There was no arguing, no points of order and no microphones cut off in what was a cordial first public meeting Monday of Vancouver鈥檚 new mayor and 10-member council.
After being sworn in to office a few hours earlier, Mayor Kennedy Stewart and his council met for less than an hour at city hall to formally pass a series of appointments of councillors to various boards, committees and commissions.
Mayor Kennedy Stewart and his new council are promoting a spirit of co-operation as they embark on their four-year term together. They met at city hall for the first time Monday. Photo Jennifer Gauthier
鈥淢y whole intention from the beginning was to make everybody feel like it is a new start鈥攁 fresh slate鈥攁nd I think we accomplished that tonight,鈥� Stewart told the Courier after the meeting. 鈥淪o, so far, so good.鈥�
Earlier in the day, Stewart and the 10 councillors were sworn in at Creekside community centre. Stewart used his inauguration speech to promise respect in his approach to governing, saying he would consult with councillors and residents before making decisions.
He noted at city hall how the news conference that followed the ceremony included all councillors, which was a reflection of the spirit he said he is focused on promoting as an independent mayor leading a mixed council.
For the first time in decades, there is no majority at city hall, although the NPA has five of the 11 seats. The Greens have three, while OneCity and COPE each have one on a council populated with eight women.
Over the next few weeks, Stewart and councillors will meet with various city staff to be brought up to speed on issues and learn how to carry themselves in the council chamber as they take on the business of the city.
The next council meeting, which is scheduled for Nov. 13, is expected to test that respectful spirit Stewart and councillors have stated, with several motions expected to be introduced in the council chamber.
COPE Coun. Jean Swanson, for example, said she will introduce two motions, one of which is related to a promise that former mayor Gregor Robertson made to ensure all housing built at a city site at 58 West Hastings be rented at pension and welfare rate.
The other, Swanson said, is related to 鈥渞enovictions,鈥� a popular term among housing advocates to describe the practice of landlords renovating buildings and only allowing tenants to return if they pay higher rent.
The Nov. 13 meeting begins at 9:30 a.m. and will be livestreamed on the city鈥檚 website.
Council appointments passed Monday were:
鈥� 麻豆传媒映画Public Library Board鈥擟hristine Boyle
鈥� Public Art Committee鈥擲arah Kirby-Yung
鈥� 麻豆传媒映画City Planning Commission鈥擯ete Fry
鈥� 麻豆传媒映画Civic Theatres Board鈥擫isa Dominato
鈥� 麻豆传媒映画Heritage Commission and 麻豆传媒映画Heritage Foundation Board鈥擟olleen Hardwick
鈥� Joint Council on Childcare鈥擩ean Swanson
鈥� 麻豆传媒映画Economic Commission鈥擪ennedy Stewart
鈥� City of 麻豆传媒映画Public Housing Corporation鈥擪ennedy Stewart, Melissa De Genova, Adriane Carr, Christine Boyle and Jean Swanson
鈥� 麻豆传媒映画Civic Development Corporation鈥擪ennedy Stewart, Melissa De Genova and Colleen Hardwick
鈥� Pacific National Exhibition Board Chairperson鈥擫isa Dominato
鈥� Parking Corporation of 麻豆传媒映画(EasyPark)鈥擬ichael Wiebe
鈥� 麻豆传媒映画Art Gallery鈥擪ennedy Stewart and Sarah Kirby-Yung
鈥� Standing Committee on City Finance and Services鈥擬elissa De Genova (chairperson) and Pete Fry (vice-chairperson)
鈥� Standing Committee on Policy and Strategic Priorities鈥擜driane Carr (chairperson) and Sarah Kirby-Yung (vice-chairperson)
鈥� Metro 麻豆传媒映画directors鈥擪ennedy Stewart, Adriane Carr, Melissa De Genova, Christine Boyle, Colleen Hardwick, Michael Wiebe and Lisa Dominato
鈥� Union of B.C. Municipalities representative鈥擯ete Fry
鈥� Lower Mainland Local Government Association representative鈥擟olleen Hardwick
鈥� Federation of Canadian Municipalities Board鈥擱ebecca Bligh
