CITY OF VANCOUVER

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL ON
CITY SERVICES AND BUDGETS

OCTOBER 22, 1998

A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Thursday, October 22, 1998, at 11:55 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 Philip Owen Councillor Don Bellamy Councillor Nancy A. Chiavario Councillor Jennifer Clarke Councillor Alan Herbert Councillor Daniel Lee Councillor Don Lee Councillor Gordon Price Councillor George Puil Councillor Sam Sullivan
ABSENT:	Councillor Lynne Kennedy (Sick Leave)
CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE:	Ken Dobell, City Manager
CLERK TO THE COUNCIL:	Nancy Largent

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
October 22, 1998

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

Cl.1: 1998 Operating Budget - Projections
Cl.2: Possible Withholding Action for 2596 Kitchener Street -

Clinton Park West RS-1 Interim Zoning Review Study Area

MOVED by Cllr. Puil ,

THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clauses 1 and 2 of this report, be approved.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS

1. Councillor Nancy A Chiavario: Attendance at File: 1254

Aboriginal Governance in Urban Settings
Conference in Winnipeg November 3-6, 1998

MOVED by Cllr. Clarke,

THAT Council grant leave of absence for Councillor Chiavario to attend the Aboriginal Governance in Urban Settings Conference in Winnipeg, November 3-6, 1998;

FURTHER THAT Council authorize the City to pay Councillor Chiavario's per diem during her stay in Winnipeg for the Conference, at a cost of $200.

- 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. Clarke,

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

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

The Council adjourned at 11:57 a.m.

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REPORT TO COUNCIL

STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
ON CITY SERVICES AND BUDGETS

OCTOBER 22, 1998

A Regular Meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on City Services and Budgets was held on Thursday, October 22, 1998 at 9:30 a.m. in Committee Room No. 1, Third Floor, City Hall.

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

Vary Order of Agenda

The Committee agreed to vary the order of agenda to deal with item 2 first. However, items in this Minute are numbered consecutively for ease of reference.

RECOMMENDATION

1. 1998 Operating Budget - Projections File: 1605

The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated October 1, 1998 (on file), in which the Director of Finance, in consultation with the Corporate Management Team, presented projections for the 1999 Operating Budget, and proposed adjustments to the budget position reflected in the projections, in order to keep the increase in the general purposes tax levy in the range of local inflation. The General Manager of Corporate Services recommended approval, as reflected in recommendations A and B of this report.

At its meeting on October 6, 1998, City Council received a Report Reference on the aforementioned Administrative Report , but deferred action on the recommendations contained therein to allow the hearing of delegations at this meeting. In addition, Council requested that, prior to the October 22, 1998 meeting, staff provide an information memo on the general direction of the City's economy, and on the implications to policy projects which will be affected by the proposed elimination of three positions in the Social Planning, Housing and Planning Departments.

The following memoranda were submitted (on file):

· October 20, 1998 memorandum from the General Manager of Corporate Services, regarding the city's economy;
· October 10, 1998 memorandum from General Manager of Community Services, regarding the impact of proposed reductions and their effect on the development and construction industry:
· October 21, 1998 memorandum from the City Manager and Chief Constable, proposing an agreement between the Vancouver Police Board and Council to increase policing activities on the Downtown Eastside over the next three years.

Ken Bayne, Comptroller of Budgets and Research, reviewed the budget projections and proposed expenditure reductions. Opportunities to reduce expenditures through administrative cuts have been reduced by similar exercises in past years, and some visible public services will be affected. Mr. Bayne also noted staff recommend that the proposed Downtown Eastside policing agreement, at an additional City cost of $ 3.6 million, be funded through a further 1% tax increase.

Clause No. 1 (cont'd)

Mr. Bayne, Ken Dobell, City Manager, Estelle Lo, General Manager of Corporate Services, and Hugh Creighton, Director of Finance responded to questions about the potential drop in development industry revenues; cost recovery-based fees; the need to work with the private sector to strengthen the tax base over the long term; and Property Endowment Fund transfers and cash reserves.

Bruce Chambers, Chief Constable and Mr. Dobell explained the proposed policing agreement to cover the Downtown Eastside. It is recommended that additional resources be provided for 50% of the required staff rather than entirely by reallocation to ensure that Police presence in other neighbourhoods is not unduly affected, and to avoid displacing the problem. Chief Chambers also responded to questions regarding current departmental strength and recruitment, as well as the growth of crack cocaine use and related problems in the area.

The Committee felt it would be useful to ensure that the additional resources remain dedicated to the problems to be addressed, even if they relocate to other areas, as reflected in recommendation D of this report.

Mary Collins, Vancouver Public Library Board, acknowledged the pressures on government to reduce expenditures, and reviewed the reductions likely to be made by the Board, including shortened branch hours, a reduction in acquisitions staff, and a one-week summer closure. Ms. Collins also discussed the significance of the library system to the citizenry, and the Canadian dollar's loss of purchasing power.

The Committee expressed concern that the public perceives that this library budget has been cut, when it has, in fact, received an inflationary increase. It was felt library staff should have done more to ensure this would be properly understood.

The Chair called for a representative of CUPE Local 15, but none came forward.

Bob Rich, Police Union, expressed interest in the newly proposed policing agreement, and felt the Chief Constable should retain discretion regarding the deployment of his force. Constable Rich also discussed the proposed reduction in senior staff and possible loss of leadership, and responded to a query regarding coordination between Police, Fire and Ambulance services.

Clause No. 1 (cont'd)

Gillian Doan, CUPE Local 391, protested any cuts to the Library budget as a disservice to the people of Vancouver, and reviewed potential impacts on the accessibility of library services. The libraries are well-used, and because of the increasing diversity of the population, additional resources are needed.

Ken Davidson, CUPE Local 1004 (brief filed), expressed concern about chronic under-funding and resultant poor maintenance of the infrastructure. Council should be concentrating on increasing revenues, rather than closing down profit-making operations. Mr. Davidson doubted that giving work away to the private sector actually results in cost-savings. City works crews are efficient, and do high quality work.

Rod MacDonald, Fire Fighters Union (brief filed), Council's adoption of the TriData Report, which advised that any budget reductions would result in a drop in service. Mr. MacDonald presented statistics indicating that the Fire Department budget has decreased disproportionately to those of the Police, Park Board and Library, and discussed potential impacts including loss of use of the tower platform apparatus.

Ray Holdgate, General Manager of Fire and Rescue Services, advised that the tower is not used in first alarm rescue, and will be stored in reserve. The Department is considering purchase of a ladder truck with bucket, which would perform a similar function. Chief Holdgate confirmed that there is good coordination among emergency services, especially on the Downtown Eastside.

Donna Morgan, COPE, felt the proposed increase is reasonable in itself, but does not take into account the question of utilities, which last year saw increases to tax bills as high as 10%. Ms. Morgan suggested Council request staff to report on which individuals had higher than average tax increases the previous year, place an upper limit on the taxes of those individuals, and provide tax relief for seniors and those unduly affected.

Tim Louis, COPE, felt that throwing more police at the Downtown Eastside deals only with the symptoms rather than the causes with problems there, and may only succeed in relocating the problem. Mr. Louis suggested that up to 50% of Property Endowment Fund interest should be used to preserve service levels of services such as the library.

Several of the foregoing speakers believed the public would accept a tax increase to support services provided by the City.

Clause No. 1 (cont'd)

Committee members noted there will be no increase in the garbage levy this year; that the City has no authority to reduce specific taxpayer's charges; and that there is already tax relief available for seniors. There was some feeling that Police and Fire could not absorb the proposed expenditure reductions. However, the majority felt the proposed reductions were not unreasonable. In discussion of the Downtown Eastside policing question, it was suggested that other resources, such as detox or other support services, would do more to improve the situation than additional Police. However, the majority felt that it would be necessary to secure public order before other initiatives could work in these extraordinary circumstances.

The following motions by Mayor Owen were put and carried. Therefore, the Committee

RECOMMENDED

A. (i) THAT Council instruct staff to develop the 1999 Operating Budget by working to a maximum increase in property taxes of 1.9%, reflecting a 1% increase related to increases in City expenditures and 0.9% related to growth in the requisition from the Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage District, with the exception of the Police and Fire Department Budgets.

A. (ii) THAT Council instruct staff to develop the 1999 Operating Budget for the Police and Fire Department Budgets by working to a maximum increase in property taxes of 1.9%, reflecting a 1% increase related to increases in City expenditures and 0.9% related to growth in the requisition from the Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage District.

B. (i) THAT Council approve the revenue and expenditure adjustments to the 1999 Operating Budget proposed by the Corporate Management Team and outlined in the Administrative Report dated October 1, 1998 and summarized in Appendix 2, with the exception of the Police and Fire Department Budgets.

B. (ii) THAT Council approve the revenue and expenditure adjustments to the 1999 Operating Budget for the Police and Fire Department Budgets proposed by the Corporate Management Team and outlined in the Administrative Report dated October 1, 1998 and summarized in Appendix 2.

Clause No. 1 (cont'd)

C. THAT Council approve City participation in the Downtown Eastside Police Beat Team proposal outlined in Attachment 1 of the Memorandum from the City Manager and the Chief Constable dated October 21, 1998 at a cost of $3.6 million, with funding from an additional 1.0% increase in property taxes in 1999, subject to the Police Board entering into the three year service and funding agreement.

D. THAT staff be directed to work with the Downtown Eastside Enforcement Strategy Management Team to ensure the problem is managed when and if it relocates.

- CARRIED

(Councillors Bellamy, Chiavario and Daniel Lee opposed to
A(ii) and B(ii); Councillor Sullivan opposed to C and D)

2. Possible Withholding Action for 2596 Kitchener Street - File: 5305

Clinton Park West RS-1 Interim Zoning Review Study Area

The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated October 13, 1998 (on file), in which the Director of Community Planning reported on an application to construct a new single-family dwelling under RS-1 at 2596 Kitchener Street. On September 16, 1998, City Council referred RS-5S zoning for the Clinton Park West RS-1S area to Public Hearing. Because the subject application is within the referral area, the Director sought a decision whether to withhold the application, or to process it in the normal manner. The General Manager of Community Services submitted this choice for consideration.

Pat St. Michel, Planner, reviewed the report and the options before Council, noting that the property owner had begun plans for the dwelling before the referral, and that staff had not anticipated the referral.

Jacquie Forbes-Roberts, Director of Community Planning, clarified that the community was advised staff would be recommending against referral of this area to Public Hearing, which was the applicant's understanding when the application was submitted.

Clause No. 2 (cont'd)

Frank Porco, property owner, requested that Council allow the application to proceed. Mr. Porco indicated before the property was purchased to build a family home, he had made enquiries and been informed that the property was RS-1S. He did not learn of the potential change to RS-5S until the application was submitted, and would suffer financially if the application does not proceed.

Julie Catagalo, area resident, felt any development should be in character with the neighbourhood. Mr. Porco should have been advised of the possibility of an interim zoning, and his real estate agent should have been aware.

Joe Sorrenti, Remax Realty, advised he had enquired at City Hall on August 19, and had been advised that the area zoning was RS-1S.

Luigi Salvino, Clinton Park Residents' Association, acknowledged that this is a grey area. However, the Public Hearing Is expected to be held on November 17, not an indefinite period away. [NOTE: the Public Hearing is now expected to be held on December 2, 1998.]

The Committee felt this application ought not to be withheld because of the information given to the community that staff would not recommend referral to Public Hearing, and the financial hardship imposed on Mr. Porco.

The following motion by Councillor Bellamy was put and carried. Therefore, the Committee

RECOMMENDED

THAT Council instruct staff to process the Combined Building and Development Application for the proposed development at 2596 Kitchener Street in the normal manner.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

The meeting adjourned at 11:55 p.m.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver