CITY OF VANCOUVER

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL ON
PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT

JULY 8, 1999

A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Thursday, July 8, 1999, at 4:25 p.m., in Committee Room No. 1, Third Floor, City Hall, following the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment meeting, to consider the recommendations of the Committee.

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

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy,
SECONDED by Cllr. Sullivan,

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

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Report of Standing Committee on Planning and Environment
July 8, 1999

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

Cl.1: Secondary Suites: Program Compliance,

Phase-Out Suites and Enforcement Issues

Cl.2: CityPlan Community Vision Program - Continuation
Cl.3: Implementation of Kensington-Cedar Cottage

and Dunbar Community Visions

Clauses 1, 2 and 3

MOVED by Cllr. Sullivan,

THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clauses 1, 2 and 3 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. Bellamy,
SECONDED by Cllr. Sullivan,

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

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

The Council adjourned at 4:30 p.m.
_ _ _ _ _

REPORT TO COUNCIL

STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
ON PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT

JULY 8, 1999

A Regular Meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on Planning and Environment was held on Thursday, July 8, 1999, at 2:00 p.m., in Committee Room No. 1, Third Floor, City Hall.

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

*denotes presence for part of the meeting

ADOPTION OF MINUTES

The Minutes of the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment dated June 17, 1999, were adopted.

RECOMMENDATION

1. Secondary Suites: Program Compliance,

Phase-Out Suites and Enforcement Issues File: 4654

The Committee had before it a Policy Report dated June 18, 1999 (on file), in which the Director of City Plans, Chief License Inspector and City Building Inspector, in consultation with the Director of the Housing Centre and Director of Legal Services, gave an overview of the secondary suite program, and discussed related enforcement issues. Several options were outlined; staff recommended Option 4: to pursue ways to bring more secondary suites into legal conformity while also investigating more effective enforcement methods; and in the meantime, allow phase-out suites whose permit expiry date comes up while this work is underway to remain in operation. The General Manager of Community Services also recommended approval of Option 4.

Trish French, Senior Planner, reviewed the report and rationale for the recommendations. It would be inequitable to enforce closure of phase-out suites when so many illegal suites would remain open. More effective enforcement methods will be pursued. It may be possible to increase compliance and reduce illegal suites through less stringent upgrading requirements.

While generally favourable to the proposed review, the following speakers requested Council legalize suites as a permitted use in all single-family areas of the City:

Vanessa Geary, Tenants' Rights Action Coalition (brief filed)
Erin Goodman, Tenants' Rights Action Coalition
Henry Dewijze
James Harwood

Following are some of the comments made by the foregoing speakers:

· the existing secondary suites program is not working, as evidenced by the rates of non-compliance;
· secondary suites provide much-needed affordable housing;
· secondary suites are an environmentally responsible use of land;
· the existing division of the city into suite and non-suite areas is discriminatory;
· considerable uncertainty has been created in the phase-out areas;
· tenants of illegal suites cannot complain about hazardous conditions or poor maintenance for fear of losing their accommodation;
· the secondary suite program is a good example of expensive and ineffective over-regulation of private property.
Clause No. 1 Continued

Linda Whittaker commented on potential hardships which may be caused for the property owner by enforcement procedures.

Jacob Friesen, CEC Canada Foundation (business plan filed), advised that this new association will be putting up Christian schools across Canada, and hopes to use existing affordable housing for its students. Renters should not be treated as undesirables.

Barb Wright, Cedar Cottage Neighbourhood Association (CECONA), also expressed concern that many tenants living in unsafe conditions are unable to get them rectified because the suites are illegal. Ms. Wright felt this ongoing situation may not be rectified by the staff recommendations.

Paul Teichroeb, Chief License Inspector, responded to questions regarding enforcement against illegal suites.

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

RECOMMENDED

A. THAT Council endorse Option 4 as outlined in the Policy Report dated June 18, 1999: to pursue ways to bring more secondary suites into legal conformity while also investigating more effective enforcement methods; and in the meantime allow phase-out suites whose permit expiry date comes up while this work is underway to remain in operation.

B. THAT Council request staff to report back in early 2000 on the details of work program and resources required to implement Option 4.

C. THAT Council instruct the Chief Licence Inspector to withhold enforcement on phase-out suite use for up to 3 years from the date of adoption of these Recommendations, other than in cases of safety hazard, or other circumstances where he may deem enforcement necessary.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

2. CityPlan Community Vision Program - Continuation File: 5340

On June 22, 1999, City Council referred this item to the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment for delegations to be heard. Accordingly, the Committee had before it a Policy Report dated June 9, 1999 (on file), in which the Director of City Plans, in consultation with the City Plan Department Heads Steering Committee, reported on an adjusted Community Vision Program, with options for timing, staffing and resources to prepare Visions for other communities. Recommendations of the Director of City Plans and General Manager of Community Services are generally reflected in the recommendations of this report.

Ann McAfee, Director of City Plans, briefly reviewed the progress of Visioning in the two pilot areas of Kensington-Cedar Cottage and Dunbar (see Clause 3 of this report). Dr. McAfee commented that these processes worked well, with good community involvement. There has been no fundamental change of direction, and a similar program is recommended for future Visioning in other neighbourhoods.

Trish French, Senior Planner, reviewed the proposed work plan, neighbourhoods to be reviewed and the order in which they will undergo Visioning in pairs. Ms. French also reviewed the proposed budget. It was noted staff have submitted for Council's consideration whether to include site offices, which may serve a more symbolic than practical use.

Dr. McAfee and Ms. French responded to questions about staffing, budget, the areas to be reviewed and how the order of review was determined, existing older neighbourhood plans, methods of review for non-single family neighbourhoods, and public involvement.

Jacquie Forbes-Roberts, Acting General Manager of Community Services, provided further clarification of budget and staffing considerations,

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

RECOMMENDED

A. THAT Council approve continuing the Community Visions Program, through the predominantly single family areas of the city, with adjustments to program steps, components, and schedule as described in the Policy Report dated June 9, 1999; and that staff revise the CityPlan Community Visions Terms of Reference document to reflect these changes.

Clause No. 2 Continued

B. THAT Council approve combining the eligible areas into seven Vision areas, as shown in Figure 2 of the Policy Report dated June 9, 1999, doing two at a time in the order described in this report.

C. THAT Council authorize funding of $393,550 [as outlined in Appendix D of the Policy Report dated June 9, 1999] for 1999, with the sources of funding being $108,000 carried over from the existing Community Vision Program budget, and the remaining $285,550 to be funded from Contingency Reserve.

D. THAT the following amounts, as described in Appendix E of the Policy Report dated June 9, 1999, be added to future Planning Department budgets as project funding to complete the Vision Program in the areas outlined in this report:

YEAR	AMOUNT
2000	$473,800
2001	$461,280
2002	$499,200
2003	$456,750
2004	$205,750
2005	$85,490

E. THAT site offices not be established in communities during the Vision program, but that staff presence be maintained in other ways outlined in the Policy Report dated June 9, 1999.

F. THAT the Director of City Plans report in early 2001 on details of a program to “re-vision” the areas of the City which have older local plans in place and which are not to be covered by the Community Vision Program.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

3. Implementation of Kensington-Cedar Cottage

and Dunbar Community Visions File: 5340

On June 22, 1999, City Council referred this item to the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment for delegations to be heard. Accordingly, the Committee had before it a Policy Report dated June 10, 1999 (on file), in which the Director of City Plans, in consultation with the City Plan Department Heads Steering Committee, recommended Council approval of a strategy to implement and monitor the Dunbar and Kensington-Cedar Cottage Community Visions, including action plans, and budget requests for staffing and communications. The General Manager of Community Services also recommended approval, as reflected in the recommendations of this report.

Susan Anderson, Senior Planner, reviewed the strategy and budget for implementation of the two Council approved Community Visions . Not all actions can be achieved or started in the short term using existing resources; examples were provided. Ms. Anderson referenced communications and outreach, as well as community development support to assist with local volunteer initiatives.

The following speakers supported the proposed implementation strategies:

Barb Wright, Kensington-Cedar Cottage Vision Implementation Steering Committee
Sailen Black, Dunbar Neighbourhood Council
Valerie Jones, Dunbar Neighbourhood Council
Peggy Schofield, Dunbar Residents Association

Following are some of the comments made by the speakers:

· the Visioning program has been a major step forward to show how communities can work with the City and Council;
· with this framework, communities will be better able to deal with issues before they become serious problems;
· communications and outreach and effective use of volunteers will be significant factors in successful implementation;
· it is very useful for communities to have an identified contact person, someone specific to call at City Hall;
· residents want to be included in the decision-making process;
· liaison groups in the pilot project neighbourhoods have gained skills and experience which will make them helpful resources to communities beginning Visioning;
· civil engineering and economic development resources will be needed to help sort out the problems of business streets.

Clause No. 3 Continued

Ann McAfee, Director of City Plans, confirmed the City will welcome volunteers coming forward to assist.

Ms. Anderson advised the BIA Coordinator will be working with the communities regarding economic development.

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

RECOMMENDED

A. THAT Council approve the Community Vision implementation and monitoring strategy described in the Policy Report dated June 10, 1999, including the Dunbar and Kensington-Cedar Cottage Action Plans (Appendix A) attached to the report..

B. THAT Council approve hiring a temporary Planner I for a 28 month period to co-ordinate work on implementation and monitoring activities related to the Dunbar and Kensington-Cedar Cottage Visions. Total cost including benefits, overtime and computer is $151,540 with the 1999 cost of $24,648 being from Contingency Reserve and amounts of $63,446 being added to the Planning Department’s 2000 and 2001 Operating Budgets.

C. THAT Council approve hiring a temporary Civil Engineer for a 28 month period to work on developing comprehensive arterial plans for Knight Street, Kingsway, and Dunbar Streets. Total cost including benefits and computer is $163,660 with the 1999 cost of $26,380 being funded from Contingency Reserve and amounts of $68,640 being added to the Engineering Department’s 2000 and 2001 Operating Budgets.

D. THAT Council approve a budget of $50,000 for communications and outreach expenses in Dunbar and Kensington-Cedar Cottage for Vision implementation activities in the 28 period ending December 2001 with the $10,000 for programs in 1999 being funded from Contingency Reserve and the remaining $40,000 being added to the Planning Department’s 2000 Operating Budget with carry over of any unspent project funds to 2001.

Clause No. 3 Continued

E. THAT staff report back with a strategy and budget for providing community development support in Kensington-Cedar Cottage to assist with local volunteer initiatives.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

(Councillor Puil not present for the vote)

The Committee adjourned at 4:25 p.m.

* * * * *

(c) 1998 City of Vancouver