CITY OF VANCOUVER

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

MARCH 5, 2002

A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Tuesday, March 5, 2002, 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 Tim Louis Councillor Sandy McCormick *Councillor Gordon Price Councillor George Puil Councillor Sam Sullivan
ABSENT:	Councillor Don Lee (Sick Leave)
CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE:	Judy Rogers, City Manager
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE:	Syd Baxter, City Clerk Tarja Tuominen, Meeting Coordinator

*Denotes presence for a portion of the meeting.

PRAYER

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

CONDOLENCES

Council expressed its sympathy on the recent passing of former Councillor Harry Rankin and
May Gutteridge, Downtown Eastside social activist, and observed a moment of silence in their memory.

"IN CAMERA" MEETING

MOVED by Councillor McCormick
SECONDED by Councillor Bass

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 paragraph:

(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;

(b) personal information about an identifiable individual who is being considered for an award of honour, or who has offered to provide a gift to the city on condition of anonymity;

(c) labour relations or employee negotiations.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

ADOPTION OF MINUTES

1. Regular Council - February 19, 2002

MOVED by Councillor Kennedy
SECONDED by Councillor Daniel Lee

THAT the foregoing Minutes be approved.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Councillor McCormick
SECONDED by Councillor Daniel Lee

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

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

REPORT REFERENCE

1. Vancouver Transit Strategy

February 22, 2002 (File: 5551)

Dave Rudberg, General Manager of Engineering Services, presented a Report Reference on the Vancouver Transit Strategy. Mr. Rudberg provided a context of Vancouver's land use vision and discussed directions for transit services previously approved by Council, provided updated information on a package of transit initiatives in Vancouver and proposed long term City and regional transit initiatives. Staff recommend the report be made available to the public for comment at a future evening meeting of Council. The evening of Tuesday, April 9, 2002 has been reserved to hear from the public on the proposed initiatives.

MOVED by Councillor Puil

THAT the Policy Report dated February 22, 2002 entitled "Vancouver Transit Strategy" be received and referred to a future Council meeting in order to hear from the public.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

1. Impact of the Noise By-law Amendment on Park Board Operations

January 25, 2002 (File: 3102)

At the Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets meeting on February 7, 2002, Council heard speakers on the Administrative Report dated January 25, 2002, entitled "Impact of the Noise By-law Amendment on Park Board Operations". However, due to time constraints, decision on the matter was referred to the Regular Council meeting on February 19, 2002.

Subsequently, on February 19, 2002, Council was advised staff who attended the February 7 meeting to deal with the matter were not available until the March 5 Regular Council meeting.
Therefore, Council referred consideration of the Administrative Report to the March 5 meeting.

Also before Council was a memorandum, dated March 4, 2002, from the Deputy City Manager, advising if Council wishes to approve different motions from those approved on July 12, 2001, Council would first need to rescind the July 12, 2001 motion. In addition, in anticipation Council may wish to consider an alternate approach and upon further review of the issues with staff, the Deputy City Manager suggested alternate recommendations.

MOVED by Councillor Kennedy

THAT Council rescind its resolution of July 12, 2001 concerning the use of leafblowers.

CARRIED, BY THE REQUIRED MAJORITY
(Councillors Bass and Louis opposed)

MOVED by Councillor Kennedy

A. THAT on such terms as the Director of Legal Services may think fit, the Noise by-law be amended to prohibit, effective on enactment of the by-law, the use of hand held and backpack leaf blowers, used within 50 metres of residential premises, except between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. weekdays, 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Saturdays.

B. THAT on such terms as the Director of Legal Services may think fit, the Noise by-law be amended to prohibit, effective January 1, 2003, the use of any leaf blower that has not been certified as meeting the Category 1- db(A) <65 equipment standard as set out in the ANSI B175.2-2000.

C. THAT Council endorse the strategic plan proposal put forward by the BCLNA, and request City staff participation in the process.

D. THAT the effectiveness of the new regulations be monitored, with a report back to Council by late-2003 on the implementation of the new requirements, and the industry initiatives to have all equipment meet the noise standards, as well as education programs for users and the general public, with possible further options if required, including consideration of a total ban.

E. THAT Park Board request for a one-time expenditure of $55,000 for new equipment be referred to the budget process.

CARRIED
(Councillors Bass and Louis opposed to A, B, C and E)

CITY MANAGER'S ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS

1. Local Improvements Flat Rates

February 1, 2002 (File: 5802)

MOVED by Councillor Clarke

THAT the flat rates shown on the "List of Projects Completed in 2001", on file in the City Clerk's Office, be approved.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

2. Mountain View Cemetery - Cadastral Boundary Matters - Proposed Closure of a Portion of the South Side of 41^st Avenue, East of Prince Edward Street

February 1, 2002 (File: 5127)

MOVED by Councillor McCormick

THAT all that portion of the south side of 41st Avenue, east of Prince Edward Street shown hatched on the plan attached as Appendix A to the Administrative Report, dated February 1, 2002 entitled "Mountain View Cemetery - Cadastral Boundary Matters -Proposed Closure of a Portion of the South Side of 41st Avenue, East of Prince Edward Street" be closed and stopped-up subject to the following conditions:

1. The area of closed road is to be subdivided with Parcel E, District Lot 642, Group 1, New Westminster District, Plan LMP 41103, so as to form a single parcel, to the satisfaction of the Director of Legal Services and the Approving Officer;

2. Those portions of Lots 16, 17 and 18 in Explanatory Plan 5912 shown shaded on Appendix A of the Administrative Report, to be dedicated for road;

3. The maintenance of the portion of the existing water service that will be situated on Cemetery land be turned over to the Mountain View Cemetery.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

3. 63 East Hastings, Segal Place, Lease Terms and Other Arrangements

February 20, 2002 (File: 5104)

MOVED by Councillor Sullivan

A. THAT Council approve the ground lease for 63 East Hastings, legally described as Lot C, Block 8. D.L. 196, Plan LMP 45514 to the Vancouver Public Housing Corporation for 60 years at nominal rent and in accordance with the terms and conditions described in the Administrative Report, dated February 20, 2002, entitled "63 East Hastings, Segal Place, Lease Terms and Other Arrangements", as well as other terms and conditions satisfactory to the Director of the Housing Centre, the Director of Real Estate Services and the Director of Legal Services.

B. THAT Council approve the sub-leasing of the retail space on the ground floor of the building, totalling approximately 4,900 square feet including a shared garbage area, one shared loading bay, 4 retail parking stalls, and other terms as determined by the Directors of Corporate Services, Community Services andLegal Services from the Vancouver Public Housing Corporation to the City of Vancouver for 60 years less a day, for a nominal rent.

C. THAT Council approve the expenditures from the Property Endowment Fund as follows:

- $480,000 to Vancouver Public Housing Corporation representing construction and soft costs only; disbursed as follows: an initial payment of $408,000 (85%) at time of first construction loan advance as advised by B.C. Housing, and a final payment of $72,000 (15%) the later of the expiration of the lien holdback period or issuance of the unconditional occupancy permit for the project by the City, subject to the satisfaction of the Director of Facilities Development;

- $28,560 to Vancouver Public Housing Corporation as the GST payment for the retail space, payment to be at the time of first construction loan, and the City will apply for the appropriate input tax credit;

- a budget of up to $160,000 plus GST for tenant improvements, the amount to be negotiated by the Director of Real Estate Services as part of the retail lease negotiations with prospective tenants.

D. THAT staff continue to work with Vancouver Coast Health Authority to provide support workers, as indicated in the letter dated October 3,2001 , attached as Appendix B to the Administrative Report, dated February 20, 2002, entitled "63 East Hastings, Segal Place, Lease Terms and Other Arrangements", so people in recovery from addictions can be appropriately accommodated.

E. THAT no legal rights or obligations are hereby created and none shall arise hereafter except upon execution of all legal documents required to complete these transactions to the satisfaction of the Director of Legal Services.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY AND
BY THE REQUIRED MAJORITY

4. 2002 Street Rehabilitation Program

February 4, 2002 (File: 1602/5762)

MOVED by Councillor Clarke

THAT Council approve funding of $1,000,000 in advance of the 2002 Streets Capital Budget to permit early commencement of the 2002 Street Capital Rehabilitation Program.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

5. Establishment of a portion of City Owned Lot at 1100 Kent Avenue South for Road Purposes

February 19, 2002 (File: 5807)

MOVED by Councillor Daniel Lee

THAT Council approve the establishment of the North 33 feet of City-owned Block O (Reference Plan 2533), District Lot 327, Plan 3402, at 1100 East Kent Avenue South for road purposes.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

6. Award of Contract 2002-01 for Construction of a City Receiving and Transfer Yard for Recyclables

February 15, 2002 (File: 1805)

MOVED by Councillor Sullivan

A. THAT Council authorize an additional $100,000 in funding from the Solid Waste Capital Reserve to complete and improve the development of a receiving yard for Blue Box and apartment recyclables at 1100 East Kent Avenue South.

B. THAT Contract No. 2002 - 01 for construction of the recycling receiving yard at 1100 East Kent Avenue South be awarded to the low bidder meeting the contract requirements, Gemco Construction Ltd., for a total tender price of $448,996.00 plus GST; funding to be provided from the Solid Waste Capital Reserve.

C. THAT the General Manager of Engineering Services, in consultation with the Director of Legal Services, be authorized to enter into a construction services contract with Gemco Contracting Ltd., for Contract No. 2002 - 01, for the construction of the recycling receiving yard.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

7. Temporary Appointment of Deputy Approving Officer

February 18, 2002 (File: 1366/1375)

MOVED by Councillor Kennedy

THAT Mr. Dave Rudberg, General Manager of Engineering Services, be appointed as Deputy Approving Officer for the period of July 22nd to August 2, 2002.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

8. World Road Association (PIARC) (Requires eight affirmative votes)

February 11, 2002 (File: 2004)

MOVED by Councillor Sullivan

THAT City Council approve a grant of $1,000 to PIARC as an assistance in offsetting the costs of their Executive Meeting which will be held in Vancouver, in April, 2002, the source of funds to be Streets Capital Account 10005947 for materials research.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY AND
BY THE REQUIRED MAJORITY

RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Councillor Clarke

THAT the Committee of the Whole rise and report.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

ADOPT REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Councillor McCormick
SECONDED by Councillor Daniel Lee

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

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

MOTIONS

A. Administrative Motions

1. Closing a portion of the South side of 41^st Avenue, East of Prince Edward Street (File: 5127/5753)

MOVED by Councillor McCormick
SECONDED by Councillor Sullivan

THAT WHEREAS:

1. The City of Vancouver is the owner of all the streets and lanes lying within the limits of the City of Vancouver;

2. Parts of Blocks 16, 17 and 18 in Explanatory Plan 5912, District Lot 642, Plan 733A have been established for road purposes under Filing DF 81395;

3. Only portions of the said Parts of Blocks 16, 17 and 18 are required for road purposes;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the South 8 feet of the North 17 feet of Blocks 16, 17 and 18, Except the West 33 feet of Block 16, of District Lot 642, Plan 733A, now road, be closed and stopped-up, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Parts of said Blocks 16, 17 and 18 in Explanatory Plan 5912, District Lot 642, Plan 733A be subdivided with Parcel E, District Lot 642, Group 1, New Westminster District, Plan LMP 41103, dedicating the portions of the said Parts of Blocks 16, 17 and 18 still required for road purposes, to the satisfaction of the Approving Officer.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

2. Establishing a portion of Block O (Reference Plan 2533), District Lot 327, Plan 3402, for road purposes)  

(File: 5807)

MOVED by Councillor McCormick
SECONDER: Councillor Sullivan

THAT WHEREAS:

1. The City of Vancouver is the owner Block O (Reference Plan 2533), District Lot 327, Plan 3402, (PID 006-582-711);

2. It is deemed expedient and in the public interest to establish the North 33 feet of Block O (Reference Plan 2533), District Lot 327, Plan 3402 for road purposes;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the North 33 feet of Block O (Reference Plan 2533), District Lot 327, Group 1, New Westminster District (PID 006-582-711), the same as shown heavy outlined on plan of survey completed 30th day of January, 2001, attested to by A. Di Nozzi, B.C.L.S., and marginally numbered LB 738, a print of whichis attached hereto, be established for road purposes and declared to form and constitute a portion of road.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

3. Establishing as road for access for Thornton Street, South of Malkin Avenue

(File: 5807)

MOVED by Councillor McCormick
SECONDED by Councillor Sullivan

THAT WHEREAS the registered owner will be conveying to the City of Vancouver for road purposes lands in the City of Vancouver, Province of British Columbia, more particularly known and described as follows:

All that portion of Lot C, Block 1, District Lots 196 and 2037, Plan 12398, Group One, New Westminster District, as shown heavy outlined on plan of survey completed April 17, 2000, attested to by Fred Wong, B.C.L.S. and marginally numbered LD3692, a print of which is attached hereto.

AND WHEREAS it is deemed expedient and in the public interest to accept and allocate the said lands for road purposes.

BE IT RESOLVED that the above described lands to be conveyed are hereby accepted and allocated for road purposes and declared to form and to constitute a portion of a road.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

B. Motions on Notice

1. Protection of Civic Democracy and Ensuring Local Decision-Making (File: 6001)

At the Council meeting of February 19, 2002, Councillor Bass submitted the following Notice of Motion which was recognized by the Chair:

MOVED by Councillor Bass
SECONDED by Councillor Louis

WHEREAS, at its May 2, 2000 meeting the City of Vancouver unanimously agreed that Canada should get a "permanent and explicit exemption in the GATS (General Agreement on Trade in Services) that would limit its application to areas of Federal jurisdiction," (a resolution also passed by the UBCM at its October 24-27, 2000meeting);

AND WHEREAS, World Trade Organization negotiators are considering extension of this agreement to local government regulation over zoning and hours of operation;

AND WHEREAS, transnational retailing corporations such as Wal-Mart, Carrefour, and Marks and Spencer have been reported to have lobbied to get such provisions adopted by the WTO;

AND WHEREAS, a new GATS provision applied to zoning will mean all regulations over zoning and hours of operation would have to meet the test of being "necessary" as determined by a WTO trade panel;

AND WHEREAS, the new provision will be a legally binding article in the GATS agreement and thus enforceable through the WTO;

AND WHEREAS, a GATS provision on zoning would eventually [it would do this immediately, as soon as the provision comes into force at the end of the current round of negotiations in 2005 create substantial uncertainty for local government representatives when they make decisions on zoning and store hours, even though Canadian law empowers them to make such decisions;

AND WHEREAS, the provincial government is responsible for safeguarding the authority of local governments in the formulation of Canada's negotiating position on GATS;

AND WHEREAS, on March 13 and 14, provincial and federal representatives will meet to discuss Canada's position in these negotiations;

AND WHEREAS, all WTO member states have to submit their proposals for these negotiations by June 2002;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the City of Vancouver ask:

(a) the Minister of Competition, Science and Enterprise to press at the March 13 and 14 federal-provincial meeting for a complete exemption of local governmental laws and regulations from the GATS; and

(b) the Minister to meet with the Mayor and City Council to report on the results of his efforts at the March 13 and 14 meeting and to hear the City's concerns about the legal and regulatory restrictions posed for local governments by the proposed trade agreement expansion.

Referred

Also before Council was a communication, dated March 4, 2002, requesting to speak. Therefore Council referred consideration of the matter to a future Standing Committee meeting to hear the speaker.

A member of Council requested the City Clerk to provide information on whether Council has dealt with similar motions in the past.

Note from Clerk: The matter will be considered at the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment meeting on March 14, 2002.

2. Reversing Provincial Cuts to Seniors (File: 1263)

At the Council meeting of February 19, 2002, Councillor Bass submitted the following Notice of Motion which was recognized by the Chair:

MOVED by Councillor Bass
SECONDED by Councillor McCormick

WHEREAS, the provincial government announced in January that it would be cutting the BC Bus Pass Program - a 20-year program that provided low-income seniors with $45 annual transit passes.

AND WHEREAS, nearly 25,000 low-income seniors living in the GVRD rely on the annual transit pass program,

AND WHEREAS, these passes provide low-income seniors with basic mobility and access to medical services and doctors, shopping, recreation and social activities;

AND WHEREAS, in the past the provincial government has transferred funding to transit authorities and municipalities to cover the cost of the BC Bus Pass Program;

AND WHEREAS, the provincial government had previously contributed$12 million to TransLink's annual budget for the BC Bus Pass Program;

AND WHEREAS, during his February 13 televised address to the province, Premier Campbell announced that the cuts to the BC Bus Pass Program were wrong, but he failed to outline who should pay for the resurrected program;

AND WHEREAS, previous to the February 13 announcement to reverse the cut, Premier Campbell suggested cost-sharing the program with transit authorities and municipalities;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT, Vancouver City Council:

(a) congratulate the Premier and the provincial government for reversing their harmful decision to cut the BC Bus Pass Program; and

(b) ask the provincial government to fully fund this program without downloading future costs of the BC Bus Pass Program to transit agencies or municipalities.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

3. Threatened Impact of the Agreement on Internal Trade on Municipal Governments

(File: 6001)

At the Council meeting of February 19, 2002, Councillor Bass submitted the following Notice of Motion which was recognized by the Chair:

MOVED by Councillor Bass
SECONDED by Councillor Daniel Lee

WHEREAS, in a July 18, 2001 open provincial government cabinet meeting, Premier Campbell announced his intention to extend the AIT coverage to procurement by BC local governments;

AND WHEREAS, the procurement provisions of the AIT take away the powers of municipal governments to make decisions locally;

AND WHEREAS, BC municipalities previously declined to be covered by the AIT for two principle reasons:

(a) there are no demonstrable benefits for municipalities to have their purchasing decisions subjected to AIT rules; and

(b) there are unknown and unknowable risks from agreeing to be bound by these rules, as they will be interpreted by unelected, trade-dispute panels focussed narrowly on expansion of trade;

AND WHEREAS, AIT coverage of local government procurement prepares the way for imposition of binding international trade disciplines at the expense of local government authority over procurement;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the City of Vancouver requests the provincial government to reconsider is intention to require that municipal governments comply with the procurement provisions of the Agreement on Internal Trade.

Amended

AMENDMENT MOVED by Councillor Puil
SECONDED by Councillor Clarke

THAT the motion be amended by deleting the "whereases" in the preamble, and amending the resolution as follows:

· THAT the City of Vancouver request the provincial government to consult with local governments prior to any change anticipated to the Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) including the dispute resolution process, either initiated by the Province or others; and

· THAT the Province confirm its commitment that the inclusion of local governments in the AIT will not increase costs of procurement for the local government.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

MOTION AS AMENDED

A. THAT the City of Vancouver request the provincial government to consult with local governments prior to any change anticipated to the Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) including the dispute resolution process, either initiated by the Province or others; and

B. THAT the Province confirm its commitment that the inclusion of local governments in the AIT will not increase costs of procurement for the local governments.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

4. Call for Missing Women Inquiry (File: 3701/8104)

At the Council meeting of February 19, 2002, Councillor Louis submitted the following Notice of Motion which was recognized by the Chair:

MOVED by Councillor Louis
SECONDED by Councillor Bass

WHEREAS, the ongoing tragic case of the disappearance and possible death of at least 45 women has impacted on individuals and families not only in the City of Vancouver, but across the region, the province and the country;

AND WHEREAS, many troubling questions have been raised by those individuals and families about the manner in which the investigation of this case has been conducted from as early as 1983, when the first woman went missing, through to 1998 when serious concerns were raised with law enforcement authorities about the lack of progressin the investigations and the increasing number of women missing;

AND WHEREAS, the Vancouver Police Department has played a central role in the ongoing investigation into the disappearance and possible death of these women;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT, upon completion of the investigation now underway, Council direct the Vancouver Police Board and the BC Ministry of Public Safety and the Solicitor General to conduct a full and comprehensive inquiry into the direction, management and conduct of the investigation of the women missing from Downtown Eastside Vancouver.

Postponed

Also before Council was correspondence, dated March 4, 2002, requesting to speak.

MOVED by Councillor Clarke
SECONDED by Councillor Puil

THAT consideration of the Motion be postponed until the end of the investigation.

CARRIED
(Councillors Bass and Louis opposed)

MOVED by Councillor Kennedy
SECONDED by Councillor McCormick

THAT members of Council meet informally with the families of the missing women to listen, express their sympathy, achieve some strategies to prevent women from entering the sex trade and help find ways for them to exit the sex trade.

CARRIED
(Councillor Puil opposed)

5. The Construction of Highways Through Greater Vancouver Watersheds (File: 3753)

At the Council meeting of February 19, 2002, Councillor Bass submitted the following Notice of Motion which was recognized by the Chair:

MOVED by Councillor Bass
SECONDED by Councillor Louis

WHEREAS, a number of schemes have recently been proposed to build highwaysthrough portions of the Capilano and Seymour areas of the Greater Vancouver Watersheds as alternate routes to Whistler for the Olympics;

AND WHEREAS, on Nov. 10, 1999 the GVRD Board of Directors adopted watershed management principles and guidelines that state:
· The primary purpose of Greater Vancouver's watersheds is to provide clean, safe drinking water.
· The watersheds will be managed to reflect and advance the region's commitment to the environmental stewardship and protection of those lands and their biological diversity.
· The region's Management Plan will be based upon minimum intervention absolutely necessary to achieve the Board's objectives.
· The Management Plan will contain policies to return areas disturbed by human activities as close a possible to the pre-disturbance state consistent with the primary goal of protecting water quality.

AND WHEREAS, building new roads or highways through the Greater Vancouver Watershed is not consistent with the GVRD's watershed management principles and guidelines as road construction would:
· expose the watersheds to substantial environmental risk;
· result in increased disturbance from motorized vehicles;
· disturb the natural filtration system;
· allow pollutants in run-off from highway traffic to possibly contaminate sources of drinking water;
· increase the possibility of a spill of hazardous material into the watersheds.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the City of Vancouver notify the GVRD Board of its opposition to the construction of any new roads or highways through the Greater Vancouver Watersheds.

Amended

An amendment was proposed and accepted by Councillor Bass.

MOTION AS AMENDED

THAT the City of Vancouver notify the GVRD Board of its opposition to the construction of any new highways through the Greater Vancouver Watersheds.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

6. Reinstatement of Child and Youth Advocate at City Hall (File: 4102)

At the Council meeting of February 19, 2002, Councillor Louis submitted the following Notice of Motion which was recognized by the Chair:

MOVED by Councillor Louis
SECONDED by Councillor Bass

WHEREAS, in September 1988 Council approved the establishment of a Child and Youth Advocate "to ensure that children's needs are taken into account in all areas within the City's jurisdiction, and to act as advocate and liaison with senior levels of government to address gaps in service or deficiencies affecting children in their jurisdiction."

AND WHEREAS, Council, recognizing the necessity for an objective and independent role for the Advocate, therefore directed that the Child and Youth Advocate report directly to Council and its Committees;

AND WHEREAS, the duties of the Child and Youth Advocate were successfully performed by three individuals until 1999;

AND WHEREAS, in 1999 Council eliminated the position of Child and Youth Advocate following the creation by the Provincial Government of an Office of Child, Youth and Family Advocate acting as an independent office of the Legislature;

AND WHEREAS, on February 7, 2002, the Provincial Government announced it will eliminate the independent Office of Child, Youth and Family Advocate and integrate Child and Family Advocate duties with those of the Children's Commissioner, and have them no longer report independently to the Legislature, but instead report to the Ministry of the Attorney-General;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT, Council reinstate the position of Vancouver Child and Youth Advocate, and that the Advocate report directly to Council and its Committees.

LOST
(Councillors Clarke, Kennedy, Daniel Lee, McCormick, Puil, Sullivan and the Mayor opposed)
(Councillor Price absent for the vote)

MOVED by Councillor McCormick
SECONDED by Councillor Puil

THAT Council reaffirm its support for Council's resolution of July 22, 1999 for a full-time Social Planning position, reporting to the Director of Social Planning, with a focus on children and youth.

Carried

AMENDMENT MOVED by Councillor Louis
SECONDED by Councillor Bass

THAT the following words be added to the end of the foregoing motion:

...only if the position cannot be created as a separate position reporting directly to Council.

LOST
(Councillors Clarke, Kennedy, Daniel Lee, McCormick, Puil, Sullivan and the Mayor opposed)
(Councillor Price absent for the vote)

The amendment having lost, the motion was put and CARRIED with Councillor Bass opposed and Councillor Price absent for the vote)

7. Regulation of Conversion and Demolition of Single Room Occupancy Residential Hotels in the Downtown Core (File: 4657)

At the Council meeting of February 19, 2002, Councillor Louis submitted the following Notice of Motion which was recognized by the Chair:

MOVED by Councillor Louis
SECONDED by Councillor Bass

WHEREAS, the City of Vancouver has experienced a significant reduction in the number of Single Room Occupancy (SRO) hotel units for low-income residents, and;

WHEREAS, the provincial government has frozen the development of new replacement non-market housing for low-income urban singles, and;

WHEREAS, Vancouver has submitted a bid for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, and;

WHEREAS, historically rooming houses and residential hotels are often converted for tourist use during hallmark events such as the Olympic games and as occurred during Expo 86 in Vancouver, resulting in eviction and displacement of low income residents, and;

WHEREAS, Olympic driven evictions are currently taking place in Salt Lake City forcing low income citizens out of their homes and providing no alternatives, and;

WHEREAS, many organizations, including the Olympic Bid Committee, have expressed their desire that this not occur again in Vancouver, and;

WHEREAS the International Olympic Committee has previously expressed its concern that host cities have sustainable and socially responsible plans for hosting the Olympic Games, and;

WHEREAS, the Vancouver Charter empowers City Council to regulate the conversion and demolition of Single Room Occupancy residential hotels;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Vancouver City Council direct staff to prepare a conversion and demolition by-law for SRO hotels that ensures there is no net loss of affordable housing, as is currently provided through these hotels, and;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this by-law regulate market driven conversion and demolition of SRO hotels by either denying permits to convert or demolish hotels or through a requirement of one for one affordable rental housing replacement for each unit that will be lost, and;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that any replacement strategy must ensure the replacement units are available for occupancy prior to when the original units being converted or demolished are vacated.

Referred

Also before Council was correspondence, dated March 4, 2002, requesting to speak. Therefore Council referred consideration of the matter to a future Standing Committee meeting to hear the speaker.

Note from Clerk: The matter will be considered at the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment meeting on March 14, 2002.

NOTICE OF MOTION

1. Provincial Downloading to Municipalities (File: 1263)

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

WHEREAS, on February 7, 2002 the provincial government announced it was raising Medical Service Plan (MSP) premiums by 50 per cent effective May 1, 2002;

AND WHEREAS, according to a March 1, 2002 Vancouver Sun article, the provincial government's decision to increase MSP premiums will cost the City of Vancouver at least $1.3 million;

AND WHEREAS, the BC Liberals campaigned in the last provincial election onproviding local governments with the tools and resources to better plan and manage local services;

AND WHEREAS, the BC Liberals' downloading of provincial healthcare system costs will force the City of Vancouver to adopt some combination of either raising taxes or cutting services to offset these dramatic and unforeseen expenditures;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT, Council write to the Honourable Colin Hansen, Health Services Minister, objecting to the dramatic increase in the Medical Service Plan premiums, and urging the province to reverse this harmful decision.

Notice

ENQUIRIES AND OTHER MATTERS

1. Flag Policies (File: 1009)

MOVED by Councillor Louis
SECONDED by Councillor Bass

THAT the City's flag be lowered in memory of former Councillor Harry Rankin for the weekend of March 9 and 10, 2002 - from the evening of Friday, March 8 to the morning of Monday, March 11.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

MOVED by Councillor Kennedy
SECONDED by Councillor Daniel Lee

THAT the City Clerk report back on options for future policy on the lowering of the City's flag and on the City's practice of flying the Canadian flag.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

2. Sterling Shipyards/LaFarge Development Proposal (File: 8109)

Councillor Louis enquired whether the City has any jurisdiction over the Sterling Shipyards/LaFarge development proposal.

The City Manager agreed to provide the requested information.

3. Mural to Commemorate the Missing Women (File: 3701/8104)

Councillor Louis enquired on the possibility of erecting a mural to commemorate the missing women.

The City Manager agreed to look into the feasibility of the mural and the possibility of using City space.

4. Gaming Control Act (File: 2633)

Councillor Kennedy advised the Gaming Control Act was proclaimed this morning and enquired if staff were aware of the implications of the Act on the City.

The City Manager advised staff will be providing a report to Council very soon.

5. Increase in Provincial Sales Tax (File: 1263)

Councillor Bass requested staff report on the dollar implications to the City due to the recent increase in the provincial sales tax.

The City Manager advised staff will be providing a companion report on the financial impacts to the City due to the recent Provincial cuts and budget with the report on the 2002 Operating Budget.

The Council recessed at 6:00 p.m., and
reconvened "In Camera" in the Mayor's Office.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver