CITY
OF BURNABY
THE PARKS,
RECREATION AND CULTURE COMMISSION
M I N U T E S
2015 FEBRUARY 18
An ‘Open’ meeting of the Parks,
Recreation and Culture Commission was held in Lakeview Room at Bill Copeland Sports Centre, 3676 Kensington Avenue, Burnaby, B.C.,
on Wednesday, 2015 February 18 at 18:30 hr., followed immediately by a ‘Closed’ meeting from which the
public was excluded. At the conclusion of the ‘Closed’ meeting, the ‘Open’
meeting was reconvened at 19:06 hr. in the Upper Lobby.
PRESENT: Commissioner
Volkow in the Chair
Commissioners Alzner
Foley
Jang
Kang
Loftus
Matricardi
Purdy
School
Trustee Chen
ABSENT: Commissioner
Peppard
STAFF PRESENT: D. Ellenwood,
Director Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services
D. O’Connor,
Assistant Director-Golf Operations
D. Nokony,
Assistant Director-Cultural Services
H. Edwards,
Manager-Parks Planning, Design and Development
D.
Pelletier, Manager-Business Operations
J. Schumann,
Community Planner - Planning and Building
E. Bientjes, Manager
Recreation Services
N. Hoyles, Manager
Recreation Services
W. Cornwall, Operations and
Events Supervisor
L. Balser, Sound Technician
T.
Cheng, Recording Secretary
The Director Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services
assumed the Chair and called the meeting to order.
MOVED BY COMMISSIONER LOFTUS,
SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER FOLEY:
“THAT the ‘Open’ Commission
meeting do now reconvene.”
CARRIED
UNANIMOUSLY
The ‘Open’ Commission meeting
reconvened in the Upper Lobby, Bill Copeland Sports Centre at 19:06 hr.
ELECTION OF CHAIR FOR 2015
The Director Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services called
for nominations for the Office of Chair.
Commissioner Foley nominated Commissioner Volkow for
the Office of Chair for 2015.
Commissioner Alzner seconded the nomination.
There being no further nominations, Commissioner Volkow
was elected Chair for 2015 by acclamation.
Commissioner Volkow took over the Chair.
The Chair thanked the Commission for his nomination.
ELECTION OF DEPUTY CHAIR FOR 2015
The Chair called for nominations for the Office of
Deputy Chair for 2015.
Commissioner Loftus nominated Commissioner Foley for
the Office of Deputy Chair for 2015.
Commissioner Kang seconded the nomination.
There being no further nominations, Commissioner Foley
was elected Deputy Chair for 2015 by acclamation.
The Deputy Chair thanked the Commission for his
nomination.
The Chair welcomed the audience to the Bill Copeland
Sports Centre and introduced the Commissioners, the Director and the School
Trustee in attendance. Commissioner Peppard
sent his regret. The Director Parks,
Recreation and Cultural Services introduced staff members in attendance.
The Chair provided an explanation of the sequence of
the agenda, including an invitation for members of the audience to speak with
the Commission on matters of interest during the question and answer period.
MINUTES
MOVED BY COMMISSIONER FOLEY,
SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER PURDY:
“THAT the Minutes of the ‘Open’ Meeting of 2015 January
21 be approved.”
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
CORRESPONDENCE
MOVED BY COMMISSIONER MATRICARDI,
SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER JANG:
“THAT the following items of correspondence be
received.”
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(a) The Westridge Elementary School PAC requested a grant of $4,000 for playground upgrades.
Item
2 of the Director’s Report No. 2 refers to this matter.
(b) The Gilpin Elementary School PAC requested a grant of $4,000 for playground upgrades.
Item
2 of the Director’s Report No. 2 refers to this matter.
Item 2 of the Director’s report
was brought forward for consideration at this time.
Item 2 – Playground
Development Grant requests
from Gilpin
Elementary School and Ècole Westridge Elementary School
The Gilpin Elementary School PAC and Ècole
Westridge Elementary School PAC
requested a grant from the 2015 Annual Operating Playground Development Budget
to assist with the redevelopment of their playgrounds. Both schools meet the
Playground Grant guidelines and have received approval from the Burnaby School
District to install the playground components within 12 months of receiving the
Playground Grant.
It was recommended:
1. THAT the
playground development grant requests from Gilpin Elementary School and Ècole
Westridge Elementary School be approved.
2. THAT
a copy of this report be forwarded to; Ann Johannes, Gilpin Elementary Pac
Chair; Sean Gaster, Gilpin Elementary Principal; and the Pac Executive of Ècole
Westridge Elementary (Janice Ho, Co–Chair, Debra Phillipson, Co–Chair, Rhonda
Manson Vice-Chair, Colin Sian, Secretary, Yuko Kiyama, Treasurer).
3. THAT Council
be requested to authorize the City enter into an agreement with the Burnaby
School District for the contribution to the cost of the playground upgrades as
detailed in this report.
MOVED BY COMMISSIONER LOFTUS,
SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MATRICARDI:
“THAT the three recommendations be
approved.”
CARRIED
UNANIMOUSLY
REPORT
(a) The Director Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services
submitted his Report No. 2, dated 2015 February 18, covering the following
items listed as 1 - 5.
MOVED BY COMMISSIONER PURDY,
SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER JANG:
“THAT the Director’s Report be
received.”
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
Item 1 – 2015 Recognition Night
The purpose of Recognition Night is to recognize the
important contribution that the volunteer community groups add to the provision
of parks, recreational and cultural programs and services in the city. The
opening of the Clubhouse at Riverway Golf Course provided an opportunity to
explore a new City venue for this annual event in 2012 and the new location has
proven to be very successful. The total budget for the 2014 Recognition Night
is $11,500.
It was recommended:
1. THAT
approval be given to host Recognition Night on Friday, 2015 April 24 at the
Clubhouse at Riverway Golf Course.
MOVED BY COMMISSIONER LOFTUS,
SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MATRICARDI:
“THAT the recommendation be approved.”
CARRIED
UNANIMOUSLY
Item 2 – Playground
Development Grant requests
from Gilpin Elementry School and Ècole
Westridge Elementry School
This item was dealt with earlier in the meeting.
Item 3 – Burnaby Fraser Foreshore Park - Fraser River Dyke Rehabilitation Compensation
Sites
As part of the City’s ongoing program to upgrade flood
protection works along the Fraser River, the Director Engineering requested the
use of several areas within the Burnaby Fraser Foreshore Park for the
installation of aquatic, riparian and terrestrial habitat compensation works
required by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Engineering staff have
submitted conceptual plans for the proposed habitat compensation works prepared
by Dillon Consulting which meet the DFO’s requirements and are acceptable to
Parks Staff. Signs will be posted in the park notifying the public of any
temporary disruptions. The City must complete the installation of the required
compensation works by 2015 December 21.
It was recommended:
1. THAT approval be
given for use of two sites within Burnaby Fraser Foreshore Park for required
Department of Fisheries and Oceans compensatory environmental in-stream and
salmonid habitat enhancement works along Glen Lyon Creek and Fraser River
foreshore riparian plantings, for the dyke rehabilitation and upgrade works
undertaken by the City along reaches one and nine of the Fraser River North Arm
dyke, as outlined in this report.
2. THAT a copy of this
report be sent to the Environment Committee for information.
MOVED BY COMMISSIONER JANG,
SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ALZNER:
“THAT the two recommendations be approved.”
CARRIED
UNANIMOUSLY
Item 4 – Burnaby Fraser Foreshore Park fitness circuit
Burnaby
Fraser Foreshore Park provides unbroken access to the North Arm of the Fraser
River between the City of Vancouver boundary and the Big Bend. To enhance and
expand the park user experience, a 12 station fitness circuit has been proposed
to be added to the park between Byrne Road and Tillicum St. The Rotary Clubs
of Burnaby have expressed an interest in sponsoring the development of the
fitness circuit in Burnaby Foreshore Park to commemorate Canada’s Sesquicentennial, 150th birthday. An agreement between the
City of Burnaby and the Rotary Clubs of Burnaby would be drafted and executed.
The Rotary Clubs would create an internal donation program with the intent of
raising $150,000 to cover all costs for the project and open the facility on
2017 July 01. Provision for sponsor recognition would be made at individual
exercise stations where a small bronze plaque with limited number of characters
would be installed. In addition, the gateway entry features would be designed
to support both the City of Burnaby logo and the Rotary International logo.
It was recommended:
1. THAT
staff be directed to enter into an
agreement with the Rotary Clubs of Burnaby to fund the development of a fitness
circuit in Fraser Foreshore Park as outlined in this report.
2. THAT Council be requested to concur.
3. THAT a copy of this report be sent to appropriate
representatives of the three Rotary Clubs of Burnaby.
MOVED BY COMMISSIONER KANG,
SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MATRICARDI:
“THAT the three recommendations be
approved.”
CARRIED
UNANIMOUSLY
Item 5 – 2015 February - Parks, Recreation & Cultural
Services Capital Funding Bylaw
The 2015 Provisional Financial Plan for Parks,
Recreation and Cultural Services contains 13 projects to be funded from Capital
Reserves. To enable work to go ahead on these projects, approval was requested
to bring down a bylaw for funding.
It was recommended:
1. THAT the
expenditure of $990,000 from the 2015 Provisional Financial Plan for the
projects outlined in this report be approved.
2. THAT Council be requested to bring down a bylaw to
appropriate $1,036,260 (inclusive of GST) from Capital Reserves to finance
these projects.
MOVED BY COMMISSIONER LOFTUS,
SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MATRICARDI:
“THAT the two recommendations be approved.”
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
NEW BUSINESS
Commissioner Foley commended staff for
organizing the Dine Out in Burnaby event which he enjoyed.
The Director commended Dean Pelletier, Manager
Business Operations, Bob Farahani, Manager Food Services, Jason Mok, Executive
Chef at the Eagle Creek Restaurant, at Burnaby Mountain Golf Course and the City’s
Food Services staff. This year Eagle Creek Restaurant participated in the Dine
Out event for the first time and we won an award for the best menu of under $18
among a group of some 300 restaurants.
The Chair advised that the Mayor announced
our award at the Council Meeting of February 16. It is a very impressive accomplishment
of our Food Services staff. We took over the operation of the Eagle Creek
Restaurant within the past 18 months. The City’s Food Services staff have
turned the restaurant around and we won 1 of 7 awards in the Dine Out event.
On the Council agenda was a letter from former Councillor Gary Begin who praised
the food, service and facility at Riverway Clubhouse.
Staff advised that it is the first time the
award was received outside the Vancouver downtown core. Eagle Creek Restaurant
staff have done an outstanding job. When renovation is completed at the
restaurant, it will cater to golfers, casual diners, weddings and events.
MOVED BY COMMISSIONER MATRICARDI, SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER LOFTUS:
“THAT four golf passes to the Burnaby
Mountain and four golf passes to the Riverway Golf Courses and tickets to the
Blues & Roots Festival be given to the South Burnaby Neighbourhood House
for their Premier Annual Fundraising Event on 2015 February 28.”
CARRIED
UNANIMOUSLY
INQUIRIES
School Trustee Chen thanked the Commission
and Council for the playground development grants to Gilpin and Westridge
Elementary Schools. It is an example of the School District and the City
working together. The Commission and the public were invited to attend the
official opening of the Byrne Creek Secondary School as a community school on
March 04 at 4 p.m.
PUBLIC COMMENT/QUESTION PERIOD
The Chair
announced the beginning of the public comment/question period. The audience
was encouraged to speak to the Commission on matters of interest or concern.
David Handleman,
3768 Triumph Street, Burnaby, inquired
regarding the Parks, Recreation and Culture Commission’s plan to build a new
art gallery. The Burnaby Art Gallery was opened in 1967. The building is
lacking in many ways for an art gallery. They think Burnaby can do better in
terms of a proper facility for more art exhibits and activities where the
cultural community can gather and prosper. It will be the 50th
Anniversary of the Burnaby Art Gallery in 2017 when it will be opportune to
have a plan for a new Burnaby Art Gallery.
Bill Thomson,
4660 Westlawn Drive, Burnaby, complimented
the Commission for the establishment of a new performing arts centre for the City
and inquired regarding its exact location. The anniversary for the Burnaby Art
Gallery is coming up and it is an opportunity to do a proper feasibility
study. There are a number of artists who feel that the existing Burnaby Art
Gallery is inadequate.
The Chair advised
that there were repeated appeals for a new art gallery since 1996. There are
various competing ideas in regard to a new art gallery. One idea argues that
the City should build a new performing arts centre in the next 4 years. A
number of people have argued against a new art gallery that is close to a new $300
million Vancouver Art Gallery. The current Burnaby Art Gallery serves its
purpose and presents fine shows. David was requested to clarify his vision.
David Handleman
suggested that a feasibility study may find the benefits of a new art gallery.
A more centrally located new art gallery with better parking facilities could be
located in the Metrotown area to attract a large section of the public. It
could host art and music events and to display more significant part of the
collection. There will be economic benefits to Burnaby. The corporate sector
may be involved in funding. It will attract top notch art and artists and
promote Burnaby as a cultural destination.
Commissioner Foley
inquired if the City has some free up space for the proposed performing arts
centre.
Bill Thomson advised that the Burnaby Arts Council has
identified the Civic Square area next to the Library as an appropriate site.