Ellen works with West End residents for a transparent community vision.

West End Vision

Ellen has been actively working with the residents of Vancouver’s West End in the creation of a transparent community vision. In April she put forth a motion to Council calling for a thorough visioning process to help the community deal with the needs of the many distinct groups that live in the area and the rezoning that threatens the distinctive character of the neighbourhood.

Ellen and West End artist Tiko Kerr stand by his painting of Maxine's, July 21, 2010

Ellen attended the West End farmer’s market on July 21, the same day that West End artist Tiko Kerr unveiled his painting of Maxine’s Hideaway, the historic supper club. The site of this 1920’s building, located at 1215 Bidwell, has been rezoned for the construction of a 21-storey tower. The painting will be auctioned off to raise funds for West End Neighbours (WEN).

It’s been a very busy year and a lot has been accomplished to make our city a Vancouver for everyone. I wanted to send you a brief note about some of my work before we wind up for the summer.

These are some of the areas I have focused on in 2010:

• Worked hard on issues around housing and homelessness including joining the seven day fast for a national housing program
• Stood clear in fighting for civil liberties during the Olympics and not accepting any free tickets
• Supported the expansion of bike lanes
• Opposed the tax shift from businesses to residential properties
• Opposed Mixed Martial Arts in Vancouver
• Introduced several motions regarding the need for electoral reform, including hard caps on donations
• Convinced city council to join the Canadian Municipalities Against Racial Discrimination
• Proposed an Office of Public Consultation
• Stood for a lower tax rate for small business
• Brought forward motions opposing the HST
• Brought forward a motion for a visioning process for the West End

Despite all this, however, there is much more work we need to do. This fall I will urge Council to refocus around three key issues:

• Creating a new “Office of Public Consultation” that is transparent, accountable, and has teeth
• Fighting for strong visioning processes for all neighbourhoods, especially the neighbourhoods that haven’t had one – West End, Grandview Woodlands, Downtown Eastside and Marpole
• Implementing all of Vancouver’s electoral reform submissions, including hard donation caps and spending limits

In the meantime, I plan to take advantage of the summer break to consult with citizens from all over Vancouver about the pressing issues they want to see acted upon at Council.

I wish you all a wonderful summer!

All the best,
Councillor Ellen Woodsworth
604 873 7240

Ellen had a busy Canada Day in her capacity as Deputy Mayor. Brent Granby followed Ellen throughout her day and captured the moments. For more images please go to Brent’s Photostream on Flickr.

Vancouver City Councillors Jang, Anton, Woodsworth, Louie and Chow at Canada Day 2010. ©Brent Granby

Ellen giving the welcoming address as Deputy Mayor at Sunset Community Centre, Canada Day 2010. ©Brent Granby

Ellen and Vancouver-Hastings MLA Shane Simpson, Canada Day 2010. ©Brent Granby

Ellen and Ron from the Strathcona Community Centre, Canada Day 2010. ©Brent Granby

Ellen inspects the troops, July 1, 2010. ©Brent Granby

Deputy Mayor Councilor Ellen Woodsworth with VPD Chief Jim Chu and Commanders of 15th Field Artillary Regiment. ©Brent Granby

On June 8, 2010 her motion to make City Hall Available to Harmonized Sales Tax Canvassers was seconded by Councillor Deal and was carried with only one opposition vote. Read the motion.

On June 24, 2010 Ellen’s motion on the Local Elections Task Force Follow-Up was also carried, with an amendment. To download a PDF of  the full motion, click here.

For more information on this and other Council meetings, go to vancouver.ca

MOTION
Office of Public Consultation

MOVED by Councillor Woodsworth

WHEREAS:
1. Vancouver City Council wants to encourage citizens to participate more actively in civic life, as well as in the development and management of municipal affairs;

2. Council unanimously passed a resolution on 28 July 2009 that noted “the City of Vancouver is committed to bringing the community into City Hall by engaging citizens, and soliciting their ideas, input and creative energy”;

3. City Council should more formally recognize the power of citizens to influence the decisions of City Hall;

4. The City of Vancouver’s public consultation processes are managed by a variety of city departments, agencies and boards;

5. These consultation processes are often delivered using different goals, budget levels, tools and methodologies;

6. The efficacy of some of these consultation processes have been put into question by several residents’ groups in recent years (for example, in the West End and by groups concerned about the budget consultation); and

7. Both COPE and Vision Vancouver candidates and parties said they strongly supported establishing an independent office of public consultation when surveyed by the Think City Society in the fall of 2008.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED

THAT staff report back on the feasibility of the creation of an independent office of public consultation; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED

THAT the staff report will include:

(a) the potential savings or cost of the office (and the possibility of consolidating public consultation and engagement in one department to create a cost-neutral office);

(b) examination of how other cities handle public consultation processes that involve multiple departments, agencies and boards; and

(c) examination of how other cities handle public consultation processes to ensure that processes are transparent, credible and effective.

* * * * *

Making City Hall Available to Harmonized Sales Tax Canvassers

MOVED by  Councillor Woodsworth

WHEREAS:

1.       The City of Vancouver is on record as opposing the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) due its effect on the City and Park Board budget, residents and businesses of Vancouver;

 2.      The City of Vancouver has an interest in citizen engagement in the political process;

 3.      The “Fight HST” campaign is coordinating the petition “An Initiative to End the Harmonized Sales Tax”,  authorized by Elections BC;

 4.      The City of Coquitlam has opened up its City Hall to make the petition available.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

The City of Vancouver allow the “Fight HST” campaign access to City Hall in regular operating hours and in a location to be determined by staff for Vancouver residents to be able to sign the “An Initiative to End the Harmonized Sales Tax” petition.

* * * * *

May 28, 2010

Hon. Dr. Margaret MacDiarmid
Minister of Education, Early Learning and Literacy
Room 346 – Parliament Buildings
Victoria, BC V8V 1X4

Dear Minister MacDiarmid,
 
We are writing with regard to the situation of teacher Lisa Reimer and her employer, Little Flower Academy of Vancouver. 

As gay and lesbian elected officials we are very concerned about the issues raised by Ms Reimer’s case. In a diverse society like ours it is imperative that basic human rights standards are upheld standards which respect the equality of lesbian members of our communities and which protect religious freedoms.  It is also imperative that basic labour laws be upheld. 

In our opinion, this is not a situation where one right can be seen as trumping another. We believe that publicly funded institutions must adhere to the laws of the community, province and nation.  There must be a careful delineation of how the question of religious freedom, and protection from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, interact. 

Decisions have been made which allow Catholic schools to receive public funding.  Decisions have also been made that to discriminate against gay and lesbian people is unacceptable in our society.  It is incumbent upon political leaders to ensure that Catholic schools, as recipients of public funding, meet the obligation of respecting the full human rights of lesbian and gay people, including those they employ. 

At the same time, lesbian and gay people who chose to sign contracts to work as teachers for a Catholic school must respect the values of those institutions in all aspects of their conduct as teachers.  We do not believe that a teacher,
living her life as a lesbian, in any way interferes with a Catholic school’s ability to teach Catholic values.  

Being lesbian should not be allowed to be used as a barrier to employment in a publicly funded school in British Columbia.  Lesbian and gay teachers should not be subject to sanction or discipline by a publicly funded school for living their lives.

We hope that you will intervene with actions that clarify this situation and protect the full equality of lesbian and gay British Columbians. We believe that it is important that elected representatives, particularly those in leadership positions in government, address this issue.  Leadership is required to make it clear that all people, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, race, or sex are free to live, work, and realize their potential without discrimination or prejudice. 

We look forward to your action and your reply.

Sincerely yours,

Libby Davies, MP                                                  Spencer Chandra Herbert, MLA
Vancouver East                                                          Vancouver-West End           

Mable Elmore, MLA                                             Bill Siksay, MP
Vancouver-Kensington                                              Burnaby Douglas

Nicholas Simons, MLA                                       Tim Stevenson, Councillor
Powell River-Sunshine Coast                                   City of Vancouver 

Ellen Woodsworth, Councillor
City of Vancouver

Ellen and Ms. Baker at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, May 17, 2010. photo by Colin Fenby

MOU

Ellen was among the members of Council to witness the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Vancouver and the Squamish Nation. Signed on May 17, 2010 by Squamish Chief Gabby Jacobs and Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson, the memorandum outlines the framework in which the two governments can adjudicate on issues of mutual interest, such as tourism, governance and environmental protection.

To read Ellen’s motion, click to download a PDF version.

To view the agenda for  next week’s council meeting, go to the City of Vancouver website.

Motion: West End Visioning Process

MOVED by Councillor Woodsworth
SECONDED by

WHEREAS:
1. The West End of Vancouver is the most dense neighbourhood in city;

2. The West End has not had a community visioning process to determine community amenity needs and priorities in over twenty years;

3. The West End Residents’ Association (WERA) held a community visioning process to “proactively develop a comprehensive community vision for the West End” and is raising questions about the possibility of the STIR program “to create more affordable, ecologically sustainable and high quality, livable rental units”;

4. There is a lack of community amenities and over capacity at existing amenities;

5. There was a large development approved in the West End that did not require a community consultation because it was a spot rezoning;

6. This large development caused many residents concerns about the Community Amenity Contributions (CAC’s) approved in the project;

7. There are two large developments being proposed in the West End, neither of which require a community consultation as they are also spot rezonings;

8. The lack of a City-led community engagement process with regard to CAC’s and other communities priorities is causing neighbourhood conflict;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT

Staff report back on a process and a time line for a community visioning process and;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT

Staff hold a community open house to gather information on CAC priorities in the West End for the two upcoming developments coming to Council.