Council Meeting
December 6, 2022 · 09:30 am
Summary
- 2023 Budget approved: Council passed a $730 million capital expenditure budget and a draft operating budget for 2023, with final operating budget approval deferred to Q1 2023. Funding sources include property taxes, utility fees, debenture borrowing, development cost levies, and community amenity contributions.
- Utility rate increases approved: Water rates up ~3%, sewer rates up 15% (driven largely by Metro Vancouver's Iona treatment plant upgrade costs), solid waste fees up ~5.9%, engineering permit fees up 3.3%, and False Creek Neighbourhood Energy Utility rates up 3.2%.
- Annual financial authorities delegated: Director of Finance authorized to manage cash flow, draw payments, invest surplus funds, and access a $60 million short-term borrowing facility for 2023.
- Land assessment averaging notice: City Clerk directed to notify BC Assessment of intent to consider targeted 5-year land assessment averaging for 2023 property tax calculations.
- Building Board of Appeal revived: By-law amended to reduce quorum from 4 to 3 members and allow all 5 appointments in a single year, enabling the Board to hear a pending appeal.
- Four rezoning applications referred to public hearing: BC Children's Hospital complex care transition facility (Kaslo/Slocan/East 21st); 47-storey residential tower with social housing (Barclay Street); two 18-storey rental towers with childcare (Manson Street); townhouse development (Oak Street/West 54th Avenue).
- Six development form-of-development approvals: Sites on East 12th Avenue, West 41st Avenue/Collingwood Street, James Street, Birch Street, Southeast Marine Drive, and Sawmill Crescent approved in principle.
- 23 by-laws enacted: Including accessible parking standards, Mountain View Cemetery fees, various 2023 fee amendments, rezoning enactments, housing agreements, aggressive dog regulations, and a short-term borrowing authorization.
- Acting Mayor/Deputy Mayor roster set for 2023: Councillors assigned monthly rotation roles as Acting Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and Duty Councillor through December 2023.
- Four council motions referred to Policy and Strategic Priorities committee: Non-profit housing barriers; fixed-rate community amenity contributions; age-friendly action plan review; childcare policy harmonization with province.
- Body-worn cameras for VPD: Motion passed directing Mayor to write to Vancouver Police Board in support of equipping all front-line officers with body-worn cameras by 2025, and directing staff to report back on costs and funding options by early 2024.
- Two business licence hearings adopted from prior meetings: Gary Buchanan's short-term rental licence refused (prior criminal conviction); Puneet Kochar's short-term rental licence suspended (unit not primary residence).
Minutes approved
- Adopt Inaugural Council Minutes Nov 7
- Adopt Special Council In Camera Minutes Nov 8
- Adopt Council Minutes Nov 15
- Adopt Policy and Strategic Priorities Minutes Nov 16 and 22
- Adopt Special Council Election Results Minutes Nov 16
- Adopt Business Licence Hearing Minutes Nov 22
- Adopt Business Licence Hearing Minutes Nov 23
- Adopt Special Council Budget Minutes Nov 29
Motions
2023 Engineering Fees Approval
Carried Details
- 2023 Engineering Fees approved (subject to by-law enactment):
- General Engineering permit/application fees increased 3.3%.
- Resident parking permit fees increased 10.0%.
- Permanent street restoration costs increased 12.0%.
- Traffic Management Plan review fees increased 5.0%.
- Housekeeping amendments to Street and Traffic, Encroachment, and Crossing by-laws.
2023 Water Rates Approval
Carried Details
- 2023 Water Rates approved (subject to by-law enactment):
- Single-family flat rates and metered rates up 3.0%; connection fees for single/two-family dwellings up 10.0%; other connection fees up 3.3%.
- Increases reflect aging infrastructure renewal, Metro Vancouver water purchase costs, and smart metering investment.
- Amendment added to permit operation of once-through cooling equipment to end of product life.
2023 Sewer Rates Approval
Carried Details
- 2023 Sewer Rates approved (subject to by-law enactment):
- Sewer utility rates up 15.0%; connection fees up 10.0%.
- Large increase driven primarily by Metro Vancouver's Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade (estimated $9.9 billion project) and accelerating renewal of aging sewer infrastructure.
2023 Solid Waste Fees Approval
Carried Details
- 2023 Solid Waste Fees approved (subject to by-law enactment):
- Combined fee increase of ~5.9% for a representative single-family home (garbage cart up 6.0%, green bin up 6.5%; street cleaning levy unchanged).
- Increases reflect aging collection fleet maintenance and capital replacement costs.
2023 NEU Customer Rates Approval
Carried Details
- 2023 False Creek Neighbourhood Energy Utility (NEU) rates approved (subject to by-law enactment):
- Customer levies up 3.2% over 2022; initial connection levy up 5%.
- Miscellaneous amendments clarifying meter testing terms and conditions.
2023 Capital and Operating Budget Approval
Carried Details
- 2023 Capital and Operating Budget approved:
- Draft operating budget received for information; final operating budget to be approved in Q1 2023.
- $8.3 million in new multi-year capital budget for Vancouver Police Board projects (equipment, fleet).
- $580.8 million in new multi-year capital projects city-wide, funded through property tax, utility fees, debenture borrowing, reserves, developer contributions, and other sources.
- Total 2023 capital expenditure budget set at $730.0 million.
Annual Financial Authorities 2023
- Council is asked to delegate key financial authorities to the Director of Finance for 2023, consistent with a practice in place for at least 50 years.
- The Director of Finance would be authorized to issue payment warrants (disbursements from City accounts), with monthly reporting to the City Clerk within 15 days of each month's end.
- Unused capital funds from debenture sales may be temporarily redirected to cover other city expenditures from January 1 to July 15, 2023, pending collection of property taxes.
- The Director of Finance would also be authorized to invest surplus City cash in permitted instruments such as government securities, chartered bank deposits, and credit union shares.
- A short-term borrowing (line of credit) facility of up to $60 million would be established with the City's primary bank (currently Bank of Montreal) for the period January 8, 2023 to January 7, 2024, to manage cash flow gaps before tax revenues arrive.
- These are administrative authorities only; all major spending and budget decisions remain subject to separate Council approval of the 2023 Operating and Capital Budgets.
2023 Land Assessment Averaging Notice
- Council is asked to notify BC Assessment Authority before January 1, 2023, of its intent to consider using "targeted land assessment averaging" for 2023 property tax calculations — a notice required by the Vancouver Charter.
- This notice does not commit Council to actually implementing averaging; a final decision and by-law would need to be adopted before March 31, 2023.
- Land assessment averaging is a tool that phases in large property tax increases caused by sudden spikes in assessed land values, protecting property owners in rapidly appreciating neighbourhoods from disproportionate tax jumps.
- The program is revenue-neutral to the City — total property tax collected from each class remains the same whether averaging is applied or not.
- Vancouver currently uses targeted 5-year land assessment averaging with a threshold to limit the effect, a model in place since 2019 and applied to residential (Class 1), light industrial (Class 5), and business (Class 6) properties.
- The Director of Finance is also instructed to provide two weeks' public notice before any Council consideration of the program, and to report on projected tax impacts once 2023 assessed values are available from BC Assessment.
Building Board of Appeal By-law Amendments
- Building Board of Appeal By-law amendments:
- Board has not met since 2011 and currently has no appointed members; a property owner has filed a pending appeal.
- Quorum reduced from 4 to 3 members; all 5 members may now be appointed in a single year (previously limited to 3 per year); term extended to 4 years.
- Changes enable the Board to be revived and hear current and future appeals without unreasonable delay.
Referral – Kaslo Slocan East 21st Rezoning
3575-3655 Kaslo Street, 3580-3644 Slocan Street and 2755 East 21st Avenue- The Provincial Health Services Authority, on behalf of BC Children's Hospital Foundation, has applied to rezone a 6.7-acre site at Kaslo Street, Slocan Street, and East 21st Avenue in the Renfrew-Collingwood neighbourhood to allow a new three-storey complex care transition facility for children and youth.
- The rezoning would change the site from RS-1 (single-family residential) to CD-1 (Comprehensive Development) and increase the maximum building height from 10.7 m (35 ft.) to 16.5 m (54 ft.) to accommodate the facility's program requirements.
- The proposed facility would replace the former Sunny Hill Health Centre on the site and provide multidisciplinary complex care, health system navigation support, and caregiver training for children and youth with complex healthcare needs.
- The development also includes a 74-space childcare facility to be retained by the owner, and the site has a long history — dating to 1931 — of providing healthcare services for children.
- Most existing buildings on the southern and northeast portions of the site would be demolished, while 124 trees including a mature grove of London Plane, Horsechestnut, and Norway Maple trees in the northwest quadrant would be retained.
- City planning staff recommend the application be referred to a Public Hearing and support approval in principle, finding it consistent with the Renfrew-Collingwood Community Vision and the Vancouver Plan.
Referral – Barclay Street Rezoning
1063-1075 Barclay Street- A rezoning application for 1063–1075 Barclay Street in the West End proposes to redevelop the site into a 47-storey residential tower with 372 total units — 285 strata (market ownership) and 87 social housing units to be owned by the City.
- The proposal would dramatically increase the permitted floor space ratio from 2.75 to 19.10 and building height from 58 m to 139.2 m (approximately 457 ft.), replacing three existing buildings constructed between 1990 and 2003.
- The site currently has 40 residential units, 36 of which were tenanted at the time of application; six tenants are eligible for protection under the City's Tenant Relocation and Protection Policy.
- The application is consistent with the West End Community Plan and the Rezoning Policy for the West End, which supports higher-density residential development in this area.
- Staff recommend the application be referred to a Public Hearing, with the General Manager of Planning, Urban Design and Sustainability supporting approval in principle, subject to conditions.
- The site is near several parks, community spaces, and childcare facilities, and falls within the catchment area of Roberts Elementary and King George Secondary Schools.
Referral – Manson Street Rezoning
5562-5688 Manson Street- A rezoning application for 5562–5688 Manson Street (near 39th and 41st Avenues) proposes to replace six single-family homes with two 18-storey rental residential towers containing 392 secured rental units, plus a 37-space childcare facility to be delivered turnkey to the City.
- At least 20% of the residential floor area would be secured as below-market rental (BMR) units, addressing affordability goals under the Moderate Income Rental Housing Pilot Program.
- The proposal would rezone the six-lot assembly from RS-1 (single-family residential) to CD-1, increasing the FSR from 0.7 to 6.0 and building height from 10.7 m to 56.0 m (approximately 184 ft.), with additional height for a rooftop amenity.
- The Tenant Relocation and Protection Policy applies as the site consolidates six lots with secondary rental units; at the time of application, four units had active tenancies of less than two years.
- The application is consistent with the Cambie Corridor Plan, which anticipates significant growth in the area, including up to 57-storey development at the nearby Oakridge Centre site across 41st Avenue.
- Staff recommend the application be referred to a Public Hearing, with the General Manager of Planning, Urban Design and Sustainability supporting approval in principle, subject to conditions.
Referral – Oak Street West 54th Avenue Rezoning
7057-7075 Oak Street and 1015 West 54th Avenue- A rezoning application for three properties at 7057–7075 Oak Street and 1015 West 54th Avenue proposes to rezone the site from RS-1 (single-family residential) to RM-8AN to allow townhouse or rowhouse development at a maximum FSR of 1.20.
- The site consists of three single-detached homes (built in 1948) on approximately 2,323 sq. m of land in the Langara neighbourhood, and is eligible for rezoning under the Cambie Corridor Plan.
- The Cambie Corridor Plan supports townhouse development along Oak Street to provide ground-oriented, family-friendly housing as part of anticipated neighbourhood growth, with over 1,100 detached lots in the corridor identified for potential townhome redevelopment.
- The RM-8AN district designation (versus RM-8A) is required because the site fronts Oak Street, an arterial road, triggering enhanced noise mitigation requirements for new buildings.
- The property currently has two rental tenancies, meaning the Tenant Relocation and Protection Policy applies to any future redevelopment.
- Staff recommend the application be referred to a Public Hearing, with the General Manager of Planning, Urban Design and Sustainability supporting approval in principle, subject to conditions.
Enact By-laws 1 to 23
Carried Details
- 23 by-laws enacted, including: accessible parking standards (van-accessible spaces, common ownership in strata); Mountain View Cemetery 2023 fees; Energy Utility, Solid Waste, Sewer, Water Works, Street and Traffic, Granville Mall, Encroachment, Crossing, Street Vending, Street Publications, and Street Utilities 2023 fee amendments; two CD-1 rezoning enactments (West Broadway and Main Street/East 6th); housing agreements for multiple sites; Sign By-law and Noise Control amendments; short-term borrowing authorization; aggressive dog by-law amendments; and a housing agreement amendment for 2538 Birch Street.
Form of Development – East 12th Avenue
1680 East 12th Avenue Carried Details
- Form of development approved for 1680 East 12th Avenue (formerly 1650 East 12th Avenue); application prepared by Wesgroup Properties.
Form of Development – West 41st Avenue Collingwood Street
3449-3479 West 41st Avenue and 5664 Collingwood Street Carried Details
- Form of development approved for 3449-3479 West 41st Avenue and 5664 Collingwood Street; application prepared by Sightline Properties Ltd and Ciccozzi Architecture Inc.
Form of Development – James Street
4930 James Street Carried Details
- Form of development approved for 4930 James Street (formerly 4902 James Street); application prepared by IBI Group Architects (Canada) Inc.
Form of Development – Birch Street
2538 Birch Street Carried Details
- Form of development approved for 2538 Birch Street; application prepared by Jameson Development Corporation and IBI GROUP.
Form of Development – Southeast Marine Drive
3104 Southeast Marine Drive Carried Details
- Form of development approved for 3104 Southeast Marine Drive (formerly 8420 Kerr Street); application prepared by dys architecture.
Form of Development – Sawmill Crescent
3565 Sawmill Crescent Carried Details
- Form of development approved for 3565 Sawmill Crescent; application prepared by TKA+D Architecture + Design Inc.
Implementing VPD Body-Worn Cameras
Carried Details
- Implementing VPD Body-Worn Cameras (BWC):
- Moved by Councillor Zhou; Council formally supports equipping all VPD front-line and patrol officers (~800 officers) with body-worn cameras by 2025.
- Research cited shows BWC reduces public complaints against officers and reduces use of force; RCMP currently rolling out BWC nationally.
- Provincial policing standards for BWC already established, requiring privacy impact assessments and public policies before deployment.
- Estimated annual per-unit cost $2,000-$3,000 (based on RCMP program); full implementation and data storage costs to be assessed.
- Mayor directed to write to Vancouver Police Board and Vancouver Police Union in support; staff to identify costs and funding options and report back in early 2024.
Agenda documents (37)
ADOPTION OF MINUTES
- Inaugural Council – November 7, 2022
- Special Council (In Camera) – November 8, 2022
- Council – November 15, 2022
- Council (Policy and Strategic Priorities) – November 16 and 22, 2022
- Special Council (Local General Election Results 2022) – November 16, 2022
- Special Council (Business Licence Hearing) – November 22, 2022
- Special Council (Business Licence Hearing) – November 23, 2022
- Special Council (2023 Budget) – November 29, 2022
COMMUNICATIONS
1. Acting Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Roster of Councillors to Represent Council – 2023
REPORTS
1. 2023 Capital and Operating Budget
- 2023 Engineering Fees
- 2023 Annual Review of Water Rates and Water Works By-law Amendments
- 2023 Annual Review of Sewer Rates Under the Sewer & Watercourse By-law
- 2023 Solid Waste Utility (SWU) Fees and By-law Changes
- 2023 False Creek Neighbourhood Energy Utility (“NEU”) Customer Rates
- 2023 Capital and Operating Budget
2. Annual Financial Authorities - 2023
3. 2023 Land Assessment Averaging: Notice to BC Assessment Authority
4. Miscellaneous Changes to the Building Board of Appeal By-law
REFERRAL REPORTS
1. CD-1 Rezoning: 3575-3655 Kaslo Street, 3580-3644 Slocan Street and 2755 East 21st Avenue
2. CD-1 Rezoning: 1063-1075 Barclay Street
3. CD-1 Rezoning: 5562-5688 Manson Street
4. Rezoning: 7057-7075 Oak Street and 1015 West 54th Avenue
BY-LAWS
MOTIONS
1. Approval of Form of Development – 1680 East 12th Avenue (formerly 1650 East 12th Avenue)
2. Approval of Form of Development – 3449-3479 West 41st Avenue and 5664 Collingwood Street
3. Approval of Form of Development – 4930 James Street (formerly 4902 James Street)
4. Approval of Form of Development – 2538 Birch Street
5. Approval of Form of Development – 3104 Southeast Marine Drive (formerly 8420 Kerr Street)
6. Approval of Form of Development – 3565 Sawmill Crescent
1. Requests for Leaves of Absence
2. Reducing Barriers and Deepening Affordability for Non-Profit, Co-op and Social Housing in Every Neighbourhood
3. Establishing Fixed-Rate Community Amenity Contributions (CACs) for Low-Rise and Medium-Rise Projects City-Wide
4. Reviewing Vancouver’s Age-Friendly Action Plan and Aligning with WHO’s Age-Friendly Cities Framework
5. Harmonizing City of Vancouver and Provincial Childcare Policies and Licensing Requirements
6. Implementing Body-Worn Cameras (BWC) for the Vancouver Police Department (VPD)
ENQUIRIES AND OTHER MATTERS
Vote matrix
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ken Sim🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Christine Boyle🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Adriane Carr🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Lisa Dominato🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Pete Fry🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Sarah Kirby-Yung🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Mike Klassen🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Peter Meiszner🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Brian Montague🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Lenny Zhou🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Rebecca Bligh🥜 |