CITY OF VANCOUVER
SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING
September 23, 1996
A Special Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held
on Monday, September 23, 1996, at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber,
Third Floor, City Hall, for the purpose of hearing delegations on the
1997-1999 Capital Plan.
PRESENT: Mayor Owen
Councillors Bellamy, Chiavario, Clarke, Kennedy,
Price, Puil and Sullivan
ABSENT: Councillor Hemer (Civic Business)
Councillor Ip (Sick Leave)
Councillor Kwan (Leave of Absence)
CLERK TO THE COUNCIL: Nancy Largent
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy,
SECONDED by Cllr. Kennedy,
THAT this Council resolve itself into Committee of the Whole, Mayor
Owen in the Chair, for the purpose of hearing delegations on the
1997-1999 Capital Plan.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
1. Delegations re 1997-1999 Capital Plan
City Council met to hear from the public on the 1997-1999 Capital
Plan prior to reaching a decision at its meeting the following day,
September 24, 1996.
Judy Rogers, Deputy City Manager, gave a brief background
presentation on the proposed Capital Plan of $165 million, with
reference to the priorities established by Council, areas of
expenditure, and constraints including the impact on future tax
increases and the City's overall debt structure. Ms. Rogers also
reviewed the public information program which included distribution of
194,000 flyers through newspapers, community centres and library
branches. In addition to delegations to be heard at this meeting,
public input was solicited through a questionnaire contained in the
flyer, and through a random telephone survey carried out by MarkTrend
Research.
Liz Cookson, Financial Analyst, reviewed the results of the
questionnaire which asked citizens their views on taxation issues,
spending priorities, and where they would like to see more or less
Clause No. 1 cont'd
money spent. Ms. Cookson also reviewed the demographics and results of
the survey, noting it produced a more representative sample. (Survey and
questionnaire results are on file in the City Clerk's Office.)
Responding to queries, Ms. Cookson advised that approximately 1.5% of
the questionnaires distributed with the flyers were returned; however,
the primary purpose of the flyer was to get information out to the
public rather than solicit responses to the questionnaire.
Commissioner David Chesman, Board of Parks and Recreation, reviewed
the Capital Plan from the Park Board's perspective. The Park Board is
an enormous system with an aging infrastructure, in particular aging
community centres. As essential building blocks of their
neighbourhoods, community centres are facing increased demand which
exceeds growth in the city's population by a factor of two to one. The
Park Board hopes to address its aging centres both in this plan, and
with a more long-term approach. To that end:
* the community centre associations have agreed that the centres
with the most urgent needs should be funded first;
* the City is being asked to become partners in the development
of a 10-year or longer plan to address the issue of aging
community centre infrastructure in a coherent way;
* Council is being asked to put a further $2 million dollars
into this Capital Plan to meet some of the most pressing
needs.
Finally, Commissioner Chesman indicated support for an initiative
put forward by the City Manager which would address some future needs
through combined facilities, for example a combined community centre and
library.
Four representatives of Vancouver Community Association Presidents
(brief filed) also addressed the Park Board component of the Capital
Plan:
* Jim Climes, Marpole Oakridge Community Association
* Joel Tkach, Grandview Community Association (Trout Lake)
* Kathleen Bigsby, Kerrisdale Community Centre Association
* Robert Haines, Kitsilano Community Association
Clause No. 1 cont'd
The representatives spoke in support of the following motion approved at
a September 5, 1996 meeting:
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Community Association Presidents
unanimously agree to ask that Vancouver City Council:
1. Add $2 million to the Park Board allocation in the 1997-99
Capital Plan that goes to plebiscite in November 1996 to
provide funds for additional facility development to address
priority Community Centre needs; and
2. Prepare a separate community centre Capital Plan for voter
approval in 1999 that would provide for a major longer-term
overhaul of aging Community Centre facilities.
Some points made in support of the foregoing resolution are
summarized as follows:
* community centres are among the most-heavily used civic
facilities, providing numerous services which are very
significant for community well-being, and serving all ages of
a complex society with a wide variety of programs;
* capital upgrading is gravely required to ensure public safety
and arrest infrastructure decay, which in some cases even
threatens existing programs, and to provide additional space
to meet burgeoning community needs and expectations;
* community centre facilities are designated as havens in event
of disaster, yet many would not survive an earthquake and
require seismic upgrading;
* for years there has been a "patch and paste" approach to the
capital needs of community centres, and this approach is not
sufficient;
* there is strong community support for this initiative.
Anita Romaniuk, Douglas Park Community Centre, supported the
request for an additional $2 million. Ms. Romaniuk stressed the need
for additional aquatic facilities, including a pool for the Downtown
Eastside neighbourhood. Douglas Park was fortunate to receive funds for
capital upgrading in a previous Capital Plan, and those renovations have
dramatically improved its financial situation.
Clause No. 1 cont'd
Victor Kondrosky, General Manager of Parks and Recreation,
responded to a query regarding seismic upgrading. A number of civic
buildings are in need of seismic upgrading, and the Capital Plan before
Council includes funds for a study to determine how many buildings
require it, and to what extent.
Elizabeth Murphy, Vancouver City Planning Commission (brief filed),
recommended that the City shift from a departmental to an activity-based
budget system. Tying budget allocations to the objectives to be
achieved evaluates how effective the expenditures would be toward
achieving desired goals, and would thereby enhance decision-making. In
addition, the shift to an activity-based budget would promote
interdepartmental interaction, and facilitate the achievement of
interdepartmental goals and projects.
Thad Allen, Little Mountain Neighbourhood House (brief filed),
appealed to Council to provide a new neighbourhood house for the Little
Mountain/Riley Park neighbourhood. The existing facility is the
smallest in the city despite having the highest operating budget with
the largest number of staff. In addition to constant overcrowding,
difficulties cited included heating and air circulation, parking,
soundproofing, and no elevator.
Four speakers urged Council to cut back on large sums allocated to
works promoting use of the private automobile, such as left turn bays,
and allocate the funds to areas which would better promote pedestrians,
transit and bicycling, such as bikeways and greenways:
* Ian Fisher, Transport 2000 B.C.
* Gavin Davidson, Better Environmentally Sound
Transportation (BEST)
* Mark Allison, graduate student, UBC Planning School
* Guy Wera, cyclist
Some points made by the foregoing speakers are summarized as
follows:
* it is already Council policy to promote pedestrian, transit
and bicycle traffic over private automobiles;
* left-turn bays are justified as safety improvements, but
although they reduce car to car accidents, they may actually
increase accidents between cars and pedestrians or cyclists,
and Engineering should be instructed to assess the impacts;
Clause No. 1 cont'd
* citizen support for left turn bays is indicative of people's
perception of a lack of transportation alternatives;
* there are better and more cost-efficient ways to promote
transit, using the existing roadways, but encouraging more car
traffic will not be friendly to buses;
* measures are needed to cut down the speed of vehicles,
especially on bikeways;
* promotion of the private automobile increases pollution with
its high costs to society;
* in addition to cutting back on left-turn bays and other
car-friendly items, the City should change from sodium vapour
to metal halide street lighting, which is friendlier, has
better colour resolution and promotes urban safety (recent
experience in Toronto indicates metal halide is very efficient
with good operational cost savings).
Don Brynildsen, Assistant City Engineer - Streets Division,
responded to queries concerning street lighting. If Council
contemplated a conversion to metal halide, it should be possible to use
the existing poles, but light standards would have to be changed.
Council requested that Engineering Services provide further
information on the possibility of conversion to metal halide street
lighting.
Marie Pinton objected to a proposal to develop an advanced
skateboarding park under the Burrard Street Bridge. Such a development
would have serious negative effects on the Harbour Cove development
where she resides in terms of noise, traffic, appearance of the
structure, graffiti and conflicting demographics. Ms. Pinton urged that
such a facility not be placed on the site.
Don Easton, Harbour Cove Strata Council, supported Ms. Pinton's
remarks.
Piet Rutgers, Park Board, explained there is a $25,000 allocation
in the Park Board Capital Plan for an advanced skateboarding facility,
and Burrard Bridge is only one location under consideration. A number
of issues would have to be resolved first, including liability
insurance, other sources of capital funding, and integration of such a
facility with its neighbours.
Clause No. 1 cont'd
There would be a full public process before any decision were made.
Approval of the proposed capital plan would in no way commit the City to
build a facility in this location.
Victor Gallagher requested that more funds be allocated to blacktop
all pathways in Rupert Park. The park is heavily used, and blacktopping
would improve safety and accessibility. In addition, skaters would
enjoy the terrain of Rupert Park if the trails were usable by them.
Jean Wolff thanked Council for establishing the Library Square
Daycare. The City has been very proactive and effective in its daycare
policy. Mr. Wolff noted the $2.5 million allocation for City-owned
social, cultural and childcare facilities and hoped this includes
provision for maintaining childcare facilities at the high level they
enjoyed when they were originally opened.
Ron Dumouchelle, Vancouver Symphony, spoke on behalf of eight
cultural organizations representing about 50% of the audiences using the
civic theatres. There is heavy reliance on these three aging public
facilities. Mr. Dumouchelle acknowledged the value of the Capital Plan
as a whole, but felt the that the $900,000 allocated (0.5% of the
Capital Plan) seems small in light of the theatres' contribution to the
cultural life of the City, since the funds allocated cover only 11% of
the needs set out in the Civic Theatres Capital Plan submission.
Council was requested to increase the allocation to more fully maintain
the buildings' infrastructure.
Rae Ackerman, Director of Civic Theatres, responded to queries
concerning ticket surcharge revenues and the capital submission.
Linda Mix, Tenants Rights Coalition, felt the allocation of $2.5
million for affordable housing is inadequate. A housing plan for the
whole city is needed to provide for increasing numbers of displaced
poor, and SRO housing needs to be upgraded. More civic money is needed
to encourage public/private partnerships, which appear to be the wave of
the future for providing affordable housing.
Betty Holt, Vancouver Museum Commission, asked Council to support
the Vancouver Museum's capital submission.
Shane Simpson, C.O.P.E., expressed concern over the allocation of
$6 million to the False Creek streetcar line, which he felt would be
just a "tourist train", when there are many more pressing transit needs.
Concern was also expressed that funds have not been allocated to the
renovation of Hastings Park, nor have adequate
Clause No. 1 cont'd
funds been provided for social housing. Mr. Simpson felt the Capital
Plan process had been flawed, and urged Council to correct flaws in the
process to make it easier for citizens to understand and support future
plans.
Queried regarding the role of senior governments in providing
social housing, Ms. Rogers confirmed the City no longer receives the
same level of matching funds from the Provincial Government, and nothing
from the Federal Government. It was pointed out the City also supports
social housing through the write-down of lease costs on City-owned land.
Ken Bayne, Comptroller of Budgets and Research, confirmed the City
receives $1.5 million annually from the Race Track which goes directly
into Hastings Park. In the range of $8-9 million will be available to
begin reconstruction of Hastings Park once planning is complete,
probably some time in 1998.
Laurie Roggeman, Friends of Vancouver Public Library, supported
relocation of the Outreach Program as set out in the Capital Plan.
Access and overcrowding are problems at the current location.
Three speakers requested support for the relocation of Crabtree
Corner to 27 West Pender:
* Edna Brass
* Anne Chisholl
* Betty MacPhee
Some of the speakers' comments are summarized as follows:
* Crabtree Corner has been very active in fund-raising with the
YWCA, and is now asking the City for assistance, also; * the only emergency childcare in Vancouver is currently located
only one block from the strip, with its needles, condoms and
violence;
* Crabtree Corner needs more childcare space, a bigger kitchen,
and outdoor play area;
* it was hoped Council would approve the allocation in
recognition of the excellent work done for women and children
of all ethnic backgrounds.
Clause No. 1 cont'd
The Mayor thanked the delegations for their presentations, and
advised that Council would reach a decision at its meeting the following
day, September 24, 1996.
RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy,
THAT the Committee of the Whole rise and report.
ADOPT REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy,
SECONDED by Cllr. Clarke,
THAT the report of the Committee of the Whole be adopted.
* * * * *
The Special Council adjourned at 10:30 p.m.