PATER penta em TE ein oO Ramer erent: T Sr RU, cena cD Ree nape RRR horace tee i 3 § : i i : : } i: , y i ; Y k 3 i § t } i t : i. i t " ' : : i i r i i eat ene eee TO ANYBO NEWS photo Neil Lucente 1Y THERE? HELLO, IS anyone in there? This question was asked by both of these children during playtime at John Lawson Park recently. -'Sunday, April 5, 1987 - North Shore News NV EXPLOSION AFTERMATH Propane tank} regulations reviewed REGULATIONS FOR the storage of large propane tanks in populated areas should be tightened, according to the chairman of an advisory committee studying the issue. , John Tapio, Fire Chief of the Delta Fire Department, said pres- ent propane tank size and location guidelines in B.C. are not consis- tent. Last September a propane tank exploded ‘at North Vancouver's Pay-N-Save gas station after 4 cus- tomer drove away from the tank before an attached propane gas hose had been removed.’ No one was injured in that acci- dent, but residents living adjacent to the gas station objected to the location of the propane tank in a densely populated area. The advisory committee, formed last January, is expected to make its recommendations to the pro- vincial government at the end of April. Tapio said the Propane Installa- tion Code, enforced by B.C.’s Gas and Safety Branch, does not deal with the issue of zoning. “hs a little bit of a void area. We'd like to come up with guidelines to determine what size of tanks will be allowed in certain areas. It will also give us a better handle where these tanks are being located,”’ he said. Tapio explained that unless a PROVISIONAL BUDGET TOO HIGH By KIM PEMBERTON News Reporter municipality has its own zoning regulations propane installations could be made without notifying the municipality or the local fire department. However, a permit would be needed from the Gas and Safety Branch. The committee is made up of representives from local fire departments; the Greater Van- couver Regional District; the Gas and Safety Branch and the pet- roleum industry, Tapio said the need for standard guidelines has been discussed for two years. | “Propane storage,’’ he said, ‘ a concern for most jurisdienens. Ninety-nine point nine per cent of the (regular) gas tanks are buried and they don’t pose a great hazard of people running into them. Pro- pane isn’t more dangerous, but it’s more susceptible to problems than buried (gasoline) tanks.’’ Tapio said he is optimistic that all of the parties concerned will be able to agree to standardize pro- pane guidelines. Ratepa yers consulted on W. Van budget cuts WEST VANCOUVER ratepayers and district council are in agreement over the municipality’s proposed 1987 provi- sional budget: a 13.1 per. cent increase in taxes would be unacceptable. Council and staff invited input from several local ratepayers groups at Monday’s meeting held to scrutinize the budget which proposed a total budget of $21,351,000 compared with last year’s budget of $18,874,000. “This is not a year to increase, but to cut back and hold the line,”’ said Capt. George Murrell of the Ambleside-Dundarave Ratepayers. The opinion was echoed by rep- resentatives of the Gleneagles Ratepayers, the British .Properties Ratepayers, West Van Citizens for Good Government and the West Vancouver Chamber of Com- merce. “7 think everyone agrees a (13.1 per cent) increase (for 1987) is too high. We're looking for opinions on what items we should drop,’’ said Mayor Don Lanskail. West Vancouver’s director of finance George Horwood pointed out after the meeting that the pro- visional budget was presented to council so that municipal spending priorities can be set. The annual budget, he said, should be com- pleted by May I]. The current budget calls for net expenditures of $4,323,300 for rec- reation and culture, $9,513,200 for such protection services as fire ead police, $2,704,400 for general gov- ernment, $2,500,800 for water and sanitation and $2,316,700 for transportation and public works. Additional capital expenditures By MAUREEN CURTIS Contributing Writer : include $600,800 for protection, $2,198,100 for public works and transportation, $493,500 for recre- ation and $3,477,800 for culture. A revenue drop of 6.5 per cent, due in part to low bank rates, fur- ther contributed to the proposed tax increase. Lanskail invited comment on a $179,000 increase needed in the police budget to hire five extra constables. Two are needed to im- plement a new computerized re- cord keeping system that would tie West Vancouver in with police departments in other municipalities. The other three constables would become part of a crime target team to help combat the 55.8 per cent increase in crimi- nal code offences in West Van- & couver since 1981. “This is mandatory in combat- ting the real increases in home burglaries in West Vancouver,”’ submitted Deputy Police Chief Hal Jenkins. Municipal manager Terry Lester added that the local police force has actually lost several man-years due to the extra demands placed on the force by the new Young Of- fenders Act and other factors. ‘*We are actually going backwards in our ability to police this community,’’ Lester said. But none of the ratepayers argued with the expenditure in the police department. “This is a priority and one of the things we should concentrate on in our spending,’’ said Paul Sykes of the Gleneagles Ratepayers. Roads, ' sidewalks ‘and ditches ~-should be high on the list of spen- ding priorities, submitted: Rob In- man of the British Properties Natepayers. ‘We would like to see some-- thing physical for our dollars: the ’ roads fixed. We question new dic- taphones and typewriters. And if we’re going to have give on roads, fire and police and the others should have to give equally,’’ In- man said. An extensive submission came its recreation costs compared. with the 26 per cent of similar custs re- covered by the -City of New Westminster. : He added that contracting. out has been promoted and that the municipality’s public works staff has dropped in five years from 83 to about 40 people, despite in- creases in the number of streets, water mains and sewers that must be maintained. Chamber past president Dave Bakewell questioned expenditures such as $25,000 to computerize cemetery records, $30,000 to replace a fire hose, $12,000 to phase out an employee, $20,000 © for a bus shelter and $22,500 fora new watering truck. Most agreed that 3170, 000 to “We would like 1 to s see 2 something physical for 0 ou; dollars: the roads fixed. We question new dictaphones and typewriters. And if we’re going to have to give on roads, (then) fire and police and the others should have to give @ equally” from the West Vancouver Chamber of Commerce. President William Soprovich suggested council take more of a “Iong-term approach’’ five-year budget. ‘This could smooth out some of the expenditures that result in large jumps in taxation in one year,’’ Soprovich said. Soprovich also promoted more of a user-pay policy, which Lester said is already well utilized in West Vancouver. As an example Lester said West Vancouver recovers 65 per cent of with a” —Rob Inman British Properties Ratepayers replace the leaking and frequently patched roof on the West Van- couver Aquatic Centre was a nec- essary expenditure. “Council should also consider the long-term social needs of the community and spend less sub- sidizing the relatively well-to-do elderly of this community, and more to help single-parent. fami- lies,’’ added Bakewell. Bill Chapman, . another past chamber | president, ' called. for -a more even-handed tax ratio for commercial and residential com- ponents. Local businessmen cur- Weather: Sunday, mostly cioudy, with a few showers. Monday, mostly sunny. Tuesday, mostly cloudy. INDEX Business........... 20. Classified Ads.......39. Doug Collins........ 9 Comics ............38 Editorial Page....... 6 Fashion............13 Bob Hunter......... 4 Lifestyles .......... 35 Mailbox............ 7 TV Listings.........32. Travel.............21 Whei's Going On. :..30 WEST VANCOUVER Mayor Don Lanskail...‘‘I think everyone agrees a (13.1 per cent) increase is too high.”’ rently pay $1.48 for every dollar put in by the homeowner. The average West Vancouver household has an income of more than $45,000. “The average business in West Van is not that lucrative, and is be- ing taxed into the ground,” Chapman said. ‘‘Some 20 per cent of the municipal budget goes into recreation and culture —- which is of minimal benefit to commercial . business,’’ he added... Equitable taxation of. homes 2 and businesses would save ‘the “com- mercial sector 12.7 per cent, or $464,000.a year, but represents only a two per cent increase to home- owners, Chapman explained. Lester sympathized with local business, but said: ‘‘It’s a political reality — a much larger vote comes from the residential sector.’”’ He called West Van's 1.4-1 ratio ‘‘middle of the road.” Lester told' the News he is preparing staff recommendations for budget cutting in hopes of br- inging the tax increase down six to . eight per cent in excess of $1 mil- lion, ao Budgetary decisions will be made by district council in the montl:s to come, with final accep- tance required before May 15.