Vancouver City Council |
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: February 18, 2003
RTS No. 03231
CC File No. 3134Council: February 25, 2003
TO:
Vancouver City Council
FROM:
City Manager
SUBJECT:
Woodward's Steering Committee
RECOMMENDATION
THAT Council approve a Steering Committee for the redevelopment of Woodward's (101 West Hastings) consisting of a member of Council (Co-Chair) to be selected by the Mayor, the City Manager (Co-Chair), the General Manager of Community Services, the General Manager of Engineering Services, the Director of Current Planning, the Director of Real Estate Services, the Director of Facilities Development and the Director of the Housing Centre.
COUNCIL POLICY
There is no applicable Council policy related to this report.
PURPOSE
This report seeks Council approval to establish a Steering Committee for the redevelopment of Woodward's.
BACKGROUND
On January 28, 2003, City Council (In Camera) approved the purchase of Woodward's, the former department store located at 101 West Hastings. The purpose of the City buying Woodward's is to revitalize the area by redeveloping Woodward's with a mix of uses including market and non-market housing, retail at grade, commercial and/or institutional uses, and heritage conservation.
STEERING COMMITTEE
For most projects of the scale and importance of Woodward's, the City typically establishes a Steering Committee, chaired by the City Manager's office and supported by a staff team. The Steering Committee oversees the project's progress, ensures that issues are identified and addressed in a timely and effective manner, and provides co-ordinated direction to staff. The Steering Committee reports to City Council which remains responsible for making decisions related to the project.
The Steering Committee consists of the heads of the departments most involved in the project. For Woodward's that includes:
· Community Services which is co-ordinating many of the City's initiatives in the Downtown Eastside;
· Current Planning which is responsible for heritage, urban design, and development;
· Real Estate Services which is responsible for managing and developing the City's real estate assets;
· Engineering which is responsible for the Cordova Parkade which provides parking for Woodward's;
· Facility Design and Management which is responsible for civic buildings; and
· the Housing Centre which is responsible for the City's affordable housing initiatives.For the redevelopment of Woodward's, it is recommended that the Steering Committee include representation from Council. Woodward's is a priority of this Council, and its acquisition was initiated by Council. It is recommended that a member of Council, selected by the Mayor, be added to the Steering Committee. The member of Council and the City Manager would co-chair the Steering Committee.
The Steering Committee will be supported by a staff team that undertakes the actual day to day work of the redevelopment e.g preparation of Council reports, evaluation of proposals, managing the community consultation, etc. The membership of the staff team would parallel the membership of the Steering Committee. Real Estate Services would provide the overall project management, at least while Woodward's is a development project.
Facilitation of the community consultation, meeting space for a day of visioning, preparation of presentation material, translation, etc., will be required. There is sufficient funding in the $500,000 set aside by Council for the 2003 holding costs to cover the cost of this initial work. A detailed budget for the project will be prepared and submitted for Council approval once the scope of the project has been better defined.
* * * * *