STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
ON CITY SERVICES AND BUDGETS

C O U N C I L DECISIONS

DATE: Thursday, March 11, 1999

TIME: 9:30 a.m.

PLACE: Committee Room No. 1

Third Floor, City Hall

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

1. 1999 Operating Budget - Preliminary Report File: 1605

A. THAT Council approve the following adjustments to the 1999 Operating Budget:

· addition of the major road network recovery of $1.8 million;
· funding the DTES Police Beat Team over two years, resulting in no change to the program agreed to with the Police Board; and

bringing the budget to a balanced position with a 3.4% property tax increase.

B. THAT the Director of Finance, in consultation with the Corporate Management Team, report back the interim estimates, including final adjustments to the budget, on April 15, 1999.

2. Three-Year Land Averaging for 1999 Property Tax Calculations File: 1551

A. THAT Council approve the continuation of three-year land value averaging as the 1999 property tax calculation methodology for the residential (Class 1) and business/other (Class 6) properties as discussed in the Policy Report, dated February 25, 1999, and that the property taxes for all other classes (Classes 2, 4, 5, 8 and 9) be calculated using market assessed values.

B. THAT the Directors of Finance and Legal Services be instructed to submit a bylaw to Council, for approval before March 31 of this year, which sets out the particulars of averaging in accordance with the provisions of the Vancouver Charter.

C. THAT Council instruct the Director of Finance to make appropriate arrangements with the BC Assessment Authority for the production of an averaged 1999 taxation roll, at an approximate cost of $20,000.

D. THAT the Director of Finance be authorised to place the required advertisements in a local newspaper notifying the City's taxpayers of Council's intent to implement three-year land averaging and showing the effects of averaging on sample properties within the City.

E. THAT staff provide an analysis and report back on the effects of three-year land averaging on single-family versus strata properties.

3. Heather Civic Marina 1999 Moorage Rates and Other Fees File: 1757

A. THAT the 1999 moorage rates, other fees and boat lift fees at Heather Civic Marina be increased by 1.5%, reflecting a general inflationary increase. Proposed fees are outlined in Appendix III of the Administrative Report, dated February 4, 1999, to be effective April 1, 1999.

B. THAT the proposed rate changes be posted at the Heather Civic Marina.

C. THAT Council approve new and non-recurring expenditures in the amount of $14,600 as outlined in Appendix IV of the Administrative Report dated February 4, 1999.

D. THAT appropriate staff inspect Heather Civic Marina to review boaters` concerns, in particular about fire safety, electrical and water availability.

A Regular Council meeting was convened immediately following the Standing Committee meeting.

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REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

A G E N D A

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES

I. Standing Committee of Council

on City Services and Budgets
March 11, 1999

At its meeting immediately following the Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets, Vancouver City Council approved the recommendations of the Committee as set out in its report dated March 11, 1999.

ENQUIRIES AND OTHER MATTERS

1. Expansion of Gaming in B.C.

MOVED by Cllr. Kennedy,
SECONDED by Cllr. Herbert,

THAT Council's motion of March 9, 1999 directing copies of the document "City of Vancouver Response to the Provincial Report on Gaming Legislation and Regulation in British Columbia" be sent to all member Municipalities in the UBCM, and to all Vancouver MP's and MLA's be expanded to include all B.C. MP's and MLA's.

2. Leave of Absence - Cllr. Price

MOVED by Cllr. Chiavario
SECONDED by Cllr. Bellamy,

THAT Cllr. Price be granted Leave of Absence for the period March 12 to 29 to attend study tours on housing and transportation as Chair of the Transportation and Traffic Standing Committee.

The meeting adjourned at 10:45 a.m.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver