Vancouver City Council will discuss a report recommending a Response to New Provincial Legislation: Bills 44, 46 and 47 (Map on right shows Transit-Oriented Catchment Areas around Skytrain stations and Bus Loops)
There are only two meetings of Council for the upcoming week, on April 23rd and 24th, as the Public Hearing was cancelled. There’s also a Park Board meeting for Monday, April 22nd that includes the Imagine West End Waterfront Parks, Beaches and Transportation report as well as an update to the Stanley Park Mobility Study (see our previous post here).
The agenda for the Regular Council Meeting agenda set for Tuesday, April 23rd includes a Noise Control By-law Review item, as well as a Response to New Provincial Legislation (Bills 44, 46 and 47).
Unlike some of the other municipalities in Metro Vancouver, there has been no public consultation whatsoever on Vancouver’s response to Bills 44, 46 and 47. The province is mandating that a few of bylaws for Transit-Orientated Areas (TOAs) must be adopted by June 30, 2024. This would include work to designate remaining zones around Skytrain Stations and Bus Loops (Dunbar and Kootenay) that were not defined by the Provincial government last year (20 out of 29 TOAs are already designated). Other measures would be to eliminate minimum off-street parking for new developments in the TOAs. See our previous post on TOD zones defined by the Province on December 8, 2023.
There’s a map in the report (reproduced at the top) that shows circles centred around Skytrain Stations and Bus Loops. The circles represent minimum designations for 5 FSR and 20 storeys in height within 200m of a Skytrain Station, 4 FSR and 12 storeys for residential properties 200m to 400m and finally for 400m to 800m, 3 FSR and 8 storeys. The circles do not show exempt areas such as Industrial Zones or designated heritage. The Kootenay and Dunbar Bus Loops designations would set 12-storey and 4 FSR minimums for residential properties within 200 metres of the loop, along with 8 storey and 3 FSR minimums for properties located 200m to 400m. While property owners are free to build below the prescribed minimums, the allowed outright zoning would be set at the minimum values set by the Province in these TOAs.
Zoning bylaws in some zones such as RT-7, RT-9 (duplex zones) and FSD would also need to be updated for Small Scale Multi-Unit Housing (SSMUH); however, the R1-1 zone will not need any changes. A minimum of 6 units on a lot would be required for residential properties within 400m of a bus stop with frequent service (buses running once every 15 minutes). Staff are also looking at turning the Vancouver Plan into an Official Development Plan (ODP) for 2026. There are a number of other changes for 2025 and 2026 that would include modifying the Broadway Plan, Grandview-Woodland Community Plan and the Joyce-Collingwood Station Precinct Plan (and completing the Renfrew & Rupert Station plan). There is a new Amenity Cost Charge (ACC) framework (the use of Community Amenity Contributions or CACs will continue to be allowed). The word “consultation” does not appear once in the staff report and speakers to the item are not being allowed (however, it is still possible to write to Council). Speakers to other items, such as the noise bylaw report, are allowed though.
There’s a report for changes to the Noise Control By-law. There’s a comprehensive letter we’ve included for background, in a previous post: Citizens comment on Vancouver Noise By-law amendments going to Council April 23, pointing out deficiencies needing attention.
A number of other reports are also up at Council, including minor building by-law changes, flag / civic protocol updates and a funding application to the UBCM for the Disaster Risk Reduction-Climate Adaptation Program.
A total of 5 referral reports are on the agenda, including a Broadway Plan rezoning on the former MEC site at 130-150 West Broadway and 2520 Columbia Street. A revised proposal has a 28-storey and a 21-storey tower with podium, 8.46 FSR. Tower heights were reduced so it would not shade Jonathan Rogers Park during designated solar protection times between the spring and fall equinox.
The agenda for the Standing Committee on City Finance and Services on Wednesday, April 24, 2024 includes a number of items related to financial statements for 2023 and property taxation. There are reports for Phase I of the Property Tax Policy Review, 2024 Property Taxation: Distribution of Property Tax Levy and the 2023 Property Tax Exemptions. Properties with a total value of $43.4 billion were exempt from paying property tax (government, transit, schools, churches, charitable organizations and some heritage properties).
Twelve supportive housing grants with a total of $255,220 will be discussed, including one grant for Atira valued at $25,000.
The 2023 Statement of Financial Information (SOFI) will be reviewed. This report includes the ‘sunshine list’ of City employees earning more than $75,000. Addition details are available in our previous post: 2,340 City of Vancouver employees earned over $100,000 in 2023. Sunshine list reveals that 4,083 City employees made over $75,000. Staff salaries totalled $1.15 billion. The Annual Procurement Report 2023 revealed the City spent $478,599,975 on awarded contracts for 2023.
There’s a contract award being considered worth $33.7 million for a Microsoft Enterprise Agreement. It’s curious to see that there is no consideration being given to using a free and open source operating system like Linux for the majority of the City’s software needs. For general work, LibreOffice is an effective alternative to Microsoft Office, while popular web browsers like Chrome and Firefox are also available on Linux. The vast majority of internet servers (96.3%) run Linux and Linux also powers Android phones. There are also significant costs to deploying Windows 11 on older workstations, as the entire computer would need to be replaced (while Linux continues to run fine on older hardware). Some flavours of Linux (such as Ubuntu 24.04 LTS) have 5 years of free support and security patches. It appears that the Chief Procurement Officer would prefer to award large contracts to proprietary software providers when there are open source alternatives available.
Property tax exemptions for 2023. This included an exempt value of $43.4 billion.
There’s a Terms of Reference included for the Mayor’s Budget Task Force Implementation Committee (BTFIOC). This document reveals that “The BTFIOC will consist of three (3) Councillors, appointed by Council. The Deputy Chief of Staff to the Mayor will also attend the Committee as a non-voting member.“ and “The Committee’s term of operation will be two (2) years“.
There is a report for a Vancouver Police Board Amended 2024 Provisional Budget of $690,000 (for VPD administration and operations). The 2024 VPD budget is $442,366,688.
It’s worth noting that the 2023 SOFI report also includes a list of all vendors to the City that received payments of $25,000 or more. A total of $1,108,999,253 was allocated for payments to suppliers of goods and services to the City of Vancouver. Some of the vendors include: United Airlines (36,679), Telus Health (Canada) Ltd (720,903), Space2Place Design Inc (686,586), PFS Studio (534,981), Petro-Canada Lubricants Inc (308,280), Marriott Hotels (29,831), Mario’s Gelati Ltd (141,020), Happy Cities Studio Inc (72,345), Human Studio Architecture & Urban Design Ltd (265,110), HootSuite Inc (79,824), Henriquez Partners Architects Ltd (515,745), Facebook (63,626), FortisBC Energy Inc (7,041,048) and Coriolis Consulting Corp (483,045). See the full list for more details.
For reference, we’ve reproduced the meeting agendas below:
https://council.vancouver.ca/20240423/regu20240423ag.htm
Council agenda April 23, 2024
Date and location
Tuesday, April 23, 2024 9:30 am
PLACE:
In-Person:
Council Chamber
Third Floor, City Hall, 453 West 12th Avenue
Electronic Means:
Watch live at http:vancouver.ca/council-video.
Get involved and stay informed
Tip: Send your comments the day before the meeting so Council has time to review them.
Sign up to speak about an agenda item by 5pm the day before the meeting. Requests to speak will not be accepted after 5pm.
Request to speak Watch the live broadcast Get updates on Twitter
Questions about this agenda?
- Email speaker.request@vancouver.ca
- Phone 604.829.4323
PLEASE NOTE:
• This meeting is to be convened in person and via electronic means as authorized by Part 14 of the Procedure By-law.
ROLL CALL
IN CAMERA MEETING
THAT Council will go into meetings later this week which are closed to the public, pursuant to Section 165.2(1) of the Vancouver Charter, to discuss matters related to paragraphs:
(a) personal information about an identifiable individual who holds or is being considered for a position as an officer, employee or agent of the city or another position appointed by the city;
(c) labour relations or other employee relations;
(k) negotiations and related discussions respecting the proposed provision of an activity, work or facility that are at their preliminary stages and that, in the view of the Council, could reasonably be expected to harm the interests of the city if they were held in public;
FURTHER THAT Council will go into meetings later this week which are closed to the public, pursuant to Section 165.2(2) of the Vancouver Charter, to discuss matters related to paragraph:
(b) the consideration of information received and held in confidence relating to negotiations between the city and a provincial government or the federal government or both, or between a provincial government or the federal government or both and a third party.
ADOPTION OF MINUTES
1. Auditor General Committee – April 4, 2024
3. Public Hearing – April 9, 2024
4. Council (Policy and Strategic Priorities) – April 10, 2024
MATTERS ADOPTED ON CONSENT
REPORTS
1. Response to New Provincial Legislation: Bills 44, 46 and 47
2. Housekeeping and Miscellaneous Changes to the Building By-law
3. Flag (Civic Protocol) Policy Amendments
4. Noise Control By-law Review – Phase One
5. Funding Application to Disaster Risk Reduction-Climate Adaptation Program
REFERRAL REPORTS
1. CD-1 Rezoning: 1805 Victoria Drive
2. CD-1 Rezoning: 8815-8827 Selkirk Street
3. CD-1 Rezoning: 5350-5430 Heather Street
4. Rezoning: 4635-4675 Arbutus Street
5. CD-1 Rezoning: 130-150 West Broadway and 2520 Columbia Street
BY-LAWS
1. A By-law to assess real property to defray 2023 costs for the East Hastings Street Collective Parking Project
2. A By-law to assess real property to defray 2023 maintenance costs for the Trounce Alley and Blood Alley Square Local Improvement Project
3. A By-law to amend City Land Regulation By-law No. 8735 regarding Consumption of Liquor on City Land (2024)
4. A By-law to amend Local Improvement Procedure By-law No. 3614 regarding the removal of City contributions and other miscellaneous amendments
5. A By-law to designate certain real property as protected heritage property (998 Thurlow Street (Washington Court))
(Councillor Kirby-Yung and Mayor Sim were absent for this item at the Public Hearing and will need to review the proceedings to be eligible to vote)
6. A By-law to authorize Council entering into a Heritage Revitalization Agreement with the Owner of Heritage Property (998 Thurlow Street (Washington Court))
(Councillor Kirby-Yung and Mayor Sim were absent for this item at the Public Hearing and will need to review the proceedings to be eligible to vote)
7. A By-law to amend Zoning and Development By-law No. 3575 to rezone an area from R1-1 to RR-2B (5995-6015 Dunbar Street)
(Councillor Montague and Mayor Sim were absent for this item at the Public Hearing and will need to review the proceedings to be eligible to vote)
8. A By-law to amend Zoning and Development By-law No. 3575 to rezone an area from R1-1 to RM-8AN (6218-6230 Oak Street)
(Councillor Boyle absent for this item at the Public Hearing and will need to review the proceedings to be eligible to vote; Councillors Klassen, Meiszner, Montague, Zhou and Mayor Sim not on Council at the time of Public Hearing and will need to review the proceedings to be eligible to vote)
9. A By-law to amend Zoning and Development By-law No. 3575 to rezone an area from R1-1 to RR-2B (550-606 East King Edward Avenue)
(Councillor Bligh absent for this item at the Public Hearing and will need to review the proceedings to be eligible to vote)
10. A By-law to amend Zoning and Development By-law No. 3575 regarding miscellaneous amendments
(Councillor Kirby-Yung and Mayor Sim were absent for this item at the Public Hearing and will need to review the proceedings to be eligible to vote)
11. A By-law to amend Central Waterfront Official Development Plan By-law No. 5261 regarding miscellaneous amendments
12. A By-law to amend Coal Harbour Official Development Plan By-law No. 6754 regarding a miscellaneous amendment
13. A By-law to amend East Fraser Lands Official Development Plan No. 9393 regarding a miscellaneous amendment
14. A By-law to amend False Creek North Official Development Plan By-law No. 6650 regarding miscellaneous amendments
15. A By-law to amend Southeast Granville Slopes Official Development Plan By-law No. 5752 regarding miscellaneous amendments
16. A By-law to amend Miscellaneous Fees By-law No. 5664 regarding a miscellaneous amendment
17. A By-law to amend the Subdivision By-law No. 5208 regarding a miscellaneous amendment
18. A By-law to enact a Housing Agreement for 1045 Burnaby Street
19. A By-law to enact a Housing Agreement for 998 Thurlow Street
20. A By-law to amend False Creek North Official Development Plan By-law No. 6650 regarding amendments to allow increased social housing
21. A By-law to amend CD-1 (324) By-law No. 7248 (800-1100 Pacific Boulevard)
To be enacted after By-law 20 is approved
(Councillors Fry and Meiszner were absent for this item at the Public Hearing and will need to review the proceedings to be eligible to vote)
22. A By-law to amend CD-1 (366) By-law No. 7675 (500 Pacific Street)
To be enacted after By-law 20 is approved
(Councillors Fry and Meiszner were absent for this item at the Public Hearing and will need to review the proceedings to be eligible to vote)
23. A By-law to amend CD-1 (422) By-law No. 8896 (900 Pacific Boulevard)
To be enacted after By-law 20 is approved
(Councillors Fry and Meiszner were absent for this item at the Public Hearing and will need to review the proceedings to be eligible to vote)
24. A By-law to amend CD-1 (266) By-law No. 6757 (1100, 1200 and 1300 Blocks Pacific Boulevard)
To be enacted after By-laws 21, 22 and 23 are approved
(Councillors Fry and Meiszner were absent for this item at the Public Hearing and will need to review the proceedings to be eligible to vote)
25. A By-law to amend CD-1 (297) By-law No. 7156 (1200-1300 Pacific Boulevard South)
To be enacted after By-laws 21, 22 and 23 are approved
(Councillors Fry and Meiszner were absent for this item at the Public Hearing and will need to review the proceedings to be eligible to vote)
26. A By-law to amend Parking By-law No. 6059 with regard to CD-1 District Parking requirements (800-1100 Pacific Boulevard and 500 Pacific Street)
To be enacted after By-laws 21, 22 and 23 are approved
ADMINISTRATIVE MOTIONS
1. Approval of Form of Development: 1247 Kingsway
2. Approval of Form of Development: 3644 Slocan Street (formerly 3575 Kaslo Street)
3. Approval of Form of Development: 3205 Arbutus Street (formerly 2108 West 16th Avenue)
4. Approval of Form of Development: 990 Beatty Street
5. Approval of Form of Development: 1010 Expo Boulevard (formerly 1050 Expo Boulevard)
6. Miscellaneous Amendments – Various Land Use Documents
NOTICE OF COUNCIL MEMBER’S MOTIONS
NEW BUSINESS
ENQUIRIES AND OTHER MATTERS
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https://council.vancouver.ca/20240424/cfsc20240424ag.htm
Standing Committee on City Finance and Services agenda
April 24, 2024 (Revised: April 18, 2024)
Date and location
Wednesday, April 24, 2024 9:30 am
In Person:
Council Chamber
Third Floor, City Hall, 453 West 12th Avenue
Electronic Means:
Watch live at: http:vancouver.ca/council-video
Get involved and stay informed
Tip: Send your comments the day before the meeting so Council has time to review them.
Sign up to speak about an agenda item by 5pm the day before the meeting. Requests to speak will not be accepted after 5pm.
Request to speak Watch the live broadcast Get updates on Twitter
Questions about this agenda?
- Email: speaker.request@vancouver.ca
- Phone: 604.873.4272
PLEASE NOTE:
• This meeting is to be convened in person and via electronic means as authorized by Part 14 of the Procedure By-law.
ROLL CALL
MATTERS ADOPTED ON CONSENT
REPORTS
1. Property Tax Policy Review – Phase I
2. 2024 Property Taxation: Distribution of Property Tax Levy
Resolution 2b is subject to the approval of Report 2a
3. 2023 Property Tax Exemptions
4. Vancouver Police Board Amended 2024 Provisional Budget
*Updated on page 4, under “Legal Implications”, “If Council adopts Recommendation C”, changed to “If Council adopts Option B”.
5. Housing and Homelessness Services Grants: 2024 Supportive Housing Capital Grants
Recommendation A requires 8 affirmative votes of all Council members per Section 206(1)(a) of the Vancouver Charter.
6. 2023 Statement of Financial Information
7. Annual Procurement Report 2023
8. Contract Award for Microsoft Enterprise Agreement
9. Mayor’s Budget Task Force Implementation Committee – Terms of Reference
COUNCIL MEMBERS’ MOTIONS
1. Requests for Leaves of Absence
2. Kicking Off Community Benefits for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
* * * * *
NOTICE
A Council meeting will be convened immediately following the Standing Committee meeting.
COUNCIL MEETING
AGENDA
ROLL CALL
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES
1. Standing Committee of Council on City Finance and Services
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Approval of recommendations and actions.
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Resources
CityHallWatch: Tools to engage in Vancouver city decisions 