Breen, B. M.S.A. (Hospital)

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1 00062 Present: District of Abbotsford: Chairman - Mayor G. Ferguson Councillors - B. Frankish, J. Lamson, and M. Warawa Administrator - R. Beauchamp District of Matsqui: Deputy Mayor - H. Teichrob Councillors - K. Funk, S. Gibson, B. Hambley (part), G. Peary, and C. Wiebe Administrator - H. Cochran Director of Corporate Services - D. Cooney Director of Development Services - R. Danziger Director of Public Works - E. Regts Economic Development Assistant - D. Greenfield Media - The News and 85 Radio MAX The Chairman introduced B. Breen, Vice-President, Planning and Professional Services, M.S.A. General Hospital, who presented slides and information on the status of the new hospital. The project was initiated in 1987 as an expansion of the existing hospital, but in 1991 the building of an entirely new hospital was approved. The current project specifies 350 beds in the first phase, with expansion to 500 beds. The new building is to be situated entirely on the lower bench of the Marshall Road property, and will feature a much larger ambulatory care area than exists in the current facility. The original budget of $135 million was reduced to $128.5 million, and approved by the Provincial Government. Breen, B. M.S.A. (Hospital) B. Breen advised that the Hospital will be seeking a development variance permit for the main roof line which is 1.5 m above the allowable height, and for the elevator shaft, at 5 m above allowance. A building permit will be taken out on the project very shortly, in order to lock in Development Cost Charges. There was some concern regarding the District of Matsqui's policy that all new developments will have underground services. Although the hydro lines are to be buried on-site, the lines at Marshall Road are not a shared cost by the Province, and the additional costs involved in underground service at that point would have to be borne by the Regional Hospital District. The Hospital Board recommended construction of a leftturn lane on Marshall Road, although a traffic study indicated it would not be required for the 35O-bed phase of the new hospital. Occupancy of the new building is anticipated in late 1998/ early Councillor Peary pointed out that the site of the new hospital is owned by the Central Fraser Valley Regional District. The balance of the property is seen as being a potential revenue generator to help offset costs for capital equipment such as a new CAT-scan unit. Pay parking is envisaged for the new hospital, as one source of revenue. Planning monies approved for the project total $5.8 million, but Councillor Peary advised that $10 million will be required. He noted that the existing hospital is not capable of handling the demands of a larger community.

2 00063 Minutes of a JOint meeting of the full Councils of the Districts of Matsqui and Abbotsford held Page 2 The existing hospital site is jointly owned by the Hospital Society and the Ministry of Health. The building would require tens of millions of dollars to be spent in order to meet current seismic requirements. B. Breen advised that the extended care facility will be staying on the site. He estimated that the new 35O-bed hospital could serve a population of about 150,000 and the additional 150 beds would provide for a further 50,000 people. An incinerator to handle medical waste is not planned. Breen, B. M.S.A. (Hospital) The Chairman referred to the proposed realignment of regional districts, and noted that options for ensuring that local control of the facility is maintained would need to be considered. He thanked B. Breen for his presentation. The minutes of the Joint Council meeting held August 10, 1994 were the next item on the agenda. Frankish, that the minutes of a Joint meeting of the full Councils of the Districts of Matsqui and Abbotsford, held August 10, 1994, be approved. Joint Full Councils Minutes - August 10, 1994 Warawa, that the report on staffing, distributed by H. Cochran at the end of the August 10, 1994 meeting, be placed on the agenda of the next In Camera Joint meeting of the full Councils of the Districts of Matsqui and Abbotsford. There was some discussion on the Search and Rescue role locally, and H. Cochran advised that this was not a municipal function, but was administered on behalf of the Provincial Emergency Program by the City of Langley for the Central Fraser Valley region. (Amalgamation) - Staffing Search and Rescue (Emergency) Services Warawa, that the local Search and Rescue role be discussed at a future meeting of the Joint Council. Opposed: Councillors Gibson, Peary and Teichrob. R. Danziger presented his Report No on the implications of the proposed Bill 26 (contaminated site regulations). (Waste Management) - Bill 26

3 Q0064 Page 3 Moved by Councillor Warawa, seconded by Councillor Hambley, that Joint Council, through the U.B.C.M., express its concerns over potential liability issues related to Bill 26, as well as seek clarification on such issues as "reasonable knowledge". (Waste Management) - Bill 26 Councillor Warawa commented on the imbalance in philosophies across Canada on how to deal with contaminated soil. He referred to an excellent report produced by the television program W-5. CounCillor Wiebe said that scientific documentation should back up the proposed concentration levels allowable, and E. Regts added that regulations should be site-specific. The next item to be considered was Report No. 73 from the Director of Public Works, District of Matsqui, dated August 16, 1994, which considered colour of new municipal vehicles. Municipal (Vehicle) Colour Moved by Councillor Hambley, seconded by Councillor Lamson, that all new automobiles and the vehicles used for inspection, etc., be specified in white, but that the operations vehicles utilized for maintenance and construction be specified in orange in order to provide greater safety, recognition and visibility. There was discussion on the acceptance of orange as a cautionary colour, the effect on resale value of vehicles, and the fact that reflective striping and flashing lights on top of vehicles could be used to enhance safety. E. Regts advised that there was no difference in purchase price whether vehicles were specified in white or orange. Opposed: Councillors Frankish, Funk, Gibson, Warawa, and Teichrob. Moved by Councillor Warawa, seconded by Councillor Funk, that all new municipal vehicle purchases be specified in white, with a reflective stripe. Opposed: Councillors Lamson, Peary and Wiebe.

4 00065 Page 4 Joint Council perused a draft False Alarm By-law, accompanied by a report dated August 15, 1994 from H. Cochran. She advised that the eight local alarm monitoring companies had all been notified of the proposed by-law, and invited to respond in writing by September 2, The Chairman said that the matter of false alarms and the need for a by-law had also been discussed at the Joint Fire Committee. There was some concern that the wording did not clearly define what constitutes a false alarm, and that the by-law would force alarm monitoring companies to contact owners before notifying police of an alarm. Sections 11 and 12 of the by-law were also questioned. False Alarm (By-law) False Alarm (By-law) Warawa, that the local alarm monitoring companies, the Police Chief, and any other interested parties be invited to appear before Joint Council to provide input on the proposed False Alarm By-law. H. Cochran clarified that the imposition of fines under the proposed by-law would be at the discretion of police. The last item to be discussed was a report dated August 12, 1994 from the Director of Corporate Services, District of Matsqui, on the Permissive Tax Exemption Policy. It was clarified that the report did not deal with Community Grants, and that the tax exemption applies only to municipal taxes, not to taxes levied by other agencies. D. Cooney recommended that Joint Council consider granting permissive tax exemptions only to agencies which extend services that the municipality would otherwise have to provide. (Property) Taxes (Exemptions) Lamson, that all permissive tax exemptions be eliminated. Councillor Frankish stated he would prefer to deal with individual requests as received. Councillor Peary pointed out that many organizations benefiting from permissive tax exemptions were made up of volunteers, and suggested that Joint Council should have some discretion in the granting of tax exemptions. The motion was put and Opposed: Councillors Frankish, Gibson, Peary, Teichrob, and Warawa.

5 00066 Page 5 Councillor Warawa said that he did not support more than a two-year maximum phase-out period for any organizations that did not fit revised criteria for tax exemption. Councillor Frankish suggested that culture and sport should be equally worthy of support. Councillor Peary noted the organizations which would be affected if Section C of the Permissive Tax Exemption schedules was eliminated, and Councillor Teichrob added his concerns. The Chairman suggested that organizations serving a regional function be supported by senior levels of government, and that a formula whereby all users of services paid some taxes should be in place. (Property) Taxes (Exemptions) Moved by Councillor Frankish, seconded by Councillor Peary, that: (1) the existing policies on Permissive Tax Exemptions be maintained; (2) the organizations listed under Categories (A) (8) and (C) of Schedule 1 (Abbotsford and Matsqui) be confirmed; (3) the 100% tax exemption for the Fraser Valley Child Development Centre in 1995 be affirmed and; (4) Matsqui-Abbotsford Community Services be added to the list under Category (C). Opposed: Councillors Funk, Gibson, Lamson, Teichrob, Warawa and Wiebe. Moved by Councillor Teichrob, seconded by Councillor Lamson, that the organizations as listed under the Permissive Tax Exemption 1994 by-laws (Schedule 1) continue to receive tax exemption, with the addition of a 100% exemption to the Fraser Valley Child Development Centre for There was discussion about the appropriateness of including the Fraser Valley Child Development Centre, with specific reference to the work done by Community Services. Opposed: Councillors Funk, Gibson, Lamson, Warawa and Wiebe. Moved by Councillor Warawa, seconded by Councillor Funk, that the new municipality revert back to providing tax exemptions only for properties used as public athletic or recreational facilities, parks, or service clubs that provide public services which the municipality is then not required to extend; and that beginning in 1996, a two-year phaseout period be established for organizations currently benefitting from tax exemption who do not fit the revised criteria. Opposed: Councillors Frankish and Peary.

6 00067 Page 6 Moved by Councillor Peary, seconded by Councillor Wiebe, that the Joint meeting of the full Councils of the Districts of Matsqui and Abbotsford be adjourned. Adjournment Time: 2: 15 p.m.