CITY OF VANCOUVER

SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

JUNE 11, 2003

A Special Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Wednesday, June 11, 2003, at 7:30 p.m., in the Council Chamber, Third Floor, City Hall.

PRESENT:

Councillor Raymond Louie, Deputy Mayor
Councillor Fred Bass
Councillor David Cadman
Councillor Jim Green
Councillor Peter Ladner
Councillor Tim Louis
Councillor Tim Stevenson
*Councillor Sam Sullivan
Councillor Ellen Woodsworth

   

ABSENT:

Mayor Larry Campbell (Leave of Absence)
Councillor Anne Roberts (Lease of Absence)

   

CITY CLERK'S OFFICE:

Denise Salmon, Meeting Coordinator


*denotes absence for a portion of the meeting

MOVED by Councillor Cadman
SECONDED by Councillor Woodsworth

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

COURT OF REVISION

LOCAL IMPROVEMENTS

Projects by Petition: Court No. 612
June 11, 2003

Before Council was a report from the Collector of Taxes dated June 11, 2003, with respect to Local Improvement Court of Revision Number 612. Also before Council was a Late Report for Court 612/013 (amended Objection Count) dated June 11, 2003.

COURT NO. 612 - PROJECTS BY PETITION

The Collector of Taxes certified that the projects in the report dated June 11, 2003, have been requested by the majority of the assessed owners by means of a sufficiently signed petition.

MOVED by Councillor Cadman
SECONDED by Councillor Stevenson

THAT the report of the Special Assessment Roll for Court No. 612 , submitted by the Collector of Taxes, dated June 11, 2003, be approved, with the corrections and changes noted herein.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

RISE FROM COURT OF REVISION

MOVED by Councillor Cadman
SECONDED by Councillor Bass

THAT the Court of Revision rise and report.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

COUNCIL

ADOPT REPORT OF COURT OF REVISION

MOVED by Councillor Cadman
SECONDED by Councillor Bass

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Administrative Report
Local Improvements Subsequent Procedure - June 11, 2003
May 14, 2003

Prior to considering the recommendation in the Administrative Report dated May 14, 2003, Forrest Klotzbach, Streets Design Engineer, with the aid of a PowerPoint presentation, provided Council with a brief introduction to the various projects. Elizabeth Norris, Local Improvements Clerk, advised of a Late Report for Court 612/013 Speed Humps (amended Objection Count). The following delegations were heard and actions taken as follows:

COURT NO. 612 - PROJECTS BY PETITION

Project No. 612/002

Gerry Liosis, while not opposed to the project, raised concerns regarding his share of the project cost due to his larger property frontage. He also sought assurance from staff that only owners, not tenants, had signed the petition. Elizabeth Norris, Local Improvements Clerk, provided Mr. Liosis with details of the tax deferral program for citizens over 60, and noted petitions are checked to ensure all that have signed are registered owners.

Ismail Vohra expressed concern with the cost of the project as his house had a larger frontage (almost double) than most who had signed the petition. He was in favour of the street improvement only, and did not see the need for pavement, curbs, bulges or new street trees.

Susan Troller spoke in support of the project. Ms. Troller noted the improvements would alleviate puddles caused by rain, help with the free flow of water, assist with parking congestion and improve the pedestrian environment.

MOVED by Councillor Louis
SECONDED by Councillor Cadman

THAT this project be approved.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillor Sullivan absent for the vote)

Project No. 612/004

Then K. Liew registered support for the project, but did not speak.

MOVED by Councillor Green
SECONDED by Councillor Cadman

THAT this project be approved.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillor Sullivan absent for the vote)

Project No. 612/006

Kelvin Wong, registered support for the project, but did not speak.

MOVED by Councillor Louis
SECONDED by Councillor Cadman

THAT this project be approved.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillor Sullivan absent for the vote)

Project No. 612/009

Bryan Harrison, a prospective owner of property abutting the lane in question, spoke against the project and urged Council to consider the virtues of a permeable lane covering to address potential drainage problems, and also certain aesthetic and environmental considerations.

Council discussed at length the three Country Lane demonstration projects currently being trialed, and the City's ability to offer this option to those being asked to sign lane paving petitions. After lengthy discussion with staff on the methods that could be used to offer this type of lane paving in future and also to those who have already signed petitions, Council agreed these projects are currently for trial/demonstration purposes only. The best materials for the job are still under investigation, nor are costing estimates yet available, and therefore the Country Lane, as an option, does not currently exist.

MOVED by Councillor Green
SECONDED by Councillor Cadman

THAT this project be approved.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Project No. 612/011

Francis Reid, registered support for the project, but did not speak.

MOVED by Councillor Louis
SECONDED by Councillor Cadman

THAT this project be approved.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Project No. 612/012

Tarsem Bains, registered support for the project, but did not speak.

MOVED by Councillor Cadman
SECONDED by Councillor Woodworth

THAT this project be approved.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Project No. 612/013

Elizabeth Norris, Local Improvements Clerk, referred Council to the Late Report for Court 612/013 (Speed Humps) (distributed at the meeting and on file) and advised nine owners that had originally supported this project and signed the petition had withdrawn their support in writing. Accordingly, this petition now has insufficient signatures to pass. A reballot was recommended.
MOVED by Councillor Cadman
SECONDED by Councillor Stevenson

THAT this project be reballoted.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Project No. 612/023

Susan Davis (brief filed) spoke in opposition to the lane lighting, specifically the light flanking the side of her house. She noted she would be affected more than her neighbours as the proposed lighting flanks two sides of her property. The light would shine into her bedroom, living room and dining room windows at night. She further noted lighting at the intersection of the lane and 30th Avenue is already adequate.

Catherine Bourne spoke in support of the project. Ms. Bourne advised the petition had received the required two-thirds signatures, and the lights were required to address crime issues, etc. In response to a question from Council, Mr. Bourne stated she had no objection to eliminating the one light Ms. Davis was opposed to.

In response to a questions from Council, Elizabeth Norris, Local Improvements Clerk, advised it was possible for Council to reduce the scope of this project and noted in future if new owners wished the light installed, signatures from only the three affected properties would be required. Ms. Norris further advised Ms. Davis would still be charged for the shorter property flankage. Harvey Gibault, Superintendent, Traffic and Electrical Operations, advised light guards are available that would keep the trespass of light down and assist with concerns raised by Ms. Davis.

Concern was expressed by two Councillors that the project should proceed as originally petitioned by the neighbourhood.

MOVED by Councillor Woodsworth
SECONDED by Councillor Cadman

THAT the scope of this project be reduced to exclude the light closet to 30th Avenue in the lane east of Dunbar Street.

CARRIED
(Councillors Stevenson and Sullivan opposed)

Project No. 612/024

Michele Watters, registered support for the project, but did not speak.

MOVED by Councillor Louis
SECONDED by Councillor Green

THAT this project be approved.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Project No. 612/025

Preet Dhillon registered support for the project, but did not speak.

MOVED by Councillor Louis
SECONDED by Councillor Stevenson

THAT this project be approved.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Council then considered the Administrative Report dated May 14, 2003.

MOVED by Councillor Cadman
SECONDED by Councillor Stevenson

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

The Special Council adjourned at 9:00 p.m.

* * * * *

CR20030611.htm

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