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REPORT TO COUNCIL STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
MARCH 25, 2004 |
A Regular Meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on City Services and Budgets was held on Thursday, March 25, 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: |
Councillor David Cadman (Leave of Absence - Civic Business)
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CITY CLERK'S OFFICE: |
Tina Hildebrandt, Meeting Coordinator |
* Denotes absence for a portion of the meeting.
ADOPTION OF MINUTES
The Minutes of the Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets meeting of February 26, 2004, were adopted.
RECOMMENDATION
1. 2004 Operating Budget - Final Estimates (File 1605)
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated March 9, 2004, in which the General Manager of Corporate Services/Director of Finance, sought Council's approval of the final revenue and expenditure estimates for the 2004 Operating Budget.
Annette Klein, Director of Budget Services, was available to respond to questions.
MOVED by Councillor Bass
THAT the Committee recommend to Council
THAT Council adopt the final 2004 Operating Budget revenue and expenditure estimates with a property tax increase of 2.93% as outlined in the Administrative Report dated March 9, 2004, entitled "2004 Operating Budget - Final Estimates" by approving the budget resolution attached as Appendix 2.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillor Sullivan absent for the vote.)
2. 2004 Property Tax Options: Averaging Effects (File 1551)
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated March 5, 2004, in which the General Manager of Corporate Services/Director of Finance, responded to Council's request for additional information on how three-year land averaging impacts residential properties. In addition, the report described some proposed changes to the land averaging by-law, intended to clarify the administration of the by-law that was also before Council this day.
Karen Levitt, Manager of Financial Planning, was available to respond to questions.
MOVED by Mayor Campbell
THAT the Committee recommend to Council
THAT Council receive for information the Administrative Report dated March 5, 2004, entitled "2004 Property Tax Options: Averaging Effects".
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillor Sullivan absent for the vote.)
3. Performing Arts Lodge - Bayshore Gardens (File 4664)
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated January 23, 2004, in which the Director - Housing Centre, sought Council's approval of the finalized arrangements for the development of the affordable housing component of Bayshore Gardens by the Performing Arts Lodge of Vancouver (PAL Vancouver), approval to match a $500,000 grant from BC Housing, and approval to match fundraising that PAL Vancouver will undertake for its Bayshore Gardens' project, from Council consideration of this report to completion of the project, to a maximum City contribution of an additional $500,000. The General Manager of Community Services recommended approval.
Cameron Gray, Director - Housing Centre, reviewed the report and responded to questions related to the proposal, including financial implications.
Carol Roach, Waters Edge Seniors Housing Cooperative (brief distributed, on file), spoke in opposition to staff's recommendations and expressed concern with regard to the PAL Vancouver proposal, in particular, PAL's inability to meet the required fundraising goal within the allotted time frame as well as the exclusive housing aspect. She pointed out that the West End needs affordable seniors housing and felt that the PAL Vancouver proposal shouldn't necessarily be turned down, but it should be inclusive for all seniors, not just those in the arts industry.
The following spoke in favour of the PAL Vancouver proposal:
V. Philip Boname, President, PAL Vancouver
Joy Coghill, Honorary President, PAL Vancouver
Jackson Davies, PAL Vancouver Patron
A summary of speakers' comments follow:
· this project will bring hope and vitality to the arts industry which represents some of the poorest workers in the city (average income $16,500/year);
· there are some 16,000 people in the arts industry in BC, with some 10,000 artists working in the lower mainland alone, who need a retirement home;
· PAL's fundraising efforts included performances around Vancouver and meeting with Coal Harbour residents; it's exciting to find the community so enthusiastic about this project;
· there is a desperate need in the arts industry for affordable, community housing; many artists have passed away in sad isolation.
Mr. Gray responded to questions regarding the potential for more social housing in the West End.
MOVED by Councillor Green
THAT the Committee recommend to Council
A. THAT Council approve the terms of the development and lease of the affordable housing site in Bayshore Gardens by the Performing Arts Lodge of Vancouver as set out in the Memorandum of Understanding attached as Appendix A to the Administrative Report dated January 23, 2004, entitled "Performing Arts Lodge - Bayshore Gardens", and
FURTHER THAT no legal rights or obligations will arise or be created for the City of Vancouver until all legal documentation is prepared and fully executed on terms and conditions to the satisfaction of the City's Director of Legal Services.
B. THAT Council approve a capital grant of $500,000 for the Performing Arts Lodge of Vancouver's Bayshore Gardens project to match a grant of $500,000 from BC Housing, and advise the Performing Arts Lodge of Vancouver that it will match on a dollar for dollar basis any funds raised by the Performing Arts Lodge of Vancouver, from the date of approval of this recommendation until the completion of the development of PAL Vancouver's Bayshore Gardens project, to a maximum City contribution of an additional $500,000, source of funds to be the Affordable Housing Fund. The purpose of these grants is to ensure that 60% of the units in the Performing Arts Lodge of Vancouver's Bayshore Gardens project are available for core-need households, with half of the core-need units to be available for deep core-need seniors.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
4. Review of Graffiti Program - Service Delivery and Environmental Impacts (File 3501)
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated February 6, 2004, in which the General Manager of Engineering Services and General Manager of Community Services, reviewed the City's Graffiti Management Program in response to Council direction at its July 24, 2003, meeting with respect to alternate service delivery mechanisms for graffiti removal and environmental best practices related to graffiti removal.
Tom Hammel, Streets Administration Engineer, responded to questions related to the graffiti management program, including employee accommodation, whether some of the funding for this program could be used for promoting more murals to help eliminate graffiti and environmental issues.
Steve Varty, Acting Business Agent, CUPE Local 1004, spoke in favour of staff's recommendations, noting the Union is pleased that the program will provide opportunities to continue with meaningful accommodation work for its employees. In addition, he also referred to the graffiti removal van program, which was initiated in 1998 but has since been discontinued. Mr. Varty noted that it is his understanding that this vehicle is still in use, although sparingly, and he encouraged the Joint Committee to consider implementing this program again.
The following spoke in opposition to staff's recommendations:
Sandra MacDonald (materials distributed - on file)
Frederic Desjarbins
A summary of speakers' comments follow:
· can't believe the City took eight months to conduct an environmental review which doesn't once mention accountability;
· a sworn affidavit (circulated) by a certified graffiti technician states it is routine for Goodbye Graffiti to use such chemicals as Methylene Chloride and Furfural Alcohol, listed as toxic in the Canadian Environmental Protection Act; there is evidence the City has known about the practices of Goodbye Graffiti for some time;
· Council should not approve extending Goodbye Graffiti's contract and demand a full inquiry into this matter instead or go to tender for a new contractor;
· the City is responsible for what goes into the sewers and could be opening itself up to a law suit.
Perri Domm, Goodbye Graffiti, was present to respond to questions and also added that his company does not secretly use toxic products nor does it wish to create uncertainty about environmental applications.
Mr. Hammel, together with Jag Senghera, Anti-graffiti Coordinator, Dave Rudberg, General Manager of Engineering Services, and Cher LaCoste and Darren Brown, Consultants - Golder Associates Ltd., responded to questions concerning the City's graffiti removal practices, in particular, the type of products being used, whether there has been any testing for chemicals in these products and the environmental impacts related to Methylene Chloride and Furfural Alcohol.
In response to a question, Mr. Rudberg agreed to obtain comments from senior governments with regard to the City's current practices and recommended practices for removing graffiti from civic properties and report back.
MOVED by Councillor Green
THAT the Committee recommend to Council
A. THAT Council postpone decision on the Administrative Report dated February 6, 2004, entitled "Review of Graffiti Program - Service Delivery and Environmental Impacts".
CARRIED
(Councillors Ladner, Stevenson and Sullivan opposed)
MOVED by Councillor Green
THAT the Committee recommend to Council
B. THAT staff investigate potential use of the Graffiti Removal Van as part of the report back from the Joint Union and Employer Committee on Light Duty and Employee Disability on alternative service delivery mechanisms for graffiti removal from City facilities.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
MOVED by Mayor Campbell
THAT the Committee recommend to Council
C. THAT staff report back on a proposed plan for monitoring the use of chemicals under the City of Vancouver's graffiti removal contract.
CARRIED
(Councillor Sullivan opposed)
The Committee adjourned at 12:05 p.m.
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CITY OF VANCOUVER REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
MARCH 25, 2004 |
A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Thursday, March 25, 2004, at 12:05 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: |
Mayor Larry Campbell
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ABSENT: |
Councillor David Cadman (Leave of Absence - Civic Business)
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CITY CLERK'S OFFICE: |
Tina Hildebrandt, Meeting Coordinator |
"IN CAMERA" MEETING
MOVED by Councillor Woodsworth
SECONDED by Councillor Bass
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;
i) the receipt of advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Councillor Sullivan
SECONDED by Councillor Green
THAT this Council resolve itself into Committee of the Whole, Mayor Campbell in the Chair.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Report of Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets
March 25, 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 Operating Budget - Final Estimates
2. 2004 Property Tax Options: Averaging Effects
3. Performing Arts Lodge - Bayshore Gardens
4. Review of Graffiti Program - Service Delivery and Environmental Impacts
Clauses 1, 2 and 4
MOVED by Councillor Louis
THAT the recommendations and actions taken by the Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets at its meeting of March 25, 2004, as contained in Items 1, 2 and 4, be approved.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
Clause 3
MOVED by Councillor Louis
THAT the recommendations and actions taken by the Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets at its meeting of March 25, 2004, as contained in Item 3, be approved.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY AND
BY THE REQUIRED MAJORITY
RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Councillor Louis
THAT the Committee of the Whole rise and report.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
ADOPT REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Councillor Louis
SECONDED by Councillor Woodsworth
THAT the report of the Committee of the Whole be adopted.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
BY-LAWS
MOVED by Councillor Stevenson
SECONDED by Councillor Green
THAT Council enact the by-law listed on the agenda for this meeting to average Land Assessments for 2004, and authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to sign and seal the enacted by-law.
CARRIED
(Councillor Louis opposed)
1. A By-law to average Land Assessments for 2004 (By-law No. 8822)
MOTIONS
A. Administrative Motions
1. 2004 Operating Budget - Final Estimates (File 1605)
MOVED by Councillor Sullivan
SECONDED by Councillor Roberts
THAT WHEREAS, the Vancouver Charter, Section 219 requires that the Director of Finance submit to Council each year the detailed estimates of revenues and expenditures of the City for the year;
AND WHEREAS the Vancouver Charter, Section 372 requires that Council adopt the estimates of revenues and expenditures for the City as soon thereafter as possible;
AND WHEREAS Council has reviewed the development of the estimates in reports submitted by the Director of Finance on November 18, 2003, and March 9, 2004, and approved measures to bring the estimates into balance, including approval of a 2.93% general purposes property tax increase;
AND WHEREAS the total estimated expenditures of the City to pay all debts and obligations of the City falling due in the year 2004, exclusive of the amounts required for school, Greater Vancouver Regional District, Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority, British Columbia Assessment Authority and Municipal Finance Authority purposes and not otherwise provide for, as amended by Council, amount to $727,967,900;
AND WHEREAS the total estimated expenditures as aforesaid is the sum of the appropriation requests of all departments and boards properly supported by detailed analysis of those expenditures and listings of the salaried staff;
AND WHEREAS the total estimated revenue of the City for 2004 from sources other than real property taxes, as amended by Council, amounts to $294,473,300;
AND WHEREAS the amount of the General Purposes Tax Levy so required is $433,494,600;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the said estimates, both as to totals and individual items pertaining thereto, of the Director of Finance as so amended by Council be and the same are hereby adopted by Council.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
B. Motions on Notice
1. Car Alarm Complaints (File 3704)
MOVED by Councillor Stevenson
SECONDED by Councillor Green
THAT staff be requested to provide a report, with a draft by-law, on a ban on automobile security alarm systems in the City of Vancouver.
CARRIED
(Councillors Ladner and Sullivan opposed)
ENQUIRIES AND OTHER MATTERS
1. Leave of Absence - Councillor Green (File 1254)
MOVED by Councillor Louis
SECONDED by Councillor Woodsworth
THAT Councillor Green be granted Leave of Absence from the Public Hearing to be held later this day.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
The Council adjourned at 12:15 p.m.
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