.1 Executive Committee Meeting Minutes - December 10, 200 I

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1 held December 17, 2001, at 2:06 p.m. in the Matsq ui Centennial Auditorium Council Present: Mayor G. Ferguson (part), and Councillors E. Fast (part), S. Gibson, M. Gill, G. Peary, 1. Redekop, P. Ross, M. Warawa, and C. Wiebe Staff Present: Director of Administration and Corporate Planning - T. Strong; Director, Corporate Services - D. Bottrill; Acting Director, Development Services - G. Acheson; Chief Constable - 1. Mackenzie; Acting Director, Fire Rescue Services - R. Lawrie; and Committee Secretary - E. Storrier Staff Present for a Portion of the Meeting: City Manager - G. Guthrie; Director, Engineering - E. Regts; Manager, Development Approvals - G. Boyle; Manager, Community and Environmental Planning - P. Andzans; Senior Planner - W. Gordon; Assistant Planner - A. Stewart; Purchasing/Risk Manager, K. Fletcher; Manager, Budget and FIS - 1. Trueman; Manager, Financial Services - J. Lewis; Accountant/Budget Officer - A. M. Taylor; Finance Officer - S. Bursill ; Manager of Legislative Services - M. E. MacKenzie; Property Services Manager - S. Wong; Director of Parks and Recreation - M. Taylor; and Economic Development Manager - J. Teichroeb Media Present: The News (part), Shaw Communications Inc. Public Present: 50+ < ' '-'v I. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Ferguson called the meeting to order at 2:06 p.m. 2. ADOPTION OF MINUTES.1 Executive Committee Meeting Minutes - December 10, 200 I Moved by Councillor Gill, seconded by Councillor Redekop, that the minutes of the Executive Committee meeting of Council held December 10, 2001, be adopted. E CARRIED. 3. BUSINESS OUT OF MINUTES.1 Notice of Motion - Sumas Sewage Agreement and SE2 ( ) Councillor Fast, at the December 10, 2001, Executive Committee meeting, had served Notice of Motion concerning proceeding to arbitration to ascertain whether the City of Sumas could discharge industrial wastewater from the proposed Sumas Energy 2 power plant into the James Treatment system.

2 held December 17,2001, at 2:06 p.m, in the Matsqui Centennial Auditorium Page 2 Although anyone of the parties to the Sumas Sewage Agreement has the option, under the terms of the agreement, to give notice of the intention to proceed to arbitration, the purpose and cost benefits of inviting the Fraser Valley Regional District to partner with the City of Abbotsford in challenging the agreement were discussed, Moved by Councillor Fast, seconded by Councillor Ross, that the City of Abbotsford exercise its rights under the Sumas Sewage Agreement and proceed to arbitration to determine the right of the City of Sumas to allow the proposed SE2 energy facility to discharge its industrial wastewater into the James Treatment system; and that the Fraser Valley Regional District be requested to participate in the holding and funding of such arbitration, E CARRIED. Opposed: Councillor Wiebe.2 P. Ratzlaff and S. and L. Edwards, and Empress Drive, Rezones from N4 to RS2 ( R01-38 and ROI-39) Consideration of Report No. DEV dated December 4, 200 I, from the Assistant Planner, presenting rezoning applications for the P. Ratzlaff and S. and L. Edwards properties, located at and Empress Drive, from Comprehensive Development Four Zone (N4) to One Unit Urban Hillside Residential Zone (RS2), to allow for accessory secondary suite residential uses, was deferred from the December 10, 200 I, Executive Committee meeting, at the request of the applicant. Previous attempts to rezone lots in this area to allow secondary suites were defeated and public opinion was unfavourable. Nine property owners registered their suites before October 8, 1996, and these have been rezoned to One Unit Urban Hillside Residential Zone (RS2). P. Ratzlaff, Empress Drive, on behalf of both owners, chronicled their property ownership since 1996, and requested that their applications proceed. Their properties were purchased on the understanding secondary suites would be allowed, and they have paid the $250 secondary suite infrastructure charge for 2001.

3 , --. ',.j.' Minutes of the Executive Committee meeting of the Council of the City of Abbotsford held December 17, 2001, at 2:06 p.m. in the Matsqui Centennial Auditorium Page 3 Moved by Councillor Redekop, seconded by Councillor Warawa, that Report No. DEV dated December 4, 2001, be received from the Assistant Planner, and (I) staff prepare and present an amendment to Abbotsford Zoning By-law, 1996, to rezone the P. Ratzlaff and S. and L. Edwards properties, located at and Empress Drive, from Comprehensive Development Four Zone (N4) to One Unit Urban Hillside Residential Zone (RS2); and (2) the Mayor and Director of Administration and Corporate Planning be authorized to execute all documents related to this matter. Council discussed a balloting process to determine neighbourhood support for secondary suites in the Regal Peaks area, and the need to identify the number of suites in existence. Moved by Councillor Fast, seconded by Councillor Wiebe, that further consideration of Report No. DEV I dated December 4, 2001, from the Assistant Planner, regarding a zoning amendment to Abbotsford Zoning Bylaw, 1996, to rezone the P. Ratzlaff and S. and L. Edwards properties, located at and Empress Drive, from Comprehensive Development Four Zone (N4) to One Unit Urban Hillside Residential Zone (RS2), be deferred pending receipt of a staff report identifying the number of properties with unregistered suites. E CARRIED. Opposed: Councillors Redekop and Ross

4 ' - -- ' Minutes of the Executive Committee meeting of the Council of the City of Abbotsford held December 17,2001, at 2:06 p.m. in the Matsgui Centennial Auditorium Page 4.4 DELEGATIONS.1 J. Lepp, Canadian Junior Men's Golf Champion Mayor Ferguson presented a gift to 1. Lepp, 3669 Cobblestone Drive, recognizing his local, provincial, national and international accomplishments as a junior golfer. He is currently the Canadian Junior Men's Golf Champion. Moved by Councillor Redekop, seconded by Councillor Fast, that the delegation of James Lepp, Canadian Junior Men's Golf Champion, be received. E CARRIED..2 Jeff Brown, Pool Hall/Bar/Restaurant Establishment, 2617 Montrose Street J. Brown, 2288 Rosewood Drive, presented a 294 name petition and one letter, opposing the licensing of a pool halllbarirestaurant at 2617 Montrose Street. Mr. Brown expressed his concern over prostitution, liquor and drug related problems, and lack of adequate policing in the downtown area. S. Abbott, on behalf of the Cedarhurst Tenants Association, opposed the establishment of a billiard hall in the downtown area, given the history of the applicant's business in another location in Abbotsford. Moved by Councillor Peary, seconded by Councillor Warawa, that the delegations of J. Brown, 2288 Rosewood Drive, and S. Abbott, Cedarhurst Tenants Association, objecting to the licensing of a pool hall/bar/restaurant at 2617 Montrose Street, be received. E CARRIED..3 D. Pritchard, First Professional Management Inc., Frontage Works at Home Depot, 1812 Vedder Way D. Pritchard, First Professional Management Inc., withdrew his request to appear as a delegation to discuss frontage works for the proposed Home Depot at 1812 Vedder Way.

5 " ', \ OJ, ' Minutes of the Executive Committee meeting of the Council of the City of Abbotsford held December 17,2001, at 2:06 p.m. in the Matsgui Centennial Auditorium Page 5 5. REPORTS 5.1 CORPORATE SERVICES.1 By-law No , "Five-year Financial Plan By-law, " (J ) Report No. COR dated December \3, 2001, from the Director of Corporate Services, requested direction on any amendments deemed necessary to By-law No , "Five-year Financial Plan By-law, ", which was deferred at the December 10, 2001, Regular Meeting of Council, until full Council could be in attendance. The report outlined alternatives for reducing the tax shift proposal affecting light industrial and business properties. S. Schartner, Hlmtingdon Road, discussed the effect of the proposed tax increase on industrial use properties, compared taxes in the City of Abbotsford to other jurisdictions, and believed the proposed increase would adversely affect landlords and rental revenues. K. Young, President, Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce, 2462 McCallum Road, reported on a recent survey of industrial and commercial business owners, which showed the majority were opposed to the proposed tax increases. Suggestions of reduced expenditures, public/private partnerships, selling public assets, contracting, and user pay options were made. R. Gladiuk, Mt. Blanchard Drive, disagreed with the rationale of working toward the average industrial/commercial tax rate of other jurisdictions. To recover the approximately $655,000 shortfall, if the industrial commercial tax rate remained the same as 200 I, he suggested cost sharing between residential taxpayers, industrial/commercial taxpayers and the City of Abbotsford. He queried the rationale for five new police officers; urged Council to implement independent, external operational audits to review efficiency of services; and suggested the City forecast tax increases for five years. B. Ryan, Deloitte & Touche, Dunsmuir Street, Vancouver, BC, on behalf of several local business owners, presented arguments against the proposed tax increase to industrial and commercial businesses. If implemented, he believed the increases would result in business closures, and lower assessed and market values. Mr. Ryan added that, while there was growth in residential building in the City, he believed the business sector was stagnating.

6 held December 17,2001, at 2:06 p,m, in the Matsgui Centennial Auditorium Page 6 Moved by Councillor Peary, seconded by Councillor Redekop, that the delegation of K, Funk, Golden Valley Foods Ltd., be heard. E CARRIED. K. Funk, President, Golden Valley Foods Ltd., opposed to the proposed tax increase, advised his business has not raised its prices for three years, but has absorbed tax increases and other rate increases. He encouraged the City to control spending. Moved by Councillor Peary, seconded by Councillor Redekop, that the delegation of H. Giesbrecht, be heard. E CARRIED. H. Giesbrecht, owner of commercial property in the City, was opposed to the proposed tax increase. He felt the increase was not affordable and affected his and his tenants' profit margins. Moved by Councillor Warawa, seconded by Councillor Redekop, that the delegation of R. Voth, be heard. E CARRIED. R. Voth, queried the City's debt retirement strategy, believed that the City should not spend beyond existing revenues, and was of the opinion that the City of Abbotsford has a smaller market area than other jurisdictions in the Lower Mainland. Moved by Councillor Warawa, seconded by Councillor Redekop, that the delegations of S. Shartner, K. Young, R. Gladiuk, B. Ryan, K. Funk, H. Giesbrecht, and R. Voth, regarding the proposed industriavcommercial tax increase, be received. E CARRIED. Council discussed the proposed tax shift to the industrial and commercial sector. One suggestion was to retain the 3.9% residential tax increase and recover the resulting approximate $655,000 shortfall by: increasing transit fees; reducing grants and fee-forservice contracts by 10%; reducing conference spending and Council expenses; reducing, but not eliminating, debt reduction; delaying the hiring schedule for five new police officers; sharing services and equipment with other jurisdictions; considering innovative revenue options; and selling some City owned property, with any difference being recovered through operational efficiencies. ;..,

7 '....1 _,:... Minutes of the Executive Committee meeting of the Council of the City of Abbotsford held December , at 2:06 p.m. in the Matsgui Centennial Auditorium Page 7 Other suggestions included: debt retirement using reserves; reducing equipment purchases; increasing secondary suite fees; reducing subsidies to recreation facilities and programs; contracting all garbage; and conducting independent external audits to find efficiencies. Councillors generally agreed on the advantages of the debt reduction program to maintain quality and service levels in the future. It was pointed out that costs, such as gas tax and hotel tax are not borne in the City of Abbotsford. One suggested that the customer base in the City is less than surrounding jurisdictions. Several options for rate adjustments, as presented by the Director of Corporate Services, were considered, in an effort to strike a balance between residential and commercial/industrial tax increases. Options were discussed regarding debt reduction, increasing the base rate, and the amount of debt which could be retired early in Moved by Councillor Warawa, seconded by Councillor Gibson, that the City of Abbotsford maintain the 2001 tax rate ratios for commercial and industrial, for E41S-2001 DEFEATED. Opposed: Councillors Fast, Gill, Peary, Redekop and Ross Moved by Councillor Gibson, seconded by Councillor Warawa, that a base tax rate adjustment of 3.9%, with the efficiencies as noted during the discussion and debt reduction within the base budget, and with 2001 tax rate ratios maintained, be approved. E DEFEATED. Opposed: Councillors Fast, Gill, Peary, Redekop, Ross and Wiebe

8 .' 1.} Minutes of the Executive Committee meeting of the Council of the City of Abbotsford held December 17,2001, at 2:06 p.m. in the Matsgui Centennial Auditorium Page 8 Moved by Councillor Peary, seconded by Councillor Ross, that a base rate adjustment of 4.95%, with a tax shift of 6.9% for industrial, 6.70% for commercial, and zero debt reduction, be approved. E DEFEATED. Opposed: Councillors Gibson, Gill, Redekop, Warawa, and Wiebe Moved by Councillor Wiebe, seconded by Councillor Warawa, that a base rate adjustment of 4.68%, with zero tax shift for industrial and commercial and zero debt reduction, be approved. E DEFEATED. Opposed: Councillors Fast, Gibson, Gill, Peary, Redekop, and Ross Moved by Councillor Redekop, seconded by Councillor Fast, that a base rate adjustment of 4.95%, with a tax shift of 6.9% for Class 5 (industrial), 6.0% for Class 6 (commercial), including the maintenance of the debt reduction program, be approved. Moved by Councillor Warawa, seconded by Councillor Peary that the main motion be amended by adding the hiring of two police officers in February, 2002, and three police officers in May E DEFEATED. Opposed: Councillors Gibson, Gill, Redekop, Wiebe, and Mayor Ferguson The main motion was then put and E CARRIED. Opposed: Councillors Gibson, Gill, Warawa and Wiebe

9 held December 17,2001, at 2:06 p.m. in the Matsgui Centennial Auditorium Page 9 Mayor Ferguson left the meeting at 6:00 p.m., and Deputy Mayor Fast assumed the Chair. 5.2 DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.1 Jade Drive, Jewel Court, block of Eagle Mountain Drive - Street Names ( ) Moved by COlmcillor Gibson, seconded by Councillor Wiebe, that Report No. DEV dated December 12, 200 I, be received from the Assistant Planner, and the names Jade Drive and Jewel Court, be approved for streets in a new subdivision located at the block of Eagle Mountain Drive. E CARRIED..2 A. M. Bates, Harris Road, the Land Reserve Commission Subdivision Application ( AOI-008) Moved by Councillor Wiebe, seconded by Councillor Ross, that as recommended in Report No. DEV dated December 10, 200 I, from the Acting Senior PlannerlDeputy Approving Officer: (1) a subdivision application for homesite severance, for the A. M. Bates property, located at Harris Road, be forwarded to the Land Reserve Commission; and (2) the Mayor and Director of Administration and Corporate Planning be authorized to execute all documents related to this matter. E CARRIED.

10 held December 17,2001, at 2:06 p.m. in the Matsgui Centennial Auditorium Page 10.3 B & E Investments Ltd., 2450 Centre Street, Development Permit Application ( /D01-047) Moved by Councillor Ross, seconded by Councillor Warawa, that as recommended in Report No. DEV dated December 12, 2001, from the Senior Planner: (1) a form and character Development Variance Permit application, with variances, for the B & E Investments Ltd. property, located at 2450 Centre Street, be approved in principle and proceed for public comment at an upcoming Council Hearing; and (2) the Mayor and Director of Administration and Corporate Planning be authorized to execute all documents related to this matter. E CARRIED..4 Regency Park Capital Corporation Ltd. and R. Singh, south west corner of Old Yale Road and Blue Jay Street, Form and Character Development Permit With Variances ( D ) Consideration of Report No. DEV dated December 11, 2001, from the Manager, Development Approvals, which discussed the Development Variance Permit application for the Regency Park Capital Corporation Ltd. and R. Singh property, located at the south west corner of Old Yale Road and Blue Jay Street, to allow variances for setback, height, and parking was withdrawn from the agenda, at the request of the applicant..5 Free Transit Service from December 21 to 24, 2001 ( ( 1)) Moved by Councillor Gibson, seconded by Councillor Wiebe, that Report No. DEV dated December 11, 2001, be received from the Senior Planner, reporting on the free Transit Service from December 21 to 24, E CARRIED. Mayor Ferguson returned to the meeting, and re-assumed the Chair at 6:07 p.m.

11 held December 17, 200 I, at 2:06 p.m. in the Matsgui Centennial Auditorium Page II.6 Bus Advertising Products and Revenue Opportunities ( (])) Moved by Councillor Warawa, seconded by Councillor Gill, that Report No. DEV dated December 5, 200 I, be received from the Senior Planner discussing the new bus advertising products and revenue opportunities. E CARRIED. ~... Councillor Fast declared a conflict of interest with the following item, and was excused from the meeting at 6: I 0 p.m.. 7 Development Variance Permit, Sonmark Enterprises Ltd., P. Krause, and M. Krause, 1023 Gladwin Road ( /D01-055) Moved by Councillor Wiebe, seconded by Councillor Warawa, that as recommended in Report No. DEV dated December II, 2001, from the Assistant Planner, the Development Variance Permit application for the Sonmark Enterprises Ltd., P. Krause, and M. Krause property, located at 1023 Gladwin Road, to allow for the construction of a poultry barn that would be sited 17 m from an interior lot line, rather than the required 20 m, subject to the exhaust fans of the proposed barn venting towards the interior of the property, proceed for public comment at an upcoming Council Hearing; and (2) the Mayor and Director of Administration and Corporate Planning be authorized to execute all documents related to this matter. E CARRIED. Councillor Fast rejoined the meeting at 6: 11 p.m.

12 ~ I..,' ; I Minutes of the Executive Committee meeting of the Council of the City of Abbotsford held December 17,2001, at 2:06 p.m. in the Matsgui Centennial Auditorium Page 12.8 Abbotsford Central Area Plan - Proposed Amendments ( (1)) Moved by Councillor Ross, seconded by Councillor Wiebe, that Report No. DEY dated December 10, 2001, be received from the Senior Planner, and (1) staff amend the September, 2001, Abbotsford Central Area Plan report consistent with input received from the Economic Development Commission, prior to making the document available for wider circulation; and (2) staff bring forward for council consideration, by-law amendments and any other appropriate initiatives necessary to implement the strategies referenced in Report No. DEY I. E CARRIED.. 9 Charter of Sustainability ( ) Report No. DEY dated December 5, 2001, from the Assistant Planner, recommended the modified Charter of Sustainability proceed to further public consultation. Questions and comments from Councillors included completion of editorial corrections and the need to regularly review the document. Moved by Councillor Warawa, seconded by Councillor Gill, that Report No. DEY dated December 5, 2001, be received from the Assistant Planner; and (1) the modified Charter of Sustainability proceed to further public consultation. E CARRIED.

13 held December 17, 2001, at 2:06 p.m. in the Matsgui Centennial Auditorium Page NEW BUSINESS.1 Motion to Close Moved by Councillor Peary, seconded by Councillor Redekop, that the December 17, 2001, Executive Committee meeting, be closed to the public to consider matters related to Section 242.2(1) (c), (d), (e), (h) and (i) of the Local Government Act (6:22 p.m.). CARRIED. Certified Correct: