Regular Council July 10, 2012: $120 million debenture, Galt St. trojan horse house, seawall extension, bike rentals, railway, recycling

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(Version 9 am, to be updated) The Regular Council meeting starting at 9:30 am today, July 10, 2012, carries a number of interesting and important topics. Here is a selection of items that have come to our attention. The full agenda is here:
http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20120710/regu20120710ag.htm

Administrative Motion 1. 2012 Emergency Preparedness Conference – Partnership DonationPDF

CityHallWatch note: This is a recommendation for the City to make a Partnership Donation of $5,000.00 to the annual 2012 Vancouver Emergency Preparedness Conference,  November 6, 7, and 8 at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre Hotel, from the Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services’ 2012 Operating Budget. The theme for the 25TH Annual Conference is, “Benchmarks, Best Practices & Breaking New Ground.”

We note that the City’s director of emergency services was fired abruptly in March, with no public explanation, and we are not sure if he has been replaced. We also have concerns about inadequate plans for emergency response especially for the downtown peninsula in the event of a major earthquake disaster, especially with what appears to be ongoing development plans there. The former director had said in media that the peninsula would be evacuated, but no further details were provided.

3. Debenture Program – 2012

Click to access a3.pdf

CityHallWatch note:

Excerpt:
RECOMMENDATION
A. THAT Council authorize the issuance of up to $120 million City of Vancouver
debentures, utilizing borrowing authorities approved as part of the 2009, 2010
and 2011 Capital Budgets and through special approvals as follows:
 Waterworks $ 17,000,000
 Sewers & Drainage $ 38,200,000
 Public Works $ 21,348,000
 Parks & Recreation $ 18,365,000
 Public Safety & Civic Facilities $ 22,687,000
 Neighborhood Energy Utility System $ 2,400,000
$120,000,000
CityHallWatch note: This debenture is in addition to the $140 million borrowing in Dec. 2011. It is to cover some of the costs of growth in Vancouver. Services all over the city have to be upgraded to keep up with development. We understand that downtown infrastructure cannot handle the new demands on capacity from many new towers being constructed. Services must be upgraded and replaced. We have heard that developments do not carry their own weight, as development fees cover only a fraction of costs. The result is that all taxpayers end up footing the bill. The public deserves more information and independent analysis of the costs of development, and how developers are paying. 
See our post about a huge upzoning to a floor space ratio of 25.5, proposed by Via Architecture for an undisclosed applicant at 320 Granville Street. Note our questions about public costs of this type of development.

A. Administrative Motions

1. Approval of Form of Development: 2298 Galt Street (2300 Galt Street)
MOVER: Councillor Kerry Jang
SECONDER: Councillor Heather Deal

CityHallWatch note: This is an administrative step for a project in the pipeline. It was covered before by CityHallWatch and Eye on Norquay. Reference:
Rezoning (2298 Galt St), a “Trojan Horse” test case for single lot rezonings to 4 storeys across Vancouver?

B. Motions on Notice

1. Completion of the City of Vancouver’s Seawall – Kitsilano to Jericho
MOVER: Councillor George Affleck
SECONDER: Councillor Adriane Carr

CityHallWatch note: Media coverage of this topic, particularly the risks of anonymous donations and potential for political favors being expected in return. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/seawall-completion-to-carry-10-million-preliminary-price-tag/article4398870/?cmpid=rss1

2. Protecting Commercial Bicycle Rentals
MOVER: Councillor George Affleck
SECONDER: Councillor

3. Continuation of Funding for Vancouver’s Historic Railway
MOVER: Councillor Elizabeth Ball
SECONDER: Councillor George Affleck
Request to speak to this motion has been received.

4. Provincial Recycling Regulation
MOVER: Councillor Andrea Reimer
SECONDER: Councillor

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