REPORT TO COUNCIL

VANCOUVER CITY PLANNING COMMISSION

February 3, 1998

1. Request for Funding for Broadway Corridor LRT Event File: 3107

Summary

The proposed $1.5 billion Broadway LRT raises major issues for the City of Vancouver.

The issues are various and complex and warrant an early, complete exploration.

When a broad view of the options is taken, there may be scenarios that provide significant benefits to all stakeholders.

The VCPC is requesting this grant to sponsor an event that would result in the development of some broader "win-win" scenarios, as happened with the lecture and workshop on South East False Creek sponsored by the Planning Commission and its partners in 1997.

Background

In May of 1996, the VCPC undertook a survey of Councillors and senior staff on the role of the Commission. Councillors suggested that the Commission take a more future-oriented perspective in dealing with issues and that the Commission have more of a public presence.

In April of 1997, in response to Councillors’ suggestions, the VCPC sponsored (with the SFU City Program and the International Centre for Sustainable Cities) a public lecture and all-day workshop, "Cents and Sustainability - a Case Study of South East False Creek".

Feedback from Councillors and staff suggested that the event was very successful in promoting discussion and eliciting policy advice for Council in a way which none of the other advisory bodies, nor the Planning Department, was in a position to do.

The VCPC would like to perform a similar role in the context of the proposed LRT within the Broadway Corridor.

Cont'd

Clause No. 1 cont'd

The Proposal

The Topic

LRT in the Broadway Corridor has the potential to significantly affect Vancouver over the long term.

The Protocol Agreement, while approved by Council, has not been signed; the contemplated "go/no-go" decision has not been made; and, the planning issues have yet to be explored in detail by staff.

The proposed LRT would be served by a wider discussion about routing, alignment, possible linkages and the construction of the LRT in a mature urban environment. These issues warrant the consideration of a breadth of views which should involve and be available to the broader community - business, academic and political.

The VCPC sees an opportunity to solicit expertise, both local and from elsewhere, to assist in formulating a strategy to pursue this planning initiative.

Objectives

To make available to Council and staff information and expertise related to the possibilities and pitfalls of the proposed $1.5 billion LRT line along the Broadway Corridor - with particular emphasis on the planning issues related to the construction of an LRT system in a mature urban environment.

To pursue early discussion of these planning issues - before Council and staff have finalized policy.

To reinforce and broaden the notion of the "Broadway Corridor" extending from UBC to Boundary Road.

Cont'd

Clause No. 1 cont'd

The Event

The VCPC would develop the specific format of the event in consultation with interested parties. The consultation process itself would raise awareness of the issues and interests involved. Possible formats include a workshop, a series of panel discussions or a design charrette.

Whatever the format, it would have the following characteristics:

Provide a forum to facilitate discussion.

Convene a wide cross-section of the business/development, academic and political communities.

Draw on local and, possibly, national and international expertise.

Try to take advantage of experts attending the Railvolution meeting in Portland in September 1998.

Provide information to Councillors and City staff to allow them to better craft policy directions.

Involve other agencies like Simon Fraser University and/or the University of British Columbia. (The facilities and administrative resources of SFU’s City Program were essential to the South East False Creek event.)

Budget

The expenses associated with a special program of this nature are beyond the operating grant of the VCPC ($47,000).

The additional grant requested for this Broadway LRT event program is $20,000.

Cont’d

Clause No. 1 cont’d

Twenty thousand dollars was the cost of the South East False Creek lecture and workshop, funding for which came from the Real Estate Foundation of British Columbia, the VanCity Community Partnership Program, the Vancouver Foundation, the Koerner Foundation and attendance fees.

Charitable foundations do not represent a repeat source of funding for this sort of event.

This funding would be specifically designated for this event. If, for whatever reason, the VCPC were unable to sponsor the event as described, the money would not be spent.

Therefore, the Commission

RECOMMENDS

THAT the VCPC be allocated a one-time grant of $20,000 to cover net expenses directly associated with an event designed to explore the issues the City faces in connection with the proposed LRT line along the Broadway Corridor; source of funds to be the 1998 ‘Other’ Grants budget.

(signed)"Jane Bird" Chair

Vancouver City Planning Commission

CITY MANAGER'S COMMENTS

The City Manager believes the proposed event would be useful. However, the funding for this extension of the Vancouver City Planning Commission activities is a grant, and accordingly, the City manager submits the above report for Council’s CONSIDERATION.

Approval by Council would require 8 affirmative votes.

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(c) 1997 City of Vancouver