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Dec 4,2009 Vancouver Sun

 
 
Public hearing draws pleas to save city services from the axe
 
 
 

Vancouver city council should raise taxes by more than the planned two per cent to maintain city services including parks, libraries and community centres, speakers at a public hearing said Thursday.

The comments came from citizens and officials of city agencies at a standing-room-only meeting on the 2010 budget.

The debate came two days after council gave preliminary approval to the city budget. In order to close a $61-million gap, the budget would raise residential property taxes by two per cent and cut many services.

Dozens of supporters of the Bloedel Conservatory and the Children's Farmyard -- two facilities facing closure -- protested in front of city hall before the hearing.

The street protesters held signs in support of the two institutions, and car drivers honked their horns.

The conservatory in Queen Elizabeth Park and the petting zoo in Stanley Park were among the amenities cut by the park board last week in an effort to chop $2.8 million from its budget.

The park board gives $400,000 a year to the conservatory and farmyard but there are other costs. The conservatory requires about $2 million in capital improvements.

Park board commissioner Stuart Mackinnon, who voted against the cuts, said last week that citizens could oppose the move at city hall.

And Thursday night, citizens did just that. Although only about a dozen had been heard as of 9:30 p.m., 90 had signed up to speak. The public hearing will continue Dec. 9, and council will vote on the final budget Dec. 18.

Children spoke in support of libraries and a 97-year-old woman pleaded to save programs for senior citizens.

Many speakers said in interviews before the meeting they want the park board to restore funding for the conservatory and farmyard.

The park board controls its budget independently, but council could increase the park board budget, so it could keep open the conservatory and farmyard.

But such a move would require other cuts or a tax increase. Mayor Gregor Robertson said the poor economy has placed the city in a tough spot. He said council chose to keep taxes low and focus on homelessness, public safety and the arts.

Citizens and officials from the park and library boards pushed to maintain the services those agencies provide.

Park board commissioner Loretta Woodcock encouraged council to raise taxes to preserve park board attractions and services. She said each one-per-cent increase in property taxes would raise an additional $5 million to maintain city services.

Mackinnon, who also serves as trustee of the Vancouver public library board, said he would support a five-per-cent increase.

"You will hear tonight many people asking you to save this or that particular amenity," Mackinnon said. "I'm asking you to save them all," he said, interrupted by cheers from citizens, "to not cut the heart of the city."

Coun. Tim Stevenson later challenged Mackinnon. "If you're going to save everything, we're going to have one huge tax increase."

Sahara Brown, 11, pushed to save the farmyard, saying "it's very important to those kids that live in a co-op or apartment and they're not allowed to have pets."

Bess Wayslow, 97, asked council to restore $1.3 million for senior centres, calling the centres her "lifeline."

Joan Andersen, chair of the library board, said a cut of nearly $1.6 million would mean severe cuts to library services, including a reduction of 76 weekly hours from all branches combined.

The cuts come as people are increasingly using the library to find a job during this bad economy, she said. "Now is not the time to cut library services."

rdalton@vancouversun.com

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