Board Meeting Highlights
May 15, 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 - May 15, 2006
CHAIR'S REPORT
The Chair congratulated Commissioner Herbert who recently won a 2006 City Youth Award in the 19-24 age category, for his employment with the Judith Marcuse project.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
The last Planning Committee Agenda included Park Naming for the Oak and 72nd Park Site and GVRD sewer right-of-way. On the Finance Committee Agenda was the 2006 Operating Budget.
GENERAL MANAGER'S REPORT
Park Board-related items on Council agenda this week: options for City involvement in celebrating international events such as International Women's Day; community gardens pilot project; development options for the replacement of Firehall #15; and 2009 World Police and Fire Games in Vancouver.
PRESENTATION
The 2006 BC Recreation and Parks Association Award for Environmental Leadership was presented to the Everett Crowley Park Management Plan. The former site of a City landfill, the heavily forested park is the second largest in Vancouver after Stanley Park.
STAFF REPORTS
Dogs Off-Leash
Following public consultation, the Board
approved the extension of the off-leash hours
at Cooper's Park to all day use; and referred
the results of the public process for Stanley,
Devonian, Creekside and CRAB Park at Portside
to the "Dogs Off-Leash Task Force" for
review and recommendation.
Oak & 37th Park
Site Design and Funding
The design plan for the park site at Oak
Street and 37th Avenue was approved. It provides
for more detail and some changes compared
to the conceptual design approved last June
for the neighborhood park, and includes a
playfield, children's playground, off-leash
dog area, and meadow and trails in a naturalistic
setting. Staff are currently negotiating
an agreement and funding contribution from
the Conseil Scolarie Francophone. Construction
is scheduled to commmence in September. The
Board also endorsed the approach to find
an appropriate site for an interim BMX/mountain
biking facility.
Replacement of
Firehall #15
The Board encouraged City Council to seek options for
the replacement and/or retention of 90 year old Firehall
#15 that do not involve the use of Renfrew Park, as
this would not be within the Park Board's mandate nor
serve the Board's interests within tolerable levels
of financial exposure.
Prince of Whales
Tour Board Proposal
Recommendations in the staff report to
approve a pilot project for a Prince of
Whales Tour Boat out of Harbour Green Park
went forward to the Board but were not
seconded; therefore there was no discussion
on this agenda item.
Stanley Park
Heronry Management Report
The Board received the Stanley Park Heronry
Management Plan, which provides guidelines
to park staff to reduce the risk that community
activities and maintenance projects adversely
affect the colony's success. The Great
Blue Heron found in Stanley Park is protected
by Provincial and Federal regulations.
Nest numbers of this urban colony situated
adjacent to the Park Board offices have
grown to over 170 in 2005.
Pre 2000, 2000-2002, 2003-2005 Capital Plan
Close-Outs
The Board
endorsed the recommendations in the City's adminstrative
report on the close-out of Park Board Capital
Plan items for the periods pre 2000, 2000-2002,
and 2003-2005. Close-outs of completed projects
where expenditures differ by $50,000 and
15% of the approved budgets require Council
approval. These close-out reviews identify
sources of funds that can be transferred
to other projects to balance any deficits
or surpluses.
MOTION
Commissioner Herbert put forward a Motion that the Park Board request Council to reconsider its decision on the elimination of the Child and Youth Advocate and Youth Advocate Mentor position. The Motion was defeated.
NEXT MEETING
The next regular meeting of the Park Board will be held at 7:00 pm on Monday, May 29, 2006 at 2099 Beach Avenue.
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