REPORT TO COUNCIL
STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
ON CITY SERVICES AND BUDGETS
MARCH 15, 2001
A Regular Meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on City Services and Budgets was held on Thursday, March 15, 2001, at 9:30 a.m., in Committee Room No. 1, Third Floor, City Hall.
PRESENT: |
Councillor George Puil, Chair
|
ABSENT: |
Councillor Lynne Kennedy (Leave of Absence) |
CITY MANAGER'S
|
Judy Rogers, City Manager |
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE: |
Lori Isfeld, Meeting Coordinator |
*Denotes presence for a portion of the meeting.
RECOMMENDATION
1. Noise By-law Amendments - Controlling Music File: 3755
Noise Levels From Entertainment Facilities
The Committee had before it a Policy Report dated February 26, 2001 in which the Director of Environmental Health sought Council's endorsement to amend the City's Noise By-law to address concerns relating to noise impacts on residential buildings from neighbouring cabarets and entertainment facilities, especially in the Downtown, Yaletown and Gastown areas. The General Manager of Community Services supported the recommendations.
Clause No. 1 continued
Nick Losito, Director, Environment Health, reviewed the report and responded to questions.
Vance Campbell, Cabaret Owners' Association was generally in support of the recommendation; however, he pointed out the city needs late night livability; restricting legal establishments with loud music will only increase the market for illegal operations.
Rich Giebelhaus, Manager, 7 Alexander Nightclub, and Eric Wagner, Clark, Wilson, Barristers & Solicitors, on behalf of Mr. Giebelhaus, raised concerns over the adverse effect lower music volumes would have on business at the nightclub. Comments included:
· low volume levels would result in loss of business and closure of the nightclub;
· the club was built based on the ability to play music at 100 decibels;
· Gastown is traditionally a loud area because of the rail yard, docks, fire hall, restaurants and activity in the street;
· it is unfair to amend the By-law because of residents who, after the fact, moved into a building that includes a well-established night club.
Cyril Bennett, landlord of the building at 1 Alexander Street expressed concern that residents and business owners in Gastown were not notified of the report. He also pointed out that the developers of the building at 1 Alexander Street were aware of the operating nightclub in the basement but may not have informed the prospective strata unit purchasers, and that in 1995 there was correspondence supporting this that should be on file with the City. Mr. Bennett also referred to a stairwell that carries noise through the building which was supposed to have been taken out by the developers.
The following motion by Mayor Owen was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
THAT Council defer a decision on the proposed Noise By-law amendments to allow for a broader notification, and for staff to report back on the stairwell issue and correspondence received at the time of development of the building at 7 Alexander Street.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillor Don Lee absent for the vote)
2. Downtown Eastside Economic Revitalization: File: 8104
Lease Subsidy for Call `N Post
This item was withdrawn from the agenda and is to be re-submitted at a future date.
3. 2001 Operating Budget - Interim Report File: 1605
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated March 8, 2001 in which the General Manager of Corporate Services and Director of Finance in consultation with the Corporate Management Team, sought Council's direction on bringing the budget into balance, recommended a funding level for the Park Board Global Budget, and reported on a request from the Police Board for additional sworn staffing.
Ken Bayne, Director of Financial Planning and Treasury, reviewed the 2001 Operating Budget - Interim Report and responded to questions.
The following motion by Mayor Owen was put.
A. THAT Council approve the Park Board Global Budget of $45,028,700, including $672,200 for added basic costs, this amount excluding any reductions approved by Council to balance the 2001 Operating Budget.
B. THAT Council approve the 2001 Operating Budget - Interim Estimates as outlined in the Administrative Report dated March 8, 2001, and detailed in Appendix 1, and instruct the Director of Finance to bring the budget into balance with a 2.5% general purposes tax increase, reflecting an increase of approximately:
· 2.0% related to growth in City costs and
· 0.3% related to the growth in regional sewer costs and
· 0.2% to reflect the reduction in funding from TransLink for the Major Road Network.
C. THAT Council approve an increase in the sworn staffing at the Police Department from 1046 to 1096 (50 positions) at an additional cost of approximately $725,000 in 2001 (and $2.5 million in 2002), increasing the 2001 tax increase indicated above to 2.75%, and
Clause No. 3 continued
THAT the City Manager, Chief Constable and Director of Finance report back to Council on the balance of the Police Department request for additional staffing by June 2001.
- carried
The following amendment to Recommendation B by Councillor Louis was put and lost.
THAT Appendix 1 referred to in Recommendation B of the Administrative Report dated March 8, 2001, be amended to allow a $290,000 increase to the Vancouver Public Library budget, and that the Corporate Management Team report back on options for allocating funds to cover the increase.
- LOST
(Councillors Clarke, Daniel Lee, McCormick, Price,
Puil, Sullivan and the Mayor opposed)
(Councillor Don Lee absent for the vote)
The following amendment to Councillor Louis' amendment to Recommendation B was put by Councillor Clarke and lost.
THAT Appendix 1 referred to in Recommendation B of the Administrative Report dated March 8, 2001, be amended to allow a $140,000 increase to the Vancouver Public Library budget, and that the Corporate Management Team report back on options for allocating funds to cover the increase.
- LOST
(Councillors Bass, Daniel Lee, Louis, Puil and the Mayor opposed)
(Councillor Don Lee absent for the vote)
Clause No. 3 continued
The following amendment to Recommendation B by Councillor Clarke was put.
THAT Appendix 1 referred to in Recommendation B of the Administrative Report dated March 8, 2001, be amended to allow the transfer of $139,000 to the Vancouver Public Library in order to maintain current service levels, and that the City Manager or Corporate Management Team locate funds from the existing budget to cover such transfer.
- carried
The following amendment to Councillor Clarke's amendment to Recommendation B was put by Councillor Bass and lost.
THAT in addition to the $139,000, $150,000 be raised from tax revenues so the Vancouver Public Library can be open 52 weeks per year.
- LOST
(Councillors Clarke, Daniel Lee, McCormick, Price,
Puil, Sullivan and the Mayor opposed)
(Councillor Don Lee absent for the vote)
The amendment having lost, Councillor Clarke's amendment was put and carried. The committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
THAT Appendix 1 referred to in Recommendation B of the Administrative Report dated March 8, 2001, be amended to allow the transfer of $139,000 to the Vancouver Public Library in order to maintain current service levels, and that the City Manager or Corporate Management Team locate funds from the existing budget to cover such transfer.
- CARRIED
(Councillors Daniel Lee, Puil and the Mayor opposed)
(Councillor Don Lee absent for the vote)
Clause No. 3 continued
The following amendment to Recommendation B by Councillor McCormick was put and lost.
THAT Appendix 1 referred to in Recommendation B of the Administrative Report dated March 8, 2001, be amended to allow the transfer of $330,000 to the Vancouver Public Library in order to maintain current service levels, and that the City Manager or Corporate Management Team locate funds from the existing budget to cover such transfer.
- LOST
(Councillors Clarke, Daniel Lee, Don Lee, Price,
Puil, Sullivan and the Mayor opposed)
The following motion by the Mayor, as amended, was put and carried.
RECOMMENDED
A. THAT Council approve the Park Board Global Budget of $45,028,700, including $672,200 for added basic costs, this amount excluding any reductions approved by Council to balance the 2001 Operating Budget.
B. THAT Council approve the 2001 Operating Budget - Interim Estimates as outlined in the Administrative Report dated March 8, 2001, and detailed in Appendix 1, and instruct the Director of Finance to bring the budget into balance with a 2.5% general purposes tax increase, reflecting an increase of approximately:
· 2.0% related to growth in City costs; and
· 0.3% related to the growth in regional sewer costs; and
· 0.2% to reflect the reduction in funding from TransLink for the Major Road Network;
FURTHER THAT Appendix 1 referred to in Recommendation B of the Administrative Report dated March 8, 2001, be amended to allow the transfer of $139,000 to the Vancouver Public Library in order to maintain current service levels, and that the City Manager or Corporate Management Team locate funds from the existing budget to cover such transfer.
Clause No. 3 continued
C. THAT Council approve an increase in the sworn staffing at the Police Department from 1046 to 1096 (50 positions) at an additional cost of approximately $725,000 in 2001 (and $2.5 million in 2002), increasing the 2001 tax increase indicated above to 2.75%; and
THAT the City Manager, Chief Constable and Director of Finance report back to Council on the balance of the Police Department request for additional staffing by June 2001.
- CARRIED
(Councillors Bass, Louis and Sullivan opposed to Recommendation C)
The Committee adjourned at 11:40 a.m.
* * * * *
CITY OF VANCOUVER
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL ON
CITY SERVICES AND BUDGETS
MARCH 15, 2001
A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Thursday, March 15, 2001, at 11:41 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
|
|
ABSENT: |
Councillor Lynne Kennedy (Civic Business) |
CITY MANAGER'S
|
Judy Rogers, City Manager |
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE: |
Lori Isfeld, 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 15, 2001
Council considered the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in the following clauses of the attached report:
Cl. 1: Noise By-law Amendments - Controlling Music Noise Levels
From Entertainment Facilities
Cl. 2: Downtown Eastside Economic Revitalization:
Lease Subsidy for "Call 'N Post"
Cl. 3: 2001 Operating Budget - Interim Report
Clause 1
MOVED by Cllr. Puil,
THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clause 1 of this report, be approved.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillor Don Lee absent for the vote)
Clause 2
This item was withdrawn from the agenda and is to be re-submitted at a future date.
Clause 3
MOVED by Cllr. Puil,
THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clause 3 of this report, be approved.
- CARRIED
(Councillors Bass, Louis and Sullivan opposed to Recommendation C)
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. McCormick,
SECONDED by Cllr. Don Lee,
THAT the report of the Committee of the Whole be adopted.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
The Council recessed at 11:42 a.m. and reconvened "In Camera".
* * * * *