STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL

ON CITY SERVICES AND BUDGETS

A C T I O N S

DATE: Thursday, March 26, 1997

TIME: 9:30 a.m.

PLACE: Committee Room No. 1

Third Floor, City Hall

*FOR INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT TARJA TUOMINEN, 873-7191*

1. Proposed Busking Program File: 2631

A.THAT busking be prohibited on city street allowance except under permit issued by the General Manager of Engineering Services or in established "Free Busking" areas.

B.THAT "Free Busking" areas be established; and the General Manager of Engineering Services be authorized to review and adjust these locations when appropriate.

C.THAT permits be issued by Engineering Services subject to the guidelines and conditions shown in the revised Appendix II, dated March 16, 1998, at a cost of $75.00 per year or $25.00 per four month term, plus GST.

D.THAT the Director of Legal Services make the appropriate by-law amendments to reflect the above and request an amendment to the Vancouver Charter to allow for confiscation of instruments, props or other busking paraphernalia, when dealing with an aggressive and non-compliant person who will not respond to a request to move, shut down or otherwise desist from behaviour in contravention of the by-law.

E.THAT the program be reviewed during the year; the review to include discussion with the buskers and the staff committee.

FURTHER THAT staff report back after one year, or earlier if required, providing an analysis of the program and any recommended changes.

F.THAT buskers be permitted to sell recordings of their original work without a street vending permit. The sale of any other items would not be permitted.

G.THAT Guideline #2 which prohibits amplification be amended to permit amplification under the following conditions:

(1) No external power source may be used;

(2)Buskers who wish to use a battery powered amplifier must attend an information session where conditions and concerns will be outlined and sign an agreement to comply with noise and time limit guidelines.

Staff will monitor problems and complaints during the first season and report back if prohibition appears necessary.

H.THAT Guideline #3 limiting performance times to 60 minutes be extended to include the evening hours.

I.THAT the BIAs who wish to participate be permitted to manage up to three busking permits within the boundaries of their area and subject to the Busking Guidelines (similar to the program currently run by the Gastown Business Improvement Society). These permits could be redistributed by the BIA through recruitment, auditions or hiring on either a full-time or rotating basis.

2. Tourism Vancouver - 1998 Business Plan and Budget File: 6008

THAT Council approve the portion of the Greater Vancouver Convention and Visitors Bureau’s (Tourism Vancouver's) 1998 Business Plan funded by the 2% hotel tax, and that the 2% Hotel Tax payments received by the City for the 1998 fiscal year be forwarded to Tourism Vancouver as and when they are received by the City.

COUNCIL

BY-LAWS

1.A By-law to authorize the diversion of funds to implement demonstration street car line interurban car operation in False Creek South.

ENQUIRIES AND OTHER MATTERS

1. Needle Exchange Program File: 4113

Councillor Price referred to the discussion at Council’s meeting on March 24, 1998 related to the Needle Exchange Program, which arose during consideration of the 1998 Community Services Grant Allocations (A13).

Information relayed to him from the Britannia Community Safety Office suggests the request to the Minister of Health seeking an independent audit should be amended to request the Auditor General to conduct a performance audit of the Program.

MOVED by Cllr Price,

SECONDED by Cllr. Puil,

THAT the Auditor General be requested to conduct a performance audit of the needle exchange system.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver