1889 Vancouver City Council Minutes

This document was transcribed in July of 2018 by volunteer Gerald Soon. These election results were published in the “Vancouver Daily World” on December 10, 1888.  The winners took office in January of 1889 for a term of one year. 

Mayor: David Oppenheimer Aldermen: Sam Brighouse (Ward 1) J. F. Salsbury (Ward 1) J. W. Horne (Ward 2) James Whetham (Ward 2) M. J. Brower (Ward 3) Robert Clark (Ward 3) Michael Costello (Ward 4) G. S. McConnell (Ward 4)

Mayor:  David Oppenheimer Aldermen: Ward 1:  Sam Brighouse, J.F. Salsbury Ward 2:  J.W. Horne, James Whetham Ward 3:  M.J. Brower, Robert Clark Ward 4:  Michael Costello, G.S. McConnell Ward 5:  John M. Lefevre (resigned), Isaac Oppenheimer, Hamilton Mason (elected in

Special meeting to change composition of committees for 1889. Motion defeated, committees remained the same. This transcript was made in 2015 by Transcribimus volunteers Margaret Sutherland and Joy Marie Vasquez original handwritten minutes here City of Vancouver Archives Series 23-A

Last chance for Vancouver Water Works Company to fulfill its contract with city: water supply originally promised to city in early part of 1888. This transcript was made in 2015 by Transcribimus volunteers Margaret Sutherland and Joy Marie Vasquez original

Vancouver merchants continually cheated by “fraudulent absconders” who charge goods and then escape on the Steamers without paying. Lawyers Davie & Pooley offer to represent the city in in the pending suit with the CPR for $1,000. Vancouver’s three elementary

In-depth procedural debate, no other business accomplished. This transcript was made in 2015 by Transcribimus volunteers Margaret Sutherland and Joy Marie Vasquez original handwritten minutes here City of Vancouver Archives Series 23-A Volume 2 page 708 only [volume 2 page

The meeting adjourned due to lack of quorum. This transcript was made in 2015 by Transcribimus volunteers Margaret Sutherland and Joy Marie Vasquez original handwritten minutes here City of Vancouver Archives Series 23-A Volume 2 page 711 only [volume 2

Stanley Park to have lodge and outbuildings, twenty seats built, and dead wood cleared or burned – total cost about $800. Claim of $3760.00 damages from J. D. Schmidt for injuries sustained by falling into an open ditch. Fire Inspector

Resolution against the draining of Burnaby Lake to be sent to Victoria, following similar petition by residents of New Westminster. Another to “earnestly petition” the Legislative Assembly to hasten the completion of the railway to the Okanagan. This transcript was

J.M. Lefevre resigned his seat on Council. Letter from the Vancouver Typographical Union No. 226 protests against the City printing being done outside the City This transcript was made in 2015 by Transcribimus volunteers Margaret Sutherland and Joy Marie Vasquez

Urgent need for more Post Office boxes for the “suburbs” in Mount Pleasant and west of Granville Street. Municipality of Richmond’s agreed contribution toward the Granville Street Bridge has not been received. Bridge agreement had been made among Vancouver, Richmond

Z. G. Goldberg permitted to re-construct his veranda damaged by runaway team. City Pound enlarged to suppress “nuisance of stray cattle and horses along our streets.” This transcript was made in 2015 by Transcribimus volunteers Margaret Sutherland and Joy Marie

Council “to arrange with the British Columbia Jockey Club for the lease of a site under the control of the club in the eastern park near Hastings sufficiently large for the construction of a Race Course.” This transcript was made

Aldermen Horne, Whetham, Oppenheimer, McConnell and Brewer were appointed to meet with the wharf owners to work out the next step in the acquisition of city wharf. Plan to have 25,000 copies published of a twenty-page pamphlet about Vancouver was

Mayor authorized to send “up to one thousand dollars to relieve sufferers in Seattle” – referring to the Great Seattle Fire of June 6, 1889. Recently adopted liquor by-law to be reviewed in six months’ time. This transcript was made

City Market committee recommends “a brick building 63 feet x 100 with basement; ground floor to be divided into stalls with arcades … and hall on second storey, total cost …$16,000.” Board of Works reports its annual budget is emptied

Sansom and Dawson’s plan for the City Market selected. Committees established to deal with the Reading Room and to meet with the Street Railway Company. Water service must be extended to Mount Pleasant for “fire and household purposes.” Council agrees

Request received from the Knights of Labour to reduce the workday of City labourers to 9 hours. agreed to call for tender for clearing, close cutting and burning of about 23 acres of land at Hastings for Exhibition grounds. This

Purchase of “another patent collar and harness” for the fire department was approved, as was was the placing of job advertisements for the first paid Fire Department employees, “one Chief, two Engineers, two Drivers, and two Stokers”, plus ten on-call

Establishment of professional fire department. Chief engineer J. H. Carlyle’s salary was set at $75 per month; firemen, stokers and drivers were paid $40; and additional on-call men were paid $15. At the same time, Miss Swan as matron of

Police chief suspended without pay while reports of police misconduct and breach of trust investigated by “Justices of Her Majesty’s Supreme Court of British Columbia or a Judge of the County Court”. Certain officers ordered to turn in “all monies

Vancouver Street Railway allowed to close the Westminster Av. (Main Street) bridge for 15 days to install track. City Engineer instructed to notify the contractor(s) that they (and not the City) are responsible for damage done to others’ property while

Ongoing investigation of police department by Mr. Justice Drake extended to include officials of police court. Street inspector given five days to notify all parties to remove building materials and refuse from city streets. This transcript was made in 2014

Policemen regularly met in a restaurant when they were supposed to be on their beats. Chief Stewart cleared of intentional wrong-doing in some charges, but not all. His “total want of order and system” to blame for many irregularities. Constable

$7,000 in total granted for public works to streets and sidewalks; projects grouped according to city ward. John Devine resigns as city auditor. Date, time and place for election of 1890 Mayor and Council determined. This transcript was made in

Special meeting to reconsider the awarding of the sewer contract. Decision postponed until a meeting with the sanitary engineer. This transcript was made in 2014 by Transcribimus volunteers Margaret Sutherland and Joy Marie Vasquez original handwritten minutes here City of

Formation of a Battalion of Volunteer Militia and one or two Batteries of Garrison Artillery in the City of Vancouver was approved. Decision of last Council meeting to pay former City Solicitor John Devine’s final account was reversed. This transcript

City’s 1888 arrangement with Mr. Claude Vautin to build a smelting works had not been completed. Mr. Vautin’s deposit of $5,000 was declared forfeit and property of the City. This transcript was made in 2014 by Transcribimus volunteers Margaret Sutherland