CANADA DAY!  We are so fortunate compared with others, be grateful and continue your contributions making Canada better and better..... -- BC, a great place to be!!!

IN THIS ISSUE:

MAIN ITEMS July 7th: Public Hearing on changes to the Ambleside Town Ctr; DVP 5040-60 of The Byway; Framework for a Social Action Plan; RODGERS CRK OCP Bylaws etc first or second readings with PH set for July 28th AND it says "Report to be provided"!;  CEC Status Report; DVP 6460 Rosebery for July 21; Grand Nat'l Trail CBRL licence extension

=  Vive le Canada; ANIMALWATCH; from the EDITOR'S DESK; HERITAGEWATCH; THEATREWATCH (GBS; Bard; Jessies); GENDERWATCH; UPDATES (VANOC; Spirit Trail; HRPark; Amb T Ctr; Housing; Gleneagles Golf Course; Fisherman's Cove Fuel; Almondel Bridge; Chamber Awards); WEBWATCH (US/Iraq Intelligence); NEWSWATCH

=  CALENDAR to July 16th (check for changes and updates); BOOKWATCH (Palestinian Walks)

=  Ccl NOTES June 16/19th: Annual Report 2007 (and budget bylaws); Cmnty Ctr Qtrly Update; Firehall (6500 Marine) site rezoning; Finance Cmte Work Plan; PQP re staff vs Ccl power/approval; Lower Caulfeild

=  ARTWATCH (Sculpture in the Gardens); Taxes, Assessments, and YOU!; JULY 1st (HERE and THERE with poetry and quotations/reflections); Silly Section/Question

ORDER OF CANADA -- Info and Background: http://www.gg.ca/honours/nat-ord/oc/index_e.asp and http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/news/national/story.html?id=58d0d6dd-dd02-49e0-8570-a2e63dc178ff

Full list awarded 2008 (July 1st): http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=625368

Prime Minister's Statement for Canada Day: http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/media.asp?id=2175 and alas also:

July 1, 2008 -- Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued the following statement on the death of Arthur "Art" Ryan Smith O.C., A.O.E., D.F.C., LL.D.: "I was very saddened to hear of the passing of Art Smith. An Officer of the Order of Canada, decorated Canadian veteran of the Second World War, successful businessman and an elected representative at all levels of government, Art was a great Calgarian, a great Albertan, and a great Canadian...."

        BC celebrates becoming a Crown Colony 150 years ago (See Calendar below July 5)

July 1st -- Canada founded 141 years ago (1867); Dominion Day became Canada Day in 1982 (July 9th)

July 2nd -- Simon Fraser down the Fraser to Vancouver 200 years ago (1808)

July 3rd -- Samuel de Champlain founded Quebec City 400 years ago (1608)

===   ANIMALWATCH   ===  They weren't that cute IMO, but close:

        http://www.canadianliving.com/life/pets/photo_gallery__canadas_cutest_pets_2008.php

+  Still awaiting more info wrt process in response to a letter in NSN from a neighbour who was shocked a tree where eagles perched (but was on M property) was removed but without notification and she was next door.

+  And awaiting more info on the case of a staff telling a builder even though overheight continue b/c Ccl wd approve the variance.  A situation that also alarmed Cclrs VV and Sop and my concern to this as a precedent is expressed in my comments at PQP June 16.

+ Taxes were due July 2nd; you may be interested in a reader's research wrt fairness in the Property Assessment and Taxation below.

===   HERITAGEWATCH   ===  Architecture/DOCOMOMO

Arthur Erickson was honoured for his poetry in concrete recently in London -- DOCOMOMO-UK, one of over 40 national groups of the international working party for the documentation and conservation of buildings, sites and neighbourhoods of the modern movement which was formed in the Netherlands in 1989.

* GBS's You Never Can Tell ended June 30 at the Jericho Arts Ctr; good example of 'period theatre'.

* Bard on the Beach has started: Twelfth Night is amusing rollicking fun (book now! already tix going two weeks in advance), King Lear is an unusual interpretation -- both on the main stage.  See www.bardonthebeach.org or call 739 0559.

The bloody gory Titus Andronicus opens July 11th.

* Will try to see The Producers before it ends b/c Jay Brazeau is in it.  We saw it in NY with Matthew Broderick but Jay is so exceptional (his performance in UrineTown was better than the one in NY).

* The Jessies were given out Monday June 30th, see: http://www.jessies.ca/ for the whole list; no surprise many to Bard and some of our favourite actors: Bob Frazer (Taming of Shrew, the western), Lois Anderson (the role of nurse in Romeo and Juliet will never be the same), Kerry Sandomirsky (How It Works), David Marr (His Greatness), and Jay Brazeau (The Goat in NV).

        http://english.pnn.ps/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2960&Itemid=1

DWV and the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) announced that West Vancouver has become a Venue City for the 2010 Winter Games.

West Vancouver's participation as a Venue City was secured by a Leadership Team who has guaranteed the initial $1 million dollars required by VANOC.  The Team is encouraging others in the community to get involved to meet this initial target as well as raise funds for a community activation program.

"The West Vancouver Leadership Team consists of community-minded citizens with fundraising experience who are dedicating their valuable time to assist West Vancouver," says Mayor Pamela Goldsmith-Jones.

The building which is currently under re-construction is scheduled to re-open in the spring of 2009. When completed, the 10,500 square foot building will include the original banquet hall in addition to a new wing with a bistro, kitchen and golf pro-shop.  More: http://www.westvancouver.ca/article.asp?a=5761&c=867

In 2006 the Toy Jungle was the recipient of "Retailer of the Year" by Canadian Toy Magazine "Toys and Games". This was the first time this award had been presented to a store in Western Canada. Misti and Gary have written articles on toy safety, new product lines, and hot toys for Christmas, and have appeared on Breakfast Television educating parents travelling with children.  There are many ways that Toy Jungle helps out in the community.

===   WEBWATCH   ===  US Senate Intelligence Cmte Report

On The Daily Show, Jon Stewart some weeks ago had a clip with Rockefeller speaking about the cmte's findings but somehow I never heard about it in the general media.  Someone recently sent me this with more info:

o  Zimbabwe's inflation now 9 million per cent (VSun 2008 July 4 pF4); can of Coke 58 billion Zdollars; kilo of beef Z$370 billion; one night's accommodation at a local hotel 5 trillion Zdollars; -- and I think there's 80% unemployment.  Many African countries are bumping along but it appears Zimbabwe epitomizes the fear many had: African democracy means one man, one vote, one time.  Mugabe has been in power since independence in 1980.

o  China demolishes mosque for not supporting Olympics: group - WashingtonPost.com

     http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/23/AR2008062300220.html

o  France's Sarkozy offers in Israel to broker peace - WashingtonPost.com

     http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/23/AR2008062300481.html

     http://english.pnn.ps/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2962&Itemid=1

Ongoing: Farmers' Markets: Dundarave on Saturdays and Ambleside on Sundays; Concerts by the Sea Sunday evenings

== Sun July 6th ==  ~ 9:30am - 4pm ~ PADDLEFEST at Ambleside Beach

        ~ 7pm ~ Cmnty Sport WG [CANCELLED]

== Sat July 12th ==  Start of Sculpture in the Gardens at VanDusen (see Artwatch below)

== Wed July 16th == ~ 6pm ~ Library Bd at the Library; ~ 7pm ~ Bd of Variance

+++  WV MEMORIAL LIBRARY +++  JULY +++ see www.westvanlib.org

Gallery at the Library presents...   June 2 to July 31

        Photographs: Recent work by Rob Will, Laura Clark, Michelle Demers, and Roman Kralovic.

Friday 4th -- 10:30 - noon -- English Corner

 +++  FERRY BUILDING GALLERY  +++  June 24 - July 27

MOVE OVER, LEONARDO !  --  John Martin Gilbert  --  Fine Art, Fine Fun

+++ SILK PURSE +++  (1570 Argyle) www.silkpurse.ca

This retrospective demonstrates the photographer's intimate connection to the development of modernism on the West Coast of Canada and highlights the social, economic, and cultural forces that changed the face of Vancouver and the region during the post-war boom.  Exhibit June 24 to Sept 20.

Lost land -- Walking in Palestine -- Jun 12th 2008  from The Economist print edition

1.   APPROVAL OF AGENDA   ~ 6:51pm

2.         Proposed Ambleside Bylaw - Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 4360, 2004, Amendment Bylaw No. 4543, 2008

Deferred from the June 9, 2008 Council Meeting.

RECOMMENDED: THAT Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 4360, 2004, Amendment Bylaw  No. 4543, 2008, as attached to the report from the Director, Planning, Lands, and Permits dated June 5, 2008 be introduced and read a first time in short form.

RECOMMENDED: THAT OCP Amendment Bylaw... as attached to the report from the Director, Planning, Lands and Permits dated June 5, 2008 has been [sic] considered in conjunction with the District's most recent financial plan and the regional waste management plan.

RECOMMENDED: THAT OCP Amendment Bylaw... be presented at a Public Hearing to be held Monday, July 7 at 7pm.

RECOMMENDED: THAT Notification of the Monday, July 7, 2008 Public Hearing ... be provided by way of:

(a)       publishing the notice pursuant to Section 892 of the Local Government Act; and

(b)       additional notice also being provided to owners and occupiers of lots shown on Attachment A to the report dated June 5, 2008 from the Director, Planning, Lands and Permits.

happy to answer any questions

[JF made motions above]

Apologize to public; error has been made

VV: the whole rationale is to be technically, legally above reproach later on

won't be anyway b/c last week received CEC status report

and said must comply with LGA, ..... and conflict of interest bylaw...v document

requested specifically have three landowners

by definition.... much more glaring incongruity

group on whom this Ccl relies

in trying to get correct, not correct; save time and not rescind; section 879 has not happened in accordance with any legal doc...  disqualified b/c .....

Mayor: in WG Guidelines say what conflict of interest is.....

needed ppl with expertise; not making any decisions; public policy

Cmnty Charter; from my point of view, of course we meet those standards

other substantive... in here

getting to PH; and then debate; anything further from Ccl?

MOTION CARRIES

JF: 4543, has attached dated June; has been considered

MOTION CARRIES

Sop: not meaning to interrupt.....; not wishing

Sokol: suppose we cd split

Mayor: Cclr F split?

JF: yes ... be presented

Sokol: there are not specific overall strategies, but as go in provisions, requirements for more parking

Mayor: purely to provide oversize bldgs

by going to Planning Dept, not to xxx... at all

allows three storeys; public spaces; the idea is to get this to a PH so we can get to all of these

back to Ccl for second reading; for all I know Ccl won't

happy to support going wrt OCP; OCP Amendment Bylaw going to PH July 7

CARRIED

JF: move re zoning bylaw

Mayor: call question on Zoning Bylaw

JF: notification

Sop: point of order, divided b/c two different documents

SSch, MClk: Ccl did pass ...  so advertising wd be for both bylaws

Mayor: so won't be dividing since Ccl voted

JF: since I was interrupted...

Sop: point of order; if I don't want ,,,  so I have the right to support the OCP bylaw but go against the zoning bylaw?  shdn't I have that right?

Mayor: it's notification; you can vote against

MS: Clerk's already ruled

JF moved .....by way of a) and b)

MOTION CARRIES

3.  ADJOURNMENT  [7:11]

1.  APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Sokol: based on sp ccl mtg, been asked to read this into the agenda

due to an oversight... lacked three pages... new PH for July 7; staff and our M solicitors, all submissions must be received at July 7, not tonight

write and/or present your comments; rep to speak on your behalf

Amendment to agenda to add new item 10.1, workplan.

2.  ADOPTION OF MINUTES  --  June 2, 2008 Regular Council Minutes

3.         P. Baxter regarding Keep Well Society of the North Shore (File:  0120-01)

PB:  three kinds of seniors: frail not out of home -- no-go seniors; frail do go out -- slow-go; robust -- go-go seniors

our focus is this third; we operate eight sites on NSh; funded mainly by Vancouver Coastal Health, xxx , and three NShMs

DWV $1K per year, understand will receive $2K in each of next three years

300 ppl per week; donate, tax credit; 20% are men; wish more; have translated some of our materials into Farsi

one hour of exercise, half an hour on feet, and half an hour on chairs; active, fall less

not opp to touch so at end big circle and group hug

blood pressure check; hand massagers; tab on weight after over, coffee, tea, laugh

once a month participants bring in food to share

at most of sites we have a speaker; this slide a pharmacist about anti-inflammatory education

160 volunteers [slides]

sponges for isometric exercises; 39 nurse volunteers, we call them health coaches

last month man came with such low blood pressure nurses took him immediately to a clinic; he's with us today

hand massage, foot massage; volunteers come from countries not qualified/working here, some retired

education: photo of Nurses' Forum in March, re hypertension, panel cardiologist and nursing professor

help make us more visible, need ambassadors, need more volunteers, more retirees

any questions, plsd to answer

Mayor: will make sure your delegation will be given to Anne Mooi [staff]

4.         Annual Report 2007 and Related Bylaws

RECOMMENDED: THAT Council receive for approval the printed Annual Report for the year ended

December 31, 2007.

RECOMMENDED: THAT "2007 Annual Budget Amendment Bylaw No. 4561, 2008" be introduced

and read a first, second, and third time.

RECOMMENDED: THAT "Endowment Reserve Fund Expenditure Bylaw No. 4562, 2008" be introduced and read a first, second, and third time.

RECOMMENDED: THAT "Youth Activity Reserve Fund Expenditure Bylaw No. 4563, 2008" be introduced and read a first, second, and third time.

Barbara Wood: in accordance with Audit Cmte, comprised of all mbrs of Ccl

mtg on May 27... Dunwoody... include audited statements

[gave amounts for gen fund net rev, utility fund, cemetery; consolidated; acc surplus]

pleased to report award; second year we've received this

the 2007 actual results; expenditure of Youth related to Youth Strategy

JC: make separately?

RECOMMENDED: THAT Council receive for approval the printed Annual Report for the year ended

December 31, 2007.

Sop: taking words of wisdom, went through a budget process for 2008 and will be doing 2009

talked to the MMgr

on p 31 it says devp a long-term.....designing a new approach... hasn't really engaged

CAO: we're working with the Finance Cmte; starting to look at how we can prepare the budget doc; quite excited dvping a number of these progs; a number of our capital programs need to be revised; will be bringing to Ccl; will take probably a good fiscal year

Sop: on p 78, financing sources, a graph

DCCs in 2007, quite minimal; asks for a review of DCC byaw and other things

of late, had a conversation Madam Mayor

find funding sources; under DCC yet the funding seems to be rather low

are some fundings coming in I'm not aware of?  wonder if putting too much pressure on DCC funding

CAO: not able to answer that right now; can't continue to rely on DCC charges

Sop: we had this Financial Sust Task Cmte; anxious to get going; if we don't do in 2009; going to have to get serious

VV: looking at p 35 of this report and was hoping wdn't have this misleading

...bar chart

from cmnty survey, value for taxes paid; 86%  believe get good or v good ....

but if you go back to Synovate, 20% good, while 60% somewhat good

to lump those together leads you to believe.... hope colours diff so distinct

just wish we wdn't do that peculiar

misleading; not a reason to vote against this report but xxxxx

wrt Finance Cmte: goal is to devp this doc into something better received by cmnty

looking forward to doing what; best light and easily understood by our taxpayers

RD: too bad use the word 'somewhat', usually good, v good, average; think they wd mean 'good' when marking somewhat; somewhat shdn't be in there

next year, suggest we do that; majority find good or v good and that's v good

Mayor:.... crime rate down... library circ up, visits up  ...  that's the measure

VV: my point was value for services

discussed....  the other is satisfaction with

JC:xxx

PASSES with VV and Sop opposed   ...

JC: lastly youth exp three readings

CARRIES

5.         Community Centre Quarterly Update - Volume VII - May 23, 2008 (File:  3002-04)

RECOMMENDED: THAT the report from the Deputy Director, Parks & Community Services be received for information.

CAO: will hand this over to Dir of Parks and Rec

as Cmnty is aware, this is the largest.... we have undertaken

unprecedented....

rampant throughout BC; overruns, indicative of a number of projects taking place

v pleased and proud, brought in our construction mgmt team, have been able to .....

this project has not been without its challenges

inflation 1.5% per month; material shortages; cost of petroleum gone up, affected steel, etc; labour shortages

now down to last few months of project, delays b/c of weather, labour; have delayed this opening, looking to open it within the next few months; going to be over budget between 1 and 2.5 %

in this climate ...  also feel we have a number of ways of addressing that

diligence, negotiations, project one we'll be v proud of; think be pleased with

KP: this is our seventh quarterly report; Josie Chuback normally gives this report but she is away

Basil Davis, David Lord [of?] Scott also happens to be a WV resident

wanted them to come and speak of construction climate; updates on budget, schedule; this brings us up to March 30th

most closing this bldg in, glazing; struggled acquiring materials; budget strained; paying close attention to options and delays; still looking at early fall; being cautious, not being more specific than that.

David Lord: heard some things about how our industry has been affected, struggling with

escalation is unprecedented in history of last 30 years, unusual

committed to contracts, seen xxxx; seeing more bankruptcies than ever before

has not affected trades we have dealt with

the surprising thing of late; while not expecting 2008 inflation but in first three months of 2008, cost of raw steel increase by 30% in three months

many of the contractors, steel in contract, they will not supply a lump sum, will provide a unit price

your project won't face that

at beginning we put strategy together, bought at early stage so not hit by this

challenges; project team met them; increased supervision on site; taken longer, trade contractors; good commitment, quality remain high, from designers, residents of WV

Basil Davis: seventh report coming out quarterly

after this one, figures coming out for April will comment in general

if you look at the actual schedule in the status report, shows estimate to complete shows contingency of $300K but since then, in April figures that came out, able to give ccl mbrs, into contingency and came down dramatically, changeovers ...

under instructions from Ccl; looked re savings, things that cd be deferred

want to assure Ccl, public, not cutting into muscle; items that cd come in subseq budgets, like landscaping, finish that later, won't have affected bldg

any of the drastic changes to original scope, had to bring back $5M worth of savings; recognizing the inflation from earlier budgets, $38.8M had increased in six or seven months to $43M, pulled back to $38.8M so you see that as the budget figure

originally set up, reconfirmed in Jan 2007; after big exercise of reduction

March 31st, $300K, yes, gone down, yes pullback, ... none structural

also a change in the gameplan just so we can stay with gameplan

an arrangement of partial occupancy; while bldg has to comply with fire and safety; some of the tenancies, such as VCH, brought this point up with them many months ago, they were concerned coming into an operational bldg rather than under const; anticipate they'll come in in Nov; other tenants at back of the schedule

DWV areas to be followed by other areas; atrium, spine, and gymnasium being ready in Sept; ground floor will be opening to the activities of the District; and on second floor, be brought on asap after that.  Any further questions?

MS: ... construction mgmt -- budget was $2.3M now $3.3M

BD: mgmt on the site itself; related to Scott having a xxx

BD: when you go...  separate from mgmt and general conditions

Scott get no percentage fee on change orders, no markup; only thing we have to cover is general conditions, labour for their own ppl

MS: still at a loss -- budget of $2.3 to $3.3M?

BD: six months; fees have not changed; categories shifted around

first qtrly report, those were the figures; can easily present those but will have to go back and find them

Mayor: we are having another item wrt this budget on July 7?

YES

VV: to be clear about $5M; when we first approved this project, $38.8M including $5M contingency; evidently that contingency is gone; 2.5% looks like another million; used up the $5-6M, another million...

were there quality reductions?  in addition to contingency, had furniture removed? landscaping? want to know full amt

BD: when $5M anticipated, best guess inflation costs wd go; all change orders at inflated prices

most imp, anticipate where diff schematic tender set and 'for construction' drawings with far more detail

I'm saying here, if we're going over, change-orders taken us over the $5M???  1 to 2.5 %

VV: how does the value relate to this?

if furniture won't go in, landscaping; actual condition of the bldg we'll get, without built-in furniture

amt can be identified?

BD: category, furniture, fixtures, and xxx; started at $1.8, now at $1.55M that's one of the areas of the pullback; bldg will be functional but not loaded up as anticipated by staff, eg storage area for stacking chairs, enough in ev room but now brought back to $450K; feel the moving around not a [crippling?] factor

sports prog, more items so just cut back; cut back on shopping list, cut back so still functional

Sop: ...  where's the money going to come from?  a million here, a million there, it's a tough ride

going to be able to find some method of paying for this

MS: did have a followup point after approving report

SOP MADE MOTION

MS: part of RFMP; with a view to profiting

do this every time we have a .....

think we shd have a group of citizens to look at the entire project, not to point fingers and blame; to see how to do things differently

Sop: second

think there's merit; want to assure everyone that Ccl's decision to bring on a project mgr....

can't imagine where we'd be without Mr Davis; you're to be commended for your hard work

JC: I second that b/c quite frankly the entire RFMP, the genesis for Gleneagles, Amb playing fields, reno of arena, aquatic ctr, and now Cmnty Ctr

actually was born from a cmnty group; brought it to this day

have another cmnty group to look back; how we came through all those recommendations....

CAO: think that's an excellent idea  ...... considering where other projects are in this prov; think we'll come back with a glowing report; always can improve; look forward to working with that group

Mayor: wording? shd staff come back with it?

CAO: sure

CAO: now with Dir/Fin meeting weekly, in fact some meeting daily; wd like to get down to monthly

we're now into July, need to bring something forward in next couple of weeks

in Sept hope to have a happy....

6.         Future Use of Fire Hall No. 2 Site (Lots 2, 3 & 4 - 6520 & 6540 Marine Drive) (File:  0510-18)

RECOMMENDED: THAT Council direct staff to prepare zoning bylaws to allow for the construction of three single family homes, with design controls and limited floor area, at Lots 2, 3 & 4 - 6520 and 6540 Marine Drive.

Bruce McArthur: my prop is directly adjacent to this; just got this report this aft

three small lots a correct appraisal, and not greater than 3.5 as [???]; these suit v small units on them

I wd hope under recommendations, talking about design control and xxx areas

hope some thought for conforming setback requirements

4 o'clock this afternoon received notification removal of some contamination

Ccl be apprised after removal; sounds like after testing, so concerned wrong way of doing biz

in report talks of heavy metals; in notification this aft, materials aren't dangerous, just removing them b/c expedient thing to do; actual removals and report shd mesh

wd like to know what the actual materials are, what contaminant, how I can be assured as a nbr that the subsurface not xxx

Sokol: was going to inform Ccl tonight; notice to nbrs adjacent; was going to Ccl; will be removing this week; heavy metal contamination, result of some flame retardants (years operating as a fire hall)

hyper carbons xxx... a peatbog, that's been outgassing; ... vapour barriers, $20-40K for removal, hydrocarbon vapours $26K total; savings thought we'd move forward

Liz Byrd:...congratulate you all on support of Olympics announced at FBG

unfortunately, I was away when the mtg was held in March

thinking has been in the box, not at all creative; cookie cutter house; don't reflect the landscape and character... if you remember; was almost evenly split

hope you will not support change to sgl fam

first shrinking popn of schools, you know schools...

here's opp...  for families and for seniors...  smaller townhouses, designed to look as sgl fam; parking underground; green space

NV doing successfully ...  spot-zoning

luckily your prob, not mine, tough prog

I have something completely diff

I'm amazed to see WVFD over $1M more than WVPD; always equal ten years ago, always equal

I think you'll see that grow; have to find ...

Mayor: have to

LB: I'm coming to it

build a complex on this site, for rental only to firefighters; all live a long way away and not available; for panic; firefighters cd be called back; two in home; wd avoid horrendous wages while firefighters sleep all night; Whistler is doing that.  I know you probly think I'm off the wall

Mayor: thank you

LB: did come to the point

Aline Brown: speaking this evening as a private citizen

really concerned if this is going ahead; been talking about the site long; the only thing that hasn't changed is the sgl fam; lost opp

WV survey quite clear, about what they want; a lot of seniors occupying large fam homes b/c nowhere else to go; stay or move out of District; most of us want to stay

WG is conducting a survey and alternate housing is what major

it's larger than 24th and Marine, not suggesting 15 units; must be something between three sgl fam and 15 units; what ppl want and need

my chn went to Gleneagles --  300 [pupils], and now 250

my daughter's 29, not that long ago

close to transp, school there, church there, close to HBay; perfect

need to be honest about what's going to happen on that site; have provision for some suite almost a... going to be three sgl fam with at least one suite for each, if like rest of DWV

Ccl show some leadership; do something creative that the citizens of WV say they want

[JF made motion; Sop seconded]

JC: the Housing Dialogue and Nbrhd Character WG has been looking at this site

they recommended Ccl hold a charrette; was done a couple of months ago

Sokol: some background for Ccl; this is something SJN was working on; when he originally gave it to me, I was skeptical...  discussions, became a bit more aware, strange shape, angle, roundabout

b/c of constraints, came to...  setting up as a prototype, must make sure good, other xxx for xxx

JC: once dug,....  they're there for the 50 years fire hall; we've got a few weeks; back from cmte; give ourselves a chance to make a decision..

JF: interesting situation b/c certainly I'm an advocate of easy access to schools

we have a scarcity and need; sure ev nbrhd cd

excited by multifam but began to realize may not be the right site; poor prototype and precedent

bearing that in mind can't see dealing until WG has had a look at it; at least then know ...

MS: as Cclr Clark said, probably divided

at least two years; three sgl fam that was deferred, multifam, presumably been looked at, they come back, no three sgl fam lots, best use of that M asset

here we are two years later not capable of dealing with the issue

we've got a recom; Mr McA when he bought, thought not firehall, same

Sop: prepared to move along with this; right thing to do on that site

wait for Cclr Clark's cmte recomm on character, things of that nature; reminded how we made some decisions; task sustainability; due diligence in financial world; look at land sales

went ahead and fire bldg; always sell whatever we cd get with that site; time to do this; understand is and shd be to look at future decisions; in current market, have market to deal with; what we want; will be up there pricewise; proper thing to do

RD: agree with what's been said; normally looking at town homes; small irregular shaped lots; wait two more weeks, don't think it matters

will the WG recommending on this site?

JC: been talking about it; shd listen to their recommendation

VV: be v surprised can do other than three; two years, two weeks; as a procedural courtesy; allow them to be heard

Mayor: already deferred this; based on charrette cmnty took comfort design controls

legalization of secondary suites; we've got report

surely can't be such a disconnect your staff and work with WG

is this out of order? will we be better off in two weeks?

Sokol: know it's not on agenda; doesn't preclude, not a great loss

Mayor: good news cmnty is talking about this; deferral to July 7

Sokol: will be reporting back on survey

JC: final report, this is another interim report in early report; more than...

Mayor: indicated on agenda tomorrow

JC: defer until WG has had a look at this; report, whether this decision or other

Mayor: need a date

JC: July 8

CARRIED

7.         Solid Waste Bylaw No. 4118, 1998, Amendment Bylaw No. 4511, 2008 - Bear Abatement Measures

RECOMMENDED: THAT the report dated May 23, 2008 from the Manager of Parks & Environment and the Manager of Bylaw & Licencing [sic] Services regarding Solid Waste Bylaw No. 4118, 1998, Amendment Bylaw No. 4511, 2008 be received for information.

Doug Leavers: dates back to xxx bear popn increased

household and commercial garbage, in 2005, BearSmart Cmnty

since solid waste; depts been integrating experience for workable soln, in this amendment

other forms of encouragement have failed; enclosure, primarily garbage but other -- foods for birds and other animals; roadside containers prior to 5am; foraging by bears at night and then my phone rings all morning; bylaw dept recommends a warning period two warnings then bylaw ticket; sometimes it takes enforcement of bylaw for xxx

RECEIPT CARRIES

RECOMMENDED: THAT Solid Waste Bylaw No. 4118, 1998, Amendment Bylaw No. 4511, 2008 be read a first, second, and third time.

maybe where we have problems, do this but why Big Bro

won't be get...  we compost, we freeze bones; there are other ways of doing this

if bears or raccoons get into our garbage you take care of it; such a lousy mess, not going to do it again; going to come down hard for some ppl in the cmnty

JF: perhaps amend; ppl know about what time it occurs.  I know mine is early, some don't get theirs picked up till noon; leave after 5:30, not later

Mayor: efficacy and acceptability of this in other cmnties?

DL: NSh Bear Society has been quite active

to encourage and enforce the garbage bylaw and it as been adopted; pilot project last year, bear-proof

Mayor: if you have a bearproof garbage can, can you put it out any time you want

RD: we live ....

we have lots of crows; I know Cclr F has bears and maybe we will soon; don't think ppl will go out ev week and clean up garbage cans; look at this a bit

if I had bears in my nbrhd I'd do something

collectors come around 8:30am, sometimes come early, holiday

VV: I think Cclr F's suggestion: get it regularly at 11am, just leave not before 5am, no grounds for complaint; don't see why ev had to put out by 7:30am b/c of collection round

Mayor: looking at recom, don't

JC: ppl who leave for work before 5am -- before 5am do we have bylaw officers on the road?

[SOME CHUCKLES]

DL: current bylaw did talk about before 7:30, if not come till 11, that point's fine [?]

re RD; some... on known bear areas

study, tendencies for roving bears; repeat offenders, baiting a bear, perhaps killed, perhaps relocated; our aim is conservation within; good relations between humans and bears

all bylaws applied with discretion of officer; no reason to ticket

Mayor: no ... ppl calling

also had our own; experience; trying to do this for public and bear; maybe pilot this and get ppl on board?

DL: been piloting it since xxx; staff going door to door; bear brochures, leading us to BearSmart certification; final step is having bylaw in place that wd allow repeat offenders to ....   [fine] $150 - 300 for not putting garbage out

[I think RD spoke here but not sure]: what are we doing in this cmnty?

heavy, heavy, fines; seniors going to be hurt with this; hard time with these fines, see terrorized; stay out of these things

Sop: efforts of Society to make sure bears moved to other areas not killing them; we're devping areas in their network so now ...

key is educating ppl, what to do if you have this encounter; volunteers worked v hard; some direction for future, save the bears; one of the most logical things we can do is "don't put your garbage out too soon, early; put in proper bin"

just logical; not intent for hardship; logical steps; enforcement maybe a little overzealous with [fines?]

garbage is what draws bears to nbrhd; don't have to make it complicated, difficult

make bears safe; best not to have food out

JF: doing the best to protect the bears and public; Cclr Day right bylaw officers not going to be out

but ... if someone ....   that we put this in place

move amendment to part 3 point 1b, remove prior to 7:30am on page 80 of our agenda

Mayor: what about enforcement aspect?

is there a way to structure this so targeted to residents who can't seem to help out in the nbrhd?

DL: with more info of bear containments; not sure of logistics of how moved; bears v mobile; as to this area can't do this or that and then bear moves over to another nbrhd; difficult how that wd work

8.         Road Closure and Removal of Highway Dedication Bylaw No. 4548, 2008 adjacent to 3580 Westmount Court

RECOMMENDED:  read a first, second, and third time.

RECOMMENDED: THAT Council direct staff to issue notice of Road Closure and Removal of Highway Dedication Bylaw No. 4548, 2008 setting July 21, 2008 as the deadline for written and oral submissions.

PASSED

9.         Bill 7 - Local Government Statutes Amendment Act 2008 regarding Amendments to Election Provisions in the Local Government Act

RECOMMENDED: THAT Staff prepare amendments to the General Local Elections Regulations Bylaw to:

(a)              establish mail ballot voting;

(b)              establish additional public access to nomination documents;

(c)              establish additional public access to campaign financing disclosures;

(d)              change one of the advance voting opportunities to be held on the fifth day, instead of the fourth day, before general voting day.

RECOMMENDED: THAT

2. the July 14, 2008 Council Workshop be changed to a Special Council meeting

*** b/c the Agenda on the screen (instead of above as on DWV website Thurs when released) had this:

=B7  to design a budget document consistent with the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) best practices guidelines, and that will qualify by 2010 for the GFOA Distinguished Budget Presentation Award

=B7  to ensure that all participants in the budget process are clear on the steps and timing required to carry out this complex task, and the roles and responsibilities of each participant.

MS: Recommended Work Plan 2008

reason I added the part about the budget; a lot of criticism b/c Finance Cmte not in place long enough to look at budget; think expectation if wish to make recom to Mr McRadu and staff

consistent with Tof Ref [reads]

so I think adding the word budget and budget doc, .... Tof Ref

Sop: wasn't this written from your chairman? as is? accepted budget docs wd be transparent?

all things?  not splitting hairs here

all have vision we're going to ... new methods and new models; makeup of that cmte, intelligent, finance....

recoms made to Ccl; whether we choose to accept them or not

as far as authority....look at them providing valuable advice; not one group making determinations

how diff from what was stated in cmte; that's how laid out by staff?

MS: sometimes it's good to split hairs; all we're trying to do is to tie this action plan with the approved T of Ref; don't understand where your comments were going

JC: I seconded the motion; if the Cmte is looking at the budget looking at budget doc

splitting hairs, good, I'd have more hair!

Mayor: I think it's wonderful; no doubt GFOA compliance; Ccl has been wishing to see a good  .....

know our CAO an advocate of that and has experience; know looking to fall, going there

Sop: we have many facets of finance, going into future; last year and year before

collective force of staff Ccl public

looking for the right model is extremely important; I don't want anyone to make any decisions for me until I see  ...  won't take any recom until that cmte has worked with staff and public; that was my... when I said a new model

Mayor: seems to me improve process

......3... establish; ensure public clear.... how get there

CAO: the change proposed is in the spirit of the cmte

mtgs I've attended, all working cmtes we've had, pleased, awestruck; impressed with the dedication and experience; if belief not as transparent as we ought to be, then xxx

mtg, ..... that

how we work together; mbrs of FCmte are keen; we are too, xxx

--> ALSO ADDED

Mayor: update on gas barge

CAO: a number of concerns from public; misinfo out there as to role of M

gas barge and implications of Esso leaving and secondly, the tanks on upland portion; asked Mr Sokol to speak

Sokol: well-known that marine fuel is no longer being provided in Fisherman's Cove

all marine fueling xxx

at time Esso made decision didn't plan how to exit or ...... wrt safety and envtal impacts

b/c of this, been closed for maybe five or six months, still trying to figure out what process to decommission and wd have to before someone else cd provide

as of this date, still haven't and hope to by end of month... unclear

staff became aware of ..... this winter; Esso said let someone else as long as DWV provided an exit letter; staff concerned, pulling in longtime liability

before considering wd be to conduct a baseline study; then decide limit Esso's liability; felt uncomfortable taking that respo

Esso wanted to do study on its own to...  eliminate/limit? liability of their shareholders

We recog an imp issue for cmnty; trying to identify ..... from a fuel barge long existing wd not be

obtained verbal approval of DFO somewhere else in

met with marinas in xxx

working with marinas, do it from a fuel pumping boat; that work is ongoing; doing an envtal analysis of its own; then cd determine

Esso stated wd not allow District to come on site to do study; solicitor says they can't represent us from xxx ; once started wd take a couple of weeks; urge them to move forward now; wd like to work with an alternative provider at float site

once resolved.....  alerting other fuel providers of increased demand ...

temporary smallscale facilities WVYC approached us with ..... operations through summer

make sure safe for gen public, boating public, envmt; need to ensure in compliance with BC Fire codes; happy to answer any questions

CAO: we have Fire Captain Martin Ernst in audience been here since 7pm

had mtg today to try to come up with a soln; trying to respond, decision made by Esso

we have Div chief has met with applicant, working with them

Sop: envmtal issue a big one; Mr Sokol, the matter of safety is paramount

don't know if Fire Dept; precautions shd rule, not going to have problems later on

Mayor: communicated with cmnty?

Sokol: printed 1500 brochures and distributed to marinas, will put info on website and in Tidings

Mayor: pls keep us apprised

CARRIES

11.       Zoning Bylaw No. 2200, 1968, Amendment Bylaw No. 4550, 2008; and Development Permit Application No. 08-012 (2560 Wentworth Avenue - Collingwood School Wentworth Campus)

This bylaw received first reading on April 21, 2008 and second and third readings on June 9, 2008.  The Public Hearing closed on May 28, 2008.

Mayor: someone wants to speak to this but the PH is closed

MS makes motion, surface be gravel

BOTH PASSED

12.      Consent Agenda Items - Reports and Correspondence

13.       Right of Way for Greater Vancouver Water District Water Mains over Municipal and Capilano View Cemetery Lands; Deferred from the June 9, 2008 Council Meeting.

RECOMMENDED:  THAT Council approve and authorize execution by the Mayor and Clerk.

14.       Appointment of Acting Mayor for June 18, 2008 - July 2, 2008  Deferred from the June 9, 2008 Council Meeting.

RECOMMENDED:  THAT Councillor Day be appointed Acting Mayor for June 18, 2008 - July 2, 2008.

PASSED

CORRESPONDENCE LIST FOR CONSENT AGENDA [full list in previous issue of WVM]

15.       Correspondence List

All PASSED, but this one exempted for discussion:

VV: think the public wd be interested in clarification; anxiety; haven't met any mbrs of public in favour of amalgamation; they're commenting on new black and white colour scheme, if connected, how much cost

Mayor: I haven't encountered any proposals for amalg; not purview

certainly have approved the study; gaps, working together, that will come out in Sept; essentially status quo; CNV and DNV concerned about loss of RCMP; have written to all these

re painting, Chief wanted to do and officers support; heard both in cmnty; ev I speak with Chief , he said...... get lots of compliments; painting has nothing to do with policing or structure; I stay on top of that as I'm sure

VV: makes them match with other cars other jurisdictions; removes distinction

Mayor: if Ccl wishes to forward that to Police Bd

Sop: always imp to receive constructive

from quality; will never support amalg; seen a safe cmnty for many many years

whether our chief thinks it's a good idea; a couple of things paramount

RD: [painting?]

Mayor:... painting as needed

RD: haven't seen; don't like idea

JC: understand it's cost-saving

RD: makes it looks like all other ...; makes us look like American cops

Mayor: cohesion and pride in the force; lost almost a third ....

your feedback is welcome, perfectly; I'll take it

RD: I don't often disagree

Mayor: improve

RD: xxx

Mayor [re VANOC and WV]: thanks for mtg this morning

cmnty volunteering; path; restoring Hollyburn Lodge

JC: don't think we shd just let that go

picked the ball up; thru your contacts, indivs came forward; raising money as we speak

great hand in this; admired and....

Mayor: thank you to our CAO too

RD: as one there this morning; v nice, v stimulating ceremony

wonderful manage to collect so much money so quickly, your role imp

hope a little of the money, generosity for the Hollyburn Ski Lodge as well; restore; let's keep up the good work

Mayor: this is the beginning; lots of opp for mbrs of cmnty to contribute time, money how small

[not just?] wealthy families; broad range in cmnty; individs strength

heartening cross section; heritage ppl, school bd

schools, opps for all schools; chn said call us anytime

JC: a dozen and half six-year-olds; bouncing around space cadet said, wonder if they're ticklish

CR: Editor of West Van Matters.  Good evening.  I have some prepared questions but before, I also wanted to extend my congratulations for what happened this morning.

I have two quick questions [however, beforehand].

I cdn't understand the rationale of keeping it three sgl-fam.  If you want money for the Cmnty Ctr b/c a multi-fam wd of course bring in more money than a sgl-fam [lot].

Another question was, I wrote a letter, I think May 16th, and it was referred for reply, and I just wondered if there cd be some guideline as to when responses to Correspondence and Questions.

Last week I cd have spoken to a couple of items

but I was saving it for PQP and it got cancelled, but I do want to--

Mayor:  --I'd like to say, it was totally my fault, we had a v busy, v v late ccl mtg, and I neglected to call for PQP, and I think I apologized to you--

CR: Yes, and I appreciate that, but that's the whole reason I hadn't spoken at the earlier ones, cuz you were in such a [it was going late]

Anyway, I want to thank you all for recognizing heritage in WV; but there was a serious question I wanted to ask last week, so here it comes.

It's wrt to process and variances

This is election year.

Mayor: I'm sorry.  I really must interrupt you.  In that report, it's my understanding that both the architect and builder and our staff, discovered that error after the fact.  Mr Sokol?  And having discovered that, it's available for them, the owner, to come to Ccl and seek a variance.  I wd like to be v clear what our staff's role and direction in that particular instance was.

Sokol: Yes, I had misspoken when I commented at that mtg.  The role was, it was identified by staff, in those situations they ask, we have a discussion obviously with the builder; and there was some discussion as to what staff wd recommend to Ccl; they were told that staff wd recommend approval.  Ppl have an option to move forward or not, knowing that shd they move forward and Ccl not approve it they wd hv to go back and remediate it.

Mayor: was the house built? not built?

Sokol: work continued

Mayor: it was underway

Sokol: yes

CR: I have the transcript here so maybe if there's a mistake, this will alter what said

Mayor: the report makes it clear

CR: Anyway, Cclr Soprovich expressed concern and voted against approving the variance -- his courage to signal our bylaws shd be adhered to deserves to be applauded.

[MAYOR AND SOME CCLRS APPLAUD]

Just where is the accountability?

Ccl's to approve?

Staff's to approve?

Why shd builders adhere to height limitations or necessity of Ccl's decision before proceeding?

Mayor: do you have a--

CR: Can everyone go a little bit over and not worry about it b/c assured by staff?

Who takes responsibility for this?

Mayor: I think assured is the wrong word, and I think you're mischaracterizing this.  The report makes it very clear; so if you have a question, we wd be happy to entertain it, or you can forward this to our staff

Mayor: --he was not told by staff--

CR: --this is what was initially--

Mayor: No, I think you can conclude your remarks now, and I'm going to go to--

Mayor: We'll take your questions to our staff, pls, b/c if you're going to misconstrue the report, it makes it v difficult to have a conversation, but, we do have an issue b/c of, I believe, measurements that are taken, difference between as-built and at grade

and ah, plans b/c our staff do not go out to every single site and measure, and that is causing some, but we're attuned to that now, we know that, but it has caused some discrepancy in terms of inches, so that's going to conclude your questions b/c we're--

CR: Well, I wd appreciate the clarification b/c, and I appreciate the clarification now,

Mayor: there's someone else waiting

CR: b/c what was said was misleading, so that clarification wd be really important to have.  Will that be in writing? or verbally?

Mayor: Pls pass that over to our Dir/Planning.  Mr Gabriel.

Tony Gabriel [text supplied]:  << Good evening Madam Mayor and Councillors.

My name is Simon Gabriel and I live at 4716 South Piccadilly Road in Lower Caulfeild, which is the only Historic Conservation Area so designated in West Vancouver.

Two years ago -- almost to the day -- Item 6.4 on the June 19th Council Agenda was the Heritage Strategic Plan which -- to your endless credit -- was adopted and passed at that meeting.  Later in that council meeting I addressed you regarding the issue of Lower Caulfeild, its historic nature, and its threat from developers who wished to turn it into some ambivalent range of structures such as they have done to Clovelly Walk -- about which you are well aware.  I asked you to consider a moratorium on the demolishing of older structures until such time as a heritage list of homes could be pieced together, but this was not to be. I did also ask that the Lower Caulfeild Guidelines be reviewed, renovated, and re-issued which was agreed and was expected to be done "within a year".

In 2006, a group of neighbours in Lower Caulfeild were trying to deal with the issue of a developer demolishing a 1924 residence on The Highway and replacing it with a modern, out of context building.  This brought us to Council many times -- one of which was October 16th, 2006.   At that time I again revisited the issue of "revised guidelines", and there was a lot of positive comment by members of Council such that it was deemed to be something that should be done without delay.  Back here again on November 6th, 2006 when Council directed Staff to report back on how to expedite a review of the Lower Caulfeild Heritage Conservation Area.

The next meeting we attended was January 8th 2007 but that was put over to January 15th and Item 3 on that agenda was the Alteration Permit for 4769 the Highway.  During the presentations made by residents, I again raised the issue of the revised, renovated Lower Caulfeild Guidelines and in Council's debate on the issue they were referred to again as being of importance as this is West Vancouver's ONLY Heritage Conservation Area=8A as were bylaws regarding blasting about which there was much neighbourhood opposition to blasting on the Highway site  and which were to be subject to revision as well. (You may well remember the fracas that resulted from the developer overblasting by 100%.)

Our last visit to these hallowed halls was on June 18th 2007 -- a year ago less two days -- to attend the "process for review of the Lower Caulfeild Designation Guidelines".  Several neighbours attended this meeting at which some councillors agreed it should be the Guidelines and not designation that was to be reviewed.  One Councillor voiced concerns about "the timelines we're taking with these studies" and "the need to speed up the process for people to preserve their neighbourhoods".  "The process" was set out in black and white with dates for Terms of Reference, Neighbourhood meetings, selection of a consultant, etc and advice that there was C$25,000 available to fund the project.

The timeline started in June 2007 and ended in December -- 2007 -- when a finalized report would be presented to Council.

Madam Mayor and Councillors, two years ago I requested a review of the Lower Caulfeild Guidelines.  One year ago a report was accepted by Council with funding approved to set this review in motion =8A=8A and one year later not a single thing has been done.                       

During those two years, numerous houses have been demolished in West Vancouver -- not all will be missed -- but such as Arthur Erickson's Graham House -- one of the top five in Canada --  demolished last December by an absentee foreign land owner -- will remain as a stain on this community for years to come.

How long must it be before we get some action. ???  >>

Mayor: you're quite right wrt that commitment made by Planning Dept, and I think Mr McRadu is aware of that, and-- but it simply is not true that not a single thing has been done.  We have a Heritage Register now.  We are working with incentives ppl can take advantage of.  I'm not sure how many in the Lower Caulfeild area have signed up for the H Register, that's their prerogative.  Mr Sokol, you might wish to update us on the zoning bylaw rewrite wch there are numerous aspects of and wch I think--

Sokol: this actually--

Mayor: wd just like to say there are some broad policy statements underway wch are for everybody; they don't address what you're talking about, and I think we can all agree that's been frustrating, but the bigger picture is actually one that's pretty good news, not good enough, but the work is underway.  I'd just like Mr Sokol to comment on the status of certainly the zoning issue

Sokol: staff will be presenting Ccl during the month of July with a report outlining a strategy for moving forward with the zoning bylaw rewrite.  It will include timelines, it will include, probably stretched out over a period of time, that will include specific benchmarks for various products that we hope to bring forward to Ccl over the coming months.  At the same time we'll be bringing forward an zoning bylaw amendment relating to blasting.  So that is one thing we hope to bring forward during the month of July

Regarding the Lower Caulfeild guidelines, that is an item I am aware of, been on the Planning Dept work items for a lengthy period of time, and it's something that I'm working with my staff to figure out a timeline, how we can implement it.  We'll get back to Ccl on that.

Mayor: and Mr Gabriel.  Thank you.  I don't have anyone else wishing to speak.  Cclr Day, motion to adjourn.

RD: I move--

Mayor: Oh, I'm sorry.  No, I don't. OH!

Bruce McArthur: just say a few comments about the Police Dept. I've sort of had relationships on both sides of the fence with the Police Dept.  I did attend this mtg on amalgamation as one of the citizen advisers.

Mayor: the 'mtg on amalgamation' is not the term

BMcA: well, discussion for a report to be--

Mayor: --Police Services Review

Black and white police cars.  We had the Police Chief come out to the WRA.  He was warmly received.  His explanation that satisfied me, was that it was a good way to identify the police services vehicles apart from being like a security car, a security service.  I accepted that.  I like the black and white police cars and I like our police force.  Thank you.

Mayor:  Thank you.  That's a v good point you make.  On a per capita basis, WV pays about $220 into the police services, it's about $130 in CNV.  So that disparity has a lot to do with the level of services we expect, and the gap between the two cmnties. We are certainly not going to lower our level of service, in fact this year we increased it wrt the bottom line, and that does set us apart.

Meeting's adjourned.

18. ADJOURNMENT 9:38

The Public Hearing will commence at 7pm.  The Ccl Mtg will commence immediately following the PH.

5.         PUBLIC INPUT -- Mayor Goldsmith-Jones will call for Public Input.

1.  APPROVAL OF AGENDA

2.  ADOPTION OF MINUTES:  June 9, 16, and 19, 2008 Council Minutes

3.         Development Variance Permit Application No. 08-007 (5040, 5046, 5056 and 5060 The Byway)

Staff report received for information; call for public input; staff report back or approval of DVP which would allow for the exemption of two lots from the minimum frontage requirements of the Local Government Act and a variance on the site width and lot depth requirements of Zoning Bylaw.

4.         Community Grants/Social Services Working Group Recommendations:  Strengthening Social Support Systems in West Vancouver - "Blueprint for Social Responsibility and Change - A Framework for a Social Action Plan"

RECOMMENDED:THAT

1.              Staff be directed to bring forward a Social Action Plan using the "Blueprint for Social Responsibility and Change - A Framework for a Social Action Plan", developed by the Community Grants/Social Services Working Group.

2.              Staff be directed to implement improvements to the community grants application and adjudication process, using the recommendations from this report.

Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 4360, 2004, Amendment Bylaw No. 4567, 2008; Zoning Bylaw No. 2200, 1968, Amendment Bylaw No. 4568, 2008; and Phased Development Agreement Authorization Bylaw No. 4569 (Rodgers Creek Area), 2008

Report to be provided.  :-(

RECOMMENDED:  :-( THAT opportunities provided for consultation on a proposed Rodgers Creek Official Community Plan amendment, with persons, organizations and authorities as outlined in the June 30, 2008 report from the Manager, Community Planning be endorsed as sufficient consultation for the purposes of Section 879 of the Local Government Act.

RECOMMENDED:  THAT Official Community Plan Bylaw ... Amendment Bylaw, as attached to the report from the Manager, Community Planning dated June 30, 2008 be introduced and read a first time.

RECOMMENDED: THAT Official Community Plan Bylaw, Amendment Bylaw etc... be read a second time.

RECOMMENDED: THAT Official Community Plan Bylaw ... Amendment Bylaw, as attached to the report from the Manager, Community Planning dated June 30, 2008 has been [sic] considered in conjunction with the District's most recent financial plan and the regional waste management plan.

RECOMMENDED: THAT Zoning Bylaw  Amendment Bylaw, as attached to the report from the Manager, Community Planning dated June 30, 2008 be introduced and read a first time.

RECOMMENDED: THAT Zoning Bylaw Amendment Bylaw, ... be read a second time.

RECOMMENDED: THAT Phased Development Agreement Authorization Bylaw No. 4569 (Rodgers Creek Area), 2008, as attached to the report from the Manager, Community Planning dated June 30, 2008 be introduced and read a first time.

RECOMMENDED: THAT Phased Development Agreement Authorization Bylaw ... be read a second time.

RECOMMENDED: THAT the Municipal Clerk be directed to give statutory notice that a Public Hearing regarding [all above] ... is scheduled for Monday, July 28 at 7pm.

RECOMMENDED: THAT statutory notice be expanded beyond 100m of the lands proposed for rezoning and include the lands shown on the map in Appendix A attached to the report from the Manager, Community Planning dated June 30, 2008.

6.         Community Engagement Committee - Status Report (deferred from the June 9, 2008 Council meeting)

RECOMMENDED: THAT

1.              Council approve the amended Working Group Guidelines as attached, and

2.              Council direct the Community Engagement Committee to report back by October 2008 with a recommended approach regarding the following:

-     Working Group Orientation Process

-     How to evaluate and budget accordingly for adequate staff resources to support Working Groups, including distinguishing between senior staff facilitation and clerical staff administrative support

-     Meeting space requirements for Working Groups and subgroups

[3.]            Council clarify the role of elected trustee and School District 45 staff in the Working Group Guidelines

[4.]              Council amend the Community Engagement Committee Terms of Reference to include the Chief Administrative Officer or his designate to the Committee.

7.         UBCM Local Planning Grant Application to Update the North Shore Emergency Social Services Plan

RECOMMENDED: THAT DWV submit an Emergency Planning Grant application to the UBCM to update the North Shore Emergency Social Services (ESS) Plan and to provide familiarization workshops for volunteers and staff ESS Team.

8. Consent Agenda Items - Reports/Correspondence (may be considered separately or in one recommendation).

REPORTS FOR CONSENT AGENDA

9.         Development Variance Permit Application 08-019 (6460 Rosebery Avenue)

RECOMMENDED: THAT the report dated June 27 [entitled] DVP Application be scheduled for consideration on July 21

10.      Grand National Trail - Use by Cypress Bowl Recreations Limited Partnership for Cross Country Ski Purposes - Licence Extension

RECOMMENDED: THAT the report dated June 20 ... be received.

11.       Vancouver Port Authority - Lease Extension for use of rock groynes at Ambleside/Capilano River Mouth

RECOMMENDED: THAT the report dated June 23 entitled "Vancouver Port Authority... be received.

12.       Correspondence List (File:  0120?24)

RECOMMENDED: THAT the Correspondence List be received for information.

Requests for Delegation  -- No items presented.

(12)          G. Boyle, June 13, 2008, reply regarding Ambleside Town Centre Bylaws

Responses to Questions in Question Period -- No items presented.

Requests for Delegation -- No items presented.

Responses to Correspondence

(38) Mayor Goldsmith-Jones, June 17, 2008, reply regarding Use and Disposal of Plastic Grocery Bags

(39) Mayor Goldsmith-Jones, June 17, 2008, reply regarding Learn at Work Week

Responses to Questions in Question Period -- No items presented.

Requests for Delegation -- No items presented.

Responses to Correspondence -- No items presented.

Responses to Questions in Question Period  --  No items presented.

13. REPORTS from MAYOR/CCLRS   14. PUBLIC QUESTIONS/COMMENTS   15. ADJOURNMENT

===   ARTWATCH   ===  See www.ssbc.ca

        VanDusen Botanical Garden, 5251 Oak Street, Vancouver

Contact:        Louise Solecki Weir phone: 604 224 8697 email: louisaweir@gmail.com

        Georgia Hunter phone: 604 682 7654 email: georgia_hunter@shaw.ca

    Early each year, during the property assessment appeal window, the BC Assessment agency makes available to the public all properties sold between January and October of the previous year. The data includes the sales price of the property, its assessment value, date of sale, and address.  This year West Vancouver resident Garrett Polman prepared an analysis comparing sales prices with the assessment values, and was surprised by the results.  Of the 100 properties on BC Assessment's website (selected across West Vancouver at random by their system), 32% had an assessment value between 10% and 36% lower than the sales value. 

     Only three houses (3%) that were sold had a higher assessment value (by 10% or more of the sales price).  Polman had eliminated all cases where the difference was less than 10% because, admittedly assessment, at the margins, is an art not a science, and he wanted to eliminate any "noise".  What concerned Polman about the analysis was the significant downward reduction of a large proportion of the sales prices for assessment purposes in a consistently uptrend market.  The results seemed counter-intuitive.

     Property tax is a zero-sum game -- the mill rate is set after the budget is approved so everyone pays a certain amount (the same) per $1000 of assessed value.  Therefore the reduction of assessment values of a sizeable proportion of houses sold in the community means that someone whose assessment is below market is paying less than his fair share.  Even if you were satisfied with the BC Assessment of your own house, as Polman was, there was still the concern that the BC Assessment system results in an inequitable distribution of taxes.

     Polman contacted BC Assessment and was told that "some people overpay" when they buy a house.  Well, no doubt some.  But 32%?  In West Vancouver?  In an upward trending market?  Not a very illuminating and satisfying answer.

     In January Polman sent the full analysis to the BC Assessment office.   No response.  Eventually the Vancouver Sun took up the cudgels and published a summary of Polman's analysis on June 24 by Don Cayo in the Business /section.  Within days a senior official of BC Assessment called Polman.  He had explanations for some of the results.  He said that last year 289 houses were sold in West Vancouver, but that on the website no more than 100 could be printed, and for reasons he could not explain, the 100 available to Polman included a disproportionate number of reductions.  Polman's view was that if the first 100 had a disproportionate 32 reductions, say there might be only 20-25 in the remaining 189, you would still have some 20% of houses sold with significantly reduced assessments.

     The official also indicated that because BC Assessment values were pegged at July 1st values (to create a level playing field), houses sold in the fall would generally be taken down and houses sold in the spring would be taken higher (in an uptrend market).  Polman was aware of that but pointed out that nearly half of the 32 reductions occurred with houses sold in the spring, which didn't accord with that explanation.

     The official also mentioned that for houses under construction and sold after July 1, prices would be brought back to the level of their construction-value on July 1.  The official also agreed that several of the reductions on their website and included in the list of 100 were odd.  In some cases, he explained, BC Assessment had made an error and in a few other cases they were still investigating.

BEIT UMMAR: IDF fatally shoots seventeen-year-old Palestinian youth in Beit Ummar; CPTers assaulted

A link to video showing Abuata engaging the soldiers is available at http://www.youtube.com/user/cpthebron .

More info on him: http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/arab_culture_and_identity/28915 and

        http://www.jerusalemites.org/poem/darwish.htm

*  July 1st: 01.07.08 - 13:19:  Israeli authorities prevent young musicians from entering Jerusalem for Marcel Khalife Competition

***  HERE ~ JULY FIRST   ..... my politi-ku end of June.....

There are no limits to the majestic future which lies before the mighty expanse of Canada with its virile, aspiring, cultured, and generous-hearted people.

                        -- Sir Winston Churchill

We shall be Canadians first, foremost, and always, and our policies will be decided in Canada and not dictated by any other country.

                        -- John G. Diefenbaker

Whether we live together in confidence and cohesion; with more faith and pride in ourselves and less self-doubt and hesitation; strong in the conviction that the destiny of Canada is to unite, not divide; sharing in cooperation, not in separation or in conflict; respecting our past and welcoming our future.

                        -- Lester Pearson

We peer so suspiciously at each other that we cannot see that we Canadians are standing on the mountaintop of human wealth, freedom and privilege.

                        - Pierre Elliott Trudeau

If you don't think that your country should come before yourself, you can better serve your country by livin' someplace else.

                        -- Stompin' Tom Connors

History is a vast early warning system.   -- Norman Cousins, editor and author (1915 - 1990)

                        A piece of string walks into a bar.

                        The barman asks, "Are you a piece of string?"

                        "No", it replies, "a frayed knot."

                        Can Napoleon return to his place of birth?

                        Of Corsican.

Why is it that all of the instruments seeking intelligent life in the universe are pointed away from Earth?