CITY OF VANCOUVER
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL ON
PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT
JULY 10, 1997
A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held
on Thursday, July 10, 1997, at approximately 5:05 p.m. in the Council
Chamber, Third Floor, City Hall, following the Standing Committee on
Planning and Environment meeting, to consider the recommendations of the
Committee.
PRESENT: Mayor Philip Owen
Councillor Nancy A. Chiavario
Councillor Jennifer Clarke
Councillor Alan Herbert
Councillor Daniel Lee
Councillor Don Lee
Councillor Gordon Price
Councillor George Puil
Councillor Sam Sullivan
ABSENT: Councillor Don Bellamy (Conflict of Interest)
Councillor Lynne Kennedy (Civic Business)
CITY MANAGER'S
OFFICE: Ken Dobell, City Manager
CLERK TO THE
COUNCIL: Allisen Croft
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Cllr. Chiavario,
SECONDED by Cllr. Don Lee,
THAT this Council resolve itself into Committee of the Whole, Mayor
Owen in the chair.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Report of Standing Committee on Planning and Environment
July 10, 1997
Council considered the recommendations of the Committee, as
contained in the following clauses of the attached report:
Cl.1: Request for a Lease Extension of the PNE
Request for a Lease Extension of the PNE
(Clause 1)
MOVED by Cllr. Clarke,
THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clause 1
of this report, be approved.
- CARRIED
(Councillors Daniel Lee and Sullivan and the Mayor opposed)
RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Cllr. Don Lee,
THAT the Committee of the Whole rise and report.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
ADOPT REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Cllr. Don Lee,
SECONDED by Cllr. Herbert,
THAT the report of the Committee of the Whole be adopted.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
The Council adjourned at 5:10 p.m.
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REPORT TO COUNCIL
STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
ON PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT
JULY 10, 1997
A Regular Meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on Planning
and Environment was held on Thursday, July 10, 1997 at approximately
2:10 p.m. in the Council Chamber, Third Floor, City Hall.
PRESENT: Councillor Jennifer Clarke, Chair
Mayor Philip Owen
Councillor Nancy A. Chiavario
Councillor Alan Herbert
Councillor Daniel Lee
Councillor Don Lee
Councillor Gordon Price
Councillor George Puil
Councillor Sam Sullivan
ABSENT: Councillor Don Bellamy (Conflict of Interest)
Councillor Lynne Kennedy (Civic Business)
CITY MANAGER'S
OFFICE: Ken Dobell, City Manager
Judy Rogers, Deputy City Manager
CLERK TO THE
COMMITTEE: Allisen Croft
ADOPTION OF MINUTES
The Minutes of meeting of June 19, 1997 were adopted.
RECOMMENDATION
1. Request for a Lease Extension of the PNE File: 8009/1203
Conflict of Interest: Councillor Bellamy absented himself from the
meeting, having noted he was in conflict of interest because of his
position on the PNE Board of Directors.
Council had for consideration an Administrative Report dated June
11, 1997 (on file) in which the General Manager of Parks and Recreation
and General Manager of Community Services recommended that the PNE lease
be extended until December 31, 1999, to implement a two-phased
transitional park development plan, and sought authority for funding to
demolish buildings and undertake initial landscaping.
The plan involves the demolition of the Swine, Poultry, BC
Pavilion, Food Mart and Show Mart buildings during 1997/98 and the
development of a portion of the Restoration Plan s central feature, the
Sanctuary, during 1998/99. This phasing reduces the footprint available
for the Fair over a two year period. A number of factors were taken
into consideration, including:
incompatible park sanctuary and PNE program requirements;
disruption and temporary relocation of utilities required to
maintain the 1998 and 1999 Fairs;
accommodation of heavy pedestrian traffic flows between Playland
and the Renfrew Complex;
achieving park implementation consistent with the approved plan,
while minimizing the amount of temporary park development that
would need to be reworked in subsequent years; and maintaining
program space for PNE fair functions on building demolition sites.
The Park Board has noted the need to reduce the allocation of funds
to temporary works which will be lost in a permanent redevelopment. The
initial concept, which the Board and staff will review fully, could see
as much as $650,000 invested in temporary works with no long term value.
The City Manager believes the amount at risk should be reduced, as
suggested by the Park Board, and that Council should endorse this
direction as outlined in this report.
Ted Droettboom, General Manager of Community Services, advised that
the Park Plan had been completed in early June and apologized that the
conflicting schedules of the parties had deferred consideration until
July. The proposed plan is a very good solution and relatively quick,
with minimal compromise, and there would be no further delays in
building the park as a result of a two-year lease extension to the PNE.
Pieter Rutgers, Manager of Park Acquisition and Research, Park
Board, reviewed the Administrative Report and responded to questions.
Duncan Wilson, Chair of the Park Board, reiterated the position of
the Board as stated by Mr. V. Kondrosky, General Manager of Board of
Parks and Recreation, in his letter dated July 8, 1997 (on file), which
set forth resolutions opposing any lease extension for the PNE at
Hastings Park; and, in the event Council were to grant said extension,
recommended the Administrative Report be amended to include the
following additional recommendations:
THAT Council agree to convey the Hastings Park site to Park Board
jurisdiction as a permanent park prior to the end of the proposed lease
extension and acknowledge that any further requests for a lease
extension will be at the discretion of the Park Board, and
THAT the above jurisdictional change is made without prejudice of
any claim that the Park Board may now or yet have in relation to
Hastings Park.
Mr. Wilson underscored the community's wish to have a
neighbourhood, rather than a theme, park and noted that the impacts of
one million people converging on the PNE grounds in 17 days had not been
fully explored, were inappropriate and inconsistent with the stated wish
of area residents. He cautioned against further lease extensions and
stated that it is time to get on with building the park.
Jenny Kwan, MLA, representing the B.C. Government, reaffirmed the
Provincial commitment to restoration of Hastings Park. The process has
been slow and difficult, but the Province remains committed to ensuring
the Park will go ahead while preserving the historical and agricultural
traditions of the PNE. She noted that the PNE is a major youth
employer; offers tremendous tourism opportunities, and generates
economic benefits to both the City and Province. Ms. Kwan stated that
every effort is being made to find a new home for the PNE and progress
is being made. The request for proposals has just closed, a number of
proponents are very interested and a couple of potential sites have been
indentified.
Lyn Tait, Deputy Minister, noted that The Honourable Jan Pullinger,
Minister of Small Business, Tourism and Culture, had been unable to
attend due to House business and read her letter dated July 10, 1997 (on
file), reiterating the Government's support for an orderly and planned
transition of the PNE from Hastings Park to a new location by extending
the lease agreement. She assured Council the Province is absolutely
committed to the restoration of Hastings Park, and plans are well in
hand for relocating it by the fall of 1999.
Also, the Province is supporting redevelopment of the Hastings Park
land with in-kind and direct funding of over $3 million. The Minister
invited the City to work with the Province to achieve common goals
including development of a new park for the community; relocating the
PNE to a new site as a world class tourism destination; and the security
of hundreds of jobs for PNE workers and their families.
The following speakers supported Recommendations in the
Administrative Report, based on one or more of the comments below:
Ian Aikenhead, PNE President
Annette Antoniak, PNE General Manager
Greg Antonson, CUPE 1004
Lorretta Grade, Area Resident
Doug Harder, Vancouver Motorsports Show
Darryl Johnstone, Home Show and Flower & Garden Show
"Hunky Bill" Konyk, PNE Concessionaire
Doug MacCalder, CUPE 1004
Steve Parsons, PNE Concessionaire
Dennis Rudd, Businessman (Film Industry)
Steve Varty, CUPE 1004
Blaine White, Square Feet Northwest
The proposed extension will not delay the re-development of
Hastings Park; will protect thousands of jobs; and means $3 million
more will be available for park re-development. Council is urged
to honour the original agreement and approve the staff
recommendations.
The PNE is the largest employer of young people and seniors in
British Columbia. 9,000 jobs, including 3,830 people who work
year-round directly for the PNE, and thousands of spin-off jobs
will be lost forever if it does not continue.
The PNE has bent over backwards to accommodate the park plan; is
anxious to re-locate as soon as possible; and has no interest in
being in the Park after 1999. Staff have been working diligently,
with the support of CUPE Local 1004, and are optimistic a new site
will be identified this fall. If not, there will be a final fair
in 1998. The PNE has been making commitments only for the balance
of this year and
1998, and it is clear to all that a signed and sealed site must be
a reality before December 31, 1997.
Council is urged to support the proposed plan, which strikes a
balance and is workable for all parties, and to not turn the site
over to the Park Board, which apparently has no plan for operating
it and does not fully understand the economics of the project, for
which all citizens must bear the cost. To allow a gap of a year or
two in operating the PNE would likely result in the Fair being lost
and the City or Park Board having to pay for maintenance of the
buildings.
The Park Board and the community have an ideal, but no business
sense. Why are there complaints over delays, when it is obvious
that the whole 160 acres cannot be developed in just a few years;
and how will the $45 million cost be raised?
Many concessionaires, their families and employees depend
financially on the PNE, which has become a tradition and an
institution to which most of the community looks forward. By
providing employment, it has helped young people pay their
university tuition, gain entry-level job experience and develop a
work ethic.
Trade shows are booked into the PNE buildings, and the Coliseum in
particular, all year around. There is resistance to the suggestion
that the site be turned over to the Park Board and major concern
over who will control these bookings and operate the facilities.
The PNE should be retained at its current location; or, at least,
until 1999. It has become an integral part of the lives and
memories of many Vancouverites. The proposed park will attract
prostitutes and drug addicts and become a disposal area for needles
and other tools of the trade.
Hastings Park will happen and whether or not the initial plan will
be phased in over the next few years is not important. The site
definitely should not be turned over to the Park Board. Taxpayers
would not want to see another Oppenheimer Park and have prostitutes
and drug traffic in the area. The PNE has provided employment for
a number of young people and assisted them in achieving
professional status.
The Coliseum is a unique and irreplaceable venue for trade shows;
therefore, it is important for the producers to have advance
bookings and work with experienced people, such as those at the
PNE, who are familiar with their requirements. The Park Board
should not take over the site because of its lack of understanding
of the cycles involved in booking the various shows.
The land donated to the City, on which the old Empire Stadium
playing ground was built (formerly Callister Park Playing Field,
the home of soccer), should be rebuilt as a stadium.
Studio space for movie makers is now at a premium in the City. The
present PNE site has excellent potential for this purpose, and there are individuals associated with the Film Industry who are
prepared to negotiate rental fees.
The following speakers did not support Recommendations in the
Administrative Report, based on one or more of the below comments:
Norm Broomhall, Pacific Indoor Lawn Bowling Club (brief on
file)
Dean Finnette, Area Resident
Victor Gallagher, Area Resident
Marian Olivieri, Area Resident
Deborah Schwartz, Area Resident
Gerry Underhill, Hastings Community Assn. & Hastings Park
Working Cttee.
Mariken van Nimwegan, Area Resident
Timothy Welsh, Kiwassa Neighbourhood House
While some people like the PNE and look forward to its new
location, there is concern that development of the park is being
held up and that relocation issues will not be resolved by December
31, 1997. Many residents are concerned that the park will be lost
and would like to see something done immediately. Perhaps
extension of the PNE lease one year at a time might be an answer.
Local residents have suffered a number of encroachments over the
years; have no real green space; and are exposed to the traffic,
noise and Barnum Bailey Circus atmosphere of the Exhibition. They
should be compensated for putting up with the PNE since 1912. As
far as the loss of jobs is concerned, many midway workers are
transient and go all over North America; hence, they will still
have jobs elsewhere.
City taxpayers are being taken advantage of and the Province should
pay for the whole shot. Perhaps the Mounted Police could provide
security in the proposed park to prevent vandalism.
The North Forum is the only building on the existing PNE grounds
that is large enough to house an indoor lawn bowling facility.
This building is not fully utilized and the Pacific Indoor Lawn
Bowling Club would like to explore its use as a recreational
facility. The Club wishes to determine if its operations could be
dovetailed with that of the Exhibition, and a lease satisfactory to
all parties could be negotiated without impairing PNE revenues.
This would create a recreational facility in Hastings Park during
any lease extension and free up the Club's existing Grimmett Park
site, in an area deficient of green space. The Club agrees with
technical aspects of the letter dated July 9, 1997 from Mike Christ
to Mayor and Council (on file).
The restoration of Hastings Park is crucial to citizens in the
area, who stand ready to start fundraising. The energy is there,
but they are getting tired. In respect of the loss of jobs,
Kiwassa and other clubs could put together a youth employment
consortium. The project should be launched while the energy is
still there.
This is not an acceptable compromise, and area residents are losing
patience. The proposed plan will negatively impact the environment
and delay not only restoration of the park and its availability for
community activities, but also the revitalization of one of
Vancouver's oldest neighbourhoods. The restoration of Hastings Park
will provide employment over several years, including a number of
entry level jobs for youth, and there will be additional
opportunities for young people to gain first-job experience in
recreational services.
Hastings Park should be developed as a whole rather than in phases
as the Administrative Report suggests. If the City does not move
now, opportunities will be lost. Although all the money is not
available, we can start to build and make it happen, just as
similar projects have happened in other cities. The park will
provide all kinds of services to a variety of people throughout the
year, rather than just for three weeks of the year. The PNE
appears to be sitting comfortably and waiting for the ultimate
opportunity in choosing a new site. The neighbourhood believes in
its ideal for the Park and is fearful of further delays.
Families, seniors and the neighbourhood in general have been
looking forward to the planned transition of the area into a park
site, which can be used all year around. There is presently a
major lack of green space in the neighbourhood and families
understandably wish access to a park. Residents are frustrated
with postponements and regard the attempts to alter restoration
plans as unfair and undemocratic. Hastings Park must be returned
to the community.
The community has embraced the plan for restoration of Hastings
Park, which it feels cannot proceed effectively as long as the
cloud of the PNE presence prevails. At the end of the proposed
extension, the City will likely hear again all kinds of reasons why
they are almost ready, but not quite - yet. The PNE was not part
of the mandate for the original park plan and the Hastings Park
Working Committee has not been consulted. The community has done
its part and asks now that the City follow suit.
The Committee noted the process had begun ten years prior with the
expectation that the development of Hastings Park would progress over a
period of 20 to 30 years, and fundraising plans would have to be
revisited in order to acquire the total expenditure of $45/50 million
sooner. It re-affirmed conditions for extending the PNE lease to
December 31, 1999, as outlined in Resolutions B,C,D,E,F and G, adopted
by Council on April 22, 1997 and noted on pages two and three of the
Administrative Report. There was consensus in recognizing the dedicated
efforts of the community and continued commitment to the restoration of
Hastings Park.
Some Committee members suggested that indecision on the part of the
Provincial Government and unwillingness of the other stakeholders to
make necessary compromises had contributed to delays in implementing the
park plan. It had been anticipated the Park Board and community would
cooperate to ensure an orderly transition and that the PNE would be
given time to relocate, thus preserving the jobs of thousands of
workers. The economical and historical significance of the PNE, and
associated traditions, were recognized. In the event the PNE were to
cease operation for two years, the chances of its restarting would be
nil and any economic benefits accruing to the Lower Mainland and
Province would cease.
Others felt there had been too many false starts. The people have
worked hard to make Hastings Park a reality; however, the Province has
let the City, Park Board and community down. Ten years is long enough
to wait. We should get on with it and put an end to further delays.
The following motion by Councillor Puil was put and carried. The
Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
A) THAT the lease extension to the PNE until December 31, 1999 be
granted on the basis of:
i) City Council's conditions described in their resolutions
B,C,D,E,F, and G passed on April 22, 1997; and
ii) City Council being able to implement the two phased
transitional park development plan as outlined in this
report; and
B) THAT Council authorize the expenditure of up to $3.0 million
on Phase One of the Hastings Park Restoration with specific
contracts for design, building demolition, landscape
construction and related project management and design to be
approved by the Vancouver Park Board. Source of funding to be
Hastings Park Capital Account.
C) THAT the implementation of the Phase Two park development be
the subject of a report back with more accurate park
development costs and be subject to Council's acceptance of
the final temporary improvement costs.
D) THAT Council agree to pay the PNE $85,000 in compensation for
maintenance expenses during the month of October, 1997.
(No legal rights shall be deemed to flow from approval of these
recommendations until an agreement to the satisfaction of the
General Manager of Community Services, the General Manager of Parks
and Recreation and the Director of Legal Services has been
completed and approved by Council.)
- CARRIED
(opposed by Councillors Daniel Lee and Sullivan and the Mayor)
The Committee adjourned at 5:05 p.m.
* * * * *