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CITY OF VANCOUVER SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES JUNE 10, 2003 |
A Special Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Tuesday, June 10, 2003, at 7:30 p.m., in the Council Chamber, Third Floor, City Hall.
PRESENT: |
Mayor Larry Campbell
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CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE: |
Judy Rogers, City Manager |
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE: |
Diane Clairmont, Meeting Coordinator |
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Councillor Bass
SECONDED by Councillor Cadman
THAT this Council resolve itself into Committee of the Whole, Mayor Campbell in the Chair.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
1. Financing Growth - Paying for Facilities to Serve a Growing Population: The Role of City-Wide Charges on New Development (File 1611/1755)
On May 13, 2003, City Council referred the Policy Report Financing Growth - Paying for Facilities to Serve a Growing Population: The Role of City-Wide Charges on New Development, dated April 30, 2003, to a future Special Council meeting to hear delegations.
Accordingly, Council had the report before it.
Ronda Howard, Senior Planner, provided a brief overview of the report and noted that a brief was submitted by Vancouver Park Board (on file).
The following spoke in general support of the recommendations, but with specific concerns:
Joan Andersen, Chair, Vancouver Public Library Board of Trustees
Commissioner Heather Deall, Vancouver Park Board
Commissioner Loretta Woodcock, Vancouver Park Board
Bob Laurie, National Association of Industrial & Office Properties
Shane Simpson, President, Burrardview Neighbourhood Association
Sean McEwen
Donna Braaten, Chair, Vancouver Society of Childrens' Centres
Ian Haywood-Farmer
Alice Sundberg, Executive Director, BC Non-Profit Housing Assn.
Michael Sanderson, Vice-President, Millennium Sport Facility Society
Jan Pierce
Barbara Dill
Kim Nulty.
Speakers' comments included:
· Council urged to approve recommendations, including Charter change to eliminate DCL exemptions for less than 4 units;
· DCL revenues will benefit libraries; demand for libraries increases as population and commercial development increases; libraries should be considered part of infrastructure and therefore, the Library Board supports the relevant Charter change;
· Park Board amendments were developed in consultation with community associations;
· supported amendment relating to bridging strategy as presented by the Park Board;
· Emerging Neighbourhood Fund should be maintained;
· green space has impact on health and Vancouver's image; should be increased now as once land is gone, it cannot be retrieved;
· flexibility required in order to spend funds where most needed;
· DCL increase to $5 or more would be good, but not high enough for Park Board to support the Charter change to allow DCL revenues to be spent on more types of facilities;
· "best practices" as outlined in the staff report should be included;
· some areas of report are too timid and lack creativity;
· city process for development is the ultimate private partnership and should not be threatened;
· with reference to the Coriolos study on the economic impact of DCLs, the DCL rate could be increased to $6/sq. ft.;
· increase in DCL rate will have no negative impact on development; however, it will still not pay the total cost of infrastructure; rates should not be a deterrent to developers;
· incentives for 'green' development should be encouraged;
· DCLs should be incorporated into the capital plan structure;
· citizens should be included in determining spending options;
· the City has been successful in negotiating for affordable housing; this should continue, but not replace senior government programs;
· reduce non-standard site size to 2 acres; if in community visioning, reduce to 1 acre;
· a small percentage of families have access to quality child-care services; revenue allocation should not be decreased;
· single-family residential units should also pay for community amenities;
· affordable housing needs revenue; housing agreements should be flexible and long-term;
· replacement housing should be developed in partnership with private sector;
· phase increased rates in gradually;
· character homes should not be affected by DCLs;
· kudos extended to City staff for open discussion and access to information.
Ronda Howard, Ann McAfee, Co-Director of Planning, Ken Bayne, Director of Financial Planning and Piet Rutgers, Director of Planning and Operations, Parks & Recreation, provided the following information in response to questions:
· there is no intention of eliminating the Emerging Neighbourhood Fund;
· staff agrees with the Park Board wording to the amendment relating to CACs;
· DCL revenues are used city-wide and CAC revenues are spent within specific communities; CAC funds are limited as rezonings within the same community happen infrequently;
· proposed allocation of revenues is for new space, not for replacement or renovation;
· an explanation on how the proposed DCL rates were developed, impact on development and why proposed rates for residential and commercial are the same;
· an overview regarding site sizings for CACs;
· an explanation regarding timing of implementation;
· an explanation relating to perceived percentage decrease in childcare services allocation;
· housing renovations are not charged DCLs.
MOVED by Councillor Louis
THAT all speakers having been heard, discussion and decision on Policy Report Financing Growth - Paying for Facilities to Serve a Growing Population: The Role of City-Wide Charges on New Development, dated April 30, 2003, will be referred to a future regular meeting of Council.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
Meeting Coordinator's Note: Subsequent to this meeting, it was determined the decision for Financing Growth would be scheduled for the June 24, 2003, Council meeting.
RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Councillor Bass
THAT the Committee of the Whole rise and report.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
ADOPT REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Councillor Green
SECONDED by Councillor Stevenson
THAT the report of the Committee of the Whole be adopted.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
The Special Council adjourned at 10:00 p.m.
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