POLICE BOARD THREAT ANGERS MAYOR

Vancouver Mayor Philip Owen is angry that the Vancouver police board
is threatening to kill the city's $7.2-million plan to add 40
additional police officers to the Downtown Eastside.

Under the proposal, the city would cover half of the $7.2 million
through a one-per-cent rise in the property tax.

(This was expected to push property taxes up by a total of 2.9 per
cent next year.)

The other half would come from a reallocation of the police budget,
which is under the control of the police board.

The board voted 6-1 Wednesday to defer a decision on the three-year
program, which was endorsed by city council and Chief Constable Bruce
Chambers.

"This could scuttle the whole thing," said Owen, the board member who
cast the lone vote against deferral.

"But I'm going to be promoting it because I think it is the right
thing to do.

"And everybody is on side except the police board."

Owen said residents and business operators in and adjacent to the
crime-ridden Downtown Eastside will be angry if the police board
rejects the proposal.

"I'm not sure if they've [the board members] thought it
through."

Owen said the police board will discuss the issue at another meeting
in about two weeks.

City manager Ken Dobell confirmed that the police board, which is
mostly provincially appointed, could refuse to reallocate its budget
to fund more of a police presence on the Downtown Eastside.

"I think we are now at the mercy of the board," said Dobell. "The
board will have to decide whether it agrees that it's a priority that
requires a response."

No members of the police board aside from Owen could be reached for
comment.

Owen said the board is concerned that its authority over the
deployment of the police force is being undercut by the Downtown
Eastside proposal.

The police board is also upset at recent cuts urged by the city to the
police department's 1999 budget, said Owen.

The budget proposed by city staff includes the elimination of 13
administrative police department positions, which would save the city
$1.1 million next year.

"The board members were just suspicious and not satisfied with all the
answers they got," said Owen.

Owen said the police board will discuss the issue at another meeting
in about two weeks.

City manager Ken Dobell confirmed that the police board, which is
mostly provincially appointed, could refuse to reallocate its budget
to fund more of a police presence on the Downtown Eastside.

"I think we are now at the mercy of the board," said Dobell. "The
board will have to decide whether it agrees that it's a priority that
requires a response."

No members of the police board aside from Owen could be reached for
comment.

Owen said the board is concerned that its authority over the
deployment of the police force is being undercut by the Downtown
Eastside proposal.

The police board is also upset at recent cuts urged by the city to the
police department's 1999 budget, said Owen.

The budget proposed by city staff includes the elimination of 13
administrative police department positions, which would save the city
$1.1 million next year.

"The board members were just suspicious and not satisfied with all the
answers they got," said Owen.

Checked-by: Patrick Henry