CITY OF VANCOUVER 1
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on
Thursday, September 26, 1996, at 10:35 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,
Price, Puil and Sullivan
ABSENT: Councillor Kennedy (Sick Leave)
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
September 26, 1996
Council considered the recommendations of the Committee, as
contained in the following clauses of the attached report:
Cl. 1: Allocation of 1996 Cross-Cultural
Expertise Grants
Cl. 2: Children's Foundation Modifications
of Lease - 3440 Slocan Street
Cl. 3: Regional Development Cost Charges
Cl. 4: Bill C-44, The Canada Marine Act
Cl. 5: 1997-1999 Capital Plan - Plebiscite Question
Clauses 1 and 2
MOVED by Cllr. Puil,
THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in
Clauses 1 and 2 of this report, be approved.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY AND
BY THE REQUIRED MAJORITY
Bill C-44, The Canada Marine Act
Clause 3
MOVED by Cllr. Puil,
THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clause
3 of this report, be approved.
- CARRIED
(Councillor Sullivan opposed)
Clauses 4 and 5
MOVED by Cllr. Puil,
THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in
Clauses 4 and 5 of this report, be approved.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
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. Puil,
SECONDED by Cllr. Bellamy,
THAT the report of the Committee of the Whole be adopted.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
ENQUIRIES AND OTHER MATTERS
1. Federal Funding Cuts
to Kitsilano Coast Guard Base File: 1756-3
Councillor Chiavario enquired on the status of the requested
report on the implications of the federal funding cuts to Kitsilano
Coast Guard Base.
The City Manager advised the report will be available soon.
2. Alternate for Councillor Kennedy - File: 1251-3/
October 4, 1996 GVRD Meeting 3201-12
MOVED by Cllr. Ip,
SECONDED by Cllr. Chiavario,
THAT Councillor Hemer be the alternate for Councillor Kennedy at
the October 4, 1996, GVRD meeting.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
The Council adjourned at 10:40 a.m.
* * * * *
REPORT TO COUNCIL
STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
ON CITY SERVICES AND BUDGETS
SEPTEMBER 26, 1996
A Regular Meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on City
Services and Budgets was held on Thursday, September 26, 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 (Clauses 3 to 5)
Councillor Clarke
Councillor Hemer
Councillor Ip
Councillor Price (Clauses 3 to 5)
Councillor Sullivan
ABSENT: Councillor Kennedy (Sick Leave)
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
meetings of July 25 and August 1, 1996 were adopted.
RECOMMENDATION
1. Allocation of 1996 Cross-Cultural File: 2054-2
Expertise Grants
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated
September 4, 1996 (on file), in which the Director of Community
Services, Social Planning recommended approval of Cross-Cultural
Expertise Grants to four projects which intend to share and develop
cultural expertise and increase the degree to which community service
agencies effectively serve people from diverse cultural backgrounds.
The General Manager of Community Services submitted the grant requests
for consideration.
The following motion by Councillor Clarke was put and carried.
The Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
THAT Council approve Cross-Cultural Expertise Grants to the
following organizations, the source of funds being a $25,000
reserve in the 1996 Community Services Grants Budget:
a) a grant of $3,180 to South Vancouver Family Place, in
partnership with South Vancouver Neighbourhood House,
South Health Unit and Sunset Community Centre;
b) a grant of $ 6,050 to Boys' and Girls' Clubs of Greater
Vancouver, in partnership with SUCCESS;
c) a grant of $2,700 to Immigrant Services Society, in
partnership with 411 Seniors Centre; and
d) a grant of $7,373 to Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House,
in partnership with Eastside Family Place and Cedar
Cottage Neighbourhood House.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
2. Children's Foundation File: 5118
Modifications of Lease -
3440 Slocan Street
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated
September 11, 1996 (on file), in which the Manager of Real Estate
Services recommended approval of a request from the Children's
Foundation to modify the terms and options of the lease between the
Children's Foundation and the City of Vancouver for 3440 Slocan Street
to enable the Foundation to receive Provincial funding and grants for
the construction of new facilities on the site. The General Manager
of Corporate Services recommended approval.
The following motion by Councillor Bellamy was put and carried.
The Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
THAT Council approve a request from the Children's
Foundation to modify the term of a lease approved by Council
on July 28, 1994 to extend the term from 5 years to 25 years
at a nominal rate and to grant 2 - 10 year options at a
nominal rate, the options to be exercised by the Children's
Foundation, subject to the Children's Foundation or its
successor, continuing to operate facilities for children and
continuing to have operating agreements with the Provincial
Government.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
3. Regional Development Cost Charges File: 1501-3/3201-11
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated
September 12, 1996 (on file), in which the Directors of Finance,
Community Planning - Social Planning, and Permits & Licenses provided
an update on the status of regional develop-ment cost charges prior to
consideration of a By-law by the Greater Vancouver Regional District
(GVRD) Board of Directors on October 4, 1996. The Directors also
proposed additional staff resources and offsetting fee revenues to
administer the program.
The General Manager of Community Services recommended approval of
the additional staff and the increase of building permit fees to
offset the administrative and systems costs of collecting the regional
DCCs.
Peter Simpson, Greater Vancouver Homebuilders Association,
expressed concern with the proposed 5 percent increase to building
permit fees. Permit fees were increased by 7 percent in July 1996 to
offset the costs of administering the tree preservation by-law. The
proposed additional increase would mean a 12 percent increase in
permit fees in three months. These costs will be passed on to home
buyers. It is getting more and more difficult to build in the Lower
Mainland. If the fees must be increased, January would be a better
implementa-tion date than November.
Ken Dobell, City Manager; Ted Droettboom, General Manager of
Community Services; Hugh Creighton, Director of Finance; and Charles
King, Financial Analyst; responded to questions on the impact of the
regional DCCs on new development and the City's development cost levy
charges, and future payment of the DCCs from the sewer utility.
Regarding the implementation date of the regional DCCs, it was noted
the date is dependent upon the GVRD and the Provincial Government.
During discussion, Council expressed concern with the increase to
permit fees and questioned whether half of the increase could be
recovered from general revenue. Council also expressed concern with a
potential impact on collection of the City's CACs and DCLs.
The following motion by the Mayor was put and carried. The
Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
A. THAT the City commence the administration and
collection of regional development cost charges to
offset growth-related sewerage treatment costs, to be
effective following approval by the GVRD Board and the
Provincial Government.
B. THAT Council approve the creation of one full-time Plan
Checker and one full-time Clerk IV at an annual cost of
$120,000 subject to job evaluation by Human Resource
Services, plus a one-time start-up cost of $30,000, to
administer regional development cost charges.
C. THAT building permit fees for applications which exceed
$50,000 in value be increased by 5% to offset the
administrative and systems costs.
D. THAT the Director of Legal Services be instructed to
prepare the necessary By-law amendments accordingly, to
be effective con-currently with the introduction of
regional development cost charges.
E. THAT upon approval of the Administrative Report dated
September 12, 1996, the Director of Permits & Licenses
notify the construction industry and the general public
of the new regional development cost charges and
building permit fees.
F. THAT the General Manager of Community Services report
back on the impacts of regional develop-ment cost
charges on the City in approximately one year after its
implementation.
G. THAT Council approve a 50% municipal assist factor to
be applied to regional development cost charges;
AND FURTHER THAT the Director of Finance report back to
confirm how it will be applied.
- CARRIED
(Councillor Sullivan opposed)
4. Bill C-44, The Canada Marine Act File: 111-3
The Committee had before it a Policy Report, dated September 24,
1996 (on file), in which the City Manager reported on developments
resulting from Bill C-44, the Canada Marine Act, which will provide a
fundamental change in the way the Port of Vancouver is managed, and
sought direction for the City to address several important issues
before the House of Commons Committee reviewing the draft legislation.
Ken Dobell, the City Manager, reviewed the recommendations
proposed in the report for presentation to the Transport Committee.
The recommendations address the City's concerns with the impact of
Bill C-44 on the City and the Port of Vancouver. Mr. Dobell advised
the Transport Committee will meet on Monday, September 30, at a local
hotel. The City's presentation will be at 3:00 p.m.
The Committee agreed Mr. Dobell should present the City's
concerns to the Transport Committee.
The following motion by Councillor Chiavario was put and carried.
The Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
A. Council urge the Federal Government to provide a
legislative framework for national ports that is
flexible and robust so that ports can respond to the
realities of the world in which they operate. If there
is a need to limit the activities of port authorities,
then those limitations should be part of the Letters
Patent which are much more easily adjusted to local and
changing circumstance.
B. Council advise the Federal Government that a direct
financial return on federal land through a charge on
gross revenues or other formula is inappropriate, given
the financial constraints under which the ports will
operate, the competitive environment, and the absence
of an obligation to pay full taxes to municipalities.
C. Council request that the Minister include a
representative from the City of Vancouver and the Port
of Vancouver in any group advising on the development
of letters patent and the implementation of the
legislation in the Port of Vancouver.
D. Council advise the Federal Government that provision of
crown agency status through the legislation is
appropriate, subject to the maintenance of the required
financial separa-tion and appropriate arrangements to
manage issues of land use and municipal regulation.
E. Council urge the Federal Government to provide for a
director appointed by the City of Vancouver and a
director appointed by the other municipalities in the
Port of Vancouver.
F. Council urge the Federal Government to amend the
legislation to provide that the Chair of the Board of a
port authority be elected by the directors.
Alternatively, the letters patent for Vancouver should
state this requirement.
G. Council urge the Federal Government to relax the
criteria for directors to permit a broader range of
expertise.
H. Council urge the Federal Government to ensure that the
legislation sets high standards for the avoidance of a
real or perceived conflict of interest.
I. Council urge the Minister of Transport, the
Solicitor-General, and the Attorney-General to convene
discussions with representatives of the municipalities
to examine how policing responsibilities in British
Columbia ports can best be met, with the clear
understanding that municipalities will not be required
to fund additional police services without full
compensation.
J. Council urge the Federal Government to provide a
mechanism and sufficient time for a smooth transition
between the present Ports Canada Police jurisdiction
and the establishment of replacement policing
K. Council reiterate its position that the new port
authorities be subject to the same grants-in-lieu of
taxes rules that apply to other federal property, or
that they become taxable, and urge the Federal
Government to ensure that the new legislation does not
result in a net increase in costs to municipalities
through any combination of additional responsibilities
for municipalities and changes in the payment of
grants-in-lieu.
L. Council urge the Federal Government that if
grants-in-lieu are to be retained rather than
implementing full taxation, the process be revised to
provide for year by year finaliza-tion of grants and an
appeal mechanism to ensure certainty for both
municipalities and ports.
M. Council urge the Federal Government to permit broader
land uses within the Port, so long as they comply with
municipal zoning or joint port-municipal land use
agreements, and to enable port authorities to enter
into binding land use agreements with municipalities,
subject to an override by the Governor-in-Council.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillor Ip not present for the vote)
5. 1997-1999 Capital Plan: File: 1611-3
Plebiscite Questions
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated
September 25, 1996 (on file), in which the Director of Finance
reported on the final funding allocations in the 1997-1999 Capital
Plan, sought direction on the specific items to be included in the
Capital Plan questions, and provided informa-tion about the wording of
the borrowing authority questions that will appear on the ballot.
Mr. Hugh Creighton, Director of Finance, and Mr. Ken Bayne,
Comptroller of Budgets & Research, responded to questions.
Committee members requested to see the final wording that will
appear on the ballot prior to the public information program.
The following motion by the Mayor was put and carried. The
Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
A. THAT the 1997-1999 Sewer and Waterworks Capital Plans
be approved as follows, with funding from debenture
borrowing as provided for in the Vancouver Charter:
Sewer $49,417,000
Waterworks $74,100,000;
AND FURTHER THAT the balance of the 1997-1999 Capital
Plan be approved in total at $115,583,000, as detailed
in Appendix A of the Administrative Report dated
September 25, 1996, with funding as follows:
Debenture Borrowing $83,383,000
Capital from Operating Budget 32,200,000
Total $115,583,000
B. THAT the 1997-1999 Capital Plan borrowing plebiscite
contain two questions in the follow-ing categories:
Public Works and Fire Facilities $61,683,000
Parks and Recreation Facilities $21,700,000;
AND FURTHER THAT the wording of the questions be as set
out in Appendix B of the Adminis-trative Report dated
September 25, 1996, subject to any modifications
required by Corporation Counsel.
C. THAT the electorate be asked their opinion of the
proposal to increase the Capital Plan by an additional
$2.0 million for renovation and up-grading of Community
Centres with funding to be provided from the Operating
Budget;
AND FURTHER THAT wording of the opinion question be as
set out in the Administrative Report dated September
25, 1996, subject to any modification required by
Corporation Counsel.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
The meeting adjourned at 10:35 a.m.
* * * * *