Council Meeting
May 9, 2023 · 10:30 am
Summary
- Procedure By-law amendments: Council approved significant changes to how meetings are run, including reducing individual speaker time from 5 to 3 minutes, eliminating councillor questions to speakers, moving Thursday public hearings to a 1 pm start, and removing councillor questions to the mover of a member's motion. An amendment by Councillor Boyle also directed staff to prepare a by-law to allow member motions to be tabled and heard at Wednesday Standing Committee meetings rather than Tuesday Council meetings.
- Planning prioritization framework postponed: A staff report proposing a framework to prioritize rezoning applications and planning policy work was postponed to the May 30 Council meeting after debate; Councillors Boyle, Carr, and Fry opposed the postponement.
- Graffiti abatement grants: Up to $500,000 approved for 2023 graffiti abatement grants distributed across Vancouver's 22 Business Improvement Associations (BIAs).
- Uplifting Chinatown grants: $387,000 in strategic priority grants approved for four organizations to support graffiti removal, a Safewalk pilot, and community stewardship programs in Chinatown.
- Integrity Commissioner report: Recommendations B and C (endorsing Integrity Commissioner recommendations and directing staff to bring forward Code of Conduct amendments) were referred to the May 10 Standing Committee on City Finance and Services due to time constraints.
- Broadway Plan zoning amendments: Referred to public hearing; proposed changes to zoning and development by-law to support industrial intensification in Mount Pleasant and Burrard Slopes, and extend six-storey secured rental allowances to C-2 zones in the Broadway Plan area.
- Five housing rezoning applications referred to public hearing: 109 East 40th Avenue (four-storey rental); 2325-2377 West 49th Avenue (five-storey market rental); 427-449 West 39th Avenue (18-storey rental with 20% below-market); 3803-3823 West 10th Avenue (six-storey rental with 20% below-market); and Broadway Plan zoning amendments.
- Three by-laws enacted: Amendments to the Ticket Offences By-law (graffiti enforcement), Sign By-law, and Noise Control By-law for 4408-4488 Fraser Street and 707-709 East 29th Avenue.
- Inter-Municipal Business Licence for home healthcare workers: Referred to May 10 Standing Committee on City Finance and Services for speakers and debate.
- People-Focused Gastown motion: Referred to May 10 Standing Committee; proposed urgent repairs to Water Street, a planning process toward pedestrianizing Water Street, and a summer car-free pilot in partnership with the Gastown BIA.
- Broadway Plan demoviction tracking: Referred to May 10 Standing Committee; proposed directing staff to track building and demolition permits, tenant displacement data, and report back on strategies to limit demovictions in the Broadway Plan area.
- Bird Strategy motion: Referred to May 10 Standing Committee; proposed proclaiming May 13-31 as Vancouver Bird Celebration, reapplying for Bird Friendly City certification, and directing staff to review Bird Friendly Design Guidelines and report back.
Minutes approved
- April 25-26
- Public Hearing April 25
- PSPC April 26
- Public Hearing April 27
Motions
2023 Graffiti Abatement BIA Grants
- Council is asked to approve up to $500,000 in graffiti abatement grants to all 22 Vancouver Business Improvement Associations (BIAs) for 2023, continuing a program that has run since 2021.
- Funds can only be used for graffiti removal, mural creation and maintenance, anti-graffiti coatings, and related beautification — not for activities already covered by existing contracts.
- Grant amounts range from $10,000 to $50,000 per BIA, allocated using a formula developed by the Vancouver BIA Partnership; the largest grants go to Chinatown BIA and Downtown Vancouver BIA ($50,000 each).
- Graffiti levels remain elevated across the city following a pandemic-era spike, and BIAs collectively spend close to $1 million annually on graffiti-related work beyond this City funding.
- Funding is already included in the approved 2023 Operating Budget, stemming from a commitment made in the January 2023 Uplifting Chinatown Action Plan.
- Staff recommend approval, noting BIAs have flagged urgency to have funds in place before the 2023 summer season.
Uplifting Chinatown Strategic Priority Grants
- Council is asked to approve four strategic priority grants totalling $387,000 to support pilot projects under the Uplifting Chinatown Action Plan, which Council approved in January 2023.
- Three grants totalling $210,000 are funded from the City's 2023 Operating Budget: $150,000 to Chinatown BIA for enhanced private-property graffiti removal, $50,000 to Chinatown BIA to develop a Safewalk program for residents (particularly Chinese-speaking seniors), and $10,000 to the Chinese Community Policing Centre to expand its volunteer graffiti removal program.
- A fourth grant of $177,000, funded through provincial Great Beginnings dollars, goes to EMBERS Eastside Works to formally integrate the existing Chinatown Community Stewards Program into the Action Plan; stewards provide business liaison, de-escalation, tourist assistance, and outreach to people experiencing homelessness.
- All pilot projects are required to track performance metrics (e.g., response times, volunteer hours, number of requests) to inform future program decisions city-wide.
- The Safewalk program is specifically designed to address safety barriers faced by low-income, Chinese-speaking seniors who may face language and systemic obstacles accessing support.
- Staff recommend approval as a critical next step in implementing the Action Plan, with the full $2.16 million Action Plan budget having already been approved as part of the 2023 Operating Budget.
Procedure By-law Amendments – Part A
Carried Details
- Council approved in principle the administrative amendments in Table 1 of the Procedure By-law report, covering minor clarifications to language and meeting procedures.
Procedure By-law – Table 2 Item 1 (Public Hearing Start Time)
Carried Details
- Thursday public hearing start time moved earlier to 1 pm (from the staff-proposed 3 pm) to allow more time to conduct business. Councillor Carr opposed.
Procedure By-law – Table 2 Item 4 (Speaker Time Reduction)
Carried Details
- Individual speaker time at Standing Committee, Council, and Special Council meetings reduced from 5 minutes to 3 minutes, as recommended by staff. Councillors Boyle, Carr, and Fry opposed.
Procedure By-law – Table 2 Item 5 (Eliminate Speaker Questions)
Carried Details
- Councillor questions to speakers at meetings eliminated entirely, removing the existing time allocation for such questions. Councillors Boyle, Carr, and Fry opposed.
Procedure By-law – Exclude Table 2 Item 6
Carried Details
- Table 2, Item 6 of the Procedure By-law amendments was excluded from adoption; this item was not proceeded with.
Procedure By-law – Strike Section 9.8
Carried Details
- Section 9.8 of the Procedure By-law, which allowed councillor questions to the mover of a member's motion, was struck from the by-law. Councillors Boyle, Carr, and Fry opposed.
Procedure By-law – Table 2 Item 2
Carried Details
- Table 2, Item 2 of the Procedure By-law amendments adopted unanimously; covered an administrative or procedural change as set out in the report.
Procedure By-law – Table 2 Item 3
Carried Details
- Table 2, Item 3 of the Procedure By-law amendments adopted; Councillors Boyle, Carr, and Fry opposed.
Procedure By-law – Table 2 Item 7
Carried Details
- Table 2, Item 7 of the Procedure By-law amendments adopted unanimously.
Procedure By-law – Parts C and D
Carried Details
- Parts C and D of the Procedure By-law motion adopted unanimously: directing the Director of Legal Services to prepare a by-law for enactment May 10, 2023, and directing staff to prepare a by-law to allow member motions to be heard at Wednesday Standing Committee meetings.
Broadway Plan Zoning Amendments Referral
- Broadway Plan zoning amendments referred to public hearing; proposed changes would intensify industrial zoning in Mount Pleasant and Burrard Slopes, and extend six-storey secured rental housing permissions to C-2 zones in the Broadway Plan area. Mayor Sim declared a conflict of interest and did not vote.
109 East 40th Avenue Rezoning Referral
109 East 40th Avenue- A rezoning application for 109 East 40th Avenue proposes to change the zoning from RS-1 (single-family residential) to RR-3A (Residential Rental) to allow a four-storey mixed-use rental building.
- The site is approximately 2,654 sq. m, located on the northeast corner of East 40th Avenue and Quebec Street, and currently occupied by a church built in 1956.
- The application is being made by GMC Projects Inc. on behalf of 40th Avenue Apartment Holdings Inc., and aligns with the City's Secured Rental Policy (SRP), which encourages purpose-built rental housing near transit and local amenities.
- There are no existing rental tenancies on the site, so the Tenant Relocation and Protection Policy does not apply.
- Staff have assessed the proposal and concluded it meets the intent of the SRP; a Housing Agreement would be required to secure the rental tenure before the zoning bylaw is enacted.
- Staff recommend referring the application to a Public Hearing, where the final building design would also be reviewed.
2325-2377 West 49th Avenue Rezoning Referral
2325-2377 West 49th Avenue- A rezoning application for 2325–2377 West 49th Avenue proposes to change the zoning from RS-5 (single-family residential) to RR-2B (Residential Rental) to allow a five-storey market rental apartment building.
- The site comprises four legal parcels with a total area of approximately 3,688 sq. m, currently occupied by four single-detached homes built between 1923 and 1985.
- The application is being made by Intracorp Homes on behalf of Westward Development Nominee Inc., and aligns with the City's Secured Rental Policy for five-storey rental buildings on arterial roads near transit and shopping.
- Two existing rental tenancies are present on the site, and both are eligible for protections under the City's Tenant Relocation and Protection Policy.
- Staff have assessed the proposal and concluded it meets the intent of the SRP; a Housing Agreement would be required prior to enacting the zoning amendment bylaw.
- Staff recommend referring the application to a Public Hearing, where the detailed building design would be submitted and reviewed publicly.
427-449 West 39th Avenue CD-1 Rezoning Referral
427-449 West 39th Avenue- A rezoning application for 427–449 West 39th Avenue proposes to rezone three lots from RS-1 (single-family residential) to CD-1 (Comprehensive Development) to allow an 18-storey secured rental building with 176 units.
- At least 20% of the residential floor area would be secured as below-market rental (BMR) units, consistent with the Moderate Income Rental Housing Pilot Program policy.
- The site, totalling approximately 1,770 sq. m, is located on the north side of West 39th Avenue between Alberta and Cambie Streets, an area undergoing significant redevelopment near Oakridge Centre.
- The proposed floor space ratio would increase significantly from 0.70 to 6.10, and building height from 10.7 m to 55 m, reflecting the higher-density character envisioned in the Cambie Corridor Plan.
- The homes on site were owner-occupied at the time of application, so the Tenant Relocation and Protection Policy does not apply; nearby schools are projected to operate under capacity through 2029.
- Staff have assessed the proposal as consistent with the Cambie Corridor Plan and recommend referring it to a Public Hearing, with a Housing Agreement required to secure rental and below-market tenure before the CD-1 bylaw is enacted.
3803-3823 West 10th Avenue Rezoning Referral
3803-3823 West 10th Avenue- A rezoning application for three lots at the corner of West 10th Avenue and Highbury Street proposes to change the zoning from RS-1 (single-family residential) to RR-3B (Residential Rental), allowing a six-storey mixed-use rental building.
- The site, approximately 1,726 sq. m in total area, currently contains three single-detached homes built in the 1940s and is home to three existing rental tenants, who are protected under the City's Tenant Relocation and Protection Policy.
- Under the proposal, 20% of the residential floor area would be secured as below-market rental units, in accordance with the City's Secured Rental Policy (SRP), which encourages new purpose-built rental housing near transit and local shopping.
- The site meets the SRP's locational eligibility criteria: it is in an RS zone, located within close proximity to public transit and local shopping, and sits on the first full block beside an eligible arterial road, making it eligible for up to six storeys.
- Staff from the General Manager of Planning, Urban Design and Sustainability assessed the application and concluded it meets the intent of the SRP, recommending approval in principle subject to conditions, including a Housing Agreement to secure the below-market units.
- The final building design would be reviewed through a separate development permit process, and a Public Hearing would be required before the rezoning by-law can be enacted.
Enact By-laws 1 to 3
Carried Details
- Three by-laws enacted: (1) amendment to the Ticket Offences By-law to enable ticketing for graffiti offences under the Graffiti By-law; (2) amendment to the Sign By-law for 4408-4488 Fraser Street and 707-709 East 29th Avenue (implementing a June 2022 Public Hearing decision); (3) amendment to the Noise Control By-law for the same site.
Agenda documents (25)
ADOPTION OF MINUTES
REPORTS
1. Prioritization Framework for Planning Policy and Processing Applications
2. 2023 Graffiti Abatement Grants to Business Improvement Associations (BIAs)
3. Uplifting Chinatown Action Plan – Strategic Priority Grants
4. Amendments to the Procedure By-law No. 12577
5. Annual Report of the Office of the Integrity Commissioner and Review of the Code of Conduct By-law
REFERRAL REPORTS
1. Broadway Plan Implementation – Amendments to Zoning and Development By-law and Guidelines
2. Rezoning: 109 East 40th Avenue
3. Rezoning: 2325-2377 West 49th Avenue
4. CD-1 Rezoning: 427-449 West 39th Avenue
5. Rezoning: 3803 - 3823 West 10th Avenue
BY-LAWS
MOTIONS
1. Requests for Leaves of Absence
2. Change to Business Licence Hearing Panels
3. Establishing an Inter-Municipal Business Licence for Home Healthcare Support Workers
4. A People-Focused Gastown: A Bold, Forward-Looking Vision for a Vibrant and Prosperous Neighbourhood
5. Tracking the Broadway Plan Pace of Demoviction
6. The Bird is the Word: Elevating Vancouver’s Strategy
ENQUIRIES AND OTHER MATTERS
Vote matrix
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ken Sim🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | ||||||||||||||||||
| Rebecca Bligh🥜 | 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 | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | N | Y | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Adriane Carr🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | N | Y | N | Y | N | 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 | ||
| Pete Fry🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | N | Y | N | Y | N | 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 | |||||
| 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 | ||
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |