Vancouver's Deputy City Manager has told council he had no idea the federal government was planning to close the Kitsilano Coast Guard station until he read about it in a newspaper.

Sadhu Johnston is refuting government claims key stakeholders were consulted.

He adds recent meetings with the feds have not gone well.

"The direction we've been given is this is happening and everyone's going to have to deal with it, basically.  We have, in each of those meetings, expressed our serious concern about the gap that will be created here."

After the base shuts down next year, coast guard service will come from Sea Island in Richmond, although a Vancouver-based rescue boat is set to operate during the summer.

Johnston says that's not good enough.

He notes two thirds of "life at-risk" calls are received during the winter months.