ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: June 10, 2002
Author/Local: N. Hood (7741)

RTS: 02786

CC File No. 5554

Council: July 9, 2002

TO:	Vancouver City Council
FROM:	General Manager of Engineering Services
SUBJECT:	Vancouver Trolley Company - License Renewal

RECOMMENDATION

THAT Council authorize the General Manager of Engineering Services to negotiate and conclude a license agreement between the City and the Vancouver Trolley Company (1996 ) Ltd., on the terms and conditions set out in this report and others satisfactory to the General Manager and the Director of Legal Services, it being understood that no legal relations are created and none shall arise until an agreement drawn to the satisfaction of the Director of Legal Services is executed by her on behalf of the City.

POLICY

Previous Council resolution approved a license agreement with the Vancouver Trolley Company for the placement of a kiosk on City street allowance.

PURPOSE

This report seeks approval for the renewal of an ongoing license agreement between the City and the Vancouver Trolley Company, with the General Manager of Engineering Services having the right to terminate the agreement, on the City's behalf, at any time.

BACKGROUND

The Vancouver Trolley Company has been operating a sightseeing enterprise in the City since 1991. The Company has doubled both its staff and fleet of buses since it began and has gone from a summer season to a year round operation. The Trolley Company's serviceconsists primarily of historic-looking buses following a regularly scheduled route to various tourist destinations in the City. The historic buses are popular with tourists and the Company has developed good working relationships with the residential and business communities in which it operates. There are no outstanding issues with the route or stop locations.

DISCUSSION

The license agreement between the City and the Trolley Company, which allows for the placement of a ticket and information kiosk at the corner of Water and Cordova Streets, expired on January 31, 2002. Previous agreements have been limited to five year terms, but given the Trolley Company's past record in resolving areas of concern and the City's ability to cancel the agreement at any time, an open ended agreement would prove workable for both parties.

The license agreement would remain largely unchanged from past agreements, the basic terms of which are:

1. That the placement of the Vancouver Trolley Company ticket information kiosk be subject to the approval of the General Manager of Engineering Services.

2. That the kiosk be removed from City street allowance when the Company is not in operation and all costs for the installation and removal of the kiosk be the responsibility of the Trolley Company.

3. That the Trolley Company be required to carry public liability insurance satisfactory to the Director of Risk Management.

4. That an annual fee payment for the placement of the kiosk be charged, with the fee set and reviewed in conjunction with other permit fees for the use of City street allowance.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

The City will receive an annual fee payment, currently set at $1400 per year. This annual fee will be subject to periodic review along with other permit fees for the use of City street allowance, such as, sidewalk cafes and street vending.

CONCLUSION

The Vancouver Trolley Company has successfully operated a sightseeing business in the City since 1991. They have shown a willingness to work with City staff and residents to resolve concerns that have arisen over the operation of their business. The renewal of the licence agreement would allow them to continue their unique service to the benefit of the City's tourism industry.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver