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REPORT TO COUNCIL STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
NOVEMBER 4, 2004 |
A Regular Meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on Planning and Environment was held on Thursday, November 4, 2004, at 2:00 p.m., in Council Chamber, Third Floor, City Hall.
PRESENT: |
Councillor Anne Roberts, Chair
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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: |
Diane Clairmont, Meeting Coordinator | |
* Denotes absence for a portion of the meeting.
ADOPTION OF MINUTES
The Minutes of the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment meeting of October 7, 2004, were adopted.
LEAVE OF ABSENCE - Councillor Louis (File 1254)
MOVED by Councillor Roberts
THAT the Committee recommend to Council
THAT Leave of Absence (Civic Business) be granted to Councillor Tim Louis for this meeting.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillors Louis and Stevenson not present for the vote)
RECOMMENDATION
1. 1300 Richards Street -Warning to Prospective Purchasers (File 2701)
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated September 28, 2004, in which the City Building Inspector recommended Council direct a 336D Notice be filed against the title to the property at 1300 Richards Street to warn prospective purchasers of by-law violations. The General Manager of Community Services recommended approval.
Peter Sweeney, Manager of Building Inspections Branch, reviewed the report.
MOVED by Councillor Bass
THAT the Committee recommend to Council
A. THAT the City Clerk be directed to file a 336D Notice against the title to 1300 Richards Street, Lot A Block 115 District Lot 541 Plan 5210, PID 011-207-931 in order to warn prospective purchasers that there are contraventions of the Vancouver Building By-law related to this building.
B. THAT the Director of Legal Services is hereby authorized, in her discretion, to commence a legal action or proceeding in relation to the premises located at 1300 Richards Street, and may, in her discretion, seek injunctive relief in that action or proceeding, in order to bring this building into compliance with City By-laws.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillors Louis and Stevenson not present for the vote)
2. 4896 Earles Street -Warning to Prospective Purchasers (File 2701)
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated September 24, 2004, in which the City Building Inspector recommended Council direct a 336D Notice be filed against the title to the property at 4896 Earles Street to warn prospective purchasers of by-law violations. The General Manager of Community Services recommended approval.
Peter Sweeney, Manager of Building Inspections Branch, reviewed the report.
MOVED by Councillor Bass
THAT the Committee recommend to Council
THAT the City Clerk be directed to file a 336D Notice against the title to 4896 Earles Street, Lot 10, Block 115, District Lot 37, Plan 2160, PID 005-960-401 in order to warn prospective purchasers that there are contraventions of the Zoning and Development and Vancouver Building By-laws related to this building.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillors Louis and Stevenson not present for the vote)
3. 2004 Operating Budget - August Review (File 1605)
At its meeting on November 2, 2004, Council referred this item to the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment meeting on November 4, 2004, in order to hear speakers.
Accordingly, the Committee had before it an Administrative Report 2004 Operating Budget - August Review dated October 14, 2004 in which the General Manager of Corporate Services/Director of Finance, recommended Council receive the 2004 Operating Budget August Review for information and that Council modify the standing instructions to staff to report on the status of the Operating Budget as of August 31st each year rather than September 30th.
Estelle Lo, General Manager of Corporate Services/Director of Finance, reviewed the report and along with Chief Constable Jamie H. Graham, Deputy Chief Constable Bob Rich, Annette Klein, Director of Budget Services, and Brent MacGregor, Deputy City Manager, responded to questions relating to:
· process for future unbudgeted requests;
· monitoring of departmental financial performances and reporting mechanism for VPD and Police Board;
· timing of when senior Police staff became aware of deficits;
· unbudgeted new initiatives by VPD;
· overtime costs for VPD, distribution and monitoring of those costs;
· staffing/costs of city-wide enforcement teams;
· computer/IT expenses regarding financial/budgeting systems and relationship to the VPD;
· managing the current deficit from VPD and City perspective;
· VPD procedures, both internally and with City staff, regarding monitoring on-going status of budget and potential overruns;
· rationale and consequences of going over budget;
· potential snow removal expense;
· budgetary impact of VPD retirements and new recruit training;
· overruns relating to dry cleaning;
· specific steps taken by VPD to mitigate overruns and keep Council informed;
· degree of direction Council can provide the VPD; timing and frequency of reporting on VPD budget to Council.
Mr. MacGregor, in response to questions, reviewed the budget process within various City departments, the methodology for determining appropriate budget figures and future improvements to the process.
Chief Constable Graham stated he would talk to the Police Board directly to request that a quarterly budget report be submitted to Council.
The following spoke with specific reference to the Vancouver Police Department.
John Richardson, Executive Director, Pivot Legal Society
Darryl Zimmerman
Speakers' comments included:
· previous request for increase in VPD budget was rejected by Council, but VPD went ahead with program relating to DTES; may be in contravention of Police Act;
· acknowledges improvement at Main and Hastings; however, negative impact includes drug markets moving to other parts of City;
· documented impact on marginalized people in DTES indicates an increase in police harassment/assaults;
· Vancouver Police Board ineffective in monitoring VPD budget;
· City of Vancouver responsible for debts of VPD; but VPD is not accountable to City or citizens;
· Vancouver Police Board should be elected and accountable to Citizens of Vancouver;
· suggested that a referendum be held to determine if VPD should be elected;
· related personal experiences with VPD and stated that expenditures relating to these actions were unnecessary.
Constable Bob Rich responded to questions relating to expenditures for DTES and legalities of allocating police personnel.
MOVED by Councillor Louis
THAT the Committee recommend to Council
A. THAT Council receive the 2004 Operating Budget August Review for INFORMATION.
B. THAT Council modify the standing instructions to the Director of Finance to report on the status on the Operating Budget as of August 31 each year rather than September 30.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
The Committee adjourned at 4:35
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CITY OF VANCOUVER REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
NOVEMBER 4, 2004 |
A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Thursday, November 4, 2004, at 4:35 p.m., in Council Chamber, Third Floor, City Hall, following the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment meeting, to consider the recommendations and actions 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: |
Diane Clairmont, Meeting Coordinator |
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 Planning and Environment
November 4, 2004
Council considered the report containing the recommendations and actions taken by the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment. Its items of business included:
1. 1300 Richards Street - Warning to Prospective Purchasers
2. 4896 Earles Street -Warning to Prospective Purchasers
3. 2004 Operating Budget - August Review
MOVED by Councillor Roberts
THAT the recommendations and actions taken by the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment at its meeting of November 4, 2004, as contained in Items1 to 3, be approved.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Councillor Roberts
THAT the Committee of the Whole rise and report.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
ADOPT REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Councillor Roberts
SECONDED by Councillor Ladner
THAT the report of the Committee of the Whole be adopted.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
The Council adjourned at 4:36 p.m.
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