CITY OF VANCOUVER

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

OCTOBER 2, 2001

A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Tuesday, October 2, 2001, 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 Don Lee Councillor Tim Louis Councillor Sandy McCormick Councillor Gordon Price Councillor George Puil Councillor Sam Sullivan
CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE:	Judy Rogers, City Manager
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE:	Marg Fudge, Acting City Clerk Denise Salmon, Meeting Coordinator

PRAYER

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

PRESENTATION

Councillor Clarke read, and presented to the Mayor a declaration entitled "God Keep our Land" signed by a diverse group of religious leaders, calling for justice, peace and solidarity.

"IN CAMERA" MEETING

MOVED by Councillor Don Lee
SECONDED by Councillor McCormick

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;

(h) litigation or potential litigation affecting the city.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

ITEMS ARISING FROM THE "IN CAMERA" MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 18, 2001

· Richard Keate was appointed to the Vancouver Heritage Commission;

· Council approved the development of a combined Mount Pleasant Community Centre and Library, Housing and Retail Uses.

ADOPTION OF MINUTES

1. Regular Council - June 26, 2001

MOVED by Councillor Don Lee
SECONDED by Councillor Louis

THAT the foregoing Minutes be approved.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

2. Regular Council (City Services and Budgets) - September 13, 2001

MOVED by Councillor Puil
SECONDED by Councillor Clarke

THAT the foregoing Minutes be approved.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

3. Regular Council (Planning and Environment) - September 13, 2001

MOVED by Councillor Kennedy
SECONDED by Councillor McCormick

THAT the foregoing Minutes be approved.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

4. Special Council (Public Hearing) - September 13, 2001

MOVED by Councillor Don Lee
SECONDED by Councillor Clarke

THAT the foregoing Minutes be approved.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

5. Business License Hearing - September 17, 2001

MOVED by Councillor Louis
SECONDED by Councillor Don Lee

THAT the foregoing Minutes be approved.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

6. Regular Council - September 18, 2001

MOVED by Councillor Louis
SECONDED by Councillor Don Lee

THAT the foregoing Minutes be approved.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Councillor Don Lee
SECONDED by Councillor McCormick

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

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

REPORT REFERENCE

1. 2001 Childcare Strategic Plan - "Moving Forward"
August 28, 2001 (File 4102)

Carol Ann Young, Childcare Coordinator, with the aid of a Powerpoint presentation, provided a Report Reference on the City's proposed childcare strategy, and noted this strategy includes:

· comprehensive childhood development service hubs for children birth to 12 years are effective, efficient and coordinated and meet a range of children and families' needs;
· childcare as the cornerstone of childhood development services;
· childcare as a foundation on which to build early childhood development services and supports labour force participation; and
· opportunities and positioning for provincial and federal funding (e.g., early childhood development).

Also before Council was a Policy Report dated August 28, 2001, entitled "2001 Childcare Strategic Plan - "Moving Forward" in which the Director of Social Planning summarized the draft document (Appendix A), dated August 27, 2001, entitled "Moving Forward -Childcare: the Cornerstone of Early Childhood Development Services".

MOVED by Councillor McCormick

A. THAT Council receive the report "Moving Forward - Childcare: TheCornerstone of Early Childhood Development Services" for information.

B. THAT the Director of Social Planning undertake a consultation process to obtain public input on the proposed Childcare Strategic Plan and that a final report be submitted in early 2002.

C. THAT Council forward this report to the appropriate Federal and Provincial departments and direct staff to continue to work with other levels of Government to develop a stable childcare system for Vancouver.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

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As the Mayor was not eligible to vote on the following item, Deputy Mayor Clarke assumed the Chair.

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UNFINISHED BUSINESS

1. Text Amendment: Congregate Housing (File 1401-36)

At the Public Hearing on September 13, 2001, Vancouver City Council finished hearing from the public on this item, and referred its decision to a future Council meeting. Congregate Housing was then rescheduled for the Regular Council Meeting following the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment on September 18, 2001, but was again referred due to time constraints.

Accordingly, before Council was an application by the Director of Current Planning to amend the definition of congregate housing and require common areas, support services and design to accommodate seniors as they age. The Director of City Plans recommended approval.

Heike Roth, Planner, with the aid of graphic material, provided an overview of the application and responded to questions related to affordability.

MOVED by Councillor Kennedy

THAT the application by the Director of Current Planning to amend the definition of congregate housing and require common areas, support services and design to accommodate seniors as they age, be approved;

FURTHER THAT the Director of Legal Services be instructed to prepare and bring forward the necessary by-law amendments.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillors Puil, Sullivan and Mayor Owen excused from voting.)

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At this point in the proceedings the Mayor resumed the Chair.

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CITY MANAGER'S ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS

1. Reconstruction of Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services Training Offices
September 17, 2001 (File 1611)

MOVED by Councillor Louis

A. THAT Council approve additional funding of $535,000 for the construction of a two storey combined classroom and office building for Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services, as a replacement for the existing temporary offices/classrooms which was scheduled to be relocated; source of funding to be unused portions of the 1997-1999 Capital Plan for Firehall No. 3 ($182,000) and Firehall No. 18 ($353,000) Replacement; said reallocation falls within the original purpose of the borrowing authority.

B. THAT the existing contract for architectural services with Roger Hughes and Partners Architects be extended to include the design of the centre at a fee equal to the Schedule of Fees set by the Architectural Institute of British Columbia for such work.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

2. Local Improvements by Initiative - December 4, 2001
First and Second Step Report and Approval of a City Funded Project
September 10, 2001 (File 5804-12)

MOVED by Councillor Don Lee

A. THAT the projects listed in Appendix I of the Administrative Report dated September 10, 2001, entitled "Local Improvements by Initiative - December 4, 2001 First and Second Step Report and Approval of a City Funded Project" be advanced as Local Improvements on the Initiative and brought before a Court of Revision on December 4, 2001.

B. THAT the reports of the City Engineer and Director of Finance be adopted together with details of the Second Step Report as summarized in Appendix II of the Administrative Report dated September 10, 2001, and Council declare it is desirable that the projects set out in Appendix I of this report be undertaken and deems that each will specially benefit the real property abutting it. Source of funds for the total City's share of $1,573,921 is $1,071,872 from existing Engineering Department Basic Capital Accounts and $502,049 subject to approval of the 2002 Street Basic Capital Budget.

C. THAT sidewalk projects Numbered 26-34 inclusive, as described in Appendix I of the Administrative Report dated September 10, 2001, be designated as "pedestrian collector routes" so that the abutting residential property owners' rates are reduced by the required 25%.

D. THAT 69th Avenue from Manitoba Street to Main Street be paved, with funding of $120,000 provided from Streets Basic Capital Account Group SCA1B-UNAP.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
AND BY THE REQUIRED MAJORITY

3. Miscellaneous Fee Amendments
August 31, 2001 (File 1758)

This Administrative Report was withdrawn from the agenda.

4. Coexisting with Coyotes in the Urban Environment
September 13, 2001 (File 3507)

Susan Mundick, General Manager, Board of Parks and Recreation, introduced Liane McKenna, the Park Board's coordinator of the coyote program. Ms. McKenna provided details on causes of coyote aggression, the need for public education, and reasons for fluctuations in the coyote population. The following individuals, also involved with the strategy for coexisting with coyotes, were introduced:

Bruce Cox, Ministry of Water, Land, and Air Protection
Christine Lampa, Stanley Park Ecology Society
Rob Owens, Stanley Park Ecology Society
Mike Mackintosh, Superintendent, Queen Elizabeth District, Park Board

Also before Council was a letter dated October 2, 2001, from the General Manager, Board of Parks and Recreation, advising of the Board's unanimous approval of the recommended strategy for dealing with coyotes.

MOVED by Councillor Louis

A. THAT Council:

Endorse a collaborative strategy in dealing with coyotes in the urban environment "Coexisting with Coyotes", which includes public education and awareness programs, monitoring of coyote activities and responding to incidents involving aggressive animals.

Discourage wildlife feeding, including coyotes, through public information and the increased enforcement of existing City and Park Board Bylaws.

B. THAT Council approve $16,000 to the Co-existing with Coyotes Strategy for the following:

i) $8,000 to expand the "Public Information Hot Line" from 3 days to 7 days per week; and
ii) $8,000 for the salary costs for a Park Board Wildlife Ranger to provide immediate community response where incidents of coyote aggression have been reported. Source to be the Contingency Reserve.

CARRIED
(Councillor Puil opposed to B)
(Councillor Sullivan opposed to B ii))

CIVIC RECOGNITION - EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS VOLUNTEERS

At this point in the proceedings, the Mayor and Council recognized the following volunteer organizations and individuals which support municipal programs throughout the City:

· Emergency Social Services
(Liane McKenna provided a brief overview)

· Vancouver Emergency Community Telecommunications Organization
(Paulette Schouten President, VECTOR amateur Radio Group provided a briefoverview); and

· Trainers for the Neighbourhood Emergency Preparedness Program
(Robert Bryan, Emergency Planning Coordinator and Project Manager of the Neighbourhoods Program provided a brief overview)

The Mayor presented each volunteer with a Certificate on behalf of the City, and thanked them for their service.

- - - - -

At this point in the proceedings Councillor McCormick read a letter of appreciation from the Curator of the Kawamura Memorial Museum of Art in Japan, for the hospitality shown him while detained in our City as a consequence of the recent tragedy in the United States.

- - - - -

The Council recessed at 3:45 p.m. and following a reception in honour of the volunteers,
reconvened in open session at 4:20 p.m. with all members present.

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CITY MANAGER'S POLICY REPORTS

1. CD-1 Text Amendment: 5702 Granville Street - Esso Station
September 14, 2001 (File 5304)

In response to a query, the City Manager advised she would provide Council with a memorandum, prior to the Public Hearing, related to this issue with respect to Esso Station in North Vancouver .

MOVED by Councillor Clarke

THAT the application by Richard Cook, Davidson Yuen Simpson Architects, to amend CD-1 By-law No. 4123 for 5702 Granville Street (Lot A of Lot 1, Block 6, District Lot 526, Group 1, Plan 11771 ), to permit the redevelopment of an existing gasoline station and car wash with the same uses plus a retail store, be referred to a Public Hearing, together with:

(i) plans received May 18, 2001;

(ii) draft CD-1 By-law provisions, generally as contained in Appendix A of the Policy Report dated September 14, 2001; and

(iii) the recommendation of the Director of Current Planning to approve, subject to conditions contained in Appendix B of the Policy Report dated September 14, 2001;

FURTHER THAT the Director of Legal Services be instructed to prepare the necessary CD-1 amending by-law for consideration at Public Hearing.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

2. CD-1 Rezoning - 1220 East Pender Street
September 18, 2001 (File 5307)

MOVED by Councillor Louis

A. THAT the application by Eric Klokstad to rezone 1220 East Pender Street (Strata Lots 1-43, Strata Plan LMS 3800, DL 182, NWD) from I-2 to CD-1, to permit residential use in conjunction with selected uses listed in the I-2 District Schedule ("industrial work/live"), be referred to a Public Hearing, together with:

(i) plans received May 21, 1997 and approved by DE 402194;

(ii) draft CD-1 By-law provisions, generally as contained in Appendix A of the Policy Report dated September 18, 2001; and

(iii) the recommendation of the Director of Current Planning to approve, subject to conditions contained in Appendix B of the Policy Report dated September 18, 2001;

FURTHER THAT the Director of Legal Services be instructed to prepare
the necessary by-law for consideration at Public Hearing.

B. THAT, subject to approval of the rezoning at a Public Hearing, the Noise By-law and the Sign By-law be amended as set out in Appendix C of the Policy Report dated September 18, 2001; and

FURTHER THAT the Director of Legal Services be instructed to bring forward the amendments to the Noise By-law and the Sign By-law at the time of enactment of the zoning by-law.

C. THAT, subject to approval and enactment of the rezoning, the Director of Current Planning be instructed to take appropriate measures to ensure a postoccupancy review one year after each industrial work/live unit is occupied.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Councillor Sullivan

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 Sullivan

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

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

MOTIONS

A. Administrative Resolutions

None.

B. Motions on Notice

1. Resolution of E-Comm Labour Dispute (File 3603)

At the Council meeting on September 18, 2001, Councillor Louis submitted the following Notice of Motion which was recognized by the Chair:

MOVED by Councillor Louis
SECONDED by Councillor Bass

WHEREAS, when the Emergency Operations and Communications Centre (E-Comm) was established in June 1999, the centre was supposed to provide state-of-the-art emergency communications services for the entire Lower Mainland;

AND WHEREAS, since E-Comm's opening, only two emergency dispatch units - the Vancouver Police Department and the Vancouver RCMP's Lower Mainland District dispatch units - have moved into the centre's facilities;

AND WHEREAS, other municipalities are not willing to move their dispatch agencies into E-Comm while the dispute over the dispatcher contract is underway;

AND WHEREAS, Vancouver is paying the majority of E-Comm's operating costs, while other municipalities stay out of the centre;

AND WHEREAS, both the union representing dispatchers and the company have been unable to reach a contract settlement since negotiations began in February 2000;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT, Vancouver City Council ask the BC Minister of Labour to establish an Industrial Inquiry Commission and resolve the dispute.

LOST

(Councillors Clarke, Kennedy, Daniel Lee, Don Lee, McCormick, Price, Puil, Sullivan and the Mayor opposed.)

NOTICE OF MOTION

The following Notice of Motion was submitted by Councillor Bass and recognized by the Chair:

1. Preventing the Erosion of Transit Services and Prices (File: 5551)

WHEREAS the Livable Region Strategic Plan of the Greater Vancouver Regional District supports (page 8) in its transportation objective: "the increased use of public transit and reduced dependence on the single-occupant automobile..[and this] relies upon...significant expansion in transit facilities and services";

AND WHEREAS, transit riders have paid disproportionately more of transit costs than motor vehicle users have paid the costs that they generate;

AND WHEREAS, despite a fare increase last June, transit users are threatened with lessrather than more service;

AND WHEREAS, automobile use in the GVRD requires a much larger subsidy ($3,000 million annually) than does the transit system ($300-400 million annually);

AND WHEREAS, the greatest single source of air pollution and of greenhouse gas emissions in the Lower Mainland is from motor vehicles;

AND WHEREAS, just the production of a motor vehicle generates considerable energy and resource consumption, as well as pollution and greenhouse gases;

AND WHEREAS, a healthy regional economy requires an effective, efficient, and cost-effective transportation system based on users paying their way;

AND WHEREAS, raising transit fares would inhibit transit use, rather than promote it;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Vancouver City Council calls upon TRANSLINK to

1. maintain or increase current, overall levels of transit service; and

2. consider all the options for funding transit services noted in TRANSLINK'S Strategic Transportation Plan, January, 2000 (shown below) and choose among them after obtaining full public input:

- gasoline taxes
- cost recovery tolls
- charges on motor vehicles in the form of a vehicle pollution fee
- parking sales taxes
- taxes on non-residential parking lots
- property taxes on properties which benefit from major capital projects.

Notice

The following Notice of Motion was submitted by Councillor Bass and recognized by the Chair:

2. Reasonable Limits for Travel Expenses (File: 1254)

WHEREAS it is a responsibility of Council to be as frugal as possible with taxpayers' money;

AND WHEREAS, recent newspaper reports have brought to light that some members of Council are travelling Business Class on airplanes;

AND WHEREAS, the hotel charge at the last FCM conference in Banff was $260 per night when accommodation was available for less than half that rate ($80 per night);

AND WHEREAS, Council at last meeting voted to limit members' participation in national committees, partially on the grounds of controlling travel expenditure;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Vancouver City Council

1. restrict air travel to coach or economy class, unless such seating is not available and

2. require Council members to ask for several options for hotel accommodation and then choose the least expensive option.

Notice

The following Notice of Motion was submitted by Councillor Louis and recognized by the Chair:

3. Development of New Social Housing (File: 4656)

WHEREAS, the provision of adequate, affordable and decent housing is essential for the health and well-being of individuals and families in the City of Vancouver;

AND WHEREAS, as recognized by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, affordable housing is an integral part of the solution to homelessness and its prevention;

AND WHEREAS, the British Columbia government and the City of Vancouver have worked together for 15 years to help provide non-market housing which has helped the City of Vancouver to avoid homelessness on the same magnitude as Montreal, Toronto and Calgary;

AND WHEREAS, according to a Sept. 18, 2001 City of Vancouver report, it is estimated that up to 600 people sleep outside in the city on any given night, while 300 to 400 people are forced to stay in temporary shelters;

AND WHEREAS, affordable housing is necessary to maintain strong and vibrant communities and increase community capacity;

AND WHEREAS, Canadian communities have increasingly realized that the quality of life in a municipality is an important asset in economic competitiveness;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT, Vancouver City Council strongly urge the Government of British Columbia maintain its commitment to the development of new social housing through a comprehensive housing program like HOMES BC.

Notice

ENQUIRIES AND OTHER MATTERS

1. Leave of Absence - Councillor Louis (File: 1254)

MOVED by Councillor Bass
SECONDED by Councillor Don Lee

THAT Councillor Louis be granted Leave of Absence for tonight's Court of Revision meeting.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

2. LaFarge Concrete Batch Plant (File: 8109)

Councillor Louis enquired on the status of the LaFarge Concrete Batch Plant.

The City Manager advised staff will bring forward a report shortly on this matter.

3. Leave of Absence - Councillor Bass (File: 1254)

MOVED by Councillor Louis
SECONDED by Councillor Sullivan

THAT Councillor Bass be granted Leave of Absence for tonight's Court of Revision meeting.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

4. West Coast Express' Final Offer Arbitration (File: 5558)

Councillor Price referenced a memorandum dated September 27, 2001, received from the GVRD requesting GVRD Municipalities send a letter to the Transport Canada Minister and others regarding West Coast Express' Final Offer Arbitration.

MOVED by Councillor Price
SECONDED by Councillor Puil

THAT the Mayor, on behalf of Vancouver City Council, send a letter to Transport Canada Minister David Collenette, and others as set out in the GVRD memorandum dated September 27, 2001, regarding West Coast Express' Final Offer Arbitration.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

5. Squeegee Kids (File: 3504)

Councillor McCormick made reference to incidents with squeegee kids working the Main and Terminal corner, and throughout the City.

The City Manager agreed to have staff provide a report back on this matter.

6. Area Events

Councillor Bass referenced the following recent and upcoming events:

· The City of Esquimalt adopted Council's motion of September 18, 2001, entitled "Bringing the Perpetrators of the Bombing of the World Trade Centre to Justice";

· Both Councillor Bass and Councillor Kennedy had recently attended a conference on second-hand smoke and its economic and health risks.

· The Vancouver Public Library is sponsoring an environmental series, beginning Wednesday, October the 3, and next four Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m.

7. New Garbage Policy (File: 3756)

Councillor Puil referenced a letter he had received relaying concerns with the City's new garbage policy, and enquired what could be done in this regard.

The City Manager agreed to look into this matter.

The Council recessed at 6:02 p.m., and
reconvened "In Camera" in the Mayor's Office.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver