CITY OF VANCOUVER
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held
on Thursday, February 22, 1996, at 3:00 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 Owen, Chair
Councillors Bellamy, Chiavario, Hemer, Ip, Kennedy,
Kwan, Price and Puil
ABSENT: Councillor Clarke (Sick Leave)
Councillor Sullivan (Leave of Absence)
CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE: Ken Dobell
CLERK: Nancy Largent
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy,
SECONDED by Cllr. Hemer,
THAT this Council resolve itself into Committee of the Whole, Mayor
Owen in the Chair.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Report of the Standing Committee
on Planning and Environment
February 22, 1996
The Council considered the recommendations of the Committee, as
contained in the following clauses of the attached report:
Cl.1 By-law Amendments to Security Alarm System By-law 7111
Cl.2 3725 Renfrew Street
Cl.3 1996/1997 Transit Service Plan
Clause 1, 2 and 3
MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy,
THAT the recommendations of the Committee as set out in Clauses 1,
2 and 3 of the attached report, be approved.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
MANAGER'S REPORTS
1. Administrative Report
February 19, 1996
Contaminated Sites Regulations File: 3759-3
Before Council was an Administrative Report dated February 19,
1996, in which the Special Office for the Environment, in consultation
with the Director of Legal Services, expressed concerns with Draft 3 of
the Contaminated Sites Regulation to allow further review.
Mr. Doug Roberts, Manager of Environmental Protection, reviewed the
report and rationale for the recommendations. Substantive changes have
been made in the draft regulations following review and municipalities'
input, but there is still concern about standards and how they were
developed.
Mr. Dave Rudberg, General Manager of Engineering Services, provided
further clarification with respect to the standards.
MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy,
THAT the recommendation of the City Manager, as contained in 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 THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy,
SECONDED by Cllr. Puil,
THAT the report of the Committee of the Whole be adopted.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
* * * * *
Council adjourned at approximately 3:10 p.m.
* * * * *REPORT TO COUNCIL
STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
ON PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT
FEBRUARY 22, 1996
A meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on Planning and
Environment was held on Thursday, February 22, 1996, at 2:00 p.m., in
Committee Room No. 1, Third Floor, City Hall.
PRESENT: Councillor Price, Chair
Mayor Owen
Councillor Bellamy
Councillor Chiavario
Councillor Hemer
Councillor Ip
Councillor Kwan
Councillor Puil
ABSENT: Councillor Clarke (Sick Leave)
Councillor Sullivan (Leave of Absence)
CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE: Ken Dobell
CLERK: Nancy Largent
ADOPTION OF MINUTES
The Minutes of the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment
meeting of January 18, 1996, were adopted as circulated.
RECOMMENDATION
1. By-law Amendment to Security
Alarm System By-law 7111 File: 3701-5
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated January
22, 1996 (on file), in which the Chief Constable recommended amendments
to the Security Alarm System By-law reflected in recommendations A and B
of this report. The amendments would require alarm companies who
provide a monitoring service to an alarm system user to ensure the user
holds a current permit, and to report the permit number when reporting
an alarm incident to the Police. The intent of these amendments is to
reduce the number of false alarm incidents reported from non-permitted
alarm systems by alarm monitoring services.
Acting Staff Sergeant Barb Morris and Acting Corporal Gord Coburn,
Vancouver Police Department, briefly reviewed the rationale for the
proposed amendments. They also responded to queries regarding alarm
response time, false alarm enforcement procedures, cost recovery, and
how the proposed amendments will make alarm service more effective.
Mr. Peter Wilson, Canadian Alarm and Security Association, felt the
City's false alarm reduction program is generally a good program and
well administered. However, the proposed amendments will transfer
responsibility for obtaining an alarm permit from the user to the false
alarm companies. Mr. Wilson felt the Police Department already has
adequate methods of enforcement against continual false alarms.
The following motion by Councillor Hemer was put and carried.
Therefore, the Committee
RECOMMENDED
A. THAT the Security Alarm System By-law be amended to require
alarm companies who provide a monitoring service with an alarm
system user ensure the user holds a current Security Alarm
System Permit; and
B. THAT the Security Alarm System By-law be amended to require
alarm monitoring services to report the premises' Security
Alarm System Permit Number when reporting an alarm incident to
the Vancouver Police Department.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
2. 3725 Renfrew Street File: 2501-3
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated February
6, 1996 (on file), in which the Director of Permits and Licenses
recommended Council instruct him to withhold enforcement action
regarding the use of the first storey of 3725 Renfrew Street as a
children's dance studio with ancillary retail, for the life of the
existing building. The building had been used for this purpose since
1981, with the use approved by the Board of Variance with a number of
extensions. However, the most recent development permit expired under
unusual circumstances precluding a further extension by the Board of
Variance. There have been no recorded complaints.
The General Manager of Community Services recommended approval of
the Director's recommendation.
The following motion by Councillor Hemer was put and carried.
Therefore, the Committee
RECOMMENDED
THAT Council instruct the Director of permits & Licenses to
withhold enforcement action regarding the use of the first storey
of 3725 Renfrew Street as a children's dance studio with ancillary
retail for the life of the existing building.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
3. 1996/1997 Transit Service Plan File: 5551-3
The Vancouver Regional Transit Commission recently approved the
1996/1997 Annual Service Plan, outlining service changes for the
upcoming year, and forwarded it to the municipalities for comment.
Therefore, the Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated
February 8, 1996 (on file), in which the General Manager of Engineering
Services pointed out a number of earlier City recommendations for
improved transit service which are not being implemented. The General
Manager recommended these be reiterated and also put forward
recommendations regarding a new route linking central Broadway, the
Downtown and Waterfront Station and development of more innovative fare
policies, as reflected in recommendations A through D of this report.
Mr. Wayne Pledger, Transit Engineer, reviewed the report and
rationale for the proposed recommendations. Mr. Pledger also responded
to queries concerning the Hastings Park and Ride Service and the
proposed Broadway Express.
Ms. Donalda Reid, Principal of Oppenheimer School, discussed the
difficulties which children living in the Fraser Lands have in accessing
the school by bus, due to the lack of linkages. When considering
accessing Fraser Lands by bus, Ms. Reid requested the need for a loop
going between Fraser Lands and the school, as well as the need for
wheelchair accessibility, be seriously considered.
Mr. Pledger confirmed B.C. Transit does not propose to link the #29
and #26 bus routes, creating a gap in service from Fraser Lands to
Oppenheimer School. During previous discussions with Fraser Lands
residents, Fraserview Drive residents strongly opposed a bus route on
their street which could have provided a link. It was also expected a
school would be constructed in the Fraser Lands. Residents could be re-
polled clarifying the school children's difficulties in reaching the
school, and explaining a new school will not be constructed in the
Fraser Lands in the near future.
The Committee supported the recommendations of the General Manager
of Engineering Services, but felt Council should also reiterate its
concern regarding a West End loop (second section of recommendation B).
The Committee also requested staff to report back on the issue presented
by the principal of Oppenheimer School.
The following motions by Councillor Bellamy were put and carried.
Therefore, the Committee
RECOMMENDED
A. THAT Council again request BC Transit to develop new service
design guidelines, and implement improved data collection,
transit planning and management methods as outlined in
Appendix A of the Administrative Report dated February 8,
1996, in order to allocate service in a more objective and
rational method, and address some of the chronic transit
customer problems such as insufficient levels of services,
crowding, and unreliability.
B. THAT Council express its concern to BC Transit that the new
transit services required for the emerging high density
residential areas on the north shore of False Creek and in
Riverside/Fraser Lands have not been implemented yet, and
request that these services be initiated quickly in order to
establish and encourage transit use; and
FURTHER THAT BC Transit be asked to consider a West End
routing that includes a Davie, Denman, Robson and
Homer/Richards or Pacific Boulevard loop trolley service.
C. THAT BC Transit develop options for a new route linking
Central Broadway, the Downtown and Waterfront Station.
D. THAT BC Transit consider providing more innovative fare
policies in order to encourage ridership, such as group based
discounts for educational, other government and major
employment institutions.
E. THAT staff re-poll the Fraserview Drive neighbourhood
regarding the possibility of linking the No. 29 and No. 26
buses and report back to the Vancouver Traffic Commission.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
* * * * *
The Committee adjourned at 3:00 p.m.
* * * * *