Agenda Index City of Vancouver

REPORT TO COUNCIL

STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
ON CITY SERVICES AND BUDGETS

NOVEMBER 22, 2001

A Regular Meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on City Services and Budgets was held on Thursday, November 22, 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 Jennifer Clarke, Vice-Chair
Councillor Lynne Kennedy
*Councillor Daniel Lee
Councillor Don Lee
Councillor Tim Louis
*Councillor Sandy McCormick
Councillor Gordon Price
*Councillor Sam Sullivan

CITY MANAGER'S
OFFICE:

Judy Rogers, City Manager

CITY CLERK'S OFFICE:

Denise Salmon, Meeting Coordinator

*denotes presence for portion of the meeting

ADOPTION OF MINUTES

The Minutes of the Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets meeting of November 1, 2001, were adopted.

RECOMMENDATION

1. 2001 Diversity Initiatives Grants: Second Deadline (File 2051)

The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated November 1, 2001, in which the Director of the Office of Cultural Affairs recommended approval of two Diversity Initiative grants totalling $14,000. The General Manager of Community Services recommended approval.

Alice Niwinski, Cultural Planner, was present to respond to questions and noted the Headlines Theatre Society was legally known as Theatre for Living Society, which should be reflected in the Committee's recommendation .

MOVED by Councillor Louis
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

THAT Council approve Diversity Initiative grants totalling $14,000 to the following two groups, source of funds to be the Diversity Initiatives Grants category of the 2001 Cultural Grants budget:

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillors Clarke, Daniel Lee, McCormick, and Sullivan not present for the vote.)

2. Year 2002 Vehicles for Hire License Fee Amendments (File 2801)

The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated November 7, 2001, in which the Chief License Inspector, in consultation with the Director of Finance, recommended increasing the license fee for all classifications of vehicles for hire, with the exception of the three limousine categories, by approximately 7.5 percent (when rounded), increasing the license fee for limousines from $110 to $150, increasing the license transfer and replacement plate fees and incorporating the $25 fee currently charged for bicycle courier testing into the by-law. The General Managers of Corporate and Community Services recommended approval.

Paul Teichroeb, Chief License Inspector, provided an overview of the report and responded to questions regarding the need for a 7.5% fee increase.

MOVED by Councillor Louis
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

A. THAT with the exception of the three limousine classifications, license fees for Vehicles for Hire, contained in Schedule "A" of By-law No. 6066, be increased by approximately 2.5 percent (when rounded) for year 2002.

amended

AMENDMENT MOVED by Mayor Owen

THAT the figure 2.5 percent in Recommendation A above be replaced with the figure 7.5 percent to read:

A. THAT with the exception of the three limousine classifications, license fees for Vehicles for Hire, contained in Schedule "A" of By-law No. 6066, be increased by approximately 7.5 percent (when rounded) for year 2002.

CARRIED
(Councillors Bass and Louis opposed.)

The amendment to Recommendation A having CARRIED, Councillor Louis' motion, as amended, was put and CARRIED with Councillors Bass and Louis opposed to Recommendation A.

3. Review of Commercial Vehicle Permits (File 2501)

The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated November 8, 2001, in which the General Manager of Engineering Services and Chief License Inspector reviewed the regulations for commercial vehicles and recommended changes in vehicle signing requirements and permit fees.

MOVED by Councillor Louis
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

A. THAT section 19.2 of the Street and Traffic By-law No. 2849 be amended, as set out in the Administrative Report dated November 8, 2001, and entitled "Review of Commercial Vehicle Permits", to better define the signage identification requirements for a commercial vehicle.

B. THAT section 21.6 of the Street and Traffic By-law 2849 be amended to remove the requirement for a vehicle with a commercial permit to display a removable sign identifying the owner/operator and allow the City to issue the annual commercial permit in the form of either a metal plate or decal.

C. THAT the fee for the commercial permit be increased by $50 per year in 2002, 2003 and 2004, which would result in a fee of $200 in 2004.

D. THAT staff report back on any revisions to enforcement levels that may be needed to address the change to the issuance of commercial permits.

E. THAT the Director of Legal Services be requested to prepare the necessary amendments to the Street and Traffic By-law.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

4. Year 2002 Business License Fee Amendments (File 1758)

The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated November 7, 2001, in which the Chief License Inspector, in consultation with the Director of Finance, sought Council approval for Year 2002 business license fees and live-aboard license fees and the incorporation of new fees into the License By-law for certain administrative tasks requiring additional processing time. A 2.5% fee increase is proposed for all business license categories with the exception of live-aboards, liquor license establishments and one familydwellings. The General Manager of Community Services recommended approval.

Paul Teichroeb, Chief License Inspector, provided an overview of the report and responded to questions regarding the City's ability to adjust fees related to processing times in future, if required. Mr. Teichroeb also advised a maximum of $2,000 had been recommended for license categories of Cabaret, Dining Lounge, Dining Room, Lounge, Marine Public House, Neighbourhood Public House and Public House, as once an establishment reaches a certain size, there is no major difference from an enforcement point of view. It would also be unfair to the few large establishments that currently exist in the City if they were charged on a per seat basis.

MOVED by Councillor Kennedy
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

A. THAT, with the exception of the charitable or non-profit categories detailed in Appendix A of the Administrative Report dated November 7, 2001, and entitled "Year 2002 Business License Fee Amendments" and certain liquor establishments, live-aboard and one family dwelling license categories, Council approve an across-the-board increase in business license fees of approximately 2.5% (when rounded) for Year 2002 as an inflationary adjustment reflecting the growth in City costs.

carried

AMENDMENT MOVED by Councillor Louis

THAT the figure 2.5% in Recommendation A above be replaced with the figure 1.5% to read:

A. THAT, with the exception of the charitable or non-profit categories detailed in Appendix A of the Administrative Report dated November 7, 2001, and entitled "Year 2002 Business License Fee Amendments" and certain liquor establishments, live-aboard and one family dwelling license categories, Council approve an across-the-board increase in business license fees of approximately 1.5% (when rounded) for Year 2002 as an inflationary adjustment reflecting the growth in City costs.

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

AMENDMENT MOVED by Councillor Bass

THAT the words "and maximum" and "and $2000" be deleted from Recommendation C to read:

C. THAT the application of fees for the license categories of Cabaret, Dining Lounge, Dining Room, Lounge, Marine Public House, Neighbourhood Public House and Public House be changed from a flat fee per business basis to a $4.00 per seat basis for Year 2002 with a minimum fee of $95, respectively.

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

The amendments to Recommendations A and C having LOST, Councillor Kennedy's motion was put and CARRIED with Councillors Bass and Louis opposed to Recommendation A.

5. Vancouver Art Gallery - Annual Report & 2001 Operating

The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated October 29, 2001, in which the Directors, Office of Cultural Affairs and Finance, provided a review of the Vancouver Art Gallery's activities, their current operating and financial situation, and presented for Council's consideration their 2001 Operating Grant request. The General Managers of Community and Corporate Services recommended approval.

Sue Harvey, Office of Cultural Affairs, introduced Karen Hasselfelt, Cultural Planner, who provided an overview of the report.

Kathleen Bartels, Director, Vancouver Art Gallery, introduced members of the VAG Board and provided details of its strategic plan for the next three years, which included:

· to move the Gallery aggressively forward, the VAG is budgeting a planned deficit in 2002, which, if it does occur, will be repaid no later than 2003;
· a contingency plan has been developed that more than covers the planned deficit;
· projections for 2003 and 2004 show a considerable surplus in both years;
· sacrificing short-term comfort zones for longer-term gains will make the Gallery's operations sustainable for the long term;
· a strong exhibition schedule in planned for 2002, anchored by an exhibition of the work of Emily Carr, Georgia O'Keeffe, and Frida Kahlo.

Points noted during Council discussion included:

· the need for a good cost-benefit analysis;
· impacts/implications of re-opening the Georgia Street entrance to the Art Gallery;
· the need to examine potential opportunities afforded by the UBC Commerce Department's move to Robson Square;
· grants currently being pursued by VAG; and
· the Gallery's involvement in education, volunteer and public programs.

MOVED by Councillor Clarke
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

A. THAT a 2001 operating grant of $1,849,500 be approved to the Vancouver Art Gallery Association; source of funds to be the "Other" Grants budget.

B. THAT Council direct staff to work with the Vancouver Art Gallery in advance of their 2002 Operating Grant request to monitor financial progress and contingency plans in order to minimize risk associated with a projected deficit.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

The Committee adjourned at 10:29 a.m.

- - - - -

CITY OF VANCOUVER

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

NOVEMBER 22, 2001

A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Thursday, November 22, 2001, at 10:29 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 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:

Denise Salmon, Meeting Coordinator

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Councillor Clarke
SECONDED by Councillor 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
November 22, 2001

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

Clause 1 and 5

MOVED by Councillor Puil

THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clauses 1 and 5 of this report, be approved.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
AND BY THE REQUIRED MAJORITY

Clause 2

MOVED by Councillor Puil

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

CARRIED
(Councillors Bass and Louis opposed to Recommendation A.)

Clause 3

MOVED by Councillor Puil

THAT the recommendation of the Committee, as contained in Clause 3 of this report, be approved.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Clause 4

MOVED by Councillor Puil

THAT the recommendation of the Committee, as contained in Clause 4 of this report, be approved.

CARRIED
(Councillors Bass and Louis opposed to Recommendation A.)

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 Clarke

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

ENQUIRIES AND OTHER MATTERS

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

MOVED by Councillor Don Lee
SECONDED by Councillor McCormick

THAT Councillor Puil be granted Leave of Absence for the afternoon of November 22, 2001.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

The Council adjourned at 10:30 a.m.
* * * * *

cs011122.htm

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