Board of Parks and Recreation
Regular Board Meeting

Monday, April 5, 2004 at 7:00 pm

AGENDA

A recording of the Agenda is available at 604-257-8507

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

1. Minutes of the regular meeting of the Board held on Monday, March 22, 2004 .

CHAIR'S REPORT

DELEGATIONS

2. Bright Nights - Presentation of cheque to Burn Fund

PRESENTATION

3. Heronry at Stanley Park
   The Stanley Park Ecology Society and Mike Mackintosh, Wildlife Coordinator, to make a presentation to the Board with regard to the Heronry at Stanley Park.

STAFF REPORTS

1. 2004 Operating Budget
   Staff report dated March 17, 2004 recommending that the Board approve recommendations A to C in the report.
   Appendix 1 - 2004 Added Basic Budget
   Appendix 2 - 2004 NNRs
   Appendix 3 - 2004 Budget Initiatives

2. Synthetic Turf Field Development:  Shortlist of Candidate Sites
   Staff report dated March 26, 2004 recommending that the Board approve recommendations A to C in the report.
3. Millennium Sport Facility Society - Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Update
   Staff report dated March 30, 2004, recommending that the Board enter into a lease with the Millenium Sport Facility Society for up to three years for a portion of land at Nat Bailey Stadium Park to permit the construction of the new Millenium Sport Facility, at a lease rate of $1 per year.
4. Allocation of Community Amenity Contribution:  Improvements at Pigeon Park and Development of the Downtown Skateboard Plaza  [2.1Mb]
   Staff report dated March 27, 2004 recommending that the Board expresses its support for the proposal to allocate $120,000 from the Community Amenity Contribution collected from the rezoning of 550 Taylor Street to improvements at Pigeon Park and $20,000 toward the development of the Downtown Skateboard Plaza.
   Appendix A - City Administrative Report

MOTIONS

Delegations to speak to the Motions:

Motion 2 re: McBride Park

Ken Webber
Shelley Crawford
John Greiner

1. The following motion was put forward by Commissioner Riccius at the Special Meeting of the Board held on Tuesday, March 30, 2004:
   
   WHEREAS:

   The current process of shaping the future of Hastings Park and of the PNE is premised on 'building on and complementing' the Hastings Park Restoration Plan, which was supported by the community and unanimously approved by both Park Board and City Council in 1997;

   The Park Board supports an Annual Fair in Hastings Park;

   An Annual Fair, if properly designed and managed, can occur without sacrificing the principles contained in the Hastings Park Restoration Plan; and

   Alternatives for the park are presently being developed and evaluated by a consultant team within an extremely limited timeframe;

   THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Park Board encourage the development of variations, which create a sustainable, accessible, and vibrant public park that:

   1. Clearly connect the restored park areas (Italian Gardens, Sanctuary and Empire Fields) in a holistic way that encourages visitors to explore and discover the park
   2. Restore Windemere Hill and create the stream/pedestrian corridor to New Brighton Park
   3. Create an inviting edge and welcoming entrances to the park that reach out into the community in all directions
   4. Accommodate an exciting annual fair through:
      • the use of existing buildings and facilities on-site including the racetrack grandstand and barns
      • the development of a temporary Midway on a north/south axis with the existing Roller Coaster as its southern anchor
      • the development of a wide promenade along the Miller Drive alignment suitable to accommodate a range of Fair activities.

2. The following motion was put by Commissioner Anton:
   
   WHEREAS

   The Vancouver Park Board has, since 1972 been in support of the closure of the 2000 block of Waterloo Street so as to unify McBride Park;

   Various considerations support the unification:

   1. The park serves an area with a high population and additional park space would be well used; and
   2. The road through the park is dangerous to children going to washrooms, to the drinking fountain, chasing balls etc;

   Suggestions for use of the additional park space include an off-leash area, a basketball court or gardens;

   Previous attempts to unify the park have failed as traffic calming issues for the diverted traffic have not been resolved; and

   The neighbours have generally supported the unification in principle as long as traffic issues are resolved and many are requesting that the Vancouver Park Board and the City look at the issue again;

   THEREFORE IT IS RESOLVED THAT:

   The Vancouver Park Board reiterates its support for the unification of McBride Park and the closure of the 2000 block of Waterloo Street;

   The Vancouver Park Board requests that City Council again consider the issue with the goal of achieving the unification of the park.

ENQUIRIES, OTHER MATTERS AND NEW BUSINESS

 

NEXT MEETING: Monday, April 19, 2004 at 7:00 pm

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