Board Meeting Highlights
March 12, 2007

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 12, 2007

CHAIR'S REPORT

The Chair reported on his participation at an event on March 3rd that was hosted by one of the Park Board's major benefactors who dedicated a Tai Chi garden arbour at Queen Elizabeth Park Plaza.

GENERAL MANAGER'S REPORT

Park Board related item at Council and Committee includes Oakridge Centre Policy Statement, for future rezoning and development of the mall and neighborhood.

COMMITTEE REPORT

Recent Planning Committee agenda items were EcoDensity initiative, Southeast False Creek community centre design, Trout Lake rink design, McCleery Golf course/Southland Riding Club and observation tower in Queen Elizabeth Park.

PRESENTATION

A cheque for $173,058 was presented to the BC Professional Fire Fighters' Burn Fund, proceeds from the annual Bright Nights in Stanley Park event. The Park Board's partnership with the Fire Fighters is now is its 9th year.

STAFF REPORTS

Trout Lake Arena Design/Funding
The Board approved the schematic design for the new ice rink at Trout Lake, which will be used as a skating practice venue for the 2010 Winter Games; approval was also given for the schematic design for a future new Trout Lake Community Centre. A projected budget shortfall for the project is currently being addressed. The development permit for the rink is expected in June of 2007.

Stanley Park Restoration: Update on Activities and Community Consultation
An information report was received on recent activities and community consultation around the restoration of storm-damaged Stanley Park. An inter-disciplinary team is assisting with preparation of the Restoration Plan to be presented to the Board in mid-April. Clean up field work continues and comprehensive mapping and analysis of the park has begun. Through a series of questions on the web site and in newspaper ads, the public is being asked for their advice on shaping the upcoming recovery plan; a telephone survey will also be conducted this month.

Storm Damaged Park and Street Trees
A recovery initiative was adopted to hasten replacement of thousands of street and park trees destroyed and damaged in the series of storms in November through January. Losses included a number of rare, unusual and mature specimens in Queen Elizabeth Park and VanDusen Garden. The Board approved $50,000 from the Corporate Sponsorship Fund for the city-wide park tree recovery program. An additional $50,000 from the Corporate Sponsorship Fund will go to the VanDusen Garden recovery program, to be matched by the VanDusen Botanical Garden Association.

2007 Capital Budget
This item was referred to the April 2nd meeting.

2006 Capital Budget Closeout
The Board endorsed the recommendations in the City's adminstrative report on the close-out of Park Board Capital Plan items for the periods 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. Fifty Park Board projects worth almost $94 million were closed out.

Motion
The Board put forward a motion requesting staff to prepare a report on current work relating to the environmentally friendly disposal of dog waste with some next steps laid out for the Planning Committee's consideration. The motion was defeated.

Next Meeting

The next regular Park Board meeting will be held at 7pm on Monday, April 2, 2007 at 2099 Beach Avenue.

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