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CITY OF VANCOUVER
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
APRIL 6, 2004
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A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Tuesday, April 6, 2004, at 2:00 p.m., in the Council Chamber, Third Floor, City Hall.
PRESENT:
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Mayor Larry Campbell
Councillor Fred Bass
Councillor David Cadman
Councillor Jim Green
Councillor Peter Ladner
Councillor Raymond Louie
Councillor Tim Louis
*Councillor Anne Roberts
Councillor Tim Stevenson
*Councillor Sam Sullivan
Councillor Ellen Woodsworth
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CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE:
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Judy Rogers, City Manager
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CITY CLERK'S OFFICE:
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Syd Baxter, City Clerk
Tarja Tuominen, Meeting Coordinator
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*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.
PRESENTATION: BY MEGAN METCALFE (File 1051)
Council welcomed Megan Metcalfe who performed her song "Vancouver You'll Always Look Like Home to Me" as a birthday tribute to Vancouver.
PRESENTATION: BY NORSKECANADA (File 1051)
Doug McLeod, representing NorskeCanada, presented the City of Vancouver, and the City's processing contractor, Canadian Fibre, with an award in recognition of their exceptional recovered old newspaper quality and long-standing commitment to the environment and recycling.
RECOGNITION: Cameron Gray, Director, Housing Centre (File 1051)
The Mayor acknowledged Cameron Gray, Director of the Housing Centre, who recently received the 2004 Grant Emslie award from the 36th Annual Congress of Canadian Housing and Renewal Association in recognition of his contribution to affordable housing in Canada.
"IN CAMERA" MEETING
MOVED by Councillor Green
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):
(c) labour relations or employee negotiations;
(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;
(h) litigation or potential litigation affecting 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 MARCH 25, 2004
Council approved appointments to the following civic agencies:
· First Shaughnessy Advisory Design Panel
· Vancouver Heritage Commission
· Fire and Rescue Services Citizens' Advisory Committee
· Chinatown Historic Area Planning Committee
· Gastown Historic Area Planning Committee
· Bicycle Advisory Committee
· Advisory Committee on Seniors' Issues
· Vancouver Heritage Foundation Board of Directors
Names of those appointed are available from the City Clerk's Office.
ADOPTION OF MINUTES
1. Regular Council (Transportation and Traffic) - March 9, 2004
MOVED by Councillor Bass
SECONDED by Councillor Cadman
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillor Sullivan absent for the vote)
2. Regular Council (City Services and Budgets) - March 11, 2004
MOVED by Councillor Louis
SECONDED by Councillor Cadman
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
3. Regular Council (Planning and Environment) - March 11, 2004
MOVED by Councillor Roberts
SECONDED by Councillor Woodsworth
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
4. Business License Hearing - March 23, 2004
MOVED by Councillor Green
SECONDED by Councillor Cadman
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
5. Regular Council - March 23, 2004
MOVED by Councillor Roberts
SECONDED by Councillor Bass
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Councillor Cadman
SECONDED by Councillor Louie
THAT this Council resolve itself into Committee of the Whole, Mayor Campbell in the Chair.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
DELEGATION
Lily Loncar, representing the Downtown Eastside Residents Association, requested to speak to Council on the issue of homelessness.
The Mayor agreed to hear the delegation at the Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets meeting on April 22, 2004.
REPORT REFERENCE
1. Woodward's - 101 West Hastings Street (File 8104)
Michael Flanigan, Manager of Real Estate Services, and Larry Beasley, Director of Current Planning, provided an overview of the following reports before Council for consideration:
a) Administrative Report "Woodward's - 101 West Hastings Street: Urban Design Guidelines" dated March 23, 2004;
(b) Administrative Report "Woodward's - 101 West Hastings Street: Non-Profit Category" dated March 4, 2004.
Also before Council was correspondence from the Chair, Advisory Committee on Disability Issues Vancouver, submitting general accessibility guidelines for Woodward's housing. Mr. Beasley advised the guidelines could be included in the Request for Proposal with all the other considerations the applicants will have to abide by.
(a) Woodward's - 101 West Hastings Street: Urban Design Guidelines
March 23, 2004 (File 8104)
MOVED by Councillor Green
A. THAT Council approve the Woodward's Urban Design Guidelines, attached as Appendix "A" to the Administrative Report "Woodward's - 101 West Hastings Street: Urban Design Guidelines" dated March 23, 2004; and
B. THAT Council require that, as a minimum, the 1903-1908 portion of the Woodward's building, as well as the "W" sign, preferably with its steel tower, be retained and rehabilitated, and that this requirement be included in the Request for Proposals.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
b) Woodward's - 101 West Hastings Street: Non-Profit Category
March 4, 2004 (File 8104)
MOVED by Councillor Green
A. THAT Council approve the following non-profit uses as uses which the City wishes the short-listed respondents in the Developer Category to consider when submitting a proposal for the redevelopment of the Woodward's site at 101 West Hastings Street:
1. A sixty nine (69)-space Childcare Facility constructed to the City's Childcare Design Guidelines (approx. 9,800 sq.ft., not including outdoor play area.)
2. Seniors' Services (approx. 8,000 sq.ft.)
3. Meeting Rooms (approx. 3,000 sq.ft.)
4. Theatre Space, constructed with appropriate ceiling heights (approx. 25,000 sq.ft., not including administration space)
5. Rehearsal Space (approx. 5,000 sq.ft.)
6. Gallery Space (approx. 5,000 sq.ft.)
7. Kitchen and Dining Space (approx. 1,000 sq.ft.)
8. Studio Design/Art Space (approx. 3,000 sq.ft.)
9. Classroom/Training Space (approx. 2,500 sq.ft.)
10. Resource Library Space (approx. 2,000 sq.ft.)
11. Guest Artist Studio Space (approx. 1,000 sq.ft.)
12. Office Space (approx. 20,000 sq.ft)
13. Storage Space (approx. 10,000 sq.ft.); and
B. THAT the Directors of the Office of Cultural Affairs and Social Planning report back to Council with recommendations on the final mix of uses for inclusion in the Project, together with appropriate Non-Profit Societies after the Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Woodward's project is concluded and before the Developer is selected; and
C. THAT Council receive for information the current list of Respondents for the Non-Profit Category as described in Appendix A to the Administrative Report "Woodward's - 101 West Hastings Street: Non-Profit Category", dated March 4, 2004, in accordance with the Woodward's Request for Expressions of Interest (REOI), noting that potential owners/tenants of non-profit space in the Project will be selected at a later date and are not limited to these Respondents.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS
1. Allocation of Community Amenity Contributions received for the rezoning of
550 Taylor Street (Block 17; also known as 599 Carrall Street and bounded by
Carrall, Keefer, Taylor and Pender Streets
March 18, 2004 (File 5308)
Also before Council was a letter, dated April 6, 2004, from the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation in support of the recommended Community Amenity Contribution allocations for Pigeon Park and the Downtown Skateboard Plaza.
MOVED by Councillor Ladner
THAT the $774,070 remaining in the Community Amenity Contribution received for 550 Taylor Street (Block 17; Account 9100 320041) be allocated as follows:
Contribution to the Affordable Housing Fund for investment in non-market housing in the area, including International Village and the Downtown Eastside, $500,000;
Carrall Street Greenway, $134,070;
Pigeon Park Improvements (Hastings and Carrall Streets), $120,000; and
Development of the Downtown Skateboard plaza on the site bounded by Quebec and Union Streets and Expo Boulevard, $20,000.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
2. Richmond Airport Vancouver Rapid Transit Line - Vancouver Access Agreement
March 9, 2004 (File 5559)
MOVED by Councillor Roberts
THAT discussion of the legal issues related to the Administrative Report "Richmond Airport Vancouver Rapid Transit Line - Vancouver Access Agreement" dated March 9, 2004 be referred to the In-Camera meeting immediately following the Regular Council meeting of April 6.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
3. Canada-B.C. Infrastructure Program
March 17, 2004 (File 5768)
MOVED by Councillor Cadman
A. THAT Council endorse the community-initiated project for the Christ Church Cathedral, for submission by the community organization to the Canada - B.C. Infrastructure Works Program, noting that such endorsement does not commit the City to funding the local share of the capital costs or to the ongoing operating costs.
B. THAT Council endorse the prioritized table of Green and Other Local Government Infrastructure Projects contained in the Administrative Report "Canada - B.C. Infrastructure Report" dated March 17, 2004, for submission to the Canada - B.C. Infrastructure Works Program.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
4. 2003 Canadian Construction Association Award: Mole Hill
March 29, 2004 (File 5053)
MOVED by Councillor Stevenson
THAT Council receive the Administrative Report "2003 Canadian Construction Assn. Award: Mole Hill" dated March 29, 2004, for information.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillor Roberts absent for the vote)
RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Councillor Louie
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillor Roberts absent for the vote)
ADOPT REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Councillor Cadman
SECONDED by Councillor Green
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillor Roberts absent for the vote)
BY-LAWS
MOVED by Councillor Green
SECONDED by Councillor Louie
THAT Council, except for those members excused as noted in the agenda, enact the by-laws listed on the agenda for this meeting as numbers 1 to 10 inclusive, and authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to sign and seal the enacted by-laws.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillor Roberts absent for the vote)
1. A By-law to Alter the Boundaries of the Gastown Business Improvement Area (2004-2009) (By-law No. 8823)
2. A By-law to amend various by-laws which amended Zoning and Development By-law No. 3575 by rezoning certain areas to CD-1 (re congregate housing) (By-law No. 8824)
3. A By-law to amend Zoning and Development By-law No. 3575 (re congregate housing)
(By-law No. 8825)
4. A By-law to amend Downtown-Eastside/Oppenheimer Official Development Plan By-law No. 5532 (re congregate housing) (By-law No. 8826)
5. A By-law to amend First Shaughnessy Official Development Plan By-law No. 5546 (re congregate housing) (By-law No. 8827)
6. A By-law to amend Parking By-law No. 6059 (re congregate housing) (By-law No. 8828)
7. A By-law to authorize Council entering into a Heritage Revitalization Agreement with the Owner of Heritage Property (55 East Cordova Street) (By-law No. 8829)
8. A By-law to authorize Council entering into a Heritage Revitalization Agreement with the Owner of Heritage Property (1826 and 1830-1850 Blanca Street) (By-law No. 8830)
(Councillors Cadman, Green, Louie and Roberts were excused from voting on By-law No. 8)
9. A By-law to designate certain real property as protected heritage property (1826 Blanca Street) (By-law No. 8831)
(Councillors Cadman, Green, Louie and Roberts were excused from voting on By-law No. 9)
10. A By-law to amend Noise Control By-law No. 6555 (re 1201 West Hastings Street) (By-law No. 8832)
MOTIONS
A. Administrative Motions
1. Closing a portion of the lane north of 22nd Avenue and east of Oak Street (File 5753)
MOVED by Councillor Louie
SECONDED by Councillor Roberts
THAT WHEREAS:
1. The City of Vancouver is the owner of all the streets and lanes lying within the limits of the City of Vancouver;
2. There is a proposal to close and stop-up all that portion of lane north of 22nd Avenue, east from Oak Street dedicated by the deposit of Plan BCP3474 and adjacent to Lot 1, Block 596, District Lot 472, Group 1, New Westminster District, Plan BCP3474;
3. The said portion of lane to be closed was dedicated by the deposit of Plan BCP3474 on January 27, 2003;
4. A portion of lane to be closed is no longer required for municipal purposes;
5. The said portion of lane to be closed will be conveyed to the owner of said Lot 1 and consolidated with the abutting lands to the satisfaction of the Director of Legal Services;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT all that portion of lane north of 22nd Avenue and east from Oak Street, as dedicated by the deposit of Plan BCP3474 and being the same as shown in heavy outline on Reference Plan of Survey attested to by G. A. Rowbotham, B.C.L.S. and completed on the 4th day of March, 2004 and marginally numbered 16180REX, be closed, stopped-up and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the said portion of lane to be closed be consolidated with the abutting Lot 1, Block 596, District Lot 472, Group 1, New Westminster District, Plan BCP3474 to the satisfaction of the Director of Legal Services.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
2. Closing a portion of East 44th Avenue, east of Wales Street (File 5753)
MOVED by Councillor Louie
SECONDED by Councillor Roberts
THAT WHEREAS:
1. The City of Vancouver is the owner of all the streets and lanes lying within the limits of the City of Vancouver;
2. There is a proposal to redevelop privately owned lands and to relocate an existing Heritage "A" building at 5872 Wales Street;
3. The relocated Heritage "A" building will encroach onto a portion of East 44th Avenue;
4. The proposal requires that the portion of East 44th Avenue dedicated by the deposit of Plan BCP________, east of Wales Street, adjacent to Lot 4, Block 1, District Lot 50, Group 1, New Westminster District, Plan BCP________ that will be occupied by the relocated building be closed, stopped-up and title raised thereto in the name of the City of Vancouver;
5. The proposal also includes that the closed portion of East 44th Avenue be leased to the abutting owner of said Lot 4 and that said lease be registered as a charge against the title to the closed portion of East 44th Avenue;
6. The closed portion of East 44th Avenue is not required for municipal purposes at this time;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Director of Legal Services be authorized to make application on behalf of the City of Vancouver to close, stop-up and raise title in the name of the City of Vancouver to that portion of East 44th Avenue dedicated by the deposit of Plan BCP_______ adjacent to Lot 4, Block 1, District Lot 50, Group 1, New Westminster District, Plan BCP_______, the same as shown heavy outlined on the Reference Plan of Survey, completed on the 2nd day of March, 2004, attested to by Robert G. Flynn, B.C.L.S., and marginally numbered 03-164.REF; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT all that portion of East 44th Avenue so closed be leased to the abutting owner of Lot 4, Block 1, District Lot 50, Group 1, New Westminster District, Plan BCP_______ and that said lease be registered as a charge against the title to that portion of East 44th Avenue so closed to the satisfaction of the Director of Legal Services and the Director of Real Estate Services.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
B. Motions on Notice
1. Restrictions on Council Members (File 1251)
MOVED by Councillor Sullivan
SECONDED by Councillor Ladner
Whereas
Recent media reports have indicated that some members of Council are having their votes controlled by unelected political organizations.
This goes to the heart of representation by the electors and needs to be clarified for the citizens.
A recent published letter from a former COPE president indicated that COPE Councillors are not allowed to "break with labor". This former COPE president also criticized the NPA because NPA Councillors are expected to "vote with their consciences" and the Board does not endorse policy positions.
In the last election campaign COPE promised to run an open and transparent government.
COPE board members are actively deciding on issues of policy for the city and promoting their decisions publicly via press releases and as official delegations to city commissions.
The citizens of Vancouver did not vote for the boards of the political organizations during the last election. Citizens expect the people they voted into office to be the ones setting policy for their city.
There are recent media reports of attempts by the board of COPE to discipline Councillors who do not vote according to the wishes of the board.
COPE Councillors, who are the target of the COPE board, have opposed a major expansion of gambling in the city of Vancouver.
Given the fact that the board of COPE is having a major influence on city policy, the internal workings of COPE is a matter of great interest to the public.
The board of COPE has declared that citizens of Vancouver and members of the media will not be allowed to attend the upcoming COPE annual general meeting.
Therefore be it resolved that Council endorse the principle that Councillors should be free to exercise their own judgment and vote according to their conscience and not be bound by policy decisions of their political organizations.
Amended
AMENDMENT MOVED by Councillor Cadman
SECONDED by Councillor Woodsworth
THAT the motion be amended by deleting the preamble with the whereases, and amending the resolve by deleting the remainder of the sentence following the word "conscience".
CARRIED
(Councillors Ladner and Sullivan opposed)
MOTION AS AMENDED
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council endorse the principle that Councillors should be free to exercise their own judgment and vote according to their conscience.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
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At this point in the proceedings, the Mayor and Council recognized 18 employees who recently retired from the City with varying lengths of service.
The Mayor presented each employee with a Certificate on behalf of the City, and thanked them for their loyal and dedicated service to the City of Vancouver.
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The Council recessed at 4:20 p.m. and reconvened at 4:40 p.m. with all members present.
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NEW BUSINESS
1. Reinstatement of Provincial Funding for Emergency Underage Safe Houses
MOVED by Councillor Woodsworth
SECONDED by Councillor Roberts
WHEREAS Emergency Underage Safe Houses for children are critical to the health, safety and well-being and can save the lives of children on the street; and
WHEREAS Emergency Underage Safe Houses for children respond to the immediate survival needs of high risk children on the street, including those under the influence of drugs, alcohol, escaping predators, involvement in the sex trade or sexual and physical abuse; and
WHEREAS the three Underage Safe Houses provide a wide range of emergency and transition support to children, including a safe place to sleep, detox to come off drugs, assistance to address violence, abuse, and addiction issues, transition to safer lifestyles, escape from predators, family reunification, food, clothing and one to one support; and
WHEREAS over 100 children; boys and girls received direct services from the Underage Safe Houses each year; and
WHEREAS these children are at the highest risk and most vulnerable in our society; and
WHEREAS Underage Safe houses can save their lives and are a lifeline for them; and
WHEREAS these children should not be forced to use adult emergency resources where they may again be victimized by older youth; and
WHEREAS the provincial government through it actions has eliminated funding for Underage Safe Houses as of March 31, 2004; and
WHEREAS the 3 Underage Safe houses with eight beds serving the entire Lower mainland will close down on March 31, 2004; and
WHEREAS the closure of these Underage Safe houses, in addition to the many provincial cuts to other services to vulnerable children, youth and families is already having a devastating impact on children in our community; and
WHEREAS it costs approximately $20.00 a day per child for 100 children to be rescued from the street, through the Underage Safe houses
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Vancouver City Council urge the provincial government to reverse plans to cut funding for the 3 Underage Safe houses serving the Lower Mainland on March 31,2004; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT Council urge the provincial government to reinstate core funding for at least the eight beds in the 3 Underage Safe houses and other programs for vulnerable youth in B.C.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
2. Implementation of a Sustainable and Ethical Procurement Policy for City of Vancouver (File 6001)
MOVED by Councillor Louis
SECONDED by Councillor Louie
WHEREAS, Sweatshop practices continue to spread throughout the garment manufacturing industry, undermining international human rights guarantees and threatening the working conditions of manufacturing workers in the City of Vancouver;
AND WHEREAS, Vancouver is a community that does not tolerate child labour, forced labour, discrimination, and/or abuse of workers in any form;
AND WHEREAS, The citizens of Vancouver have a right to expect that City procurement policies are consistent with their community values;
AND WHEREAS, there needs to be a way for Municipal Purchasing Authorities to verify the conditions under which goods have been produced;
AND WHEREAS, It is in the interest of the City of Vancouver to purchase from suppliers who provide quality goods and abide by accepted international standards;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT, Vancouver City Council hereby declares its intention to implement a Sustainable and Ethical Procurement Policy for the City of Vancouver before the end of the 2004 calendar year, that will ensure that all items, including apparel, coffee, and related items purchased by the City are manufactured or grown in accordance with established international codes of conduct regarding wages, workplace health and safety, forced labour, child labour and freedom of association, as embodied in the United Nations (U.N.) Declaration on Human Rights and International Labour Organization (I.L.O.) Conventions.
AND BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED THAT, appropriate city staff be directed to report to Council within two months of the passage of this resolution on questions related to implementation of such a policy for city purchases of apparel, coffee, and related items.
This report should address all of the following issues:
(i) What is the extent, purpose and value of city procurement of items that may be affected by this policy?
(ii) What information does the city have now on the place and conditions of manufacture of these items?
(iii) What would be the procedures under which a Sustainable and Ethical Procurement Policy for the City of Vancouver could be implemented?
(iv) What mechanisms, if any, are in place now to ensure that suppliers to the City of Vancouver are in compliance with International Labour Organization standards?
(v) What other relevant factors or costs might be involved in the implementation of such a policy?
(vi) How are other municipalities/cities, such as Nanaimo and Toronto, and universities, such as Simon Fraser University, implementing a similar policy?
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
ENQUIRIES AND OTHER MATTERS
1. International Interference with Powers of Municipal Governments (File 6001)
Councillor Green advised of an issue raised at a recent Federation of Canadian Municipalities board meeting of international moves to interfere with the ability of municipalities to make changes in zoning, hours of operation, etc. He requested staff to provide a memo on this matter and on what role some larger corporations such as Walmart could have on municipal powers.
The Council adjourned at 5:05 p.m.
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