Agenda Index City of Vancouver

9

REPORT TO COUNCIL

STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
ON PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT

AUGUST 1, 2002

A Regular Meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on Planning and Environment was held on Thursday, August 1, 2002, at 2:00 p.m., in Committee Room No. 1, Third Floor, City Hall.

PRESENT:

Councillor Lynne Kennedy, Chair

*Mayor Philip Owen

*Councillor Fred Bass

*Councillor Jennifer Clarke

Councillor Daniel Lee

*Councillor Don Lee, Vice-Chair

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:

Laura Kazakoff, Meeting Coordinator (Items 1, 4, and 6-8)
Diane Clairmont, Meeting Coordinator (Items 3 and 5)

*Denotes presence for a portion of the meeting.

ADOPTION OF MINUTES

The Minutes of the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment meeting of July 11, 2002, were adopted.

VARY AGENDA

The Committee agreed to vary the Agenda in order to first consider Item 4, followed by the three items which had been referred from the City Services and Budgets Committee meeting held earlier that day (Items 6, 7 and 8 on this Agenda).

For clarity the Agenda items are minuted in the order in which they were dealt with.

RECOMMENDATION

4. Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre Expansion - Funding the Industry Contribution (File 6007)

MOVED by Councillor McCormick
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

THAT consideration of the Administrative Report dated July 26, entitled "Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre Expansion - Funding the Industry Contribution", be postponed to a Special Meeting of the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment to be held on August 14, 2002, at 10:00 a.m.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillors Bass, Clarke, and the Mayor absent for the vote)

6. Arrangements for the Pacific National Exhibition Through 2003 (File 3112)

At its meeting on August 1, 2002, the Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets referred this matter for consideration to the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment meeting to be held later that day. Accordingly, the Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated July 18, 2002, in which the Director of Current Planning, in consultation with the General Manager of Parks and Recreation and the Director of Legal Services, reviewed the Province's proposition that the City assume ownership of the PNE, and recommended Council instruct staff to strike a negotiating team for this purpose. It was also recommended that Council direct the finalization of an Operating Agreement between the City and the PNE in order to permit the PNE to continue operating through 2003.

Judy Rogers, City Manager, provided an overview of the investigative process undertaken to date by staff in this regard. Larry Beasley, Director of Current Planning, reviewed the recommendation to proceed with negotiations to ascertain if financial and other issues can be resolved. He noted any changes to the PNE will have an influence on the surrounding neighbourhood and will require an extensive public process to be carried out in collaboration with the Park Board.

The following spoke in support of the recommendations:

Annette Antoniak, President & CEO, Pacific National Exhibition - PowerPoint presentation (materials filed)
Ralf Kelman, Friends of the PNE and Playland (Vancouver Sun article 08/27/99 submitted)

Comments provided by the foregoing speakers include the following:

· a neighbourhood survey shows that 87% of residents within a 20 block-radius of the grounds want the PNE to stay;
· the PNE is completely self-sufficient and operates without government subsidies;
· the PNE provides opportunities for small and medium-sized businesses in Vancouver; and employment for thousands of people, most of whom are youth;
· Hastings Park and the PNE grounds provide good, lower-budget staging facilities for the film industry; would like to see access to the grounds and the unique locations it provides retained by the film industry;
· comments were provided in support of making the PNE an historic site;
· PNE is a low-impact, economically beneficial operation and does not cause the disruptions brought about by many other major events in the city;
· PNE provides many economic and social benefits to the city;
· CUPE 1004 supports the recommendations, but would request that the union also be consulted during the negotiations;
· PNE provides many young people with their first work experience;
· House of Blues promotes a number of shows yearly at Hastings Park; being a local operation they may not use PNE facilities if it were moved elsewhere in the Lower Mainland.

Mariken van Nimwegen, Hastings Park Conservancy (brief filed), noted she was also speaking as a resident living adjacent the PNE and as a Director of Kiwassa Neighbourhood House. Ms. van Nimwegen expressed concern with regard to continued future operations of the PNE at Hastings Park and requested that the negotiations with the Province as to which portions of the PNE to be maintained be based on the previously agreed upon public parkland status of Hastings Park. Ms. Nimwegen noted that maintaining the status quo would seriously hamper the new directions for the park and prevent meaningful community stewardship and revitalization.

MOVED by Councillor McCormick
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

A. THAT Council instruct the City Manager to assemble a negotiating team to formalize negotiations with the Province in regard to the future ownership of the Pacific National Exhibition.

B. THAT Council instruct staff to finalize an Operating Agreement between the City and the Pacific National Exhibition at Hastings Park, the general terms of which have previously been approved by Council in 1999, with an extension of the term of the Agreement to December 31st, 2003, all of which to be completed to the satisfaction of the City Manager and the Director of Legal Services in consultation with the Director of Current Planning and the General Manager of Parks and Recreation.
amended

AMENDMENT MOVED by Councillor Bass

THAT recommendation A be amended by adding the following:

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

MOTION AS AMENDED
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

A. THAT Council instruct the City Manager to assemble a negotiating team to formalize negotiations with the Province in regard to the future ownership of the Pacific National Exhibition; and

B. THAT Council instruct staff to finalize an Operating Agreement between the City and the Pacific National Exhibition at Hastings Park, the general terms of which have previously been approved by Council in 1999, with an extension of the term of the Agreement to December 31st, 2003, all of which to be completed to the satisfaction of the City Manager and the Director of Legal Services in consultation with the Director of Current Planning and the General Manager of Parks and Recreation.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

MOVED by Councillor Bass
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

THAT staff be requested to report back on potential wordings of a public referendum to be held in November of this year on the extension of the PNE.

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

- - - - -
The Committee recessed at 3:20 p.m. and reconvened at 3:25 p.m.
with all members present.
- - - - -

7. Growbusters Project (File 2701)

At its meeting on August 1, 2002, the Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets referred this matter for consideration to the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment meeting to be held later that day. Accordingly, the Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated July 2, 2002, in which the City Building Inspector provided an update on the progress of the Growbusters Project and requested approval to extend the Project three years beyond the currently approved period to September 2005.

Carlene Robbins, Manager, By-law Administration, and Inspector Kash Heed, Vancouver Police Department, were in attendance to answer questions.

Marc Emery, Vancouver Marijuana Party, spoke in opposition to the recommended extension of the Growbusters Project. Mr. Emery advised of illegal activities in regard to Growbusters operations, such as illegal searches, destroying property and aggressive methods of arrest. Mr. Emery noted that marijuana seizures result in higher prices, which results in even more people becoming involved in growing. He further noted Growbusters diverts Police resources from more serious crimes, disrupts families, hurts the BC economy, and the proposed Forward Looking Infrared Device is an invasion of privacy. He noted there is no evidence to suggest growers are involved in organized crime. Mr. Emery suggested licensing growers in order to reduce the harm associated with growing.

Chris Taulu, Collingwood Community Policing Centre, spoke in support of the recommended extension of the Growbusters Project. Ms. Taulu noted that the number of officers currently assigned to the Growbusters team does not represent a significant resource. She also advised that most of the money made by marijuana grow operations ends up in the US and is used to purchase cocaine. Ms. Taulu said residents are fed up with the amount of drugs and related crime in the city and urged Council to support the recommendations in the report.

Inspector Heed responded to questions concerning the Forward Looking Infrared Device, and on the appropriate protocol for requesting a share of government-seized proceeds from grow operations in the city.

MOVED by the Mayor
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

A. THAT Council receive for information the status report on the Growbusters Project as contained in the Administrative Report dated July 2, 2002, entitled "Growbusters Project".

B. THAT Council support the continuation of the co-ordinated Project Team "Growbusters" for an additional three years to September 1, 2005.

CARRIED
(Councillor Louis opposed)

MOVED by Councillor Bass
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

MOVED by Councillor Bass
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

THAT staff be requested to report back on options for the legalization of marijuana production, specifically in regard to safely controlling production, experiences elsewhere and economic implications.

THAT staff be requested to report back on options for registering vendors of hydroponic equipment, similar to the City's current program for registering pawnbrokers.

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

8. Urban Design Review of Pacific Boulevard - Phase 1 - Beach Neighbourhood and Implementation of Bike Lanes on Pacific and Expo Boulevards (File 5501/5553)

At its meeting on August 1, 2002, the Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets referred this matter for consideration to the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment meeting to be held later that day. Accordingly, the Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated July 19, 2002, in which the General Manager of Engineering Services and the Director of Current Planning sought Council's approval of the conceptual design for Pacific Boulevard along the Beach Neighbourhood frontage, from Seymour to Homer, as outlined in Appendix A of the Administrative Report. Staff also recommended that bike lanes be implemented on Pacific and Expo Boulevards, connecting Richards to the Adanac Bikeway.

Michael Gordon, Senior Planner, Central Area Major Developments Group, with the aid of graphics, reviewed the proposed street configuration presented in the report.

David Negrin, Senior Vice-President, Concord Pacific, advised he was in support of the proposed design of this section of Pacific Boulevard, but expressed concern with regard to the onus being on Concord to be sole neighbourhood contributor to the project.

Staff responded to questions raised by Committee members in relation to the foregoing speaker's concerns. It was noted the recommendations include that staff report back on options for funding.

MOVED by Councillor McCormick
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

A. THAT the geometric design, the conceptual streetscape plan, and the tree planting details and standards developed for Pacific Boulevard fronting the Beach Neighbourhood, as outlined in Appendix A of the Administrative Report dated July 19, 2002, entitled "Urban Design Review of Pacific Boulevard - Phase 1 - Beach Neighbourhood and Implementation of Bike Lanes on Pacific and Expo Boulevards", be approved.

B. THAT prior to the start of streetworks, staff report back with a final detailed design, including the identification of tree species, costs, and options for funding.

C. THAT funding of $25,000 be provided from Streets Basic Capital Unappropriated Account Group SCA2E-UNAP (Bicycle Network) for the implementation of the bike-lanes on Pacific and Expo Boulevards connecting Richards to the Adanac Bikeway.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Mayor Owen absent for the vote)

1. Warning to Prospective Purchasers of 621 East 23rd Avenue(File 2701)

The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated July 9, 2002, in which the City Building Inspector recommended a 336D Notice be filed against the title to the property at 621 East 23rd Avenue in order to warn prospective purchasers of contraventions of the Zoning and Development and Vancouver Building By-laws.

MOVED by Councillor Clarke
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

THAT the City Clerk be directed to file a 336D Notice against the title to the property at 621 East 23rd Avenue (Lot B of 13 & 14, Block 20, District Lot 301, Plan 187) in order to warn prospective purchasers that there are contraventions of the Zoning and Development and Vancouver Building By-laws related to this building.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Mayor Owen absent for the vote)

2. C-2 Zoning Review - Part 1: Consultant's Recommendations (File 5302)

This item was withdrawn from this agenda and tentatively rescheduled for October 10, 2002.

3. Award of Proposal No. PS02004 - Provision of Street Furniture (File 5762)

The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated July 18, 2002, in which the General Manager of Engineering Services and General Manager of Community Services submitted the results of the street furniture request for proposals process and recommended that staff be directed to negotiate and enter into a contract for the provision of street furniture with the joint partnership of Viacom Outdoor Canada and JCDecaux.

Reno Viswasam, Engineer, Streets Administration, reviewed the report and provided a rationale for the recommendation to enter into an agreement with Viacom/Decaux. Mr. Viswasam, along with Don Brynildsen, Assistant City Engineer - Streets, Lorenz von Ferson, Cultural Planner, and Dave Rudberg, General Manager of Engineering Services, responded to questions regarding where the furniture will be produced, how the "European standard" of facilities will be achieved and maintained, placement of bus shelters, and advertising sources and standards. Ernie Westmacott, Business Analyst, Corporate Services, provided an overview of the financial review which was undertaken in regard to the proposals received by the bidding companies.

The following speakers spoke in opposition to the recommendation to enter into an agreement with Viacom/Decaux:

Comments provided by the foregoing speakers included the following:

· Pattison Outdoor was the first company to introduce street level product to North America , is the largest company of its kind in North America, and has had a business relationship for 26 years with the City of Vancouver;
· what Pattison presented in its proposal in terms of financial returns is a guarantee; feel it has not been presented as such by staff; the guarantee is protected regardless of what happens to the market;
· the Pattison contract will spell out precisely what maintenance will be covered;
· footprints of Pattison roofs are larger due to the rain factor; shelter and modified shelter work for all locations - 91% will work as is without modification;
· Pattison components are easily inventoried and replaced;
· Pattison met with BIAs and discussed neighbourhood needs and customization;
· local suppliers should be considered due to job creation, local skill development; proven track record;
· Canadian media companies can provide local, national and international advertising;
· pro bono services provided by local media companies should be maintained;
· much international advertising is too `edgy' and would not pass Canadian standards;
· Pattison sub-contractor has good track record in British Columbia, Alberta and US; is capable of building, installing and maintaining all requirements; has excellent quality control, seamless communication system, sufficient staff to meet and exceed 24-hour response time and understands community needs;
· Council should refer all design proposals to Urban Design Panel;
· Yaletown BIA only had the opportunity to review 2 of the proposed designs.

The following speakers spoke in favour of the recommendation to enter into an agreement with Viacom/Decaux:

Comments provided by the foregoing speakers included the following:

· Viacom/Decaux reviewed their corporate background;
· Viacom/Decaux reviewed their proposal based on three points: quality of design allowing customization; international experience providing the ability to continually create/improve design; maintenance providing key to the project;
· Viacom maintenance/quality control will be 100% local after some training in other locations; some equipment originates in facilities where manufacturers are located; assembly will be in Vancouver;
· Viacom/Decaux in-house management and standards are world renowned; there is continual job creation and training;
· Viacom/Decaux can promote Vancouver and generate advertising revenue world-wide; advertisers are sure of location and maintenance so will pay premium and follow Viacom to their locations;
· Viacom is Canada's largest transit advertising company;
· most Viacom/Decaux contracts world-wide have been renewed;
· South Granville, Kerrisdale, Marpole, Kitsilano, 4th Avenue, Collingwood, and Granville BIAs support staff recommendations;
· Davie Village, Robson, Downtown Vancouver BIAs are neutral;
· the International Olympic Committee will be visiting Vancouver in 2003 and this proposal will prove beneficial;
· Viacom/Decaux designs in other cities are commended;
· the ability to customize will serve the needs of individual communities;
· concern expressed regarding Pattison's current low level of bus shelter maintenance;
· staff has consulted with communities over a two-year period and their recommendation is supported;
· ultimate choice must be best for Vancouver.

Staff comments in response to questions included:

· Pattison guarantees a specific dollar amount; all proponents stated reasonably conservative guaranteed sums to accommodate those times when the market is low;
· more resources of manpower and equipment would be provided by Viacom;
· references were provided by all proponents;
· the City does not have a system in place to check maintenance quality of bus shelters;
· staff has travelled to various locations and viewed Viacom/Decaux projects.

MOVED by Councillor Clarke
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

A. THAT the decision on Administrative Report Award of Proposal No. PS02004 -Provision of Street Furniture dated July 18, 2002, be postponed to a Special Meeting of the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment to be held on August 14, 2002, at 10:00 a.m.

B. THAT Vancouver City Council not hear further delegations relating to the Administrative Report Award of Proposal No. PS02004 - Provision of Street Furniture dated July 18, 2002, at the Special Meeting of the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment to be held on August 14, 2002.

C. THAT Vancouver City Council not entertain lobbyists relating to the Administrative Report Award of Proposal No. PS02004 - Provision of Street Furniture dated July 18, 2002, prior to the Special Meeting of the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment to be held on August 14, 2002.

CARRIED
(Councillors Kennedy, McCormick and Price opposed to A)
(Councillor Louis opposed to C)

5. 687 Howe Street: Proposed CD-1 Text Amendment (File 6007)

MOVED by Councillor Louis
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

THAT the Policy Report 687 Howe Street: Proposed CD-1 Text Amendment dated July 19, 2002, be postponed to a Special Meeting of the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment to be held on August 14, 2002, at 10:00 a.m.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

The Committee adjourned at 6:55 p.m.

- - - - -

CITY OF VANCOUVER

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL ON
PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT

AUGUST 1, 2002

A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Thursday, August 1, 2002, at 6:55 p.m., in Committee Room No. 1, Third Floor, City Hall, following the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment 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:

Diane Clairmont, Meeting Coordinator

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Councillor Kennedy
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 Planning and Environment
August 1, 2002

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

Clauses 1, 4, 5 and 8

MOVED by Councillor Kennedy

THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clauses 1, 4, 5 and 8 of this report, be approved.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Clause 3

MOVED by Councillor Kennedy

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

CARRIED
(Councillors Kennedy, McCormick and Price opposed to A)
(Councillor Louis opposed to C)

Clause 6

MOVED by Councillor Kennedy

THAT the recommendations of the Committee as contained in Clause 6 of this report, be approved.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

MOVED by Councillor Bass

THAT staff be requested to report back on potential wordings of a public referendum to be held in November of this year on the extension of the PNE.

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

Clause 7

MOVED by Councillor Kennedy

THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clause 7 of this report, be approved.

CARRIED
(Councillor Louis opposed to A and B)

MOVED by Councillor Bass

THAT staff be requested to report back on options for the legalization of marijuana production, specifically in regard to safely controlling production, experiences elsewhere and economic implications.

THAT staff be requested to report back on options for registering vendors of hydroponic equipment, similar to the City's current program for registering pawnbrokers.

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

RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Councillor Daniel Lee

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 McCormick

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

BY-LAWS

1. A By-law to authorize Council entering into a Heritage Revitalization Agreement with the Owner of Heritage Property (By-law No. 8540)

MOVED by Councillor Don Lee
SECONDED by Councillor McCormick

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

The By-law was read a first time and the Presiding Officer declared the By-law open for discussion and amendment.

There being no amendments, it was

MOVED by Councillor Don Lee
SECONDED by Councillor McCormick

THAT the By-law be given second and third readings and the Presiding Officer and City Clerk be authorized to sign and seal the By-law.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

ENQUIRIES AND OTHER MATTERS

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

MOVED by Councillor Price
SECONDED by Councillor Kennedy

THAT Councillor McCormick be granted Leave of Absence for the Special Meeting of Standing Committee on Planning and Environment, Wednesday, August 14, 2002.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

The Council adjourned at 7:00 p.m.

* * * * *

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