THE CORPORATION OF THE
CITY OF PORT COQUITLAM

APR 2 2 1991

TO B.R. Kirk April 16th, 1991
City Administrator

FROM: R.A. Freeman
City Clerk
Deputy Administrator

RE: Resolution to. LMMA and UBCM - Assessments

RESOLUTION:

That the resolution following be presented for endorsement to the June
meeting of the Lower Mainland Municipal Association and to the September
Convention of the Union of British Columbia Municipalities:

WHEREAS Section 26(4) of the Assessment Act allows an owner who has occupied
“eligible residential property" for the preceding 10 years to apply to the
assessor for an assessment based only on the actual use of the land and
improvements, not taking into consideration any other use to which the land or

improvements could be put;

AND WHEREAS the definition of "eligible residential property” in Section 26 of
the Ass-ssment Act is limited ‘to properties which are used “only to
accommoda \ three or fewer families" and therefore when a property is used for

the purpose of a family business in addition to a family residence, relief
under Section 26(4) is not available; |

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Provincial Government be requested to
correct this situation by taking action as follows: | OO _

1. That Section 26 of the Assessment Act be amended to expand the definition
of “eligible residential property" to include that portion of property
which is used for residential purposes even though the property is alse
used for a business purpose, where the operator of the business resides
on the property; - | mo

That the Assessment Act or the Municipal Act be ameuded to provide for
either assessment averaging or the capping of property tax inereases
resulting from increases in the assessed value, as proposed in the
"Pinancing of Local Government Study" and the "Report of the Property Tax
Forum" prepared by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs, Recreation And
Culture; | | 7

That the Assessment Act or the Municipal Act be amended to provide that
when assessed value is increased as a result of an error in assessment in
preceding years, that the increase in property taxes payable as a result
of the correction be phased in over a number of years, rather than
payable in its entirety,in.the first year; — - or |

| ITEM ;