Board Meeting Highlights
January 15, 2007

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 - January 15, 2007

CHAIR'S REPORT

The Chair praised Park Board staff for their quick response and hard work in dealing with the severe impacts of recent storms on parks, gardens and street trees. Appreciation was extended to Stanley Park operators for their patience during the storm aftermath and to individuals and corporations who have generously donated to the park's recovery efforts. The Chair also thanked fellow Commissioners for their response and leadership over the past eventful month.

GENERAL MANAGER'S REPORT

Park Board related items on recent and upcoming Council and Committee agenda include Project Civil City, Sport Strategy, Annual Event Guidelines and Development Cost Levies for Southeast False Creek.

COMMITTEE REPORT

On the last Planning Committee agenda were skateboard initiatives at Leeside Tunnel and Downtown Skate Plaza, and plans for replacing outdoor pools at Sunset and Mount Pleasant.

PRESENTATION

The Vancouver Foundation provided highlights on 'Vancouver's Vital Signs', the city's first livability and wellness check-up.

STAFF REPORTS

Stanley Park Forest:  Preparation of Restoration Plan
The Board approved the preparation of a restoration plan for the storm-damaged Stanley Park forest. The strategy covers re-establishing safe public access to the park, setting out a community vision for the recovery, and presenting the methods for achieving it. The process will be complex with many inter-related elements. A staff review group, steering committee and partners/stakeholders committee will assist the staff project team to develop the overall plan by the end of March.

Park Improvement - Victoria Park
The conceptual design for Victoria Park was approved. Improvements to the Grandview-Woodland's area greenspace will include new bocce courts, children's play area, better drainage and added paths. A renovated washroom was also approved. Construction will be done this summer.

English Bay Bistro Consultant
Architectural services for the new bistro on English Bay were awarded to Acton Osty Architects for a fee of $59,000. Part of the Concessions Strategy study, the new restaurant will replace the existing concession building at the foot of Denman Street. The project will be undertaken via a public private partnership arrangement.

Andy Livingstone Playfield
A turf replacement plan for Andy Livingstone Park was approved. The old carpet-style turf will be removed on the lighted downtown playfield, and an infill type artificial surface installed. Staff were instructed to identify a source of funding to proceed with the project.

China Creek Park - Concept Plan for Park Upgrade
The Board approved a concept plan for East Vancouver's China Creek South Park which will make it a better neighborhood park for a wider range of users. The major upgrade will preserve key park features, replace others and add new elements. The skateboard facility, built in 1979 as Vancouver's first skatepark, will remain with modifications.

Park Naming - Selkirk Street and 72nd Avenue Park Site
The naming of the recently completed park in Marpole was referred to the Planning Committee for further discussion.

Implementation of 311 Service in Vancouver
The Board received for information the Council report on and endorsed the policy objective of the new "311" phone number for non-emergency city services. The new single-point-of -access number is intended to facilitate resident access to municipal government.

Administrative Report - Position Changes
A number of position changes were approved to support the needs of the organization: Trades Foreman created and Trades III - Welder eliminated within Planning & Operations; VanDusen Supervisor of Revenue and Visitor Service converted to permanent full-time; regular part-time Community Youth Worker created at the Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre; and a marketing position created within Corporate Services.

NEXT MEETING

The next regular meeting of the Park Board will be held at 7pm on Monday, January 29, 2007 at Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Chinese Garden.

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