ta wt tt te Nt ne er eine i ene

ma anh Ne ct

‘
i
!
i

His Worship the Mayor April 6, 1976

Concern and apprehension has been expressed that the self-serve station is
displacing operators and reducing employment. It is our policy in the case
of conversions to offer the self-serve station to the existing operator or

relocate him to another station.

The other facet of this employment question is the alleged reduction of staff
at self-serve stations. The fact is a study conducted in February 1975 by

the Planning Department for the Vancouver City Council pointed out there

had been a net employment increase of 33% after conversion to self-serve as
computed with before conversion. The operating hours of self-serve stations
are generally longer and require a variety of shift workers to cover the
workload on a seven-day basis. In actual practice it is more of a transfer of
employment, from one function to another quite similar, rather than a loss of

employment.

We believe the very real problem is being able to attract and hire personnel who
are willing to provide a high calibre of service at service stations. Generally,
in today's world it appears the manpower pool is more attracted tc benefits
from other sources rather than those gained in the service station industry.

We are opposed to any legislation which is discriminatory in nature and is
basically directed at eliminating a method of operation or marketing strategy
rather than addressing specifically the principle of land use. It is difficult
‘to understand the rationale behind a piece of legislation which restricts

and frustrates future marketing initiatives. Apparently, in such instances little
or no consideration whatsoever is given the consumer. If the self-serve type

of marketing had not found favour with the consumer originally, his negative

‘Yesponses would have teflected his feelings and the self-serve concept would

have been abandoned long before now. While the self-serve concept has been
well received, this is not to Say that we intend converting all our stations to

self-serve units.

It should not be overlooked that any attempt to protect. existing established
methods of gasoline retailing through the legislative process can be easily
defeated by the consumer in the final analysis. He can simply change his
shopping habits and shift the purchase of all his gasoline requirements to
stations outside the City. We urge that Council abandon any thought of
restricting self-serve stations. We submit that powers granted Council pursuant
to provisions of the Municipal Act in respect to zoning and property uses were
not meant to be used to control methods of marketing.

In conclusion, we submit -it is imperative that the flexibility we now have under
the existing zoning and fire regulations in respect to the Yetail marketing
of motor gasolines be preserved in order that we may be in a position to meet

the demands of the consum t changing market conditions.
tinue to be an efficient equalizing

rnment control and regulation.

Respectfully sub tted,

More: Nita tg

Me. Walanesley will he
tw abtendauce to make a,
brief verbal presenti
aud answer questins Civy CLERK