A11
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: May 26, 1995
Dept. File No. NE
TO: Vancouver City Council
FROM: Chief Constable and
Associate Director of Planning - Central Area,
in consultation with
Director of Finance
Manager of Real Estate Services
SUBJECT: Granville Street - Downtown South Community Police
Office
RECOMMENDATION
A. THAT a one-time start up grant of $6,000 be approved to
the Downtown Granville Tenants' Association for the
Granville Street - Downtown South Community Police
Office, with the source of funds to be 1995 'Other'
Grants budget.
B. THAT the City lease a commercial storefront at 916
Granville (Vogue Theatre) for $1.50 for a period of 18
months and that the Director of Finance, in
consultation with the Manager of Real Estate Services
be instructed to issue a charitable receipt for the
fair market value of the commercial space, including
heat and lighting, for the Granville Street - Downtown
South Community Police Office.
GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS
The General Manager of Community Services RECOMMENDS
approval of A and B.
COUNCIL POLICY
Approval of grants requires eight affirmative votes.
BACKGROUND
On September 27, 1994, Council considered and endorsed an
information report on community based policing from the Chief
Constable recommending storefront operations staffed by
volunteers, and with minimal financial support from the City.On
November 3, 1994 and April 11, 1995, Council approved one-time
start-up grants of $6,000 each to local organizations for
community based storefront policing offices in Collingwood, Mount
Pleasant, Grandview Woodlands, Gastown, the West End, Little
Mountain and Cedar Cottage.
The Chinatown Police Community Services Centre and the Vancouver
Police and Native Liaison Society have submitted 1995 funding
requests of $40,000 each to the City. The Director of Finance
has submitted a report to Council to deal with these two
requests.
DISCUSSION
The Granville Street Community Police Office is a joint police-
community initiative to identify and address local policing
issues with local solutions. Downtown South, the area served by
this office, is bounded by Robson Street on the north, Pacific
Boulevard on the south, Burrard Street on the west and Homer
Street on the east.
In 1991, Downtown South was rezoned from a warehouse and
entertainment district, to a high density residential community.
Since then its population has increased from approximately 2,800
to 6,700 as 3,000 new housing units have been developed. Over
the next 15 years, it will have approximately 12,000 residents.
The Chief Constable notes that Downtown South currently has one
of the highest concentrations of alcohol and drug related
problems in the city. In 1994 Police attended over 500 calls.
City Council has approved a revitalization program for Granville
Street which includes the enhancement of the Theatre Row
entertainment district and creation of a local commercial core
for the surrounding neighbourhood. Policies are also being
developed to help reduce the impacts of licensed liquor
establishments and private property owners are being encouraged
to improve the general appearance of their buildings.
The Community Office will create a forum through which police-
community communications can be enhanced. The office will be
staffed by civilian volunteers, six days a week, for up to twelve
hours per day. The Vancouver Police Department has assigned one
full time Police Constable to work in the office, as a resource
person, facilitator and problem solver. The office will accept
certain crime reports as well as information on suspicious or
suspected criminal activity. In addition to coordinating crime
prevention and other programs, the Community Office workers will
provide referrals to the community on a variety of resources
available to them.
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
Many groups and individuals have expressed support for a
community police office on Granville Street including the
Downtown South Redevelopment Impacts Committee, Theatre Row
Business Association, Downtown Granville Tenants Association and
the Downtown Vancouver Association. The need for this was also
strongly stated in public meetings concerning liquor licensing
policy in Downtown South.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
A high profile location for the office has been identified at 916
Granville in the Vogue Theatre building at the centre of Theatre
Row. The building owner is prepared to donate, for a period of
18 months, appropriate retail space, including heat and lights,
in return for a charitable receipt for fair market value. The
Director of Finance and General Manager of Real Estate Services
concur with this approach.
The requested start-up grant of $6,000 will help pay for a
computer with a fax modem, office furniture, security system and
signage. A grant application for up to $40,000 is currently
under review by the Provincial Attorney General's Office. As yet
we do not have a final cost estimate for renovations, but, if
necessary, additional funding for this will be sought from local
businesses and other private sources.
CONCLUSION
A community police office in the heart of Theatre Row is
essential to the success of the Granville Street Revitalization
Program and the efforts of the City, local business people and
residents to make this entertainment district and residential
area a vibrant and yet safe community.
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