Agenda Index City of Vancouver


REPORT TO COUNCIL

STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
ON CITY SERVICES AND BUDGETS

APRIL 11, 2002

A Regular Meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on City Services and Budgets was held on Thursday, April 11, 2002, 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 Daniel Lee
Councillor Don Lee
Councillor Tim Louis
Councillor Sandy McCormick
Councillor Gordon Price
Councillor Sam Sullivan

ABSENT:

Councillor Lynne Kennedy (Sick Leave)

CITY MANAGER'S
OFFICE:

Judy Rogers, City Manager

CITY CLERK'S OFFICE:

Denise Salmon, Meeting Coordinator

ADOPTION OF MINUTES

The Minutes of the Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets meetings of March 7 and 14, 2002, were adopted.

RECOMMENDATION

1. 2002 Operating Budget (File 1605)

At its meeting on April 9, 2002, Vancouver City Council referred the following items to the April 11, 2002, Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets:

· Administrative Report dated March 28, 2002, entitled "2002 Operating Budget -Interim Report" (RR-1) and letter dated April 9, 2002, from the Park Board (RR-1(i));

· Memorandum dated April 2, 2002, from the City Manager, regarding 2002 Operating Budget: Public Consultation Process (RR-1(a)), and Report from MarkTrend dated March 13, 2002, outlining the results of the public poll (available on the City's website);

· Administrative Report dated April 2, 2002, entitled "2002 Operating Budget: Public Consultation Process" (RR-1(a));

· Administrative Report dated April 2, 2002, entitled "Impacts of the Provincial Budget on the City of Vancouver" (RR-1(b));

· Memorandum dated April 2, 2002, from the City Manager, and relevant Administrative Report dated March 18, 2002, entitled "2002 Police Sworn & Civilian Support Staffing Request" (RR-1(c)).

In addition, Vancouver City Council on March 26, 2002, referred the following item to the April 11, 2002, Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets:

· Motion B.3 entitled "Increasing Public Input and Involvement in City Budgets".

Accordingly, the Committee had before it the Administrative Report dated March 28, 2002,in which the General Manager of Corporate Services/Director of Finance, in consultation with the Corporate Management Team, reviewed the 2002 Operating Budget and sought Council consideration of initiatives that will bring the budget into balance, recommended a funding level for the Park Board Global Budget and outlined two requests for additional funding from the Police and Engineering Department that have not been included in the 2002 budget position. The City Manager recommended approval of A, B(i), C and D and was also supportive of Consideration Items E and F as set out in the above noted report.

Also before Council was a letter dated April 9, 2002, from the General Manager of Park Board, advising of resolutions passed by the Board with regard to the 2002 Budget.

Judy Rogers, City Manager and Ken Bayne, Director of Financial Planning and Treasury, introduced the report and advised if Council determined a further reduction in the tax increase was required, a report back would be scheduled for April 25, 2002.

Paul Faoro, President, CUPE Local 15, spoke in support of the City Manager's recommendations, and noted these reflect the opinion of the public and provide for no service or program cuts. Mr. Faoro also questioned the use, and resulting cost, of private contractors for City Hall landscaping, snow removal and specialized legal counsel. Mike Zora, Director of Human Resources, responded to points raised by Mr. Faoro.

Wendie Galczik, President, CUPE Local 1004, spoke in support of the recommended budget as set out in the Administrative Report, and specifically recommendations A, B(i) and C, and noted this demonstrates the public is happy with services currently provided. Ms. Galczik sought clarification on loss of a staff position at Mt. View Cemetery. Jacquie Forbes-Roberts, General Manager of Community Services, responded to Ms. Galczik's concerns. Brief discussion followed on the upcoming Graffiti Removal Report. Ms. Galczik distributed related material (on file) and Dave Rudberg, General Manager of Engineering Services provided clarification on issues raised.

Shane Simpson, President, Burrardview Neighbourhood Association, spoke in support of Recommendations A, B(i) and C, as contained in the Administrative Report. Mr. Simpson suggested consideration be given to enhancing the budget to allow for restoration of library services and an increase to civic grants, which will be impacted due to recent Provincial cuts. Mr. Simpson also commented on the slim contingency fund and the need for a more comprehensive budget consultation process in future. Estelle Low, General Manager and Director of Finance, responded to Mr. Simpson's concerns related to the contingency fund.
Brief discussion followed on proposals for new staffing for the Police Department. Deputy Chief Constable Greer responded to related questions from Council members.

Marilyn Young, spoke in opposition to any cuts affecting libraries, city schools, and parks. Staff provided Ms. Young with details related to funding of both the School Board and Park Board, and advised operating budget interim estimates provide for an increase, rather than decrease, in allocations to both the Vancouver Public Library and Parks and Recreation. Anita Ho, Director of Corporate Services, Park Board, provided clarification on services provided to the disabled.

Council discussion followed, with staff input, related to taxation options as set out in Options B(i), (ii), and (iii) of the Administrative Report, and potential impacts of these options on city properties. Allocation of police resources was also discussed, as was the importance of not allowing cuts to either libraries or parks . Mr. Bayne advised the final budget will come forward for Council decision on April 30, 2002.

MOVED by Councillor Price
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

A. THAT Council approve the Park Board Global Budget of $46,952,800, including $466,000 for added basic costs, this amount excluding any reductions approved by Council to balance the 2002 Operating Budget.

B. THAT Council consider the budget adjustments put forward by the Corporate Management Team to reduce the general purposes tax increase to as low as 3.9%, omitting reductions to parks and libraries, reducing the City share of the anticipated tax increase to approximately 3.0%.

C. THAT Council approve the creation of the following positions at a net cost of $110,000 in 2002 ($220,000 ongoing):

D. THAT Council defer consideration of the two reports related to the Anti-Graffiti Strategy to City Services and Budgets Committee on April 25, 2002, recognizing that the costs of any program approval will have to be accommodated within the existing budget position.

CARRIED
(Councillors Bass, Louis, Puil and Sullivan opposed to Recommendation B.)
(Councillors Louis and Sullivan opposed to Recommendation E.)
(Councillors Louis and Sullivan opposed to Recommendation F.)

MOVED by Councillor Bass
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

THAT $150,000 be added to the Library Budget to allow the library to remain open 52 weeks of the year.

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

Council referred the following items to the April 30, 2002, Regular Meeting of Council:

· Memorandum dated April 2, 2002, from the City Manager, regarding 2002 Operating Budget: Public Consultation Process (RR-1(a)), and Report from MarkTrend dated March 13, 2002, outlining the results of the public poll (available on the City's website);

· Administrative Report dated April 2, 2002, entitled "2002 Operating Budget: Public Consultation Process" (RR-1(a));

· Administrative Report dated April 2, 2002, entitled "Impacts of the Provincial Budget on the City of Vancouver" (RR-1(b));

· Motion B.3 entitled "Increasing Public Input and Involvement in City Budgets".

The Committee adjourned at 11:10 a.m.

- - - - -

CITY OF VANCOUVER

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

APRIL 11, 2002

A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Thursday, April 11, 2002, at 11:10 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 George Puil
Councillor Sam Sullivan

ABSENT:

Councillor Lynne Kennedy (Sick Leave)

CITY MANAGER'S
OFFICE:

Judy Rogers, City Manager

CITY CLERK'S OFFICE:

Denise Salmon, Meeting Coordinator

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Councillor Puil
SECONDED by Councillor Price

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
April 11, 2002

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

Clause 1

MOVED by Councillor Clarke

THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clause 1 of this report, be approved.

CARRIED
(Councillors Bass, Louis, Puil and Sullivan opposed to Recommendation B.)
(Councillors Louis and Sullivan opposed to Recommendation E.)
(Councillors Louis and Sullivan opposed to Recommendation F.)

MOVED by Councillor Bass
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

THAT $150,000 be added to the Library Budget to allow the library to remain open 52 weeks of the year.

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

Council referred the following items to the April 30, 2002, Regular Meeting of Council:

· Memorandum dated April 2, 2002, from the City Manager, regarding 2002 Operating Budget: Public Consultation Process (RR-1(a)), and Report from MarkTrend dated March 13, 2002, outlining the results of the public poll (available on the City's website);

· Administrative Report dated April 2, 2002, entitled 2002 Operating Budget: PublicConsultation Process (RR-1(a));

· Administrative Report dated April 2, 2002, entitled "Impacts of the Provincial Budget on the City of Vancouver" (RR-1(b));

· Motion B.3 entitled "Increasing Public Input and Involvement in City Budgets" .

RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Councillor Don Lee

THAT the Committee of the Whole rise and report.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

ADOPT REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Councillor Clarke
SECONDED by Councillor McCormick

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

The Council adjourned at 11:11 a.m.

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csb020411.htm

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