Board Meeting Highlights
March 23, 2009
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 website on the Monday one week prior to the next scheduled Board meeting.
Meeting Agenda - March 23, 2009
CHAIR'S REPORT
The Chair reported on last week's launch of the Mason Bee Project in Stanley Park.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
On the last Services and Budgets Committee agenda were 2008 Year End Budget Position, Vancouver Golf Tournament, Update on Budget Directives and Motion re: Celebration Pavilion. The agenda for the most recent Planning and Environment Committee included Street Trees Program, Marinas Update, Indoor Tennis Proposal and Spanish Bank(s).
GENERAL MANAGER'S REPORT
Park Board related items on Council and Committee agenda this week are Mount Pleasant Centre at #1 Kingsway and Interim Estimates for Operating Budget 2009.
STAFF REPORTS
Mount Pleasant Centre at #1 Kingsway
The Board received for information the Council report on the new Mount Pleasant Centre at #1 Kingsway. They approved the interim use, at no cost to the Board, of the Mount Pleasant Community Centre for childcare programs until no later than March 15, 2010 which factors in some contingency time for program use prior to the decommissioning of the Centre. The #1 Kingsway facility is scheduled for completion in September 2009 and will include a new Library, Child Development Centre, Café, Community Centre to replace the existing Mount Pleasant Community Centre at Ontario Street and East 16th Avenue, and 98 units of market rental housing.
Commemorative Naming - Community Kitchen at Kitsilano War Memorial Community Centre
The community kitchen at Kitsilano War Memorial Community Centre was named after the late Ken Hillman, a long-time Association Board member and volunteer. The $362,000 kitchen, completed last October, supports numerous programs including cooking classes, outreach for the less fortunate and hosting of special events; it is overseen by a professional chef.
Trout Lake Community Centre
The Board approved the location for the new Trout Lake Community Centre which calls for demolition of the existing building and rebuilding - the most cost-effective alternative to building on the peat. The Board also entered into a contract for project design and construction contract adminstration with Walter Francl Architecture for a fixed fee of $1.8 million.
Stanley Park Forest Management Plan Report
The Stanley Park Forest Management Plan was received for information. The document was created under the park Restoration Plan's 'supporting legacies'. UBC Faculty of Forestry served as consultant to the management plan team. The plan, which focuses on Stanley Park as an ecosystem, is intended to guide the current and future activities that are consistent with the overall vision for the forest. Major elements of the report are related to public safety, forest protection, ecosystem enhancement and management strategies.
2009 Operating Budget - Stanley Park Shuttle
The Board approved the discontinuation of funding for the Stanley Park Shuttle service for 2009, as part of the proposed budget reduction initiatives. Staff will explore all other options for funding the popular free trolley bus which could allow for its continued service this year and/or in future years, at no or minimal cost to the Board.
Jericho Marginal Wharf - Reconsultation
Staff were directed to undertake a facilitated consultation process for the Jericho Marginal Wharf project, further to the public consultation program carried out in 2008. This more extensive process will involve community workshops and working group meetings, designed to attract a broader range of citizens.
Stanley Park and Queen Elizabeth Park Road Reconstruction Contract Award
The Board entered into a contract with Imperial Paving for $871,701 for reconstruction of portions of Stanley Park Drive and portions of Queen Elizabeth Park Drive. Construction will take two months for each project and will start in April.
MOTIONS
The Board moved that staff examine the feasibility of and report back on posting Park Board meeting proceedings online so as to allow public access to full audio recordings of these meetings. The Motion carried.
The Board moved that staff be instructed to explore the feasibility of using Facebook, Twitter and other forms of social media to communicate with the public as to Park Board public consultation and to advertise activities and services. The Motion carried.
NEXT MEETING
The next regular Park Board meeting will be held at 7 pm on Monday, April 6, 2009 at 2099 Beach Avenue.
Top