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Urgent Motion Presented at the Regular Board Meeting

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Motion moved by Commissioner Bastyovanszky

Raised as Urgent Business as it is a financial or legal matter of significance to the Vancouver Park Board.

REAFFIRMING PARK BOARD INDEPENDENCE: SAVE THE PARK BOARD

WHEREAS

  • The Vancouver Park Board was formed in 1888 prior to the opening of Vancouver’s first park, Stanley Park.
  • Shortly afterwards, in 1890, City Council passed city bylaw number 96 giving a biannually elected board of four commissioners and the new Board held its first meeting on May 28, 1890. The Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation (“Park Board”), is now governed by the Vancouver Charter, a provincial statute enacted in 1953 that incorporates the City of Vancouver.
  • The mission and mandate of the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation is to provide, preserve, and advocate for parks and recreation services to benefit all people, communities, and the environment.
  • The Park Board looks after 250 public parks and beaches, including Stanley Park, VanDusen Botanical Garden, Bloedel Conservatory, and a large public recreation system of 24 community centres, swimming pools, rinks and arenas, sport playing fields, playgrounds, fitness centres, three championship golf courses, street trees, and marinas, among other services and facilities;
  • Vancouver’s parks, recreation, and cultural assets are prized by Vancouverites and visitors alike and must be protected, maintained, and preserved sustainably and in good working order for future generations. The Park Board has always played a key role in protecting our parks from unscrupulous development.
  • On November 27, 2023, the Board received a report from the Auditor General titled “Park Board Revenue Management”, and the Board unanimously endorsed the report’s six recommendations.
  • On December 6, 2023, the Mayor of Vancouver, Ken Sim, issued a press release that he will be bringing a motion forward on December 13, 2023, asking the Province to remove the requirement for an elected Park Board under the Vancouver Charter, and transfer the powers of the Board to City Council.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED

A. The duly elected Commissioners reaffirm their oath of office.

B. The Board reaffirms its position as an independently elected Board with a mandate to provide, preserve, and advocate for parks and recreation services to benefit all people, communities, and the environment.

C. The Board directs staff to continue with all planning and projects, and not to re-prioritize any work in light of the mayor’s motion.

D. The Board directs staff to not allocate any resources towards a transition working group.

E. The Board directs staff to continue to implement improvements pursuant to the recent Auditor General Report, and to provide an initial report back in Q2 2024 on steps taken and progress made.

F. If the motion proposed by the Mayor is passed by City Council, that the Board directs the chair to send a letter on behalf of the Board to David Eby, Premier, and Anne Kang, Minister of Municipal Affairs, that (1) reaffirms the Board’s role as an independent elected body, (2) makes clear that the current Board of Parks and Recreation were not consulted prior to the Mayor’s motion, and requesting consultation and a meeting with the Premier prior to a decision, and (3) states that the current Board of Parks and Recreation do not support removing the requirement for an elected Park Board.