WVM2011-14
Ccl NOTES July 4
AGENDAS July 11
Calendar to July 25

by Carolanne Reynolds, Editor
www.WestVan.org

 Farewell Will and Kate * Stanley Park 125th Anniversary Weekend
MAIN ITEMS on the ccl mtg AGENDAs July 11: v funny
The sp ccl mtg starts at 4pm, goes in camera, and says it will adjourn after the in camera part.
Then the other day a Finance Cmte mtg appeared on the DWV site.  It will start at 5:30 and is about the budget.
=  Vive le Canada (Parks Canada Youth Ambassadors in name of Duke/Duchess of Cambridge); from the EDITOR'S DESK (Main points, notable qtn in NOTES); BUDGETWATCH (the ITACker view); PH RULES (letter re process); WVPD (Suspects); UPDATES & INFO (HBAY INTERSECTION; LPPS; Giant Hogweed Removal)
=  CALENDAR to July 25th; CULTUREWATCH (Theatre; Art; Music); SUBSCRIBER HEADSUP (Updates )
=  Ccl Mtg NOTES July 4th: PH on Zoning Housekeeping Amendments; WVPD 2011-2013 Strategic Plan and Mid-Year CompStat Report; Construction Impacts on Nbrs; 2011 Five-Yr Financial Plan Budget Amendment Bylaw (see G Polman's five questions on AmbNOW); Firearm Regulations; Water Utility Loan Authorization; Adoption of 20th/Esquimalt devt bylaw (PH process comments); Water Shortage Plan; Add'n of July 11 and 25 to Ccl Mtg schedule; AmbNOW PSB Expense Report to May 31; Correspondence re GLH House (demolition?)
=  AGENDAs July 11th: Sp Ccl Mtg and Finance Cmte
=  ANIMALWATCH (Tickling/Laughter, Banff Nat'l Park; Polar Bear Cub crawls); INFObits (Canada UN Conference nix; Tea; Health; Facebook); CANCERWATCH (whither donations?); HSTWATCH (UBC; NB); PEACEWATCH; ROADWATCH; WATERWATCH (Amniyr again); FLOTILLAWATCH; OBAMAWATCH (G&S); CANADAWATCH (WVite's Canada Day in Ottawa); ROYALWATCH (Photos; Rockies; Skoki); HERITAGEWATCH (GLH; RoyalTea-by-the-Sea; Walks); HUMOURWATCH (Exercise); MAIKU; QUOTATIONS/THOUGHTS/PUNS

===  Vive le CANADA  ===  From the Prime Minister's Web Site (http://www.pm.gc.ca/)
PM announces Parks Canada Youth Ambassadors Program in honour of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
July 7, 2011  --  Calgary, Alberta
Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced the creation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's Parks Canada Youth Ambassadors Program, a special gift in honour of the couple's first Royal Tour of Canada and to mark the 100th anniversary of the founding of Parks Canada. The program will inspire young Canadians from across the country to enjoy Canada's great outdoors.
"Canada is blessed with unparalleled natural beauty," said the Prime Minister. "This program will see youth ambassadors travelling across the country to promote our magnificent national parks. The gift will remind The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge of the time they spent here together enjoying Canada's natural wonders and forever connect them to the young people participating in the program that bears their name."
As part of this annual summer program, two youth ambassadors will travel across Canada connecting with Canadian youth in their schools, communities, and at Parks Canada locations.
The first two ambassadors will begin their duties in spring 2012. They will visit Canada's national parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas, and share their experiences and ideas through social media. The ambassadors will also encourage other young Canadians to connect with them and share their own outdoor Parks Canada experiences online.
"The Parks Canada Youth Ambassadors Program is very much in keeping with the environmental and youth initiatives that Their Royal Highnesses support. It is a fitting gift to mark their first Royal Tour and the 100th anniversary of Parks Canada," added the Prime Minister.

===  from the EDITOR'S DESK  ===  Lots happening.
>  Do read the captivating account written by a WV resident on his trip to Ottawa for Canada Day -- what a great experience!
>  re ccl mtg
AmbNOW expenses and plans (an initial amt for $3.1M and we don't even know the size of the PSB, plus apparently they've already decided where it will go; many questions asked).  Do read about it -- either higher taxes or sale of M land assets -- the devil or the deep blue sea -- and cost has gone from $20M to $37M to $50 - 65M to over $70M.
PH process queried.
GLH in danger (see Correspondence, Reports from Mayor/Cclrs, PQP)
+  Notable excerpt from transcript of ccl mtg:
    Mayor: Can I come back to you after Ccl Reports?
    Sop: No, b/c I'll lose my train of thought, I just want to comment
    Mayor: well, I'm in charge of keeping the train of thought going in one direction

===  BUDGETWATCH ===  the ITACker Report 

Subject: Property taxes -  ITAC - DWV operating expenses for 2010
Date: Sat, 2 Jul 2011 11:49:52 -0700
Today being the deadline for paying one's property taxes in BC, I thought you might be interested in ITAC's latest analysis of District of West Vancouver operating expenses, including changes in employee remuneration.

{see the three tables:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/59750054/ITAC-Analysis-of-DWV-Annual-Operating-Expenses-2003-2010
http://www.scribd.com/doc/59750039/ITAC-Analysis-of-DWV-Staff-Over-100K-2003-2010
http://www.scribd.com/doc/59750008/ITAC-Annual-Summary-of-DWV-Budget-2005-2010  }

These calculations have been done by ITAC's resident number cruncher, Garrett Polman, a man who spent a large portion of his professional career either as a Treasury Board analyst in Ottawa or as a senior financial administrator with JP Morgan-Chase in either Chicago or Tokyo.
Even though West Vancouver's population has remained essentially static over the past five years, and Greater Vancouver's CPI has climbed a total of only 9.5% over the same period, the operating expenses of our District government have continued to increase in dramatic fashion. In particular, the remuneration for District staff has gone up by 32% overall, for an average of over 6% per year, with those making over $100K per year having received an average of 7% per annum increase during these five years (the District's unionized employees, other than firemen or police officers, have, I believe, been restricted to increases of 4% or less per annum during this period). As of 2010, our local government had 40% of its 640 employees being paid in excess of $75K per year, with 9% earning in excess of $100K per year. This is exclusive of the WVPD's top paid employees, specifics of whose income is not reported, but that is another story.
To put things in context, according to StatsCan census data, in 2005 the median household income for West Vancouver was $84,672, a drop of some 14% from 2000. As of 2009, again according to StatsCan, the median household income for Metro Vancouver was $67,550. Presumably, this figure remained somewhat higher in West Vancouver but most likely rather less than it was in 2005 given the market meltdown circa 2008/09. And, as at 2005, some 23% of West Vancouverites were classified by StatsCan as belonging to so-called "senior economic families", with an astonishingly low median household income of just over $25,000. Finally, according to the Canada Revenue Agency, as reported in the National Post, in 2009 some 74% of Canadian income tax-filers reported income of less than $50,000, with fully 94% reporting income of less than $100K.
To sum up, in West Vancouver we have what is essentially a bedroom community of some 44,000 souls, almost a quarter of whom are income-strapped seniors, with a local government that has 192 employees being paid in excess of $75K and 55 being paid more than $100K (ie. in the top 6% of Canadian income tax-filers). Shockingly, employee remuneration now consumes over 80% of the tax revenue collected by the District.
I believe it is fair to claim that ITAC's efforts have been in part responsible* for keeping the property tax rate increase in West Vancouver to zero per cent in 2009 and 1.1% in 2010, by far the lowest in Metro Vancouver during this period. However, the District's operating expenditures have continued to rise significantly, with utility rates increasing sharply (the latter due in part to Metro Vancouver capital projects). The trend-lines point clearly to a rapidly approaching situation in which the total tax burden imposed by our local governments will become unsustainable for more and more West Vancouverites.
My colleagues and I in ITAC hope and expect that the issue of financial and operational management in our local government will be a central topic for debate in the upcoming civic election in West Vancouver. This will most likely be so if enough residents demand that candidates for council focus their attention on this matter and make their views known publicly as to what ought to be done to reverse the current trend in District spending.
Please forward this...
Thank you.  David Marley
            {*  yes, they spoke out, as did ADRA, this newsletter, and others.}

===  PUBLIC HEARING RULES fyi  ===  This was discussed at Item 13 and PQP
{NB: DWV lost a PH challenge in 2003 (just an example; were others)}
Date: Sun, 03 Jul 2011 15:19:31 -0700
From: George Pajari
To: mayorandcouncil@westvancouver.ca
Subject: Problems with Public Hearing/Public Meeting related to OCP Amendment and Rezoning on Esquimalt
Dear Mayor and Council:
There is reason to believe that the recent Public Hearing/Public Meeting related to the amending of the OCP and the rezoning of the three lots on Esquimalt has been irreparably compromised by the actions of some councillors.
During Council's discussion immediately following the closing of the PH/PM, one councillor stated she had met privately with residents to discuss the development (with the obvious implication that this meeting had happened after the first PH/PM). Another councillor said she had discounted the value of the letters opposing the development based on discussions during "lunch with a client" who had signed one of the form letters.
It has long been held by the courts that it is highly improper for councillors to receive information related to the matter being considered during a PH/PM outside of the PH/PM and a number of bylaws based on such compromised PHs/PMs were invalidated as a result.
The Honourable Madam Justice S.S. Stromberg-Stein, in Hubbard et al v. District of West Vancouver (2003) BCSC 1678:
Council had a clear obligation to disclose to the public prior to the public hearing all information upon which council would consider and rely upon in the course of adopting, or deciding to adopt or reject, the bylaws.  If council considers new information, which addresses the issues and offers fresh facts and opinions, then this information should be available to the public even if council acquired the information after the public hearing.  Procedural fairness involves disclosure of all such relevant information and material... This is essential to a fair and transparent public process.
Mr. Justice Wallace in Karamanian v. Richmond (Township of) (1982), 138 D.L.R. (3d) 760 (B.C.S.C.):
Leaving homeowners ignorant of pertinent information in the possession of council frustrates the objective of a public meeting and denies those homeowners whose property is affected by the by-law a full opportunity to be heard at a fair and impartial public hearing.
It would be prudent for council to postpone final adoption of the bylaws related to the OCP Amendment and rezoning until it has had time to investigate this matter further and has received legal advice on whether it is necessary to re-convene the PH/PM to remedy the problem of councillors' being influenced privately without a fair opportunity for others to consider and respond to the information received in secret.
To continue to final adoption without at least considering the admissions by councillors of having met privately to discuss the matter before the PH/PM would be an offence to natural justice and give support to those who think staff and council are so enthusiastic about this development that details such as natural justice, proper process, and overwhelming neighhbourhood opposition are mere details to be trampled in the rush to experiment with new housing forms.
Yours truly, George Pajari

===  WVPD  === Suspects!
Suspects to identify  Date: 2011 July 07 Contact: Cpl.  Jag Johal
Please follow the link below to our website to view persons to identify in relation to recent West Vancouver Police Investigations.
http://wvpd.ca/breaking-stories/296-suspects-to-identify-can-you-help-us

 ===  UPDATES & INFO  ===
>  Intersection Upgrade for Marine Drive at Keith Road in Horseshoe Bay
The intersection of Marine Drive at Keith Road has been of concern to the neighbourhood for several years. The traffic control is confusing, the pedestrian signal is old, and speeding is an issue.
An Open House was held at Gleneagles Community Centre on June 22, 2011 where information was provided to parent advisory committee from Gleneagles School and local residents associations on options for the intersection upgrade. The community was invited to attend and provide input. The District has recommended a roundabout to improve traffic flow and safety in the intersection.
Further information will be posted here as the project progresses.
http://www.westvancouver.ca/Level3.aspx?id=34998
> Lighthouse Park Preservation Society
The newsletter: http://www.westvancouver.ca/uploadedFiles/Parks_and_Environment/Stewardship/Newsletter15.pdf
has info on bees, woodpeckers, Klootchman Park, mtg, events, and more.
Photo contest details: http://www.nsps.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/LPPS-Photo-Contest-info-1.pdf
>  Public Safety Bulletin - Giant Hogweed
Thursday July 07  Is there a giant in your backyard or along your stream edge? The WV Parks Dept has recently noticed increasing populations of the 'Giant Hogweed', a plant that is known to cause redness and irritation of the skin. While the District is currently taking measures to remove this weed from municipal property, we wish to provide information on its identification and removal, work with the community, and bring it under control.
Origin  --  A member of the parsley family, Giant Hogweed is a large dramatic plant from Asia that was introduced as an ornamental. Now also found on public land, the plant prefers moist soil and thrives in ravines, wooded open spaces, ditches, vacant lots, and along railway tracks.
Description
The most impressive characteristic of the Giant Hogweed is its size. It can reach heights of 8 to 15 feet (2.4 to 4.5 m) when in flower, and its stout, hollow stems are 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 cm) in diameter. The stems are covered in coarse white hairs and purple blotches. The large leaves are 3 to 5 feet (90 to 150 cm) wide and deeply lined.
This plant flowers from mid-May through July, and its large blossom consists of numerous white flowers clustered in an umbrella shaped head that is more than 2 feet (60 cm) in diameter. In the fall, shoots die down and its tall stems mark the location of this plant during the winter.
Impact
The Giant Hogweed's clear, watery sap causes a skin reaction that may cause redness, swelling, heat, and irritation. Exposure to sunlight increases this reaction, which varies from person to person. People often get sap on their skin while clearing plants, and children are exposed to sap when they use the long, hollow stems for telescopes, blowguns or swords.
Treatment  --  If sap gets on the skin, wash thoroughly with soap and water. Keep the affected area out of the sun, and treat it as you would a surface burn.
Management  --  DWV will be removing this weed from municipal property manually, without the use of herbicides, and will be working with BC Rail to identify and remove plants along the railway tracks. If you discover this plant on municipal property, contact us and we will arrange for its removal.
Photo, details on removing from your own property, and more information call 925 7192 and see: http://www.westvancouver.ca/Government/Level3.aspx?id=29564

=======  CALENDAR to July 25th  =======
All mtgs are at M Hall unless indicated otherwise.  NOTE: below are mtgs known at this date; often there are additions, changes, cancellations after WVM goes out.  Check the DWV Calendar: http://www.westvancouver.ca/Calendar.aspx  .  Notices/mtgs/changes too late for an issue or too early for the next are sent to subscribers as updates.  They then appear in the next newsletter.
>  Salsa by the Sea
June 23 to Aug 25 on Ambleside Landing from 6:30 to 8:30pm on Thursdays; $6 drop-in
Open to all; ph 925 7290; see http://ferrybuildinggallery.com for info.
>  Weekly Farmers' Markets all summer
Saturdays 9 to 3 - Dundarave Farmers' Market, 2400 Marine Drive
Sundays 10 to 3 - Ambleside Farmers' Market - Bellevue Ave & 13th St.
>  This Summer join us for FREE Sunset Family Yoga Classes!
Located on the Great Lawn of the Community Centre --  July & August only -- A gentle Hatha Style class.  Everyone is welcome.  Bring your own yoga mat.  Weather permitting - For up-to-date scheduling information:
     http://westvancouver.ca//uploadedFiles/Recreation/Schedules/WEB_SPIRIT_PASS_SCHEDULE.PDF

>  Posted too late for last WVM:
== Monday July 4     ~ 5:30pm ~ Parks Master Plan WG [MOVED FROM JULY 5]
== Wednesday July 6     ~ 9:30am ~ Ambleside Revitalization Commission
== Thursday July 7     ~ 7pm ~  Design Review Cmte [CANCELLED]

== Monday July 11   ~ 4pm ~ Special Ccl Mtg Closed Session ~ 5:30 ~ Finance Cmte [BUDGET]
== Tuesday July 12     ~ 7pm ~ Parks Master Plan WG
== Friday July 15     ~ 9am ~  Cmnty Grants Cmte, Cmnty Ctr (Cedar Room)
== Tuesday July 19     ~ 7pm ~ Parks Master Plan WG
== Wednesday July 20    ~ 7pm ~  Bd of Variance; and Library Bd at Library
== Thursday July 21    ~ 4:30pm ~ Design Review Cmte
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                +++  WV MEMORIAL LIBRARY +++  http://www.westvanlibrary.ca/event/calendar.php
Closed Sundays in July and August.  Note parking and parking limit changes (details in WVM13)
SUMMER CINEMA:
~ 6:30 - 9pm ~ Join us on Tuesday evenings for an in-house screening of some wonderful films.
        True Grit - July 12   and  Last Station - July 19
+ Wednesday July 13
~ 7:30pm ~   A New Yorker's Sense and Sensibility
Author Cathleen Schine will read from her most recent book, The Three Weissmanns of Westport.
+  Tuesday July 19
~ 1:30pm ~   Raptor Rescue with O.W.L. Rehabilitation Society (Grades 1-7)
Meet and learn about the birds of prey which live in the Lower Mainland.  Drop-in, but space is limited.
+   West Vancouver Memorial Library Foundation
Celebrating its 25th Anniversary this year! For 25 years the Foundation has supplemented the funding of the Library through donations, mail campaigns, and special events. Later in the year an event with an international flavour is planned. Watch for our July e-newsletter!
  +++  WV MUSEUM +++ http://westvancouvermuseum.ca/exhibitions/current_exhibition
=  The Smith Collection  ~  June 9 to August 27
      A selection of works by leading Canadian artists from Gordon Smith's private collection
Immersed in the visual art world, West Vancouver artist Gordon Smith and his late wife Marion collected a number of interesting works by leading Canadian and international artists. The wealth of their art collection is evidence of the lives the Smiths touched and conversely those who influenced Gordon Smith's artistic practice. Through examining the Smiths' influence to the Canadian art world, this first exhibition of the Smith Collection includes works by Rodney Graham, Douglas Coupland, Jack Shadbolt, and Ann Kipling among many others.
West Vancouver artist Gordon Smith and his late wife Marion collected a diversity of artworks from leading Canadian artists over their decades-long immersion in the Canadian art world.
This exhibition includes important works selected by Ian Thom, Senior Curator, Vancouver Art Gallery.
+++  FERRY BUILDING GALLERY  +++ http://ferrybuildinggallery.com ~ 925 7290
13th International MINI ART EXCHANGE  ~  July 5 - 24
Brazil/Canada    Opening Reception Tuesday July 5 from 6 to 8pm
+++ SILK PURSE +++   http://www.silkpurse.ca/gallery2.html
July 12 - 24  -- "Sunrise"
Employing three distinct visual approaches to some of the rudimentary property features of the Hastings Sunrise neighbourhood, photographer Morgan Applewood invites us to consider how the East Van area has come to represent decorum amidst Vancouver's high-priced housing market & what it means to have the premium of space.
Opening reception Tuesday July 12th from 6 - 8pm
+++ KAY MEEK CENTRE +++
Complete list of events: http://kaymeekcentre.com/on_stage/events_calendar
Electronic newsletter: http://kaymeekcentre.weebly.com
Simplest way to get on email list, call 913 3634 (also for tix) or email tickets@kaymeekcentre.com
+++ ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION BRANCH 60, West Vancouver +++
Website: http://www.westvan60.com/  --  ofc: 922 3587; lounge: 922 1920
"Where Volunteers make the difference." Chartered November 17th, 1926
The Winter Issue of "The Torch" is now available
 To view the newsletter, just click the following link for direct access:
http://www.westvan60.com/Images/The%20Torch%20Newsletter%20-%20Winter%202010.pdf
 The newsletter is available to any non-member who is interested.  To sign up, please fill in the form at the bottom of the webpage, http://www.westvan60.com/newsletter.html
For those of you who use Twitter, you can follow us, Tweet us and keep up to date with our events.
Follow us: @westvan60 -- Reid Anderson, Branch Secretary
       
+++ WV CHAMBER of COMMERCE + 926 6614 + http://www.westvanchamber.com
Jul 12 - Chamber Breakfast Club 2  --  Delany's Coffee House | Dundarave Village
Jul 19 - Chamber Breakfast Club  --  Cafe TrafiQ, Ambleside

===  CULTUREWATCH  ===
*  THEATRE
+  BARD ON THE BEACH http://www.bardonthebeach.org/ June 2nd to Sept 24
As You Like It
Great acting by Lois Anderson, on stage nearly the whole time; and
The Merchant of Venice
a difficult play, an excellent production; even with humour: John Murphy and Ryan Beil :-)
Henry VI, Wars of the Roses
opened Wed July 6, a complicated story of royal intrigue clarified by the performance 
Richard III opens Saturday July 16.
       Tix: book online or call Box Office M-F 9am to 4pm, 739 0559; reserved seating this year.
+  ARTS CLUB   687 1644  http://www.artsclub.com/shows/index.htm
   -  Revue Stage on Granville Island -- Mom's the Word: Remixed; now playing to July 23
   -  Granville Island Stage -- A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline, to July 30
+ Metro Theatre 266 7191  Harvey by Mary Chase; June 18 to July 16
* ART
+ VANCOUVER ART GALLERY
    Calendar of Events: http://www.vanartgallery.bc.ca/events_and_programs/calendar_of_events.html
~ VAG PUBLIC PROGRAMS  --  All Programs free for Members.
Current exhibition: "The Colour of my Dreams".........
~  Out for Lunch -- Eine Kleine Lunch Musik  Select Fridays, 12:10 - 1pm
* MUSIC
+  Vancouver Symphony Orchestra  876 3434
                  Many to choose from, pls go to the VSO website: http://www.vancouversymphony.ca/ 
 + EARLY MUSIC VANCOUVER --  40th Anniversary Season --  http://www.earlymusic.bc.ca
Early Music Vancouver  T: 732-1610  F: 732-1602  E: staff@earlymusic.bc.ca Summer Festival tix on sale

===  COUNCIL MTG NOTES Monday July 4th  ===
REGULAR COUNCIL Meeting
6pm in M HALL MAIN FLOOR CONFERENCE ROOM; 7pm in COUNCIL CHAMBER
(PUBLIC HEARING at 7pm in CHAMBER, FOLLOWED BY REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING)
6:00 PM
1.  CALL TO ORDER OPEN SESSION
2.  EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC
THAT in the public interest, mbrs of the public be excluded under the following section of the Cmnty Charter:
90. (1) A part of a ccl mtg may be closed if the subject matter being considered relates to or is one or more of the following:
d.  the security of the property of the municipality;
e.  the acquisition, disposition or expropriation of land or improvements, if the council considers that disclosure could reasonably be expected to harm the interests of the municipality; and
k.  negotiations and related discussions respecting the proposed provision of a municipal service that are at their preliminary stages and that, in the view of the council, could reasonably be expected to harm the interests of the municipality if they were held in public.
3.  ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION  Council will then proceed with the closed session.
At 7pm the PH re Zoning Amendment Bylaw will be held. The open session of the Ccl mtg will reconvene immediately following the conclusion of the PH.
PUBLIC HEARING NOTES MUNICIPAL HALL COUNCIL CHAMBER
7:00 PM
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. PUBLIC HEARING
Zoning Bylaw No. 4662, 2010, Amendment Bylaw No. 4679, 2011 (File:  1610-20-4679)
The Director of Planning, Lands and Permits will describe the subject application.
Applicant: The District of West Vancouver
Affected Lands: All lands in West Vancouver
Purpose: To introduce various housekeeping amendments to Zoning Bylaw No. 4662, 2010.
Proposed Zoning Bylaw Amendment: The proposed amendments are technical and do not create new "policy" directions. In general terms, the proposed amendments correct minor formatting issues, text, and metric conversions and clarify regulations and language.
3. PUBLIC HEARING PROCEDURE [described]
4. REPORTS/WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS
1) Reports received up to June 30, 2011:
  TITLE  /  DATE  /  DATE FOR CONSIDERATION  /  NO.
 Housekeeping Amendments to Zoning Bylaw No. 4662, 2010 / June 9 / June 20 and July 4 /  R-1
2) Written submissions received up to June 30, 2011:
  AUTHOR  /  DATE  /  DATE FOR CONSIDERATION  /  NO.  --  None to date.
On June 20, Council set the date for the Public Hearing. The statutory notice of PH was published in the NSN on June 26 and June 29. The M Clerk will note written submissions received for the July 4 PH.
Sokol: January, Ccl adopted new zoning bylaw and alerted may be revised after use.
Minor changes from the past five months.
Sop: Under the new zoning wd there ever be the ability for land assembly on any given street for a devpr to come to Ccl wch wd alter its character? nbrhd, multi-fam
Sokol: if area zoned sgl-fam, cd come but wd need a PH for rezoning
Sop: so cd come where not covenant?
Sokol: wd need rezoning and probably OCP amendment
right to assemble land whether old or new zoning bylaw
has not been changed
Mayor: bylaw not changing that; hardly comes under housekeeping amendments wch is what this bylaw is about.
Sop: well, it's full of word changes and everything else
I'm asking a v simple question.  My goodness.
The second question is--
Mayor: it's a v simple answer
Sop: no, but it wasn't b/c my determination, my experience is, what is coming to Ccl and, is the fact that land assembly in the future, is going to be a positioning when we're looking at alternate housing forms.  If we're looking at alternate housing forms, my position has been, and I think that it has to be clarified, that staff make recommendations to Ccl outside the OCP of a plan that designates areas.
is the designation throughout this entire cmnty?  and will we see nine houses on three small lots in future?  that's my question
so I'm asking through the zoning if applicable and guess I'm hearing that it is.
Second, can an applicant in a duplex make application for a secondary suite if they follow the rules?
Mayor: may I suggest that these questions are not the subject of a PH and it's quite confusing.
What we're trying to do is convene a PH for public input.
If, when we return this for second reading, these are questions that perhaps these amendments lead you to, and I think that's fine
but you're making some statements that many mbrs of Ccl may wish to debate you around the appropriateness of, or the content of.
Sop: I have no prob debating this.  I wanted to just clarify that when we make these zoning changes -- as we've had this presented to us before -- now there's some housekeeping wch opens the door to talk about it, and asking if in fact one can do a land assembly anywhere in this cmnty other than those controlled by covenant.
and the answer is yes, they can
Mayor: wch is nothing to do with the housekeeping amendments that we're trying to have a PH about, I wd think.  Is that correct, Mr Sokol?
Sokol: yes, that's correct.
Mayor: all right.  Now I'll ask to hear from the public.
5. PUBLIC INPUT
{someone wanting to speak about GLH in Correspondence; Mayor says that wd be at PQP.
Mayor called three times and there was no one.}
6. CLOSURE OR ADJOURNMENT OF PUBLIC HEARING
Ev moved: THAT all written and verbal submissions ... be received and that the PH be closed
PASSES
Mayor: when next?
Sokol: second and third readings at next ccl mtg
Council Members are not permitted to receive further submissions once the Public Hearing is closed.
Following conclusion of the Public Hearing, the following items will be considered:
4.  RECONVENE OPEN SESSION
REGULAR COUNCIL MTG NOTES
5.  APPROVAL OF AGENDA
        amend by withdrawing Item 11 re Fees and Charges re Fire Rescue/Service
6.  ADOPTION OF MINUTES
June 20, 2011 Special Council Meeting; and  June 20, 2011 Regular Council Meeting.
PRESENTATIONS
7. West Vancouver Police Board 2011-2013 Strategic Plan and Mid-Year CompStat (Comparative Statistics) Report (File: 2900-01)  PowerPoint presentation to be provided.
Mayor: pleasure to welcome Chief Lepine and the Strategic Plan
Lepine: on behalf of WVPD, honoured to be here to introduce [it]; thank Ccl and cmnty for their participation.
Feedback to ensure right direction.
balance between cmnty priorities, stakeholder needs, and the WVPD's capacity and skills.
Four goals: [to enhance] public safety, the core function of your Police Dept; to increase cmnty engagement and improve communication, as it integrates us as an integral part of the cmnty as we strive for solutions; to strengthen leadership and governance as we build on our public confidence and cmnty support; [to have] effective resource management as we attempt to move forward in a most innovative way as we lead the way through the most challenging times.
Won't delve into measurables at this time.
Wd encourage citizens to download a copy of the plan from our dept's website (www.wvpd.ca)
if you want a hard copy, contact the dept, wd be happy to send one
work on goals and measurables has already been done
will be presenting our workplans at our next bd mtg, as well as the schedule for communicating outcomes
timelines will also be on the website
regular updates will be provided
a safer and more vibrant cmnty for all; this plan maps out our part
before I hand over to Michelle to do our midyear CompStats, any questions?
Mayor; none?  Michelle
M: plsd to present report for first six months of 2011
compared semi-annual average over past five years; important for trending
1% increase in calls for service; prop crime decrease of 35%; 31% increase in drug offences (later on will describe how our pro-active work is driving these up); injury accidents down 20% and non-injury accidents down 26%
slide of summary: no 1 prop crime is mischief, no 2 is shoplifting, and no 3 is theft
ten commercial B&Es, 27 residential B&Es, ten stolen vehicles, and 90 thefts from vehicles
CHART (slide)
prop crime down shoplifting up 1% -- compared to five-yr average
residential B&Es down 44%, other B&Es down 43%, commercial B&Es decrease 70%; theft of vehicles down 66%, theft from vehicle down 22%, and no 1 prop crime mischief down 54%
Summary of Violent Crime Slide
no 1 assaults, followed by uttering threats; next category mixed {listed them includes extortion and assault of a police officer}
2% increase in assaults, 186% increase in sexual offences (seven cases were historical)
domestic violence is 13% of all violent crime.....
Traffic related this year, no fatal ones this year..........
26 down from 32 of injury collisions; 181 non-injury collisions.....
number of roadblocks and checkstops up 250% {so more drugs caught?}
also catch commuter criminals
impaired driving, IRPs (Immediate Roadside Prohibition) 70 and 99 three-month suspensions,
final slide
Pls visit our website at wvpd.ca
Mayor: Ccl, questions?
Ev: commend you
under prop category, what is the profile of the offenders? is there a trend? some from the riots in Vancouver?
need to be more pro-active?
M: we don't make a lot of arrests when it comes to mischief; mixture of adult and youth; often get report the next morning
wrt the evening of the riot, not sure we can attribute any to what was going on in Vancouver
Lep: last time we did an in-depth review, about two years ago, a signif portion were adults as opposed to youths (windows, broken, ..... graffiti)
education -- damage to schools so info, collaboration with Sch Dist, damage was down; cost to what considered a practical joke
Sop: what %age of shopowners go after shoplifters?
M: I don't know -- the major chains in the mall hire loss prevention ofcrs who are regularly in contact with us but don't have a solid number.
Sop: I have a family mbr involved in loss prevention; in three years he came across hundreds and v few got anything more than don't come back to the store
no penalty; some stores will take action; just wondering why on the increase
Second question
somewhat misleading -- 186% increase in sex crimes in WV; doesn't bode well for tourism or anything else
a bit misleading in how stats presented; wdn't want to see that in the paper tomorrow, an increase in almost 200% in sex crimes!
Mayor: the numbers are small as well
Lepine: thank you for opp to respond to that, latter first
correct, large %age disturbing but we're dealing with smaller numbers
when we come to Ccl we have an opp to better explain why these things happen
Stats Canada will print 186% and leave it blank; hope media will leave the rationale
half, 7 out of 12, were historical events, sometimes decades; victims finally came forward
M: five-yr av for sexual offences is 4.2 so if we took the 7 off we'd be just over the av at 5
Mayor: Ccl, your support for the Police Dept, CompStat and the crime analyst -- important, relevant, helpful tools -- enabled reduce crime, improve safety
WVPD and Bd operate under this legislative, regulatory, policy-driven, and legal decision-making environment that is completely out of our control
also managed new drinking laws, integrated policing; independent investigation ofc and I'm on a sp cmte of the BC Assn of Police Bds on that arising from the Braidwood investigation
world of policing increasingly complex
our independent, locally focused dept has managed to reduce crime at the same time and participate as resp partners in the broader cmnty
thank you for support of the WVPD during the riots; will say more during Reports
our Public Safety team did its best; perhaps not enough but know you were there right from the beginning
[Motion thanking the WV Police Board and Chief Constable Lepine for the presentation]
REPORTS [7:32]
8. Construction Impacts on Neighbours (File: 1603-01/1610-01)
Mayor: in response to a piece of correspondence we had a while back
{Pause for the commercial break; it only took me nine months to get Correspondence back on the ccl mtg agendas....}
Sokol gave background: construction in WV, exacerbated on narrow streets
past two months reviewing and comparing with other Ms ...
Ev: 500 construction sites? how many bldg sites are in progress at any one time
Sokol: new sgl-fam sites, primarily up in Brit Prop or new bldg where house has been demolished probably about 100, loose number
Ev made motion: THAT
1.   Council receive for information the June 20 report from the Dir/Planning and
2.   Council direct staff to complete a review of its bylaws and procedures related to minimizing construction impacts on neighbours and to report back to Council by September 30, 2011 with specific proposals for bylaw amendments.
Ev: take issue with Dir/Planning but you suggested a large number proceed without inconvenience or irritation to nbrs.
I'd somewhat challenge that
it's one of the biggest irritants to nbrs; quiet as a rule and don't protest
some cases construction lasts for months, year, longer .......  noise, dust, xxx ......
I'd categorize as major problem
appalling lack of civil respects for nbrs
two types of construction:
   one, building a house for himself, more inclined to respect nbrhd
   another simply building for profit
and if we were asked if we cd put a building shop/shed? next to us for two years, we'd say no way
spec builder
but concurrent, an accelerated lack of resp for nbrhd
encroachment, disrespect, staff be diligent about comments
Mayor: anything you wish to add that's not here?
{ML laughs}
Mayor: one of the things we've looked at is the time frame; minimal disruption
that's the point you're trying to make
Sokol: we'll certainly do that and look at other Ms re duration
Sop: over the years, this report will be well-received by the public
many of the calls I've received over the years
the length of time, the noise in many cases -- rather than pneumatic drill look at rotary
look at way cars parked diff for emerg vehicles to get through
sometimes protection over drainage, sawdust, mud, sometimes two years and that's what nbrs look at ev day
timely, v serious, ... xxxx
Mayor: see the benefits of writing to Ccl!
Sop: but nothing came to a head
Mayor: ...
Sop: then let's take the noise bylaw.  And blasting? were fines given?
now we're getting down to some smart moves
ML: think this is v timely; number of permits up
the housing stock is starting to age so renos, knockdowns
three areas articulated to me 7:41
if two or three houses, you can't get through, garbage trucks, huge concern on my street; emerg too
certain expectation of civility
too often that line has been crossed on the wrong side
MS: the need for this can't be demonstrated any more clearly than when 21st closed; had to go over to Queens
blocked pouring concrete 21st and Queens
wonder why you wdn't have to get a permit to close for the day; Chief here
second part, as Sop has said, this has been around as long as I've been on Ccl, not just noise but what about impact on new nbrhds
follow existing footprint
these things we promise at ev election
if start on noise, nd parking, phase two what impact on nbrhd is -- house built in a diff place, impacts ev views
dig into and xxx
Mayor: interesting this arose through the Housing Dialogue
make more nbrly; maybe way to power it more xxxx
Sokol: will bring in September this and maybe more
continue and our work on nbrhd character
[7:46]
9. 2011 [Five-]Year Financial Plan Budget Amendment Bylaw No. 4693, 2011 (File:  1610-20-4693)
 2011 [Five-]Year Financial Plan Budget Amendment Bylaw No. 4693, 2011 (File:  1610-20-4693)
See: http://www.westvancouver.ca/uploadedFiles/Your_Government/Agendas_and_Minutes/2011/July/11jul4-9.PDF
{NB: this memo/report from Nina Leemhuis is not shown as from NL, Director of Finance, rather from the "Chief Financial Officer".
Will this go further? the M Mgr is now called the CAO and the Dir/Fin now CFO?
think I heard the Mayor is the CEO.}
NL: the purpose of this report and bylaw is to recog changes
changes in revenues and expenses
one of the changes is a reallocation of funds from one xxx to another
from roundabout 21st and Queens to intersection at MDr and Keith {HBay}
the second change refers to Amb Revit, $3.1M budget devpd by the Director of the Amr Revit Comm;

{but but but but but -- the Director has resigned!!!}

been reviewed by Commission, Fin Cmte, Ccl, xxx [7:48]

{almost 100% out of public's eyes..........}

professional expertise and xxxx
budget on a monthly basis will be brought forward
xxx,  transparent
ML: wd be imp if you wd articulate where that money is coming from
NL: in the early stages, $3.1M from sale of surplus lands: Ottawa, Firehall, certain defined

{firehall references re sale is the prop in HBay, made into three lots; been for sale for some time}

ML: lane-ends?
don't want public to understand fire hall, prop down to xxx
NL: absolutely
all will be brought forward to Amb Revit, Fin Cmte, and Ccl

{after the fact or before for approval?  and then to public at what stage?}

Sop: one question wrt AmbNOW
divided into sections; one, sale of M lands
if we look at the cost of the PSB, agree architect to go ahead and give size and cost of bldg
if we're not going to move until 2015, wdn't it be prudent not to do anything with the lands over here
shortfall???  don't know size of it yet
how much we're going to need in the shortfall
ask not go through with any cost any lands around here until we finalize how much bldg will cost -- if we're looking three or four years from now
NL: we certainly are going to be doing this in a phased and thoughtful approach
determine the size of the bldg
will bring forth all of the options; sale of M lands is one of the options
.... Cclr Sop expressed concern about
Sop: wd it be open and transparent to the public other than a ccl mtg?
Mayor: to what?
Sop: PSB; public process wrt to lands around here -- public process!
Mayor: absolutely, or Nina; this is v broad
Sop: it's a moving
Mayor: why we want to approve this is xxx.....
Sop: there are other questions
NL: at least on a monthly basis bringing forward  xxxx
to commission, Fin Cmte, Ccl ... public process
MS: have a question on Ms Leemhuis's report
wrt Marine Dr and Keith Dr .... went through [7:55]
$150K b/c not spending it somewhere else -- why?
not spending in location A, spending in location B
Mayor: refer to Mr Fung
RF: District has a School Safety Cmte; interface wrt improving traffic safety around schools
when this was first identified, seemed to have the interest of school and cmnty, four-way stop at that location
also b/c the Ministry decided to redecking
besides funds to Gleneagles overpass
Ministry had opp to take advantage of synergies to improve the intersection
public consultation, favoured by the cmnty was a roundabout design
soln???
do that work on heels of Min's redecking proj
21st & Queens, part of 2011 Cap Facilities Fund
so we cd construct this improvement
so that nbr not inconvenienced a second time in about a year's time
unusual situation; asking Ccl to reallocate to take advantage
Mayor: believe this was discussed at the FinCmte, so that's why it's in front of us now
MS: I'll move to my second question
don't understand why we're not stating we're going take this money from the Endowment Fund rather than, or use our Capital Facilities Reserve Fund wch is designed for this type of expenditure
don't know how you can plan on raising money selling those HBay firehall lots, bn for sale for six years
proper flow, all land sales are supposed to go into the End Fund, and from EFund, Ccl can decide where they want to spend the money
why are we not clearly stating that we're going to--, I wd like to see this transferred from End Fund to Cap Fac Res Fund and spend money as Ccl determines for the PSB
Mayor: so you're satisfied with answer to Q 2, on reallocating money from 21st to Gleneagles, to finish
MS: finished and moved on
Mayor: wanted to make sure; this is first part of the motion
MS: we're going to take money from sale of lands, specifically targeting this project and what it shd be, IMO, shd be coming open, clean, straight from EFund to Cap Fac R Fund, and then we shd be spending the money, rather than creating this special Land Stewardship Fund or whatever we're doing
{but but but they referred to the LSF in January with $950K but wdn't say where the money came from or what it was for!}
Mayor: that also came up at the FinCmte mtg.  Ms L
NL: the last part of the question
The LSF account was set up as a mechanism just to track revenues and expenditures related to the AmbNOW project and other devt projects that the District may undertake.
{why was this simple answer not given in January???  I asked then, was first told probably better to be answered at the next mtg (see the transcript of that ccl mtg in Jan), and then no reply received. This certainly is most interesting to hear so I'll have to ask why the secrecy till now.}
That is purely an accounting function that just keeps track of those transactions so that it does not muddy the EFund with hundreds of transactions potentially that cd go through it
Ultimately what you're suggesting is exactly what we're doing.  All proceeds from land sales do need to go directly into the EFund and from there they fund the expenditures that relate to, in this particular case, AmbNOW.
The only reason we brought forward the sale of Ottawa and HBay firehall lots and other land-ends {think she means lane-ends} is just as a source of funds going into the EFund to clearly identify we aren't using funds that have been sitting there for a period of time but they have been targeted for the AmbNOW proj, but clearly do flow through the EFund.
Mayor: more questions?
MS: I just want to clarify one comment
as the public can clearly hear, I was not at the last Fin Cmte mtg
{Mayor laughs}
to make sure the record is crystal clear, I schedule my out-of-town commitments and my biz commitments around scheduled Ccl and FinCmte mtgs, of wch I think I've only missed one this year.
I planned my trip based on the fact there was a Fin Cmte mtg scheduled for June 13, so I cancelled my trip and went after the last ccl mtg on the 20th, only to find out that the June 13 mtg was cancelled and rescheduled for the 27th, so that is why I was not in attendance at the June 27 Fin Cmte mtg.
Mayor: you'll be pleased that we're all on the same page; we realize not all seven can be there all the time.  I don't want to get into a debate yet.
there's someone waiting to speak, uh Ms L?
ML: motion
Mayor: she's not part of the debate, she's helping us
will come back to you then?
ML: I'm ready for the motion
Mayor: one mbr of the public wishing to speak
Garrett Polman: {TEXT SUPPLIED, check against delivery; my bolding}
Early this year the vision of AmblesideNOW was that the sale of municipal land would pay for a Public Safety Building plus various amenities for arts and culture.  A press release of January 26th stated, "AmblesideNOW can all be realized with no burden to the taxpayer."  I thought this was an innovative approach, but I was curious how this would be achieved as no estimates were provided of either the revenues or the construction costs.  That seemed like going to your bank and say, "You know, I have this great idea.  It'll take me a few years to figure out my revenues, and I'll need more time to finesse my costs, but in the meantime, why don't you give me a loan."  Promising this project would be "expense neutral" inherently has risks.  First, the tendency of our community to oppose high density often results in such projects being scaled back.  In this case that means lower revenues.  Secondly, putting Police and Fire in the same building creates logistical complexities, and so a common building is a sure recipe for escalating costs.
In June the risks started showing.  On June 6th the AmblesideNOW Revitalization Commission estimated construction costs would be just under $37 million.   On June 17th, a mere 11 days later, the NSNews  reported costs had escalated to between $50 and $65 million.  I'm told that since then there's even an estimate of $70 million and that consideration is on the table of funding the project through debt. 
By now I was really curious, and here are some questions:
1.      What happened to the promised vision a mere six months ago of "no burden to the taxpayer"? 
2.      With cost estimates continuing to escalate do we really have a good handle on this project? 
3.      Is it prudent to proceed when revenues depend on densification, an inherently controversial issue that is by no means assured of public support?  What if the revenues turn out to be not enough? 
4.      What is the rationale for a public safety building?  Yes, it may withstand a medium level earthquake, but is it prudent to put all our eggs in one basket?  Should an earthquake destroy the building, we'll have neither police protection nor a fire department.  [B/c of having] lived in Japan for 12 years I know the BC building code does not meet Japanese earthquake building standards.
5.      What is the business case for a single public safety building rather than two separate buildings?  Was Council informed of the stand-alone costs of police stations and fire halls?  Prince George is currently building a state of the art police station with various forensic facilities, at $600 a sq. ft.  That would suggest a cost of $15 to $18 million for West Vancouver.  And just in April Port Moody approved a new 28,000 sq. ft. fire hall with four bays, probably larger than what we're looking at, for between $12 to $16 million.  That adds up to a range of $27 to $34 million, well below the estimates for the West Van public safety building.
It doesn't looks like AmblesideNOW is going to be "expense neutral".  The project is no doubt the delight of consultants but what if the residents say stop putting the cart before the horse, we want you to apply sound project management, develop the options, the revenue and cost scenarios and put them on the table for public debate.  And while you wait for an answer from the taxpayer, is it really prudent to spend $3 million?    
I thank you for the opportunity.
Mayor: thank you for the questions; let's put the motion on the floor and see.........
ML moved: be read a first, second, and third time.
wd like to know some of those answers
to be clear, all land sales, lane ends,  ???????  xxxx, ......
this is v early in the process and we keep talking about the SALE of land; the District has a good record of leasing lands -- Pacific Arbour and south of TWay; need to be careful about that; infers a decision has been made when analysis hasn't
I'll await Ms Leemhuis's answers to Mr Polman's questions
Sop: I'll wait for those answers before questions, as a good cclr shd
Mayor: we're here to debate the budget, I'm happy to go first if you don't want to
Sop: ladies first
Mayor: the reason for debating this is to get to the tough questions we got tonight and asking ourselves
no doubt AmbNow ambitious
Ccl serious about returning it to some vibrancy; ... some housing needs; our PSB for Police is inadequate, becomes even a recruitment issue, looking at bringing it up to standards compared with costs of new one
don't know if best to put together, but again we have a fire hall that needs upgrading probably for as long as I've been on Ccl
budget will give us a way; provide info to public
besides, BSC, FinCmte we've been asked to look at land base; land doing nothing; maximize waterfront or PSB
these are big questions; absolutely intend to manage each soundly
need to assess pieces of the puzzle tonight
quite a bit of energy around the cmnty to get this one
not wishing to push too hard, but to take resp for the village, for public safety, and for housing, and for the long-term stability of the cmnty -- that's why I'm supporting this budget
for sure, the most transparent process of any Ccl
        {and that was said with a straight face!}
welcome for the public to be with us every step of the otherwise we won't get there
{only four AmbNOW cmte mtgs this year on the Calendar; you can bet your sweet bippie that there have been more than four mtgs/workshops/ccl discussions...........}
Ms L, have you anything more about transparency, accountability, and Ccl's decision-making
NL: appreciate the ability for us to be as transparent as possible
wrt Mr Polman's questions, be happy to respond at next ccl mtg or by email
the process we're following allows lots of input from the public, it's a v thoughtful process [8:14]  we're engaging with lots of experts and lots of expertise, not only construction but also functional programming
I'm excited about the project, about the questions
Mayor: Cclr Sm
Sop: I thought I was next, right after you.  I let you go first
Mayor: I thought you were waiting for answers to the questions
Sop: I--
MS interjects: --age before beauty yet again
        {similar comment was made earlier; so laughter}
Sop: Insertion today was AmbNOW and the $150K
also in the Consent Agenda is AmbNOW so wd rather talk about it now [See Item 15.2 below]
curious, p 201, on Consent Agenda, all about AmbNOW
says surplus lands -- are those the lands surrounding M Hall
NL: correct, Fulton precinct
Sop: rather than $459K now hold off on that b/c three, four, years to get to that decision
Tell me why we paid $56K for urban art? what is that? cost to date, 75% of the budget for that
NL: one of the components to the AmbNow and Revit is the arts facilities strategy
consultant been meeting with many cmnty mbrs and been doing a lot of investigation and consultation as it relates to the arts and how the facilities for the arts will be intertwined with the AmbNOW project

{my ears pricked up at this! art? we don't even know what bldg will look like! usu a decision later, no?
is it about public art or is it about having an arts facility, the Ctr of Modern Art that's been bruited about?}

Sop: so after consulting that's not the only process, that a consultant will go out and do a few surveys
that's not going to be a public process, I take it; that's fine
budget itself, v limited growth in last five years
hoping to be supportive of Ms Leemhuis
have seen in past and will see tremendous increase in Metro costs
have seen a decrease in salaries to many ppl in this cmnty; many finding it v v difficult to pay $12 - $15K tax bill ev year; only out is to defer taxes; at this rate to 2020; diff ability to pay
limited land, supply and demand
comeback is if you're living in a $1 - 2M home, if you can't afford it, what shd you do, buzz off?
Mayor: is this going to come back to the budget for AmbNOW for 2011?
Sop: I was referring to the five-yr plan itself
Mayor: Well, the motion on the floor is that
Sop: is wch?
Mayor: to approve the 2011 budget for AmbNOW and the $150K for the roundabout at Gleneagles
Sop: well I got over the AmbNOW, I'm just commenting on the budget itself, b/c you brought that in and you opened the door of the five-yr budget
Mayor: it's not really a courtroom
{laughter}
I hope.  Can I come back to you after Ccl Reports?
Sop: No, b/c I'll lose my train of thought, I just want to comment
Mayor: well, I'm in charge of keeping the train of thought going in one direction
Sop: I wd like to comment on the basis of this alarming escalation of Metro wch I know you've worked hard on
Mayor: at the Reports, I will remember that.
MS: good points by Mr Polman; echoed really all over the cmnty
need to keep control of what we're doing here; we run the risk of too many projects happening simultaneously; to some degree we have to keep them separate
yes, we need a new Police bldg; yes, we need to redevp the 1300block and create some housing there; it's a question of how we do it and how we sell what we're doing to the cmnty so they accept it

{sell it? IOW fait accompli! not out to cmnty for input and ideas!}

putting your marketing hat on, right now we're asking the cmnty to finance $3.1M for things like $40K for collateral material, $203K for contingency, and we're not able even at this point to justify the $3.1M to explain the benefits of merging Pol and Fire vs making sure the roofs on the four existing firehalls don't collapse so we have four halls in the event of an earthquake
all of these questions being asked and we don't have any answers
don't know how we can approve a $3.1M budget when we can't look taxpayers in the eye and give them the answers to these questions
at least tell them how we're going to get the answers
I think possibly what we shd do is pass a motion that we're going to review this on Sept 30

{so they know they've got to make sure it's spent by then or it might get cut or modified?}

and look at what we've spent and look at the information that we have, and then we can advance add'l funds as we deem necessary
just to approve this $3.1M with the current facts on the table -- I don't think is responsible; I think it's irresponsible -- we don't have enough info

{this will have to be clarified, hard to understand.  Can see he may have changed his view from the earlier mtgs, but these are serious concerns being expressed here -- so why was the vote unanimous at the end???}

I don't see why need to spend $3.1M to get enough information to make some basic decisions like whether or not it makes sense to merge Pol & Fire, and whether it's nec to spend $60 or 70M on a new Police/Fire bldg -- seems by anyone's standards, an exorbitant amt of money
my alarm bells are ringing here b/c I think haste makes waste
and we shd by all means proceed with the projects but do it in a v cautious and careful manner, making sure we're not wasting the taxpayers' dollars.
Ev: like to focus back on the issue
app comments by Mr Polman
if I were to sit down with him I feel confident and competent to answer most of his questions

[Puzzling.  Hanging on the edge of our seats with breathless anticipation to hear the answers to some, even one, of Mr Polman's five questions -- but, no joy, alas.
Why doesn't he tell us?  a great opportunity!  we're all listening........}

through Fin Cmt, Ccl, endless weeks, debate, staff have presented us, like a smorgasbord, punctuated constantly by let's go to the next step
the $3.1M is not a carte blanche approval for staff to go out and spend this sum of money tomorrow or this day, or the next day
been clearly set out that to move forward we need to gain add'l info and background so we can make those next steps
concurrently with those next steps will be a commitment to spend money wch is nec
We are not being asked to approve the total sum to be spent within the next few weeks

{not only appears that way, impression that it was approved at last ccl mtg!}

it will be staged and if at any stage Ccl is not comfortable, we will be put in the position where we can halt, can take advantage of options staff will be presenting to us
SW: I completely agree with what Ev said
we've gone through this step by step by step
had this discussion about this budget in the FinCmte and the last ccl mtg where we did question the total amt b/c it's a lot of money to be spent in the next six months and it won't be spent
esp b/c of where we are in the process
we won't have the answers to Mr Polman's questions unless we go through the process and have the experts come in and do the functional programming and establish what it is we need

{excuse me, does this mean not knowing yet what we need but talking about $70M, etc?}

questions being raised are valid, need to keep this moving forward, otherwise another Ccl will be here in ten years, and Ambleside will still look like it does and the Police stn will be falling down

{the Chicken Little argument}

incumbent on us b/c we have approved ev step of the way and staff has been completely transparent with us, that we continue to move forward and see this through
TP: want to -- trying to recall amt we've already spent in 2010
already spent a fair amt of public money getting to this point and this is the next phase
we've all agreed, voted in support of this to this point, and we also did approve it June 16
important questions in front of us; absolutely no question about it
but I feel comfortable that we are being cautious in this process
trying to refresh my memory -- I think we actually approved of establishing the stewardship fund as a Ccl and were open about that

{ooooooo! gasp, choke, sputter!
approved the LSF when in January at least half the Ccl I asked had no idea what it was?  First discussion about it tonight when told an answer wd be given then at the next ccl mtg.
Dear Readers, there may be many who don't remember or recall timelines, etc, that's natural.
Fortunately you just need to look at transcripts from WVMs and you can see what was said and what was not.
Those watching/listening who have no WVMs (but they can be accessed at www.westvan.org) wd probably believe these claims.}

but there's been some thoughts on how that works, making sure that it is transparent as possible
imp all of the lands, public, do go into the End Fund, and the Stewardship Fund is simply an opportunity for us to be v forthright how that money is moving
curious we didn't have more of this discussion when we approved this on June 6, but I appreciate the questions and I think it just speaks to the rigour this Ccl is using in order to come up with a thoughtful cautious way forward
reality, have a Police bldg that needs to be replaced
actually v innovative exploring Pol & Fire together
it is a bit challenging but in WV we do lead on many issues, here we're leading again.
don't think we've changed in the vision there were to be no burden to taxpayer is the goal, having changed

{several have mentioned the aim not to be a burden to the taxpayer.
Two responses.
Their view appears to be in the short term, not the long term (loss of land assets).
Disappointed decision made without cmnty engagement, not to mention input, openness, transparency, consultation, etc.}

clarification on some of the numbers for a Police bldg, Mr Polman, don't really think the numbers for the Pol stn have changed, as far as I'm concerned.  Sometimes there's misinformation out there and it may be worthwhile clarifying that point b/c I think we can answer that

{unaware of numbers bandied about from $20M to $50M in NSN and even $65M, and latest $70M?  Even fact there are rumours or uncertainty about the final amt highlights lack of information given to cmnty.}

CAO: don't think any of the questions raised are not questions we haven't asked ourselves

{but didn't give Ccl/us/cmnty the answers???}

Ccl took the position to go forward with Police bldg and also made the decision probably not in the best interests of the public to have sgl-use bldgs any more

{those decisions were NOT made in public, not at Ccl and not at a WVPD board mtg.}

the direction was that we wd investigate sharing the bldg of Pol & Fire
sensitivity, immediate cap costs and operating over next 50 to 60 years
what this budget allows Ccl and the public to learn is what it's going to cost to move forward not only neg of 1300 block but also what it will cost to have a PSB both combined but also individually
look at all the questions raised tonight, same we're asking ourselves

{if so, why not give us the answers???}

we're bringing in the experts right now;

{have taxpayers been told what they say?   the options or the reasons for (recommended) choices?  btw, not all experts agree.
In a democracy the ppl sort of like to think they can be involved in the decision-making even if in a modest way -- not faced with surprises and faits accomplis.}

Ccl remembers the costs we're talking about are order-of-magnitude dollars

{er, um -- order of magnitude is a factor of 10! cd it be ten times more than the estimate???}

what we're doing now, this budget whether spent over the next months, Ccl has its finger on the pulse at least three times a month.  It'll go through the Commission, Fin Cmte, come to Ccl
will be under a magnifying glass, how your dollars being spent
also be advised what moving forward with

{advised? so after the fact?}

completing functional review of PSB, also looking at what new Pol bldg wd require
to compare WV construction costs and land values with Pr Geo or Pt Moody is unreasonable.  We're talking about v valuable land here in WV,

{pardon?
but Polman wasn't talking about land costs!!!  So that's not the point. The CAO said construction costs wch surely wdn't vary that much from Port Moody.
Why bring up land?
to distract? b/c of course there is difference there.}

and the idea of going underground, so we're going to undertake that review and see how much that wd cost, and put in a fire component into that
wd be doing some ground-proofing if we pulled it out
if we did not sell or long-term lease the lands where the firehall is then start looking at amortization costs over next 50 years
information undertaking now and that was the whole purpose of approving this $3.1M
as we go along and mbrs of Ccl ask, we're going to continue to answer those questions to the satisfaction of Ccl b/c you're the final arbitrators

{and continue not to make them public?
Come to think of it, however, why not think of the questions ahead of time instead of waiting for citizens (or Ccl) to ask and provide all the info/answers?}

we also have v experienced and professional group of advisers through the Commission

{yes.  One, a devpr who wanted an upzoning saying the prop was not for sale and a resident pointed out it was; another on a body apparently unaware of its financial/budgeting decisions, ......
And have heard the $145/hr Director has resigned...... no news about replacement}

also advising us on this and guiding us forward
Ccl is right asking these questions, and the consultants
weekly almost, bringing information to Ccl

{hm.  It sounds as if weekly is something that will be done rather than has been done.
If done, why so many questions?
Where's the list of decisions made?
Why are we mushrooms?}

this is a big project but intertwined

{maybe too big?}

can't move forward on 1300 block, the east portion, unless we move the Police Bldg and Ccl said wanted to move it to this block

{so Ccl has already made this decision??? irrevocable?
no public input or discussion?
Police don't need downtown storefront office.  Have they considered putting it just above the Upper Levels where the M Cypress worksyard is?
And, isn't there more space there?  Police rarely parked at the police stn but if they are, convenient to get onto the Upper Levels in seconds and go wherever.  In any case, police usually stationed throughout the cmnty.}

Moving Pol bldg is fundamental to this; Ccl said wanted to move to this site.  All intertwined; all will be answered to the satisfaction of Ccl.

{will be? in the fullness of time no doubt, but what about final decisions made?}

Sop: am I in line now?
Mayor: yes
Sop: sensational
Mayor: second time
Sop: Mayor, Cclr Panz, figs were bandied about, exactly what Mr Polman stated
no doubt a v positive thought process that we cd build a new PSB and cd do it on land we already owned
sustainable, so wdn't go off and put it somewhere wd cost extra land values
attractive, along with AmbNOW to put some spirit, looked at an outfit coming in
b/c a sliding scenario, I can't accept without some concrete facts
when approached by citizens saying what kind of goof are you
for allowing something with a sliding scale
look at surplus lands, put that out in the pasture for a little bit, and look at what we're faced with
we'll soon know size and cost and how much we'll get for our old bldg and what's the difference
If diff is X, then we're going to have to fund it
we had conversations around this Ccl table, we were going to see our End Fund grow and grow, to $50M beyond
It's at $30M+ now
Are we going to go back and use the End Fund up?  We got chastised by some mbrs of this Ccl for using some for the Cmnty Ctr
Facts I look for: the cost of the bldg, size, how it's going to be paid for
We haven't even examined borrowing, whether that be a good alternative
set the ball rolling; where we're going to get our strong msg from, the sooner the better
I follow Cclr Smith, want all these answers, don't want a quick fix
know the loud msg we're sending is we're going to have a v transparent and open public process on each one of these steps.  I'm assured that, am I not?

{Well, m'dear, has that happened to date?  some indication of how it will be?  or a change?}

Mayor: You are.
Sop: thank you
Mayor: I'm going to speak up for taking resp for doing our homework and putting it in front of the public
I wd appreciate that, if all mbrs of Ccl when they're at a prev ccl mtg or at a FinCmte mtg or an AmbRevitComm mtg approving this wd raise their concerns every step of the way, b/c it is irresponsible to change the point of view,

{hm -- rather strong and someone attending said to me reprehensible.
of course ppl can change their minds. 
When something comes to Ccl and more information and other perspectives are introduced, it is natural and reasonable to change one's view.
Is it democratic values to insist someone not change his POV and/or to intimidate one from contemplating to do so?}

wch at the moment is that we've got to do this homework and we've got to put it in the hands of the public
b/c what we're trying to do from the beginning is lay the groundwork for the future of WV
this really is the next 20 yrs of planning; it is on many levels
We know it's challenging
what is not challenging is to sit on the sidelines and accept the status quo and watch the Pol stn crumble around your ears

{my, Chicken Little is busy tonight.}

 and ask the RCMP to run our communications for three and a half weeks.
Nobody missed a glitch, but we can't actually function that way
similarly to watch 30 years of planning for Amb and Ccl after Ccl saying they're going to tackle it
this is the Ccl that is starting and is going to pass the torch with confidence to the next one and the one after that
that's what this $3M is going to get us to, and that's when the real debate come wrt scale and scope of a PSB or redevt in Amb
some of the range of the PSB is how it integrates with this heritage bldg, wch Ccl has made a commitment to preserve.  It has a special spot in WV and the region for what it represents
we cd have many cmnties {????? I listened three times and that's the word}, Surrey's on its second city hall in as many years practically.  We don't think that wd fit with this cmnty.  We think this makes an important statement about who we are.
so there will be a variance
{much laughter}
[in due course?] and how that integrates with the PSB, and that cd be as much as $10 - $13M add'l expense or we cd say not nec this ccl chamber's just fine
lots of good questions
Ccl, I really encourage us to stick together to get to the point where we can say to the cmnty, here's our options
MS: I'm not going to let that remark about being irresponsible pass without comment
Mayor: I cdn't let you do that either
MS: I don't think it's a fair comment
I've asked questions on the Amb Comm, in FinCmte mtgs, and in this ccl chamber; the same, similar questions: how are we going to decide the size of this bldg, how are we going to determine the benefits of merging the Pol/Fire; all legitimate questions
I keep hearing the same answer that this info is coming
Now we're going to hire a consultant to give us the info
Well, a consultant, I know from 42 years in biz, the first rule of a consultant: tells a customer what he wants to hear
So the consultant is going to tell us how big we think the Pol bldg shd be, whether we think it shd include the Fire Dept, and that's probably what the recommendation is going to be
am I not entitled to use my brain once in a while?
I do support a new Pol bldg and I do support redevping the 1300block when I still don't see answers to questions to stick my hand up and say what is the process we're going to follow
I hear from other ccl mbrs don't nec have to spend this $3.1M; I totally accept that but what is the process?
at some point in time, say spend $1.7m but not the add'l $1.4M?
show me the process and I'll support it,
        {ooo, maybe a bit hasty -- give yourself the option to vote against what is or isn't approved.}
but I don't see any process
I am not going to accept a remark that I am irresponsible. I don't think I am irresponsible.
I take my responsibility, protecting the taxpayers' pocket; this is my 14th year in public ofc and I take the responsibility v seriously and I'm not going to accept that I'm being irresponsible.
Mayor: so the first three approvals of this budget were not approvals on your part?
but amending the budget itself is where this comes up, not the outcomes of all of the research -- wch I totally agree with you, you've bn asking the same questions as have we all
MS: I'll let it go at that
Mayor: I do think AmbNow Revit Comm and the Fin Cmte are avenues where we take approvals seriously, so if that wasn't the intent, I must have misunderstood the unanimous votes at those times.
{snap. ouch!}
I'm going to call the question on the motion then, wch is to amend the budget in accordance with the recommendations of this Ccl's FinCmte and AmbRevitComm
PASSED -- and they all voted for it!
        {It doesn't say above but the memo says first, second, and third reading.}
[8:41]
10. Firearm Regulation Bylaw No. 4686, 2011 (File:  1605-01/1610-20-4686)
MOVED and CARRIED:
1.   The report dated June 13 from the Mgr, Bylaw and Licensing Services be received for information; and  2.   be read a first, second, and third time.
MS: to control pellet guns and my kudos to the citizen who brought this forward

WITHDRAWN:
11. Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 4414, 2005, Amendment Bylaw No. 4675, 2011, Schedule 7 - Fire and Rescue Permits and Services (File:  1610-20-4675/2730-02)
                RECOMMENDED: be read a first, second, and third time.
BYLAWS
12. Water Utility Loan Authorization Bylaw No. 4691, 2011 (File:  1610-20-4691)
Mayor: all at once?
SSch: yes
Sop moved: THAT
1. Third reading be rescinded;
2. be amended by deleting Part 3 and renumbering the remaining parts accordingly; and
3. be read a third time as amended.
CARRIED
13. Proposed Official Community Plan Amendment for Block Bounded by Esquimalt Avenue, 20th Street, Fulton Avenue, and 21st Street; and Rezoning and Development Permit for 2031, 2047 and 2063 Esquimalt Avenue
(File:  1010-20-08-041/1610-20-4619/4678)
These amendment bylaws received first reading at the April 18 Ccl Mtg, were the subject of the Public Hearing/Public Meeting held and adjourned on May 16, and a Reconvened PH/PMtg held and closed on June 6 and received second and third readings at the June 6 Ccl Mtg.
Ccl is not permitted to receive any further submissions on these amendment bylaws.
{NB: This is in reply to the letter wrt Public Hearing Rules wch appears at the beginning of the newsletter.}
Mayor:  As this is a closed PH, I can't entertain any public comment, and it's for adoption so we don't generally debate at adoption either, but I did want to comment.
We have had questions about the process wch we have looked into.
Ccl takes public hearing processes v seriously obviously.
We've examined the transcripts and I want to assure the public that the public input and the public debate corresponds entirely with our policy, and our standards.
Both Cclr Panz and Cclr Walker made comments referring to their own work in understanding public opinion prior to the close of the PH, wch is exactly what the public expects of us all.
So with that I'll ask Cclr Walker to make the motion.
SW moved: THAT
           1. OCP Bylaw be adopted;  2. Zoning Bylaw be adopted; and  3. Devt Permit be approved.
CARRIED with Smith, Sop, Lewis opposed
[8:43]
14. Water Shortage Response Plan Bylaw No. 4418, 2995, Amendment Bylaw No. 4690, 2011 (File:  1610-20-4690)
        This bylaw received three readings at the June 20, 2011 Council Meeting.  ADOPTED
CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS
15. Consent Agenda Items
15.1. Change to Council Meeting Schedule (File: 0120-01)
AMENDED scheduling special Ccl mtgs for Monday July 11 at 4pm and Monday July 25 at 7pm.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CITIZENS, PLS READ --received for information
15.2. AmblesideNow/Public Safety Building Project Expense Report for the period ending May 31, 2011 (File:  0500-01)
ASK YOURSELVES: did you have input into these decisions?  did you hear Ccl discuss these choices? do you agree with the expenditures?
These are the forms/reports Sop was referring to: couple of hundred thousand dollars for contract services, $500K for architect and planning, 100s of thousands of dollars for engineering,... Smith also asked about some of the expenditures.  See their questions and concerns in Item 9 above.
Did you hear campaign promises about openness and transparency? quite apart from consultation.
and fiscal restraint?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

15.3. Correspondence List
Council Correspondence Update to June 17, 2011 (up to 12:00 Noon)
Referred for Action
(1) J. Carter, West Vancouver Historical Society, June 15, 2011, regarding Concern over the future of Gertrude Lawson House
        (Referred to Director of Planning, Lands and Permits for consideration and response)
{why not Ccl?  haven't they got opinions or preferences or wishes???}
Mayor: letter from Jim Carter of the Historical Society; two ppl to speak to No 1
Annette Reid: live on Duchess wch overlooks Gertrude Lawson [House], wonderful museum and art gallery
I gather that, was under the impression, it is a heritage bldg and so it shd be b/c if WV owes anything to any of our forebears, it is to John Lawson.  That wonderful park.  And that was his house, and I gather that he built it, his time in Scotland; brought out the wonderful stones that we see and admire
I just feel v strongly that this is one avenue of fund-raising that shd not be even considered.
That bldg shd never ever be considered to be part of fundraising for AmbNOW.
I'm not alone in this but I felt I had to come to the ccl mtg this evening.
I have been listening and reading all the things that hv bn said about fundraising, and frankly it was alarming and [for] many of my friends and I'm just going to leave you with that.
When I saw this, Mr Carter of the Historical Society regarding concern over the future of GLH, it certainly made me feel I just have to come and speak my piece.
That's all I have to say.  I wd ask you all to really, seriously, consider maintaining that beautiful piece of property and not giving it to devprs to devp and tear down into what wd be a v ugly bldg.
So I'm leaving you with that and I shall be listening with great intrest to your comments and decisions.
tyvm
Mayor: one more mbr of the public wishes to speak
CR: tyvm, Mayor and Ccl, Carolanne Reynolds, Editor of West Van Matters, and as a matter of fact, I was the councillor who moved that the Gertrude Lawson House be designated heritage, so I feel v strongly about the building as well.
It's unfortunate right now, apparently we have no heritage liaison mbr on Ccl that I know of.  We have not had a heritage cmte for some time, and I wd think that when you're considering what to do with GL House, wch is about the second bldg ever designated, that there wd be some, at least information and perhaps welcoming some input, into what can be done. 
I know there are some ppl who don't want it ever moved, I know there are other ppl who wd be happy to have it moved.  As a matter of fact when I moved it to be designated, what I explored at the time -- but the majority of Ccl wasn't in favour -- was that it be moved to the waterfront to give it a prime place for ppl to see and visit, and that the money from leasing that prop (wch was already zoned hi-rise) be used to start a Heritage Fund to do even more things-- to restore and maintain bldgs -- b/c we're losing for example Klee Wyck some say we can't save it b/c it hasn't been maintained.  We almost lost Gleneagles Clubhouse b/c it wasn't maintained.
We have to have a formula for maintaining our heritage resources.  That's also why with [x] Uplift and cmnty benefits I suggested that if you get, say, $100 (for the sake of ease [of calculation]) to be Cmnty Benefits, you know: $10 to Sports, $10 to Arts, $10 to the Environment, and $10 to Heritage, and that wd build up a fund for those things.  Then you don't have to argue about every little penny when it comes to the budget and you've got a fund you can use.

{The aim is not just to restore but also, critically, and GLH is an example of lack of repair -- see Cclr Sop's comments under reports -- loss through neglect.  Must have a policy.  Esp since in some cases staff's motivation is a new, bigger facility if they don't want to stay in the one they're in.  We shd be flexible and heritage shd not be felt as an albatross around one's neck.}

But again, I'm surprised, that there were no -- as far as I know -- and I take that from Mr Carter's letter also, that before you started saying what you were going to do -- and I've had some ppl say, "oh no, it's just going to be demolished; we need the money", and I know these are rumours; but I'm surprised that if you were considering changing the status of the GLH that somebody wdn't have come out and told Heritage West (I'm Chair), Jim Carter (President of the WV Historical Society), Peter Miller (NSh [Heritage] Preservation)
There are lots of ppl in the heritage cmnty who wd be happy to discuss practical solutions.  It's a little upsetting to be knocked over the head with something that's a surprise that sounds like demolition.
So I hope you will go out to the cmnty, esp those groups that are interested in this, to discuss the choices.
Thank you.
Mayor: Yes, we will, and esp so that we can weigh them across many criteria. No one further wishing to speak.
---------  rest deleted; full list is on agenda in previous WVM ----------
16.  OTHER ITEMS    No items.
17.  REPORTS FROM MAYOR/CCLRS
Mayor: I know, Cclr Sop, you want to talk about the budget, perhaps a process of some kind
Sop: just curious on the GLH; we've made no decision; we paid a lot of money for that house to the family, with it, the beautiful family that they were
the heritage of that family name is signif in this cmnty and always will be
that bldg one way or another, has been leaking for years,

{in the heritage world, it's well-known: loss through neglect.
Precisely why having a heritage fund to ensure maintenance is critical.
Note I said earlier that I was not against moving the bldg.  (See the comments to the first letter in Correspondence, from Prez of WVHS.)
I'm not against a new museum and an arts ctr the curator has said was wanted.  The GLH cd be used for something else.
If, however, a cmnty decides to designate a structure heritage, IMO there ought to be strict regulations as to preserving it to prevent demolition -- otherwise what value is a heritage designation?  what does it mean? what is it worth?}

it is not a stone bldg, it is stone-faced
the museum, I put some stuff in there as I'm a collector, is v small; great job done by the curator over the years
we have a lot of things that cd be shown not there
In looking at that land regardless of sale to make money, we need a museum somewhere
one of the thoughts were to make arts and culture, and the museum, function well was to look at a scenario that wd allow possibly on that site, maybe arts and culture on bottom; same size apt scenario that's in the area
wd keep Lawson Museum, name in forefront; better museum and better for Arts & Culture
one of the scenarios but no decision made
back to the budget; know a five-yr budget can be altered from time to time
if we continue on a scenario with no growth, and see rising costs from Metro; our own costs have risen signif in last five years
other than deferred taxes -- a person sitting on prop gone from $700K to $1.5M in last five or six years suddenly in a position to either have to defer their taxes or find their taxes so high that they won't be able to meet the demand b/c 50% of the ppl starting to be on pensions and other plans
in WV with a high assessment doesn't mean ability to pay
if sustaining our future, what can we do with our own budget, the size of our staff, or size of what confronted with from Metro -- know you, Madam Mayor, you and Mr McRadu, and Cclr Lewis out there supporting
somewhere something's going to break; hypothetical at this point; incredible costs only four years away
Mayor: care to respond?
NL: appr opp to respond to Cclr Sop.
I take into consideration already the low growth and the rising costs that the cmnty faces relative to Metro
looking forward to a robust discussion in the fall re the budget
executives in the District continue to look at functions, how our operations are currently configured, process improvement reviews, all across the org, and I think it's really imp to recog the work that's done, level of service cmnty expects of us and all of those will be discussed, as we go fwd in the fall
Mayor: the challenge, but we will also be outlining our 2012 budget process, when?
NL: hoping, planning to bring forward next Monday evening
Mayor: thank you.  Cclr Lewis, Canada Day
ML: pleasure of representing Ccl, beautiful day
Cclr Evison was there, our MLA Joan McIntyre was there
lovely honour guard, West Vancouver Youth Band [8:56]
guess 400 ppl if not more; know ev enjoyed it; after O Canada cupcakes
Mayor: tyvm for doing that on our behalf
attended along with Cclr Ev, the official opening of DNV's section of the Spirit Trail
really getting connected -- NV, WV, First Nations -- nbrhd in Norgate, v active cmty
not entirely certain at first, all in favour now, beautifully landscaped and well lit
run over by ppl on their bicycles, well used
app to DNV, third piece opened
Sop: was an overpass further down; is that going to be a connector going over the rlwy tracks?
Mayor: defer to Mr Fung
RF: if Harbourside West overpass at the boundary of CNV and DNV, that official opening happened a couple of weeks before the Norgate; supposed to get one from the road across the utilities, railways, over to Hbrside Park
18. PUBLIC QUESTIONS/COMMENTS  [8:58]
CR: tyvm again
When I heard some of the budget discussion, some questions came up wch you can maybe add to Mr Polman's.
Cclr Sop asked about some art thing, some consulting for about $50K spent.  Maybe this is again a question of the cart before the horse.  I think you might want to embellish and do the art things, of course have it, but after you know the bldg size and where it's going to be -- and that's not an inconsiderable amt of money.
and so I hope you do work through the questions Mr Polman asked, and even if you don't have the exact figures, it wd be really v v appreciated if you wd have rough figures so that there's some way we know where we're going.
        {Readers: the estimates for the building have gone from $20M to $70M.}
But it reminded me, and Cclr Sop asked this question and Mr Polman did and Cclr Smith did, but in January I asked in this budget what is this LSRF [LSF: Land Stewardship Fund, sometimes Reserve is used]? it's $900K. I asked it right here.
I was told, oh well that's a little complicated, we'll explain it to you next week.
It was never explained to me, and I do have the transcripts of all the mtgs, as you know
{pointing to the laptop I'd brought up on wch all the WVM newsletters are stored}
and I do know it was asked, I know it was not answered -- and that was $900K.
       {Turns out it's $950K; at that time we were looking to cut $600K to get tax rate down to zero.}
From the conversation I heard tonight, it sounded as if it was some money that was used for AmbNOW.
I don't know but I think it wd be helpful if that wd be made clear.
and also the other question I had is--
I didn't quite understand your explanation before adopting the bylaw earlier
Is it not true that for any cclr to have a conversation with anyone in the cmnty, even Ccl, and certainly another resident, esp about a PH issue, that they're not allowed to do that outside of this chamber?
and as you said, two mbrs of Ccl said they did have.
In fact, one said that the cclr changed [the] opinion b/c of the conversation outside of this chamber.
So obviously that sort of falls into the category of new information that shd be in a public venue, so cd you pls make it v clear that -- I thought the law was, and I cd be wrong -- that no cclr can speak to any resident about the subject, the decision, or the facts between the public sessions of the PH.
Mayor: Mr McRadu or Mr Sokol
Sokol: During a PH, particularly when adjourned, Ccl can engage in discussions in the public.
If new information comes forward that indeed affects their decision, that is something, probably the best way to handle that is for that cclr mbr to ask that mbr of the public to come forward at the PH and make that stmt when it's continued, however if no new information is brought forward during that discussion, or the same information that is brought forward through the testimony that is heard at the PH, there is no need for that cclr to disclose that information.
CR: but one of the questions was that the resident had signed a form letter and then over lunch told the cclr to disregard it.  I think this might have some effect on some ppl's uh -- you yourself, Your Worship said to someone that you didn't pay much attention to form letters.  I--
Mayor: --I'm--
CR: --I didn't know that, that's what someone said to me so I think we'll have to check that.
Mayor: they may have, they say lots of things out there
{both chuckle}
CR: yes, we all do on occasion
but b/c of that I was going to ask whether form letters or petitions wd be better, and I'm not talking about that particular subject, I was talking about any issue that comes.  Wd you prefer a form letter or a petition?
Mayor: you know we accept public input in all sorts of ways; and ev mbr of Ccl has a diff way, I'm sure, of looking at that, and I cdn't speak for any of us, nor do I intend to.
Obviously, the key thing in all of this is that all seven mbrs of Ccl arrive with an open mind to the PHs, and keep that open mind when debating with one another, and so, our understanding of our obligation is that we met that in this last entire process around Esquimalt.  And so, I think I'll leave it at that.
I hope that satisfies you.
CR: Well, anybody can say afterward that it didn't affect them!
Cd I pls find out what LSRF is then, finally?
Mayor: thank you for the question
NL: I wd ask for clarification in terms of the doc you might have, and I'd be happy to respond to that.
My sense is that it was a preliminary budget, it was not part of a final budget but it--
Mayor: --I think it's the Land Stewardship Fund, wch is really more of an account, as was explained earlier so that everybody can see the money that is going into it and being expended.
CR: it's precisely b/c it was referred to tonight that I recalled I had not been told when I asked in January.  I brought my computer.  I'm not going to take your time now, but I can show Ms Leemhuis the mtg at wch it was asked--
Mayor: --Well, I've just answered the question.
CR: it was -- say again what it was?
Mayor: It's the account that funds flow into in order to be expended on AmbNOW, and we addressed that earlier this evening.  I believe that's what it is.

{Well, the Mayor is getting a bit impatient, however quite apart from not being told what the money in the LSF was going to be spent on, the BIG question that must be asked is:
WHERE DID THE MONEY THAT WENT INTO THE LSF FOR AMBNOW COME FROM???}

CR: so we didn't know in January that that was funds going to be spent for AmbNOW?
Mayor: No, I wdn't say that at all, but I'm sorry it's taken this long to get you the answer.
Next on the list--
CR: thank you
Mayor: Klaus/Claus Jensen [sp?}
KJ: sorry I didn't bring enough copies; resident for 35 years, went to WV High School
my purpose is to request that you amend Bylaw 4414, speaks to a Bldg Permit extension fee
doesn't look like a whole lot of discussion on the bylaw
comprehensive, gazillion of pages
Ccl may not have appreciated at the time the signif of this bylaw
ask to amend the extension fee to a flat $200
right now fee is the greater of -- it's based on the value of the outstanding work times the normal bldg permit permutations.
The absolute minimum is 25% of the orig bldg permit, then $200
on June 24, 2009, we were issued a Bldg Permit, we commenced construction five days later
every legal working day we've had trades working on the house
I hope the house will be substantially completed by the end of August
The permit you all know is valid for 18 mos then an extension is required.
Recently I had to get two six-month extensions in order to get inspections required, and these inspections of course were all paid for in the orig permit
I paid $7K for an extension of a Bldg Permit for wch I'd already paid a whole slew of money in 2009.  It's simply outrageous and unreasonable.
Kelowna, for the same thing is $40, Surrey is $58, Abbotsford is $65, Vancouver is $285, and you can see by the attached table, I've done some research.  Some Ms charge 10%.
I'm asking bylaw be amended to a flat fee of $200 retroactive to the first of January 2011.
Mayor: I recall the debate, Cclr Sop, don't know if you do, and your timing is v good b/c we've just approved a report that won't be coming to Ccl until Sept, looking at this and other aspects of renovation and construction in WV.  My recolln is that we were really struggling with projects that were taking forever.
Not knowing the circumstances of why you require an extension, and that's something we probably need to look at b/c we can differentiate between stalled projects, construction sites, projects, you know, ppl out of money so on-again off-again, and ones where it's legitimately, everything is moving as quickly as you can
Ccl, at this point we can refer this to staff and ask staff to report back to us
KJ: Victoria for example, their rule is as long as an inspection has taken place within the last six months, the Bldg Permit never expires.  I'm sure there's some reasonableness involved in that, but 18 mos is a challenge to build a house sometimes, esp when the first three weeks we discovered we had to pile.  That's the joys of construction
Mayor: Ccl, what wd you like to do?
Sop: I think Mr Jensen deserves an answer from staff
think the price is a little heavy duty--
Sokol: I'm not familiar at all with Mr Jensen's situation but can roll response into what we bring forward the end of September
Sop: does that require a motion?
Mayor: Mr Sokol, pls respond to Mr J immediately and also bring forward to Ccl what you think wd work
so many things to consider and we're at the stage -- one size maybe does not fit all, wd be my suggestion, not knowing the situation and how this applies throughout the District.
19. ADJOURNMENT [9:10]

===  CCL MTG AGENDAs Monday July 11th  ===

>  SPECIAL COUNCIL MTG AGENDA, MAIN FLOOR CONFERENCE ROOM
At 4:00 pm the special Council Meeting will commence in open session and will be immediately followed by a motion to exclude the public in order to hold a closed session pursuant to section 90 of the Community Charter.
4:00 PM CALL TO ORDER OPEN SESSION
1.    Call to Order.
EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC
2.      RECOMMENDED:
THAT in the public interest, members of the public be excluded from part of the June 20, 2011 special Council Meeting on the basis of matters to be considered under the following section of the Community Charter:
90. (1) A part of a ccl mtg may be closed if the subject matter being considered relates to or is one or more of the following:
(d)     the security of the property of the municipality;
(e)     the acquisition, disposition or expropriation of land or improvements, if the council considers that disclosure could reasonably be expected to harm the interests of the municipality;
(i)     the receipt of advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose.
Purpose of meeting: to discuss legal and land matters.
ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION
3. Council will then proceed with the closed session.
>  FINANCE COMMITTEE
5:30 PM IN MUNICIPAL HALL, MAIN FLOOR CONFERENCE ROOM
   1.   CALL TO ORDER
   2.   CONFIRMATION OF AGENDA
   3.   ADOPTION OF MINUTES
   4.   REPORTS
        4.1   Budget 2012 - Strategy and Guiding Principles
   5.   PUBLIC QUESTION PERIOD
   6.   RESOLN RE EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC PURSUANT TO s.90 of THE CMNTY CHARTER (if required)
   7.   ADJOURNMENT     Queries: please contact Kristi Merilees 604-925-7008

===  ANIMALWATCH  === Tickling; Banff Nat'l Park; Polar Bear cub crawls
Penguins and rats laugh when tickled!  Amazing and hilarious.....
        Penguins:  http://youtu.be/0pK8dplyTHM    Rats:    http://youtu.be/j-admRGFVNM
+  Fascinating year!
12 months. Four seasons. One revolution of the sun. Parks Canada used a remote wildlife camera, in Banff National Park, to assemble a year's worth of images from a single location for this time-lapse video posted on YouTube.  Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/Amazing+time+lapse+video+Wild+Year+Banff+National+Park/5060988/story.html
+  Baby Polar Bear learns to crawl
Meet Flocke the baby polar bear, who is being taught to crawl by the zookeepers at Nuremberg Zoo.
only 58 seconds: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-e3M93QWIQE&NR=1&feature=fvwp

==  INFObits  ===  Canada UN Conference nix, Tea, Health, Facebook
> Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird will announce Monday that Canada is boycotting the United Nations Conference on Disarmament over North Korea's involvement, Postmedia News has learned.  [July 10] 
               For the latest local, national and international news, visit www.vancouversun.com
>  Rooibos Tea ~ If you haven't heard of it, you will soon.  http://www.slate.com/id/2296644/
>  Health Care  ~  N.C. Man Allegedly Robs Bank of $1 to Get Health Care in Jail
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Wellness/nc-man-allegedly-robs-bank-health-care-jail/story?id=13887040
>  Facebook = No-Fly
Subject: Facebook Helps Israel Keep Activists Out of Israel
Israel blocks airborne protest, questions dozens
By JEREMY LAST, Associated Press - 2 days ago; Photos July 8
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) - Aided by Facebook, Israel on Friday prevented scores of pro-Palestinian activists from boarding Tel Aviv-bound flights in Europe, questioned dozens more upon arrival at its main airport and denied entry to 69, disrupting their attempts to reach the West Bank on a solidarity mission with the Palestinians.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5glrdg_c6lwx69-q_kxRP4tTyOq9Q?docId=130fba4a666f4cbab884d27ff122dae6

===  CANCERWATCH  ===  http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/breakingnews/125090844.html
The Canadian Press - ONLINE EDITION
Cancer Society research spending knocked, but donors advised to look beyond numbers
By: Sheryl Ubelacker, Health Reporter, The Canadian Press  Posted: 07/6/2011 Last Modified: 07/6/2011 4:36 PM
TORONTO - People who give to the Canadian Cancer Society in the belief they're primarily supporting research could start questioning their donations after learning a far higher proportion of dollars goes to fundraising and administration costs than to scientists, says the head of a consumer advocacy group.
Bruce Cran said he was shocked to learn that the Cancer Society is allocating less than 22 per cent of its $200-million-plus revenues to research, while fundraising efforts are claiming almost 43 per cent of the venerable charity's donation pie.
Yet it's well-known that a primary reason consumers donate to health charities is to support research aimed at defeating the diseases they represent, Cran said Wednesday from Vancouver.
"Obviously, it's gone quite in the other direction and I'm sorry to see the Cancer Society doing what a number of other organizations have been tempted to in past years, and that's spending more money dragging a few dollars out of us and not spending it on what we think it's being used for," he said. "And I think that's quite sad."
Cran was reacting to a media report showing that over the last decade, the share of Canadian Cancer Society revenues set aside for research has steadily shrunk while the proportion for fundraising programs and events has continually grown.
The CBC program "Marketplace" analyzed the charity's financial reports and found that money spent on research has been nearly cut in half - dropping to about 22 per cent this year from 40.3 per cent in 2000.
The reports also show that fundraising is getting the greatest portion of donor dollars - this year reaching 42.7 per cent of money taken in compared with 26 per cent of the donor pot in 2000.
"The problem that we run into is when people become aware that they're only using 20 per cent on research, which is the big factor that people believe they're contributing to, when that depreciates and it becomes publicly known, their funds are liable to dry up very quickly," said Cran, referring to Cancer Society donations.
"So where they are at the moment is not where I suggest they should be."
...However, donations also target the society's other "profound responsibilities" - reducing the risk of Canadians developing cancer and providing support to those living with the disease.
..."So what we tell Canadians and donors and funders and volunteers is you're not going to find that magic number that's going to tell you whether that organization is using its dollars effectively or not. You have to look at what it's doing and the results it's having: Are they reporting back on what they're doing? Are they transparent? And at the end of the day, do you like where they're going and what they're doing?"
Lauziere said increasing the share of donor dollars allocated to fundraising isn't necessarily a bad move if the strategy ends up bringing in more donations, which in turn could mean more money directed towards research.
Imagine Canada will soon start accrediting all types of charities in Canada - there are 85,000 across the country - and launching an online portal in the fall that will provide financial and other pertinent details about various charities for public scrutiny.

== HSTWATCH === (forwarded to me)
+  Subject: FW: The HST Broken Down
     Videos put together by a UBC student.  Very informative and very well done. 
                        http://youtu.be/nZXu3LXNwEg & http://youtu.be/frnBgX9QRZM
+  B.C. take note: HST serves New Brunswick well
By Frank McKenna
British Columbia's referendum over the harmonized sales tax has caught my interest. Many of the arguments being used today were made in New Brunswick, when my government introduced the tax back in 1997.
In hindsight, the evidence is clear. The benefits far outweigh the costs. The HST has created a positive climate for economic prosperity. And it has done so without imposing a significant tax burden on consumers....
Indeed, businesses passed on some of their cost savings to consumers. This helps explain why prices rose much slower in Atlantic Canada than anywhere else in the country in the years following HST implementation.
Opponents were skeptical of this potential outcome. But competitive pressures had the effect that economists had predicted. You just can't run a business if your competition consistently offers better prices.
To be sure, there was a period of adjustment for those who were economically vulnerable. Efforts were made in New Brunswick to reduce the transition to the new system, though we could not have offered the same level of credits and exemptions delivered by the B.C. government. Moreover, Premier Christy Clark's commitment to reduce the HST to 10 per cent by 2014 would go a long way in serving the interests of consumers, including those in greatest need. B.C. is already home to the lowest HST in Canada. This move would further extend its leadership position.....
None of the benefits [has] been lost on six Canadian provinces, where 80 per cent of the population resides, and the 140 countries or so that have a similar tax structure. Globalization has intensified regional competition for new investment and jobs. Lower, simpler and more efficient tax systems, like the HST, offer distinct advantages over the previous system used in B.C.....
No leap of faith is required to evaluate the levy's impact on B.C. The effect of the HST is well documented for Atlantic Canada. The New Brunswick experience has been positive. It has served the people well. We are better for it.
Frank McKenna was premier of New Brunswick from 1987 to 1997.
=A9 Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun; from the Vancouver Sun
 (http://www.vancouversun.com/business/take+note+serves+Brunswick+well/5039963/story.html)

===  PEACEWATCH  ===
+1+  Peace and Dignity
Date: Sat, 9 Jul 2011 15:55:37 +0300
At-Tuwani: Palestinians protest expansion of Havat Ma'on Outpost; Israeli Military responds with violence
Carrying a large banner that read "We want to live in Peace and Dignity", over one hundred Palestinians, internationals, and Israeli activists marched in protest of an extension to the illegal Israeli settlement of Havat Ma'on on the morning of July 9th.
In response to the nonviolent march, Israeli soldiers declared a closed military zone, fired tear gas and threw sound grenades. One Palestinian man suffered minor burns on his legs when a sound bomb landed at his feet.
The extension of the Israeli outpost consists of a tent that settlers built about two months ago. Settlers built the tent on ground that belongs to families in the nearby Palestinian village of At-Tuwani.
The police detained one Palestinian and one international, but released them when activists refused to leave the area without them.
CPT-Palestine in At-Tuwani, South Hebron Hills  0542-531-323; 0595-980-718; Twitter@cptpalestine
+2+  Pal'n Police try to control their fundamentalists
Date: Wed, 6 Jul 2011 01:34:33 +1200
Many people injured in clash between Hizb-ut Tahir demonstrators and Palestinian police
By Courtnay Wilson,  6th July 2011
HEBRON/AL-KHALIL
On July 2nd, the radical Islamic political organization, Hizb-ut Tahir (The Party of Freedom), staged a last-minute demonstration in Hebron after the Palestinian Authority blocked a planned demonstration in Ramallah. Over 1000 demonstrators descended upon the Palestinian-controlled area of the city in the late afternoon. Subsequent clashes with Palestinian police, with protestors throwing stones and police responding with tear gas and shots fired into the air, resulted in about 30 casualties, including one person in intensive care.
Onlookers, including four CPTers, watched in shock as Palestinian police, dressed in full riot gear, brutally pushed back onlookers in an attempt to clear the area. Dismayed by the violence of Palestinians beating fellow Palestinians, one Palestinian bystander remarked of the police: "they are not humans, they are Daytons". "Dayton" is a reference to General Keith Dayton who, as the US Security Coordinator for the Palestinians, is the one responsible for the training of the PA "security forces".
A CPTer positioned herself between the baton-wielding police and bystanders. When the police commander approached, she scolded him for ordering his officers to behave in such a violent fashion. He was apologetic but defiant, and invited the CPT team to meet with him at a later date.
The demonstration marked the 90th anniversary of the fall of the last caliphate. The Hizb-ut Tahir is committed to re-establishing the caliphate, or Islamic state, across the Muslim world.
To view the on-line version click here.
http://www.cpt.org/cptnet/2011/07/08/al-khalil-hebron-many-people-injured-clash-between-hizb-ut-tahrir-demonstrators-an

===  ROADWATCH  ===  seeking freedom to ride
Israeli Forces Halt Hebron Bicycle Action
Jessie Smith  --  7 July 2011
On Tuesday June 28 sixty bicyclists gathered for a group ride from Hebron to Al Bweireh to demonstrate that Palestinians, too, must have freedom of movement on any of the roads to their neighbors. The Palestinians participating in the demonstration live primarily in the Hebron area, and twenty internationals accompanied them. Many people, cheering the bicyclists, lined the streets along the way.
Before coming to the first checkpoint, at least 15 of the Israeli Military refused to allow any of the group to cross the checkpoint. Two policemen were also with the Military. Razor wire had also been put in place to prevent any other creative way for anyone to enter the blockaded zone. The Military said it was a closed military zone, but they could not prove that the paper they showed from a distance was current for this action.
After a standoff and much conversation the bicyclists turned around. Although the demonstration did not breach any physical barriers needed to reestablish Palestinians' right for access and freedom of movement, the ride rallied activists for peace and exhibited innovative resistance that may inspire more creative nonviolent actions in the West Bank in the future, inshallah.
           For photos check out this web site:  http://cpt.org/index.php?q=gallery&g2_itemId=23661

===  WATERWATCH  ===  Amniyr again
Date: Wed, 6 Jul 2011 14:06:22 +0300
Subject: [cpthebron] South Hebron Hills: Israeli Army Destroys 9 Water Tanks in Palestinian Village of Amniyr
Late Tuesday morning, around 11:30, a convoy of Israeli Army, civil administration, and border police arrived in the Palestinian village of Amniyr accompanying a flat bed truck with a front end loader and a backhoe. Israeli settlers having a picnic at the settlement outpost next to the Susiya archaeological site looked on as the army destroyed nine large tanks of water and a tent.
Amniyr is a small village of 11 families in the South Hebron Hills, just northeast of the Palestinian village of Susiya and the Israeli settlement of the same name. The village of shepherds and farmers, like most villages in the area, is totally dependent in the summer on tanks of water.
Nor does that water come cheap. Costs of transportation, due to the poor infrastructure in the area - Palestinians are normally not permitted to build roads in Area C of the West Bank and have restricted access to Israeli roads - mean the cost of water is much higher than normal. A cubic meter of water in the nearby town of Yatta costs 6 shekels. In Amniyr it cost 35. The tanks themselves cost 1000 shekels each, and each tank held 2 cubic meters of water, yielding a total of over 10,000 shekels in damage, which for many in the area is equivalent to a half year's work.
This is the fifth demolition in Amniyr in the last year, according to village residents and Nasser Nawaja, a B'Tselem* worker. One month ago the army destroyed 11 houses and two cisterns full of water. The cisterns had also been destroyed 5 months ago and rebuilt with the help of Israeli activists from Ta'ayush.* The ruins of houses from previous demolitions are still present; broken stones and twisted metal. Located just south of the archaeological site of old Susiya, the Israeli government claims it is state land.
Ten of the families now sleep in Yatta and come during the day to tend to their olive and almond trees as they have no place to sleep and no water. One couple though has refused to move. Mohammed Hussain Jabour and his wife Zaffra refuse to leave. The morning after the demolition they were making tea on an open fire next to their tent. "I've been here with my father and our sheep since I was a little boy," he said, with visible indignation. "Now I'm an old man. And now Israel tells me I can't be here. I'm not leaving."
"What are we supposed to do?" his wife Zaffra asked. "What will we drink? We can't live without water."
The demolition comes on the heels of the demolition of 6 tent homes and a toilet in the village of Bir al Eid, just two kilometers to the south, two weeks ago. Both incidents are the latest in a long history of demolitions of Palestinian homes and buildings in the area by the Israeli army, affecting both these villages and the villages of Susiya and nearby Imneizel.
                * Both B'Tselem and Ta'ayush are Israeli groups
Also at http://palsolidarity.org/2011/07/19302/

===  FLOTILLAWATCH  ===
+++  Subject: Senator Wants US-Israeli Op Against Flotilla
Veterans slated to sail aboard the U.S.-flagged flotilla vessel include Ann Wright, a retired Army colonel turned State Department Foreign Service officer who resigned from her job in 2003 in protest of the U.S. invasion of Iraq; Ray McGovern, a former Army officer and CIA analyst who prepared daily security briefings for Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush; Ken Mayers, a former Marine intelligence officer who served with NSA detachments in Vietnam before taking a Reserve commission in 1966 and retiring as a major in 1978; and Joe Meadors, a former Navy signalman aboard the USS Liberty, which Israel attempted to sink* during the Six Day War in 1967.
{* 34 crew mbrs killed, 170 injured; little reported and whitewashed; no wonder this American incensed}
         See: http://www.military.com/news/article/senator-wants-us-israeli-op-against-flotilla.html
+++  Date: Sat,  2 Jul 2011 19:48:16 -0400 (EDT)
To view the on-line version click here. http://www.cpt.org/cptnet/2011/07/02/cpt-international-cpter-and-cpt-colleagues-waiting-canadian-and-us-boats-gaza-gree
CPTnet   2 July 2011
CPT INTERNATIONAL: CPTer and CPT colleagues waiting on Canadian and U.S. boats to Gaza; Greece refuses to let Gaza flotilla sail
Faced with increasing pressure from the U.S. and Israeli governments, the government of Greece has
officially prohibited any ships in its harbors from leaving for Gaza.  This action was directed at the organizers of the Freedom Flotilla, the organizers of which intended to break the blockade that Israel has imposed on the Gaza Strip since June 2007.
CPT reservist David Milne is among the passengers on the Canadian boat in the flotilla, the Tahrir, as well as Harmeet Singh Sooden, a member of the CPT delegation to Iraq kidnapped in 2005, and Israeli journalist Amira Hass, who has had extensive contact with CPT's Hebron team.  On the U.S. ship along with luminaries such as Pulitzer Prize winning author Alice Walker and Holocaust survivor Hedy Epstein, are CPT trainer and colleague, Kathy Kelly and former CPT reservist, Robert Naiman.
Last week, the Swedish and Irish ships, docked in Turkish territorial waters, sustained engine and propeller damage.  Organizers of the flotilla accused Israel of sending operatives to sabotage them, an allegation that Israeli denies.  The Irish ship has since withdrawn from the flotilla.
Earlier, on 24 June, an anonymous complaint was filed against the Audacity of Hope over its "seaworthiness".  Yonatan Shapira, a former Israeli Air Force pilot and anti-occupation conscientious objector, who is a crew member of the Audacity of Hope, argued, "It is clear that this complaint is not about seaworthiness but is an attempt to stop the boat from leaving port in Athens."  David Smith, the boat's engineer and a former Greenpeace activist said, "The boat is in top sea shape and is a perfect choice for this type of mission."
The U.S. ship, The Audacity of Hope attempted to sail to Gaza on 1 July, and was turned back by the Greece coast guard, who arrested its captain.  Shapira said the captain's actions were praiseworthy.  "The captain acted out of concern for the safety of the passengers and boat by taking us away from the Greek port where other flotilla boats are being sabotaged," Shapira said.
Israel initially said that it would ban journalists on the flotilla from entering Israel for the next ten years, but withdrew the threat after complaints from international journalists.
Robert Naiman told a journalist, "The fact of the matter is that we have already won.  The international press is talking about the blockade and Gaza.  The contradiction between the world of the Israeli military officials and the world in which the rest of us live is exposed for all to see."
The organizers of the flotilla say they still plan to set sail for Gaza on Monday.

===  OBAMAWATCH ===
Subject: Obama/Gilbert & Sullivan: http://www.247comedy.com/obama-musical

===  CANADAWATCH === Canada Day in Ottawa with the Royals  Sat, 2 Jul 2011
A West Vancouver resident's account of a memorable day
       sent to an elist; given permission to pass on to you.  Fascinating account; great read.
HAPPY CANADA DAY FROM OTTAWA
Starting at 6am, I was among the 300,000 on Parliament Hill at the biggest Canada Day turnout in Canada's history.  An additional 200,000 filled surrounding downtown streets, meaning that a half million people converged on downtown Ottawa to make today the best party I've experienced anywhere in Canada.  The joy is everywhere.  People are so happy.  It's awesome!   I had no idea Ottawa hosts such an incredible birthday party.  And people did not head home once the ceremonies on Parliament Hill concluded.   Far from it!  Most stayed, and tens of thousands of others came downtown to join us.  In addition to its world famous Sparks Street Pedestrian Mall, Ottawa closed several of its other main thoroughfares to accommodate the party -- Wellington, Queen, Albert, Slater, Elgin, Rideau, Sussex, and MacKenzie [as well as] their cross streets were all closed to traffic and flooded with pedestrians, as were the side streets of the Byward Market.
And there's so much for everyone to do -- ongoing entertainment on Parliament Hill until midnight,street entertainment everywhere, bands, singers, and exciting stuff like motorcycle stunt riders, and lots of food vendors and non-alcoholic drink vendors.  Also, Ottawa has an amazing array of funky restaurants with outdoor seating that were filled -- from the most down-home places to the elegant Fairmont Chateau Laurier.  Everywhere people today are so happy.  The atmosphere is so friendly, so joyful, that it reminds me of Calgary when the Stampede is at its very best.  But the scale of today's birthday celebration here is even bigger [than] the Stampede.  Ottawa on Canada Day is something every Canadian needs to experience at least once.  Today was my turn to experience it for the first time.  Today has been one of my happiest days ever.  Here are some highlights.

MANITOBA, CBC, & CHINA -- SPECIAL PEOPLE
Among the wonderful people I shared Canada Day with today, several from Manitoba and the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) stand out.  Irene Stevenson of Carmen, Manitoba brought some seriously disabled patients of a Group Care Home in Carmen where she works as a volunteer.  She's a saint. When I met them at 6am, they welcomed me to join them in their front row.  I was helpful in protecting them from others who were tempted to encroach on their space.  Hours later the Royal Couple disembarked from their horse-drawn landau in front of us accompanied, of course, by red-coated Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers on their magnificent horses.  CBC had a camera crew with a platform right in front of us, providing the only shade anywhere on Parliament Hill.  I love the shade.  And I lathered everyone in my ultra strong sun block.  In appreciation, the CBC crew brought me bottles of water.  They told me I saved them from frying in the sun.  The Manitobans were even more appreciative.  They said my sun block saved their whole trip.  My sun block was really popular.

NEW FRIENDS FROM THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
Diana Qu and David Li from the People's Republic of China were also awesome.  Freshly minted Canadian citizens, they were thrilled to be present.  Diana arrived in Canada from China as cleaning staff working in Queen's Park, the Ontario Legislature in Toronto.  Through cleaning their offices she learnt about the Premier and others in the government, and how our form of government functions.  Now she's an x-ray technician at the Ottawa Civic Hospital.  Her husband David is a Chinese ecology researcher.
I asked if they were on their honeymoon because they were so openly affectionate and obviously loved each other so much.  They blushed, replying that they've been married two years, but they indeed love each other very much.   Diana said for her the most powerful moment today was how attentively all 300,000 on Parliament Hill listened to every word Prince William uttered.  She said that's such an enormous difference between Canada and China.  She said no human being in China commands anything approaching the love Canadians have for Prince William and his Grandmother.
When the ceremony concluded, Diana and David were THRILLED because, to their absolute amazement, Prime Minister Harper shook David's hand, and said how pleased he was that David had come.
And then something HUGE happened.
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, appeared, reached out, and shook Diana's hand!  Diana already thought Catherine to be second only to Diana's mother [as] the world's most wonderful woman, because Catherine is so supportive of Prince William.  Diana told me she hopes young women everywhere will admire and emulate Catherine's devotion as a spouse.
And now she found herself shaking Catherine's hand!  Diana insisted on shaking my hand, because she wanted me to be the first person she touched to pass on to me the energy of her extraordinary good fortune of having had her hand clasped by Catherine.  Diana told me this was the single most awesome moment of her entire life.  She was shaking with joy.  And David said never in his lifetime in China did he ever see an important Chinese personage in person.   Yet here in Canada the Prime Minister shook his hand and then the woman his wife admires more than any other (except her Mom) shook his wife's hand.  David and Diana told me Canada is the most special place in the whole world, and they are so proud to be Canadian.

AN AWESOME DAY ON PARLIAMENT HILL
Parliament is such a stunning backdrop for Canada's birthday party.   But by 7:30am I was feeling tired, so I lay down on the grass for a short nap -- waking almost three hours later at 10:30am!  I must have been exhausted!  I was [wakened] by the pipes and drums of the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa, marching just a few feet away from my head.  Their "music of the Gods", because that's what the pipes are, started the festivities.  The Ottawa Camerons and the Royal Winnipeg Rifles are immortal in the Canadian military because both regiments sustained 90% casualties when storming Juno Beach on D-Day in WWII.
Then came the pipes and drums of the Canadian Air Force, resplendent in our Air Force's blue tartan, [followed by] brass bands, the Governor-General's Horse Guards, the Royal Party, the F-18 fighter jet flypast (they flew so LOW -- it was exciting!), the Snowbirds' two flypasts, the entertainers from every Canadian province, Prince William's speech, and everyone's enthusiasm.  When the Prime Minister introduced the Royal Couple, the applause went on and on and on.   Prince William received applause for virtually every sentence of his speech, and especially for his admiration of Canada's Armed Forces as demonstrated at Vimy Ridge (huge applause), Juno Beach (huge applause), Korea (huge applause), and Afghanistan (huge applause).   It was an awesome day on Parliament Hill.

POPE BENEDICT'S 6th ANNIVERSARY
My Ottawa visit began Wednesday evening in an extraordinary way.  I'd just flown in from Vancouver and was in the home of my hosts, Reagan and his wife Kim Walker, for less than ten minutes when there was a knock on the door.  It was President Dennis McAteer of the Ottawa Stake Centre of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  President McAteer was en route to a Roman Catholic Reception, and he wanted Reagan to join him.  Reagan is the LDS (Mormon) Church's Director of Public Affairs.  On learning that Reagan and I have been friends since we were at Chief Crowfoot Elementary School in Calgary and that I'd just arrived moments ago from Vancouver, President McAteer invited me to join them.  The Reception was at the Radcliffe Manor House.  [It was built] in 1838 and is one of the grandest homes in Canada with its breathtaking view of the Ottawa River and Quebec on the far shore.  It's just down the road from 24 Sussex Drive, home of Canada's Prime Minister.   En route we drove by some magnificent embassies, but none as grand as our destination.  Radcliffe Manor House is now the Roman Catholic Church's Apostolic Nunciature in Canada.  In other words, it is the Embassy of the Holy See.  We were there to celebrate the anniversary of Pope Benedict's first six years as Pope.
Our host was His Excellency Archbishop Pedro Lopez Quintana, the Papal Nuncio to Canada (ie the Vatican's Ambassador to Canada).  To me he looked like Pope John XXIII.  The three of us were warmly welcomed.  His Holiness Pope Benedict is of course a head of state as well as of the Roman Catholic Church so Wednesday evening we were in his Embassy instead of a Cathedral.  His other guests included faith leaders and ambassadors.  The charming Ambassador from Romania told me much of interest about her country, while the Ambassador from Portugal told me much about the European Union's economic crisis, the role of Greece, and the situation of Portugal.  He was delighted to learn that my wife Ka Hyun and I vacationed in Portugal in May 2010.  My two Mormon colleagues and I had a fascinating discussion with Rick Hiemtra, Director of Research and Media Relations of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (Prime Minister Harper is a member).
Being with these three men was particularly interesting for me because the Mormons and the Evangelicals are the [fastest] growing Christian denominations in the world.  I'm really intrigued by their success.  They were very open and helpful.
On November 12th the Evangelicals are releasing their extensive report on "Why Young People Leave the Church, and Why They Stay".  Rick kindly promised to send me a copy as soon as it's released.  Best of all, I had a long conversation with the Right Reverend John Chapman, Anglican Bishop of Ottawa.  He gave me valuable guidance to bring home to Ka Hyun in her calling to become an Anglican Priest.

CHAPLAIN GENERAL OF THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES
Another highlight was the three-hour lunch Brigadier General The Reverend Karl McLean hosted for me at the Navy Mess June 30th.  Karl is the Chaplain General of the Canadian Armed Forces.  He's also the Personal Chaplain of the Royal Family while they're in Canada.  He will lead Sunday's Church Service for the Royal Couple aboard HMCS MONTREAL en route from Montreal to Quebec City.  In addition, Karl is also an Anglican Priest, whose guidance is wonderful for Ka Hyun.  He came into our lives when he flew from Ottawa to Vancouver to preside with the Lieutenant Governor of BC over the Change of Colours Centenary Service of the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada last November.  He's one of life's truly special people.  The Queen chose well when she selected him to serve as the Personal Chaplain to the Royal Family.  Other nations choose well too, because they look to Canada to help them establish and develop Chaplaincy Corps to bring spiritual guidance and enrichment to their soldiers, sailors, and air personnel.
My three hours alone with Karl by itself justified the whole trip to Ottawa.  And our time together ended on a special note.  Karl, to honour Ka Hyun, wanted to show me the new Korean War Memorial.  I thought I'd seen it for the first time en route to the Navy Mess for lunch, but we went again.  To our mutual amazement, we were talking about two different Korean War monuments.  The one Karl referred to was on Elgin Street, while the one I'd seen was beside the Ottawa City Hall.  Both were new Canadian Monuments to the fine work our troops did saving South Korea, and thereby giving me a bride because Ka Hyun's parents would have perished had North Korea prevailed.

THE ROYAL COUPLE AT THE CENOTAPH
Moments after I said farewell to Karl, I inadvertently encountered the Royal Couple en route from the airport to the Cenotaph, Canada's National War Memorial.  It had been dedicated in 1939 by Prince William's great-grandfather, King George VI.  The Royal Couple chanced to arrive at exactly the same time I did.  Although thousands were present, the angle from which I happened to approach the Cenotaph gave me a superb view of the proceedings, and of the Royal Couple.   They paid their respects to Canada's War Dead in such a respectful and meaningful way that they brought a tear to my eyes.  Many [others] said the same.   Buglers played the Last Post, and bagpipes played Flowers of the Fields.   Their time at the Cenotaph, and their laying of their wreath, really touched one's heart.  And it was especially moving that they chose to do this as their very first act in Canada following their flight from London.  It was an emotionally powerful experience, for which I'm most grateful.

AND MY HOSTS HERE IN OTTAWA
To conclude, my brief visit of these four nights to Ottawa would not have happened without the warm hospitality in their home of my hosts Reagan and Kim Walker.   Kim's marvellous meals have been highlights of my time here.  Following our years at Calgary's Chief Crowfoot Elementary School, Reagan and I attended Queen Elizabeth High School where Reagan was elected Vice-President the year I was elected President.  We are both Queen's Scouts, we are both lawyers, we are both Christians, and we are generally in touch nowadays at least weekly.  Tonight Reagan, Kim, and I put up chairs in the middle of the street in front of their house for a grandstand perfect view of the Canada Day Fireworks.  Tomorrow we're off to the National Gallery for the special Carvaggio Italian exhibition (he painted mainly between 1590 and 1610).
Sunday I'll accompany them to the Prince of Wales chapel of their Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints' Champlain Ward for Sunday Services.  Kim is their organist.  After church I'll fly home.
And that's Canada Day 2011!   HAPPY CANADA DAY!
Best regards,
Roddy,  West Vancouver

=== ROYALWATCH  ===
>>>  Lake Louise was named in honour of Queen Victoria's fourth daughter, Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, for whom the province is also named.
Read more: http://www.canada.com/news/royal-visit/Will+Kate+Lake+Louise/5063971/story.html#ixzz1RR4HmvRw
>>>  Photos of the Tour: http://photogallery.thestar.com/1021079
>>>  Clotheswatch
http://thestar.blogs.com/royals/2011/07/now-that-kate-has-made-a-good-dent-into-her-luggage-one-third-of-her-was-through-the-canadian-tour-it-seems-as-good-a-time-a.html
>>>  Night in Rockies
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/royal-visit/William+Kate+spent+night+secluded+Skoki+Lodge/5063971/story.html
>>>  Skoki
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/royal-visit/William+Kate+arrive+Lake+Louise+hill/5066896/story.html
>>> Photos: Will and Kate in Yellowknife  July 6, 2011 7:02 AM
 Prince William and his wife Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, won hearts in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories on July 5, 2011. Here are some snapshots of the visit.
Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/royal-visit/Photos+Will+Kate+Yellowknife/5058429/story.html#ixzz1RLsyKP8W

=== HERITAGEWATCH ===
+  Make your views known to Ccl wrt the future of the Gertrude Lawson House, the WV Museum
+  Mark your calendars for the RoyalTea-by-the-Sea -- 2 - 4pm Saturday August 13.
+  Heritage Vancouver Summer Walking Tours
Celebrate Vancouver's 125th Birthday visiting historic back alleys and forgotten corners of the city with civic historian John Atkin. 10am - 12noon, Saturdays & one Sunday, $15.                                                                                       Next: Market Alley: Opium, Laundry and Pawnshops.  Saturday July 16th Meet in the courtyard of the Chinese Cultural Centre, in front of the Dr. Sun Yat Sen Gardens, entry from 50 East Pender. https://register.beanstream.com/scripts/registration.asp?form=269

===  HUMOURWATCH  ===   HEALTH MESSAGE:
1.  If walking/cycling is good for your health, the postman would be immortal.
2.  A whale swims all day, only eats fish, drinks water and is fat.
3.  A rabbit runs and hops and only lives 15 years.
4.  A tortoise doesn't run, barely walks and does practically nothing ... yet lives for 450 years.
                        And you want ME to exercise?!?!

===  MAIKU  === 
2011 June 20  re Stanley Cup riot

        my beautiful Vancouver
                        how dare it be bruised
                                        we rush to restore
And later contemplation (July) --

        icing of civility
                quickly melted as
                        minds caught fire unchecked

2011 July 9   coldest spring in 55 years!

                spring clings, cold lingers,
                               summer hesitates,
                                       takes tentative, tepid steps

~~~  QUOTATIONS / THOUGHTS/PUNS  ~~~
How far should one accept the rules of the society in which one lives? To put it another way: at what point does conformity become corruption? Only by answering such questions does the conscience truly define itself.
       -- Kenneth Tynan, English theatre critic and writer (1927 - 1980)
The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it.
            -- Albert Einstein, German theoretical physicist (1879 - 1955)
The desire of knowledge, like the thirst of riches, increases ever with the acquisition of it.
            -- Laurence Sterne, Anglo-Irish novelist and Anglican clergyman (1713 - 1768)
When you want to fool the world, tell the truth.                  -- Otto von Bismarck, German statesman (1815 - 1898)
Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.
                    -- Anton Chekhov, Russian short-story writer and dramatist (1860 -1904)
       
The lawyer had trouble with the fine print on some documents, so his doctor suggested contract lenses.                                                                 
I said her garden figurines looked pathetic, but she did not care for my ignominious remark.
As I revived her using mouth to mouth resuscitation, in spite of my lisp, I couldn't help noticing her beautiful breaths!