CITY OF VANCOUVER

SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

COURT OF REVISION

February 3, 1998

A Special Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Tuesday, February 3, 1998 at approximately 7:30 p.m., in the Council Chamber, Third Floor City Hall.

PRESENT: Mayor Philip Owen

Councillor Don Bellamy

Councillor Nancy A. Chiavario

Councillor Jennifer Clarke

Councillor Alan Herbert

Councillor Lynne Kennedy

Councillor Daniel Lee

Councillor Don Lee

Councillor Gordon Price

ABSENT: Councillor George Puil (Civic Business)

Councillor Sam Sullivan (Sick Leave)

CLERK TO THE

COUNCIL: Tarja Tuominen

MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy,

SECONDED by Cllr. Herbert,

THAT this Council resolve itself into a Court of Revision for the purpose of hearing complaints against the proposed assessments or the accuracy of frontage measurements, or any other complaint which persons interested may desire to make and which is by law cognizable by the Court, Mayor Owen in the Chair.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

COURT OF REVISION

LOCAL IMPROVEMENTS

Projects by Petition Court #582

Lane Lighting

Pavement, Curbs & Trees - Higher Zoned

Pavement, Curbs & Trees - Local Residential

Lane Pavement - Higher Zoned

Lane Pavement - Local Residential

Speed Deterrent Humps

Pedestrian Collector Sidewalks

Sidewalk

Projects by Initiative Court #583

Pavement, Curbs and Trees - Higher Zoned

Pavement, Curbs and Trees - Local Residential

Lane Pavement - Higher Zoned

Lane Pavement - Local Residential

Speed Humps

Pedestrian Collector Sidewalks

Sidewalk Reconstruction

Before Council was a report from the Collector of Taxes with respect to Local Improvement Court of Revision Numbers 582 and 583.

COURT NO. 582 - PROJECTS BY PETITION

February 3, 1998

The Collector of Taxes certified that the projects in this report have been requested by the majority of the assessed owners by means of a sufficiently signed petition.

COURT NO. 583 - PROJECTS BY INITIATIVE

February 3, 1998

In the report from the Collector of Taxes, it was noted that Projects 1, 6, 19, 21, 25, 33, 36, 37, 39, 44, 45 and 46 were objected to by at least more than one-half the owners of the properties who represent at least more than one-half the total value of all the properties on each project. Therefore, these projects were defeated. In addition, Project 4 was objected to by the minimum number of property owners required for defeat, but the assessed value represented by these objections has not met the required one-half of the total assessed value of the properties. However, due to the majority of property owners objecting, staff recommend the project not proceed. It was noted Project 24 will be reduced in scope. It was also recommended Projects 34, 42 and 43 not proceed because, due to the mail strike, there was insufficient time to advise owners of a revision to the original notification.

In a further report dated February 3, 1998, the Collector of Taxes noted that late objections were received for Projects 4 and 35. There was a sufficient number of signatures objecting to the project, but insufficient assessed value of the properties to defeat Project 4; however staff recommend it be defeated. There were insufficient signatures to defeat Project 32, and therefore it is recommended to proceed.

MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy,

SECONDED by Cllr.Clarke ,

THAT the report of the Special Assessment Roll for Court Nos. 582 and 583, submitted by the Collector of Taxes, dated February 3, 1998, be approved, with the corrections and changes as noted herein.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

RISE FROM COURT OF REVISION

MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy,

SECONDED by Cllr. Price,

THAT the Court of Revision rise and report.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

COUNCIL

RECEIVE REPORT OF COURT OF REVISION

MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy,

SECONDED by Cllr. Chiavario,

THAT the report of the Court of Revision be received.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

City Manager’s Administrative Report

Local Improvements Subsequent Procedure

January 12, 1998

Prior to considering the recommendations in the Administrative Report dated January 12, 1998, the following delegations were heard and actions taken as follows:

Project No. 582/004

Debra Frass, 4800 Block Elgin, submitted a letter advising of changes to the petition previously circulated to the property owners. One address has a new owner; the old owner signed the petition. One couple signed the petition; the wife now wishes to withdraw her signature.

Ms. Betty Norris, Local Improvements Clerk, recommended the project be reballotted.

MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy,

SECONDED by Cllr. Price,

THAT this project be reballotted.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Project No. 582/018

Michael Pozniak, 1700 East 13th, registered support for the project, but did not speak.

MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy,

SECONDED by Cllr. Kennedy,

THAT this project be approved.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Project No. 582/019

Ronald Sittrop, 400 Block East 18th Avenue, registered support for the project, but did not speak.

MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy,

SECONDED by Cllr. Herbert,

THAT this project be approved.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Project No. 582/028

Ted Batty, Streets Design & Construction Engineer, advised the project was before the previous Court as an Inititative Project but received sufficient opposition to be defeated. The property owners have collected enough signatures to submit the project by Petition.

June Scudler, Valerie Perrault, and Eduardo Aragon, 1500 Block East 5th Avenue, spoke against the project. Their Co-op was not approached to sign the petition. The Co-op has a large frontage and is currently looking at paying $1.5 million in water damage.

Vivian Lew, on behalf of Mo Lew, 1500 Block East 5th, also spoke against the project, and asked why their Co-op was not consulted.

Cynthia Lerose, 1500 Block East 5th Avenue, advised a number of property owners assisted in the collection of signatures. Once signatures were received from two-thirds of the property owners in support of the project, representing over 50% of the assessed property value, the petitioners stopped collecting additional signatures. Co-ops are entitled to only one vote per co-op. Residents in two large apartments blocks support the project. The area residents want to see the street improved.

Theresa Winkler and Olivia Scalzo, 1600 Block East 5th Avenue; and Sharon Hill and Maree Ferguson, 1500 Block East 5th Avenue; were registered in support of the project, but did not speak.

Jane McCourt, 1500 East 5th Avenue, requested the project be given some priority. The street paving was put behind one year when the Initiative Project did not pass.

Stephane Choulet, 1500 East 5th Avenue, spoke in favour of rebuilding the street. Currently, the street looks like a war zone.

cont’d

Project No. 582/028 (cont’d)

A member of Council suggested the difference in the voting requirements for condominium and co-ops needs to be addressed.

MOVED by Cllr. Clarke,

SECONDED by Cllr. Don Lee,

THAT this project be approved.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Project No. 582/34

Angela Wong, Ken Ball, Eugene Q. Mah, and Sheck Kwok, 1800 Block West 61st Avenue, registered support for the project, but did not address Council.

MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy,

SECONDED by Cllr. Daniel Lee,

THAT this project be approved.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Project No. 582/037

Jane Wolverton, 500 Block East 45th Avenue, spoke in opposition to the project. She expressed concern with an increase in traffic, thereby increasing the risk to children and animals. Also, Ms. Wolverton opposed the project for environmental reasons; the paving of more land causes more run-off incidents; very little water is absorbed into the ground. Paving of lanes is more for the convenience of automobiles than residents.

It was suggested speed bumps could be installed if speeding on the lane becomes a problem.

MOVED by Cllr. Clarke,

SECONDED by Cllr.Kennedy,

That this project be approved.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Project No. 582/038

Joan Cunningham, 3300 Block Church Street, opposed the project, stating it was an unnecessary expense.

MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy,

SECONDED by Cllr. Chiavario,

THAT this project be approved.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Project No. 582/041

Debra Frass, 4800 Block Elgin, opposed the project for the same reasons as for Project 004. The lane paving project will encourage cars to speed through. Ms. Frass expressed concerns for kindergarten and preschool children. In addition, there appears, in many instances, to be a communication barrier in obtaining signatures to the petition.

Ted Batty, Street Design & Construction Engineer, advised the information sent to residents on the projects states, in many languages, that the material is important, and requests the resident to call for an explanation if they do not understand.

MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy,

SECONDED by Cllr. Price,

THAT this project be reballoted.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Project No. 582/043

Mason Wong, 6600 Block Cartier, registered support for the project, but did not speak.

MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy,

SECONDED by Cllr. Herbert,

THAT this project be approved.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Project No. 582/044

Kitty Chan, for Chen Chan, and Jerry Jeremiah, 8300 Block Hudson, registered support for the project, but did not speak.

MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy,

SECONDED by Cllr. Daniel Lee,

THAT this project be approved.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Project No. 582/045

Alexander Lowenthal, 2600 Block Pt. Grey, opposed the project. Mr. Lowenthal expressed concern with potential drainage problems for his property, and enquired whether only the centre of the lane could be paved. Mr. Lowenthal also opposed the project for environmental reasons, stating the less pavement the better.

Ted Batty, Streets Design & Construction Engineer, advised residents are given options for paving, and centre step paving was one. When the paving work is begun, staff will be looking at the detailed design, and will pay particular attention to concerns raised at the Court of Revision.

Helen Lowenthal, 2600 Block Pt. Grey, opposed the project for environmental reasons. Birds and greenery are disappearing from the area; there must be some other way to control dust.

MOVED by Cllr. Clarke,

SECONDED by Cllr. Don Lee,

THAT this project be approved.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Project No. 582/051

Eric Broom, 2500 Block York, registered support for the project, but did not speak.

MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy,

SECONDED by Cllr. Clarke,

THAT this project be approved.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Project No. 582/052

Shelley South, 900 Block East 11th, opposed the project, noting three people who initiated the petition have moved. She also opposed the project for environmental reasons, expressing concern that children and animals will be at risk. Upon questioning, Ms. South withdrew her signature from the petition.

MOVED by Cllr. Kennedy,

SECONDED by Cllr. Price,

THAT this project be reballotted.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Project No. 582/053

Robert Long, 1300 Block East 13th Avenue, registered support for the project, but did not speak.

MOVED by Cllr. Daniel Lee,

SECONDED by Cllr. Bellamy,

THAT this project be approved.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Project No. 582/054

Michael Pozniak, 1700 East 13th Avenue, registered support for the project, but did not speak.

MOVED by Cllr. Clarke,

SECONDED by Cllr. Kennedy,

THAT this project be approved.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Project No. 582/055

Lawrence Candido, 2900 Block West 15th, registered support for the project, but did not speak.

MOVED by Cllr. Don Lee,

SECONDED by Cllr. Chiavario,

THAT this project be approved.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Project No. 582/062

Angelo Giglioti, 6100 Block Fremlin, supported the project, advising he took the petition around, and only one person opposed the project.

MOVED by Cllr. Don Lee,

SECONDED by Cllr. Herbert,

THAT this project be approved.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Project No. 583/003

Pamela Bush, 2200 Block McGill, did not oppose the project as designed, but urged there be some community input, including tenant input, in the final design of the project.

Greg Maine and Wayne Sober, 2200 Block McGill, supported the repaving and recurbing of the street. However, they did not want to see parking eliminated; the street should be wide enough to allow parking on both sides.

Ted Batty, Streets Design & Construction Engineer, advised the project proposed the design of bulges on the street and narrowing at the intersections. The design of bulges will provide more green space at the intersections and allow trees to be planted.

MOVED by Cllr. Clarke,

SECONDED by Cllr. Chiavario,

THAT the project be approved and that staff meet with the area residents to discuss design options.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Project No. 583/008

Holly Nguyen, 2000 Block Graveley, registered support to the project, but did not speak.

MOVED by Cllr. Don Lee,

SECONDED by Cllr. Herbert,

THAT this project be approved.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

A member of Council requested that future Courts of Revision include more complete addresses for the projects by noting whether the streets are "East" or "West".

Council then considered the Administrative Report dated January 12, 1998.

MOVED by Cllr. Clarke,

SECONDED by Cllr. Kennedy,

THAT Recommendations A and B of the General Manager of Engineering Services, as contained in the Administrative Report dated January 12, 1998, and quoted below, be approved, taking into account the specific actions taken this day:

A.THAT the projects "by petition" in Court #582 be approved.

B.THAT projects by "Initiative Principle" in Court #583 be approved except for the defeated items and special items #4, #24, #34, #42 and #43 as explained in this report.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

* * * * *

The Council adjourned at 9:05 p.m.

(c) 1997 City of Vancouver