8 - Wednesday, March 28, 199(1 - North Shore News W. Van ratepayers call for THE IMMINENT economic downturn that is increasingly being predicted by economists colored the remarks of local ratepaycr groups when they met recently with West Van- couver District Council to discuss this year’s proposed municipal budget. “This is a very uncertain vear; nobody knows how the economic situation is going to go,” said Ambleside & Dundarave Ratepayers head Capt. George Murrell, who urged council to reduce municipal spending. Jack Howard of West Van- couver Citizens for Good Gov- ernment agreed. He said council should not go the way of Ottawa by adding to the municipal debt, which currently stands at $20 mil- lion WEST Vancouver Mayor Don Lanskail ...defends hanging baskets, municipal arborist. This year’s proposed $25.5- million budget constitutes a 6.5 per cent increase over last year’s budget. Council may also choose from a number of supplemental items (in- cluding preparation for the next municipal election) totalling $1.7 million and the long overdue con- struction of two firehalls for ap- proximately $3.9 million, which in total would raise the budget to $31 million and a constitute a 30.2 per cent increase. But West Vancouver's director of finance George Horwood said council will likely come up with a final budget increase of about seven per cent. Revenue from new construction, totalling over $92.65 million, will absorb about two per cent of that total, leaving the municipality with an approximate five per cent in- crease. “‘That’s pretty close to tion,’’ Horwood said. Calling for lower taxes, the various ratepayer groups criticized specific budget items and suggested ways of making a priority list of the municipality’s needs. Capt. Murrell supported in- creases in staff and vehicles for the local police department, more in- spectors for the permits and licens- ing department and more funds directed at improving streets. But he opposed development this year of two houses on Argyle Avenue as arts facilities, though Community Arts Council repre- sentative Alfons Muller argued that arts made up only .48 per cent infla- of the budget. **We have some way to g0 to catch up with our European counterparts in the arts,’’ said Muller. While several representatives said that some parks expenditures, including $10,000 for hanging baskets, were unnecessary, parks director Kevin Pike said that the remarks countered appreciation that has been shown for West Vancouver’s annual horticultural JUDSON B. WARNER LAWYER 119-255 WEST 1ST STREET (at Mahon) NORTH VANCOUVER, BC. V7M 3G8 TELEPHONE (604) 986-4555 (9am-5pm) GENERAL PRACTICE OF LAW INCLUDING Criminal Law Personal Injury Collections Initial interview without charge Real Estate Transactions Incorporations Wills and Estates Evening & weekend appointments cvailable by pnor anangement CHINATOWN 683-7268 23 FE Pender St. Vancouwt 4TH AVENUE 737-2624 2370 With Au, Vancouver LANSDOWNE PARK 270-3732 612 5300 No 4 Rd. Richard CAPILANO MALL 980-9213 22.935 Manoe Dr, North Vancouwt LOUGHEED MALL 421-0842 120 9855 Austin Ave, Buariaby SURREY 585-233! 135349 Surrey Place Mall, Sartey METROTOWN 435-4640 1314800 Kingsway, Burnaty, | WEST VANCOUVER’ DISTRICT COUNCIL. display. “if we cut them out, most of our complimentary letters to the municipality would dry up,"* quipped Mayor Don Lanskail. The proposed hiring of an ar- borist to help address the on-going controversy over tree removal in the district was also criticized. Former alderman Doreen Blackburn of the Citizens of Good Government proposed reailocating some money from parks funds to see what an arborist could do in a year. Mayor Lanskail said, ‘‘Trees are a big problem. We need some ex- pert advice and to find some mid- dle ground between the polarized extremes (tree lovers vs. people who want trees topped or removed for views).”" The need for street and sidewalk improvements continued to be a key concern, although British Properties Homeowner's Associa- uon president Rob Inman approv- ed works planned for his area. Complaints over some of the expenditures on recreational facili- lies were countered with reminders that West Vancouver, through its user-pay policy, enjoys the highest percentage revenue return in the province. In answer to a suggestion from the Gleneagles Ratepayers, Pike NURSING -HOME-CARE.-. | CARING EXPERIENCED STAFF * RNs *® LPNs * Aides « Homemakers * Live-ins | 24 HOURS A DAY DRAKE | MEDOX 987-0861 HEALTH SERVICES” Special Introduction (reg. $139.95) reduced spending agreed that something more than this year’s five per cent increase in teereational fees might: be toler- ated. “But we have to be careful, especially with the children’s pro- grams," he added. The local chamber of commerce, pleading low profits and Hite hope for expansion, asked for con- sideration regarding taxes. Current president Youngson suggested that the various business districts, rather than continuing to compete with each other, should (with council's assistance) meet together in a forum to plan strategies for the future. “Such a forum should include Donald individuals with expertise in urban retail, planning, land economics and marketing,”* he suggested. Fire Chief Colin Evans repeated his annual plea for a No. 5 firehall in the Westmount area above the Upper Levels Highway, a replacement of the Horseshoe Bay facility and an addition to the No. 1 firehall. The fire department's respon- sibilities as well as liabilities are in- creasing, he pointed out. The police department, which hopes to add four more constables (two for drug work), reported suc- cess with their new crime preven- tion program (burglaries dropped 30 per cent last year) and traffic section. NORCO NISHIKI ’89 STOCK LOWOUT Mountain Bikes & 10 Speeds, Accessories, Cycling Clothes & Shoes 20-50% off Sale Extended to Apri! 1st DON’T MISS IT! 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