CITY OF VANCOUVER
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on
Thursday, July 25, 1996, at 11:15 A.M., in Committee Room No. 1, Third
Floor, City Hall, following the Standing Committee on City Services
and Budgets meeting, to consider the recommendations of the Committee.
PRESENT: Mayor Owen
Councillors Bellamy, Chiavario,
Clarke, Hemer, Ip,
Kennedy, Price, Puil
and Sullivan
ABSENT: Councillor Kwan (Leave of Absence)
CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE: Ken Dobell, City Manager
CLERK TO THE COUNCIL: Tarja Tuominen
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Cllr. Puil,
SECONDED by Cllr. Bellamy,
THAT this Council resolve itself into Committee of the Whole,
Mayor Owen in the chair.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Report of the Standing Committee
on City Services and Budgets
July 25, 1996
Council considered the recommendations of the Committee, as
contained in the following clauses of the attached report:
Cl. 1: 1996 Capital Grant Allocations
Cl. 2: Grants Equal to Theatre Rent - 1996/97 Season
Cl. 3: Grant - Y.W.C.A. Vancouver Housing Registry
Cl. 4: Renewal of Musqueam Service Agreement
Cl. 5: Reorganization of the Information Technology
Function
COMMITTEE REPORTS (CONTINUED)
Report of the Standing Committee
on City Services and Budgets
July 25, 1996 (Continued)
Clauses 1 and 4
MOVED by Cllr. Puil,
THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in
Clauses 1 and 4 of this report, be approved.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
Clauses 2 and 3
MOVED by Cllr. Puil,
THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in
Clauses 2 and 3 of this report, be approved.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY AND
BY THE REQUIRED MAJORITY
Reorganization of the
Information Technology Function
Clause 5
Note: The recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clause 5
of this report, were approved by Council at its meeting
following the Planning & Environment Standing Committee later
this day.
RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Cllr. Puil,
THAT the Committee of the Whole rise and report.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
ADOPT REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Cllr. Puil,
SECONDED by Cllr. Bellamy,
THAT the report of the Committee of the Whole be adopted.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
BY-LAWS
1. A By-law to amend By-law No. 7461
being a By-law which amended the
Zoning and Development By-law by
rezoning an area to CD-1
(2790 Vine Street)
MOVED by Cllr. Puil,
SECONDED by Cllr. Hemer,
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. Puil,
SECONDED by Cllr. Hemer,
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
(Councillors Bellamy, Chiavario, Ip,
Kennedy and Kwan excused from voting)
2. A By-law to authorize an automated
vote counting system and procedure.
MOVED by Cllr. Puil,
SECONDED by Cllr. Bellamy,
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. Puil,
SECONDED by Cllr. Bellamy,
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
ENQUIRIES AND OTHER MATTERS
Lack of Public Pay Phones File: 5805
Councillor Chiavario expressed concern at the continuing erosion of
public pay telephones, particularly in the Downtown Eastside south
along Main Street and east along Hastings Street. Councillor
Chiavario requested staff to look into the matter and respond.
The Mayor so directed.
The Council adjourned at 11:20 a.m.
* * * * *
REPORT TO COUNCIL
STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
ON CITY SERVICES AND BUDGETS
JULY 25, 1996
A Regular Meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on City
Services and Budgets was held on Thursday, July 25, 1996, at 9:30
a.m., in Committee Room No. 1, Third Floor, City Hall.
PRESENT: Councillor Puil, Chair
Mayor Owen
Councillor Bellamy
Councillor Chiavario
Councillor Clarke
Councillor Hemer
Councillor Ip
Councillor Kennedy
Councillor Price
Councillor Sullivan
ABSENT: Councillor Kwan (Leave of Absence)
CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE: Ken Dobell, City Manager
CLERK: Tarja Tuominen
Adoption of Minutes
The Minutes of the Standing Committee on City Services & Budgets
meeting of June 27, 1996, were adopted.
RECOMMENDATION
1. 1996 Capital Grant Allocations File: 2001-3
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated May
25, 1996 (on file), in which the Directors of Community Services,
Social Planning and Office of Cultural Affairs recommended allocations
of capital grants to ten organizations.
Lou Hilford, representing the Jewish Community Centre, described
the Centre's expansion project and thanked the City for activating the
capital grant program to allow organizations to complete, renovate or
improve their facilities.
Clause No. 1 Continued
Carol Henriquez and John Singleton, Arts Umbrella, expressed
appreciation for the long-term support Arts Umbrella has received over
the past years and described the up-coming programs the organization
will be offering.
Colin Sihoe, Don Lee and Angela Kan, Chinese Cultural Centre,
requested reconsideration of the Centre's capital grant application.
The added floor space for educational purposes will be twice that of
the museum. The proposed museum will be reaching out to the general
community. The Centre provides language programs and courses on
Chinese culture and tradition. Close to 2,000 students attend classes.
It has the largest and most comprehensive Chinese language school in
Canada. Other organizations have received grant allocations for
similar purposes.
The following motion by Councillor Ip was put and carried. The
Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
THAT a capital grant of $10,000 be allocated from existing
1996 Capital Grant funds to the Chinese Cultural Centre, and
that staff be directed to readjust the Capital Grant
allocations accordingly and report back.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
2. Grants Equal to Theatre Rent - File: 2055-3
1996/97 Season
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated July
9, 1996 (on file), in which the Director of Cultural Affairs
recommended approval of eleven Grants Equal to Theatre Rent for uses
of the Civic Theatres in Fall 1996. The Director also sought approval
in principle for ten Grants Equal to Theatre Rent for uses of the
Civic Theatres in Spring 1997, subject to the 1997 Operating Budget
Review process.
The General Manager submitted the recommendations for
consideration.
Alice Niwinski, Cultural Planner, was present to answer
questions.
Clause No. 2 Continued
The following motion by Councillor Clarke was put and carried.
The Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
A. THAT Council approve an increase of $13,815 to the 1996
Grants Equal to Theatre Rent budget to offset the rental
rate increases approved on June 11, 1996; source of funds
to be Contin-gency Reserve.
B. THAT Council approve 11 rental grants within base levels
and totalling $608,025, for uses of the Civic Theatres in
Fall 1996, as listed in Table 2 of the Administrative
Report dated July 9, 1996; source of funds to be the 1996
Grants Equal to Theatre Rent budget, increased as
recommended in A.
C. THAT Council approve, in principle, and subject to the
1997 Operating Budget Review process, the 10 rental
grants listed in Table 2 of the Administrative Report
dated July 9, 1996, and totalling $890,700, for uses of
the Civic Theatres in Spring 1997, as follows:
(1) grants within base level uses totalling $869,700;
and
(2) grants covering three uses over base level to the
Vancouver Opera amounting to $21,000.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY AND
BY THE REQUIRED MAJORITY
3. Grant - Y.W.C.A. Vancouver Housing Registry File: 2204
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated July
11, 1996 (on file), in which the Manager of the Housing Centre
recommended approval of a 1996 grant of $130,420.66 for operation of
the Y.W.C.A. Vancouver Housing Registry. The grant represents a 3%
increase over the 1995 grant level.
Clause No. 3 Continued
The Manager also submitted for consideration a 1996 grant of
$126,622.00 to the Y.W.C.A. Vancouver Housing Registry, representing a
50/50 cost-sharing with B.C. Housing Management Commission, with no
increase over last year's grant.
The General Manager of Community Services recommended approval of
the 3% increase.
Judy Graves, Co-ordinator, Tenant Assistance Program, explained
she will be meeting with the Province to try to achieve 50/50
cost-sharing with an increase in the grant level.
The following motion by Councillor Chiavario was put and carried.
The Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
THAT Council approve a 1996 grant of $130,420.66 for
operation of the Y.W.C.A. Vancouver Housing Registry,
representing a 3% increase over the 1995 grant level,
subject to 50/50 cost-sharing with the Province. Source of
funds to be 1996 'Other' Grants Budget.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY AND
BY THE REQUIRED MAJORITY
4. Renewal of Musqueam Service Agreement File: 1203
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated July
2, 1996 (on file), in which the General Manager of Corporate Services
recommended a one year extension of a recently expired service
agreement between the City and the Musqueam Band pending completion of
the current negotiations on a longer-term service agreement.
Ken Stoke, General Manager of Corporate Services, responded to
questions on the service agreement, cost-sharing between the City and
the Musqueam Band, and the Celtic Ship-yard's deliberations.
Clause No. 4 Continued
The following motion by Councillor Chiavario was put and carried.
The Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
A. THAT Council approve the renewal and extension of the
recently expired Musqueam Service Agreement for a
subsequent one year term (January 1, 1996 to December 31,
1996) on the same terms and conditions, pending
completion of negotiations between City staff and the
Musqueam Band on the content of a longer-term service
agreement, and authorize the Director of Legal Services
to sign the extended agreement on behalf of the City.
B. THAT staff be instructed to report back to Council later
this year on the terms and conditions negotiated and
embodied in a longer-term service agreement between the
City and the Musqueam Band for consideration and
approval.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
5. Reorganization of the File: 1006-3
Information Technology Function
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated July
8, 1996 (on file), in which the Corporate Management Team sought
approval of a new organization structure for the City's information
and technology services, and of the strategy for the transition from
the existing structure to the new.
Mike Flynn, representing the International Brotherhood of
Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 213, thanked the Committee for the
opportunity to speak. IBEW 213 asks to maintain the bargaining for
its members who will be transferred to the Information Technology
Department. The Union also asks for a commitment for the training of
staff affected by the reorganization. In addition, IBEW members
should be part of the decision-making process.
Clause No. 5 Continued
Paul Faoro, representing CUPE Local 15, noted CUPE 15 was not
consulted and has had no in-put on the report's recommenda-tions. The
affected employees only learned about the proposed reorganization two
weeks ago. The Union strongly objects to the lack of staff
involvement in the process. CUPE 15 requests that all staff retain
their existing positions and salary levels, not just exempt staff.
CUPE 15 also asks for a commitment that funds be set aside exclusively
to provide thorough and comprehensive training for affected staff.
Ken Stoke, General Manager of Corporate Services, with the aid of
overhead slides, reviewed the proposed reorganization. Mr. Stoke
advised the consultants who completed the organiza-tional review were
encouraged to talk to staff. The proposed integration will result in
better service to consumers. The Unions will be consulted as the
reorganization progresses.
During discussion, members of the Committee noted strategic
planning is most successful when done with staff in-put. It was also
questioned whether the consultants were dealing with the flavour of
the month.
The following motion by Councillor Clarke was put and carried.
The Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
A. THAT Council approve the reorganization of the
Information Technology function by creating a new
department within the Corporate Services Group comprised
of the present Information Services operation and the
Telecommunications section of Engineering, including
responsi-bility over and for the underground
communica-tion plant and the telecommunications equipment
but excluding the Radio Shop operations, as further
described in the Administrative Report dated July 8,
1996.
B. THAT Council approve the establishment of a new position
to head up the Information Technology department and the
abolishment of the Manager of Information Services
position, which is presently vacant. Further that the
General Manager of Human Resource Services be requested
to classify the new position, provisionally titled
"Director of Information Technology", in the normal
manner. The estimated annual incre-mental cost of
$20,000 related to this classi-fication will be funded
from the Corporate Services' operating budget.
Clause No. 5 Continued
C. THAT Council instruct staff to engage the services of an
outside personnel agency to assist with the nation-wide
recruitment of a Director of Information Technology with
funds provided from the Corporate Services' operating
budget.
D. THAT all staff affected by this reorganization retain
their existing positions and salary levels in the new
organization at start up, subject to a full position
review and classi-fication assessment at a later date to
reflect the City's changing work and job requirements.
Additionally, a thorough and comprehensive training
program will be provided to assist staff with the
transition into new job duties and responsibilities
resulting from the reorganization; and
FURTHER THAT a plan be developed by the General Manager
of Engineering Services in order to provide for an
orderly and smooth transition of the telecommunications
services to the Informa-tion Technology department in an
appropriate time frame.
E. THAT staff be instructed to report back to Council from
time to time on staffing issues concerning the new
Information Technology department in order to bring the
level of its services to full functional capacity to
adequately respond to workload considerations connected
with the City's Better City Govern-ment and Customer
Service initiatives.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
The meeting adjourned at 11:15 a.m.
* * * * *