ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT


                                                    Date:  November 6, 1995


     TO:        Vancouver City Council

     FROM:      General Manager, Corporate Services

     SUBJECT:   Transfer of BIA Function and 
                Position to the City Clerk's Department



     RECOMMENDATION

          THAT  Council   approve  the   transfer  of  the   BIA  (Business
          Improvement Area) function, staff position #4373, and  delegation
          hosting function,  along with related funding  ($83,300 in 1995),
          to the City Clerk's Department. 


     GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS

          The General  Manager of Corporate Services  supports placing this
          function and position in the City Clerk Department.


     COUNCIL POLICY

     On September 14, 1995,  Council approved the following recommendations
     concerning the Economic Development Task Force - Final Report:

          THAT  Council defer  approval  of the  Transfer  of the  BIA
          (Business Improvement Area) function, staff  position #4373,
          and delegation  hosting Function, along with related funding
          ($83,300 in 1995), pending  a report back from staff  on the
          appropriate location of the function.


     PURPOSE

     The purpose of  this report is to  recommend that Council  approve the
     transfer  of the  BIA function  and hosting  function, along  with the
     related budget and position to the City Clerk.


     DISCUSSION

     When this issue was brought to Council on September 14, there was some
     uncertainty  as to the best  location for this  function and position.
     After  discussions with the General Manager  of Community Services and
     the City Clerk,  and after  receiving comments from  BIA's, it  became
     clear that the most effective placement  would be in the City  Clerk's
     area for the following reasons:

          1.   Some of the BIA's preferred that BIA's be kept separate
               from  the  Planning/Community  Services group  as  they
               wished to keep an  independent channel of communication
               open;

          2.   The City Clerk is responsible for Sister Cities and the

               hosting  function  is a  natural  fit  so the  proposed
               transfer will provide resources to assist in this area;
               and,

          3.   The BIA function also  can provide additional  contacts
               and  information  sources  for  the  City  Clerk's  Co-
               ordinated City response team.

     Overall, the most benefits are obtained by moving this function to the
     City Clerk.


     CONCLUSION

     After reviewing the  options, it is clear that the  maximum benefit to
     City  Operations would  be  obtained by  moving  the BIA  and  Hosting
     functions,  along with  the position  and budget  to the  City Clerk's
     Department.



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