CITY OF VANCOUVER
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on
Thursday, October 10, 1996, at 11:30 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,
Hemer, Ip, Kennedy,
Kwan, Price, Puil
and Sullivan
ABSENT: Councillor Clarke
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
October 10, 1996
Council considered the recommendations of the Committee, as
contained in the following clauses of the attached report:
Cl. 1: Vancouver Museum Commission
Cl. 2: 1996 Cultural Grants -
Organizational Development Requests
Cl. 3: Emergency Grant to Vancouver East Cultural Centre
Cl. 4: Sidewalk Cafe Review
.../2
COMMITTEE REPORTS (CONTINUED)
Report of the Standing Committee
on City Services and Budgets
October 10, 1996 [Continued]
Clauses 1, 2 and 3
MOVED by Cllr. Puil,
THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in
Clauses 1, 2 and 3 of this report, be approved.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY AND
BY THE REQUIRED MAJORITY
Sidewalk Cafe Review
Clause 4
MOVED by Cllr. Hemer,
THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clause
4 of this report, be approved.
- CARRIED
(Councillors Bellamy, Chiavario and Puil
opposed to B and D)
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
.../3
ENQUIRIES AND OTHER MATTERS
Wards Referendum Question File: 132
Councillor Kwan put forward a motion on changing the wards
referendum question, but as there was no seconder, the motion was not
considered.
The Council adjourned at 11:45 a.m.
* * * * *
REPORT TO COUNCIL
STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
ON CITY SERVICES AND BUDGETS
OCTOBER 10, 1996
A Regular Meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on City
Services and Budgets was held on Thursday, October 10, 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 Kwan
Councillor Price
Councillor Sullivan
CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE: Ken Dobell, City Manager
CLERK: Tarja Tuominen
RECOMMENDATION
1. Vancouver Museum Commission File: 4002-1
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated
September 24, 1996 (on file), in which the Directors of Finance and
Office of Cultural Affairs recommended formalizing the transfer of
responsibilities from the Vancouver Museum Association to the
Vancouver Museum Commission. The Directors also recommended approval
of a request from the Vancouver Museum Commission for a supplementary
operating grant of $200,000, for the period October 1, 1996 to
September 30, 1997.
The General Managers of Corporate and Community Services
recommended approval of the transfer of responsibilities and submitted
for consideration the grant request.
Mr. Peter Nanson, Chair, Vancouver Museum Commission, introduced
Commission members, Betti Port and Karen Ellerbeck, and provided a
short overview of the Commission's work to date. An operating
agreement with the Pacific Space Centre for allocation of space is in
place. The Commission is actively working on establishing a presence
with other Vancouver cultural institutions. There is an ongoing
relationship with the Museum of Anthropology, Royal British Columbia
Museum, and the Canadian Museum of Civilization. The recruitment of a
director will assist in establishing a clear direction for the Museum.
Approval of the staff recommendations will give the
Clause No. 1 Continued
Commission the tools to move forward. The Commission is looking at a
3-year plan for fundraising and development of community support.
In response to questions, Mr. Burke Taylor, Director of the
Office of Cultural Affairs, advised re-establishment of the school
program is a priority for the Museum. Revenue has fallen off
dramatically, as everything has been on hold until the transfer of
responsibilities. Liaison with other institutions is taking place at
the staff level.
During discussion, the Committee made a number of suggestions for
the Commission to pursue, including: a review of the acquisition
policy; a strategic plan for fundraising; operation of a regional or
local museum; expansion of the education component; interaction with
other city institutions such as the Archives, Library and community
centres; interaction with other child and youth programs; and the
sharing of collections, resources and staffing with other institutions
such as the Maritime Museum and Art Gallery.
The following motion by Councillor Kennedy was put and carried.
The Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
A. THAT Council direct staff to enter into an operating
lease agreement with the Vancouver Museum Commission,
with terms and conditions to the satisfaction of the
Director of Legal Services and the General Managers of
Community and Corporate Services.
B. THAT Council direct staff to transfer future grant
installments, including the provincial grant held in
trust by the City, from the Vancouver Museum
Association to the Vancouver Museum Commission
effective September 27, 1996.
C. THAT Council approve a 1996 supplementary grant to the
Vancouver Museum Commission of $200,000; disbursements
to be made as detailed in the Administrative Report
dated September 24, 1996. Source of funds to be the
1996 Contingency Reserve.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
2. 1996 Cultural Grants - File: 2054-2
Organizational Development Requests
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated
September 24, 1996 (on file), in which the Director of the Office of
Cultural Affairs recommended approval of three requests for grants
from the Organizational Development component of the 1996 Cultural
Grants budget. The applicants are: the Vancouver Chamber Choir,
Theatre Terrific and the Vancouver Cultural Alliance. The General
Manager of Community Services submitted the grant requests for
consideration.
Ms. Alice Niwinski, Cultural Planner, was present to answer
questions.
The following motion by Councillor Clarke was put and carried.
The Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
A. THAT Council approve the following grants towards arts
administration training costs:
(1) Vancouver Chamber Choir $450
(2) Theatre Terrific $200;
source of funds to be the Organizational Develop-ment
component of the 1996 Cultural Grants budget.
B. THAT Council approve a grant of $9,000 to the Vancouver
Cultural Alliance for its joint purchasing initiative;
source of funds to be the Organizational Development
component of the Cultural Grants budget.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
3. Emergency Grant to File:2054-2
Vancouver East Cultural Centre
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated
September 30, 1996 (on file), in which the Director of the Office of
Cultural Affairs recommended approval of an emergency grant of $17,085
to the Vancouver East Cultural Centre. The Director also recommended
approval, in principle, of the provision of an advance instalment on
the Centre's 1997
Clause No. 3 Continued
Operating grant early next year once the 1997 Cultural Grants budget
ceiling is established. The advance would be subject to a
satisfactory review of the Centre's financial status at that time.
The General Manager of Community Services submitted the grant and
advance request for consideration.
Ms. Alice Niwinski, Cultural Planner, advised staff is
recommending the emergency grant because of the role the Vancouver
East Cultural Centre plays in the community. Staff believe the
Centre's recovery plan can do what it proposes to do.
Mr. Robert Lesperance, Chairman, and Mr. Duncan Low, Executive
Director, Vancouver East Cultural Centre, briefly reviewed the steps
the Centre has taken to pull itself out of its financial problems. The
Centre is not planning many in-house productions; its Resident Company
Program will ensure a firm 12 to 14 week block of anchor programming.
Mr. Burke Taylor, Director of the Office of Cultural Affairs, and
Ms. Niwinski responded to questions on the availability of current
financial statements and audits for the Centre and other institutions
receiving grants.
The Committee received copies of the Vancouver East Cultural
Centre Bi-Weekly Cash-flow Projections: July-December 1996, dated
September 25, 1996 (on file), and expressed concern that up-to-date
financial statements were not available.
The following motion by Councillor Chiavario was put and carried.
The Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
A. THAT Council approve an emergency grant of $17,085 to
the Vancouver East Cultural Centre; source of funds to
be the Operating Grants category of the 1996 Cultural
Grants budget.
B. THAT Council approve, in principle, the provision of an
advance instalment on the Vancouver East Cultural
Centre's 1997 Operating grant early next year, after
the 1997 Cultural Grants budget ceiling is established,
and subject to a satisfactory review of the Centre's
financial status at that time.
Clause No. 3 Continued
C. THAT staff provide a report back in six months on the
Vancouver East Cultural Centre's operation and recovery
plan, with audited financial statements for the Centre.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
4. Sidewalk Cafe Review File: 2635
The Committee had before it a Policy Report dated September 23,
1996 (on file), in which the General Manager of Engineering Services
reviewed the 1995/96 winter trial of large sidewalk cafes and
recommends they be allowed to operate year round with an additional
fee increase. The General Manager also submitted for consideration
the choice of allowing low decks to cover the sidewalk for all large
sidewalk cafes, except in Yaletown and Gastown, or to direct staff to
remove any unapproved decks that do not meet current guidelines.
Don Brynildsen, Assistant City Engineer, Streets Division, and
Bob MacDonald, Parking Engineer, with the aid of a slide presentation,
reviewed the trial winter season of the sidewalk cafe program, the use
of decks, and sidewalk cafe guidelines in Yaletown.
Steven Pollock, Yaletown Ventures Inc., requested a relaxation of
the Yaletown Sidewalk Cafe guidelines for his Century Grill operation.
The guidelines specify a 10-foot wide pedestrian corridor on the dock
area. The sidewalk cafe at the Century Grill left 8 feet 6 inches for
pedestrian traffic. Mr. Pollock felt the sidewalk cafe at his
premises did not obstruct pedestrians; the area is not busy. The use
of concrete planters and hedges adds diversity to the area and creates
intimacy within his premises. Mr. Pollock advised he was aware of the
10-foot requirement prior to installing the planters.
Mr. Brynildsen stated the guidelines state the sidewalk cafes are
not to look like extensions of the building and should have some
relationship between private and public space.
Peter McEachern, Cappeech Coffee Corp., advised his premises has
no street frontage, no parking and a very seasonal location. The
sidewalk cafe license rate increased excessively this year. It does
not reflect the market rate nor take into consideration the location.
In response to safety concerns regarding the location of his
operation, Mr. McEachern advised the railing on his sidewalk cafes is
a safety feature and slows people down.
Clause No. 4 Continued
Philip Currah expressed concerns with the lack of enforcement
with the 11:00 p.m. closing hour for sidewalk cafes. The Engineering
Department does not have the resources to enforce the 11:00 p.m.
closing in a reasonable manner.
Dave Rudberg, General Manager of Engineering Services, advised
having a sidewalk cafe is a privilege which must be earned and rules
followed. If problems continue with operators, they will lose their
license, and their equipment will be removed from the sidewalk.
Mr. MacDonald advised the City has removed licenses. People do
get in touch with Engineering, and staff have been able to resolve
problems with a premise.
The following motion by Councillor Hemer was put and carried.
The Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
A. THAT large sidewalk cafes be allowed to operate year
round, with fee for the additional four months use.
B. THAT the current sidewalk cafe guidelines be reaffirmed
in the Yaletown area, including open railings, and a
minimum 10-foot wide pedestrian corridor.
C. THAT a computer and printer be purchased for the
sidewalk cafe program at a cost of $4,000, with funds
to be recovered from the program.
D. THAT staff be directed to remove any unapproved decks
that do not meet current guidelines.
- CARRIED
(Councillors Bellamy, Chiavario and Puil
opposed to B and D)
The meeting adjourned at 11:30 a.m.
* * * * *