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REPORT TO COUNCIL STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
JANUARY 29, 2004 |
A Regular Meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on City Services and Budgets was held on Thursday, January 29, 2004, at 9:30 a.m., in Committee Room No. 1, Third Floor, City Hall.
PRESENT: |
Councillor Tim Louis, Chair
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ABSENT: |
Mayor Larry Campbell (Leave of Absence)
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CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE: |
Brent MacGregor, Deputy City Manager |
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE: |
Tina Hildebrandt, Meeting Coordinator |
* Denotes absence for a portion of the meeting.
RECOMMENDATION
1. 2004 Assessment Roll Report (File 1551)
The Committee had before it the City of Vancouver 2004 Assessment Roll Report dated January 2, 2004, prepared by BC Assessment, which provided property and value information for taxation purposes.
David Highfield, Area Assessor, BC Assessment, gave a presentation on assessment trends reflected in the report, legislative changes and notable Supreme Court cases. Mr. Highfield, together with Deborah Francis and David Lee, Deputy Assessors, as well as Ken Bayne, Director of Financial Planning & Treasury, responded to questions related to the new Assessment Roll totals including the number of secondary suites on the roll, impacts related to tax averaging and recent shifts in tax authority.
MOVED by Councillor Cadman
THAT the Committee recommend to Council
THAT the BC Assessment presentation and City of Vancouver 2004 Assessment Roll Report dated January 2, 2004, be received for information.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
2. Engineering Operations, Reorganization (File 1375)
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated January 13, 2004, in which the General Manager of Engineering Services sought Council's approval to improve the supervisory structure in several areas of Engineering Operations. Implementation of the proposed structure will involve elimination, creation and classification review of various supervisory positions in the Department and will result in an overall net reduction in supervisory positions.
The reorganization will result in a net savings of $179,000 annually and the General Manager of Engineering Services recommended reallocating those savings to create additional `light-duty' opportunities for injured and/or disabled employees.
Tom Timm, Deputy City Engineer, provided an overview of the report and, together with Kevin Ramsay, Manager - Street Operations, responded to questions related to attendance records and the employee accommodation program.
Doug McNicol, Business Agent, CUPE Local 1004, spoke in general favour of the recommendations and addressed the issue of employee accommodation, noting that while this report moves in the right direction, there could be an opportunity to expand in this area. He advised that the Union feels the savings from such sources as improved attendance and decreased WCB costs should be considered as well as the $179,000 in savings recommended for the employee accommodation program. Mr. McNicol added that the Union continues to have discussions with management about the work which has been contracted out and that the City could be competitive in this regard. He suggested the City consider bringing some of this work back as light duty assignments for employees.
In response to a question from Mr. McNicol, Mr. Timm advised that it is anticipated there will be no negative impacts on the existing work force.
Brent MacGregor, Deputy City Manager, responded to a question concerning work which has been contracted out.
MOVED by Councillor Cadman
THAT the Committee recommend to Council
A. THAT Council approve the changes to the management structure of Engineering Services as follows;
i. THAT seven (7) Foreman II, one (1) Foreman III, and one (1) Foreman II (Temp), positions be eliminated and that seven (7) Superintendent I positions and three (3) Foreman positions be created in Sanitation Operations.
ii. THAT nine (9) Foreman II, seven (7) Foreman III, one (1) Equipment Foreman, one (1) Foreman II (Temp), one (1) Foreman III (Temp), eight (8) Sub-Foreman II, and one (1) Clerk V positions be eliminated, and that fifteen (15) Superintendent I positions and eight (8) Working Foreman positions be created in Streets Operations.
iii. THAT one (1) Superintendent I (temp) position be converted to one (1) regular full-time Superintendent I position in Traffic & Electrical Operations.
iv. THAT two (2) Foreman II be eliminated, and that two (2) Superintendent I positions be created in Transfer & Landfill Operations.
B. THAT annual savings, estimated at $179,000, be incorporated into increased litter pick-up as part of Engineering Services= employee accommodation program.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillor Sullivan absent for the vote.)
3. Automated Collection of Solid Waste (File 3756)
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated January 8, 2004, in which the General Manager of Engineering Services summarized costs, benefits, financing and implementation plans to switch to fully automated collection of garbage and yard trimmings, and sought Council's approval to implement a fully automated collection program. The City Manager noted that the more conservative approach, which minimizes capital investment, while dealing with time loss injuries, is to proceed with automated garbage collection first with evaluation and report back before proceeding with yard trimmings. Therefore, the City Manager put forth this option for consideration.
Tom Timm, Deputy City Engineer, and Kevin Van Vliet, Solid Waste Management Engineer, presented an overview on automated collection of garbage and yard trimmings. Messrs. Timm and Van Vliet, together with Dave Rudberg, General Manager of Engineering Services, and Brent MacGregor, Deputy City Manager, responded to questions regarding the new containers, financial implications, environmental benefits, public consultation and automated systems in other cities.
Doug McNicol, Business Agent, CUPE Local 1004, spoke in support of Recommendations A and B to implement a fully automated collection of solid waste. He advised that the Union supports the initiatives aimed at improving worker health and safety as well as improving customer service in the city. He added that the Union recognizes that automation will help create a safer work environment, allow older or disabled employees to retain employment and that automation can be viewed as a preventative measure in terms of a reduction in future WCB claims. He also drew attention to a number of issues, in particular job loss of which he advised that the Union hopes this issue could be off-set by having the City move back into containerized garbage collection from small apartments or commercial businesses and suggested Council instruct staff to do a complete review on the feasibility of bringing back this service.
Mike Tropp also spoke in support of Recommendations A and B to implement a fully automated collection of solid waste and inquired as to the removal of the current containers.
David Gardner, spoke in opposition to implementing a fully automated collection of solid waste (brief distributed - on file). He expressed concern with regard to a number of issues including higher costs, the introduction of new injuries which will bring about more WCB claims and property damage from the mechanical arms on the new trucks. He also noted that manual or semi-automated collection will still be required for approximately 10% of the users, like himself, and that these users should pay substantially less as they are saving the City money by using the old system. With regard to reducing waste, he pointed out that the City needs to take more responsibility in recycling by accepting more materials such as milk cartons and by forcing package reduction in the marketplace.
Mr. Van Vliet responded to questions related to automated collection from apartment buildings and waste reduction.
MOVED by Councillor Bass
THAT the Committee recommend to Council
A. THAT Council approve implementation of fully automated garbage and yard trimmings collection beginning in mid 2005 with full implementation by early 2007 at an implementation cost of $15,900,000 with $4,500,000 funded from the Solid Waste Capital Reserve and $11,400,000 provided as a loan from the Solid Waste Capital Reserve on terms acceptable to the Director of Finance with repayment by the Solid Waste Utility fees for garbage and yard trimmings collection.
B. THAT Council approve the establishment of two temporary Engineering Assistant III's, one temporary Clerk II, one temporary Clerk IV and one temporary Coordinator for two years during the implementation of fully automated collection, subject to job evaluation by the General Manager of Human Resource services.
C. THAT Council ask staff to report back on the feasibility of an initiative to recapture civic collection of multi-tenant building waste; and
FURTHER THAT staff report back on what Council can do to:
i) move milk cartons and other potential recyclables into the recycling stream;
ii) promote elimination of excessive packaging; and
iii) charge fast food outlets for the solid waste that they generate.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
The Committee adjourned at 12:20 p.m.
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CITY OF VANCOUVER REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
JANUARY 29, 2004 |
A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Thursday, January 29, 2004, at 12:20 p.m., in Committee Room No. 1, Third Floor, City Hall, following the Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets meeting, to consider the recommendations of the Committee.
PRESENT: |
Deputy Mayor Tim Louis
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ABSENT: |
Mayor Larry Campbell (Leave of Absence - Civic Business)
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CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE: |
Brent MacGregor, Deputy City Manager |
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE: |
Tina Hildebrandt, Meeting Coordinator |
"IN CAMERA" MEETING
MOVED by Councillor Cadman
SECONDED by Councillor Sullivan
THAT Council will go into a meeting later this day which is closed to the public, pursuant to Section 165.2 of the Vancouver Charter, to discuss matters related to paragraph(s):
a) personal information about an identifiable individual who holds or is being considered for a position as an officer, employee or agent of the city or another position appointed by the city;
b) 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.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Councillor Roberts
SECONDED by Councillor Ladner
THAT this Council resolve itself into Committee of the Whole, Deputy Mayor Louis in the Chair.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Report of Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets
January 29, 2004
Council considered the report containing the recommendations and actions taken by the Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets. Its items of business included:
1. 2004 Assessment Roll Report
2. Engineering Operations, Reorganization
3. Automated Collection of Solid Waste
MOVED by Councillor Woodsworth
THAT the recommendations and actions taken by the Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets at its meeting of January 29, 2004, as contained in Items 1 - 3, be approved.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Councillor Green
THAT the Committee of the Whole rise and report.
CARRIED UANIMOUSLY
ADOPT REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Councillor Woodsworth
SECONDED by Councillor Sullivan
THAT the report of the Committee of the Whole be adopted.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
MOTIONS
A. Administrative Motions
None
B. Motions on Notice
1. Mayor's Forum on Neighbourhood Liveability and Safety (File 3501)
At the Regular Council meeting held January 27, 2004, the following Motion was moved by Councillor Cadman and seconded by Councillor Louie. Councillor Ladner called Notice under Section 5.4 (c) of the Procedure By-law.
MOVED by Councillor Cadman
SECONDED by Councillor Louie
THAT Council receive the report of the Mayor's Forum on Neighbourhood Liveability and Safety conducted January 10 and refer the recommendations for civic action to the upcoming budget forums and to the City Manager for assessment and a report back to Council.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
2. Licensing Policy for Beer or Wine Only Stores (File 2610)
At the Regular Council meeting on January 27, 2004, Councillor Ladner submitted the following Motion. Councillor Louie called Notice under Section 5.4(c) of the Procedure By-law.
MOVED by Councillor Ladner
SECONDED by Councillor
THAT staff provide a memo on the City's policy of beer or wine only stores, i.e. issues around the policy, what is involved in ending the policy.
withdrawn
Paul Teichroeb advised that there will be a report to Council in either late February or early March with regard to liquor store regulations and that this issue will be raised in that report.
Consequently, Councillor Ladner agreed to withdraw this Motion.
ENQUIRIES AND OTHER MATTERS
1. Accessibility Issues in New Restaurants (File 113)
Councillor Green advised that he has visited a number of new restaurants in which the washrooms were not accessible and requested a report back.
Jacquie Forbes-Roberts, General Manager of Community Services, advised that the building code does require that public washrooms be accessible and agreed to provide a memorandum on what the Building Code specifically requires with regard to this issue. Councillor Green agreed to provide Ms. Forbes-Roberts with the addresses of these restaurants.
2. 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games - Why Vancouver is the Most Accessible (File 4209)
Councillor Green requested a report back on why Vancouver is the most successful city in terms of disability standards.
Jacquie Forbes-Roberts, General Manager of Community Services, agreed to provide a memorandum.
3. Doors in Underground Parking Lots - Fire Alarm Conditions (File 113)
Councillor Sullivan requested a report back on whether staff could implement a requirement that doors in underground parking lots open automatically when the fire alarm is activated.
Jacquie Forbes-Roberts, General Manager of Community Services, agreed to provide a memorandum.
The Council adjourned at 12:26 p.m.
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