STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
ON PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT

ACTIONS

DATE: Thursday, November 5, 1998

TIME: 2:00 p.m.

PLACE: Council Chamber

Third Floor, City Hall

At its meeting immediately following the November 5, 1998 Standing Committee on Planning and Environment meeting, Vancouver City Council approved the following recommendations of the Committee.

1. a) A Program of Strategic Actions for the Downtown Eastside -

Public Response and Implementation File # 8104

A. THAT recommendations below from the "Program of Strategic Actions for the Downtown Eastside" (set out in Appendix A of the Policy Report dated October 1, 1998) which relate to City operations, originally dated July 17, 1998, be approved with amendments as shown:

A1. THAT Council direct the Chief License Inspector, in cooperation with the Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood Integrated Services Team, to continue to ensure aggressive enforcement of:

i) applicable by-laws against businesses with negative impacts in the Downtown Eastside; and

ii) the Standards of Maintenance By-law in SRO accommodations in the Downtown Eastside;

A2. THAT Council direct the General Manager of Community Services and the Manager of Real Estate Services, in consultation with the Economic Development Commission, to report back by March 1999 on proposals to attract legitimate businesses to Hastings Street in the Downtown Eastside; and on the development of an economic revitalization program as proposed in the National Crime Prevention application;

A3. THAT Council authorize Outdoor Street Programming, on a trial basis until the end of 1999 to be operated by the Carnegie Centre at a cost of $150,000 for 1998 and 1999, with $20,000 for 1998 from Contingency Reserve;

A4. THAT the Mayor invite the Minister of Health, the Attorney General, the Minister of Children and Families, the Minister of Municipal Affairs, the Minister of Human Resources, the Minister of Education, and the Minister responsible for Housing to meet as soon as possible to discuss implementation of the proposed intergovernment and community program to address Downtown Eastside issues as proposed in the National Crime Prevention funding application;

AND FURTHER THAT the following section (iii) be added to recommendation E of Appendix 'A':

iii) to address the issues involved in the closure or relocation of licensed seating in the Downtown Eastside.

* italics denote amendment

B. THAT the remaining proposals in the Program of Strategic Actions which have not been actioned and the proposed Strategic Actions as shown in Appendix B of the Policy Report dated October 1, 1998 be endorsed as an initial agenda for work proposals with government partners and the community concerning the Downtown Eastside.

C. THAT staff give immediate priority to several short-term projects which will help improve conditions on the street and encourage better working relationships among groups in the area.

D. THAT Council request the Police Board to reallocate resources to provide the high level of police visibility in Chinatown, Gastown and along Hastings Street that was provided during this summer's special initiative.

E. THAT the City Manager be directed to contact staff of the Vancouver School Board, the Vancouver/Richmond Health Board, the Board of Parks & Recreation and other organizations as appropriate to ensure their involvement and participation.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

b) National Crime Prevention Program Funding Application -

"Building a Future Together - The Downtown Eastside
Revitalization Program" RTS # 326

File # 8104

A. THAT Council endorse the funding application generally as set out in the document entitled "Building a Future Together - The Downtown Eastside Revitalization Program", to the National Crime Prevention Program, Safer Cities Initiative, Crime Prevention Investment Fund, in the amount of $1.25 million each year for five years.

B. THAT the City Manager, Chief Constable and General Manager of Community Services report back to Council on the results of the application, and submit a detailed plan for implementing the Downtown Eastside Community Revitalization Program.

C. THAT copies of "Building a Future Together - The Downtown Eastside Community Revitalization Program" be sent to relevant Federal and Provincial Cabinet Ministers in preparation for future meetings.

D. THAT Council authorize the City Manager, in consultation with the Chief Constable and General Manager of Community Services, to develop proposal calls for consultant services and begin recruiting for key staff, implementation to be subject to approval of the application.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver