Kensington-Cedar Cottage CityPlan Committee
Meeting Notes
December 6, 2001
Trout Lake Community Centre
7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
1. Introductions
2. Vision Implementation
Accomplishments
Lord Selkirk Elementary School
- traffic calming complete
- ongoing greenway development
Dickens Elementary School - same
Windsor Way
• recently awarded $15,000 for public art
• may become a designated bike route
Observations on Accomplishments...
• schools are a great starting place for community building
• we needed some accomplishments to show community
• small projects have proven to be a catalyst
Challenges
Garbage
• no headway on getting more garbage cans
• new cans on hold because of the Street Amenity Program
• the City will be charging landlords next year for regular pickup - (to reduce the amount of household garbage deposited in litter bins on sidewalks and in parks)
Funding Vision Implementation
• we are now having a "showdown" with the City over funding for major implementation items (e.g. a neighbourhood centre)
• the committee sent a letter to City Hall asking them to lease, purchase or rezone the ex Safeway site
• Philip Owen wrote back saying "we're looking into it".
• Problem - no major resources and no city plan for implementation.
• Noted that City planning committee support has helped organize the community
• Neighbourhood grants, many more people knew about due to City planning meeting
• Networking for King Crest Park - Gray's Park
• Worked on presentation to City Council, have been bumped from meetings 4 times - are ready for presentation
• Early concerns from Dunbar and KCC that had to have people in communicty involved in planning (was not originally planned for CityPlan)
• Next two communities - VFK and Sunset want to play important role in implementation, over 90% of survey respondents
• Believes implementation situation is critical to address
• 100's and 1000 of hours of community time put in. We need to see in budget some money for CityPlan implementation
• This has been very expensive planning process. Why spend money if not going to implement.
• Feels that we're at a crossroads. Could go down to small community lobby groups.
Neighbourhood Centres
• Been promised a planning process, been deferred to Jan again to get funding. Billing KCC as a pilot for the whole city.
• Planning department process ongoing to find funding in Capital Plans - housing plan and shopping area improvements
• KCC committee will geta copy of Patricia's report before it goes to council - likely in February
• For next capitol plan for 2002 to 2005
• Engineering and parks board get money for capital projects - planning does not
• Concern that City thinks private sector is going to get involved, Anne thinks won't happen
• Good thing - developers for big sites have been sent to City Plan to ensure imput.
3. Common Issues & Concerns
• VFK - interested in safety median to stop turning left out of London Drugs
• London Drug traffic management
Sunset:
• Wal-Mart issue. Major. 5,000 to 7,000 vehicles to neighbourhood. Major arteries will increase traffic
• Air quality degeneration
• Victoria and Fraser (41st to 49th) (41st to 53rd)
• Fear of accidents - people (elderly) do shopping locally, children travelling to school
• High density planned for Sunset is a concern, more people, accidents more likely
• School board talking of selling green space when there is already a shortage
• Plan postponed to January, suspects, won't be put before the election
• No swimming pool. Outdoor pool is leaking
• Amenities on West side i.e. emergency preparedness, haven't shown up
• City Council has moved forward - shown by Cathy's presence
• Our pilots are demonstrating community willingness to be involved
• Next step - implementation - consensus model (red, yellow, green cards)
• Suggest consensus model for voting - red cards have to come up with another idea and make it work
• Believes system will grow
• Frustrated on how many studies being done rather than spending money on implementation
• Concept not new. Other places have done before - why not looking at their models
• Concern that City is dragging heels, and don't really want people involved in City planning
• How can we work together?
Traffic:
• Commuters from outside Vancouver should pay
• Suggest sit down and look at plans and come up with how will the total plan look 20 years down the road - refocus on traffic issues
• Focus on provision of information
• Not good job in engaging citizens in making decisions
• Dec 13th - public involvement - contact City Clerk and come to speak at meeting - 2:00 PM at City Hall - Planning and Environment Committee of Council - 604-873-7011 (City Clerk's)
GVRD:
• Liveable region strategic plan is under review this year - density - neighbourhood centres
• Talking about hiring from basin council, website
• City talks, understand it, but doesn't provide resources to take meaningful steps necessary. May mean higher taxes
• Wal-Mart doesn't fit into liveable region
• Suggests contacting other Vision Centres to invite to AGM
Wal-Mart:
• City has had four open houses
• SPEC
• Best
• COPE
• Smart Growth
• Other groups also interested
• This Sunday, Dec 9th at 7:00 PM, Kensington Community Centre at 37th and Dumfries
• Plan to meet again Jan 17th to get going
• Have been contacting businesses. Note that one store was not allowed in Surrey
• Note re Library - Mt Pleasant library is being moved into new community centre - noted that City must be paying for move. Remember for development at Kingcrest in future.
• Community supports big box retail? Highway oriented retail? Distorting view of size? Not advertised. Was advertised - not 100% against - 67% against. Hug - Future Shop. Big concern in Metro Town - lack of retail. Some would welcome any more retail south of Marine Drive.
• Concern re Punjab Market - 10-20% grocery business has gone to Superstore already. 68% against - No to big box, not giant size.
• Value of rooftop and basement parking as opposed to asphalt. We want green space, not tons of asphalt. Tax break from City?
• Strathcona and basement suites don't get in.
• 28% of all US sales to Wal-mart.
• CityPlan committee voted to be a member of te coalition against Wal-Mart.
• Knight Street corridor study is underway. They are coming to January meeting. VFK and Sunset invited.
• Dec 11, 7-9, Richmond council is having an open house on their transportation systems. Note that they are high Knight Street users.
• Letters: Can't use list to communicate with other groups. Suggest that lists be shared with others and get permission to start with. Want to be able to communicate with other groups directly, need funding for communication. Suggest need some local power too.
History of KCC CityPlan Committee
KCC Vision adopted by city council in 1998
Two implementation workshops with people (50-70 people) who have been involved in formulating Vision to discuss how to proceed.
- strong desire for observable, concrete results; put emphasis on achievable goals
- diverse opinions about membership in and role of an implementation committee:
1) consists of rep. of existing community organizations?
2) committee primarily a place to network among org. and to plug individuals into activities?
3) how could individuals participate?
4) should committee focus on community building (increasing community capacity to solve its own problems?
5) should committee be identifying priorities for city action and monitor to ensure goals achieved?
6) how should committee and subcommittees to existing organizations?
7) accountability to community?
Decided to establish an Implementation Committee (12 to 15 reasonable size), consisting of volunteers willing to take on work for one year, to work out goals of committee and to identify top priorities for immediate action. Committee charged with reporting back to the community in one year.
Resolution of organizations issues:
1) Voting members elected at an AGM each year. All meetings open to the public. (See guidelines)
2) Sub-committees established to work on specific projects, such as neighbourhood centre at Kingcrest, traffic calming at Selkirk School and Windsor Way. Work of sub-committees supported by planning staff. Other organizations and individuals participate on sub-committees that report back to committee of whole. Major goals/activities/directions endorsed by committee of whole.
3) Networking/information exchange seen as priority at most meetings.
4) Other organizations can seek CityPlan Committee support, participate in CityPlan meetings.
Priorities Year One:
1) traffic calming at Selkirk and Dickens schools
2) garbage clean-up
3) neighbourhood centre
Priorities Year Two:
1) traffic calming at Selkirk and Dickens schools
2) bicycle route/linear park along Windsor (Windsor Way/Blooming Boulevards)
3) garbage clean-up
4) Kingcrest neighbourhood centre and revitalization of Kingsway businesses
5) projects to benefit youth in community
Evaluation:
1) goals that can be implemented within existing annual budgets apt to be achieved
2) budgets under planning control more apt to be diverted to achieve community Visions than other departments (such as engineering)
3) CityPlan model not that different than Squeaky Wheel model
4) no plan is in place how to implement CityPlan, who to decide what trade-offs must be made throughout city
5) no resources have been allocated to implement the Visions; no commitment to fund larger projects that can't be achieved within annual budget
6) things move slowly, creating frustration, growing scepticism about city council's commitment to CityPlan
7) city planning support has been critical for creating commuity networks, exchanging information among residents.
8) concrete, achievable projects involve people, build credibility, create a sense of community and are fun.
Meeting adjourned.
Next meeting on Thursday, November 1st, 2001 at 7:00pm at Trout Lake Community Centre.
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