Agenda Index City of Vancouver

CITY OF VANCOUVER

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

MAY 6, 1999

PRESENT:

Councillor Don Lee, Deputy Mayor
Councillor Don Bellamy
Councillor Nancy A. Chiavario
Councillor Daniel Lee
Councillor Gordon Price
Councillor George Puil

ABSENT:

Mayor Philip Owen (Civic Business)
Councillor Jennifer Clarke (Civic Business)
Councillor Lynne Kennedy (Civic Business)
Councillor Alan Herbert
Councillor Sam Sullivan (Leave of Absence)

CITY MANAGER'S
OFFICE:

Brent MacGregor, Deputy City Manager

CLERK TO THE
COUNCIL:

Tarja Tuominen

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Cllr. Puil,
SECONDED by Cllr. Bellamy,

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Report of Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets
May 6, 1999

Clauses 1 to 3
MOVED by Cllr. Puil,

Clauses 4 and 5

(Note from Clerk: Consideration of the 1999 Engineering Basic Capital Budget and the 1999 Basic Capital Budget is scheduled for the Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets meeting on May 20.)

RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Cllr. Puil,

ADOPT REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Cllr. Puil,
SECONDED by Cllr. Bellamy,

The Council adjourned at 12:00 p.m.

- - - - -

REPORT TO COUNCIL

STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
ON CITY SERVICES AND BUDGETS

MAY 6, 1999

PRESENT:

Councillor George Puil, Chair
Mayor Philip Owen (Items 1 and 2)
Councillor Don Bellamy
Councillor Nancy A. Chiavario
Councillor Jennifer Clarke
Councillor Alan Herbert
Councillor Lynne Kennedy
Councillor Daniel Lee
Councillor Don Lee
Councillor Gordon Price

ABSENT:

Councillor Sam Sullivan (Leave of Absence)

CITY MANAGER'S
OFFICE:

Brent MacGregor, Deputy City Manager

CLERK TO THE
COMMITTEE:

Tarja Tuominen

ADOPTION OF MINUTES

RECOMMENDATION

1. 1998 Financial Statements File: 1503

RECOMMENDED

THAT the City External Auditor’s Report and the Financial Statements of the City of Vancouver for the year ended December 3, 1998, be received for information.

2. 1999 Property Tax Options File: 1551

· Richard Anderson, representing the Citizens’ Advisory Group on Property Taxation
· Stuart Swain, Downtown Vancouver BIA
· Bob Langois, Local Government Committee, Vancouver Board of Trade (brief filed)

· the business class properties consume less of the City’s output than the residential properties, however the business properties pay higher taxes;
· high business taxes have a depressive effect on the economy;
· it is difficult for tenants in the downtown area and office core to pay higher business taxes;
· a competitive climate for business is needed; in other municipalities the gap between business and residential classes is narrowing, but in Vancouver the gap increases.

RECOMMENDED

THAT for the purposes of general taxation in 1999, the Class 5 (light industrial) and Class 6 (business) tax rates not be consolidated and that the tax rates for the two classes be developed on a basis consistent with taxation methodology in previous years.

3. Pay Telephone Agreements File: 1203

concerns with the installation of pay telephones on public property:

· graffiti removal;
· maintenance of telephones;
· location of telephones;
· consultation with community groups prior to installation of telephones;
· CPTSP’s providing financial contribution to BIAs for graffiti removal and clean-up;
· installation of pay telephones done in consultation with the street furniture study.

· Bruce Clark, Canada PayPhone
· Paul Devlin, PayTel, Canada

· the CPTSPs agree to address the foregoing concerns in negotiations with the City;
· transit shelters would be considered as good locations for pay telephones;
· the Main and Hastings area could be considered as a location for 911 phones;
· the competition is good for everyone;
· the marketplace will dictate the importance of providing clean phones;
· may not be able to meet the amount of the maintenance agreement requested by the Downtown Vancouver BIA.

· the Police Department does not advocate a direct dial to 911;
· the importance of ensuring the pay telephones have no ability to call in, only out;
· the pay telephones need to have the ability for readout of location and to record name and address.

Mr. Mulek advised BC TEL does not provide a percentage of its revenue from calling cards.

RECOMMENDED

THAT consideration of the report be deferred for a month to allow staff to report back with information on questions raised, e.g. police concerns, agreements related to maintenance and graffiti removal, installation of pay telephones in consultation with street furniture study.

(Councillors Clarke and Kennedy not present for the vote)

4. 1999 Engineering Basic Capital Budget File: 1611

5. 1999 Basic Capital Budget File: 1602

The Committee adjourned at 11:55 a.m.

* * * * *


cs990506.htm


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