1886 Vancouver City Council Minutes

In February of 1886, a number of residents of the town of Granville sent a petition to the B.C. Legislative Assembly to incorporate the City of Vancouver. In 1944, the Attorney-General of BC returned the original document to the City of Vancouver.  This copy was made from COVA reference number COV-S27. copy of original petition here This letter was transcribed in May and June of 2018 by Transcribimus volunteers Gent Ng and Gerald Soon Petition for Bill to Incorporate the “City of Vancouver” Presented 15/2/86 Robson [next page] To The Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia The Petition of the residents of Vancouver in the District of New Westminster Humbly Sheweth That the present village of Granville with its vicinity has been chosen by the Canadian Pacific Railway Company as the terminus of their Railway, and in consequence thereof the said Village is now daily increasing, and is likely to increase very largely in population, in the immediate future That in view of the large increase in said population, it is necessary and expedient that the building of the roads, streets and bridges, and other improvements of a like nature should be provided for Your petitioners further shew that the said Railway Company are about setting the contract for constructing their line of Railway from Port Moody to said Village of Granville and are about constructing large wharves and other buildings and improvements in said Village of Granville and in the immediate vicinity which said construction and improvements will give employment to many hundreds of men, and for the reasons aforesaid, and for the better preservation of law and order your petitioners are desirous of obtaining a charter incorporating the said village of Granville and its immediate vicinity, a city under [next page] the name of “The City of Vancouver.” Your Petitioners therefore pray. . That your Honorable House may be pleased to pass an Act incorporating the said City of Vancouver in accordance with the desire of Your Petitioners. And your Petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray. Richard Alexander Chas A. Coldwell L. A. Hamilton Edward E. Rand Jos Mannion Thos F. McGuigan Alex Johnstone F. F. Kingdon J. Miller D A Ferguson A W King Frank. A. Nicholson S Brighouse J. W. Sullivan M. A. Mac Lean James Hamilton Walter J. Graveley Donald M Naughton J. J. Blake Robert Thomas Jno Leask D. L. Beckingsale John Boultbee Thos Haggart Jones Mc Allister Samuel Pearse T. C. Innes C Russell E. E. Barker J D Jarvis F. D. Boucher A K Coughtrey S. S. Tilley Colin Rankin J Rooney Pet. Larson John Hay G Blackstone Cy Arkell John M Haywood W. J. McGuigan M. D. Allan Mc Pherson C M Johnston [next page] Thomas Wilson R McDonald W. Irvine J G Nicolson J. Pitt T H Morris D. Caldon A. Wilson H. L. Freese J. Ross Hemsley Lewis L R Arthur W U Macdonald J. D. Kavanagh J. A. Livingston Robert Tassyeth G. Finney J.

First Council established, committees established. Joseph Huntly took minutes at this meeting. Purchase of Fire Apparatus referred to the Committee on Fire, Water, and Light until the next meeting. Meetings to take place in the residence adjoining the Court House until a suitable quarters can be found.Continue Reading

Minutes of previous meeting read and adopted. The Council then adjourned to attend the public meeting called by the Mayor to plan Dominion Day celebrations.Continue Reading

By-Law No. 1 read three times and passed, outlining the duties and salaries of City Clerk, Assessment Commissioner, Engineer, and Police Magistrate. The Mayor, Police Magistrate, and City Clerk appointed a Board to review and issue liquor permits at a cost of $50 per year retail, $25 per year wholesale. A presentation was made by the Volunteer Fire Brigade, and a request for equipment.Continue Reading

Letter received from Mr. John D. Ronald, Manufacturer of Fire Engines – referred to Fire, Water and Light Committee. By-Law No. 3 dividing the City of Vancouver into Wards was passed and sent to the British Columbia Gazette for publication. Police Commissioner empowered to notify property owners of porches, fences, railings, etc., that are unsightly or that interfere with traffic or pedestrians, and to ensure they are removed. Continue Reading

Communication received from Dr. McGuigan re: Voter’s List, no action taken. City of Vancouver charged 50 cents per day board for each City prisoner held in the provincial Jail. City unable to pay at this point, but asks that accounts be kept so they can pay in future. Royal City Planing Mills allowed to lay water pipe as requested, though City will have option to acquire it in future as part of civic water works. David Oppenheimer’s letter of May 23 replied to “on account of the want of funds the city is unable to undertake any general improvements.”Continue Reading

Dealing with the most important things first! One of the earliest items of business of the newly-formed City of Vancouver was establishing the conditions for granting liquor licenses.  This by-law was introduced and finalized at the second meeting of Vancouver City Council, on May 12, 1886, and made official on June 10, 1886. This document was transcribed in July of 2018 by Transcribimus volunteer Anita Dos Santos. original handwritten document here 1 14 By-Law No 5 A By-Law to define the Conditions and requirements to obtain hotel, saloon shop or retail and wholesale licenses for the sale within the City of Vancouver of spirituous, fermented and other intoxicating liquors and to regulate places so licensed and fix a fee or duty for the said license. The Mayor and Council of the City of Vancouver enact as follows: (1) The Board of Police Commissioners of the City may direct the issue of licenses written or printed or partially written and partially printed of the several kinds or descriptions following that is to say:- (a) Hotel licenses; (b) Saloon Licenses; (c) Shop or Retail licenses (d) Wholesale licenses. (2) Every such license shall authorise the person licensed to sell subject to the provisions of this by-law, all spirituous and malt-liquors and all combinations of liquors and drinks and drinkable liquids which are intoxicating and shall be signed by the Board of Police Commissioners. 2 15 3 An hotel license or Saloon license shall authorize the licensee to sell and dispose of any liquors in quantities not exceeding one quart which may be drunk in the hotel or saloon in which the same is sold. 4 A shop or retail license shall authorize the licensee to sell and dispose of any liquors in quantities any liquors not to be drunk in or upon the premises for which the license is granted by not less than one pint in quantity shall be sold or disposed of at any one time to any one person. 5 A wholesale license shall authorize the licensee to sell and dispose of liquors in his warehouse store shop or place defined in the license in quantities of not less than two gallons in each cask or vessel and whenever such selling by wholesale is in respect of bottled ale porter beer wine or other fermented or spirituous liquor each such sale shall be in quantities of not less than one dozen reported quart bottles; provided that none of the liquors so sold shall be consumed in or upon the premises or house in respect of which the license is granted. 6 The Board of Police Commissioners shall hold a meeting on the twentieth day of each and every 3 18 month for the consideration of applications for licenses unless such day be a Sunday or public holiday when such meeting shall be held on the next judicial day and such meeting may be adjourned from day to day by resolution to be entered in the minutes of the Board.

Council met in the Relief Committee Tent. City Clerk to write to John D. Ronald accepting the terms he offered for the purchase of a Fire Engine in May. City Clerk also to write to manufacturers of fire bells for future City purchase.Continue Reading

Only $89 was reported as received from Police Court fines, which was thought to be “an unreasonably low sum.” Further to the Special Assessment for the improvement of Water Street, the rule was established, “Where the property in any block is especially benefited by the proposed improvements the rate per front-footage shall be uniform irrespective of the assessed value.”Continue Reading

The Board of Works is authorized to dig a trench along the water course from Pender Street to Water Street, and plow under “decayed vegetable matter and rotten wood” presenting a fire hazard. Owners of the lots in question will be charged for clearing. Fire by-law completed and sent for printing. Continue Reading

Plans for a 2 storey Fire Hall to be drafted at once, and budget of $100 set for purchase of a Fire Bell. A roadway at the foot of Carrall Street is being constructed for the Steam Fire Engine.  Special Police salaries of $282 authorized for payment.Continue Reading

A Special Meeting was held to authorize payment of $350.70 freight charges on the new Fire Engine from Brussels (Ontario) to Vancouver. Continue Reading

Among the expenses approved was a payment of $6.50 to David Gibb for the making of a coffin. Liquor Bylaw No. 5 was finalized and sent to the Gazette for publication. Continue Reading

Mayor and selected aldermen to go to Victoria to negotiate a bank loan for $8,000 to cover remainder of year’s expenses. City Treasurer hired at $25 per month, and a safe purchased at $410. Alderman E. P. Hamilton to supervise construction of Council Chambers and offices for City Clerk and Treasurer. Continue Reading

As False Creek’s navigable waters are essential to businesses on the shore, no one shall be permitted to build a bridge unless there is a draw large enough to admit all vessels.Bank of British Columbia agreed to lend the city $10,000. Chairmen of City Committees to review their expenses and work together to form a joint budget.Continue Reading

Citizens protest against a new bylaw forbidding verandahs, sidewalks, etc. on City property. Vancouver will contact both the Coquitlam and Vancouver water works companies to see which would be better to supply Vancouver water. If neither is satisfactory, the City may incorporate its own Water Works. Continue Reading

“Considerable repair” needed to the Fire Engine; the Committee feels it is due to defective workmanship. First Fire Engineer ET Morris resigns. The C. P. R. has offered Vancouver free use of its hospital, though the City must provide bedding and a steward to attend to City patients. Owen Hughes hired as steward. Continue Reading

Property owners on Cordova Street not allowed to have the sidewalk built 18 inches above the road, but they may build steps connecting the sidewalk up to their buildings. Board of Works to make sure that the wharf at the foot of Cambie Street is strong enough to hold the Fire Engine at low tide.Continue Reading

A By-Law was passed to hold a vote among the Electors on whether to issue debentures for $6,9000 for a steam fire engine and another for $14,100 for city improvements. The City of Vancouver use every legal means possible to obtain rights for wharfs and docks along the City Front. Continue Reading

David Oppenheimer’s company will continue to develop the wharf at the North End of Carrall Street and will eventually “convey" it to the City of Vancouver. Letter received from Chief Justice Sir Matthew Begbie declining to hold a Court of Appeal on the Voters List. Continue Reading

Tait & Co allowed to rent space behind Fire Hall for Carriage House at a cost of $12.50 per month. Fire Engineer allowed $100 to build a small dwelling behind Fire Hall. Fire Hall allowed to be rented to Lodges and other “suitable” groups. Continue Reading

Special Meeting to receive the Board of Works and Finance Committee reports, and to pass a By-Law fixing the polling places and appoint Deputy Returning Officers for Election of a Mayor and Aldermen for 1887. McKenzie and Ross awarded contract for laying sidewalk on Westminster Avenue (now Main Street) at a cost of 3 cents per foot.Continue Reading

At the request of the Rev. Father Fay of Holy Rosary Cathedral, thirty dollars granted toward building a sidewalk along Richards Street from Hastings to Dunsmuir. The parish to supply blocking, nails and labour.Continue Reading

Many additional accounts reviewed and approved for payment. Two By-Laws passed for the improvement of Powell and Cambie Streets. Continue Reading