REPORT TO COUNCIL

STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
ON CITY SERVICES AND BUDGETS

NOVEMBER 8, 2001

A Regular Meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on City Services and Budgets was held on Thursday, November 8, 2001, at 9:30 a.m., in Committee Room No. 1, Third Floor, City Hall.

PRESENT:	Councillor Jennifer Clarke, Vice-Chair Mayor Philip Owen Councillor Fred Bass *Councillor Lynne Kennedy (Civic Business) Councillor Daniel Lee Councillor Don Lee Councillor Tim Louis Councillor Sandy McCormick Councillor Gordon Price Councillor Sam Sullivan
ABSENT:	Councillor George Puil, Chair (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 October 18, 2001, were adopted.

RECOMMENDATION

1. Report of the Economic Development Business Model Task Force (File 3143)

The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated October 30, 2001, in which the General Manager of Corporate Services presented Council with the report of the 2001 Economic Development Business Model Task Force, and options regarding economic development in Vancouver. The Committee also had before it supplemental information distributed at the meeting, regarding economic development position descriptions and a comparison of the budget options outlined in the report.

The City Manager noted in the report that one of the most critical components in providing proactive and effective economic development is the availability of adequate financial resources and strong leadership and expertise, and recommended increasing investment in economic development if Council wants to meet its economic development priority.

Estelle Lo, General Manager and Director of Finance, reviewed the report and the advantages and concerns regarding "Option 1 - Retain Vancouver Economic Development Commission as an arm's length economic development entity" and "Option 2 - City of Vancouver Economic Development Office". Ms. Lo with Roger Fast, Director of Business Support, responded to questions regarding economic development models used by other cities, and impacts on tax payers if tax incentives were offered.

The following speakers expressed support for the recommendations to retain the VEDC:

Lois Nahirney, Chair, Vancouver Economic Development Commission

Larry Blain, Managing Director, RBC Dominion Securities
George Hunter, Executive Director, BC Technology Industries Association
David Park, Chief Economist and Assistant Managing Director, Vancouver Board of Trade

The following is a summary of comments made by the foregoing speakers:

· there is strong support for the VEDC by the business community; VEDC impact is growing along with establishing strong relationships, contacts and networking;
·VEDC is highlighting that Vancouver supports business and economic growth in this area;
· Vancouver is envisioned as "green, clean and safe" which is an excellent marketing opportunity;
· key strategies of the VEDC include targeting industries such as advanced technology, life sciences/biotechnology, environmental technology, tourism, finance, insurance and real estate, film and education;
· need to be proactive in creating awareness of what BC has to offer, including a competitive tax environment, an abundance of energy and excellent universities;
· all levels of government should work together on a model to promote and attract investment in BC;
· future of BC is with knowledge based sectors; BC should be marketed to the world as a technology centre.

MOVED by Mayor Owen
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

A. THAT Council approve in principle a commitment to participate in a province-led public/private partnership to promote economic development and growth in BC by attracting and retaining corporate investment.

B. That Council approve to retain the Vancouver Economic Development Commission ("VEDC") as an arm's length economic development entity for the City of Vancouver.

C. THAT Council instruct staff to report back on a 2002 Business Plan for the VEDC before 2001 year end.

D. THAT Council, subject to receipt and approval of a 2001 Annual Report and 2002 Business Plan, fund the VEDC through an annual operating contract, estimated at approximately $550,000 in 2002. This would represent a $300,000 increase to VEDC's current budget. Source of funds: 2002 Operating Budget.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

2. 2001 Childcare Grants Allocation - Report 3 of 4 (File 2402)

The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated October 22, 2001, in which the Director of Social Planning recommended approval of City-wide Childcare Support Services grants, as part of the third of four reports to Council on the 2001 Childcare Grants Program. The General Manager of Community Services recommended approval.

Carol Ann Young, Childcare Coordinator, responded to questions regarding Westcoast Multicultural and Diversity Services, which offer resources, information and training to child care providers that promote culturally sensitive, anti-racist and anti-bias practice in child care programs.

MOVED by Councillor Louis
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

THAT Council approve three City-wide Childcare Support grants of $64,983 to Westcoast Childcare Resource Centre; source of funds: 2001 Childcare Grants Funds, 2001 Operating Budget.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillor Kennedy absent for the vote)

3. 2001 Capital Budget: City-owned Childcare, Social Service and Cultural Facilities (File 1602)

The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated October 10, 2001, in which the Directors of Social Planning and the Office of Cultural Affairs in consultation with the Director of Facilities Development, sought Council's approval for the allocation of funds to undertake emergency repairs to six City-owned childcare portables and to the Firehall Arts Centre and to complete feasibility studies for two City-owned cultural facilities. The General Managers of Community and Corporate Services recommended approval.

Sue Harvey, Social and Cultural Planner with Gret Sutherland, Manager-Projects, Facilities Development, responded to questions. Ms. Sutherland reported on projected costs for purchasing and repairing portables, and noted repairing existing portables is more cost effective.

MOVED by Mayor Owen
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

A. THAT Council approve capital funds in the amount of $235,000 to repair six portable childcare buildings; source of funds to be the 2001 City-owned Social Services and Cultural Facilities Capital Budget;

B. THAT Council approve capital funds of $25,000 for repairs to City-owned cultural facilities as outlined in the Administrative Report entitled "2001 Capital Budget: City-owned Childcare, Social Service and Cultural Facilities" dated October 10, 2001; source of funds to be the 2001 City-owned Social Services and Cultural Facilities Capital Budget; and

C. THAT Council approve capital funds in the amount of $15,000 for feasibility studies for two cultural capital projects as outlined in the Administrative Report entitled "2001 Capital Budget: City-owned Childcare, Social Service and Cultural Facilities" dated October 10, 2001; source of funds to be the 2001 City-owned Social Services and Cultural Facilities Capital Budget.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillor Kennedy absent for the vote)

4. 2001 Operating Budget - September Review (File 1605)

The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated September 28, 2001, in which the General Manager of Corporate Services/Director of Finance, in consultation with the Corporate Management Team, reviewed the status of the revenue and expenditure appropriations in the 2001 Operating Budget at September 30, 2001, and identified significant variances.

Annette Klein, Manager of Budgets, and Ken Bayne, Director of Financial Planning, responded to questions regarding the Legal Services and Police Department budgets and the projected deficit resulting from implementation of "Prime BC", an electronic police call system.

MOVED by Mayor Owen
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

THAT the Administrative Report entitled "2001 Operating Budget - September Review" dated September 28, 2001, be received for information.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillor Kennedy absent for the vote)

The Committee adjourned at 11:55 a.m.

- - - - -
CITY OF VANCOUVER

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

NOVEMBER 8, 2001

A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Thursday, November 8, 2001, at 11:55 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 Jennifer Clarke Councillor Daniel Lee Councillor Don Lee Councillor Tim Louis Councillor Sandy McCormick Councillor Gordon Price Councillor Sam Sullivan
ABSENT:	Councillor Lynne Kennedy (Civic Business) Councillor George Puil (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 Daniel 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
November 8, 2001

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

Cl.1: Report of the Economic Development Business Model Task Force
Cl.2: 2001 Childcare Grants Allocation - Report 3 of 4
Cl.3: 2001 Capital Budget: City-owned Childcare, Social Service and Cultural Facilities
Cl.4: 2001 Operating Budget - September Review

Clauses 1, 3 and 4

MOVED by Councillor Clarke

THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clauses 1, 3 and 4 of this report, be approved.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Clause 2

MOVED by Councillor Clarke

THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clause 2 of this report, be approved.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
AND BY THE REQUIRED MAJORITY

RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Councillor McCormick

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

ENQUIRIES AND OTHER MATTERS

1. Leave of Absence - Mayor Owen (File: 1254)

MOVED by Councillor Daniel Lee
SECONDED by Councillor Don Lee

THAT Mayor Owen be granted Leave of Absence for the Public Hearing on November 8, 2001.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

The Council adjourned at 11:57 a.m.

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