Council controversies: Brian Montague's integrity commissioner review, Vancouver's rollback on climate action policies, and the city's purchase of an almost completed market rental building. Delayed suicide prevention barriers on Granville Bridge, TransLink's funding crisis, and the debate over Vancouver's view cones. Cities try to meet the deadline to pass multiplex bylaws, except West Vancouver. City council and the park board battle over bike lanes in the West End. And we dig into a heavily redacted FOI on when Ken Sim decided to move to abolish the Park Board.

Links

• 01:57 Integrity Commissioner Review
• 05:05 Climate Action Report and Natural Gas Debate
• 09:47 Granville Bridge Suicide Barriers Delayed (see also re debris)
• Vancouver to get new dedicated bus lanes on these key routes
• 13:43 TransLink Funding Crisis and Potential Cuts
• 21:08 View Cones Debate
• 26:43 City Purchases Market Rental Building
• 30:36 Ken Sim's Quick Fix for Kits Pool
• 33:37 Bike Lane Battle: Park Board vs. Council
• 36:06 FOI Requests and Park Board Abolishment
• FOI fight
• 43:01 Provincial Housing Compliance and West Vancouver's Defiance
• 45:55 Surrey's Push for a City Charter
• 48:33 NIMBYs Oppose New Fire Station
• 50:56 Vancouver's New Sign and Historical Homages
• 53:45 Farewell to AM 730 Traffic Radio

Outro audio credit: TikTok @unCOUVER

Ken Sim expropriated a City Hall boardroom for a personal gym because that's what winners do. Meanwhile, the cops are using their extra budget to tackle the chaos that is people watching the sunset from the beach. Mandatory upzoning is progressing, with some notable squeaky wheels that are playing chicken with the province. And a new audit is being launched into the ill-fated North Shore Waste Water Plant.

Links

Pete Fry’s tweet of the gym

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim explains why he turned a boardroom into a gym

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim defends converting city hall room into a gym

Here's how many times Vancouver's mayor has been absent from a vote at council

$80K staff position added to Vancouver mayor's office | CBC News

Carol Reardon tweet on Sim math

Blair’s tweet of cops clearing the beach

Vancouver police English Bay beach sweep prompts questions

Mayor Ken Sim out as Vancouver Police Board chair | CBC News

Surrey policing transition saga over, mayor accepts judicial review

More than 4,000 homes built for people, thousands more on the way through housing targets

Vancouver to allow more density at all SkyTrain stations beyond legislation | Urbanized

Vancouver council votes to densify upscale Shaughnessy neighbourhood

Vancouver scraps minimum parking requirements citywide - BC | Globalnews.ca

Cities ask for more time to comply with B.C.'s zoning laws | CBC News

B.C. rejects Burnaby petition for exemption to new transit-oriented development rules

Burnaby defies new BC housing transit-oriented area laws

Bylaws passed: Port Moody, Coquitlam (for TOAs only), news.com/local-news/stratification-allowed-for-single-family-lots-in-richmond-9136523">Richmond, Surrey, Delta, Chilliwack

Public toilet plan doesn't pass the sniff test for some New West residents

TransLink announces $90M cost-cutting plan to address funding gap | CBC News

City reverses plan to spend $6M for expanded Burnaby elementary school gym

Metro announces independent review of ballooning North Vancouver sewage plant cost - North Shore News

Vancouveratta

The Vancouver Stock Exchange: A Legacy of Fraud and Money Laundering Part I

The Vancouver Stock Exchange: A Legacy of Fraud and Money Laundering Part II

At some point Brenda Locke should get tired of losing, but today is not that day. It does inspire us to think of Surrey as a grand collective delusion that we're all experiencing. Importantly though, voting isn't speech and the constitution still doesn't recognize municipalities.

In Vancouver, Council wants to keep property taxes low, there are squabbles at the Park Board but maybe we can sell off naming rights to our parks to solve our budget woes (spoiler: we can't). Ken Sim will continue to operate on vibes, however. Throughout that, Vancouver is behind on its housing targets but it has plenty of company from municipalities still grumbling about the province forcing them to upzone all residential zones.

George Harvie is still in hot water over travel expenditures, Port Moody mulled a lobbyist registry, Langley City is banning daycares and Coquitlam nearly banned joy.

And you should all go save the WISE Hall.

Links

• Surrey loses court bid to keep RCMP 
• As Brenda Locke's policing losses mount, mandate argument weakens - CBC
• BC Supreme Court ruling
• Max tax increase agreed
• ic-001-complaint-against-commissioner-virdi.pdf">Integrity Commissioner Ruling
• Vancouver plans to give corporate names to city and park board assets
• 'Decline in completions': Vancouver misses housing targets ordered by B.C.
• Oof, A Deep Dive - The Bind
• Sim's got the feels
• 'Not my job to crunch numbers,' Vancouver mayor says as expert questions FIFA's economic benefit
• Vancouver votes to move ahead with pod hotel pilot project
• Cities ask for more time to comply with B.C.'s zoning laws
• Two Metro Vancouver mayors watching how densification impacts property values, taxes
• Provincial Legislation Compels Coquitlam to Pivot on Priorities and Restructure Funding Systems
• West Van council rejects provincial housing rules - North Shore News
• Delta mayor under fire over planned trip, travel expenses - BC | Globalnews.ca
• Fallout continues, following Delta council uprising against mayor
• No time for lobbyist registry, Port Moody council decides
• Langley City council votes to restrict new daycares downtown
• Coquitlam gets more bounce to the ounce; developer gets verbally trounced – Tri-Cities Dispatch
• At risk of closing, East Vancouver's Wise Hall seeks public support
• WISE Hall • Vancouver Heritage Foundation
• Wise Hall

No fun city? Unless you want to gamble. Surrey policing drama. Mayors behaving badly.

Links

John Coupar runs for BC Conservatives

Vancouver mayor cautious about organizing Canucks watch parties | CBC News

Vancouver mulls viewing area for ’amazing’ Canucks’ fans | The Province

Roxy Fever…the Podcast! (@roxyfever) / X

Investigations Initiated into Potential Contraventions of the Local Elections Campaign Financing Act

Vancouver council considers 'modifying' moratorium on gambling expansion

Date set for Surrey Police Service to take over from RCMP: Farnworth

Bombshell hidden provincial report confirms SPS costs to skyrocket by $750M | City of Surrey

Surrey Police Deloitte report

Surrey mayor’s ‘withdrawal of service’ complaint about SPS officers called ‘hurtful’

B.C. judge refuses to seal documents alleging RCMP bullying against Surrey police

UPDATE: RCMP union says its officers can't work under Surrey Police without federal law changes

optimist.com/local-news/delta-council-votes-to-remove-mayor-harvie-as-metro-chair-8708924">Delta council votes to remove Mayor Harvie as Metro chair

Jas Johal on George Harvie

Thread on Kamloops mayor

Kamloops council reverses mayor's suspension of CAO | CBC News

Kamloops mayor says sex photo incident on 'list' of reasons he suspended top city official

B.C. mayor stripped of budget, barred from committees over Indigenous residential schools book

The First International Store - Starbucks Canada

Christine Boyle defeats Andrea Reimer in the battle of Little Mountain, meaning we're likely headed to a council byelection later this year. Last year's annual report fundraising gives us some insight into how well each party might do. Surrey meanwhile, doesn't want money. Vancouver will be saying goodbye to public hearings. An overdose prevention site draws controversy, as do new rules around sheltering in parks. The City hopes to go to the Supreme Court of Canada. The Olympic Village school is finally coming. And Vision Zero wants you to take a brick to cross the street.

Links

• Vancouver Coun. Christine Boyle secures B.C. NDP nomination | CBC News
• Andrea Reimer's thread on her loss
• ABC raises most while OneCity has largest supporter base – Cambie Report
• Local party fundraising beyond Vancouver in 2023
• Minister’s statement on Surrey policing transition | BC Gov News
• Surrey police chief sees path now to completing transition | Vancouver Sun
• Proposed changes to Vancouver Charter will help build more homes faster
• Health authority secures 'discreet' location for Vancouver overdose prevention site
• Vancouver mayor disappointed by new location for overdose prevention site
• Vancouver Park Board tightens rules on homeless encampments - BC | Globalnews.ca
• Vancouver SRO vacancy control to be heard in Supreme Court
• New school coming to Olympic Village | BC Gov News
• Granville Island crosswalk users urged to pick up a brick | CBC News
• About Granville Island - Granville Island - Vancouver, BC
• Granville Island - Wikipedia

The municipal becomes the provincial as two friends-of-the-pod compete in the race to replace an outgoing MLA. Mike Klassen asks the city for money for a Junos trip, Ken Sim asks a park board commissioner for forgiveness and the MST Nations are going to ask the province for everything. We also get into BIA expansion controversies, calls to make the red Vancouver sign permanent, and the history of neon signs in Vancouver.

B.C. NDP nomination battle brewing between former and current Vancouver city councillors

Vancouver councillor withdraws application for city cash to cover Junos trip with mayor

Integrity investigation finds Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim discriminated against Park Board commissioner

Vancouver Host First Nations support Park Board dissolution

Letter from MST nations 

Dan Fumano: Vancouver park board abolition not coming before B.C. election, Premier Eby says

Community associations ask B.C. not to eliminate Park Board

Dan Fumano: Psychedelics are illegal — and Vancouver police say criminal charges could be coming

Richmond, B.C., council approves drug consumption site motion | CBC News

Richmond won't seek approval for drug consumption site: mayor | CBC News

A supervised consumption site for Richmond, B.C., was ditched. Why are critics still so furious?

07-bcps-announces-appointment-special-prosecutor.pdf">24-07 BCPS announces appointment of Special Prosecutor Gordon

West Vancouver mayor Mark Sager suspended from practicing law for two years after admitting misconduct - North Shore News

3 code of conduct complaints filed against Port Moody councillor during first year in office

Mount Pleasant BIA expands despite objections

B.C. municipality to debate whether it should continue to exist | CBC News

City Council to consider installing a permanent "VANCOUVER" sign | Urbanized

Neon Vancouver Ugly Vancouver — MOV

Neon in the City — MOV | Museum of Vancouver

This Week in History, 1927: Neon signs light up Vancouver

Park board abolition, budget task force and naming rights, car-free gastown and more.

Links

• Muni Ministry - Park Board MMA-2023-33456.pdf
• Vancouver Mayor - Park Board 2023-763 - res.pdf
• “the province is not going to be surprised”
• Sim says Vancouver Park Board 'not fixable'
• Park commissioners unlock $20K to fight Vancouver mayor's move to abolish board
• Vancouver-area Indigenous groups refuse to endorse mayor’s plan to dismantle park board - The Globe and Mail
• 2 local First Nations support Vancouver Park Board plan
•  Mayor's Budget Taskforce Report
• Vancouver mayor says city could generate $100M via naming rights of buildings, parks
• Commissioner says no conflict in Rolling Stones' promo at Vancouver city hall
• Dan Fumano: ABC Vancouver returns $116000 in prohibited donations from 2022 election
• High-profile member of Vancouver Police Board resigns - BC | Globalnews.ca
• Vancouver Police Board member resigns, cites conflicts of interest, political interference | CBC News
• Metro Vancouver bus strike averted as 2 sides accept mediator’s recommendations | Globalnews.ca
• Vancouver's Gastown will go car-free this summer
• North Vancouver District approves controversial supportive housing
• Why I quit my job (video) | Patreon Bob Kronbauer

Denis Agar, founder of Movement, a transit advocacy nonprofit organization, discusses the challenges and solutions for improving transit in Metro Vancouver. We cover the issues with the 49 bus route, the need for bus lanes and other transit improvements, the importance of community engagement, the funding challenges faced by TransLink, the potential of real estate development as a funding source, and the strategies for addressing different levels of government. The conversation discusses the challenges and funding contingencies in implementing transit plans, particularly in the context of the bus rapid transit (BRT) 10-year plan. It highlights the need for increased funding for bus service and the importance of public involvement in transit advocacy.

Links

• TransitMovement.ca
• Our repeat Vancouveratta on the 49 plaques

Ken Sim proposes abolishing the Park Board, shocking half of the ABC Park Board caucus who are now in open revolt. Can the right decisions be made for the pettiest of reasons? Ken Sim also saw the City Hall walls and wanted them painted...with the Rolling Stones logo. New regulations from the province dictating how cities need to implement the coming upzoning laws are giving city planners nightmares but that's a good thing. Cops and West Van mayors seem to rely on loose interpretations of facts (allegedly). And we have some holiday drink recommendations.

Links

• Mayor moving to dismantle Vancouver Park Board
• Vancouver's mayor makes a bold step to eliminate the park board — at the risk of dividing his party | CBC News
• Move to abolish Vancouver park board reveals rift in Mayor Ken Sim's ABC party
• 9 points on the ABC Vancouver split over the future of the park board
• The motion
• The letter to the ABCD councillors
• Renting Vancouver City Hall to Rolling Stones promoters is peak Sim City cringe
• Regulations, policy manuals issued to help deliver more homes for people faster | BC Gov News
• 'Steady decline' in Vancouver stranger assaults since 2021, police department report reveals
• West Vancouver mayor facing probe for election ‘spending irregularities’ - BC | Globalnews.ca
• Vancouveratta: How did the Vancouver Christmas Market come to be? | Evolution 107.9 

BC's new housing laws mean major shakeups for city councils but maybe that's a good thing since we are in a housing crisis. Plus cities try to make themselves useful in the meantime. Except Surrey and especially except Harrison Hot Springs.

Links

• Legislation introduced to rein in short-term rentals, deliver more homes for people | BC Gov News 
• More small-scale, multi-unit homes coming to B.C., zoning barriers removed | BC Gov News 
• Legislation introduced to deliver more homes near transit hubs | BC Gov News
• Legislation introduced to streamline delivery of homes, services, infrastructure | BC Gov News
• New standardized designs will help build more homes quicker | BC Gov News
• Eby says governments must step up on housing, can't rely on private sector - Real Estate | Business in Vancouver
• BC looking at Vienna & Singapore models of public housing
• It took 5 months, but B.C. Govt FOI response reveals the ten ‘experts’ guiding the hammer of provincial housing policy | CityHallWatch
• Could BC's push to densify housing around transit hubs threaten Chinatown, Gastown heritage buildings?
• B.C.’s new housing rules could have ‘enormous unintended consequences,’ warns Coquitlam mayor
• Vancouver council passes 2 housing motions
• Motion to densify Shaughnessy housing fails | CityNews Vancouver
• minimums-eliminated-for-new-developments-in-west-end-and-broadway-plan-areas.aspx">Parking minimums eliminated for new developments in West End and Broadway Plan areas | City of Vancouver
• Vancouver councillor pitches ‘potentially transformational’ plan for the city’s Downtown Eastside - The Globe and Mail
• budget.aspx">Draft 2024 Budget | City of Vancouver
• Mayor's budget task force was supposed to report by Oct 3
• New VPD contract would make officers the highest paid in Canada | Globalnews.ca
• Vancouver's Pay Boost for Unionized Staff Increases Budget Pressures | The Tyee
• Elections B.C. audits Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim's political party campaign contributions
• TEAM calls for audit of ABC Vancouver
• Corporate donors put Stanley Park's miniature train back on track for Christmas
• 23,000 Stanley Park Bright Night train tickets sell out in 90 minutes - BC | Globalnews.ca
• B.C. Supreme Court rules against Vancouver group’s challenge to supportive-housing project - BC | Globalnews.ca
• Minister’s statement on appointment of administrator to act in place of Surrey Police Board | BC Gov News
• Another Surrey lawsuit
• B.C. mayor asks council to approve hiring investigator to find 'mole' writing critical letters about him | CBC News
• Vancouveratta: Slumach.ca