CITY OF VANCOUVER

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL ON
PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT

OCTOBER 7, 1999

A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Thursday, October 7, 1999, at 3:20 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 Philip Owen 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 Don Bellamy (Civic Business) Councillor Lynne Kennedy (Civic Business)
CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE:	Judy Rogers, City Manager
CLERK TO THE COUNCIL:	Tarja Tuominen

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Cllr. Herbert,
SECONDED by Cllr. Don Lee,

THAT this Council resolve itself into Committee of the Whole, Mayor Owen in the chair.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Report of Standing Committee
on Planning and Environment
October 7, 1999

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

Cl. 1: 1030 Denman Street (Unit 126) - Government Liquor Store
Cl .2: Street Banner Policy

Clause 1

This item was withdrawn.

Clause 2

MOVED by Mayor Owen,

THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clause 2 of this report, be approved.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Cllr. Don Lee,

THAT the Committee of the Whole rise and report.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

ADOPT REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Cllr. Don Lee,
SECONDED by Cllr. Herbert,

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

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Council recessed at 3:25 p.m. and reconvened In Camera.

- - - - -

REPORT TO COUNCIL

STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
ON PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT

OCTOBER 7, 1999

A Regular Meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on Planning and Environment was held on Thursday, October 7, 1999, at 2:00 p.m. in Committee Room No. 1, Third Floor, City Hall.

PRESENT:	Councillor Jennifer Clarke, Chair Mayor Philip Owen Councillor Don Bellamy Councillor Nancy A. Chiavario Councillor Alan Herbert Councillor Daniel Lee Councillor Don Lee Councillor Gordon Price Councillor George Puil Councillor Sam Sullivan
ABSENT:	Councillor Lynne Kennedy (Leave of Absence)
CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE:	Judy Rogers, City Manager
CLERK TO THE COMMITTEE:	Lori Isfeld

RECOMMENDATION

1. 1030 Denman Street (Unit 126) - Government Liquor Store File: 2605

This item was withdrawn at the request of the applicant.

2. Street Banner Policy File: 5766

The Committee had before it an Administrative Report, dated September 16, 1999, in which the General Manager of Engineering Services recommended approval for the continuation of the Summer Banner Program without sponsorship, and approval of a policy which, in return for a fee, would allow the use of commercial text or logos on banners outside of the Summer Banner Program.

The City Manager commented in the report that the central policy issue to be decided is whether advertising of corporate sponsorship should be expanded to street banners. If Council wishes to move in that direction the recommendations in the report provide a basis upon which to do so.

Peter Judd, Assistant City Engineer, Electrical and Equipment Services, and Tracy Kyle, Engineer, Street Lighting and Utilities Management reviewed the report, provided a rationale for the proposed recommendations, and responded to questions.

Pat Johnston, Planner, reiterated the proposed street banner policy is consistent with what is allowed under the Sign By-law. Third party advertising, such as soft drink products, would not be allowed.

Bill Reid and Martha Welsh, Mount Pleasant Business Improvement Area, requested the following be changed and/or added to the proposed policy:

… that BIA’s be included in the “non-profit” applicant status, rather than in a separate “business association” category;
… that BIA’s have input into banner design and commercial content and that they have final approval on what is displayed in their area;
… that a letter of understanding be drafted to ensure City hardware is available for use;
… that hardware paid for by community or business groups be for the exclusive use of that group.

Ray Greenwood, Vancouver Fireworks Society, spoke in general support of the report. However, Mr. Greenwood pointed out there are significant expenses incurred in the production of a banner, which could then be declined by City staff. He sought clarification on the criteria to be used for banner approval in order to avoid this.

Clause No. 2 continued

The following motion by Councillor Chiavario was put and lost:

THAT consideration of Street Banner Policy be deferred pending a report back from staff clarifying the criteria and/or policy on banner content, including: types of products allowed on banners; company names versus logos; political content; conflicts with City policy; the link between Street Banner Policy and the Sign By-law.

- LOST

(Councillors Clarke, Herbert, Daniel Lee, Don Lee,
Price, Puil, Sullivan and the Mayor opposed)

The following motion by Mayor Owen was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,

RECOMMENDED

A. THAT the following groups be permitted to have commercial content and/or third party sponsorship in their banners hung in the street right-of-way:

… non-profit events and organizations, including local business associations;
… commercial events and organizations.

B. THAT Council approve a $20 per banner per month rental fee for banners with a commercial content and/or logo hung in the street right-of-way, with the following exceptions:

… rental fee reduced by 50% for a banner from a non-profit event or organization, and for local business associations;
… rental fee waived if no commercial content and/or logo on the banner.

C. THAT Council approve a $200 application fee for banners hung in the street right-of-way. This fee would be waived for non-profit events and organizations and local business associations, if the banner has no commercial content and/or logo, and the fee would be reduced by 50% for non-profit groups and local business associations if the banner contains commercial content and/or logo.

Clause No. 2 continued

D. THAT the General Manager of Engineering Services be granted the authority to approve sponsors on banners, within the guidelines as laid out in the Policy Report dated September 16, 1999.

E. THAT staff report back to Council in one year on experience with the sponsorship policy, including review of the fees.

F. THAT the Summer Banner Program continue in its present format without sponsorship.

- CARRIED

(Councillor Chiavario opposed to Recommendations A to E;
Councillors Price and Puil opposed to A)

The Committee adjourned at 3:15 p.m.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver