Board Meeting Highlights
October 4, 2004

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 - October 4 , 2004

GENERAL MANAGER'S REPORT

At last week's meeting, Council approved the $100,000 commitment (over two years) for Sport Event Hosting in Vancouver, to facilitate and support high performance sports events at a national and international level as the city prepares for 2010. This initiative will bring benefits associated with sports, economic, social and community development. Council also banned the use of leaf blowers in the West End, and approved an additional $39,000 a year to the Park Board do this work manually. The West End is defined in this case as Georgia Street to Burrard Street to Beach Avenue to Stanley Park.

STAFF REPORTS

Vancouver Aquarium - Discovery Education Centre
The Board approved the design for the redevelopment of the Vancouver Aquarium's 'Discovery Education Centre'. The larger, two-storey facility will house a new laboratory, workstations and classrooms. The design, which was presented at a public open house on September 22nd at Coal Harbour Community Centre, will go to Development Permit Board in time to meet a construction date of December 2004.

Downtown Eastside Public Space Arts Programming Proposal
Approval was given to spend $25,000 from the Corporate Sponsorship Fund to develop a plan for arts and events programming in the Downtown Eastside parks and open spaces (subject to matching funds from the Vancouver Agreement and support from neighborhood organizations). The goal of the proposed programs, which build on the success of similar initiatives in Victory Square Park, is to improve liveability through increased and coordinated arts activity. Other local parks to be considered are Andy Livingstone, Strathcona, Pigeon Park, Oppenheimer and Portside.

Vancouver Rowing Club Parking Lot
The Board extended the term of the current operating agreement with the Vancouver Rowing Club for use of the parking lot in Stanley Park adjacent to their clubhouse through to August 30, 2007; and approved an increase in the annual fee for using the parking lot to $19,188 through to September 14, 2005, with annual increases thereafter that reflect the rate of inflation.

Operating Statements as of August 31, 2004
The Board received an information report on Park Board revenues and expenditures for the first eight months. Net expenditures are currently on track and are projected to break even by year end. A return to wet weather could impact such areas as Golf revenues. Staff are reviewing and monitoring the budget on an ongoing basis.

MOTIONS

The Board passed a Motion put forward by Commissioner De Genova, to direct Park Board staff to work with the Friends of Nat Bailey Stadium to study the viability of preserving Nat Bailey Stadium to enable it to continue to serve the community, subject to the Board's consideration of the Riley Hillcrest Master Planning process, now underway.

NEXT MEETING

The next regular meeting of the Park Board will be held at Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre on Monday, October 18, 2004.

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