DUPE we - Budget debate heats up in NV District council Martin Millerchip Contributing Writer ‘miller@nsnews.com UNIONIZED workers istrict are concerned abovt what they see as “proposed reduction to. ‘Mike - Hocevar, President Canadian Union of Public mes Anthony Sinclair, fWest. Vancouver, was ys and received 12 nth robation after. he a - guilty to: : ig “four, bird feeders ging’-to IGA Pius on ‘in 1 West Vancouw cr s.. 7 arclay Sinclair, 30, , Was jailed 30 days The provisional budget, presently being debated by council, will ultimately deter- mine any increase in residen- tial property taxes. Current projections sug- gest a $30 increase to the average — districc = home. . However, nothing is written in stone until the council debate concludes, usually sometime in April. But Hocevar says CUPE is concerned about reductions to service levels, pointing to a rkers fear serv backlog of service requests in many departments — at Municipal Halt. “Because of council's poli- cy over the past few years to strive for zero tax increases, demands for giving more for tess have led to many efficien- cies, but there is not much room to find even more effi- ciencies,” Hocevar told coun- cil. “Our members serving the public have heen doing their part with losses of positions, with wage increases in the 1490s much fower than the inflation rates, and by taking on greater work loads.” He added: “We note that the provisional budget docu- ment indicates that ‘no cost reductions are included that would impair service levels’ yet it also reports of measures that will have ‘internal service impacts only’ which can only lead to threats to current ser- vice levels as staff tries to cope.” Hocevar says the provi- tol SP Friday, January 9, 1998 — North Shore News - 13 sional budget contains other suggestions that could impact service levels: @ resident maintenance of adjoining district-owned property; B@ the use of volunteers in parks and the RCMP; BB increased fees; and @ the privatization of capital projects. Hocevar’s last point relates to the private tendering of the Windridge ice arena. “The union secks the | ns employer’s commitment to ensure that the Windridge ice arena staff would be covered wader the collective agree- ment, no matter who the operator is,” said Hecevar. He concluded: “The 1998 budger should be rooted nor ° only in accountability, but also in ensuring that service levels are not threatened but are enhanced, “Why should the District of North Vancouver taxpayers pay more for less?” WESTCOAST ENERGY'S LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS STORAGE FACILITY Careful plat means delive | reliable energy few wi pacts N o additional industrial development or cived 12 montis’ pro-.. J rafter he pleaded ° guiley:.. ealing ‘cheese belonging : a 1 West Vancouver Ge arry: Ha Ping Tem, 45, Vancouver, ‘was jailed 21 ays after he pleaded guilry to iving without a licence and eding, on Marine Drive on -1995 in West : eae P, Collings North Vancouver provin- ial court on Nov. 26, 1997: . nathan William Burke, < ling - video - cacsettes ging to Sears C anada on 1h. in North: Vancouver Westcoast Energy's proposed liquefied natural gas storage facility is located 7.5 km inland from Howe Sound on the existing pipeline at McNab Creek. It is an addition to the existing Lower - Mainland’s natural gas system and will meet the needs of residents and businesses in the next decade in a cost-effective manner. When completed, only the upper portion of the storage tank will be visible from very limited portions of the Sound. The proposed facility will not require further infrastructure or new transport systems. Existing docks will be used to receive materials during construction and operation. No ships will ever be used to transport LNG because the facility is being built only to serve the needs of southwest British Columbians. expansion will take place. Ail natural gas stored on-site will be delivered directly inta the adjacent pipeline, presenting no incentive for industries to locate near the facility. And, with the highly restricted rezoning of the site for LNG storage only. the facility will alay no role in further . industrial development in Howe Sound. That's cur commitment to you. H you would like to iearn more about our proposed project, you are welcome to attend our Open House on January 17, 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., at Gleneagles Golf Club. Or contact us for more information: Dauy Thorneycroft, Projeci Manager call collect (604) 691-6533 visit our website at www.wesicoasianergy.conving 5 testcoast The fourth in a series on Westcoast Energy's proposed liquefied natural gas facility. 4 Project Overviews - Public involvement and Consultation a 3 Satety and Environment 4G. industrial Development