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CITY OF VANCOUVER ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT |
Date: |
March 19, 2004 | |
Author: |
Michael Clague | |
Phone No.: |
604.665.3301 | |
RTS No.: |
4085 | |
CC File No.: |
4161 | |
Meeting Date: |
April 20, 2004 |
TO: |
Vancouver City Council |
FROM: |
Director of Carnegie Centre |
SUBJECT: |
Auxiliary Hours Request |
RECOMMENDATION
THAT Council approve additional auxiliary staff hours to improve public and staff safety at the Carnegie Centre and Oppenheimer Park and to maintain service in the kitchen during welfare cheque week. The estimated annual cost is $68,100 (2002 collective bargaining agreement rates). The source of funds for 2004 is the Contingency Reserve. Future years funding to be added to the Community Services operating budget without offset.
GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS
The General Manager of Community Services RECOMMENDS approval of the recommendation above.
COUNCIL POLICY
There is no applicable Council Policy.
PURPOSE
This report seeks Council approval for additional auxiliary staffing hours to improve public and staff safety at the Carnegie Centre and Oppenheimer Park and to maintain service in the kitchen during welfare cheque week.
BACKGROUND
As a part of the preparation for the 2003 operating budget, Carnegie Centre staff submitted an initiative for additional auxiliary hours to address safety and service concerns. This initiative was supported by Community Services management and subsequently referred to the 2003 Operating Budget process by the Corporate Management Team. In 2003 the Council report was prepared but not submitted to council due to a timing conflict with the preparation of the 2004 budget. The same initiative was resubmitted and supported by Community Services management and referred to the 2004 Operating budget process by the Corporate Management Team and subsequently included in the Interim budget report submitted to Council March 9, 2004.
DISCUSSION
1.) Oppenheimer Park Auxiliary Staff: There are serious issues of staff and public safety arising from the active drug and alcohol issues and public disorder at Oppenheimer Park. Many factors are contributing to deterioration in conditions there, including the increased enforcement against drugs in bars and hotels and on Hastings, with the resulting dispersal of the drug scene. The Carnegie Centre, the Carnegie Centre Community Association and residents have been working for years to make Oppenheimer a safe and welcoming park, with relevant programming and needed services for all the community.
There are currently two full time activity co-ordinators at the park, supplemented by auxiliary hours. For 10 weeks of the summer, HRDC provides partial funding to allow the hiring of five students to enhance the staffing complement. The current request for $32,300 is to ensure that for the remaining 42 weeks of the year there can always be three staff scheduled, thereby helping to address the safety issues of staff and improving their ability to respond to public safety concerns, as well as, allowing enhanced programming and services.
2.) Kitchen Auxiliary Staff: Additional auxiliary hours are requested to provide more staffing in the Carnegie Kitchen during Welfare Cheque Week. At this time patrons place strong demands on our kitchen to provide quality low cost meals and snacks, while there is typically a reduction in the availability of volunteers to assist staff in preparation and serving of food, managing the concession cash register, washing dishes and clean up. The $9,200 requested would allow an additional shift per day for the week to help maintain the efficiency of the operation and the level of service expected by the community.
3.) Security Auxiliary Staff: Additional auxiliary hours are requested to mitigate workplace violence and public safety concerns at the Centre. Temporary supplemental funding of $57,700 was added to the Carnegie Centre's budget in 2003 to address security concerns for staff and patrons at the Centre. The "street scene" in and around the corner of Main and Hastings was very intimidating and out of control. Trafficking of, and the use of, drugs was clearly visible and patrons and staff felt like they had to run the gauntlet to get to the Centre. This "street scene" was impacting the use of the facility and clearly impairing the function of the Carnegie Centre in the community. The temporary auxiliary staffing funds were used to hire additional security staff to allow staff and patrons access to the Centre without being accosted or threatened. In June 2003, a police department initiative provided 24/7 police presence at the corner of Main and Hastings. This police initiative proved very successful and the numerous drug traffickers moved from the corner which allowed patrons and staff access to the Centre with minimal difficulty. As a result of the reduced security requirements, the Carnegie was able to reassign the remaining temporary staffing resources to fund the 2003 initiative which included Oppenheimer Park, kitchen staffing during welfare week and security requirements at the Centre
There has been a significant improvement at the corner of Main and Hastings as a result of the police department's initiative and continuing police presence in the area; however, there continue to be incidents at the door and in the building which require the full attention of security, particularly during heavy use periods which leave patrons and staff vulnerable. An amount of $26,600 is requested to ensure that there can always be two security staff on duty at the Centre during peak Centre hours to provide effective security for all staff and patrons and to provide back up for security staff when encountering difficult and risky situations.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
The additional auxiliary hours are to be funded on an ongoing basis, commencing January 1, 2004. Staffing costs may increase pending collective bargaining rate increases.
Oppenheimer Park $32,300
Carnegie Centre Kitchen $ 9,200
Carnegie Centre Security $26,600
TOTAL $68,100
CONCLUSION
For 2004 Carnegie staff have continued with the Oppenheimer Park security, kitchen and auxiliary staffing and the front door security scheduling which began in 2003, therefore, the annualized funding of $68,100 is requested with this report'
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