
Events, decisions, and reports at City Council for the week of May 17
Vancouver City Council met electronically this week to hear and discuss a variety of topics during Council, Public Hearing and Standing Committee on Policy and Strategic Priorities meetings.
Tuesday, May 18
This week’s Council meeting began by approving Waiving Patio Fees for 2021 PDF file (66 KB).
“I brought this motion to waive permanent patio fees for our restaurants in 2021 (that will apply through March 2022) to provide critical support and give some relief to these struggling small businesses, especially given that the Federal wage and rent subsidies are slated to start going down,” said Councillor Sarah Kirby Yung. “Waiving fees will help 600 plus restaurants in neighbourhoods across the city. Fees for the Temporary Expedited Patio Program were free from the beginning, and this levels the playing field and recognizes the extended impact of the pandemic.”
Council then approved the following reports and referral reports:
- Quarterly Capital Budget Adjustments and Closeouts PDF file (296 KB)
- Single Room Accommodation Permit for The American Hotel (928 Main Street) PDF file (585 KB)
- 2021 Property Taxation: Rating By-laws & Averaging Resolutions PDF file (212 KB), approved with an amendment
- CD-1 Rezoning: 8725 French Street PDF file (4 MB)
- CD-1 Rezoning: 1317 Richards Street and 508 Drake Street PDF file (3.3 MB)
- CD-1 Amendment: 480 Broughton Street PDF file (2.3 MB)
- CD-1 Rezoning: 602-644 Kingsway PDF file (2.4 MB)
- CD-1 Rezoning: 3353 Cambie Street PDF file (880 KB)
- CD-1 Rezoning: 7730-7772 Cambie Street PDF file (1.4 MB)
- CD-1 Rezoning: 2725-2751 Kingsway PDF file (2 MB)
- CD-1 Rezoning: 5412 Cambie Street PDF file (1.5 MB)
- CD-1 Rezoning: 450 West Georgia Street and 712-732 Richards Street PDF file (2 MB)
- CD-1 Rezoning: 3609-3687 Arbutus Street PDF file (3 MB)
- 2021 Alcohol Consumption in Public Plazas Pilot – Recommendations PDF file (788 KB), approved with amendments
- 2021 Cultural Grants (CASC, Cultural Spaces, Capacity, Cultural Equity) and Community Services Grants (Indigenous Early Learning & Childcare) PDF file (446 KB)
- Theatre Rental Grant Allocations – Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 PDF file (151 KB)
- Funding Application to UBCM Strengthening Communities' Services PDF file (57 KB)
Next, Council approved the following motions, by-laws and administrative motions:
- By-laws 1 to 23 PDF file (9 MB)
- Strata Title and Cooperative Conversion Guidelines PDF file (81 KB)
- Form of Development: 1956-1990 Stainsbury Avenue PDF file (4 MB)
- 2021 Tax Levies for Provincial Schools PDF file (18 KB)
- 2021 Tax Levies for South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority (“TransLink”) PDF file (19 KB)
- 2021 Tax Levies for British Columbia Assessment Authority PDF file (19 KB)
- 2021 Tax Levies for Municipal Finance Authority of British Columbia PDF file (19 KB)
- Form of Development: 988 West 64th Avenue and 8030-8130 Oak Street PDF file (3 MB)
A Public Hearing was held on Tuesday evening, and Council approved the following items after presentations from staff and hearing from members of the public:
- Rezoning: 6869-6909 Ash Street PDF file (109 KB)
- CD-1 Rezoning: 1885 East Pender Street PDF file (111 KB), approved with an amendment
- CD-1 Rezoning: 1650 East 12th Avenue PDF file (109 KB)
- CD-1 Rezoning: 8257-8273 Oak Street and 1025-1035 West 67th Avenue PDF file (112 KB)
- CD-1 Rezoning: 8655 Granville Street PDF file (111 KB)
Wednesday, May 19
The Standing Committee on Policy and Strategic Priorities meeting began with Council approving the following items following presentations from staff and hearing from members of the public:
- Accessible Washrooms and Elevators on Millennium Broadway Line Extension (Member's Motion B.5) PDF file (192 KB), approved with an amendment
- Contract Award for Supply and Delivery of LED Luminaries and Intelligent Street Light Controls System PDF file (73 KB)
“Transition of our street lighting to LED luminaires and intelligent street light control is an exciting move forward in improving core services in our city,” said Councillor Sarah-Kirby-Yung. “The new LED lighting is not only greener, it will result in $2.3 million in annual savings once installed. Plus maintenance will improve, as intelligent tracking means that when lights are out they will self-report and residents no longer have to call 311 to report burned out lights. The lighting is also dark-sky friendly and directional, so settings can be managed to ensure lights maximize safety but don’t negatively impact quality of life for residents. Finally, longer-term, the reduced energy usage could enable modification of street lighting poles so they could be used for electric vehicle or e-bike charging.”
Next, Council approved the following items after presentations from staff and hearing from members of the public:
- Contract Award for Construction Services for 2021 Gas System Expansion and Upgrades at the Vancouver Landfill PDF file (48 KB)
- Contract Award for Processing and Marketing of Scrap Metal PDF file (68 KB)
- Business License Panels – July to December 2021 PDF file (29 KB), approved with an amendment
The Committee heard from 79 speakers on Reducing Barriers and Deepening Affordability for Non-Profit, Co-op and Social Housing in Every Neighbourhood (Member's Motion B.2) PDF file (133 KB).
“Council spent 8 hours hearing a range of residents’ thoughts on the need for affordable housing in Vancouver,” said Councillor Christine Boyle. “This including a number of community housing experts who outlined ways that Council can act to make it faster and less expensive to build non-profit and co-op housing, including through the public-benefit zoning that is being proposed.”
“People are struggling to pay the rent and continue to call Vancouver home. This need for stable, mixed-income non-market housing across the city should be a priority for Council. When we vote on the motion, hopefully our votes reflect that.”
The Committee then recessed and will reconvene on Tuesday, May 25, at 6pm, continuing to hear from speakers with agenda item Reducing Barriers and Deepening Affordability for Non-Profit, Co-op and Social Housing in Every Neighbourhood (Member's Motion B.2) PDF file (133 KB).
The next Council Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 8, at 9:30am. Find agendas and meeting reports on council.vancouver.ca.