CITY OF VANCOUVER
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on
Thursday, February 29, 1996, at 10:55 a.m., in Committee Room No. 1,
Third Floor, City Hall, following the Standing Committee on City
Services and Budgets meeting, to consider the recommendations of the
Committee.
PRESENT: Mayor Owen
Councillors Bellamy, Chiavario,
Clarke, Hemer, Ip,
Kennedy, Kwan, Puil
and Sullivan
ABSENT: Councillor Price
CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE: Ken Dobell, City Manager
CLERK TO THE COUNCIL: Tarja Tuominen
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Cllr. Puil,
SECONDED by Cllr. Bellamy,
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 City Services and Budgets
February 29. 1996
Council considered the recommendations of the Committee, as
contained in the following clauses of the attached report:
Cl. 1: BIA Grant Request -
Theatre Row Business Association
Cl. 2: Approval of 1996 Special Events
Cl. 3: 1996 Property tax Calculations
BIA Grant Request -
Theatre Row Business Association
Clause 1
MOVED by Cllr. Puil,
THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clause
1 of this report, be approved.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY AND
BY THE REQUIRED MAJORITY
Approval of 1996 Special Events
Clause 2
MOVED by Cllr. Puil,
THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clause
2 of this report, be approved.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
1996 Property Tax Calculations
Clause 3
MOVED by Cllr. Puil,
THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clause
3 of this report, be approved.
- CARRIED
(Councillor Kwan opposed)
MANAGER'S REPORTS
MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy,
THAT the "In-Camera" reports before Council this day be
considered in Open Council.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
1. Administrative Report
(February 27, 1996)
Transfer of the Operation of Taylor Manor File: 4656-3
to Little Mountain Residential Care &
Housing Society
MOVED by Cllr. Clarke,
THAT the recommendation of the General Manager of Community
Services, as contained in this report, be approved.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
2. Administrative Report
(February 27, 1996)
Transfer of Cordova House Continuing File: 4652-3
Care Facility to The Wilberforce
Cooper Care Society
MOVED by Cllr. Clarke,
THAT the recommendation of the General Manager of Community
Services, 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. Puil,
SECONDED by Cllr. Bellamy,
THAT the report of the Committee of the Whole be adopted.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
The Council adjourned at approximately 11:05 a.m.
* * * * *
REPORT TO COUNCIL
STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
ON CITY SERVICES AND BUDGETS
FEBRUARY 29, 1996
A Regular Meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on City
Services and Budgets was held on Thursday, February 29, 1996, at 9:30
a.m., in Committee Room No. 1, Third Floor, City Hall.
PRESENT: Councillor Puil, Chair
Mayor Owen
Councillor Bellamy
Councillor Chiavario
Councillor Clarke
Councillor Hemer
Councillor Ip
Councillor Kennedy
Councillor Kwan
Councillor Price
Councillor Sullivan
CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE: Ken Dobell, City Manager
CLERK: Tarja Tuominen
Adoption of Minutes
The Minutes of the Standing Committee on City Services & Budgets
meeting of February 8, 1996, were adopted.
RECOMMENDATION
1. BIA Grant Request - File: 8007-12
Theatre Row Business Association
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated
February 14, 1996 (on file), in which the Director of City Plans
recommended approval to forward an application on behalf of the
Theatre Row Business Association to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs
for a BIA Start-up Grant of $5,000. The Director also sought approval
to advance $5,000 to the Theatre Row Business Association, upon
confirmation by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs that the $5,000
grant will be provided, to be recovered from the provincial grant.
Ms. Frances Warner, BIA Coordinator, explained the request from
the Theatre Row Business Association for an advance was not consistent
with the BIA policy. However, because the Theatre Row neighbourhood
is so diverse, the Association retained the services of a consultant
to secure the support of the area businesses. An advance of the grant
funds will help keep the Association's momentum going.
Mr. John Fluevog, representing the Theatre Row Business
Association, requested support for the application and the advance.
The area is very diverse and eclectic; however, the area businesses
support the establishment of a BIA, and have been very encouraging.
Ms. Linda McMullan, Executive Director, Theatre Row Business
Association, reported there has been much positive support for the
Association from the large and small merchants in the area.
The following motions by Councillor Kennedy were put and carried.
The Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
A. THAT Council apply on behalf of the Theatre Row
Business Association to the Ministry of Municipal
Affairs for a BIA Start-up Grant of $5,000.
B. THAT, upon confirmation by the Ministry of Municipal
Affairs that a $5,000 grant will be provided, Council
advance $5,000 to the Theatre Row Business Association,
to be recovered from the provincial grant.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
2. Approval of 1996 Special Events File: 4201-3
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated
February 13, 1996 (on file), in which the General Manager of
Engineering Services sought approval of the list of anticipated
special events to be held in 1996. The General Manager also sought
direction on issues concerning specific events.
Mr. Wayne Pledger, Transit & Special Events Engineer, briefly
reviewed the report and noted a major issue in 1996 is the Khalsa
Diwan parade route. The Khalsa Diwan Society has requested to divert
its parade route and hold speeches at Sunset Park. Technically, it is
possible to accommodate the event in the Park; however, the streets
are narrow and the overflow will end up in the neighbours' front
yards, creating a significant impact on the neighbourhood. A
neighbourhood poll indicated the residents are overwhelmingly opposed.
The Park Board did not approve the use of the park by the Khalsa Diwan
Society. Therefore, staff recommend the parade route be the same as
last year. In addition, staff would like to review the entire route
and report back.
Mr. Pledger also requested guidance on the concept of holding
events on major streets, and will be reporting back on any specific
events.
Mr. Harinder Sohi, representing Khalsa Diwan Society (brief on
file), requested the Committee approve the Sunset Park site for
holding speeches. The park can accommodate 20,000 people and will be
ideal for elderly people and children. The Society also has a concern
that two stages were set up during last year's parade. Khalsa Diwan
received approval for only one stage; the other stage was illegal, but
nothing was done to stop the second stage from being put up. In
addition, the Khalsa Diwan Society is not interested in considering a
parade route outside the City of Vancouver.
In response to questions, Ms. Diane Murphy, representing the
Board of Parks & Recreation, advised the impact of 20,000 to 30,000
people in a park the size of Sunset Park would be great. The Park
Board consulted the neighbourhood and sent out hand-delivered
pamphlets. The Park Board and the Special Events Office received
numerous calls, letters, and petitions opposed to the use of Sunset
Park during the Khalsa Diwan parade.
Ms. Susan Kainer, area resident, explained Sunset Park is about
one-quarter the size of a city block. The neighbourhood supports the
parade route, but does not support the use of the park. The residents
also are concerned about access for emergency vehicles during the
parade.
Mr. Pledger advised Fire and Ambulance Services are comfortable
with their ability to provide emergency access during the parade.
Regarding the second parade stage, it is an issue that needs to be
worked out between the Khalsa Diwan Society and the Punjabi Market
Society. The parade route is fine; however, staff need to investigate
with the Society for a place that can better accommodate the stage.
During discussion, the Committee requested staff to investigate
the City's enforcement power if a second, illegal stage is put up
during the parade, to report back after the parade if an infraction
occurs, and to take appropriate action. In addition, staff were
requested to send a letter prior to the parade advising a second stage
is illegal.
The following motions by Councillor Hemer were put and carried.
The Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
A. THAT the Special Events in Appendix A of the
Administrative Report dated February 13, 1996, be
approved, subject to staff working out acceptable
arrangements with the event organizers.
B. THAT the Khalsa Diwan Society use the same parade route
as 1995, keeping the stop at 51st Avenue to twenty
minutes.
C. THAT the Khalsa Diwan Society, in consultation with
City staff, undertake a major review of the Parade
including the objective of the Parade, the route, and
the speeches, noting that the size of the Parade
exceeds the ability of the street to accommodate the
speeches.
D. THAT Council will consider approving the lengthy
closure of major streets to accommodate street fair-
type events.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
3. 1996 Property Tax Calculations File: 1554
The Committee had before it a Policy Report dated February 15,
1996 (on file), in which the Director of Finance recommended three-
year land assessment averaging as the preferred 1996 taxation option
for residential and commercial properties.
Ms. Karen Levitt, Financial Analyst, Budgets & Research Division,
with the aid of slides, presented a brief overview of the projected
tax impacts on the City's 1996 general purposes taxes for each of the
three taxation calculation options (market, averaged and phased), for
residential and commercial classes.
Mr. Grayden Hayward, representing the Vancouver Board of Trade,
noted the Policy Report did not address the issues of shifting taxes
further from commercial to residential, or with property taxes for
civic purposes related directly to the consumption of civic services.
Mr. Hayward also circulated copies of a Vancouver Board of Trade
position paper dated February 28, 1996, on taxation (on file).
Mr. Ken Stoke, General Manager of Corporate Services, advised
staff will be coming forward in the beginning of May to discuss a
further shift in property taxes.
The following motions by Councillor Hemer were put and carried.
The Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
A. THAT Council approve three-year averaging as the 1996
property tax calculation methodology for Residential
(Class 1) and Business and Other (Class 6) properties
as discussed in the Policy Report dated February 15,
1996, and that the property taxes on the other classes
of property (Classes 2, 4, 5, 8 and 9) be calculated
using a single tax rate applied to market assessment
values.
B. THAT the Directors of Finance and Legal Services be
instructed to submit a by-law to Council, for approval
before March 31st 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
the appropriate arrangements with the BC Assessment
Authority for the production of an averaged 1996
taxation roll at an approximate cost of $15,000, with
funding approved in advance of the 1996 operating
budget.
D. THAT the Director of Finance be authorised to place the
required advertisements in the local newspapers
notifying the City s taxpayers of Council s intent to
implement three-year averaging and showing the effects
of averaging on sample properties within the City.
- CARRIED
(Councillor Kwan opposed)
The meeting adjourned at approximately 10:55 a.m.
* * * * *