CITY OF VANCOUVER
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
CITY SERVICES AND BUDGETS
JANUARY 9, 1997
A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held
on Thursday, January 9, 1997, at 11:00 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 Philip Owen
Councillor Don Bellamy
Councillor Nancy A. Chiavario
Councillor Jennifer Clarke
Councillor Alan Herbert
Councillor Daniel Lee
Councillor Don Lee
Councillor Gordon Price
Councillor George Puil
Councillor Sam Sullivan
ABSENT: Councillor Lynne Kennedy
(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. Clarke,
THAT this Council resolve itself into Committee of the Whole, Mayor
Owen in the chair.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Report of Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets
January 9, 1997
Council considered the recommendations of the Committee, as
contained in the following clauses of the attached report:
Cl. 1: Local Improvement Charges - Akali Singh Sikh Temple
Cl. 2: Changes in Solid Waste Operations and Organization
Local Improvement Charges - Akali Singh Sikh Temple
(Clause 1)
MOVED by Cllr. Puil,
THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clause 1
of this report, be approved.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
Changes in Solid Waste Operations and Operations
(Clause 2)
MOVED by Cllr. Puil,
THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clause 2
of this report, be approved.
- CARRIED
(Councillors Chiavario and Herbert opposed)
RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy,
THAT the Committee of the Whole rise and report.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
Report of Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets
January 9, 1997
ADOPT REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Cllr. Puil,
SECONDED by Cllr. Clarke,
THAT the report of the Committee of the Whole be adopted.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
ENQUIRIES AND OTHER MATTERS
1. Meeting Time - Standing Committee on Transportation and Traffic
Councillor Price reported the scheduled meeting time for the
Transportation and Traffic Standing Committee of 9:30 a.m. on Wednesdays
conflicts with the commitments of some Council members.
Councillor Chiavario requested the City Clerk to draw up a
comprehensive chart showing the Councillors' meeting commitments to
assist in determining the best day and time to schedule the
Transportation and Traffic Standing Committee meetings.
The Mayor so directed, noting the demanding schedule of meetings
for the next few months may make it difficult for all Councillors to
attend every meeting.
The Council adjourned at 11:10 a.m.
* * * * *
REPORT TO COUNCIL
STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
SERVICES AND BUDGETS
JANUARY 9, 1997
A Regular Meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on City
Services and Budgets was held on Thursday, January 9, 1997, at 9:30
a.m., in Committee Room No. 1, Third Floor, City Hall.
PRESENT: Councillor George Puil, Chair
Mayor Philip Owen
Councillor Don Bellamy
Councillor Nancy A. Chiavario
Councillor Jennifer Clarke
Councillor Alan Herbert
Councillor Daniel Lee
Councillor Don Lee
Councillor Gordon Price
Councillor Sam Sullivan
ABSENT: Councillor Lynne Kennedy
(Leave of Absence)
CITY MANAGER'S
OFFICE: Ken Dobell, City Manager
CLERK TO THE
COMMITTEE: Tarja Tuominen
ADOPTION OF MINUTES
The Minutes of the Standing Committee on City Services & Budgets
meeting of November 28, 1996, were adopted.
RECOMMENDATION
1. Local Improvement Charges - File: 5802-1
Akali Singh Sikh Temple
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated December
27, 1996 (on file), in which the City Treasurer & Collector and the
General Manager of Engineering Services outlined the history of local
improvement projects and outstanding charges assessed for the Akali
Singh Sikh Temple Society property at 1890 Skeena Street. The local
improvement projects were for curbing, pavement, trees and sidewalk
reconstruction.
The General Manager of Corporate Services submitted the choice of
the following recommendations for consideration:
A1. THAT Council advise staff to continue to bill the
Akali Singh Sikh Society for the annual local
improvement charges in the amount of $10,764.56,
representing the Pavement, Curb, Tree and Sidewalk
work completed in 1994 as described in this report,
in accordance with the terms agreed to at the
outset. These terms commit the Society to pay the
entire cost of these projects on behalf of all the
benefitting property owners.
OR
A2. THAT Council advise staff to bill the Akali Singh
Sikh Society in accordance to what their share
($9,502.16) of the annual local improvement charges
would have been had the projects received the
appropriate approvals to proceed with the Pavement,
Curb, Tree and Sidewalk work completed in 1994, with
the balance of the annual costs being absorbed as a
City cost.
OR
A3. THAT Council absorb all of the annual local
improvement charges in the amount $10,764.65 for the
Pavement, Curb, Tree and Sidewalk work completed in
1994 as a City cost, recognizing that this amount
would otherwise accrue to the account of the Akali
Singh Sikh Society.
cont d
Clause No. 1 cont d
B. THAT Council take no action on the local improvement
charges payable by the Akali Singh Sikh Society for
the pavement and curb work added to the tax roll in
1987 in the annual amount of $211.09, and that the
City continue to bill those charges to the Society
for the remainder of the 15 year term which expires
in the year 2001.
The General Manager recommended approval of A1 and B.
Ted Batty, Local Improvements Engineer, and Penny Bruin, City
Treasurer & Collector, reviewed the report. The charges have been
outstanding since 1995 and will be going to a tax sale for collection in
the fall of 1997. The Society is exempt from property taxes under
Section 396 of the Vancouver Charter, but is assessable for local
improvement charges.
In response to questions, Bruce Maitland, Manager of Real Estate
Services, advised the Society purchased the property, which was
previously owned by the City, at 50% of the market value. In addition,
the Society agreed to a Section 215 Covenant to build a community centre
on the site, open to the public, at no charge.
Sav Dhaliwal, representing the Akali Singh Sikh Society, advised
the Society has not been able to pay the local improvement charges.
The Board members, who originally petitioned on behalf of the Temple for
the local improvements, misunderstood the process. They thought the
Temple was exempt from local initiative charges because it was exempt
from property taxes. They also thought the billing for the charges was
more for bookkeeping purposes. The Board is comprised of volunteers and
did not understand the Society's obligations or the City's by-laws. The
Society requests consideration to be exempted from paying the local
improvement charges.
The President of the Society reiterated the request for exemption
of the charges.
During discussion, the Committee noted the Society petitioned for
the local improvement projects for curbing, pavement and trees. Staff
did not support the project at the time, as the area residents were not
willing to contribute to the project. The Society agreed to pay the
cost of the project on behalf of all the property owners and submitted a
letter to that effect. The Society also petitioned for the sidewalk
improvement.
cont d
Clause No. 1 cont d
The Committee requested staff to report back on the status of the
community centre to be provided by the Society.
The following motion by the Mayor was put and carried. The
Committee therefore
RECOMMENDED
A. THAT Council advise staff to continue to bill the Akali
Singh Sikh Society for the annual local improvement
charges in the amount of $10,764.56, representing the
Pavement, Curb, Tree and Sidewalk work completed in 1994
as described in the Administrative Report dated December
27, 1996, in accordance with the terms agreed to at the
outset. These terms commit the Society to pay the entire
cost of these projects on behalf of all the benefitting
property owners.
B. THAT Council take no action on the local improvement
charges payable by the Akali Singh Sikh Society for
the pavement and curb work added to the tax roll in
1987 in the annual amount of $211.09, and that the
City continue to bill those charges to the Society
for the remainder of the 15 year term which expires
in the year 2001.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
2. Changes in Solid Waste Operations and Organization File: 3756-1
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated November
29, 1996 (on file) in which the General Manager of Engineering Services
recommended reorganization of the Vancouver Landfill and management to
reflect changing public needs and supervision requirements and to comply
with operational and environmental demands.
Brian Davies, Assistant City Engineer, Equipment & Solid Waste
Division, with the aid of charts, reviewed the main points of the
report. After 6:00 p.m., usage of the Landfill is never over 20
vehicles an hour. The other Landfill sites in the Greater Vancouver
Regional District (GVRD) close at 5 or 6 p.m. On-site management at the
Landfill requires a focus on environmental compliance with the
provincial Waste Management Act and the City's agreements with Delta
and the GVRD. The requested positions will bring an increased level of
knowledge and supervision to deal with the expanded complex
responsibilities and increased technical knowledge requirements at the
Landfill.
cont d
Clause No. 2 cont d
Doug McNicol, representing CUPE 1004, did not support the report's
recommendations. The report does not deal with upgrading of existing
positions. The shortened hours will mean a reduction in the level of
service to the public and a loss of revenue. The expanded
responsibilities have been in existence for some time and have been
handled by existing staff. Approval of the proposed positions will mean
increasing costs of management at the expense of lower paid workers, and
will also mean a cut in the avenue for advancement. Mr. McNicol
questioned where the issues of liability and technical expertise are
falling down. The requested expenditures may be unnecessary.
In response to questions, Brian Davies explained some of the
existing employees may be qualified to apply for the new Superintendent
position. In addition, the employees are protected by the Collective
Agreement. The requested temporary mobile office is necessary to
accommodate the increase in the number of people going out to the
Landfill and the additional computer equipment required. The requested
four-wheel drive pick-up truck will enable both the Landfill Manager and
Superintendent to patrol the site, which requires an off-road vehicle.
Howard Normann, representing the Foremen's Association, also spoke
against the recommendations. The current foremen at the Landfill have
recently been sent to in-depth training and are certified to run any
landfill site in the country. Why not upgrade the qualifications of the
existing staff or promote one of the foremen to Superintendent?
Dave Rudberg, General Manager of Engineering Services, stated the
work of the foremen at the site has been outstanding. However, today's
modern landfill operation, with the regulations from the Province,
negotiations with Delta, issues with leachate, and the expanding gas
system, creates a level of understanding beyond that of a foreman.
Landfill sites in the Western provinces and states have a manager
overseeing the operation. The elimination of the few positions will be
covered through attrition.
Bill McClure, representing CUPE 15, circulated an information
sheet estimating the costs of the reorganization at the Vancouver
Landfill site(on file). CUPE 15 requests the proposal be set aside and
a consultative process put in place. The Union has concerns with the
impact of the earlier closing time on increasing traffic to the
Vancouver Transfer site, environmental concerns, and revenues at the
site.
cont d
Clause No. 2 cont d
During discussion, many of the Committee members agreed the
increased compliance and knowledge requirements and technical expertise
needed to run a modern Landfill site supported the proposed
reorganization. Some members of the Committee felt they had not heard
a persuasive argument for the reorganization; the City does not need
more middle management types of positions; more consultation should have
been done.
The following motion by Councillor Chiavario was put and lost:
THAT consideration of the report be deferred.
(Councillors Bellamy, Clarke, Daniel Lee, Don Lee, Price, Puil, Sullivan
and the Mayor opposed)
The following motion by the Mayor was put and carried. The
Committee therefore
RECOMMENDED
A. THAT Council approve reducing the hours the
Vancouver Landfill is open to the public by closing
at 6:00 p.m., and staff report back within six
months if further changes are required.
B. THAT $4,000 be provided from the Solid Waste Capital
Reserve for advertising this change in operating
hours.
C. THAT Council approve the addition of a Landfill
Manager, and one Superintendent to manage the
Vancouver Landfill, subject to classification by the
Director of Human Resources, and these positions be
largely funded through elimination of a CEII in the
Solid Waste Management Branch and the existing
Foreman at the Vancouver Landfill. The net increase
in costs will be funded from users of the Vancouver
Landfill.
cont'd
Clause No. 2 cont'd
D. THAT temporary mobile office accommodation be leased for
the Vancouver Landfill staff at approximately $15,000 per
year and $5,000 be provided for truck rentals and $1,500
for cellular phones annually with funding provided from
all Landfill users through the Landfill Operating Budget.
E. THAT office furnishings, office set up and computer
equipment be provided at a one-time cost of $25,600
with Vancouver's share funded from the Solid Waste
Capital Reserve and the remainder funded from other
Landfill users through the Landfill Operating
Budget.
F. THAT one diesel-powered, four-wheel drive pick-up
truck, complete with City radio, be provided for the
Landfill Manager, at a one-time cost of $40,000,
funds to be provided from the Solid Waste Capital
Reserve.
- CARRIED
(Councillors Chiavario and Herbert opposed)
The meeting adjourned at 11:00 a.m.
* * * * *