CITY OF VANCOUVER SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES MAY 21, 1997 A Special Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Wednesday, May 21, 1997, commencing at 2:10 p.m., in the Mayor's Office, Third Floor, City Hall. PRESENT: Mayor Philip Owen Councillor Don Bellamy Councillor Nancy A. Chiavario Councillor Alan Herbert Councillor Daniel Lee Councillor Don Lee ABSENT: Councillor Jennifer Clarke Councillor Lynne Kennedy Councillor Gordon Price Councillor George Puil Councillor Sam Sullivan CLERK TO THE COUNCIL: Maria Kinsella COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy, SECONDED by Cllr. Chiavario, THAT this Council resolve itself into Committee of the Whole, Mayor Owen in the Chair. - CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY Regular Council, May 21, 1997 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1. Emergency Resolution for Consideration at the 1997 FCM Conference File: 3253-2 MOVED by Cllr. Chiavario, THAT the following resolution, submitted by the Mayor's Urban Safety Commission, be approved for consideration at the 1997 FCM Conference: WHEREAS 70% to 90% of crimes in Canada are related to drug or alcohol abuse; AND WHEREAS 2.8 million Canadians indicate they have a family member with a drug problem; AND WHEREAS 628,000 Canadians have used Cocaine at some time in their lives; AND WHEREAS child abuse, and elderly abuse such as home invasions and other property crimes, are directly connected to drug abuse and trafficking; AND WHEREAS Canada has become an open door for illegal drugs bound for the United States; AND WHEREAS government, police and the courts are ineffective in fighting the destructive drug trade; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Federation of Canadian Municipalities demand that the Federal Government support and implement the following anti-drug actions: Government 1. Simplify and strengthen legislation to more aggressively fight the drug trade. 2. Ensure that the millions of dollars recovered under proceeds of crime legislation goes to fight drugs and create treatment centres rather than to general revenue. 3. Seek advice from the judiciary about how current legislation hampers the justice system in fighting drugs. Cont'd Regular Council, May 21, 1997 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Emergency Resolution for Consideration at the 1997 FCM Conference (cont'd) Justice System 4. Hand down stiffer, longer sentences and larger fines to convicted drug criminals. 5. Support police in their efforts to increase search and seizure powers under the Narcotic Control Act so that searches of drug traffickers' vehicles can be conducted without a warrant. Police 6. Continue to push for stronger laws and stiffer sentences for convicted drug criminals. 7. Increase community policing efforts to prevent drug use and trafficking. Community 8. Lobby for stronger laws and support more active enforcement of laws against drug use and trafficking. 9. Support better reporting of criminal activity using a "Crime Stoppers" model. School 10. Increase efforts to prevent drug use by supporting anti-drug education programs. 11. Work with police to more aggressively enforce the law and fight drugs around schools. - CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY Regular Council, May 21, 1997 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy, THAT the Committee of the Whole rise and report. - CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY ADOPT REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy, SECONDED by Cllr. Chiavario, THAT the report of the Committee of the Whole be adopted. - CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY * * * * * The Special Council adjourned at 2:20 p.m.