~~ ee From page 1 decision has been released. North Vancouver Districe director of engineering Bob West- Selis acknowledged in his report to council that the municipality would realize a total savings of $247,200 (4.64%) if the five-year collection contract for garbage and green waste was awarded to fow-bidder IPI. But West-Sells’ final recommendation came down in favor of the in-house Canadian Union of Public Employces ({CUPE) workers. “In light of the good service record provided by the district sanitation employees and the rela- tively small savings that would be realized by awarding the contract to IPI, and the requirement that the district react quickly to ges in the needs and legisla- tior: related to the waste industry, it is recommended that the garbage collection and yard trim- mings service remain in-house.” In the face of allegations by Metras that union cost estimates for the contract were created after tender bids were opened, West- Sells reiterated that unit costs ‘} (per household) were developed independently in the spring between CUPE, the city and dis- trict “before going to public ten- der.” There was a huge difference between the CWS bid, IPI’s and ‘the union cost estimates. ‘The CUPE cost per household C the first year of the contract age, yard trimmings ane Teaintenance of the houschold Schaefer garbage carts) is $51.72. IPI’s bid was based on $53.32 per houschold, while the CWS bid was $88.97. Mews argues that his compa- ny’s bid proposed four trucks while the distnct currently runs six and accuses the district of an unre- alistic cost projection with ques- tionable accountability. West-Sell’s says the district is down to five trucks “most of the “time” and expects a projected two-can ge limit to allow further efficiencies. “We've worked closely with CUPE and we're comfortable in achieving what's been projected,” West-Sells told the News. He said Monday thar North Vancouver City has chosen to stay in-house as well because they felt there was no advantage to going, to an outside firm. CUPE representative Mike Hocevar was furious with Metras’ allegations. “We are trying to achieve a cer- tain goal in waste reduction ... to be smeared by a private company when this is our job to provide a service, to be cost effective for the taxpayer is just a wrong thing to do,” said Hocevar. Only Coun. Trevor Carolan expressed an interest in following up Metras’ allegations and having the bids examined by an auditor, but he received no support from council. “There were six people present and five of them didn’t want to talk about it. The rest of council was of a mind to rubber stamp it, probably to ease their guilty consciences,” Carolan told the News after repeating his Monday allegations that three councillors had received election contributions from CUPE. opens doors te Chinese markets By Michas! Backer News Editor michael@nsnews.com FRESHLY minted fiscal friends celebrated cach other politely over salmon and cheesecake Monday atop Grouse Mountain. North Vancouver business, edu- cation and cultural leaders raised glasses to toast three visiting, repre- sentatives of the — People’s Government of Xigang District of Dalian City in China. The three visitors -——- Ke Li Yuan, deputy district director of the People’s Government of Xigang District; Dong Wen Bing, president of a number of Dalian businesses; and Peike Ge, vice governor of the Xigang District of Dalian — were in own fo sign a memorandum of eco- nomic cooperation with North Vancouver District. Dalian is a harbor city tocated on the Liaodong Peninsula in Northeast China. The urban centre was home to approx! mately 5.3 million people in 1995. Xigang District wants to do business with North Vancouver District. The feeling is mutual. Mayor Don Bell and his Chinese counterparts want a winning twinning relationship. Said Beil: “We have related seaport businesses. Dalian is a major seaport in China. A number of their indus- tries are very similar to ours. They are moving heavily into communications and electronic tech- nology, which we have some strength in here. think there will be 2 blending.” Monday’s memorandum of economic coopera- tion is the first step to promote mutual exchange in the areas of economy and trade, science and technology, and education and culture. Bell invites North Shore businesses to partici- * pate in the initiative. “Part of the way business is done in Asia is that litical contact is made first. That then opens the ureaucratic doors. We're expecting that this will happen. This is an important first step.” Bell would eventually like to see duty-free port status for North Vancouver. “Perhaps we can not only have product trans-shipped here, but actually have an area in North Vancouver where product could be value-added by either assembly or addi- tion of some kind of a Canadian component. “The other concept [°m interested in exploring is a teleport, which means that the port is into the modern age of telecommunications and technolo- gy in a major way,” he said. Beli has discussed both notions with the Vancouver Port Corporation. The mayor anticipates sending a trade delega- tion of North Shore business representatives to Dalian in the spring. “By that time I expect to have defined some of the opportunities more clearly.” Bell credits Dr. Yanyou Zheng, president of che Vancouver-based Canada-China Society of Science and Technology, as the catalyst for the partnership benveen Xigang District and North Vancouver District. The Canada-China Society of Science and Technology was formed in 1993. The group pro- motes cooperation between Canada and China in science, technology, joint ventures and trade. Said Zheng of the agreement: “It’s important for governments first to have friendly relationships. . Under that umbrella companies can have coopera- tion in business, education and culture.” Zheng identified Datian’s interest in North Vancouver: “We focus on several areas, telecom- munications, environmental protection, wood processing, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and experts in these areas. In Canada these are strong areas and China needs this very much.” North Vancouver businesses are looking for better access to the massive Asian market. Tipped tr abandoned MOTOR vehicle inspec- tor Jay Northcott sives an impromptu tecture on truck safety after this overturned dump truck was discovered on Ravenwoods north of a new development. The truck had apparently tipped over sometime Thursday. Police and the fire department were called by a resident Friday morning. There was no sign of the dri- ver and the truck was feaking diese} fuel and hydraulic fluid. Environment officials were calied in to advise on cleanup require- ments. NORTH Vancsuver District Mayor Don Sell signs a memorandum of economic cooperation with Ke Li Yuan, deputy district director of the People’s Government of Xigang District of Dallan City in Chins. The two districts wazit to do business with each other. Gabryelle van der Molen operates Aszra International Moving and Shipping Inc. in North Vancouver. She started the business in July after being in the industry for 18 years. “I've done a wite a bit into China, more export from Canada than import — and actually into Xigang,” said van der Molen. Three years ago her company shipped a win- dow-making factory. It was dismantled in Langley and rebuilt a few kilometres outside of Dalian. She greets the economic relationship with opt- mism. “fm really hoping for companies to come to me so I can give ideas on how to ship, where to ship, whar they need for export, what they need on the other side.” Said North Vancouver District Coun. Trevor Carolan of the agreement: “We've chosen very wisely, We've had good advice going in to it and I think in fairness our Chinese friends have had very good advice, that’s why we’re looking at this little marriage dance right now. Our translators are say- ing that Mr. Yuan, their leader, seems to have a very good heart.” With China now in a mood to do business with the world, cities like Dalian are becoming formida- ble economic engines. A Dalian investment report notes that by the close of 1995 the city was home to more than 5,200 “foreign-invested enterprises” with a total of US$8.27 billion in contracted over- seas investment.