REPORT TO COUNCIL
REPORT TO COUNCIL
STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
ON CITY SERVICES AND BUDGETS
MARCH 29, 2001
A Regular Meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on City Services and Budgets was held on Thursday, March 29, 2001, at 9:30 a.m., in Committee Room No. 1, Third Floor, City Hall.
PRESENT: |
Councillor Jennifer Clarke, Acting Chair
|
ABSENT: |
Councillor Fred Bass (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
Adoption of Minutes
The minutes of the Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets meeting of March 8, 2001 were adopted.
1. Transfer of Lease - From VanCity Place Society File: 1203
to Covenant House Vancouver
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated March 13, 2001 in which the Director of the Housing Centre sought Council's approval to assign the lease for VanCity Place to Covenant House Vancouver, and/or to enter into a new lease with Covenant House Vancouver for the remainder of the 60 year term at a nominal rent. The General Manager of Community Services supported the recommendation.
Cameron Gray, Director of the Housing Centre reviewed the report, provided a rationale for the recommendation and responded to questions regarding the lease transfer.
The following motion by Mayor Owen was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
THAT Council approve the assignment of the lease for 326 W. Pender (Parcel B, Block 36, DL 541, Group 1 N.W.D., Plan LMP 32300) from the VanCity Place Society to Covenant House Vancouver, and/or a fresh lease for the balance of the 60 year term at nominal rent, on terms and conditions to the satisfaction of the Director of Legal Services, noting that no rights or obligations shall arise or be created until all legal documentation is fully executed.
- carried unanimously
The following amendment by Councillor Louis was put and lost.
THAT the words "and/or a fresh lease" be removed from the motion.
- LOST
(Councillors Clarke, Daniel Lee, Don Lee,
McCormick, Price, Sullivan, and the Mayor opposed)
(Councillor Kennedy absent for the vote)
Clause No. 1 continued
The amendment having lost, Mayor Owen's motion was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
THAT Council approve the assignment of the lease for 326 W. Pender (Parcel B, Block 36, DL 541, Group 1 N.W.D., Plan LMP 32300) from the VanCity Place Society to Covenant House Vancouver, and/or a fresh lease for the balance of the 60 year term at nominal rent, on terms and conditions to the satisfaction of the Director of Legal Services, noting that no rights or obligations shall arise or be created until all legal documentation is fully executed.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillor Kennedy absent for the vote)
2. Secondary Suites Standards and Enforcement Review File: 4654
The Committee had before it a Policy Report dated March 19, 2001 in which the Director of Licenses, Inspections and Enforcement and Director of City Plans, in consultation with the Chief License Inspector, Chief Building Official, and Director of the Housing Centre, sought Council's approval of a terms of reference and work program for a consultant to undertake a Secondary Suites Standards and Enforcement Review to remove barriers to the legalization of secondary suites. The General Manager of Community Services supported the recommendation.
Trish French, Senior Planner, introduced several staff involved in the program, and with the aid of display boards, reviewed the report. Ms. French and Paul Teichroeb, Chief License Inspector, responded to questions regarding strategies and processes involved in upgrading illegal suites in the city.
The following motion by Mayor Owen was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,
Clause No. 2 continued
RECOMMENDED
A. THAT Council endorse the Secondary Suites Standards and Enforcement Review to be undertaken by a consultant in accordance with the Terms of Reference and Work Program contained in Appendix A of the Policy Report dated March 19, 2001, under the overall management of the Director of Licenses, Inspections and Enforcement and the Director of City Plans; and
B. THAT Council authorize funding of up to $135,000 for the consultant, with funds coming from the existing Community Services budget.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillor Kennedy absent for the vote)
3. Exempt Properties Sewer User Fees File: 1755
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated March 7, 2001 in which the General Managers of Engineering and Corporate Services provided an update on sewer utility issues related to properties that are exempt from property taxation, and recommended that Council reaffirm the City's commitment to the user pay concept encompassed in the Sewer Utility implemented on July 1, 2000, which required all sewer users' participation in the City's sanitary sewer cost recovery system.
Dave Rudberg, General Manager of Engineering Services provided an overview of the report, and explained consideration options B and C set out in the report. Mr. Rudberg, with Ken Bayne, Director of Financial Planning and Treasury, responded to questions regarding the rationale behind shifting to user fees for sewer services, and clarified the principle of revenue neutrality.
The following spoke in opposition to the administration of user fees for exempt property owners:
· Vicki Kershchbaumer, Vancouver Hospital & Health Sciences Centre
· Louis Rapos, Providence Health Care Centre
Clause No. 3 continued
· Paul Lukkarinen, Children's & Women's Health Centre of BC
· Barbara Buchanan, Chairperson, Vancouver School Board (brief filed)
· Elyn Dobbs, Chairperson, District Parent Advisory Committee, Vancouver School Board
Comments by the foregoing speakers included the following:
· lack of an adequate phase-in period does not allow enough time for installation of sewage reduction mechanisms such as low-flow toilets;
· notice letters were not received by the appropriate department;
· lack of adequate time to secure funding means hospitals have two options; running a deficit or cutting services;
· hospitals requested an exemption for the 2000/2001 budgetary year to give more time to secure funding for the following year;
· School Board is not allowed to run at a deficit and would be required to cut programs to pay sewerage fees; therefore request was made for the permanent exemption outlined in Option C, or at least exemption for one year to allow more work on the budget;
· School Board is in a crisis; funding cuts and additional fees transfer directly onto children.
Mr. Bayne, provided copies of notice letters dated March 27 and June 16, 2000 and a printout of addressees, noting the mailing list contains the same addresses as for water bills.
The following motion by Councillor McCormick was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
A. THAT Council reaffirm the commitment to the User Pay Concept encompassed in the Sewer Utility implemented on July 1, 2000 which required all sewer users to participate in the sewer costs recovery system.
- CARRIED
(Councillor Louis opposed)
Clause No. 3 continued
The following motion by Councillor McCormick was put and lost.
THAT Council approve a permanent exemption from sewer user fees for the Vancouver School Board and that the foregone revenue be factored into the sewer user fees for all other users beginning in 2002.
- LOST
(Councillors Clarke, Kennedy, Daniel Lee, Don Lee,
Louis, Price, Sullivan, and the Mayor opposed)
The following motion by Councillor Don Lee was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
B. THAT Council approve waiving 2001 sewer fees for the Vancouver School Board and that the foregone revenue be factored into establishment of 2002 sewer user fees for all users.
- CARRIED
(Councillors Kennedy, Louis, Sullivan and the Mayor opposed)
The Committee adjourned at 12:01 p.m.
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CITY OF VANCOUVER
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL ON
CITY SERVICES AND BUDGETS
MARCH 29, 2001
A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Thursday, March 29, 2001, at 12:01 p.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 Fred Bass (Leave of Absence)
|
CITY MANAGER'S
|
Judy Rogers, City Manager |
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE: |
Lori Isfeld, Meeting Coordinator |
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Cllr. McCormick,
SECONDED by Cllr. Don Lee,
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 29, 2001
Council considered the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in the following clauses of the attached report:
Cl. 1: Transfer of Lease - From VanCity Place Society
to Covenant House Vancouver
Cl. 2: Secondary Suites Standards and Enforcement Review
Cl. 3: Exempt Properties Sewer User Fees
Clauses 1 and 2
MOVED by Cllr. Puil,
THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clauses 1 and 2 of this report, be approved.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
Clause 3
MOVED by Cllr. Puil,
THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clause 3 of this report, be approved.
- CARRIED
(Councillor Louis opposed to Recommendation A)
(Councillors Kennedy, Louis, Sullivan and the Mayor opposed to Recommendation B)
RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Cllr. Kennedy,
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 adjourned at 12:02 p.m.
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