Board Meeting Highlights
March 6, 2006
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 - March 6, 2006
CHAIR'S REPORT
The Chair commended staff on the spectacular lighting of the English Bay Inukshuk last week, as part of the countdown celebrations to the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver.
GENERAL MANAGER'S REPORT
Park Board-related items on recent Council and Committee agenda include the eight month deferral of the decision on the permanent closure of Waterloo Street at McBride Park, and the application to the World Health Organization to become a community partner in their Age-Friendly Urban Project (see below).
STAFF REPORTS
2006 Capital
Budget
The Board approved the 2006 Capital Budget
of $15,150,000, plus commitments totalling
$281,000 from partner organizations. This
amount represents year one of the $80 million
2006-2008 Capital Plan which is the major
source of funding for parks and facilities
renewal, expansion and major maintenance
projects. Highlights of this year's proposed
work program include: park renewals at Nelson,
Victoria and Oak & 37th; playground renewals
at Bobolink, George, Kitsilano Beach and
Rupert Parks; repair of grass playfields;
instrastructure upgrades to paths and roads
in Stanley Park; master plan for John Hendry
Park; design for the VanDusen facility renewal;
major facility maintenance and life-cycle
replacements; and design for the Olympic
legacy facilities (Killarney and Trout Lake
rinks, Riley Hillcrest curling venue and
Percy Norman pool).
2005 Accomplishments
Report
The General Manager outlined the Park Board's
numerous achievements over the last year,
guided by the direction of the new Strategic
Plan. The approval of the historic high Capital
Plan was a highlight - the result of many
years of planning by which the organization
will not only keep pace with infrastructure
renewal but accelerate those efforts with
Olympic-related projects. She thanked staff,
volunteers, partners, Commissioners and the
City for collectively helping to reach a
level of activity and excellence in 2005.
2005 Operating
Budget Year End Position
The Board received for information the report
on the year end financial position. As of
December 31, 2005, the Park Board recorded
a surplus of $541,000, attributed largely
to savings in utility and city equipment
costs ($427,000). The remaining $114,000
surplus represented approximately 0.2% of
the Board's net operating budget. A number
of revenue-related challenges during the
year such as for golf, concessions, parking,
leases and Bloedel Conservatory were offset
by increased recreation revenues.
World Health
Organization: Age-Friendly Urban Community
Project
An endorsement was given by the Board, subject to Council's
agreement, for the City's application to become a BC
Community Partner in the World Health Organization's
Age-Friendly Urban Community Project. An age-friendly
community is characterized by supportive and enabling
physical and social evironments - including settings,
services and products for daily living. If the proposal
is successful, Vancouver's efforts to improve the city's
ability to age-in-place will be showcased and the city
can learn best practices in other communities around
the world.
MOTIONS
Commissioner Herbert moved that the Park Board investigate and report back on establishing an e-mail system whereby the public can sign-up on the web site to receive e-mail notification specific to neighborhood, stakeholder group or other criteria as the case may be when motions are coming to a Committee or the Board, or public consultation is happening on issues that afect these groups. The Motion was defeated.
Comissioner Woodcock moved that the Park Board request staff to work with the City's Equal Employment Office on ways to recognize and celebrate women on International Women's Day for the year 2007. The Motion was defeated.
NEXT MEETING
The next regular meeting of the Park Board will be held at 7:00 pm on Monday, March 20, 2006 at 2099 Beach Avenue.
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