REPORT TO COUNCIL
STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
ON CITY SERVICES AND BUDGETS
MARCH 8, 2001
A Regular Meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on City Services and Budgets was held on Thursday, March 8, 2001, at 9:30 a.m., in Committee Room No. 1, Third Floor, City Hall.
PRESENT: |
Councillor Jennifer Clarke, Acting Chair
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ABSENT: |
Councillor Lynne Kennedy (Leave of Absence)
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CITY MANAGER'S
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Judy Rogers, City Manager
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CITY CLERK'S OFFICE: |
Denise Salmon, Meeting Coordinator |
ADOPTION OF MINUTES
The Minutes of the Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets meetings of February 15 and 22, 2001, were adopted.
RECOMMENDATION
1. 2001 Property Tax Options:
Three-Year Land Averaging for Property Tax Calculations File: 1552
The Committee had before it a Policy Report dated February 16, 2001, in which the General Manager of Corporate Services/Director of Finance reviewed the effects of utilizing three-year land averaging, compared to the traditional taxation system based upon market assessment values, in calculating 2001 property taxes for Class 01 and Class 06 and recommended that three-year land assessment averaging continue as the preferred taxation option for these classes in 2001.
Ken Bayne, Director of Financial Planning and Treasury, provided an overview of the report and responded to questions on the impact of changes in property values over economic cycles.
Cay Ford, Advisory Group on Property Taxation noted the averaging offers advantages in a slight way to properties of greater value; however the other concern of the Group was the cost for production of an averaged taxation roll. Mr. Ford further advised if the averaging were removed no group would lose unless property values decreased.
The following motion by the Mayor was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
A. THAT Council approve the continuation of three-year land value averaging as the 2001 property tax calculation methodology for residential (Class 1) and business/other (Class 6) properties as discussed in the Policy Report dated February 16, 2001, and that the property taxes for all other classes (Classes 2, 4, 5, 8 and 9) be calculated using market assessed values.
B. THAT the Director of Legal Services, in consultation with the Director of Finance, be instructed to submit a by-law to Council, for approval before March 31st of this year, which sets out the particulars of averaging in accordance with the provisions of the Vancouver Charter.
Clause 1 Cont'd
C. THAT Council instruct the Director of Finance to make appropriate arrangements with the BC Assessment Authority for the production of an averaged 2001 taxation roll, at an approximate cost of $20,000; source of funding to be the 2001 Operating Budget.
- CARRIED
(Councillors Bass and Louis opposed.)
2. Canada-BC Infrastructure Program File: 5768
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated February 24, 2001, in which the General Manager of Engineering Services in consultation with the Capital Plan Committee presented an overview of recently released information on the Canada-B.C. Infrastructure Program, and recommended approval of two prioritized lists of projects for submission to the program.
Circulated at the meeting was a memorandum dated March 7, 2001, (on file) from the General Manager of Engineering Services, which outlined additional information and a revised Table 2 project listing and ranking of "Other Projects" to the above noted report.
Dave Rudberg, General Manager of Engineering Services, provided an overview of the report and addendum memorandum. Brent McGegor, Deputy City Manager, and Peter Judd, Assistant City Engineer, Water and Sewers provided details on project rankings and sewer applications respectively. Ken Bayne, Director of Financial Planning and Treasury, was present to respond to questions of a financial nature.
Staff responded to questions regarding the criteria set by the Federal Government for grants and the criteria used by staff to determine priorities for upgrading sewer outfalls and replacement of the City's aging sewer systems. Discussion followed on expansion of the Britannia Library and the search for an appropriate location for proposed Mount Pleasant Community Centre and Library complex.
Clause 2 Cont'd
The following motion by the Mayor was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
A. THAT Council endorse the prioritized table of Green and Other Local Government Infrastructure Projects, for submission to the Canada - B.C. Infrastructure Works Program, and authorize staff to submit applications to the Provincial Government.
B. THAT Council endorse the community-initiated projects contained in the prioritized table of Other Local Government Infrastructure Projects, for submission by the community organizations to the Canada - B.C. Infrastructure Works Program, noting that such endorsement does not commit the City to funding the local share of the capital costs or to the ongoing operating costs, beyond those already approved by Council.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
3. Grant Requests from On-Street Special Events and
Civic Events Policy File: 4201
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated February 26, 2001, in which the Director, Office of Cultural Affairs in consultation with the General Manager of Engineering Services provided for Council's consideration two funding requests for grants toward special events planned for the near future; and, recommended that Council direct Staff to review and report back on civic policy and practice regarding "civic" events as well as annual and other special events in the city. The City Manager concurred and noted the increase in number of requests for assistance with events of various kinds.
Lorenz von Fersen, Cultural Planner, and Burke Taylor, Director, Office of Cultural Affairs, were present to respond to questions.
Deborah Jones and Bill Watson, Canada Place Corporation, spoke in support of a one-time grant of up to $13,300 to Canada Place Corporation to pay for the cost of engineering and police services for the Canada Day Celebrations. Ms. Jones advised of reduced funding from the Federal Government, and the need to move this year's event outdoors because of lack of indoor space due to a convention booking. The City would receive recognition with logos.
Clause 3 Cont'd
Leanore Sali, Gastown Business Improvement Society, spoke in support of a one-time grant of $24,000 from the City, as opposed to the $5,000 recommended by staff, to assist with the celebration of the City's birthday in Gastown. Ms. Sali noted the need for the requested amount to put on the envisioned expanded event and advised this could not proceed with less funding. Ms. Sali offered to work with staff to plan for future birthday events.
Council members discussed options for funding future City birthday celebrations. Muriel Honey, Manager, Films and Special Events Office advised the recommended $5,000 was for policing and engineering costs; a smaller celebration would require less money for these services.
The following motion by Councillor Louis was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
A. THAT Council approve a one-time grant of up to $13,300 to Canada Place Corporation to pay for the cost of engineering and police services for the Canada Day celebrations, an on-street event on July 1, 2001. Source of funds to be Contingency Reserve.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
The following motion by the Mayor was put.
B. THAT Council approve a one-time grant of up to $5,000 to the Gastown Business Improvement Society to pay for the cost of engineering and police services for a Civic Birthday Celebration on April 7 or 8th 2001. Source of funds to be Contingency Reserve.
- carried
Clause 3 Cont'd
The following amendment by Councillor Bass was put and lost.
THAT the $5,000 referred to in Recommendation B above, be amended to read $24,000.
- LOST
(Councillors Clarke, Daniel Lee, Don Lee, Louis, McCormick, Price, Sullivan
and the Mayor opposed.)
The amendment having lost, the Mayor's motion was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
B. THAT Council approve a one-time grant of up to $5,000 to the Gastown Business Improvement Society to pay for the cost of engineering and police services for a Civic Birthday Celebration on April 7 or 8th 2001. Source of funds to be Contingency Reserve.
- CARRIED
(Councillors Bass and Louis opposed.)
The following motion by Councillor Louis was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
C. THAT Council request Staff review existing policy and practice with respect to "civic" events as well as annual and other special events, and report back with policy options and budget implications.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
The Committee adjourned at 11:30 a.m.
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CITY OF VANCOUVER
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL ON
CITY SERVICES AND BUDGETS
MARCH 8, 2001
A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Thursday, March 8, 2001, at 11:31 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
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ABSENT: |
Councillor Lynne Kennedy (Leave of Absence)
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CITY MANAGER'S
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Judy Rogers, City Manager
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CITY CLERK'S OFFICE: |
Denise Salmon, Meeting Coordinator |
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Cllr. Don Lee,
SECONDED by Cllr. McCormick,
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
March 8, 2001
Council considered the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in the following clauses of the foregoing report:
Cl.1: 2001 Property Tax Options:
Three-Year Land Averaging for Property Tax Calculations
Cl.2: Canada-BC Infrastructure Program
Cl.3: Grant Requests from On-Street Special Events and Civic Events Policy
Clause 1
MOVED by Cllr. Clarke,
THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clause 1 of this report, be approved.
- CARRIED
(Councillors Bass and Louis opposed.)
Clause 2
MOVED by Cllr. Clarke,
THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clause 2 of this report, be approved.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
Clause 3
MOVED by Cllr. Clarke,
THAT recommendation A of the Committee, as contained in Clause 3, of this report, be approved.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY AND BY
THE REQUIRED MAJORITY
MOVED by Cllr. Clarke,
THAT recommendation B of the Committee, as contained in Clause 3, of this report, be referred to Council for decision.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
MOVED by Cllr. Clarke,
THAT recommendation C of the Committee, as contained in Clause 3, of this report, be approved.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Cllr. Louis,
THAT the Committee of the Whole rise and report.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
ADOPT REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Cllr. Dan Lee,
SECONDED by Cllr. Price,
THAT the report of the Committee of the Whole be adopted.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
The Council adjourned at 11:32 a.m.
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