Agenda Index City of Vancouver

2

REPORT TO COUNCIL

STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
ON CITY SERVICES AND BUDGETS

JULY 12, 2001

A Regular Meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on City Services and Budgets was held on Thursday, July 12, 2001, at 9:30 a.m., in Committee Room No. 1, Third Floor, City Hall.

PRESENT:

Councillor George Puil, Chair
Mayor Philip Owen
Councillor Fred Bass
Councillor Daniel Lee
*Councillor Don Lee (Civic Business for Items 1-4)
Councillor Tim Louis
Councillor Gordon Price
Councillor Sam Sullivan

ABSENT:

Councillor Jennifer Clarke (Vice-Chair, Sick Leave)
Councillor Lynne Kennedy (Leave of Absence)
Councillor Sandy McCormick (Leave of Absence)

CITY MANAGER'S
OFFICE:

Judy Rogers, City Manager

CITY CLERK'S OFFICE:

Lori Isfeld, Meeting Coordinator

*denotes presence for a portion of the meeting.

ADOPTION OF MINUTES

The Minutes of the Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets meeting of June 7, 2001, were adopted.

RECOMMENDATION

1. Grant Request from Vancouver Police Pipe Band (File 2004)

The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated June 26, 2001, in which the Director, Office of Cultural Affairs and City Manager presented a grant request from the Vancouver Police Pipe Band for Council's consideration.

Vern Campbell provided a brief overview of special events attended by the band, including Canada Day, graduations, and ceremonies for the police, and responded to questions.

MOVED by Mayor Owen
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

THAT Council approve a grant of $15,000 to the Vancouver Police Pipe Band to assist with the costs of the Band's participation in the Netherlands International Tattoo; source of funds to be Contingency Reserve.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillor Don Lee absent for the vote)

2. Vancouver Maritime Museum - Annual Review and

The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated June 16, 2001, in which the Director, Office of Cultural Affairs, in consultation with the Director of Financial Planning & Treasury, provided a review of the Vancouver Maritime Museum's 2000 activities and sought Council's approval for their 2001 Operating Grant request. The General Managers of Community and Corporate Services recommended approval.

James Delgado, Executive Director, Vancouver Maritime Museum introduced board members, reviewed programs for 2000 and the upcoming year, and with Sue Harvey, Cultural Planner, responded to questions, noting they have been attempting to find a suitable new location for the museum.

MOVED by Mayor Owen
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

A. THAT Council approve an operating grant in the amount of $269,394 to the Vancouver Maritime Museum; source of funds to be the 2001 "Other" Grants budget; and

B. THAT Council approve a supplementary grant in the amount of $82,820 to the Vancouver Maritime Museum for the operation of the St. Roch; source of funds to be Contingency Reserve.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillor Don Lee absent for the vote)

3. H.R. MacMillan Space Centre Society - Annual Review and 2001 Operating Grant Request (File 2201/4003)

The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated June 16, 2001, in which the Director, Office of Cultural Affairs, in consultation with the Director of Financial Planning & Treasury, provided a review of the H.R. MacMillan (formerly Pacific) Space Centre Society's 2000 activities, and sought Council's approval for their 2001 Operating Grant request. The General Managers of Community and Corporate Services recommended approval.

John Dickenson, Managing Director, H.R. MacMillan Space Centre, reviewed attendance and financial statistics, and planned areas of growth including sponsorships, bursaries, parties, and outreach programs intended to increase access. Sue Harvey, Cultural Planner, was available to respond to questions.

MOVED by Mayor Owen
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

THAT an Operating Grant of $449,667 be approved to the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre Society, with the source of funds to be the 2001 `Other' Grants budget.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillor Don Lee absent for the vote)

4. Vancouver Museum - Annual Review and 2001 Operating Grant Request, Supplementary Grant Request, and Phase 3 Revitalization Project Update

The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated June 24, 2001, in which the Director, Office of Cultural Affairs, in consultation with the Director of Financial Planning & Treasury, provided a review of the Vancouver Maritime Museum's 2000 activities and sought Council's approval for their 2001 Operating Grant request. The General Managers of Community and Corporate Services recommended approval.

Pauline Thompson, President and CEO, Vancouver Museum, and Dr. Warren Gill, Commissioner, Vancouver Museum Commission, reviewed upcoming programs including opening of the learning centre, responded to questions, and conveyed the new enthusiasm taking place at the museum. Sue Harvey, Cultural Planner, agreed to provide Council with a memo illustrating fee structures.

MOVED by Councillor Louis
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillor Don Lee absent for the vote)

MOVED by Councillor Sullivan
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

B. THAT Council approve a Supplementary Grant of up to $160,000 to the Vancouver Museum Commission; source of funds to be Contingency Reserve.

CARRIED
(Councillor Louis opposed)
(Councillor Don Lee absent for the vote)

MOVED by Mayor Owen
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

C. THAT Council approve the revised Revitalization Project - Phase 3 as detailed in the Administrative Report dated June 24, 2001, entitled "Vancouver Museum - Annual Review and 2001 Operating Grant Request, Supplementary Grant Request, and Phase 3 Revitalization Project Update".

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillor Don Lee absent for the vote)

5. Noise By-law Amendments - Leaf Blowers (File 3755)

The Committee had before it a Policy Report dated June 15, 2001, in which the Director, Environmental Health, in consultation with the General Managers of Community Services and Parks and Recreation, addressed noise issues related to the use of leaf blowers, and to a lesser extent, other gasoline powered garden maintenance equipment, and recommended Noise By-law amendments to restrict the use of leaf blowers. The City Manager recommended approval.

Nick Losito, Director of Environmental Health, reviewed the report, provided a rationale for the recommendations, and pointed out the complexity of the issue. Mr. Losito supplied examples of approaches taken in other cities including Los Angeles and Toronto, responded to questions, and clarified restriction options, such as restricting noise levels, time and/or days, and the possibility of broadening the restrictions to include other types of equipment such as edge trimmers and lawn mowers.

Piet Rutgers, Planning and Operations, Vancouver Park Board, responded to questions and noted that the Park Board has 72 backpack blowers and 12 push blowers in its inventory. This equipment was introduced as a labour saving device and is used extensively throughout the year. Restricting the use of leaf blowers will result in either reduction in the standard of maintenance and/or higher operating costs associated with having to work manually.

The following generally spoke in opposition to the recommendations because they did not adequately address the concerns of residents:

Doug Coldwell
Simon Foulds (brief filed)
Dr. Jeremy Tatum
Roy Silverson, Right to Quiet Society
Pat McGeer (brief filed)
Johannes Halbertsma
Charles Killam
Jeff Wakefield
Claude Pierce

· noise at 65 decibels causes stress, hearing loss, increases the risk of asthma and bronchitis and is related to many other medical problems;
· request that landscape companies prominently display their company name and telephone number on vehicles so violations can be reported;
· more people now work from home; daytime noise has negative effects of work performance, i.e. one cannot hear phone calls, and it interrupts concentration;
· the Lung Association estimates that leaf-blowers cause as much smog in one hour as seventeen cars;
· leaf blowers transfer dust, cigarette butts, and animal excrement into the air and neighbouring properties;
· prohibition is the only way to force manufacturers to build better equipment;
· restricting leaf blowers 50 metres from residential premises is not enough, especially in the West End where noise travels to high rise apartments;
· noise from push blowers is audible from over 500 metres, even when wearing ear plugs and ear protectors;
· suggestion made to privatize park maintenance to prove quieter work can be done at no extra cost.

Allan O'Connor, BC Landscape Nursery Association, spoke in support of the recommendations, and noted they are viable for industry. Mr. O'Connor also pointed out that efforts are being made to train landscapers in the proper use of equipment, and that manufacturers are in the process of developing quieter, less polluting equipment.

Council discussed various restriction options for leaf blowers and impacts they would have on the Park Board and landscaping industry.

MOVED by Councillor Bass
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

A. THAT effective September 1, 2001 the Noise By-law be amended to prohibit the use of gas-powered leaf blowers throughout the City of Vancouver at all times.

amended

AMENDMENT MOVED by Councillor Louis

THAT Recommendation A be amended by striking out the words "effective September 1, 2001", and "at all times" and the following words be added at the end:

"within 100 metres of any residential premises, except for the appropriate use during October through January, when the vast majority of leaves are in need of collecting; and

FURTHER THAT effective February 2, 2004 the Noise By-law be amended to prohibit the use of gas-powered leaf blowers throughout the City of Vancouver at all times."

amended

AMENDMENT MOVED by Mayor Owen,

THAT Councillor Louis' amendment to Recommendation A be amended by replacing the words "100 metres" with "50 metres".

CARRIED
(Councillors Bass and Louis opposed)

The secondary amendment having carried, Councillor Louis' primary amendment, as amended, was put and CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

MOTION AS AMENDED:

A. THAT the Noise By-law be amended to prohibit the use of gas-powered leaf blowers throughout the City of Vancouver, within 50 metres of any residential premises, except for the appropriate use during October through January, when the vast majority of leaves are in need of collecting; and

B. THAT staff report back on the effects of other noise producing machines including weed eaters and lawn mowers.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

The Committee adjourned at 11:48 a.m.

- - - - -

CITY OF VANCOUVER

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL ON
CITY SERVICES AND BUDGETS

JULY 12, 2001

A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Thursday, July 12, 2001, at 11:49 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
Councillor Fred Bass
Councillor Daniel Lee
Councillor Don Lee
Councillor Tim Louis
Councillor Gordon Price
Councillor George Puil
Councillor Sam Sullivan

ABSENT:

Councillor Jennifer Clarke (Sick Leave)
Councillor Lynne Kennedy (Leave of Absence)
Councillor Sandy McCormick (Leave of Absence)

CITY MANAGER'S
OFFICE:

Judy Rogers, City Manager

CITY CLERK'S OFFICE:

Lori Isfeld, Meeting Coordinator

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Councillor Don Lee
SECONDED by Councillor Sullivan

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
July 12, 2001

Council considered the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in the following clauses of the foregoing report:

Clauses 1 - 4

MOVED by Councillor Puil

THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clauses 1 - 4 of this report, be approved.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY AND
BY THE REQUIRED MAJORITY

Clause 5

MOVED by Councillor Puil

THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clause 5 of this report, be approved.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Councillor Louis

THAT the Committee of the Whole rise and report.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

ADOPT REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Councillor Don Lee
SECONDED by Councillor Louis

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

The Council adjourned at 11:50 a.m.

* * * * *

cs010712.htm

Comments or questions? You can send us email.
[City Homepage] [Get In Touch]

(c) 1998 City of Vancouver