Board Meeting Highlights
December 14, 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 - December 14, 2009

Chair's Report

The Chair reported on the 2009 Cultural Harmony Awards, electric vehicle launch at Sunset Community Centre and the opening of Bright Nights in Stanley Park. The Chair also gave a report on the past year's operations.

Committee Reports

On the last Services and Budgets Committee agenda: Procurement Policy; 2009/2010 Operating Budget Update; and 2010 meeting schedule. The last Planning and Environment Committee agenda included: No Smoking Policy; Mt Pleasant Park, Community Centre and Pool Consultation Results; 2010 Winter Games By-Law; Stanley Park Information Kiosk; and 2010 meeting schedule.

General Manager's Report

Park Board related items on Council agenda this week: Approval of Funding in Advance of 2010 Capital Budget: Conversion of Vancouver Olympic/Paralympic Centre at Hillcrest Park into new Riley Park Community Centre, Ice Rink, Curling Club and Library; East Fraser Lands and Kerr Street Properties Rezoning; and Procurement Policy.

Election of Chair, Vice Chair

Commissioner Aaron Jasper was elected Chair, and Commissioner Sarah Blyth was elected Vice Chair of the Board.

Approval of 2010 Meeting Dates

Meeting dates were approved for 2010 as follows:

  • January 18
  • February 1
  • March 1 and 22
  • April 19
  • May 3, 17 and 31
  • June 14
  • July 5 and 19
  • August - Summer Break
  • September 20
  • October 4 and 18
  • November 1, 15 and 29
  • December 13

These dates are in accordance with 2010 Council meeting dates.

Staff Reports

Mount Pleasant Park
The Board received a report on the outcome of the public consultation program conducted between late August 2009 and present. They directed staff to develop a plan for Mount Pleasant Park that allows for the future development of an outdoor pool with change rooms at such time as funds become available for that component. Decommissioning of the existing building and pool was also approved.

Hastings Park/PNE Recommended Master Plan Directions
The Board received for information a report on the recommended master plan directions for Hastings Park/Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) which provide additional park space and a greener fairground but fall short of the park objectives endorsed by the Park Board and Council in 2004. The Board urged Council to support the recommendations for the 2004 Hastings Park Restoration Plan which recommended an additional 45 to 47 acres of green space in the park. The Board also requested Council to place portions of the restored park land at Hastings Park under the 'custody, care and management' of the Park Board as permitted under sections 488.3 of the Vancouver Charter and that Council provide the Park Board with adequate funding for the 'custody, care and management' of the Park Board's portion of the park.

Use of Harbour Green Dock by Passenger Ferry Services
The Board approved a trial period of up to 12 months, to December 31, 2010, for the use of the floating walkway dock at Harbour Green Park by Coastal Link Ferries Ltd. for its commuter passenger ferry service into downtown Vancouver from Bowen Island and West Vancouver. Similar trial period agreements were also approved with other companies offering comparable passenger ferry services.

Motions

The Board put forward a Motion that the Park Board agree to endorse the We Can Coalition and its '16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence' campaign. The Motion carried.

The Board put forward a Motion that, pending clarification that the rights of the Bloedel Foundation had not been assigned to its successor or assignee, staff be directed to issue a Request for Expressions of Interest inviting interested applicants to submit written business cases/concept plans and other relevant information for the use (in a similar or new capacity) of the Bloedel Conservatory facility in Queen Elizabeth Park by April 30, 2010. The Motion carried.

The Board put forward a Motion that staff be directed to issue a Request for Expressions of Interest inviting interested applicants to submit written business cases/concept plans and other relevant information for the use (in a similar or new capacity) of the Children's Farmyard facility in Stanley Park by April 30, 2010. The Motion carried.

Next Meeting

The next regular Park Board meeting will be held at 7 pm on Monday, January 18, 2010 at 2099 Beach Avenue.