ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: July 7, 1997
CC File No.: 2630
TO: Vancouver City Council
FROM: General Manager of Engineering Services
SUBJECT: Extension of Street Activities Enforcement Staff
RECOMMENDATION
A. THAT the existing (one year temporary) by-law enforcement
position created to assist in enforcement of illegal vending,
sidewalk cafes and other street based activities be made
regular.
B. THAT an additional position be created for a 6 month period
annually to allow for enforcement coverage 7 days per week
during the busy season, to be funded from increased revenues
from the street activity programs.
C. THAT a computer be purchased for administration of enforcement
action and the Produce Display program at a cost of
approximately $2,850 with funds to be recovered from the
Produce Display and Sidewalk Cafe programs.
COUNCIL POLICY
The City regulates a number of street activities and takes appropriate
enforcement action as required. In 1996, Council approved the
establishment of a one year temporary enforcement position to be
reviewed in 1997. Current council policy states that there should be no
net increases in services or staffing without appropriate offsets.
PURPOSE
This report reviews the effects of increased enforcement resulting from
the creation of the temporary staff position and recommends continuing
this position on a regular basis. In addition, it is recommended that a
temporary position on a part time basis be established and a computer be
purchased to allow for better administration and coverage during the
busy periods.
BACKGROUND
In recent years, social and economic factors have contributed to the
increased use of city sidewalks for unauthorized activities such as
illegal vending, flea markets, unlicensed produce displays and
unauthorized commercial signs. The high level of competition in the
retail community results in increased incidents of merchandise and
sandwich signs displayed on the sidewalk to increase the exposure and
visibility of retail outlets. In addition, anti-smoking by-laws have
dramatically increased the instances of restaurants placing extra seats
on the sidewalk without first obtaining approval to do so.
In response to increasing complaints regarding the above activities,
Council approved a one year temporary staff position (in July, 1996) to
enforce by-laws regarding the use of city sidewalks and instructed the
General Manager of Engineering Services to review and report back in
1997.
DISCUSSION
Trial Period
The trial period to date has proven to be very successful with the
following results:
Illegal Vending There has been a noticeable decrease in some
areas of the Downtown. The Downtown Vancouver
Business Improvement Association reports a
reduction from a dozen or more illegal vendors
on any given day in 1996 to 2 or 3 in 1997 due
to improved response time and more consistent
enforcement action.
Complaints Response time to complaints has improved. Most
complaints can now be given same day or next
day service.
Bute St.
Flea Market Although this site continues to require daily
attention, the magnitude of the problem has
significantly decreased. The illegal street
vending at this location has been reduced to
approximately 10% of the original situation.
During the summer of 1996 there was a core
of up to 50 vendors gathering at this
location.
With constant enforcement this number has been
reduced to a core of 8 or 10 with no more than
3 or 4 vendors at any one time. Since
September of 1996, staff have made
approximately 500 enforcement visits to this
site, often 2 or 3 times per day. Any
reduction in the level of enforcement would
undoubtedly result in a return to the original
problem.
Newspaper boxes All unlicensed boxes have been removed from
Robson Street and most from Granville Mall.
Staff are currently working on the remainder of
the Downtown. To date, 35 boxes have been
removed from downtown streets.
Sidewalk Cafes We are seeing an increase in applications to
this program due to the enforcement of illegal
activity and the Smoke Free Indoor Air By-law.
Produce Displays Enforcement of Produce Displays in the
Chinatown area has been increased to 4 or 5
visits per week which has been strongly
supported by the Chinatown Merchants
Association. Merchandise displayed outside of
the permitted area is removed and donated to
the Food Bank.
Sandwich Board
Signs Since September of 1996, staff have issued 431
warning notices and confiscated approximately
70 commercial signs plus approximately 400
political signs.
Commercial Garbage
Containers The 1996 Council report anticipated this
position would be of assistance in enforcing
the Container program guidelines. This did not
happen due to higher priorities in other areas.
Staff are currently preparing a report on this
program which will be presented later this
year.
Hours of Work
The enforcement position, which has been classified as an Engineering
Assistant II, Paygrade 17, works a five day week including weekends and
some evenings. These extended hours of work have proven useful in
enforcement of issues that often happen or increase outside of office
hours.
Continuation of Temporary Position
The continuation of this staff position is strongly supported by the
Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association, the Robson Street
Business Association, the Chinatown Merchants Association, the Vancouver
Food Bank, the Environmental Health Dept. and the Police Dept. Comments
received from the public also indicate an improved service level
(letters of support are shown in Appendix II). Therefore, it is
recommended that this position be made regular.
Additional Position
Although there has been considerable improvement in our ability to
respond to enforcement demands, there are still gaps in the service we
are able to provide. With only one staff person it is not possible to
provide enforcement seven days a week and there are a number of areas
which could be better addressed such as: collection of outstanding fees,
removal of unlicensed news boxes and continued enforcement of illegal
sidewalk cafes and produce displays. While the street activity demand
may not justify additional staff during the winter months, during the
tourist season two (2) enforcement staff (the existing person and a six
month temporary) could provide general enforcement, respond to
complaints and assist the Police with confiscations seven days a week.
Therefore, it is recommended that an annual six month position be
approved at a cost of approximately $17,800 with funds to be recovered
through various street activity permit programs (a summary of revenues
is provided in Appendix I).
Computer
Currently, there is no computer dedicated to the Produce Display program
or for maintaining enforcement records, both of which require
considerable computer resources. The purchase of one computer to be
shared by two staff working different hours would be an efficient use of
resources. The approximate cost of $2,850 would be recovered from the
Produce Display and Sidewalk Cafe revenues which are shown in Appendix
I.
Personnel Implications
These positions are subject to job evaluation by the Director of Human
Resources. This report has been forwarded to CUPE Local 15.
Financial Implications
Revenues from the Sidewalk Cafe and Produce Display programs are
increasing as predicted in the 1996 report. Combined annual program
revenues of approximately $323,000 more than offset the combined staff
costs for these programs of approximately $162,800 (details shown in
Appendix I). The addition of one (1) half time position at a cost of
approximately $17,800 per year is expected to generate additional
program revenues of $17,700 or more annually while improving public
service.
* * * *
APPENDIX I
REVENUES
PROGRAM 1995 1996 1997 1997 1998
REVENUE REVENUE BUDGETED PROJECTED PROJECTED
AMOUNT AMOUNT AMOUNT
WITH WITH
CURRENT ADDITIONAL
STAFF STAFF
Sidewalk $149,800 $178,600 $185,000 $185,000 $200,000
Cafes
Produce 30,800 32,600 32,000 32,000 35,000
Displays
Street 80,400 84,500 82,000 87,000 88,000
Vending
TOTAL $261,000 $295,700 $299,000 $304,000 $323,000 *
STAFF COSTS
PROGRAM STAFF STATUS SALARY BENEFITS TOTAL
$42,039 Sidewalk 1 EAIII $ 7,399 $ 49,400
R 15,175 Cafes ´ EAI 2,671 17,800
E
G
U Vending 1 EAII
L 35,684 6,280 42,000
A Produce ´ EAI
R Displays 15,175 2,670 17,800
1
Enforcement I EAII YR. 30,351 5,342 35,700
TEMP.
SUB-TOTAL $138,424 $24,362 $162,800
PROPOSED ´ EAII PROPOSED 16,398 1,394 17,800**
TOTAL $154,822 $25,756 $180,500
* The increased revenue of $19,000 ($323,000 minus $304,000) will
** cover the increased staff cost of $17,800.