Son of late MP Cook to KEN COOK, the 40- year-old son of former North Vancouver Tory MP Chuck Cook, is seeking the Conservative nomination to represent the federal riding seat left vacant by his father. By Michael Becker News Reporter Chuck Cook, 66, died of lung cancer on Feb. 23. In November 1992, Cook announced his decision not to run in the upcoming federal election after 14 years of po- litical life. Meanwhile, Ken Cook, a - Deep Cove resident, said he “agonized’? over the decision to run for nomination. But he said, ‘‘!t's a natural ‘reaction. I don’s*think people KEN COOK... seeks nomination. would have trouble under- standing a son’ s desire .to follow in his father’s footsteps. I just had-a little different father than most people.’” The North Vancouver Pro- gressive Conservative Association will nominate a candidate in June. Cook is the executive assis- tant of Fraser Valley-West Tory MP Bob Wenman. ‘ve worked in politics for a long time. I think the guard is changing. “J think North Van: is basically a small ‘c’ -conser- -vative riding. 1 know it well, and I think I’ve paid my dues to the party for successive campaigns. “I'd be a good MP: | was a good adviser to Dad over the years.’’ he said. The run for’ Conservative nomination in North Van- couver represents Cook’s first foray into the frontline of | politics. North Vancouver Conser- vatives are selecting delegates today to attend the federal leadership convention. The 200-member riding association will send three youth and six senior delegates to the convention. Said Cook, ‘‘Generally speaking’ Kim (Campbell) the favorite daughter, so to speak, but it’s hard to say with Conservatives though. ! honestly believe whoever gives the best speech at the conven- tion itself will win.’ City CITY COUNCIL NORTH VANCOUVER City is boosting taxes by 5.75% in a 1993 budget passed by city council Monday night. By Stephen Wisenthal Contributing Writer But the financial pain will be spread unevenly, with many apartment owners looking forward to lower taxes, while single-family homeowners and some industrial Operations face substantial in- creases. Mayor Jack Loucks and three council members voted for the budget, but councillors Rod Clark and Stella Jo Dean opposed it, saying the tax and spending in- creases were too high. The mayor said: ‘‘We've got a budget which is fair — a budget which means there isn’t going to be a big increase next year. We didn’t try to cut out muscle.” He said the overall tax increase for basic services had been limited to 3.75%, with a further 2% in- crease 10 cover the city’s $350,000 share of the first phase of a new North Vancouver RCMP facility. “Many of our residential prop- erty owners will pay. less taxes in 1993 than they did 11 years ago in 1982,” he said. Loucks: added that the overall tax rate for commercial and light industrial property is ‘tone of the lowest in the GVRD (Greater Vancouver Regional District) and the lowest on the Narth Shore."’ The 15% increase for major in- dustrial properties in North Van- couver City will still leave their taxes ‘the lowest on the industrial waterfront,’’ Loucks said. But Clark told the News that the average annual income: in Friday, May 7, 1993 — North Shore News — STRATA 35% oo Property assessment increase since 1999 Actual % Tax >» decrease/ increase] CER EEAC ee ee Lower Lonsdale was $26,000. “This is hardly the income on which you can support yet another 6% increase. The taxpayer is real- ly going to be put on the rack,” hesaid. The base budget for 1993 was ‘loaded against us already’’. because an inflation rate of 3.5% was built into the initial estimates, he said during budget debate. “ET view the processes we went through this year to be fundamen- tally flawed,”’ said Clark. He said reserve funds for sacial housing and expanding city hall should have been redirected. “In these these funds should have been put to use in softening the tax blow,” he said. Clark also condemned the handling of the mayor’s speech on the budget. “IT received this spin doctor document at 6 p.m. (Monday night) when I arrived at the meeting,”’ he said. Dean singled out the effect on single-family homeowners, who face an average city tax increase 'V keeps WEST VANCOUVER District Council members proudly presented an annual budget Monday. night that will raise taxes for the average taxpayer in the municipality by 1.4%. “We have achieved this in a year when we have lost 1% of our taxes due to the Squamish Indians now taxing their leased lands (Park Royal South and Park Royal Towers),’? Coun. Rod Wood announced. The municipal portion of the $98.3 million budget will cost the average residential taxpayer in West Vancouver an extra $30, The budget includes operating expenses of $56.3 million, plus a $14 million capital program. A further $28 million is col- lected and paid out to other agen- cies. Of the $98 million, West Van- couver will be collecting $30,979,000 in. general taxation, $7,272,200 in utility rates and $765,000 in grants in lieu of taxes. By Maureen Curtis Contributing Writer The actual increase in the municipal budget is about 3.3% for the average resident, but the increase has been offset with taxes from new development. School tax rates have not yet been received, so an accurate estimate of the total increase faced by residents was not available Monday night. Coun. Wood said budget restraint had been achieved by reducing capital spending and by reallocating funds held over from previous years. Items such as new lighting for the seawalk have been postponed, and council reduced its travel times of restraint SURE Ean ana Ue eae ee a of 9.3%. She added that taxpayers also face an 11.8% increase in their GVRD levy, as well as water and recycling charges, and school taxes. “No wonder we are talking about a tax revolt. Many people in our municipality are still un- employed,”’ said Dean. The average tax increase for residential property is 1.4%, but actual increases will depend on the increase in value of the property since 1990. Where assessments are up by less than 26%, as will be the case for most strata units, city’ taxes will decline. ‘ For residential! properties with assessment increases greater than 26% — mainly single-family homes — taxes will be up. Other increases include 6.75% for commercial and industrial property and 15% for major in- dustrial and utility uses. - Coun. Bill Bell said he would support the budget even though some items he wanted to see cut were eft in, and other items he "WEST VANCOUVER DISTRICT COUNCIL budget by one third to $10,000. .A major challenge to the budgeting process has been the costs incurred by environmental programs, most of which are run by the Greater Vancouver Regional. District but funded largely by member municipalities. The North Shore recycling pro- gram is being expanded to include composting, but Wood noted that start-up costs will be funded from existing reserves and operational savings. Wood said that the emphasis in the budgeting process was on maintaining existing services and equipment. The municipality’s cross-coun- try. watermain is a major capital project, but it will save operating costs, increase fire protection for News classifieds win SNA awards THE NORTH Shore News classified advertising department was recently recognized for excellence at this year’s Suburban News- papers of America (SNA) advertising competition by winning two awards. The News won first place in the Classified. Regular Running Feature category. The ad was. designed by the . News’ Christine Gowe, who works in the classified real estate section. The News also won a first-place award for a full-color: classified advertising series featuring Mountview Motors. The ad was designed by News advertising sales manager Peter Kvarnstrom and News artist Joan Pedersen. “i'm very pleased and proud. ! think. the staff worked hard and deserved ‘the awards. It’s nice to have such international recogni- tion,” said News classified man- “ager Val Stephenson. xes to rise 5. 75% Industries, single-family homeowners hardest hit in 1993 budget SINGLE FAMILY NEWS Graphic Joan Pedersan favored were cut out of the document, He added that, with 60% of the city's population being renters, he hoped that apartment landlords would pass on some of the decrease in their taxes. Coun. Basbara Sharp said: ‘We decided that one of the things we wanted to do was maintain ser- vices, not increase them. “If we (cut. essential expen- ditures) this year, we leave it io next year’s tax increase to leave ‘people really feeling like they’re being gouged.’’ Coun, Barbara Perrault said that a substantial part of the in- crease was being borne by the ma- jor industrial and°- utility categorics, who are the ‘major beneficiaries’ of the money that has been spent by Lower Mainland municipalities on Van- couver harbor fire boats, Loucks told the News that one of the major constraints on the budget was the 4% increase in staff costs resulting from the GVRD's staff pay settlement. 0 1.4% existing residents and allow for future growth in the municipality. The West Vancouver Memorial Library expansion project, which is doubling the size of the facility, is expected to be completed this summer. Three new staff members will have to be hired for the expanded library. . The budget process was further complicated this year by unusual and .eratic changes in’ assessed property values, particularly to commercial and recreational . pro- perties. ' Wocd said that council has continued to press the provincial: government on what it considers unfair tax loads resulting from property assessments. The municipality's biannual cit- izens’. survey will be carried out | this fall to collect feedback on the’ value of the municipal services. CHRISTINE GOWE. winning ad.