4 - North Shore News — Wednesday, Apri! 19, 2000 From pane don’t know. But there is a lot of that. Pm not going to withdraw that.” Sharp said Vancouver is experimenting with a computerized system in pawnshops that records goods as soon as they are brought into the shop, and that information goes straight to police. Currendy, pawnshops keep a paper record of items that can be accessed by the RCMP or city business licence inspectors. Sharp said the reason the pawnshops are coming to North Vancouver is because all of the other municipalities are changing their bylaws. _ Perrault agreed. “We need a crackdown on pawnshops. We should be asking ourselves why so many of them are wanting to locate here. One can only conclude that business must be d hocked g lucrative or our regulations must be Jax com: pared to ncighbouring communities,” Perrault Saki Pawnshops in the municipality, according to the Municipal Act, must hold an item for a min- imum of 72 hours before reselling it. Perrault said that is not long enough. “This is barely time for a victim of theft to determine what goods have been taken,” she said. She said Because Vancouver has its own char- ter, it can set its own rules and demands a 30 day holding period. Portland, Oregon has a 15 day holding period, and is proposing a change of up to 21 days so police can keep up with the flow of goods. The motion seeks input from the RCMP and from the Union of B.C. Municipalities on amending the Municipal Act to require a longer minimum holding ame. MAYOR ‘Sharp: pawn- shops coming to the City as other municipalities get tougher bylaws Options for modest hikes presented From page3 1995 and 1999 the district faced a poten- tial tax rate increase of 33%. That was due to cost increases including inflation, capi- tal projects such as the Parkgate Community Centre and a rec centre for the Capilano Road areca which were approved in the 1997 referendum, wage settlements, service enhancements, and a $3.5-million cut in: grants from the province. The district absorbed much of those costs and taxes increased only 12.5% over those five years. i _ ‘Bell also took issue with the comment is ZONAL GERANIUMS “(18cm pot). 2 $4.97 | — by McKay-Dunn and Dunsford that they would not do a “line-by-line” analysis of the budget, but that cutting expenditures was a job for staff. Dramatic cuts, he said, require political decisions — which departments or which agencies are going to be slashed. Harris agrecd that the councillors must put money where their mouths are. at I find bizarre is that those who voted for 0% increase did not want to dirty their hands and tell us where the money is going to come from,” she said. She also pointed out that if this course is going to be held for the next three years, it will have a tremendous negative impact FANCY LEAFED & SCENTED GERANIUMS - Our best selection of the year! Includes Vancouver Centennial & dozens of other varieties! on the community. People would rather see modest increases every year than mas- sive fluctuations in tax rates. Muri and Harris presented their own plans for rate increase options of cither 3.4% or 2.9%. They suggested items which could be cut and also added a number of new items for funding, such as $50,060 for new library materials. “I made the same mistake when I was a new councillor. I thought I could change the world in six months,” said Muri. “If we go to zero, that’s when these chambers are going to be filled with angry people because they want the ser- vices we provide.” Easter Services Good Friday, April 21 Children's Way of the Cross 10 am Everyone's Way of the Cross 12 am Easter Vigil, Aprif 22 7 pm Contemporary Service Easter Sunday, April 23 8 am, 9:15 am, 11 am Bay City Insurance Services Ltd. Next to the liquor store (inside) at Lynn Valley Centre * Auto * Home | * Business* Tenants We want to be your insurance broker! Mon. - Fri. 9am - 9pm / Sat. 9am - 6pm ~ Sun. ame Spm. : RK Geranium Emporium. Maybe it’s their Gardeners love geraniums. free flowering, easy going nature and the | seemingly infinite choice of flower colours. Cascading ivy geraniums are always a top performer. in’ hanging baskets & window boxes. The elegant bloss Martha Washington Geraniums are irresistable. leafed geraniums offer unlimited interest. Join. us ‘this weekend as we celebrate The Geranium with our first” ever. GaRDENWoRKS Geranium Festival! information packages and’ a- remarkable : special seminars, selection of geraniums! ENTER TO WIN A GARDENWORKS GERANIUM COLLECTION! (A $70 Value) We've arranged some GARDENWORKS, ; pets * PLANTER SOX, MIX. (20 Litre Bag) _ GARDENWORKS” Everything to Make Your Garden Work ALL Year Long!!