The West End Mayor’s Advisory Committee (WEMAC) has released it’s report on development issues with recommendations and results of the survey that the group did.
The report is available on Mayor Gregor Robertson website at the following link:
Gregor’s website
Food Scraps Drop Spot
Van Farmer’s Market
Finally another project to divert more organic material from landfills in the downtown peninsula. In addition to programs that encourage apartment dwellers to create soil from organic food scraps in “worm composters” the West End Farmer’s Market is starting a new project where residents can drop off organic food scraps at the market on Comox Street on Saturdays beside Nelson Park.
The program is call “Food Scraps Drop Spot” and the Van Farmer’s Market is looking for volunteers for the project starting on August 13 at the market at Nelson Park from 9 am to 2 pm. The project will end when the Farmer’s Market stops in the fall on October 15.
Volunteers would be responsible for receiving and weighing food scraps, taking information, conducting surveys and providing educational information about composting in the city and Vancouver’s Greenest City Action Plan.
For more info on the project and to volunteer contact Laura Smit at laura@eatlocal.org or 604-879-3276
This is how Laura describes the project:
Be a Green Ambassador! Help keep food from being trashed in Vancouver high rises and multiple user dwellings. Vancouver Farmers Markets & the Recycling Alternative are looking for volunteers to receive & weigh compostables, track participation, and educate the public on composting, landfill bans and Vancouver’s Zero Waste targets at our Food Scraps Drop Spot at the West End Farmers Market. Commitment: Four 3 hour shifts during the 10-week pilot period (Saturdays, Aug 13-Oct 15). Interested? Contact volunteer@eatlocal.org for more details.
Brent Granby
With more a dozen years experience as a community organizer and primary care-giver (daughters Saffrin and Mallika and my physician partner, Anita Palepu), I am seeking a seat on the Park Board to fight for more resilient communities, sustainability and the protection of the ecosystems and natural capital that underpins the health, wealth and quality of life in Vancouver.
I want to be your representative on the Park Board based on my 12-year experience as the primary caregiver to my two daughters and as a community organizer and advocate.During this time I have recognized the importance of the Park Board in supporting the lives of Vancouver families and all Vancouver citizens regardless of age. Continue reading Please support me in seeking a nomination as a COPE candidate for Park Board, Nov. 19. →
The time to be concerned about the Park Board not having enough money to cut the grass is when the budget goes to Council. Where was NPA Park Board commissioner Ian Robertson when on December 2, 2010, Vancouver City Council held a special meeting on the budget? Not at City Hall.
What Vancouver needs is a responsible public discussion about a rational tax policy based on evidence and not on emotional rhetoric.
In a report from KPMG that evaluated 41 global cities stated that Vancouver has the lowest business tax rate of the cities studied. KPMG report Continue reading Time for a rational debate about taxes. →
At tomorrow’s , July 11th, 2011, Park Board meeting the contract to demolished the Jericho Wharf is on the agenda for the Board’s consideration.
The decision by the Vancouver Park Board on November 4, 2010 to remove the Jericho Marginal Wharf is a good example of evidenced based decision making.
After consultation and debate going back to 2008, involving two different Park Boards with different party majorities, no community or stakeholder consensus could be reached around the wharf. It was clear, however, that to restore the structurally unsafe wharf would cost almost one million dollars more to dismantle it. Continue reading Time to say goodbye to Jericho Wharf →
Board of Parks and Recreation
Special Board Meeting
Monday, July 04, 2011 at 7:00 pm
AGENDA
A recording of the Agenda is available at 604-257-8507.
The presentation of the Draft Capital Plan at the Park Board HQ at this Monday July 4 meeting is an opportunity for Vancouver residents to have a preview of what capital projects they will be voting on in next November referendum. As a requirement of the Vancouver Charter the City of Vancouver is not permitted to borrow funds without direct consent through a referendum. Large capital projects like community centres, sewers, and housing need to be funded over a number of years and require the city to raise capital funds.
At Monday’s meeting VPB staff will present the capital projects that been selected for inclusion in Capital Plan referendum. Of coarse resident can sign up to speak to let the Commission and staff know what capital projects that they feel have merit. Continue reading Draft Capital Plan at VPB at the Monday July 4 special meeting →
At tonight’s Park Board meeting the follow motion will be put forward by Commissioner Blyth:
Whereas many field houses and other space in Vancouver’s city parks that have remained unused for several years
Whereas the Vancouver PB must be prudent with its resources, and thus be as creative as possible in fostering widespread usage of Park board facilities;
Whereas there are several worthwhile arts, athletic, community and youth organization across the city that would greatly benefit from access to these vacant properties:
Whereas the Vancouver Park Board’s mandate identifies advocacy for the use of the city’s parks and associated facilities as a core principle in order to “benefit people” and “communities”:
Whereas these venues have so much potential to enhance our city for the benefit of all; Continue reading Commissioner Blyth’s motion to develop more art in Vancouver →
Meeting update Sunday June 26, 2011 at 5:45:
After a lengthy meeting of the COPE membership with resolutions from the floor and many questions of clarification the tactic to enter into an electoral cooperation agreement with Vision and the Greens was adopted by the cope membership.
The room of of around of 300 people demonstrated that COPE members love a good debate and love to participate in the democratic process. Coalition politics may not always be pretty, but meetings like today’s is what makes progressive politics stronger.
Thanks to everyone who attended and participated in the process. Continue reading COPE membership ratify tactic of electoral agreement between Vision and the Greens →
Car Free Day this Sunday June 19 on Main St. between 12th Ave. and 29th Ave.
Time: 12pm to 8pm (streets closed from 10am to 10pm). For more info on Car Free Day in Vancouver on Commercial Dr., West End and Kitsilano:Car Free Day
Come join me and the COPE Ping Pong team in an open tournament of Table Tennis. Come talk with COPE about using public space to create health, happiness, FUN and intercultural understanding and get beat by the COPE Ping Pong team (only amateur players welcome, no profession please this is just for fun and please not betting)
Monday June 20 update: COPE’s table tennis open tournament was a great success and lots of fun. Thanks to everyone who came and played a little table tennis. Thanks to all the volunteers and organizers of Main Street Car Free Day the event was very well attend and a great success.
Here are some photos that I capture from the day:Car Free Day Main Street
