|
CITY OF VANCOUVER
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 9, 2003
|
A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Tuesday, September 9, 2003, at 2:00 p.m., in the Council Chamber, Third Floor, City Hall.
PRESENT:
|
Mayor Larry Campbell
Councillor Fred Bass
Councillor David Cadman
Councillor Peter Ladner
Councillor Tim Louis
Councillor Anne Roberts
*Councillor Tim Stevenson
Councillor Sam Sullivan
Councillor Ellen Woodsworth
|
|
|
|
ABSENT:
|
Councillor Jim Green (Leave of Absence)
Councillor Raymond Louie (Sick Leave)
|
|
|
|
CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE:
|
Judy Rogers, City Manager
|
|
|
|
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE:
|
Syd Baxter, City Clerk
Tarja Tuominen, Meeting Coordinator
|
*Denotes absence for a portion of the meeting
PRAYER
The proceedings in the Council Chamber were opened with a prayer read by the City Clerk.
"IN CAMERA" MEETING
MOVED by Councillor Sullivan
SECONDED by Councillor Cadman
THAT Council will go into a meeting later this day which is closed to the public, pursuant to Section 165.2(1) of the Vancouver Charter, to discuss matters related to paragraph(s):
(e) the acquisition, disposition or expropriation of land or improvements, if the Council considers that disclosure might reasonably be expected to harm the interests of the city;
(i) the receiving of advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
ITEMS ARISING FROM THE "IN CAMERA" MEETING OF JULY 29, 2003
· Council appointed Jesus Alfonso, representing the Shaughnessy Heights Property Owners' Association, to the First Shaughnessy Advisory Design Panel.
· Council appointed Kevin Chong to the Vancouver Public Library Board.
· Council appointed Judy Rogers, City Manager, and Marion Lay, as the City of Vancouver's two members/directors of the Organizing Committee for 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
ADOPTION OF MINUTES
1. Business License Hearing - July 22, 2003
MOVED by Councillor Woodsworth
SECONDED by Councillor Cadman
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
2. Regular Council (City Services and Budgets) - July 24, 2003
MOVED by Councillor Louis
SECONDED by Councillor Cadman
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
3. Regular Council (Planning and Environment) - July 24, 2003
MOVED by Councillor Roberts
SECONDED by Councillor Cadman
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
4. Special Council (Public Hearing) - July 24, 2003
MOVED by Councillor Stevenson
SECONDED by Councillor Woodsworth
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
5. Regular Council (Transportation and Traffic) - July 29, 2003
MOVED by Councillor Ladner
SECONDED by Councillor Cadman
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
6. Regular Council - July 29, 2003
MOVED by Councillor Cadman
SECONDED by Councillor Woodsworth
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
7. Regular Council (City Services and Budgets) - July 31, 2003
MOVED by Councillor Louis
SECONDED by Councillor Cadman
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
8. Regular Council (Planning and Environment) - July 31, 2003
MOVED by Councillor Roberts
SECONDED by Councillor Woodsworth
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
9. Special Council (Planning and Environment) - August 13, 2003
MOVED by Councillor Roberts
SECONDED by Councillor Bass
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
10. Special Council - August 13, 2003
MOVED by Councillor Bass
SECONDED by Councillor Cadman
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Councillor Cadman
SECONDED by Councillor Bass
THAT this Council resolve itself into Committee of the Whole, Mayor Campbell in the Chair.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
MATTERS ADOPTED ON CONSENT
MOVED by Councillor Sullivan
THAT Council adopt Administrative Reports A2 and A5, and Policy Report P1, on consent.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS
1. Allocation of Pedestrian Facilities Funding
August 15, 2003 (File 5701)
MOVED by Councillor Roberts
THAT the $780,000 of surplus Capital Plan funds set aside in the 2002 Capital Budget for "Pedestrian Facilities - Special Projects" be allocated to Sidewalk Construction around Parks and Schools, $200,000; Kingsway and Knight Neighbourhood Centre Delivery Program, $200,000 for sidewalk reconstruction; The Central Valley Greenway, $180,000; and The Downtown Transportation Plan, $200,000.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
2. 2004 Interest Rate on Property Tax Arrears
August 14, 2003 (File 1551)
A. THAT City Council set an interest rate of 8.75%per annum for real property tax arrears to be effective January 1, 2004.
B. THAT a bylaw to implement the rate be passed by Council under Section 415(2) of the Vancouver Charter on or before September 30, 2003.
ADOPTED ON CONSENT
3. Establishment of Commission on Electoral Reform
August 6, 2003 (File 1103)
MOVED by Councillor Roberts
A. THAT Council approve the process to establish and support a Commission on Electoral Reform as proposed in the Administrative Report "Establishment of Commission on Electoral Reform" dated August 6, 2003.
B. THAT Council approve an interim budget of $35,000, the source of funds to be 2003 Contingency Reserve, to support the activities of the Commission until the Commission reports to Council on November 1, 2003, with a proposed work plan and budget.
CARRIED
(Councillors Ladner and Sullivan opposed)
4. Computer Systems Support: Staffing Requirement
June 19, 2003 (File 1377)
Council agreed to postpone consideration of the Administrative Report to the Regular Council meeting of September 16, 2003 to allow staff time to consult with the union.
5. 2895 East Hastings Street - Proposed Closure and Sale of a Portion of Lane North of Hastings Street and West of Renfrew Street
August 18, 2003 (File 5753)
A. THAT Council rescind the September 17, 2002 motion to approve the recommendation of the General Manager of Engineering Services as contained in his report dated August 28, 2002, to close, stop-up and convey a portion of the lane north of Hastings Street, west of Renfrew Street to the owner of abutting Lot C of Lot 50, Town of Hastings Suburban Lands, Plan 12876 subject to certain conditions.
B. THAT Council close, stop-up and convey to the abutting owner all that portion of the lane north of Hastings Street and west of Renfrew Street, shown hatched on the plan attached as Appendix "A"to the Administrative Report "2895 East Hastings Street - Proposed Closure and Sale of a Portion of Lane North of Hastings Street and West of Renfrew Street" dated August 18, 2003, subject to the following conditions:
1. The 92 square metre (990 square feet) portion of Lot C of Lot 50, Town of Hastings Suburban Lands, Plan 12876, shown heavy outlined on the plan attached as Appendix "A" to the Administrative Report, is to be dedicated for road purposes to the satisfaction of the Director of Legal Services and the Approving Officer;
2. The 172.2 square metre (1,853 square feet) portion of said closed lane is to be consolidated with the remainder of Lot C into one parcel to the satisfaction of the Director of Legal Services;
3. The abutting owner to enter into an easement agreement with the Strata Corporation of Plan LMS307 to accommodate the existing projections from the south wall of the building owned by the Strata Corporation. The easement to be registered concurrently with the registration of the consolidation plan, or alternatively, if the abutting owner does not enter into an easement agreement with the said Strata Corporation, the owner of Lot C will grant a statutory right-of-way in favour of the City, accommodating the said existing projections, to the satisfaction of the Director of Legal Services. The statutory right-of-way to be registered concurrently with the registration of the consolidation plan;
4. The abutting owner to pay $45,000 as the value for the 80.2 square metre (863 square feet) difference between the portion of lane to be closed and the road to be dedicated, in accordance with the recommendation of the Director of Real Estate Services. The sale revenue to be credited to account 490700, cost centre 80040 (Property Sale);
5. The abutting owner to pay the costs to seal off an existing catch basin on the lane at Renfrew Street, install two new catch basins on the lane west of Renfrew Street, relocate the B.C. Hydro utilities in the lane to be closed and to remove a concrete sign base or break it down to two (2) feet below ground level in the proposed road to be dedicated, all to the satisfaction of the General Manager of Engineering Services;
6. The abutting owner to be responsible for any soils studies or remediation required by the Approving Officer on the portion of lane to be closed;
7. The abutting owner to be responsible for any necessary plans and documents;
8. Any agreements are to be to the satisfaction of the General Manager of Engineering Services and the Director of Legal Services;
9. No legal right or obligation shall be created and none shall arise hereafter until the documents are executed.
ADOPTED ON CONSENT
6. Granville Street Redesign Project: Award of Request for Proposal (RFP) No. PS03008
August 29, 2003 (File 1805)
MOVED by Councillor Sullivan
A. THAT Council authorize the contract to lead the redesign of Granville Street (Granville Bridge Sidewalks to Waterfront Station) with Allan Jacobs and Elizabeth Macdonald, Principals of Cityworks, for the lump sum cost of $28,500 plus GST (less any municipal rebate received) plus disbursements for travel to and from Vancouver with the cost to be shared 50/50 between TransLink and the 2003 Operating Budget.
B. THAT Council (subject to conditions set out in C, D and E) authorize the award of RFP No. PS03008 to Hotson Bakker Architects (Subcontractors: G.D. Hamilton Associates Consulting Ltd.; and Nelson Nygaard) offering best value to the City, and that an agreement be entered into with Hotson Bakker to work with Cityworks in completing the Granville Street Redesign Project for a fixed sum of $96,366.00 plus GST (less any municipal rebate received), with the cost to be shared 50/50 between TransLink and the 2003 Operating Budget.
C. THAT all legal documentation is to be in a form which is satisfactory to the Director of Legal Services, General Managers of Engineering and Community Services and the Manager of Materials Management.
D. THAT the Director of Legal Services be authorized to execute and deliver the necessary agreement on behalf of City Council.
E. THAT no legal rights or obligations shall arise hereby and none shall arise or be granted hereafter unless and until all legal documentation has been executed and delivered by all parties.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
7. 3831 Main Street - C-2 Height Relaxation
August 26, 2003 (File 2607)
The Chair noted a request to speak on the Administrative Report has been received. Council agreed to refer consideration of the Report to the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment meeting on September 11, 2003 to hear the speaker.
8. Casino Relocation in Richmond: Effects on the City of Vancouver
August 25, 2003 (File 2633)
MOVED by Mayor Campbell
THAT Council instruct the City Clerk to communicate to the City of Richmond that the City of Vancouver considers that it will not be materially affected by the proposed relocation of a casino (with slots) in the City of Richmond.
CARRIED
(Councillors Bass, Louis and Woodsworth opposed)
POLICY REPORTS
1. Amendments to the C-2 District Schedule and Guidelines
August 5, 2003 (File 113)
A. THAT the Director of City Plans be instructed to make application to:
- amend the C-2 District Schedule of the Zoning and Development By-Law to revise regulations generally in accordance with Appendix A of the Policy Report "Amendments to the C-2 District Schedule and Guidelines" dated August 5, 2003;
FURTHER THAT the Director of Legal Services be instructed to prepare the necessary by-law for consideration at Public Hearing;
AND FURTHER THAT the application and by-law be referred to Public Hearing.
B. THAT, subject to approval of the by-law to amend the C-2 District Schedule at Public Hearing, the by-law be accompanied at the time of enactment by the amended C-2 Guidelines generally as outlined in Appendix B of the Policy Report "Amendments to the C-2 District Schedule and Guidelines" dated August 5, 2003, for adoption by resolution of Council.
ADOPTED ON CONSENT
RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Councillor Stevenson
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
ADOPT REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Councillor Cadman
SECONDED by Woodsworth
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
BY-LAWS
MOVED by Councillor Sullivan
SECONDED by Councillor Woodsworth
THAT Council enact the by-laws listed on the agenda for this meeting as numbers 1 to 3 inclusive, and authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to sign and seal the enacted by-laws.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
1. A By-law to amend Zoning and Development Fee By-law No. 5585 to increase the higher building application fee (By-law No. 8720)
2. A By-law to provide for the imposition of interest on delinquent property taxes for 2004 (By-law No. 8721)
3. A By-law to amend Building By-law No. 8057 regarding balcony sprinkler requirements (By-law No. 8722)
MOTIONS
B. Motions on Notice
1. Annual Report on the State of Low Income Housing in Vancouver (File 4656)
MOVED by Councillor Bass
SECONDED by Councillor Roberts
THAT staff report back on the feasibility and costs to assemble an annual report for the Provincial and Federal Governments on the state of low income housing in Vancouver.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
2. Financial Disclosure (File 1251)
MOVED by Councillor Sullivan
SECONDED by Councillor Ladner
WHEREAS campaign finance disclosure is essential in ensuring political decisions are made with openness and transparency and is vital to maintaining confidence in government;
AND WHEREAS campaign finance disclosure rules seek to ensure that all candidates and electoral organizations fully disclose their election campaign contributions so that all political decisions are transparent;
AND WHEREAS there appears to be some lack of clarity around the procedures of proper reporting, especially for contributions to the 2002 campaign made after the election;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Vancouver City Council endorses the principle that all candidates and electoral organizations disclose contributions to support the 2002 campaign including those that were made after the election;
AND THAT staff clarify the issues and procedures around proper reporting related to this principle for the 2002 election campaign so that all conditions and electoral organizations can ensure they are in compliance.
Postponed
POSTPONEMENT MOVED by Councillor Roberts
SECONDED by Councillor Stevenson
THAT consideration of the Motion on "Financial Disclosure" be postponed until the receipt of the report on electoral reform by the Commission on Electoral Reform.
CARRIED
(Councillors Ladner and Sullivan opposed)
3. Wards (File 1103)
MOVED by Councillor Sullivan
SECONDED by Councillor Ladner
WHEREAS this council has decided it will implement a ward system in 2005 despite the fact that the citizens voted in 1996 to maintain the at-large system by 59.4% and that COPE promised during the election campaign to hold a referendum in 2005;
AND WHEREAS this council has decided it will not allow citizens to decide in a referendum whether or not they want the ward system;
AND WHEREAS the previous NDP government through the Electoral Boundaries Commission engaged in an exhaustive and comprehensive review that cost many millions of dollars to create 10 provincial electoral boundaries all of which are within the city of Vancouver;
AND WHEREAS these boundaries were arrived at in 1999 after a long process of community consultations that included attention to issues such as community self identification, service catchment areas, demographics, diversity, etc.;
AND WHEREAS the creation of 10 electoral boundaries by the previous NDP provincial government was done specifically in anticipation of a ward system and was meant to be used as city ward boundaries;
AND WHEREAS this council has allocated $250,000 for its commission of which only a fraction would be used to determine ward boundaries;
AND WHEREAS such an inadequate amount devoted to ward boundaries would result in conflicts between neighbourhoods and create the potential for gerrymandering;
AND WHEREAS the experiences of other cities with a mixed at-large/ward system have been problematic in that two classes of Councillors are created;
AND WHEREAS the mixed at-large/ward system would result in a more complex ballot;
AND WHEREAS the financial situation of the city is such that a proper process for developing new boundaries would be too costly for taxpayers;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that Vancouver City Council direct the Commission on Neighbourhood Constituencies and Local Democracy to give consideration as a preferred option the adoption of the 10 electoral boundaries created by the 1999 Electoral Boundaries Commission in its deliberations around the implementation of the ward system.
LOST
(Councillors Bass, Cadman, Louis, Roberts, Stevenson, Woodsworth and the Mayor opposed)
4. Action to improve public transit in Vancouver (File 5561)
MOVED by Mayor Campbell
SECONDED by Councillor Stevenson
WHEREAS Vancouver commuters, transit users and businesses continue to suffer from traffic gridlock and inadequate transit services despite recent investments by Translink;
AND WHEREAS Vancouver, unlike other communities within the Translink service area, has not benefited from the development of an area transit plan that involves the public and transportation experts in identifying transportation problems and solutions within city boundaries;
AND WHEREAS the early completion of such a plan would assist the City of Vancouver in identifying both short-term and longer-term measures to increase public transit service and improve traffic flow;
AND WHEREAS increased use of public transit and decreased reliance on the car is important to support the city's objectives to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the City of Vancouver call on Translink to undertake its area transit plan process for the city this fall;
AND THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT Translink ensure adequate resources and staffing to develop and implement such an area plan.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillor Stevenson absent for the vote)
NEW BUSINESS
1. Ensuring Vancouver's Olympic Legacy: preparing for the 2010 Winter Olympic and Winter Paralympic Games (File 4209)
MOVED by Mayor Campbell
SECONDED by Councillor Bass
WHEREAS Vancouver has been selected by the IOC to host the 2010 Olympic Winter Games and Paralympic Winter Games; and
WHEREAS the citizens of Vancouver made it clear in the days leading up to the February 22, 2003 referendum on the city's participation in the bid to host the Games that they expect the Vancouver Games to set new benchmarks for social, environmental and economic sustainability; and
WHEREAS the recommendations flowing from the Mayor's Forums in the course of the referendum were included in a report called Ensuring Vancouver's Olympic Legacy that was released before the vote and later circulated to Council; and
WHEREAS the City of Vancouver must now begin the task, along with its partners in the Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games, of preparing to host this event;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Council refer the Mayor's report Ensuring Vancouver's Olympic Legacy to the City Manager with a request for an early report back on the steps necessary to ensure that the 2010 Games reflect both our commitments to the IOC as well as the aspirations of our citizens as reflected in the report.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillor Stevenson absent for the vote)
2. Heroic Vancouver Firefighters (File 3651)
MOVED by Councillor Sullivan
SECONDED by Councillor Woodsworth
WHEREAS, British Columbia has experienced an unusually difficult year with forest fires in the interior which has resulted in many citizens losing homes, businesses and property;
Many Vancouver Firefighters volunteered to fight these fires, putting their lives and health at risk;
None of these firefighters enquired as to remuneration but went out of a sense of duty and service to fellow British Columbians;
77 firefighters, both men and women from the Vancouver Fire Department worked 3100 hours fighting the blazes;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the City of Vancouver formally thank our heroic firefighters for their ongoing efforts at helping to protect BC's interior communities from the ravages of this historic blaze;
THAT we let those communities struggling through these historic fires know that our hopes and prayers are with them during these difficult times;
AND THAT we congratulate and support the Vancouver community groups and citizens who are raising money for the victims of the Interior fires.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
3. Translink's Proposed Parking Sales Tax Increase (File 5561)
MOVED by Councillor Roberts
SECONDED by
THAT staff provide information on any adverse impacts primarily on downtown businesses, as well as other business areas that rely on paid parking such as the Broadway corridor, from TransLink's proposed parking sales tax increase as indicated in its three-year plan; and
THAT staff examine the broader regional application of a parking stall tax throughout the GVRD as a more equitable levy for businesses in Vancouver.
Notice
Councillor Sullivan called Notice under Section 5.4 (c) of the Procedure By-law. The Motion will be placed on the agenda of the next Regular Council meeting to be held September 11, 2003 immediately following the Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets meeting.
ENQUIRIES AND OTHER MATTERS
1. Water Conservation Measures (File 3753)
Councillor Woodsworth referred to citizens who are concerned about water consumption and water levels. She requested staff to provide a memo advising as to what the City is doing to conserve water, including the possible use of metering on new buildings.
Councillor Ladner requested the memo include information on alternatives to water metering so that the most efficient and effective ways to conserve water are in place to deal with water shortages in the future, such as restricting lawn watering to one day per week throughout the dry season, toilet rebates, and the possibility of water use metering by the Park Board. He also requested staff to ask GVRD staff to move along with their study on alternatives to water metering.
Councillor Sullivan requested the memo also include information on the issue of people who are abusing and violating the water restriction, and what is being done about repeat violators.
Councillor Stevenson requested information on the number of fines issued to violators.
2. Standing Committee on City Services & Budgets Agenda Item (File 1253)
Councillor Louis advised he has received a request from a representative for employees from VGH and St. Paul's Hospital to speak to Council about the contracting out of security services, and has agreed to hear the speaker at the September 18 Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets meeting.
The Council adjourned at 4:55 p.m.
* * * * *