Board Meeting Highlights
July 19, 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 - July 19, 2004
STAFF REPORTS
8 + 1 Planets - Special Event
The Board approved the display of a giant inflatable globe representing
the Sun in Vanier Park this Fall, as part of a touring entertainment/
educational exhibition. The first installation of the 'planet lantern'
from October 2 to 9 is in conjunction with the International Astronautical
Congress Convention. Next year from September 2 to 11, a larger exhibition
will be placed along Coal Harbour Park and by Hallelujah Point in Stanley
Park: all the planets and the Sun and Moon will be represented by large
(36 ft - 52 ft diameter) globes illuminated 24 hours a day for the duration
of the show.
Donation of Public Art by Chilean Consulate
and Chilean Community
The Board accepted the donation of a public artwork called "Neruda's
Papers" from the Chilean Consul General and the large Chilean community
in Vancouver. The steel sculpture on a stone platform will be located
at the south end of waterfront Cardero Park. The gift is to recognize
the 100th anniversary of the birth of renowned Chilean poet Pablo Neruda,
a Nobel Prize winner and diplomat.
Open Spaces Sculpture Exhibits
The Board approved the development of an agreement with the non-profit
Vancouver International Sculpture Biennale to allow opportunities for
residents to enjoy a wide range of sculpture in parks. The group was
given a 10 year mandate to mount five to eighteen month temporary installations
from world sculptors on parks and beaches throughout the city, including
New Brighton, CRAB, Vanier, Spanish Banks, English Bay, David Lam, Harbour
Green and Sunset Beach Parks. This expands the term and scope of previous
popular one year exhibits along English Bay and Coal Harbour.
Capital Construction Cost Escalation
To address the problem of major cost escalations on Park Board construction
projects, the Board approved a way to add funding to high priority capital
works. They requested Council set up a cost escalation fund of $1,041,000,
sourced from the TransLink payment related to the recent Eburne Lands
purchase. The Eburne funds are subject to the Board reserving an equivalent
amount ($1,041,000) of 2003 - 2005 land acquisition money for park acquisition/development
in Marpole and/or along the Fraser River. The initial allocation of
this fund would go to allow the Park Board to complete three current
renewal projects: Killarney Pool $550,000, Victory Square $60,000, and
Queen Elizabeth Reservoir $431,000.
Killarney Pool
Subject to Council's approval of the new cost escalation fund (see above)
the Board approved the execution of a construction contract to Smith
Bros. and Wilson (B.C) for the new Killarney Community Swimming Pool.
At $9.2 million, it will be one of the largest infrastructure projects
in many years for the Park Board and give the community and the city
a state-of-the-art aquatic facility with many environmentally sustainable
features. As well, the Board gratefully accepted a donation of $450,000
towards construction from the Killarney Community Centre Society.
Changes to Bus Parking Charges
Phased increases over the next two years were approved to tour bus parking
rates in Stanley and Queen Elizabeth Parks, starting in 2005. The Board
also approved a new requirement for companies offering 'hop on, hop
off' style bus tours in Stanley Park to purchase bus access passes;
this will be phased in over three years starting 2005. Buses carrying
students from educational institutions are exempted from pay parking
requirements.
Purchasing Policy
The Board approved a process to work with Council in developing and
implementing a policy for sustainable and ethical purchasing (as approved
by Council in June). The policy applies to procurement of apparel and
fair trade agricultural products. The Board also requested Council to
add a Park Board Commissioner to the Policy Task Force to prepare and
present the draft purchasing policy to the Board incorporating environmental
and social objectives.
Operating Budget - Update
An information report was received on operating accounts for the period
ending June 30, 2004. Golf revenues continued strong. The closure of
Renfrew and Killarney Pools have resulted in some savings but also in
reduced revenues. Staff are closely monitoring the budget and the projection
to year end, based on current information, is to have a balanced budget.
Bates Park - Right of Way
The Board approved the granting of a statutory right-of-way in perpetuity
to the City over a portion of Bates Park, a small greenspace in East
Vancouver near the Second Narrows Bridge. The right-of-way will allow
for travel and utility functions but will not interfere with the function
of Bates Park as a nature park.
MOTIONS
A motion related to the future of the East Fraserlands was passed. The Park Board endorsed the inclusion of the following objectives into the terms of reference for the community needs assessment planned for this area.
- public parks per the park standard of 2.75 acres per 1,000 residents
- community centre space at existing city-wide level of service, inclusive of Park Board city-wide pool and rink strategies
- park programming that covers a broad range of parks uses from ecological restoration, eco system features to passive and active recreation
- community needs assessment to be conducted in a public process
- results of the assessment to be reported to the Park Board
NEXT MEETING
There is a Special Board Meeting scheduled tomorrow night July 21. There will be no Board meetings in August. The next regular Board meeting will be held on Monday, September 20, 2004 at 2099 Beach Avenue.
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