

(e) the acquisition, disposition or expropriation of land or improvements, if the Council considers that disclosure might reasonably be expected to harm the interests of the city.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

ITEMS ARISING FROM THE "IN CAMERA" MEETING OF APRIL 18, 2000

· Gift of Property to the City - 3607 Cameron Avenue
Council agreed to accept a donation of the lot at 3607 Cameron Avenue.

· Appointments to Vacancies to Civic Agencies
Council approved appointments to vacancies on the following civic agencies:

- Fire and Rescue Services Advisory Committee
- Urban Design Panel
- Vancouver City Planning Commission.

· Appointment of Deputy Chief License Inspector of Co-ordinated Enforcement
Council approved the appointment of Barbara Windsor as Deputy Chief License Inspector.

· 1998-1999 Memorandum of Agreement between the City of Vancouver and IATSE Local 118
Council approved the Memorandum of Agreement covering employees represented by IATSE Local 118, for the period January 1, 1998 to December 31, 1999.

· The Old Taylor Manor - 951 Boundary Road
Council instructed staff to invite the two organizations who are interested in leasing Taylor Manor: Vancouver Richmond Health Board/Andrew Boyd and Covenant House, to develop their proposals and attend a selection process with City staff. Staff will report back to Council with a recommendation.

ADOPTION OF MINUTES

1. Regular Council

(City Services & Budgets)
April 6, 2000

MOVED by Cllr. Puil,
SECONDED by Cllr. Sullivan,

THAT the foregoing Minutes be approved.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

2. Regular Council

(Planning & Environment)
April 6, 2000

MOVED by Cllr. Kennedy,
SECONDED by Cllr. Price,

THAT the foregoing Minutes be approved.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

3. Business License Hearing

(Van's Grocery)
April 17, 2000

MOVED by Cllr. Price,
SECONDED by Cllr. Clarke,

THAT the foregoing Minutes be approved.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

4. Regular Council

April 18, 2000

MOVED by Cllr. Louis,
SECONDED by Cllr. Bass,

THAT the foregoing Minutes be approved.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Cllr. Price,
SECONDED by Cllr. Clarke,

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

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

REPORT REFERENCE

1. Emergency Preparedness

April 14, 2000 File: 3601/RTS: 1444

Patti Marfleet, Director of Risk & Emergency Management, with the aid of audio visual equipment, referred to the Summary Report dated April 14, 2000, contained in the Council package, which provided an overview of the contents of the following companion reports:

(i) Administrative Report dated April 6, 2000, "Emergency Management Priorities"

(ii) Administrative Report dated April 18, 2000, "Seismic Hazard Abatement for Privately Owned Buildings"

(iii) Administrative Report dated April 17, 2000, "Seismic Assessment of City Buildings for Use as Emergency Shelters - Appointment of Consultant"

(iv) Administrative Report dated April 14, 2000, "Joint Emergency Liaison Committee Annual Report".

Ms. Marfleet explained that the recommendations contained in the reports represent priorities which will continue to advance the City's emergency planning and preparedness.
John Robertson, City Building Inspector, provided a review of the report entitled "Seismic Hazard Abatement for Privately Owned Buildings", with the aid of audio visual equipment.

The Mayor explained that Council workshops on the subject matter were pending, and following further discussion with interested parties in the community, the reports would be re-submitted for Council's consideration.

MOVED by Cllr. Puil,

THAT the Report Reference on Emergency Preparedness be received for information.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

CITY MANAGER'S ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS

1. Strathcona Park Capital Funding

April 4, 2000 File: 8024/RTS: 1408

MOVED by Cllr. Puil,

A. THAT Council provide $400,000 from Hendersen Development (Canada) Ltd. pay-in-lieu land purchase fund for the upgrade at Strathcona Park.

B. THAT $400,000 be reimbursed from the $1.5 million from the Hendersen Development (Canada) Ltd. pay-in-lieu park development fund when it becomes available to the City.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

2. Authority to Travel to Portland, Oregon

April 17, 2000 File: 1254/RTS: 1438

MOVED by Cllr. Sullivan,

THAT Council authorize Councillor Gordon Price to travel to Portland, Oregon to attend the Congress for the New Urbanism from June 15 - 18, 2000, at an estimated cost of $1,765.

- CARRIED

(Councillor Louis opposed)

3. 2000 Childcare Grants Allocation - Report 1 of 3

April 17, 2000 File: 2402/RTS: 1402

The City Manager introduced Carol Ann Young, the new Childcare Coordinator for the City.

MOVED by Cllr. Clarke,

A. THAT Council approve 11 City-wide Childcare Support Service grants totalling $249,663 as listed in the Administrative Report dated April 17, 2000; source of funds: 2000 Childcare Grants Funds, 2000 Operating Budget.

B. THAT Council approve one Administration of City-owned Childcare Facilities grant of $ 64,750 to the Vancouver Society of Children's Centres; source of funds: 2000 Childcare Grants Funds, 2000 Operating Budget.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY AND
BY THE REQUIRED MAJORITY

4. Greenways - Ontario Route Approval and Bikeways Staffing

March 7, 2000 File: 5767/1375/RTS: 1331

MOVED by Cllr. Price,

A. THAT Council approve the route of the Ontario Greenway along Ontario Street from False Creek north of 1^st Avenue to Kent Avenue South and instruct staff to begin a public consultation on the greenway design with a report back to Council for design approval.

B. THAT the existing CUPE 15 positions: Temporary Full Time Landscape Architect in the Greenways Branch and the auxiliary Engineering Assistant III in Neighbourhood Transportation be confirmed as Regular Full Time, and costs for both positions continue to be recovered through Engineering overhead with no increase to the operating budget.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

5. Purchase of Additional Backhoe

April 13, 2000 File: 5103/RTS: 1425

MOVED by Cllr. Louis,

THAT Council approve the allocation of a $115,000 loan from the Truck Plant Account to add one backhoe complete with breaker to the Streets Operations Fleet.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

6. Theatre Rental Rates: September 1, 2000 to August 31, 2001

April 18, 2000 File: 4251/RTS 1436

Rae Ackerman, Director of Civic Theatres, responded to questions of Council.

MOVED by Cllr. Puil,

A. THAT Council approve the Schedule of Rental Rates for Civic Theatres, as detailed in Appendix "A" of the Administrative Report dated April 18, 2000, effective September 1, 2000.

B. THAT Council approve an increase in the funding for grants equal to theatre rent for the last four months of 2000 to offset this rental rate increase, if needed; source of funds to be Contingency Reserve.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

CITY MANAGER'S POLICY REPORTS

1. Brunette Basin Watershed Plan

April 18, 2000 File: 3206/RTS: 1399

MOVED by Cllr. Puil,

A. THAT the goals, objectives and guiding principles in the draft Brunette Basin Watershed Plan be taken into consideration when carrying out City activities in the Still Creek drainage basin.

B. THAT the establishment of a regional watershed coordinating committee be endorsed to help facilitate current programs and the development of new ones in accordance with the proposed strategic management options listed in Appendix A of the Administrative Report dated April 18, 2000, and that staff be authorized to participate for the purpose of coordinating and facilitating watershed related projects and partnerships.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Cllr. Sullivan,

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. Daniel Lee,

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

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

BY-LAWS

1. A By-law respecting the prevention and suppression of Fire, the regulation of Dangerous Goods and Explosives and the administration of the Fire Department (New Fire By-law) By-law No. 8191
MOVED by Cllr. Daniel Lee,
SECONDED by Cllr. Louis,

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

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

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. Daniel Lee,
SECONDED by Cllr. Louis,

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 UNANIMOUSLY

2. A By-law to amend By-law No. 4450, being the License By-law (Deletion of Fire Extinguishing Provisions for Self-Service Stations) By-law No. 8192
MOVED by Cllr. Daniel Lee,
SECONDED by Cllr. Louis,

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

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

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. Daniel Lee,
SECONDED by Cllr. Louis,

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 UNANIMOUSLY

3. A By-law to amend By-law No. 3575, being the Zoning and Development By-law (Rezoning DEOD to CD-1; 55-67 East Hastings Street) By-law No. 8193
MOVED by Cllr. Louis,
SECONDED by Cllr. Kennedy,

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

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

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. Louis,
SECONDED by Cllr. Kennedy,

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 UNANIMOUSLY

(Councillors Price, Sullivan and the Mayor excused from voting on By-law 3)

4. A By-law to amend By-law No. 6066, being the Vehicles for Hire By-law(Amendment re Horse-Drawn Carriage Licensing) By-law No. 8194
MOVED by Cllr. Clarke,
SECONDED by Cllr. Daniel Lee,

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

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

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. Clarke,
SECONDED by Cllr. Daniel Lee,

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 UNANIMOUSLY

MOTIONS

A. Sign By-law (Billboards) File: 2851

MOVED by Cllr. Louis,
SECONDED by Cllr. Bass,

WHEREAS, Council adopted a motion on November 26, 1996 that "staff provide a report back in 18 months on the impacts of the (billboard) by-law, in particular noting any problems and whether there has been a marked increase in billboards";

AND WHEREAS, the Kensington/Cedar Cottage CityPlan Committee and numerous residents have complained about the proliferation of billboards in their neighbourhoods and the intrusion of large billboards near their residences;

AND WHEREAS, the revised 1996 by-law prohibits billboards in Coal Harbour, Downtown South, Burrard Slopes and False Creek;

AND WHEREAS, the Kensington/Cedar Cottage CityPlan Committee has requested that billboards be banned in its neighbourhoods;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT, City staff be directed to complete a review of the billboard by-law as revised within the next three months, with particular reference to:

1) the location of billboards in relation to private residences,
2) the impact on local businesses,
3) the impact of billboards on the goals of CityPlan, specifically the residential environment, the quality of life and the design of streets;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, the by-law be amended to add Kensington/Cedar Cottage to those neighbourhoods in which billboards are prohibited;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, City staff devise a fair and equitable system for other neighbourhoods to determine whether or not they want a ban or limit on billboards, and to determine a reasonable time for billboards to be phased out if a ban is approved.

- postponed

AMENDMENT MOVED by Cllr. Bass,
SECONDED by Cllr. Louis,

THAT the following line be deleted from the foregoing motion:

"AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, the by-law be amended to add Kensington/Cedar Cottage to those neighbourhoods in which billboards are prohibited;"

- postponed

POSTPONEMENT MOVED by Cllr. Clarke,
SECONDED by Cllr. Kennedy,

THAT consideration of the foregoing motions on the Sign By-law be postponed pending the result of the Public Hearing on June 13, 2000, at which time an amendment to the Sign By-law, Billboards Section 10.3.2, will be considered, as approved by Council at its meeting of April 18, 2000.

- CARRIED

(Councillors Bass and Louis opposed)

B. Agenda Late Distributions File: 1250

MOVED by Cllr. Bass,
SECONDED by Cllr. Louis,

THAT Councillor Louis be granted leave to speak more than once to the motion under consideration, noting that Council is no longer in Committee of the Whole.

- CARRIED

(Councillors Daniel Lee, Puil and Mayor Owen opposed)

MOVED by Cllr. Bass,
SECONDED by Cllr. Louis,

WHEREAS, in seven Council Meetings since January 18, 2000, at least 12 late distribution items, few of which can be described as "extreme urgent matters", have been appended to Council's Agenda after the Thursday distribution of packages to Councillors, and after the Agenda has been posted on the City's website;

AND WHEREAS, late distribution Agenda items seriously hampers the informed participation of the public in Council proceedings, and limits the opportunity for Councillors to conduct the public's business;

AND WHEREAS, on April 15, 1986, Council requested that late distribution be confined to "extreme urgent matters only", and the Mayor of the day requested the City Clerk to take appropriate action;

AND WHEREAS, on June 23, 1998, Council passed a motion moving Agenda package distribution from Tuesday to Thursday to avoid late distribution of materials;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council Agenda packages be distributed to Councillors and posted on the City's website on the Tuesday prior to regular Council Meetings;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT no late distribution items be added to the Agenda except those items authorized by the City Manager to be extremely urgent.

- LOST

(Councillors Clarke, Kennedy, Daniel Lee, Price, Puil,
Sullivan and Mayor Owen opposed)

C. The British Columbia Regiment File: 1263

MOVED by Cllr. Kennedy,
SECONDED by Cllr. Daniel Lee,

WHEREAS The British Columbia Regiment is the senior Militia regiment in British Columbia, having served continuously since 1883, three years before the incorporation of this City;

AND WHEREAS the Regiment is associated with The Irish Fusiliers of Canada (The Vancouver Regiment) and affiliated with HMCS Vancouver and is an integral part of the lifeand times of this City;

AND WHEREAS the Regiment received the Freedom of the City on 26 April 1983 in recognition of its long and courageous service, from the Boer War to Kosovo, including thirty-six battle honours, five Victoria Crosses and over 7000 casualties, of whom 2173 died;

AND WHEREAS the Regiment has had its headquarters, continuously from 1901, at the historic Beatty Street Drill Hall in the heart of the City, and participates fully in the life and times of the City, primarily by offering a positive, healthy, multi-cultural environment to young citizens from the age of twelve;

AND WHEREAS it is evident that developments which may be planned to the immediate South and East of the Drill Hall can be so ordered as to complement, and indeed enhance, the operations of the Regiment and the physical integrity of the building;

AND WHEREAS the Department of National Defence has withdrawn all Regular Force army units from British Columbia, making this the only region of Canada so denuded and leaving the province in general, and Canada's third largest city in particular, dependent on the Militia in the event of any local disaster;

AND WHEREAS there are plans in preparation in Ottawa for the further restructuring of the Army, which will affect the Militia directly;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Mayor and Council of the City of Vancouver express full support for the retention of the British Columbia Regiment in the Beatty Street Drill Hall and, further, recommend strongly that the Militia in British Columbia be strengthened and properly equipped to fulfil its role in aid to the civil power in an emergency.

- CARRIED

(Councillors Bass and Louis opposed)

D. World Trade Organization File: 6001

MOVED by Cllr. Puil,
SECONDED by Cllr. Kennedy,

WHEREAS, the recent World Trade Organization (WTO) meetings in Seattle to initiate "The Millennium Round" brought public attention to the importance of trade issues to the quality of life people experience in their local community. While the meetings did not reach agreement on an agenda for the next round of WTO trade talks, discussions on the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) will still take place over the next three years as part of the "built-in agenda" agreed to at the founding of the WTO in 1995. Discussions on this Agreement may result in the inclusion of many of the features of the now defunct Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI), opposed by Vancouver City Council by resolution on April 28, 1998;

AND WHEREAS, the proposed changes to GATS are of concern to local governments as they could affect existing jurisdiction and authorities, and also could result in significant administrative burdens and costs;

AND WHEREAS, the current GATS is a "bottom-up" agreement (each affected sector, such as Construction services, is identified), but proposed changes to the Agreement's structure (to a possible "top-down" or "horizontal" structure) would expand the Agreement's application;

AND WHEREAS, the Federal Government has neither alerted nor consulted local governments regarding these issues, and as a result, citizens and taxpayers of Canadian municipalities have had little access to information and informed debate on proposed changes to GATS;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED

(1) THAT City Council urge the Government of Canada to consult widely and in depth with the people of Canada, especially and including municipal councils, before taking any further action on the GATS;

(2) THAT the City of Vancouver, while recognizing trade can have beneficial impacts on our region, urge the Prime Minister to have Canada file a permanent and explicit exemption in the GATS limiting application to areas of Federal jurisdiction to ensure sub-national jurisdictions maintain local flexibility and control over the delivery of public services;

(3) THAT the Government of British Columbia convene the Legislative Committee to hold public hearings on the impact of the WTO/GATS agenda on British Columbia municipalities, including an invitation to the Federal WTO/GATS negotiator, to provide background information and answer pertinent questions;

(4) THAT the Government of British Columbia establish a Trade Advisory Committee for stakeholders for ongoing consultation on international trade issues;

(5) THAT the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) be urged to dedicate staff to monitoring WTO discussions and alert Canadian municipalities of any encroachment on their jurisdictions;

(6) THAT the City of Vancouver Council state their support for the UBCM letter to the Honourable Minister Pettigrew, dated December 16, 1999 ("Trade Negotiations and the Impacts on Local Governments in Canada");

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT a copy of this motion be:

(i) circulated to Members of Parliament representing areas within the Greater Vancouver Regional District, with the request that they endorse the City's action;
(ii) forwarded to Lower Mainland municipalities for their support;
(iii) made available to the public;
(iv) forwarded to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Executive for endorsement; and
(v) forwarded to the UBCM Executive for their information.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

ENQUIRIES AND OTHER MATTERS

1. G.V.R.D. File: 3206

Councillor Kennedy provided information on recent awards bestowed on the G.V.R.D. for excellence in Solid Waste Management.

2. Leave of Absence File: 1254

MOVED by Cllr. Bass,
SECONDED by Cllr. Kennedy,

THAT a Leave of Absence be granted for Councillor Louis for the period May 22 to June 4, 2000.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

3. Hepatitis Awareness Month File: 4101

Councillor Bass announced that the City of Vancouver has recognized the seriousness of the hepatitis epidemic and declared May as Hepatitis Awareness Month.

The Council adjourned at 4:40 p.m.

* * * * *

(c) 1998 City of Vancouver