Subscribe to WVM by sending email to subscribe WVM@westvan.org

Submit an article to WVM: submissionWVM@westvan.org

Write to lettersWVM@westvan.org for possible publication or privately to me EditorWVM@westvan.org

See past issues of West Van Matters at www.westvan.org

= MAIN ITEMS Ccl Mtg Mar 26: Clovelly-Caulfeild Neighbourhood Planning Process Report; NSACDI 2006/7

= Vive le Canada (Heritage Lighthouses); CULTUREWATCH; UPDATES/INFObits; Calendar to Apr 1st (ADRA mtg re Amb Mar 28; Budget 2007 Mar 29); DWV WORKING GROUPS/Info; Ccl Mtg AGENDA Mar 26th (Clovelly-Caulfeild; lots of Correspondence re Clovelly unhappy planning process, demolition of heritage house?, Cmnty Ctr's missed time targets, TILMA, etc; indeterminate number unnamed/not public); ADRA Mtg Notice/Info + Amb Master Plan Working Group; THE WAR AGAINST ERRORISM; More Puns 4 U; Quotations

* HERITAGE -- Help Senator Pat Carney to preserve/maintain Pt Atkinson Lighthouse!

from: http://www.patcarney.ca/priorities.html

* A tour de force performance by Terence Kelly in Edward Albee's A Delicate Balance at Jericho Arts Ctr.  A memorable line:  "Time happens."

* If you haven't seen Number 14 yet, pls do (tix already gone for some performances).  It was written right here in Vancouver, has already toured and come back, and now here before going to NY (Broadway!).  V Funny.

*  If you've seen Half Life, pls send me your 'review' (reviewwvm@westvan.org) -- we're considering going.

*  Tix already on sale for Bard on the Beach (739 0559), starts May 31st! www.bardonthebeach.org

=== WEBWATCH: That adorable polar bear club born in Berlin in December is absolutely irresistible.  Google/Youtube Knut polar bear

LATE-BREAKING NEWS:

Release of the notification/posting/etc guidelines moved from end of Feb to Mar 26 have now been delayed until after a mtg with staff and ccl liaisons next week.  The Mayor returns Monday.

o Budget Info Meeting/Info - The town hall mtg will be held in Ccl Chambers on Thursday Mar 29 (see the Calendar) at 4:30.  If you can't attend, you can post comments on the Budget 2007 Community Forum.  Budget documentation and the forum are located at westvancouver.ca/budget.

Base Inflation 2%; Public safety improvements (Fire/Police) .51%; Assessment Appeals, Adjustment .38%; Possible service improvements/challenges .61%.

Have you visited the Civic Centre Site to see how the Community Centre construction is progressing? You can now check out live images of the construction online!  Webcams have been installed on the roof of the Aquatic Centre and Seniors' Centre so now you can watch the new building grow from your PC.  Visit westvancouver.ca/communitycentre for information about this project, including highlights of construction to date, floor plans, or check out the webcam. If you have any questions, call 925 7125.  {See also Correspondence on Mar 26 agenda, Letter 22.}

***  do want to check this out but read that Afghans get paid $40 to $50 a month if a policeman compared with $70 they're paid by the Taliban.

*** Jordan has a popn of about 5M (remember BC has just over 4M), and has 750K refugees from Iraq, with more flooding in.  How wd we cope with that number/proportion?  Iraq's prewar popn was about 23M.  News reported that 2M have fled; there are 1.9M internal refugees in Iraq, and huge numbers in Syria (haven't got the figure); BBC News says 20K are fleeing per month.  Then someone sent me this news story: Iraqi medical crisis as doctors flee -- Iraq's hospitals are left in a medical crisis as up to 80% of doctors flee, most to neighbouring Jordan. http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/middle_east/6479997.stm

This is so depressing when you realize that Iraq had one of the highest levels of education in the Middle East plus free medical care.  Now they can't travel safely to work if they're lucky enough to have a job, and the hospitals are rapidlyly emptying of equipment, drugs, staff.

===  CALENDAR to March 24th to Mar 31st=   ===  [all at M Hall unless otherwise]

===  Sat Mar 24 ~ 9am - noon ~ Ivy Pull organized by Lighthouse Park Preservation Society in park

===  Sun Mar 25 ~ 3pm ~  Chor Leoni at WV United Church, 2062 Esquimalt

+++  AT THE SILK PURSE -- "The Persian Garden" ends Mar 25th

In conjunction with the FBG, the Library, and the Seymour Gallery, the Silk Purse celebrates "IRAN: The Art of a Culture" featuring the watercolours and mixed-media art of North Shore artist Fariba Dashtaray.

+++ Congratulations on the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, the founding document that eventually led to what is now known as the European Union. It was signed on March 25, 1957, by France, Italy, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg.

~ 6 - 8pm ~ OPENING RECEPTION at FBG for Contemporary Treasures Exhibition (to April 15)

The Ferry Building Gallery is honoured to present a curated mixed media exhibition of works by prominent Squamish Nation artists. Also featured are artworks from the Spirit Gallery in Horseshoe Bay. Tel 925 7290.  ***Artists' Talk: Sat 2pm March 31 ***

~ 6 - 8pm ~ OPENING RECEPTION at the Silk Purse --EXHIBIT: "Patterns of Life" (to April 8)

Patterns of life enter into each facet of our daily lives and are instrumental in leading us forward and showing us where we have been. Photographic images including landscape, nature, wildlife, fine art, and travel, capture the imagination, and bring a special enjoyment, featuring the works of photographers Frances de Grace, Lani Jeffrey, Chris MacKenzie, and Sheryl R Smith.

o  ADRA mtg at Library re Ambleside Town Ctr Strategy (presentation by staff, cclrs present to listen to questions and answers) at Library; see section below for notice/news.

o   WV Historical Society mtg at Srs' Ctr, speaker Les Strike: "The History of Scouting in WV".

=== Thurs Mar 29 -- SO MANY MEETINGS!!! and see Library at end of section for booksale!

~ 3:30 - 7:30pm ~ Design Review Mtg

~ 4:30 - 6:30pm ~ Town Hall Mtg re 2007 BUDGET

~ 5 - 7pm ~ NSACDI at DNV M Hall

~ 7pm ~ Understand the Cmnty Grants/NSh Social Services Review Working Group will meet at the Hall but not on the DWV website.

~ 7:30pm ~ The Silk Purse will present highlights of The Dream Healer performed by members of the UBC Opera Ensemble.  Both Lloyd Burritt (composer) and Don Mowatt (librettist) will be present.  Tix $10; call 925 7292

On March 29, the Conservation Section of Nature Vancouver will host a forum on the current state of BC's provincial parks.  Guest speakers will be Derek Thompson, a former Deputy Minister for Ministry of Environment and a member of the Parks Elders Council; Scott Benton, Executive Director for Parks & Protected Areas, Ministry of Environment; and Ben West, a former Green Party candidate and the organizer of the 2006 BC Park Lovers Tour.

Our provincial parks are very important to members of Nature Vancouver and we plan to cover a range of issues related to the re-establishment of the BC Parks reputation. Topics include objectives of the parks and protected areas system and linking parks to people through recreation, stewardship, staffing and communication.

After opening statements by the panel members they will respond to questions from the audience. The Forum will be held in the Parish Hall of St. Mary's Kerrisdale, 2490 West 37th Avenue (at Larch), Vancouver (the regular meeting place of the Birding Section).

We are pleased that these three knowledgeable speakers have agreed to give their views, answer questions and debate the future direction for BC Parks.

*  Thursday 29 -- Friends of the Library Booksale Presale ~ 6:30 - 8:30pm

Admission only with Friends of the Library Membership. Mbrships available at the door (Adults $10, Youth $5).

*  Friday 30 and Saturday 31 -- Friends of the Library Booksale ~ 10 am - 4 pm

* Sunday APRIL 1 -- THE GALLERY AT THE LIBRARY PRESENTS:

Please join us for an opening reception Friday April 13th from 6:30 to 8pm

--  ALSO APR 1st  --  Second Annual Nepali Film Festival! 11am - 6:30pm Sunday Apr 1 at Langara College

Proceeds go to projects supporting children and youth in Nepal; Film details and ticket info: www.tras.ca/filmfest and nepalifilmfest@yahoo.ca

> Ambleside Master Plan Working Group -- Description in ADRA section

> Arts and Culture Strategy Implementation Working Group -- To be determined (not yet named)

> Child Care Services Working Group -- See description below -- 1

> Community Centre Governance Working Group -- To be determined

> Community Grants/North Shore Social Services Review Working Group -- See below -- 2

> Environmental Strategy Implementation Working Grsoup -- See below -- 3

> Heritage Strategic Implementation Working Group -- See below -- 4

> Housing Dialogue and Neighbourhood Character Working Group -- See below -- 5

> Rodgers Creek Area Working Group -- See below -- 6

Term  --  Adoption by West Vancouver Council of an Area Plan for Rodgers Creek.

After the AGM in February, Cclr Ferguson asked for a meeting with ADRA members to discuss the Ambleside Town Ctr Strategy so ADRA has booked the Peters Room in the Library for Wednesday, March 28 at 7pm for a presentation followed by questions.

Below pls find the mtg notice (and newsletter with a few corrections/revisions, slightly edited so not quite the same as was sent out) followed by the terms under wch Ccl has set up a Working Group for the Ambleside Master Plan.

8 March 2007

The Ambleside Town Centre Strategy meeting sponsored by ADRA will be held in the West Vancouver Memorial Library on March 28, 2007, 7:00 - 9:00 pm in the Peters Room.

This meeting will give you an opportunity to view the presentation of re-development in Ambleside and to ask questions regarding height, density, parking, and traffic.  Present building limits are two storeys, with exceptions allowed to three or more.  Please come to the meeting and express your views on what you want to see developed in this area.  Councillor Ferguson and others will be present.

Are you aware that there is a proposed re-development of the Capilano West Restaurant site on the SE corner of 24th Street and Marine Drive?  This involves rezoning the residence at the east side of the restaurant from residential to commercial.  The developers would like to acquire a second residential lot to the east and rezone it in order to build an even larger building.  These residential lots are duplexes, the same as the rest of the block.  This redevelopment is to accommodate a new Capers grocery store.  {WVM will also let you know of any opportunities for input asap.]

At the entrance to Anderson Crescent there is currently a group daycare which recently received a licence to expand to 20 children.  This daycare will be "grandfathered" whether or not the zoning bylaw is amended.  The operators of the daycare have purchased the house across the street and are applying for another group daycare licence for another 20 children.   According to the Planning Department we already have "1,190 individual child care spaces" in West Vancouver.  Residents on Anderson Crescent oppose more than one daycare on their street, as traffic, congestion and safe parking are already a problem.  The Council deferred the bylaw until June 18, 2007.  Until then, a group daycare need only meet the provincial requirements for a daycare licence in order to open in any single-family home in West Vancouver.

{There is a child-care assessment survey going on now, as well as a Working Group (see above).  Please contact the Hall 925 7000 for information and input.}

1.      A member referred to recent reports about the number of FTEs (full-time equivalents) on staff in North Van City, North Van District, and West Van, and pointed out West Van has far more per resident than the others.  Councillor Smith agreed that staffing needs a detailed review.  Councillor Soprovich wants a staffing considered for the 2007 budget.  Councillor Vaughan wants to look at the non-core activities with a view to reducing them.

2.      A member pointed out the unreasonableness of the District wanting people who make a presentation to the Mayor and Council at an open meeting to give their name and address while those who write a letter to Council have their name, address, and the contents of the letter kept secret and away from the public.  Councillors were asked why they would not make the legal opinion upon which this action was taken available to the public.  ADRA has long advocated the full publication of letters to the Mayor and Council.  A director explained that in the past Council has said all letters to Mayor and Council would be part of Correspondence at the council meeting (ie public and could be discussed) whereas those to individual elected representatives or staff would not be, therefore this Council had significantly changed the policy and practice, a past commitment.

3.      A Director asked why Council had not made public a report on the $6 million water meter installation program.  The water expenditures for capital and operations seemed far out of line relative to the revenue from water user fees.  Councillor Ferguson thought that the original budget and a comparative report were public.  Councillor Smith stated that there must be a business case for expenditures.

4.      A member expressed an opinion that an expanded restaurant in Ambleside Park would result in an exacerbated parking problem.  He was also against an increase in the height of buildings in Ambleside.  Councillor Smith said he thought it would be the same footprint and it needed to be revenue-generating.

5.      ADRA is concerned about the lack of notification of committee and working group meetings and the increased number of closed meetings, contrary to provisions of the Community Charter and provincial legislation ensuring opportunities for public inclusion.

6.      A question was asked about ADRA policies and meetings.  ADRA's stated objective is to promote and encourage resident participation in decisions affecting the Municipality of West Vancouver, specifically pertaining to the Ambleside and Dundarave area.  We support controlled growth and development that reflects the character of existing residential and commercial areas in our neighbourhoods.

= Councillor Ferguson is the Council 'lead' [term used for liaison with Council] of the Ambleside Master Plan Working Group.  [Info from DWV website follows this notice; AMPWG is composed of; Karl Gustavson, an architect; Chuck Walker (Walker Building) and David Chard (of Hollyburn 'Medical' Ctr fame), developers; Dolly Cartwright (seniors' advocate, long-time resident), Rob Harrington of West Van Florist; Joe Waibel of Bonavista Property Management, Aileen McManamon, Donal O'Callaghan, and Ava Yazdani.  Apparently five business people, three 'residents', and one student.  At the time of the meeting the exact composition was not known but ADRA directors have expressed the opinion that more residents ought to be part of the Working Group.]  Cclr Ferguson said that her meetings would abide by the legislation with regard to going in camera.  ADRA appreciates the fact that Cclr Ferguson is interested in receiving suggestions on public process for this Working Group.  {Subsequently she asked to meet with ADRA to receive members' views hence the ADRA public meeting was set for March 28 to hear the presentation on the proposed Ambleside Town Centre Strategy, ask questions, and express their opinions.}

= Councillor Rod Day spoke briefly on the Rodgers Creek Area Working Group. It is over 200 acres above the Upper Levels and the increase in population will have a major impact on the District. The Working Group includes two architects, a planner, an engineer, two environmental workers, a resident, and a representative of the West Van Streamkeeper Society.

= Councillor Vivian Vaughan expressed her concern about the growth in the number of residents far exceeding the OCP numbers. She pointed out that the Mayor and all Councillors had campaigned on the basis of less than 1% per annum growth in population. Present redevelopments have already provided for more people than this.  The Ambleside redevelopment will add even more although there is no indication of numbers in the Staff Report.  {Come to think of it, I haven't seen costs, either.}

= Councillor Mike Smith stated his goal of keeping spending and taxes down. He stated that the large capital reserves have been spent. The Operating Budget has increased at twice the rate of inflation. The Request For Proposals for a restaurant in Ambleside Park is an attempt to determine if the present restrooms and concession stand can be replaced at no cost to the property taxpayer.

= Councillor Bill Soprovich stated that he, too, did not want development to exceed the Official Community Plan provision of 1% per year. He pointed out there were some very large developments in progress outside of the District that would impact heavily on West Vancouver. Those on the Squamish Land to the east of the Lions' Gate Bridge are to add 7,000 to 12,000 people or more. There are over 3,000 residential units coming north of Horseshoe Bay. There is the Rodgers Creek development above the Upper Levels highway. All of these will have tremendous impact on traffic in West Van and on the Lions' Gate Bridge.

Councillor Soprovich is lead for the Environmental Working Group dealing with sustainable environmental consideration and land use planning.  He wants to see a new model for the Committee/Working Group dealing with grants and Social Services for the North Shore as the present model is not working. Grants are a particular problem. As a Council member who was on the Financial Sustainable Task Force, he wants to see some of its recommendations implemented in the forthcoming budget for 2007.

PresidentŠŠ.Elaine Fonseca    604 926 6686                  Vice PresidentŠŠ.Keith Pople

TreasurerŠŠ.Ray Richards       Rrichards6332@shaw.ca

DirectorsŠŠ. Roff Johannson, Carolanne Reynolds, David Stephenson, Eleanor Thomas

Please submit your comments and suggestions on matters of concern to you.  You are welcome to email board@adra.westvan.org and/or phone the President.

ADRA MEMBERSHIP: Annual membership is only $5 if you have an email address, or $15 if you require mail-outs.

1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

2. Adoption of February 26, 2007 and March 05, 2007 Regular Council Meeting Minutes and March 12, 2007 Committee of the Whole Minutes

3.         Recommendations from March 12, 2007 Committee of the Whole

RECOMMENDED: THAT the recommendations from the March 12, 2007 Committee of the Whole Meeting regarding:

2007 Budget Presentation; Draft Partnership and Sponsorship Policy; Draft Public Amenity Contribution Policy; Gleneagles Golf Course: Building Options; Town Hall Meeting on Thursday, March 29, 2007; and Appointments to Design Review Committee

be ratified.

4.         D. Lunden, Super Cities Walk for MS, North Shore Committee, regarding Super Cities Walk for MS in Ambleside Park on Sunday, April 22, 2007

For additional information, {go to DWV website for agenda and} go to link Clovelly-Caulfeild Web Page

            At the February 12, 2007 Regular Council Meeting, Council recommended that the following reports, copies of which are attached for reference, be received for community comment and Council consideration on March 26, 2007:

=B7        Report from the Sr. Community Planner re: "Clovelly-Caulfeild Neighbourhood Planning Process" dated February 2, 2007;

=B7        Working Group Final Recommendations Report

            Report from the Clovelly-Caulfeild Neighbourhood Plan Working Group:  "Clovelly-Caulfeild Neighbourhood Planning Process:  Final Working Group Recommendations, January 2007"; and

=B7        Discussion Papers