Board Meeting Highlights
November 29, 2004
The following information is intended to provide quick highlights of this scheduled Board meeting. Every attempt has been made to summarize these highlights as accurately as possible; however, the complete and official minutes will be posted on the web site on the Monday one week prior to the next scheduled Board meeting.
Meeting Agenda - November 29, 2004
GENERAL MANAGER'S REPORT
Susan Mundick reported on several items affecting the Park Board at Council and Committees this week, including a recommendation of the Vancouver Electoral Reform Commission that City Council request the Government of British Columbia to amend the Vancouver Charter to make it clear that the Park Board may be elected at large whether or not Council is elected from wards. A Motion will go before Council regarding the "20 by 2010" initiative, which if approved will mean the City is the first muncipality to join the B.C. Premier's challenge to increase physical activity levels 20% by 2010. The goal is to move inactive residents to be more active and healthy. The Park Board will be developing a multi-year plan to help make this happen. Winners of the City's Cultural Harmony Award (now in its 9th year, with the Park Board as a co-sponsor) will be honoured with a tree planted in their name on December 3rd in the Cultural Harmony Grove, a special greenspace under the Burrard Bridge on the Kitsilano side.
STAFF REPORTS
Joint Operating Agreement Task Force -
Final Report
After three years of extensive research, focus groups, input, discussions
and drafting, 12 member Joint Operating Agreement (JOA) Task Force tabled
its Final Report. The group was established to renew the agreement with
20 Community Associations that operate out of the Park Board's Community
Centres and jointly deliver recreation services to residents. This unique
arrangement was designed to bring the best of a professionally operated
and community-based public recreation service together with local resident
expertise and control over addressing community needs. The 70 page Final
Report includes recommendations relating to developing a shared vision,
serving community needs, creating effective alliances, maximizing available
resources and moving forward. The Board received the report for information,
and referred it for review and consideration by the Culture and Recreation
Committee (on their Agenda for February 16th meeting). Copies
of the report are available on the Park Board's web site. Contact:
Lori MacKay, 604-257-8615.
Operating Statements as at October 31, 2004
The Board received for information the financials for the first ten
months of the year. Although revenues are down somewhat compared to
last year, expenses are expected to come in slightly below budget. Cost
containment measures not affecting service levels will continue. Staff
are not recommending any budget inititatives at this time and are committed
to balancing the budget by the end of the fiscal year. Contact: Anita
Ho, 604-257-8446.
2005 Special Events
A new Special Events Policy was introduced in 2003 . Board approval
is required for new events which have over 1,000 participants, significantly
impact park use, and are in variance with revenue generating policies;
and for the first three years of operation for major special events.
The Board approved the following four events: Stanley Park Bike Fest,
Alcan Dragon Boat Fest, Jazz Festival and Weekend to End Breast Cancer.
Also in the works for next year are SeaVancouver and Stanley Park Summer
Celebration. The full Special Events Calendar for 2005 was provided
for information. Contact: Terry Walton, 604-257-8488.
Nat Bailey Stadium Lease
The Board approved an additional one-year lease extension, starting
January 1, 2005, for the Vancouver Canadians Professional Baseball Club
at Nat Bailey Stadium. The extension was granted in view of the time
frame for the Riley Park/Hillcrest Master Plan Update including the
recently requested viability study on preserving the stadium, and in
consideration of the team's commitment to the community. Contact: Liane
McKenna, 604-257-8691.
Champlain Heights Community Centre
The Board approved a number of items to fund the design and construction
of an addition to Champlain Heights Community Centre. They endorsed
a request to Council to allocate Development Cost Levy funds to the
child development portion of the project, approved a transfer from the
General Facility Improvement capital account, and approved a transfer
from the Malkin Bowl redevelopment account. Upon Council approval, the
construction contract for the $1.7 million project will be awarded to
Westpro Constructors Group. The Malkin Bowl funds will be a high priority
for the Park Board's 2006-2008 Capital Plan, subject to progress for
the TUTS Society's fundraising campaign. Contact: Piet Rutgers, 604-257-8463.
MOTIONS
Commissioner Poaps put forward a motion that the regularly scheduled Board meeting on December 6th be cancelled and replaced by a meeting on December 13th. This motion carried.
NEXT MEETING
The next regular meeting of the Park Board will be held at 2099 Beach Avenue on Monday, December 13, 2004.
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