CITY OF VANCOUVER
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held
on Tuesday, November 14, 1995, in the Council Chamber, commencing at
approximately 2:00 p.m.
PRESENT: Mayor Owen
Councillors Bellamy, Chiavario, Clarke,
Hemer, Ip, Kennedy, Kwan,
Price, Puil and Sullivan
CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE: Ken Dobell, City Manager
CLERK TO THE COUNCIL: M. Kinsella
PRAYER
The proceedings in the Council Chamber were opened with prayer read
by the City Clerk.
"IN CAMERA" MEETING
Council was advised there were items to be considered "In Camera"
later this day including property matters.
ADOPTION OF MINUTES
MOVED by Cllr. Puil,
SECONDED by Cllr. Bellamy,
THAT the Minutes of the Regular Council Meeting (City Services &
Budgets) of October 26, 1995, be adopted.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
ADOPTION OF MINUTES (CONT'D)
MOVED by Cllr. Price,
SECONDED by Cllr. Clarke,
THAT the Minutes of the Regular Council Meeting (Planning &
Environment) of October 26, 1995, be adopted.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy,
SECONDED by Cllr. Sullivan,
THAT the Minutes of the Special Council Meeting (Blenheim Street)
of September 26/October 17, 1995, be adopted.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
MOVED by Cllr. Ip,
SECONDED by Cllr. Bellamy,
THAT the Minutes of the Regular Council Meeting (with the exception
of the 'In Camera' portion) of November 7, 1995, be adopted.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy,
SECONDED by Cllr. Puil,
THAT this Council resolve itself into Committee of the Whole, Mayor
Owen in the Chair.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
REPORT REFERENCE
1. Partnership with ICBC File: 5551-2
in Traffic Safety Improvements
Mr. Ian Adam, Assistant City Engineer, Transportation, presented
Council with a review of the partnership with ICBC regarding traffic
safety improvements.
The partnership began in 1993 with a project to improve safety on
the Knight Street corridor, which may be the biggest traffic safety
problem in the City. ICBC contributed $82,000 towards this project.
Based on a successful 20% reduction in accidents and claims, ICBC has
been able to justify an increase in the program and has subsequently
participated in a number of other projects in the City. ICBC's
participation is now in excess of $300,000. This has resulted in a
safer city for Vancouver residents, and the project has received a
technical achievement award from the Institute of Transportation
Engineers.
Inspector Chris Offer, Vancouver Police Department, provided
information concerning a major drinking-driving program which has been
undertaken by the Vancouver Police Department, under the auspices of
Counter Attack, with funding from ICBC. Since July of this year, the
assistance from ICBC has enabled the Police to field 80 hours of road
check time per week. This is far greater than what the department is
normally able to do.
The current program runs from July to December 7, when the
department will operate its normal Counter Attack program over the
Christmas season. The program appears to be having the desired result,
and the department is receiving positive feedback from the public.
Discussions have been started with ICBC concerning a further six-month
program. Inspector Offer noted this is the largest drinking-driving
program Vancouver has ever undertaken. In addition to the Counter
Attack program, ICBC is also participating financially in a program with
the B.C. Chiefs of Police to purchase equipment. ICBC has assisted
Vancouver in the purchase of two laser speed detection devices, and
hand-held cordless radar sets for use by the motorcycle unit. The hot
car program and citizens' crime watch volunteers, using equipment
supplied by ICBC, are increasing the number of recovered stolen
vehicles. These various programs are being evaluated, and initially
appear to be working very well.
cont'd
REPORT REFERENCE (CONT'D)
Partnership with ICBC
in Traffic Safety Improvements (cont'd)
Mr. John Nepomuceno, Project Manager - ICBC Road Improvement
Program, advised that Road Sense funding has been provided to the City
of Vancouver for improvements at selected locations on Knight Street.
These road safety improvements have resulted in a reduction in accidents
in this area, and in 1994, there were 200 fewer accidents over the
previous year. This represents a saving in claims of approximately $2
million. Similar improvements are being undertaken this year on Main
Street and other remaining signalized intersections on Knight Street.
Consideration is also being given to possible improvements on the
Broadway and Hastings Streets corridors. This is the only program of
its kind in North America where an insurance company and a municipal
government are working in partnership to improve safety on its roads.
Mr. Nepomuceno presented the Mayor with three cheques totalling in
excess of $206,000 representing funding from ICBC for improvements this
year on Knight Street and Main Street. Mr. Nepomuceno thanked Council
for its support and commitment to road safety in the City.
The Mayor expressed his appreciation for the various forms of
assistance ICBC is providing the City for road and traffic safety
improvements.
A member of Council raised a question concerning photo radar, and
Inspector Offer advised that the January 1st start-up date has been
delayed due to contractual discussions with the Province. If Council
does not support the use of photo radar in the city, it could express
its position to the Police Department.
MOVED by Cllr. Puil,
THAT the foregoing presentation be received;
FURTHER THAT staff be requested to report back on the desirability
of photo radar use in Vancouver, the history and acceptance of photo
radar use elsewhere.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
COMMUNICATIONS AND/OR PETITIONS
1. Wards Review File: 132
In a memorandum dated November 7, 1995, Mayor Owen noted that in
his Inaugural Address of December 1993, he had announced there would be
a referendum on a ward system as part of the next municipal election. At
that time, he had also asked the City Manager and the City Clerk to
report to Council on the composition of a wards review committee,
including the terms of reference, budget and procedure to establish
boundaries and the process for public participation.
Based on discussions with the City Manager and the City Clerk, the
Mayor recommended the review of the ward boundaries be deferred until
the results of the 1996 referendum are known and data from the 1996
Census is available. Further, should the 1996 referendum result in a
decision to change the present system to a different one, the system
would not be implemented until the following election in November 1999.
Meanwhile, the Mayor has asked the City Clerk to research other
systems of local governance currently in place in other North American
cities, including those cities' experiences with their particular
systems, as well to review recent studies undertaken on this subject.
The resultant report would be submitted to Council in April 1996, and
would be widely circulated to encourage public opinion prior to
Council's consideration of its content.
MOVED by Cllr. Puil,
THAT the foregoing communication from the Mayor be received;
FURTHER THAT a referendum be held at the time of the November 1996
election regarding wards or an at-large system;
AND FURTHER THAT staff report back in April 1996 with factual
information on the history of governance in Vancouver and current at-
large/ward experiences in other North American cities;
AND FURTHER THAT if results of the 1996 referendum indicate more
than 60% of the voters favour a ward system, this Council recommends
that the 1997 Council establish a wards boundary review committee
utilizing the data from the 1996 Census.
- CARRIED
(Councillor Kwan opposed)
cont'd
COMMUNICATIONS AND/OR PETITIONS (CONT'D)
Wards Review (cont'd)
MOVED by Cllr. Kwan,
THAT the 1996 referendum be based on the question of either a full
ward system or an at-large system, not a partial ward system.
- deferred
MOVED by Cllr. Clarke,
THAT the foregoing motion be deferred.
- CARRIED
(Councillor Kwan opposed)
MANAGER'S REPORTS
1. Administrative Report
(October 31, 1995)
Purchase of Replacement File: 1501-2/5801
Snow Fighting Equipment
MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy,
THAT the recommendation of the General Manager of Engineering
Services and General Manager of Corporate Services, as contained in this
report, be approved.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
MANAGER'S REPORTS (CONT'D)
2. Administrative Report
(November 6, 1995)
Transfer of BIA Function and File: 1306-9
Position to the City Clerk's Department
At the request of the Gastown Business Improvement Association,
this item was deferred to a future meeting.
3. Administrative Report
(October 31, 1995)
Structural and Mechanical File: 4551-2/2501-2
Amendments to Building By-law
MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy,
THAT the recommendation of the General Manager of Community
Services, as contained in this report, be approved.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
4. Administrative Report
(November 6, 1995)
Leaky Building Envelopes File: 4556-2/2501-2
As a delegation request had been received, this report was referred
to the appropriate Standing Committee.
MANAGER'S REPORTS (CONT'D)
5. Administrative Report
(October 24, 1995)
1996 License Fees and Liveaboard Fees File: 1755-2
MOVED by Cllr. Puil,
THAT recommendations A and C of the General Manager of Corporate
Services, as contained in this report and quoted below, be approved:
A. THAT business license fees be increased for 1996 as
outlined in the Administrative Report dated October 24,
1995 and detailed in Appendix A of that report,
representing a general inflationary increase of 3.0%,
recognizing that the fees were last increased in 1994.
C. THAT the Director of Legal Services be instructed to
prepare the necessary by-law to implement the revised fee
schedule for January 1, 1996.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
As a delegation request had been received on recommendation 'B',
the issue of fees for liveaboards was referred to the appropriate
Standing Committee.
6. Administrative Report
(November 8, 1995)
Strata Title Conversion - File: 5312
1080 Mainland Street
MOVED by Cllr. Hemer,
THAT the recommendation of the General Manager of Community
Services, as contained in this report, be approved.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
MANAGER'S REPORTS (CONT'D)
7. Administrative Report
(November 2, 1995)
Strata Title Conversion - File: 5312
2275 Oxford Street
MOVED by Cllr. Hemer,
THAT the recommendation of the General Manager of Community
Services, as contained in this report, be approved.
- CARRIED
(Councillor Kwan opposed)
8. Administrative Report
(November 9, 1995)
Funding for City of Vancouver Gift File: 1042-4
for Guangzhou Friendship Park
MOVED by Cllr. Hemer,
THAT Council approve a $5,000 grant to Vancouver-Guangzhou
Friendship Society for the purchase of the George Pratt salmon/sundial
sculpture as a gift for Guangzhou's Friendship Park; source of funds to
be the Sister City Grant budget.
- CARRIED BY THE
REQUIRED MAJORITY
(Councillor Puil opposed)
1. Policy Report
(November 1, 1995)
The Next Capital Plan File: 1611-2
MOVED by Cllr. Sullivan,
THAT the recommendation of the General Manager of Corporate
Services, as contained in this report, be approved.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
MANAGER'S REPORTS (CONT'D)
2. Policy Report
(October 20, 1995)
Billboards File: 2851
In a Policy Report dated October 20, 1995, the Director of Land Use
and Development recommended that the Sign By-law be amended to prohibit
any new billboard signs in the City of Vancouver. Alternatively, if
Council is not prepared to ban billboards at this time, the Director of
Land Use and Development proposed that the Sign By-law be amended to
simplify and clarify the regulations which permit billboards in the
City.
Also before Council was a letter dated November 10, 1995 from the
Seaboard Advertising Co. requesting an opportunity to discuss the issues
raised in the report prior to the matter being referred to a Public
Hearing. A similar request was also received from Gallop & Gallop
Advertising Inc.
During discussion of this report, it was suggested by members of
Council that there may be other alternatives concerning the billboard
issue, separate from those identified by staff, and that this matter
should be deferred in order to give Council an opportunity to consider
these.
MOVED by Cllr. Kennedy,
THAT the Policy Report dated October 20, 1995, be deferred to allow
Council an opportunity to consider this matter further;
FURTHER THAT staff be requested to report back on any billboard
applications received in the meantime.
- CARRIED
(Councillors Kwan and Puil opposed)
RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy,
THAT the Committee of the Whole rise and report.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
ADOPT REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy,
SECONDED by Cllr. Hemer,
THAT the report of the Committee of the Whole be adopted.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
BY-LAWS
1. A By-law to amend By-law No.
7004, being the Fire By-law
and to Repeal By-law No. 1737,
being the Blasting By-law
(Fire By-law - Incorporation of
Blasting Regulations and
Repeal of Blasting By-law)
MOVED by Cllr. Chiavario,
SECONDED by Cllr. Clarke,
THAT the By-law be introduced and read a first time.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
The By-law was read a first time and the Presiding Officer declared
the By-law open for discussion and amendment.
There being no amendments, it was
MOVED by Cllr. Chiavario,
SECONDED by Cllr. Clarke,
THAT the By-law be given second and third readings and the Mayor
and City Clerk be authorized to sign and seal the By-law.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
BY-LAWS (CONT'D)
2. A By-law to amend By-law No. 3575,
being the Zoning & Development
By-law (Rezoning FM-1 to C-3A
605-645 West 8th Avenue)
MOVED by Cllr. Price,
SECONDED by Cllr. Clarke,
THAT the By-law be introduced and read a first time.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
The By-law was read a first time and the Presiding Officer declared
the By-law open for discussion and amendment.
There being no amendments, it was
MOVED by Cllr. Price,
SECONDED by Cllr. Clarke,
THAT the By-law be given second and third readings and the Mayor
and City Clerk be authorized to sign and seal the By-law.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(CLLRS. BELLAMY & PUIL WERE EXCUSED FROM VOTING ON BY-LAW 2)
3. A By-law to amend By-law No. 3575,
being the Zoning & Development By-law
660-690 W. 7th Ave. and 685 W. 8th Ave.)
MOVED by Cllr. Price,
SECONDED by Cllr. Clarke,
THAT the By-law be introduced and read a first time.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
The By-law was read a first time and the Presiding Officer declared
the By-law open for discussion and amendment.
There being no amendments, it was
MOVED by Cllr. Price,
SECONDED by Cllr. Clarke,
THAT the By-law be given second and third readings and the Mayor
and City Clerk be authorized to sign and seal the By-law.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(CLLRS. BELLAMY & PUIL WERE EXCUSED FROM VOTING ON BY-LAW 3)
MOTIONS
A. 605-645 West 8th Avenue
C-3A Guidelines File: 2605-2
MOVED by Cllr. Price,
SECONDED by Cllr. Clarke,
THAT the document entitled "605-645 West Eighth Avenue C-3A
Guidelines" be adopted by Council for use by applicants and staff for
development applications at 605-645 West Eighth Avenue.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
B. Acceptance and Allocation of
Lands for Road Purposes (All
that portion of Lot 6, except
Part in Plan 4094, of Lot D,
Block 155, D.L. 264A, Plans
1351 and 1771, Group One, NWD) File: 5807
MOVED by Cllr. Puil,
SECONDED by Cllr. Kennedy,
THAT WHEREAS the registered owner will be conveying to the City of
Vancouver for road purposes lands in the City of Vancouver, Province of
British Columbia, more particularly known and described as follows:
All that portion of Lot 6,
except Part in Plan 4094,
of Lot D, Block 155, District Lot 264A,
Plans 1351 and 1771,
Group One, New Westminster District,
shown heavy outlined on plan of survey
completed on the 21st day of July, 1995,
attested to by Fred Wong, B.C.L.S.
and marginally numbered LD 3166
AND WHEREAS it is deemed expedient and in the public interest to
accept and allocate the said lands for road purposes;
BE IT RESOLVED that the above described lands to be conveyed are
hereby accepted and allocated for road purposes and declared to form and
to constitute a portion of a road.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
MOTIONS (CONT'D)
C. Acceptance and Allocation of Lands
for Road Purposes (All that portion
of Lot 9, except the West 7 feet,
of Lots 6 and 7, Blocks 1 to 6 and
12 of Block C, DLs 319, 323 and 324,
Plan 2167, Group 1, NWD) File: 5807
MOVED by Cllr. Puil,
SECONDED by Cllr. Kennedy,
THAT WHEREAS the registered owner will be conveying to the City of
Vancouver for road purposes land in the City of Vancouver, Province of
British Columbia, more particularly known and described as follows:
City of Vancouver
Parcel Identifier: No PID
All that portion of Lot 9, except the West 7 feet,
of Lots 6 and 7, Blocks 1 to 6 and 12 of Block C,
District Lots 319, 323 and 324, Plan 2167, Group 1,
New Westminster District, shown heavy outlined on
plan of survey completed on the 7th day of November,
1995, attested to by A. Di Nozzi, B.C.L.S., and
marginally numbered LB 634.
AND WHEREAS it is deemed expedient and in the public interest to
accept and allocate the said lands for road purposes;
BE IT RESOLVED that the above described lands to be conveyed are
hereby accepted and allocated for road purposes and declared to form and
to constitute a portion of a road.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
ENQUIRIES AND OTHER MATTERS
Leave of Absence -
Councillor Clarke
MOVED by Cllr. Ip,
SECONDED by Cllr. Puil,
THAT Councillor Clarke be granted leave of absence for November 16,
1995.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
* * * * *
The Council recessed at 3:50 p.m. for an "In Camera"
meeting in the Mayor's Office.
* * * * *