Park Board Meeting Highlights - March 31, 2014

Committee and Board Meeting Highlights

MARCH 31

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 31, 2014

Park Board Committee Meeting

Staff Reports

Prospect Point Café and Stanley Pavilion Lease Extension and Assignment
The Board approved the assignment of the leases for Prospect Point Café and Stanley Park Pavilion from Daniel Frankel and the Daniel Group to the Capilano Group of Companies. The lease for Prospect Point was extended for a term of 20 years from December 1, 2019 to November 30, 2039, and the lease for the Stanley Park Pavilion extended for ten years from June 1, 2020 to May 31, 2030.

Cherry Grove Memorial – Update
Staff presented an information update on the progress of a Board motion regarding the commemorative Cherry Grove in Devonian Park by installing an AIDS memorial plaque.

Vancouver Biennale 2014-2015 Program – Update
Staff presented an information update on the program opportunity with the Vancouver Biennale to hold an expanded international sculpture exhibition, international artist residencies and community participation opportunities featuring high-profile artists between April 2014 and September 2015.

Vancouver International Sculpture Biennale
The Board approved three sculptures to remain in currently installed sites as part of the 2014 to 2015 Vancouver Biennale’s temporary exhibition: Engagement at English Bay Beach Park, 217.5 Arcs X 13 at Sunset Beach Park and Freezing Water #7 at Vanier Park.

Proposed Kingcrest Park Community Garden
The Board approved the new community garden in Kingcrest Park, and staff granted a five year license agreement with the Cedar Cottage Food Network Society to operate the garden.

Regular Board Meeting

Deputy General Manager’s Report
Park Board related items at Council this week include: Marpole Community Plan, Vancouver Sport Hosting Grants, Arts and Cultural Project Grants, and Community and Social Grants. Also noted were:
the Recreation & Parks BC magazine article on The Arts & Health Project; and the Trans and Gender Variant Inclusion Working Group’s community meeting on April 1 at Coal Harbour Community Centre.

Report of the Park Board Committee
The Board approved the recommendation of Committee: Prospect Point Café and Stanley Park Lease Extension and Assignment, Vancouver International Sculpture Biennale, and Proposed Kingcrest Park Community Garden (see Highlights above).

Motions

Commissioner Loke put forward a motion which was subsequently amended, that the Park Board direct staff to:

Work with Vancouver City Council and the Vancouver School Board todevelop a strategy of no net loss of public green space in the city ofVancouver;
Continue to increase public green space guided by the Greenest CityAction Plan target, and the Park Board’s long-standing goal to provide a ratio of 2.75 acres of green space per 1000 residents, and also through other opportunities as they arise;
Recommend a strategy, as part of the next Annual Greenest City ActionPlan Update, to ensure biodiversity targets are set as part of theGreenest City Action Plan.
THAT the strategy include ways to improve quality of green space, and to include within that strategy adding additional green space.
THAT the strategy include public space that is not necessarily defined as green, but adds public benefit.

The motion as amended carried.

Commissioner Sharma put forward a motion that:

Staff be directed to develop strategies for supporting pollinators in priority Vancouver parks and streets as part of the Biodiversity Strategy and Urban Forest Strategy
Staff be directed to work with stewardship groups, community gardeners, and others to raise public awareness about the value of pollinators, facilitate habitat enhancement projects, and assess and monitor pollinator populations
Staff be directed to work with the VanDusen Botanical Garden Association, Environmental Youth Alliance, Hives for Humanity and other groups to develop a brand for promoting pollinators across the city in Spring 2014
Staff be directed to begin to test methods in 2014 for enhancing pollinators in parks such as creating unmowed meadows, planting flowering trees and shrubs, using more native plants in park planting, and restoring overwintering habitats
Staff be directed to work with other City departments to enhance pollinators in streets and development sites
Staff be directed to provide an update to the Board in Spring 2015.

The motion carried.

Commissioner Barnes put forward a motion that:

The Chair write a letter to the Mayor indicating the Park Board’s concerns with Canada Post’s plan.
The Board refuses to allow the installation of community mailboxes on parkland and green spaces under the jurisdiction of the Board.
Staff report back to Commissioners on potential options to mitigate the impacts of this new Canada Post policy, in order to ensure the most positive outcome possible for the residents of Vancouver.
Staff report back to Commissioners on what form of consultation process the Park Board/City of Vancouver can expect with Canada Post.

This motion was referred to the Park Board Committee meeting on April 14, 2014, in order to hear from speakers.

Notice on Motions
Commissioner Loke advised of a motion on notice re. Public WiFi.
Commissioner Sharma advised of a motion on notice re. Supporting BC’s Network of Parks: Opposition to the Provincial Park Amendment Act.

New Business
The Board approved a letter of support for Vancouver’s bid to host the 2018 International Ornithological Congress.

Next Meeting
The next Park Board Committee Meeting will be held on Monday, April 14, 2014 at 2099 Beach Avenue with the next Regular Park Board Meeting held immediately following the Committee Meeting that evening.

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