City Services & Budgets Mtg. Minutes-Dec 4/97

CITY OF VANCOUVER
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
CITY SERVICES AND BUDGETS
DECEMBER 4, 1997
A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Thursday, December 4, 1997 at 3:45 p.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 Philip Owen
Councillor Don Bellamy
Councillor Jennifer Clarke
Councillor Alan Herbert
Councillor Daniel Lee
Councillor Don Lee
Councillor Gordon Price
Councillor George Puil
Councillor Sam Sullivan
ABSENT: Councillor Nancy A. Chiavario (Civic Business)
Councillor Lynne Kennedy (Civic Business)
CLERK TO THE
COUNCIL: Gail L. Johnson
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy,
SECONDED by Cllr. Puil,
THAT this Council resolve itself into Committee of the Whole, Mayor Owen in the Chair.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Report of Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets
December 4, 1997
Council considered the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in the following clauses of the attached report:
Cl. 1: Tourism Vancouver - Interim Payments of 2% Hotel Tax
Cl. 2: 1998 Business and Liveaboard Fees
Cl. 3: Annual Review of Water Rates for 1998
Cl. 4: Solid Waste Utility Fees
Cl. 5: Left Turn Bay at Arbutus and 12th
Clauses 1, 2, 3, and 5
MOVED by Cllr. Puil,
THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clauses 1, 2, 3 and 5 of this report, be approved.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
Clause 4
MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy,
THAT the recommendation of the Committee, as contained in Clause 4 of this report, be approved.
- CARRIED
(Councillor Price opposed)
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. Puil,
SECONDED by Cllr. Bellamy,
THAT the report of the Committee of the Whole be adopted.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
The Council adjourned at 3:50 p.m.
* * * * *
REPORT TO COUNCIL
STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
ON CITY SERVICES AND BUDGETS
DECEMBER 4, 1997
A Regular Meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on City Services and Budgets was held on Thursday, December 4, 1997 at 2:00 p.m., in Committee Room No.1, Third Floor, City Hall.
PRESENT: Councillor George Puil, Chair
Mayor Philip Owen
Councillor Don Bellamy
Councillor Jennifer Clarke
Councillor Alan Herbert
Councillor Daniel Lee
Councillor Don Lee (Items 2 to 5)
Councillor Gordon Price (Items 2 to 5)
Councillor Sam Sullivan (Items 2 to 5)
ABSENT: Councillor Nancy A. Chiavario (Civic Business)
Councillor Lynne Kennedy (Civic Business)
CLERK TO THE
COMMITTEE: Gail L. Johnson
ADOPTION OF MINUTES
The Minutes of the Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets meeting of November 6, 1997 were adopted as circulated.
RECOMMENDATION
1. Tourism Vancouver - Interim Payments of 2% Hotel Tax File: 6008
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated November 19, 1997 (on file), in which the General Manager, Corporate Services recommended remittance of the first three months of the 2% Hotel Tax revenues for 1998 to Tourism Vancouver, in advance of Council’s consideration of the Association’s 1998 Business Plan.
The General Manager’s report explained that in accordance with Council policy, Tourism Vancouver will be submitting its 1998 Business Plan for Council’s review in the new year; however, for a variety of legitimate reasons, the Plan cannot be produced earlier than March. This creates problems for planning and implementation of Tourism programs and projects. For the past six years, Council has authorized release of advance funds, which it is expected would be approximately $350,000 per month.
The following motion by Councillor Clare was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
THAT the Director of Finance be authorized to remit the first three months of the 2% Hotel Tax revenues for 1998, the amounts of each remittance not to exceed actual receipts from the Province of the 2% tax, in advance of Council's consideration of the Association's 1998 Business Plan.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
2. 1998 Business License Fees and Liveaboard Fees
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated October 24, 1997 (on file) in which the Directors of Finance, and Permits and Licenses recommended fee increases for business licenses and liveaboard boat owners. It was noted that recommendation ‘A’ which sought approval for a business license fee increase of 4.0 % had been approved at the Committee’s meeting of November 20, 1997; however, consideration of recommendations "B & C"seeking approval of a 6.7 % increase in liveaboard fees, had been deferred to allow boat owners time to prepare a response.
The report pointed out there are currently 98 liveaboard boats registered at marinas in the City and, historically, fees have been compared with taxes levied on residential condominium properties, although provincial government homeowner grants are not available for this housing form. Based on the methodology established by Council in 1996, the proposal for the 1998 liveaboard fee increase of 6.7% reflects the 6.6 percent increase in the residential tax levy in 1997 and includes a 0.1 % carry over from 1996. The fee ensures that those residents living aboard their boats contribute to public service provision in a similar way to those who occupy assessable real property.
The following spoke in opposition to the recommendation to increase liveaboard fees:
·410·John Alexander, Greater Vancouver Floating Home Co-op (brief filed)·410
·410·Carol Smith, Heather Civic Marine Liveaboard Association (brief filed)·410
·410·Ken Petry, liveaboard boat owner·410
·410·Shane McEwen, Coal Harbour Marina·410
·410·Carey Lee, liveaboard boat owner·410
The speakers’ points are summarized below:
·410·liveaboard boat owners want to be responsible and pay their fair share for City services, but do not feel the system used by the City to determine the fee increase, using a condo in False Creek as a comparison, is equitable;·410
·410·liveaboard boat owners do not receive capital gains on boats and are not eligible for a provincial homeowner grant;·410
cont'd
Clause No. 2 (cont'd)
·410·shared payment of marina property taxes and maintenance, as well as property taxes for the Greater Vancouver Floating Home Co-op’s underground parking garage has resulted in a payment of approximately $18,000 which should be credited to the Co-op by the City;·410
·410·fees should be held at the present level until true equity is reached with similar residential properties as well as an accurately referenced base for calculation of fees;·410
·410·the top end of the license fee should be indexed to the low end of property taxes in False Creek, with increases normalized at the civic rate;·410
·410·future decisions affecting the Heather Civic Marina liveaboard community should be given due diligence and reasonable notice should be issued by the City;·410
·410·real estate grows in value, but boats depreciate.·410
In response to questions from members of the Committee, Charles King, Finance Department explained that next year’s implementation of the utility fee program for actual usage of solid waste and water could result in a reduced license fee for marina operators, which should in turn benefit liveaboard boat owners.
Members of the Committee agreed that a better system of communication with the liveaboard boat owners would be helpful and asked staff to explore this further. There was general support for the recommendations, recognizing that other property owners are unable to defer their tax payments to wait for the utility fee revision as suggested by a member of the delegation upon hearing staff’s comments.
The following motion by Councillor Clarke was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
A.THAT business license fees be increased by 4.0 percent for 1998 as outlined in this report and detailed in Appendix A, representing a general increase of 1.0 percent and an additional 3.0 percent increase to cover the cost of city support services, except for those fees for non-profit activity as listed in Appendix B.
cont'd
Clause No. 2 (cont'd)
B.THAT the fees for liveaboard boat owners be increased in 1998 by 6.7 percent.
C.THAT the Director of Legal Services be instructed to prepare the necessary By-law to implement the revised fee schedule for January 2, 1998.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
3. Annual Review of Water Rates for 1998
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report Dated November 10, 1997 (on file) in which the Director of Finance and General Manager of Engineering Services recommended a general increase in water charges for 1998 to fund GVWD and City water system costs.
The following motion by Councillor Bellamy was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
A. THAT flat water rates for single dwelling units be increased from $218 to $231 and that other flat water service charges for residential properties (Schedule "B"), charges for metered water service (Schedule "D"), and charges for temporary water service during construction (Schedule "F") be increased by 6.0%, and that the rates as detailed in this report be approved effective January 1, 1998.

B. THAT flat rate connection and removal fees (Schedule "A" and Schedule "A.1"), flat water service charges for unmetered fire service pipes (Schedule "C"), meter service charges (Schedule "E") and flat rate fees for installation of water meters (Schedule "G") be increased by 1.2% to reflect cost increases including inflation, and the rates as detailed in this report be approved effective January 1, 1998.
cont'd
Clause No. 3 (cont'd)
C.THAT the Director of Legal Services be instructed to bring forward the necessary amendments to the Water Works By-law for approval.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
4. Solid Waste Utility Fees
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated December 4, 1997 (on file) in which the Director of Finance and General Manager of Engineering Services recommended the establishment of the 1998 Solid Waste Utility Fees.
The report observed that in October 1997, Council approved that the Solid Waste Utility be implemented effective January 1, 1998. User fees now have been established for residential solid waste services which will demonstrate clearly to consumers the cost of providing these services.
During discussion, Mr. Dave Rudberg, General Manager of Engineering Services,
responded to questions about mitigation procedures to lessen the impact of these fees on consumers. This will be the subject of a report back to Council, before the sewer utility fees are implemented in July 1998. The following motion by Councillor Bellamy was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
A.THAT the 1998 Solid Waste Utility fees be set as per Schedule ‘B’ attached to the Administrative Report dated November 26, 1997 entitled "Establishment of 1998 Solid Waste Utility Fees".
B.THAT the Director of Legal Services be instructed to bring forward the necessary amendments to the Refuse By-law for approval.
- CARRIED
(Councillor Price opposed)

5. Left Turn Bay at Arbutus and 12th
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated November 17, 1997 (on file) in which the General Manager of Engineering Services recommended that a left turn bay be constructed at the intersection of Arbutus and 12th, following the necessary property acquisition, and that funds be approved for landscaping the proposed centre median.
Mr. Robert Hodgins, Strategic Transportation Planning, Engineering, provided a brief review of the report noting this left turn bay was proposed by area residents in response to the development of the Arbutus neighbourhood, to reduce left turn related accidents and to prevent short-cutting problems. The Arbutus building line has been adjusted by Council to accommodate the proposed design and as a result, some parking will be lost by property owners on the east side of Arbutus.
The following speakers addressed the Committee:
Garth Burnside, Varsity Automotive, 2880 Arbutus St., explained he has operated a successful family business at this location since 1985 and to lose 5 parking spots from the current 12 spots would be most detrimental to his business. The BCAA uses his lot as a drop-off point over the weekend and by Monday morning his driveway is full. Over the last 20 years, 100 automotive bays have closed down in this area of Vancouver.
Paul George, Shortstop Brake & Muffler, 2790 Arbutus St., indicated he has owned this business since 1984 and to lose six parking spots would greatly affect the success of his business. He questioned the need for a south bound left turn bay at this intersection.
Lila MacLean, West 13th Ave. resident, expressed her support for the left turn bays, explaining that the increase in traffic has resulted in a very dangerous intersection.
It was noted that letters of support for the left turn bays from the Traffic and Parking Committee, Yew Street, had been previously circulated to Committee members (on file).
cont'd
Clause No. 5 (cont'd)
During discussion, it was evident that Committee members supported the construction of the left turn bays, but wished to alleviate some of the concerns expressed by the delegations related to the loss of parking for their businesses. Information provided by staff indicated that mitigation measures could be implemented to minimize the property taking on the east side of Arbutus by eliminating the median proposed for the south side of 12th, and by reducing the setback on the owner’s property to two feet. This would provide Varsity Automotive with 10 parking spaces. It was also pointed out that Engineering could look at access requirements for the lane on the north side of 12th Ave. to determine if it could be used to provide additional parking for "Mr. Shortstop". A majority of Committee members favoured this suggested course of action and there was a general understanding that Engineering staff would try to provide some type of separation between cars and sidewalks in the subject area with planting materials, if possible. The following motion by Councillor Clarke was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
A.THAT Council approve the design of the left turn bay on Arbutus at 12th Ave. as described in this report, and as modified by deleting the centre median on the south side of 12th Ave. to minimize the property taking on the east side; by reducing the required four foot setback on the property at 2880 Arbutus St. to two feet; and by exploring access requirements for the lane on the North side of 12th Ave.; and further that Council approve construction subject to approval of the 1998 Streets Basic Capital Budget.
B.THAT the Manager of Real Estate Services proceed with the necessary property acquisition for report back to Council.
C.THAT Council approve the landscaping of the centre median, with the addition of $1,500 annually to the Streets Operating Budget without offset for maintenance.
- CARRIED
(Councillor Price opposed)
The Committee adjourned at 3:45 p.m.
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