REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING - MARCH 26, 2002
MOTION B.3

3. Increasing Public Input and Involvement in City Budgets (File: 1605)

At the Council meeting of March 12, 2002, Councillor Bass submitted the following Notice of Motion, which was recognized by the Chair:

MOVED by Councillor Bass
SECONDED by Councillor Louis

WHEREAS, budget projections indicate that City Council will be faced with the choices of approving a significant tax increase to maintain current civic service levels, drawing down reserve funds, or finding ways of extensively cutting city services and programs;

AND WHEREAS, the City faces these difficult choices in developing the 2002 Operating Budget due to the BC government's

(a) cutting the provincial funding of programs and services essential to the City of Vancouver; and
(b) increasing provincial taxes and user fees paid to the province by the City of Vancouver;

AND WHEREAS, the total projected impact of these and other budgetary pressures will result in a funding shortfall of up to $20 million in the 2002 Operating Budget;

AND WHEREAS, on December 11, 2001, City Council instructed the City Manager to implement a public consultation initiative related to the service level and taxation choices required to balance the 2002 Operating Budget.

AND WHEREAS, the City of Vancouver has published City Choices 2002, an information flyer on the 2002 Operating Budget, and is undertaking an information poll to survey the public on some of the budgetary choices facing city council;

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THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the City of Vancouver create additional public involvement opportunities during this budget-preparation process by:

(a) creating a speakers bureau comprised of senior staff and Council members who will address community groups and interested individuals about budget issues; and
(b) holding several special City Council sessions throughout the city to hear representations from the public on the budget prior to the April 30 deadline for approving the 2002 Operating Budget.

Referred

REFERRAL MOVED by Councillor Clarke

THAT consideration of the Motion be referred to the Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets meeting of April 11, 2002.

CARRIED
(Councillors Bass and Louis opposed)