Agenda Index City of Vancouver

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: July 16, 1999
Author/Local: W. Pledger

TO:

Standing Committee on Planning and Environment

FROM:

General Manager of Engineering Services, in consultation with the General Manager of Parks & Recreation

SUBJECT:

Vancouver Molson Indy Legacy

 

RECOMMENDATION

COUNCIL POLICY

The City has a policy to provide a continuous waterfront walkway from Coal Harbour, generally, to Vanier Park and Kitsilano Beach. In 1990, Council decided to take no further action on a continuous walkway link through the SE Shore properties noting this could be realized at the time the SE Shore lands redeveloped.

PURPOSE

Molstar Sports, the event organizer for the Vancouver Indy race has indicated a desire to leave a legacy that will be a reminder of the time the race occurred in the False Creek area.
The purpose of this report is to recommend Council support a contribution from Molstar Sports towards a series of projects that will comprise a legacy including completion of a temporary waterfront walkway through the SE False Creek lands from Science World to the Cambie Bridge, a science related interactive playground at Science World and general greenery improvements in the area.

BACKGROUND

On March 13, 1997, Council approved a modification to the Vancouver Indy race circuit to include the City lands on the south shore of False Creek. At the same time, Council instructed staff "to discuss with Vancouver Indy opportunities to provide improvements for year around enjoyment such as trees along the median of Quebec Street, green space and playgrounds on the Southeast Shore lands, or other amenities of value for the nearby neighbourhoods."

Future redevelopment of the Southeast shore of False Creek will ultimately result in the race leaving the City of Vancouver. Noting this, subsequent discussions between City staff and the Vancouver Indy organizer, per Council's instructions, have progressed to the notion of a legacy that would serve as a reminder of the race and the interest and importance it had in the community.

On March 9, 1998, the Park Board approved a motion that approved in principle the use of Creekside Park by the Molson Indy "on the understanding that there will be some form of legacy program offered by the Molson Indy". In addition, Bryan Tisdall the President and CEO of Science World and Citygate have also sent letters (Appendices A and B respectively) suggesting projects that might be suitable legacies.

DISCUSSION

The level of funding available from Molson Indy Vancouver is in the order of $100 000 plus whatever "services in kind" or contributions from various race sponsors might become available. As well, Park staff indicate the Board is prepared to consider contributing up to $80 000, the amount of money it receives in rent from Molson Indy for its use of Creekside Park.

City staff observe that there are a number of possible projects competing for only limited funding. The projects are grouped below in a way that splits the funding equally between the City and Park Board. The level of funding and allocation between the City and Parks Board addresses Council's original motion of "providing year round enjoyment" and the Parks Board's motion of a legacy. Molstar Sports has provided an observation of this division of funding between the City and Park Board in their letter attached (Appendix C).

Proposed Projects

1. Completion of a temporary waterfront walkway through the SE Shore lands from Science World to the Cambie Bridge.

This would complete the waterfront walkway from Coal Harbour to Kitsilano Beach. A permanent walkway would be constructed as part of the ultimate redevelopment of the SE Shore lands.

Staff propose $50 000 (plus potential contributions from other race sponsors) be allocated to this project.

Active physical uses associated with the walkway including walking, jogging, cycling, and in-line skating are very consistent with the lifestyle Molstar Sports wishes to portray to the public.

This would be a significant benefit to the City as this section of the SE Shore is the final missing link in a continuous waterfront connection from Coal harbour around the downtown peninsula and False Creek to Vanier Park and Kitsilano Beach. In the longer term a permanent connection will be provided through the redevelopment of the SE Shore lands. However, the proposal to provide a temporary walkway can be achieved in the short term.

Many of the obstacles to this connection have been removed as the previous uses of the waterfront have left. A few obstacles remain in the form of some interim uses including a privately owned parcel at Egmont Towing. However, the City has a right-of-way across this private land which can be exercised so long as access across the right-of-way is provided to Egmont Towing. The impacts on the other interim uses need to be investigated further. One major obstacle will be removed later this year when the City's asphalt plant at Cambie Yard leaves.

Walkway improvements would be minimal, recognizing the temporary nature of the facility. They would likely consist of an asphalt surface separated from the adjoining lands, where necessary, by a chainlink fence. No changes to the shoreline or the existing berm along the water edge would be made except for general cleanup.

A small, fenced and partially decked inlet exists on the east side of the Canron site that could be partially filled and/or bridged. The existing deck is also beginning to collapse and should be demolished. This work, subject to Federal/Provincial approval, would further improve access to the water and would improve site access for the Molson Indy.

It may be possible to significantly complete this temporary facility as early as this Fall, after this years race.

The cost to complete a temporary waterfront link is not known. Therefore, staff recommend a further report back on the design and cost of this project and whether sufficient funding is available from Molstar and its sponsors or whether some City contribution (eg through Cambie Yards) is necessary.

The recognition of Molstar Sports contribution to this facility and its connection to the John Molson Parkway on Terminal Avenue, east of Main Street would be recognized in the form of signing.

2. A community playground adjacent Science World that would present the basic principles of science and the environment in an interactive fashion.

See Appendix A for the letter from Bryan Tisdall, President and CEO of Science World.

As a Park Board project, staff propose allocating $40 000 towards this project. Park staff propose matching these funds for a total of $80 000. Science World has expressed a willingness to work with the private sector to secure additional funding if necessary.

The facility, within Creekside Park is intended for use by all the community and Science World visitors and will take advantage of Science World expertise to make it a learning experience.

Staff recommend subsequent meetings between Molstar, Science World, the Park Board and City Gate meet to develop a playground plan. Identification of Molson's contribution towards the playground would be discrete.

3. A series of landscape improvements (trees, benches, lighting, signage) throughout Creekside Park, Thornton Park, on Quebec, Main and National Streets as well as playground facilities in Creekside Park.

See Appendix B for the letter from Jim Crawford of Citygate. As a Park Board project, staff propose allocating $10 000 to these improvements, to be matched with $10 000 from the Park Board. Engineering Services is presently reviewing the potential to improve the landscaping along Quebec, Main and National Streets within existing budgets per the request of Citygate.

Finally, the use of the large paved race track and infield areas of the SE shore lands immediately before and after the race is very popular with in-line skaters. The General Manager of the Vancouver Indy has also indicated an interest in responding to this demand by the public, on an informal basis, perhaps for basketball, in-line skating or some other sports. Presently, the City leases portions of this land to the private sector. However, some unleased land may still be available from year to year. Molstar Sports may be willing to provide basket ball nets, etc at their cost if the City were willing to provide this unleased land at no cost to Molstar.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

The Property Endowment Fund is presently receiving $114 400 in rent per annum from Bel Pacific for their ramp and barge slip on False Creek for their ocean dumping operation. If a safe and convenient routing of the temporary walkway cannot be found around this and the lease has to be cancelled, this income will be lost to the City.

The film industry pays the City (PEF) over $10 000 per annum to use portions of the SE Shore lands for parking film crew trucks and equipment. This income could be reduced or lost altogether if year round playground facilities were to be installed on the SE Shore lands.

SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS

The General Managers of Engineering Services and Parks & Recreation recommend City Council support the Molstar proposal to contribute, as a legacy to the Molson Indy Vancouver race, a contribution towards the completion of a temporary waterfront walkway through the SE False Creek lands between Science World and the Cambie Bridge, towards an interactive science playground and towards general landscaping improvements in the area. Staff also support the use of discrete portions of City land in the SE shore of False Creek at no cost to Molstar for any informal playgrounds they may wish to develop.

The General Manager of Engineering Services recommends a report back on the details including City funding requirement and timing to complete the temporary walkway in a timely manner. Staff also recommend meetings be held by the key stakeholders on the development of the playground.

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