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| These minutes will be adopted at the
Regular Council meeting on September 28, 2004. |
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REPORT TO COUNCIL
STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
ON CITY SERVICES AND BUDGETS
SEPTEMBER 16, 2004
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A Regular Meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on City Services and Budgets was held on Thursday, September 16, 2004, at 9:30 a.m., in Council Chamber, Third Floor, City Hall.
PRESENT:
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Councillor Tim Louis, Chair
Mayor Larry Campbell
Councillor Fred Bass
Councillor Raymond Louie
Councillor Anne Roberts
*Councillor Tim Stevenson
Councillor Sam Sullivan
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ABSENT:
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Councillor David Cadman (Leave of Absence – Civic Business)
Councillor Jim Green (Leave of Absence – Civic Business)
Councillor Peter Ladner (Leave of Absence – Civic Business)
Councillor Ellen Woodsworth, Vice-Chair (Leave of Absence – Civic Business)
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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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Nicole Ludwig, Meeting Coordinator
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* Denotes absence for a portion of the meeting
ADOPTION OF MINUTES
The Minutes of the Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets meetings of July 8, and July 22, 2004, were adopted.
RECOMMENDATION
1. Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services Staffing Request - Report Back Requested at City Services and Budgets Meeting of March 11, 2004 (File 1377)
The Committee had before it a Policy Report dated August 27, 2004, in which the General Manager, Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services, in response to Council’s request for further information relating to the possible addition of four full time equivalent positions to Fire and Rescue, provided information relating to cost recoveries (some of which require amendments to the Fire By-law) and rates of fire injuries and property damage. The General Manager of Fire and Rescue Services recommended approval, noting that Fire Prevention and Public Education have been key roles highlighted in all formal Strategic Plans produced by the Department.
Scott H. Henderson, Assistant General Manager/Deputy Chief of Fire Prevention, and Chief Ray Holdgate, General Manager/Fire Chief, were available to respond to questions. Deputy Chief Henderson recognized the participation and assistance of the City’s Environmental Protection Branch in the processes detailed in the report, especially in the areas of tank removal and soil analysis.
MOVED by Mayor Campbell
THAT the Committee recommend to Council
A. THAT Council approve in principle the proposed amendments to the Fire By-law as summarized in Appendix A of the Policy Report dated August 27, 2004,entitled “Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services Staffing Request - Report Back Requested at City Services and Budgets Meeting of March 11, 2004” and authorize the Director of Legal Services to bring forward the By-law amendments generally as shown resulting in increased revenues of $249,500 starting in 2005.
B. THAT Council approve the addition of 4 staff positions to Fire and Rescue at an annual cost of $340,000 as follows:
i) two regular full-time Fire Prevention Inspectors in Fire & Rescue Services' Fire Prevention Division at an annual cost of $180,000 (beginning in 2005) including program and auto allowance costs; and
ii) two regular full-time Public Education Officers for Fire & Rescue Services' Community Services Division at an annual cost of $160,000 (beginning in 2005) including program and auto allowance costs;
AND THAT all four positions are based on a 10th year firefighter rate and are subject to final classification approval by the General Manager of Human Resources.
C. THAT funding be provided from increased revenues of $249,500 based on Recommendation A, above, and $90,500 increase to the Fire Department’s 2005 Operating Budget without offset (in advance of the 2005 Operating Budget). The proposed Vancouver Charter amendment allowing fees for fire inspections, if approved, would be utilized to offset staffing expenditures and reduce the net cost to approximately $40,500.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillor Stevenson absent for the vote)
2. New Community Policing Centres Model Update (File 3703)
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated August 6, 2004, in which the Chief Constable provided Council with updated information on the efficacy of the Community Policing Centres (CPCs), their fundraising activities and the incorporation of neighbourhoods into the area now served by the City’s eight remaining CPCs.
Sergeant Jeremy Johnson, Community and Victim Services Unit, Deputy Chief Bob Rich, Operations – Vancouver Police Department, and Mario Lee, Planner, responded to questions regarding the evaluation process of the new model, the disbanded Vancouver Police Native Liaison Society as well as ongoing efforts to renew and strengthen relationships with the native community, the effect of restructuring on the Kerrisdale CPC, funding, the police view of CPCs, management of the Downtown South CPC and the role of bicycle police.
The Mayor indicated the Police Board expects the provincial government to be committed in terms of funding and that the Board is taking action on this issue. The Mayor also stated that funding for CPCs comes from the Police Board budget and the Board is committed to solidifying the CPCs and working with the native community to build and strengthen a working relationship.
Chris Taulu, Collingwood Community Policing Centre, addressed issues regarding the broad geographical commitments of the remaining CPCs, indicating volunteers are stretched to their limits and funding is a major issue. Ms. Taulu also indicated that the CPC wishes to work with Council on funding and that the upcoming provincial election is a good chance to re-address CPC issues with MLAs.
Bob Whiteley, South Vancouver CPC, detailed the increasing operations of the CPC, the effects of responsibility for CPCs given to the Police Board and the crackdown on the Downtown East Side, the importance of CPCs, the necessity of being proactive rather than reactive in policing, and how Council can help keep the community safe.
Jason O’Brien, MOBY Community Group, spoke about the involvement of the Collingwood CPC with the MOBY Community Group and the revitalization of the area around Broadway and Commercial Drive as outlined in the Administrative Report dated June 8, 2004, entitled “Broadway and Commercial Drive Community Amenity Proposal”, which was approved by Council on June 24, 2004, and requested that Council support the funding solution in the report.
MOVED by Councillor Stevenson
THAT the Committee recommend to Council
THAT Council receive for information the Administrative Report dated August 6, 2004, entitled “New Community Policing Centres Model Update.”
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
MOVED by Councillor Roberts
THAT the Committee recommend to Council
THAT Council urge the Police Board to consult with the native community in order to meet the original mandate of the disbanded Vancouver Police Native Liaison Society.
CARRIED
(Councillor Stevenson opposed)
3. Downtown South Development Cost Levy: Rate Update (File 8106)
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated August 27, 2004, in which the Director of Current Planning, in consultation with the Director of City Plans, the Director of the Housing Centre, the Director of Real Estate, Director of Social Planning, the General Manager of Parks and Recreation, and the Director of Finance, recommended an increase in the rate for DCLs in Downtown South from $6.18 to $9.50 to reflect inflation related to land and construction required to deliver the Council-approved public benefits strategy to this growing community, and that a review of the current public benefits package, now a decade old, be undertaken to ensure it reflects Council’s and the community’s objectives for Downtown South to emerge as a liveable, high-density, residential neighbourhood. The General Manager of Community Services recommended approval.
The Committee also had before it a Memorandum dated September 8, 2004, from the Director of Current Planning, which indicated a correction to the map on page 3 of the above-noted report.
Thor Kuhlmann, City Plans, and John Madden, Central Area Planning Branch, reviewed the report. Messrs. Kuhlmann and Madden, along with Larry Beasley, Director of Current Planning, and Susan Mundick, General Manager Park Board, responded to questions regarding childcare, available funds, longer-term solutions, the recommended one year grace period for changes in the DCL, the effects of the rapidly growing population on available space in the area, park space per capita, and comparison of the DCL increase with other areas.
MOVED by Councillor Louie
THAT the Committee recommend to Council
A. THAT the Development Cost Levy (DCL) rate for Downtown South be increased from $6.18 per square foot ($66.52 per square metre) to $9.50 per square foot ($102.26 per square metre) to reflect a portion of the inflation in land and construction costs since the last rate increase in 1993.
B. THAT Council provide a grace period of one year from the date of Council approval before this rate increase comes into effect on September 15, 2005.
C. THAT the Director of Legal Services be instructed to amend the necessary by-law in time to implement the proposed rate increase.
D. THAT staff report back with a review of the identified public benefits package for the Downtown South Development Cost Levy area.
E. THAT Council approve new consulting and related expenditures associated with the review of the public benefits strategy, as described in the Administrative Report dated August 27, 2004, entitled “Downtown South Development Cost Levy: Rate Update”, of $15,000, to be funded from the 2005 operating budget without offset.
F. THAT staff take the necessary steps to notify the development industry and affected stakeholders upon Council approval of the DCL rate increase.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
4. Creation of a Disability Management Division within Human Resource Services (File 1379)
Vancouver City Council, at its meeting September 14, 2004, referred this matter to the Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets meeting on September 16, 2004, in order to hear from delegations who had requested to speak.
Accordingly, the Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated August 24, 2004, in which the General Manager, Human Resource Services sought Council approval to expand the City’s disability management program to ensure the City is able to meet its legal obligation to accommodate ill or injured employees and provide transitional (light) duties for employees so they can return to the workplace more quickly following illness or injury, thereby reducing WCB and sick leave hours paid to employees and improving services for ill or injured employees. The City Manager supported the recommendation of the General Manager, Human Resource Services.
Catherine Deslauriers, Manager Employee Health and Safety, and Mike Zora, General Manager, Human Resource Services, were available to respond to questions.
Doug McNicol, CUPE 1004, indicated the union supports the report and added that it is imperative that this reprt be adopted so that issues not resolved in contract bargaining can be dealt with. Mr. McNicol also suggested Council direct staff to report back by the end of 2005 on tracking and accountability.
In response to a question, Mr. Zora indicated there were no issues that would impede staff from reporting back within a year.
MOVED by Councillor Louie
THAT the Committee recommend to Council
A. THAT Vancouver City Council approve the creation of a Disability Management Division within Human Resource Services and approve the creation of the following regular full-time positions: Team Lead, Return to Work Coordinator, and two support staff positions in 2004, subject to classification by the General Manager of Human Resource Services at a prorated cost of $57,597 ($230,390 annually) to expand the current disability management program at the City. There is also a one-time set-up cost for furniture ($28,000), computers ($10,400) and a laser printer ($2,200). Funding for 2004 to be provided from a surplus in the Medium Term Disability (MTD) liability account while annual on-going funds are to be added the department’s 2005 operating budget, without offset.
B. THAT program costs for medical assessments to support the disability management program be increased in 2004 by $75,000 to $230,300, funding to be provided from the surplus in the MTD liability account, and in 2005 by $150,000 to $305,300, funding to be added to the 2005 Operating Budget without offset.
C. THAT the $250,000 that is currently spent on an annual basis to fund transitional duty work opportunities and is charged to the Engineering Fringe Benefit account be set-up as a Corporate Program within the General Government Account for 2005, subject to the 2005 operating budget review, to fund transitional duty work.
D. THAT funds collected by the City from subrogation settlements related to motor vehicle accidents for CUPE Local 1004 employees be used to fund transitional duty opportunities for staff following non-occupational injury or illness where the payment is received from ICBC beyond the year of injury.
E. THAT the premiums paid by the City and CUPE Local 1004 employees toward the CUPE Local 1004 sickness and accident insurance plan be used by the City to fund transitional duty opportunities for staff following non-occupational injury or illness where the funds are not fully expended on claims costs.
F. THAT staff report back in September, 2005, on the accountability and tracking of the success of the initiative contained in the Administrative Report dated August 24, 2004, entitled “Creation of a disability Management Division within Human Resource Services”.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
The Committee adjourned at 11:15 a.m.
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CITY OF VANCOUVER
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL ON
CITY SERVICES AND BUDGETS
SEPTEMBER 16, 2004
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A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Thursday, September 16, 2004, at 11:15 am, in Council Chamber, Third Floor, City Hall, following the Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets meeting, to consider the recommendations and actions of the Committee.
PRESENT:
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Mayor Larry Campbell
Councillor Fred Bass
Councillor Raymond Louie
Councillor Tim Louis
Councillor Anne Roberts
Councillor Tim Stevenson
Councillor Sam Sullivan
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ABSENT:
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Councillor David Cadman (Leave of Absence – Civic Business)
Councillor Jim Green (Leave of Absence – Civic Business)
Councillor Peter Ladner (Leave of Absence – Civic Business)
Councillor Ellen Woodsworth, Vice-Chair (Leave of Absence – Civic Business)
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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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Nicole Ludwig, Meeting Coordinator
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COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Councillor Roberts
SECONDED by Councillor Louis
THAT this Council resolve itself into Committee of the Whole, Mayor Campbell in the Chair.
CARRIED UNANMIOUSLY
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Report of Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets
September 16, 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. Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services Staffing Request - Report Back Requested at City Services and Budgets Meeting of March 11, 2004
2. New Community Policing Centres Model Update
3. Downtown South Development Cost Levy: Rate Update
4. Creation of a Disability Management Division within Human Resource Services
MOVED by Councillor Louis
THAT the recommendations and actions taken by the Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets at its meeting of September 16, 2004, as contained in Items 1 to 4, be approved.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Councillor Bass
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
ADOPT REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Councillor Roberts
SECONDED by Councillor Louis
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
The Council adjourned at 11:16am
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