CITY OF VANCOUVER

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL ON

CITY SERVICES AND BUDGETS

JULY 23, 1998

A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Thursday, July 23, 1998, at 10:55 a.m., in Committee Room No. 1, Third Floor, City Hall, following the Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets meeting, to consider the recommendations of the Committee.

PRESENT:	Mayor Philip Owen Councillor Don Bellamy Councillor Nancy A. Chiavario Councillor Jennifer Clarke Councillor Alan Herbert Councillor Daniel Lee Councillor Don Lee Councillor Gordon Price Councillor George Puil Councillor Sam Sullivan
ABSENT:	Councillor Lynne Kennedy (Sick Leave)
CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE:	Judy Rogers, Deputy City Manager
CLERK TO THE COUNCIL:	Tarja Tuominen

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Cllr. Puil,

SECONDED by Cllr. Bellamy,

THAT this Council resolve itself into Committee of the Whole, Mayor Owen in the chair.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Report of Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets

July 23, 1998

Council considered the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in the following clauses of the attached report:

Cl.1: Allocation of 1998 Cross-Cultural Expertise Grants

Cl.2: Grants Equal to Theatre Rent: 1998/99 Season

Cl.3: 1998 Capital Grant Allocations

Cl.4: Newsboxes on City Street Allowance

Clauses 1 to 3

MOVED by Cllr. Puil,

THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clauses 1 to 3 of this report, be approved.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY AND

BY THE REQUIRED MAJORITY

Clause 4

MOVED by Cllr. Puil,

THAT the recommendation of the Committee, as contained in Clause 4 of this report, be approved.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

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. Puil,

SECONDED by Cllr. Bellamy,

THAT the report of the Committee of the Whole be adopted.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

The Council adjourned at 11:00 a.m.

* * * * *

REPORT TO COUNCIL

STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL

ON CITY SERVICES AND BUDGETS

JULY 23, 1998

A Regular Meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on City Services and Budgets was held on Thursday, July 23, 1998 at 9:30 a.m., in Committee Room No. 1, Third Floor, City Hall.

PRESENT:	Councillor George Puil, Chair Mayor Philip Owen Councillor Don Bellamy Councillor Nancy A. Chiavario Councillor Jennifer Clarke Councillor Alan Herbert Councillor Daniel Lee Councillor Don Lee Councillor Gordon Price Councillor Sam Sullivan
ABSENT:	Councillor Lynne Kennedy (Sick Leave)
CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE:	Judy Rogers, Deputy City Manager
CLERK TO THE COMMITTEE:	Tarja Tuominen

RECOMMENDATION

1. Allocation of 1998 Cross-Cultural Expertise Grants File: 2201

The Committee had before it an Administrative Report, dated June 30, 1998 (on file) in which the Director of Community Services, Social Planning Department, recommended grants of $7,500 each to MOSAIC, in partnership with the Canadian Red Cross Child Abuse Prevention Program, and to Vancouver Second Mile Society, in partnership with United Native Nations.

Baldwin Wong, Social Planner, briefly reviewed the grant program and the recommendations submitted for consideration.

The following motion by Councillor Chiavario was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,

RECOMMENDED

THAT Council approve Cross-Cultural Expertise Grants to the following organizations, the source of funds being a $20,000 reserve in the 1998 Community Services Grants Budget:

a)a grant of $7,500 to MOSAIC, in partnership with the Canadian Red Cross Child Abuse Prevention Program;

b)a grant of $7,500 to Vancouver Second Mile Society, in partnership with United Native Nations.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

2. Grants Equal to Theatre Rent: 1998/99 Season File: 2055

The Committee had before it an Administrative Report, dated July 7, 1998 (on file) in which the Director, Office of Cultural Affairs recommended approval of grants equal to theatre rent for the Fall 1998 and Spring 1999 season.

Alice Niwinski, Cultural Planner, advised no appeals have been received in response to the recommended grants.

cont'd

Clause No. 2 (cont'd)

The following motion by Councillor Bellamy was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,

RECOMMENDED

A. THAT Council assign a base level of one rental use of the Orpheum to the Vancouver Youth Symphony Orchestra, and approve the transfer of $5,475 from the Project Grant category of the Cultural Grants budget to cover the cost of that rental use, leaving a balance of $3,240 in the Project budget.

B.THAT Council approve 11 rental grants not exceeding base levels and totalling $643,710, as listed in Table 1 of the Administrative Report, dated July 7, 1998 , for uses of the Civic Theatres in Fall 1998; source of funds to be the 1998 Grants Equal to Theatre Rent budget.

C.THAT Council approve in principle, subject to the 1999 Operating Budget Review process, 10 rental grants not exceeding base levels and totalling $827,145, as listed in Table 2 of the Administrative Report, dated July 7, 1998, for uses of the Civic Theatres in Spring 1999.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

3. 1998 Capital Grant Allocations File: 2055

The Committee had before it an Administrative Report, dated July 7, 1998 (on file), in which the Directors of Community Services, Social Planning, and Office of Cultural Affairs recommended capital grant allocations to seven organizations for the 1998 Capital Grants program.

Rick Gates, Social Planner, and Sue Harvey, Cultural Planner, were present to answer questions.

The following spoke in support of the grant requests submitted for consideration:

·Bev Gregg, Variety Learning Centre

·Marie Bourgeois, Societé Maison de la francophonie de Vancouver

cont'd

Clause No. 3 (cont'd)

The following motion by the Mayor was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,

RECOMMENDED

THAT 7 Capital Grants, totalling $103,200, as listed in Appendix A of the Administrative Report dated July 7, 1998, including conditions on the grants where noted, be approved.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

4. Newsboxes on City Street Allowance File: 2630

The Committee had before it a Policy Report, dated June 26, 1998 (on file) in which the General Manager of Engineering Services reviewed the existing policy on the placement of newsboxes on city street allowance, noted the experience of some other cities and recommended the establishment of a permit system.

Don Brynildsen, Assistant City Engineer, Streets, presented a brief overview of the report, which was written to address complaints on the number and conditions of newsboxes on city streets, as well as inequities in the present policy. Staff believe the proposed plan is the fairest compromise they can achieve. Mr. Brynildsen responded to questions on the present and proposed policy.

The following spoke in support of the proposed policy on newsboxes:

·Brent Beattie, Kerrisdale Business Association

·Charles Gauthier, Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association

·Vera Wynn-Williams, Robson Street Business Association

The foregoing supported the proposed policy based on one or more of the following points:

· an issue for BIA’s is beautifying the area; newspaper boxes are a sore thumb;

·the new newsboxes could enhance the street, and with a different design,cut down on graffiti;

·currently have unregulated placement of newspapers;

·newsboxes occupy prominent locations, but most are rundown and have rust, dents, graffiti, posters, and stickers; they attract vandals;

cont'd

Clause No. 4 (cont'd)

·Business Associations have tried to make the industry clean up, and to resolve problems with clean-up, but the majority have ignored the request;

·one amendment to the proposed guidelines is requested: newsboxes with graffiti should be removed within one day, not three business days;

·Business Associations do not have time for self-regulation;

·three newsboxes per corner is strongly advocated; currently, Robson Street has seven or eight.

The following expressed concern with the proposed implementation of a permit system:

·

Mike Pellant, Pacific Press (brief filed)

·Tim Harrison, The Globe and Mail (brief filed)

The foregoing speakers had concerns with one or more of the following aspects of the proposed policy:

·allocation of newspaper box locations;

·limiting of the number of newspaper boxes to three per location;

·the conducting of a lottery if box placement becomes an issue, with preference given to those who do not already have a box at the location;

·the charge of both a license fee and a permit fee;

Mr. Pellant requested a trial period of self regulation by all publishers concerning box condition and graffiti.

In response to questions, Paul Teichroeb, Chief Licensing Officer, responded to questions on what is covered under the $21 permit fee.

Bonnie Des Lauriers, Supervisor, Street Activities, responded to questions on how the proposed lottery for newsboxes may work.

The following motion by Councillor Chiavario was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,

cont'd

Clause No. 4 (cont'd)

RECOMMENDED

A.That previous policies for allowing newsboxes on streets (which permitted only locally produced newspapers with daily circulation over 1.5% of the population) be rescinded.

B.That the placement of newsboxes on city street allowance be prohibited except with permit issued by the General Manager of Engineering Services.

C.That the placement of newsboxes on City streets be subject to the guidelines outlined in Appendix I of the Policy Report dated June 26, 1998.

D.That permits be issued by Engineering Services subject to the guidelines and conditions shown in Appendix I of the Policy Report dated June 26, 1998, at an annual cost of $20.00 per newsbox (plus GST) in addition to the existing $21.00 Vending Machine License fee for coin-operated boxes.

E.That all Publishers having newsboxes on City Street allowance be required to enter into a license agreement with the City and accept liability for their newsboxes to the satisfaction of the Director of Risk Management.

F.That a one time temporary three month position, an annual three month position (6 months in the first year and 3 months each following year) and the purchase of necessary supplies and equipment be approved to set up, administer and enforce the newsbox program. Funding to come from program revenues (details shown in Appendix III of the Policy Report dated June 26, 1998).

G.That the General Manager of Engineering Services be authorized to approve pilot projects for the installation of newsbox enclosures, multiple publication vending structures and/or staffed newsstands if appropriate proposals are submitted by BIA and media representatives. Costs would be shared between interested parties with the City contributing a maximum of $10,000 for newsbox enclosures only.

H.That the General Manager of Engineering Services be authorized to approve individual colour schemes and designs for news vending boxes.

cont'd

Clause No. 4 (cont'd)

I.That the Director of Legal Services prepare appropriate License agreements to reflect Recommendations A to H, and the City Engineer be authorized to sign such agreements on behalf of the City.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

The meeting adjourned at 10:55 a.m.

*****

(c) 1998 City of Vancouver