Agenda Index City of Vancouver

REPORT TO COUNCIL

STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
ON PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT

OCTOBER 10, 2002

A Regular Meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on Planning and Environment was held on Thursday, October 10, 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 George Puil
Councillor Sam Sullivan

ABSENT:

Councillor Gordon Price (Leave of Absence)

CITY MANAGER'S
OFFICE:

Judy Rogers, City Manager

CITY CLERK'S OFFICE:

Diane M. Clairmont, Meeting Coordinator

* Denotes presence during part of the meeting.

pe021010.htm

ADOPTION OF MINUTES

The Minutes of the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment meetings of September 12, 2002 and September 19, 2002, were adopted.

RECOMMENDATION

1. AirCare on Road Diesel Truck and Bus Testing (File: 3752)

At its meeting on October 1, 2002, Vancouver City Council referred the following motion to a future Standing Committee meeting in order to hear from members of the public wishing to speak on this matter:

WHEREAS, The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) recently cut $450,000 in funding for the AirCare On Road program, which since 1996 has conducted roadside tests of diesel truck and bus emissions;

AND WHEREAS, AirCare On Road reduces one tonne of harmful diesel particulate pollution for every $312 spent;

AND WHEREAS, a 2001 South Fraser Health Region report identified diesel particulate as a serious health hazard in the Lower Mainland;

AND WHEREAS, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has recognized diesel particulates as a probable human carcinogen for several years;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT, Vancouver City Council ask ICBC to maintain the AirCare On Road program.

Referred

Accordingly, the Committee had before it the foregoing motion.

Helen Spiegelman, Vice-President, SPEC, spoke in favour of the motion. Comments included:

· SPEC has met with the Ministry; and the issue of who will pay for the program is holding the program up; SPEC will be meeting with the B. C. Trucking Association to ask them to take over ownership of the program and develop a solution;
· indications are that the polluters will be expected to pay for the program.

Council was advised the GVRD is in discussion with various parties about this issue.

The following motion reflects the amendment proposed by the Mover to change "ICBC" to the "Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection".

MOVED by Councillor Bass
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

WHEREAS, The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) recently cut $450,000 in funding for the AirCare On Road program, which since 1996 has conducted roadside tests of diesel truck and bus emissions;

AND WHEREAS, AirCare On Road reduces one tonne of harmful diesel particulate pollution for every $312 spent;

AND WHEREAS, a 2001 South Fraser Health Region report identified diesel particulate as a serious health hazard in the Lower Mainland;

AND WHEREAS, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has recognized diesel particulates as a probable human carcinogen for several years;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT, Vancouver City Council ask the Ministry of Water, Lands and Air to maintain the AirCare On Road program.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

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

The Committee had before it a Policy Report dated July 16, 2002, in which the Director of City Plans, in consultation with the Manager of the Housing Centre, sought Council approval to draft a revised C-2 District Schedule and Guidelines which would be brought forward to Council for referral to Public Hearing. The General Manager of Community Services supported the recommendation.

Trish French, Planning, reviewed the report and responded to questions relating to proposed heights, community visioning, densities, commercial/ retail and rental components, and along with Barbara Lindsay, Tandem Consulting, numbers relating to the survey response.

The following spoke in opposition to the recommendation:

Renate Bublick, Associate Executive Director, Urban Development Institute (brief submitted - on file)

Graham Silvera, National Association of Industrial & Office Properties (brief submitted - on file)

Speakers' comments included:

· if the proposed recommendation is approved and changes proceed, there will be significant down-zoning and loss of housing capacity;
· current zoning in effect for 13 years has achieved its goals and should not be changed;
· decision should be postponed until staff provides a better balance with less impact on housing; workshops involving stakeholders could provide valuable input;
· C-2 zoning is housing key outside downtown peninsula: alleviates pressure from lower density single family zone; provides affordable/rental housing; complements existing transport infrastructure, attains goal of creating complete communities;
· development of a transition zone would be a sensible solution;
· commercial areas should be included in study;
· while the development industry is concerned with all aspects of affordability, new housing is the greatest concern; two biggest factors to price of housing are rising prices of land and increased regulatory costs; if affordable housing is truly the objective of public policy, municipalities cannot introduce policies that add more cost and increase difficulty in meeting housing capacity;
· proposed recommendation imposes the will of few on many;
· each neighbourhood should be considered separately on a case by case basis - one size policy does not fit all;
· FSR reduction would mean decreased land value and potential revenues making it more difficult for property owners/tenants to pay increased property taxes;
· `grandfathering' existing owners should be considered;

Ms. French advised there have been complaints from numerous City neighbourhoods relating to C-2 development in general.

MOVED by Councillor Clarke
THAT the Committee recommend to Council:

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

3. City Support for Festivals and Celebrations - Policy Review & Recommendations (File: 4201)

The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated September 18, 2002, in which the Director, Office of Cultural Affairs, sought approval for a policy framework for civic support for festivals and celebrations, two funding mechanisms for strengthening existing events and stimulating new activity, and the creation of a staff position to provide for a more proactive civic role in support events. The City Manager supported the recommendations.

Alice Niwinski, Cultural Planner, Burke Taylor, Director, Office of Cultural Affairs, and Muriel, Manager, Film and Special Events Office, reviewed the report and responded to questions relating to the role of the proposed staff person as a facilitator/catalytic agent within the community with the intent to bring the City back into a proactive role, and the complexity of organizing events.

Brent MacGregor, Deputy City Manager, advised that, in his experience, festival groups benefit from city staff advice. This can be the central element contributing to the success of these groups. In response to a question, he advised that the resolution regarding hotel tax passed at the August 14, 2002 meeting of Standing Committee on Planning and Environment has not yet received Provincial approval.

The following spoke expressing concerns relating to the report:

Speakers' comments included:

· the City does need a framework to review requests for funding;
· finding new sources of funding, especially for new events, is a good idea;
· supports the creation of a "Celebration" grants category;
· concerns were expressed regarding funding of the "Opportunity" grants;
· disagrees with the notion that Vancouver does not have signature events; there is an enormous wealth of existing festivals, some of which are internationally recognized;
· there is a need to develop operational support for existing festivals;
· the existing festival community has accomplished a great deal, is quite successful, very creative, and stretches a dollar far; the City should continue to develop what exists while also considering new events - take a balanced approach;
· it takes time to develop `signature' events; they must be well run, have strong programming and receive financial support from all levels of government;
· concerns were expressed events suggested in the report are legitimate; questions the need or interest in the community for new events;
· transparency must exist within the process;
· dollars should be put into the operating budget for Office of Cultural Affairs;
· there is a role for a staff person, but the role needs to be clearly defined.

In response to a question, Ms. Honey provided information relating to the cost of policing at events and who can legally perform crowd control duty.

Mr. Taylor advised that staff does not disagree with either speaker. The festival community faces tough challenges and the City wants to address its needs. This proposal extends the range of responsibility for the City.

MOVED by Mayor Owen
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

A. THAT Council approve the policy framework in Appendix A, which articulates the objectives and scope of City's support for festivals and celebrations, including a reaffirmation of City policy for Civic Event designation.

B. THAT Council approve the creation of a "Celebration" grants category for community-based festivals and celebrations, to be implemented in 2003 for a three-year trial period, with criteria based on the policy framework in Appendix A and an annual budget of $75,000. Funding is to be provided by $48,000 through the permanent reallocation of funds from the "Miscellaneous" component of Other Grants, and $27,000 from the 2003 Operating Budget without offset, subject to approval of the 2003 City annual operating budget.
C. THAT Council adopt the following policy mechanism, for considering approval of up to three "Opportunity" grants a year, to be implemented in 2003 for a three-year trial period, not to exceed a total of $400,000 per year, to be funded from Contingency Reserve as needed, and provided on a matching basis with other sources of funding, for three types of development initiatives:

D. That Council approve the establishment of a regular full-time position with responsibility for festivals and celebrations within the Office of Cultural Affairs, at an estimated annual cost of $74,000 to be filled on a temporary basis subject to classification by the General Manager of Human Resources. Responsibilities to include a pro-active role in catalysing new events, advice and facilitation, and co-ordination of funding requests. Funding is to be provided from the 2003 Operating Budget without offset, subject to budget review.

E. THAT staff report back to Council on the programs recommended in this report in Spring 2005, including ongoing funding needs and the staff position.

amended

AMENDMENT MOVED by Councillor Clarke

THAT the word "regular full-time" in Recommendation D of the foregoing motion be changed to "temporary full-time and that the date for report back in Recommendation E of the foregoing motion be changed to Winter 2004.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

MOVED by Councillor Clarke

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

POSTPONEMENT MOVED by Councillor Puil
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

D. That Council postpone decision on the following recommendation to a future meeting to enable staff to meet with the FEST Committee to investigate alternatives to creating a staff position:

CARRIED
(Councillors Bass, Louis, Kennedy and Sullivan opposed)
(Mayor Owen not present for the vote)

MOTION AS AMENDED
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

A. THAT Council approve the policy framework in Appendix A of Administrative Report City Support for Festivals and Celebrations - Policy Review & Recommendations dated September 18, 2002, which articulates the objectives and scope of City's support for festivals and celebrations, including a reaffirmation of City policy for Civic Event designation.

B. THAT Council approve the creation of a "Celebration" grants category for community-based festivals and celebrations, to be implemented in 2003 for a three-year trial period, with criteria based on the policy framework in Appendix A of Administrative Report City Support for Festivals and Celebrations - Policy Review & Recommendations dated September 18, 2002 and an annual budget of $75,000. Funding is to be provided by $48,000 through the permanent reallocation of funds from the "Miscellaneous" component of Other Grants, and $27,000 from the 2003 Operating Budget without offset, subject to approval of the 2003 City annual operating budget.
C. THAT Council adopt the following policy mechanism, for considering approval of up to three "Opportunity" grants a year, to be implemented in 2003 for a three-year trial period, not to exceed a total of $400,000 per year, to be funded from Contingency Reserve as needed, and provided on a matching basis with other sources of funding, for three types of development initiatives:

D. That Council postpone decision on the following recommendation to a future meeting to enable staff to meet with the FEST Committee to investigate alternatives to creating a staff position:

CARRIED
((Councillors Bass, Louis, Kennedy and Sullivan opposed to D)
(Mayor Owen not present for the vote)

The Committee adjourned at 5:35 p.m.

- - - - -

CITY OF VANCOUVER

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

OCTOBER 10, 2002

A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Thursday, October 10, 2002, at 5:35 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 George Puil
Councillor Sam Sullivan

ABSENT:

Councillor Gordon Price (Leave of Absence)

CITY MANAGER'S
OFFICE:

Brent MacGregor, Deputy City Manager

CITY CLERK'S OFFICE:

Diane M. 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
October 10, 2002

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

Clauses 1 and 2

MOVED by Councillor Kennedy

THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clauses 1 and 2 of this report, be approved.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Clause 3

MOVED by Councillor McCormick

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

CARRIED
(Councillors Bass, Louis, Kennedy and Sullivan opposed to D)
(Mayor Owen not present for the vote on D)

RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Councillor Kennedy

THAT the Committee of the Whole rise and report.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

ADOPT REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Councillor Kennedy
SECONDED by Councillor Don Lee

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

ENQUIRIES AND OTHER MATTERS

1. Leave of Absence - Mayor Owen (File: 1254)

MOVED by Councillor Louis
SECONDED by Councillor Clarke

THAT Mayor Owen be retroactively granted Leave of Absence for the Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets October 10, 2002 meeting.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

The Council adjourned at 5:37 p.m.

* * * * *

pe021010.htm

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