WVM2008-24
July 28 NOTES
Calendar to Aug 31 +
by
Carolanne Reynolds, Editor
www.WestVan.org
Full summer heat!
August means sun, Harmony Arts, Abbotsford airshow, TUTS, the
PNE...!
AUGUST, THE (eclectic) SUMMER EDITION:
[NB: The next ccl mtg is Sept
8]
= Vive le Canada (The Last 100 Days; National
Peacekeepers' Day; English settlement in NL; Acadian Day); Juggler
Extraordinaire; from the EDITOR'S DESK (Rodgers Crk, Zoning, loss of
Philip Tattersfield); Heritage/RoyalTea; GENDERWATCH; UPDATES (DWV
MidYear Report; Marine Dr Gateway; WVML Leader in Early Literacy;
Outlook by email); POLICE BD JULY MTG REPORT
= CALENDAR to August 31st (check for
changes/updates); then Coho Festival first weekend in Sept
= THEATREWATCH (Bard and Grimm); BOOKWATCH NYT
(Cultural Crossroads of the Levant; Vietnam; Walks); NEWSWATCH
(almost, as in Jon Stewart's The Daily Show and in the humour of Randy
Cassingham's amusing news); WEBWATCH (BBC re computer use and chn's
brains; appalling news from Iraq; FISKWATCH brimming with rumours
starting in Dubai; Middle East Watch; PNN; Arabicnews.com
selection)
= Ccl NOTES July 28th quasi-transcript: Rodgers Crk PH
(devt good; calcs/CBs confusing and virtually no public input; see
speaker 11 re calcs, 14 re watercourse changes); then Amb as well as
445 13th Bylaws adopted; Wetmore site (suggestions not to sell);
ChildCare WG (success/plan); Finance Cmte (good recommendations); lots
of Correspondence; PQP (Rodgers Crk, Wetmore, RoyalTea-by-the-Sea);
mtg July 30th am last for summer
= FIREWORKS! (watch on web); Hanan Ashrawi (daughters);
Palestinian Poet Mahmoud Darwish; Hadrian's Wall/British Museum;
Language (New Word from Olympics; AWAD Apostrophes); Computer
Problems; Domain Names (websites); Bard-ku;
Quotations/Puns/Question
=== Vive le Canada === Statements
by PM Harper
August 8
* "THE LAST HUNDRED DAYS" OF THE FIRST WORLD
WAR
This year, on November 11, Canada will mark the 90th
anniversary of the end of the First World War.
More than 100,000 Canadians were at the forefront
of many of the great battles in the final days of the war. This
period, from August 8 to the signing of the armistice on November 11,
is now known as "The Last Hundred Days".
Canadians are right to be proud at what those
heroes in the Canadian Corps accomplished. Over =93The Last Hundred
Days=94, Canadian soldiers advanced 130 km and 30 Canadians and
Newfoundlanders earned the Victorian Cross....
Those who served, and continue to serve,
represent the very best of what it means to be Canadian. We are
eternally grateful.
Lest we forget.
* FIRST NATIONAL PEACEKEEPERS' DAY
Today we honour those Canadians who have served
as peacekeepers around the world.
It was Canadians who invented peacekeeping. For
decades members of the Canadian Forces have been the most enthusiastic
participants in, and experienced leaders of, peacekeeping operations
around the world. Peacekeeping is part of Canada=92s strong military
tradition. It is also a symbol of our country=92s commitment to
building a more safe and secure world...
On this day, I encourage all Canadians to say
"thank you" to all of those who have served our country as
peacekeepers. They, like everyone else who serves our country in
uniform, continue to make their fellow Canadians proud.
August 14 -- SUPPORT FOR CUPIDS' 400th
ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
"The people of Cupids, NL will have the
opportunity to stage a larger celebration marking the 400th
anniversary of English settlement in Canada... 2010 will be a
historic year for Newfoundlanders and
Labradorians..."
August 15 -- NATIONAL ACADIAN DAY
"Today all Canadians have the opportunity to
appreciate the history and achievements of Canada=92s Acadians...
Acadia's history has helped shape that of Canada. The French presence
in North America owes much to those early Acadian settlers who showed
an unwavering commitment to pass on their culture, language, and
traditions to their children... have a memorable Acadian
Day."
=== JUGGLER EXTRAORDINAIRE
and now for something completely different......
the most incredible juggling I've ever seen -- and done to
Beatles music:
http://www.chrisbliss.com/videopresskit_finale.html
..... from the EDITOR'S DESK
*** RODGERS CREEK DEVT PROMISES
The proposed bylaw had three readings but has not yet been
adopted. Anyway, no surprise most of the speakers
applauded the devt; deserved but distraction b/c in my view that
was almost a given; what was critical but uncertain and
for wch information required was Uplift, needed to determine Cmnty
Benefits (CBs) wch ought to have started from credible land values
then public input as to what taxpayers/residents favour for their
share.
*** ZONING
The VSun Friday July 18th issue pD3 mentioned that in Vancouver
impervious/impermeable surfaces (asphalt driveways, concrete for
parking, etc) are included in site coverage calculations. My
enquiry to DWV staff confirmed that they are NOT in WV.
The zoning bylaws are being reviewed. Pls request that
impervious surfaces be included in site coverage calculations and
limited for the sake of our environment -- and our nbrhd
character.
Without substantial pervious areas, it lessens the amount of
water absorbed and retained on the hillside, in the ground, as well as
requiring the additional costs for drainage. This is turn means
that the streams and creeks have to cope with surges from the pipes
and/or contaminants in the system.
We trust that the commitment to include decks will also be coming
forward (ridiculous not to include them if only three walls).
*** PASSING: Philip Tattersfield
So sorry to learn of the recent passing of Philip Tattersfield,
whom I'd met some years ago when he gave us the benefit of his
expertise on trees while we were trying to keep the trees planted in
front of the M Hall in 1936 by the Boy Scouts. He was rightly
proud of his mbrship No. 1:
In 1964 I had
initiated the process whereby a Chapter of the American Institute of
Landscape Architects was established in British Columbia. This
resulted in the Provincial proclamation of a first Canadian Landscape
Architects Act in 1968. My official stamp bears the number 1: the
membership to date is 347.
To write something about him, I googled and got
http://www.tattersfield.net/TFWFtree3.html and then if you scroll down to 7. PHILIP WALTER
TATTERSFIELD (1917-) AND FAMILY, Vancouver, Canada (excerpt
above) you can read about his life. Remarkable. Even
includes an attack by the Italian Cavalry in Africa, and buying a lot
in WV about 1960 for $250. We've lost a memorable part of WV
heritage.
*** HARMONY ARTS
Just getting better and better -- hope you took in a lot of the
events and enjoyed the crafts, art, music, etc.
=== HERITAGE: RoyalTea-by-the-Sea in Dundarave
Park ===
Thanks for a Saturday that cleared (Aug 2nd) and to the piper
(photo in NSNews Aug 13 p42 with a bedecked Cclr Vaughan) et al; pix
of hat winners will be on website www.royaltea.ca soon. BTW, we
really enjoyed the Jubilee Tea supplied by Murchie's and we look
forward to tasting Peach Nectar, their special for July -- will try it
as iced tea.
=== GENDERWATCH
=== Wed 30 July 22.30 BST - BBC TWO - Quotation for
the Day:
"If we had no sexual harassment we would have no
children"
-- An unnamed Russian judge, dismissing a case of sexual
harassment, ruling that employers were obliged to make passes at
female staff to ensure the survival of the human race.
=== UPDATES
===
o
Mid-Year Operating Review
This segment
includes a detailed review of actual results to June 30 with
commentary on work plans and highlights and issues. The focus is
on ensuring Divisions will complete their work programs within their
approved budgets by the year-end.
2008 Mid-Year
Operating Review;
http://www.westvancouver.ca/article.asp?a=5813&c=809
o
Marine Drive Gateway Project
Crews completed
the re-paving of Marine Drive by Park Royal ahead of schedule in July.
Crews are now building a centre median, and new sidewalks and
retaining walls, which will be followed by new lights and
landscaping.
The following
tentative schedule outlines all the remaining work to be done for this
project:
Week of July
28th: Centre
median curb and apron; North boulevard sidewalk and retaining
wall.
Week of
August 5th:
Street light poles and fixtures; Marine Drive traffic signal upgrade;
Topsoil placement; Landscaping contract tender.
Week of
August 12th:
Substantial completion of all civil work.
Week of
August 19th:
Landscaping contract award; Landscaping will be installed based on
current weather conditions to ensure optimum survival of all plant
species.
Note:
Conduit for undergrounding overhead utilities has been installed
however the exact timing of work by BC Hydro has yet to be
finalized.
o West Vancouver Memorial Library a Leader
in Early Literacy
What if you
discovered that from 'day one' each little word, every nursery
rhyme, whimsical sing song, or colourful picture book played a crucial
role in laying down the bones of literacy? What if it was also
revealed that the issue of literacy transcended socioeconomic status?
Would it be a call to action? Julia Hedley, Head of the Youth
Department at West Vancouver Memorial Library, hopes so. So much so,
that she's taken up the cause with a tireless campaign to ensure
each and every local child has the advantage of early
literacy.
Read the rest at:
http://www.westvancouver.ca/article.asp?a=5807&c=677
o North Shore Outlook by email! Just write to
editor@northshoreoutlook.com to get on e-list.
=== WVPD === from our
Police Bd Correspondent
West Vancouver Police Board Meeting July 24th
REPORT
- aggressive motorcycle driving continues to be a problem; one
driver was stopped after passing vehicles on Highway 99 on the
shoulder at 195kph.
- while property crimes rose slightly in the most recent
reporting period, the long-term trend is downward; violent crimes are
up marginally
- a 32-year-old Vancouver resident with an outstanding Sask
arrest warrant for cocaine trafficking was detained with 1 kilo
($40,000) worth of coke in his trunk. Sask police flew out that
evening to return him to Sask.
- a Caulfeild resident was rescued from forcible confinement by
her ex-boyfriend after using her alarm system's panic button to summon
police (her ex having disabled the phones in the house) -- a police
service dog located the ex hiding in a closet
- an estranged husband with a court order not to contact his ex,
hanged himself from the porch deck
- the Ocean Club continues to receive regular visits under
Operation Safeguard and known gang associates were escorted from the
premises
- an attempted theft of $100,000 worth of jewellery from the Bay
was stopped and a suspect detained
- the department's budget is on track for the most part, with
overages in "dry-cleaning, cell phones and pagers, sundry
(ammunition), building and grounds maintenance, and natural gas"
because of "actual costs being higher than anticipated when the
budget was formulated"
OBSERVER'S COMMENT
The Police Board continues its abuse of Section 69 of the Police
Act. The claim that discussing some matters in public would
impair public security does not pass the laugh-out-loud test. For
example: committee appointments (Council does this in public, why not
the Police Board?); a letter from the Canadian Association of Police
Boards asking who from the WVPB will attend the 2008 Conference; and
an invitation from the Police Services Division for the Board to
attend a training session (one wonders if any part of the training
will cover the Police Board's obligations under the Police Act?)
===
CALENDAR to Aug 31st+ === [at Hall
unless otherwise noted; pls confirm to make sure no
changes]
Farmers' Markets: Dundarave Sat, Ambleside
Sun; Concerts by the Sea Sunday evenings, Ambleside
Landing
== Wed Aug 13
~ 5:30pm ~ Play Active Challenge BBQ, Lawson Park; ~ 7pm ~
Cmnty Sport WG CANCELLED
== Thurs Aug 14 ~ 5:30pm ~ Measuring Up WG at Srs' Ctr
(alas, belatedly posted)
== Tues Aug 19 ~ 6:30pm ~ Cmnty Dialogue WG (Housing)
at Library
== Thurs Aug 21 ~ NSh Family/Youth Justice Cmte
CANCELLED
== Thurs Aug 28 ~ 5pm ~ NSACDI at DNV M
Hall
CONFUSING:
The DWV website's Cmnty Calendar has a Design Review Cmte mtg
Sept 4 but if you go to the cmte's webpage, it says
CANCELLED.
Now you have some idea why my campaign for over a year to have
someone responsible for this since told several involved.
Difficult to engage the cmnty when uncertain, changing, and
conflicting information. The CEC may recommend a job description
assigned to a position to clarify this.
*** COHO
FESTIVAL SUNDAY SEPT 7th in Ambleside Park! ***
+++ WV MEMORIAL LIBRARY
+++ The Library is closed
Sundays July through Labour Day.
Fridays -- 10:30 - noon -- English
Corner -- Practise
English conversation. Every Friday, from now until August 30.
Elizabeth Musto Room. For info call: Fariba Rocker, 604 506
6616.
+++ FERRY BUILDING GALLERY
+++
Harmony Showcase Exhibition
-- August 1 - 17 -- Mixed Media Exhibition; 30
artists
Aug 19 - 31: Wild & Sacred --
Paintings by Leslie Gould & Evelyn Kirkaldy
Opening Reception: Tues Aug 19 from 6
to 8pm -- Artists' Talk: Sat Aug 23
at 2pm
+++ SILK PURSE +++ (1570
Argyle) www.silkpurse.ca
> August 12 -
24, 2008 --
"Threshold"
Photographic
artist Chris
MacKenzie, based in
Vancouver, is an exclusively film-based photographer who uses no
digital manipulation in his work. He has images in private collections
all across Canada, the United States and various countries in
Europe.
Opening:
6 to 8pm TUES Aug 12
ARTIST TALK &
DEMO: 2 to 3pm SAT Aug
16
Photographer and UBC History
Professor Chris
MacKenzie leads an
afternoon talk/demo on quick tips for the budding and new
photographer.
FREE---- EVERYONE WELCOME!!
> August 26 - September 7, 2008 -- "Nature's
Reflections"
All of us are profoundly
affected by the landscapes we inhabit. It gives us a sense of who we
are as individuals, communities and nations. Join BC Lower Mainland
artists Gary
Eder, Eileen Fong, Maria Josenhans,
Carrie Lazareff,
Gordon Oliver
and Althea
Rowe, as we celebrate our
natural surroundings in a mixed media exhibit of watercolours,
acrylics, oils and photography.
Opening:
6 to 8pm TUESDAY August 26th
+++ WV MUSEUM
+++ Visit:
http://www.westvanmuseum.blogspot.com/
Selwyn
Pullan -- Position the New
-- Photographs from 1945
-1975 [CLOSES Sept 20]
This retrospective demonstrates the
photographer's intimate connection to the development of modernism on
the West Coast of Canada and highlights the social, economic, and
cultural forces that changed the face of Vancouver and the region
during the post-war boom.
+++ KAY MEEK CENTRE
+++
Saturday August 23rd
~ Kay Meek Salutes
the Extraordinary Contribution of its
Volunteers!
Annual
BBQ -- 11:30am -- 1700 Mathers
Paul Gravett,
Executive Director, invites anyone who is interested in joining a
great team of arts-loving, community- minded volunteers. Come as
you are -- we look forward to meeting you!
= To see the electronic newsletter, the
address is http://kaymeekcentre.weebly.com. Getting onto the mail list: the simplest method
is to call the box office (604 913 3634) or email
tickets@kaymeekcentre.com.
=== THEATREWATCH
===
TUTs is over but Bard continues till Sept 27. The Tempest
is sold out (you cd hope for a cancellation or no show! -- it is
fantastic); the amusing Twelfth Night is 90% sold out; Titus
Andronicus (more than gore) and the unusual King Lear selling too.
Go to www.bardonthebeach.org to check on ticket availability or phone
739 0559. Peter Birnie's comments on all four are a good guide
(VSun Aug 14 pD7 see:
http://digital.vancouversun.com/epaper/showlink.aspx?bookmarkid=LBD3WMH2J5Q8&preview=article&linkid=bdd14d99-e5e7-454c-9cc6-de255d5e64a6&pdaffid=UoK07CXP%2f31q4jcr2uiPsg%3d%3d).
[Bard-ku inspired by Tempest and Titus at end of this
newsletter.]
=== BOOKWATCH ===
NYT: an essay then two reviews
*** Cultural
Crossoads of the Levant by RACHEL DONADIO Published: June
29
From the war in Iraq to the
rumblings in Iran to the heightening tensions between Israelis and
Palestinians, there are few bright spots in the Middle East these
days. But one boutique Jerusalem press has cleared a space for
conversation in a contentious region. Started in 1998 by a
husband-and-wife team, Ibis Editions has published English
translations of works in Hebrew, Arabic, Greek, French, German, and
Judeo-Spanish - all relating to the Levant.
Read this essay about Ibis Editions:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/29/books/review/Donadio-t.html?pagewanted=1&8bu&emc=bub1
*** From the NYT review of THE EAVES OF HEAVEN A Life in Three Wars by Andrew X. Pham: Few books have combined the historical scope and the
literary skill to give the foreign reader a sense of events from a
Vietnamese perspective.
Rest of review:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/13/books/review/Steinglass-t.html?_r=1&8bu&emc=bua2&oref=slogin
*** Roaming
Freely in a Land of Restraints
The bucolic landscape of the West Bank was the prevailing
impression Raja Shehadeh had in mind when he wrote the book
"Palestinian Walks: Forays Into a Vanishing
Landscape."
RAMALLAH, West Bank - There is an Arabic word for Raja
Shehadeh's pastime. "Sarha is to roam freely, at will, without
restraint," he writes in "Palestinian Walks: Forays Into a Vanishing Landscape", an
account of six walks in the West Bank, which won this year's Orwell
Prize, Britain's pre-eminent award for political writing, and was
published by Scribner in the United States in June. "A man going on
a sarha wanders aimlessly, not restricted by time and
place."
The review also has
Multimedia, an audio slide show and a video. See:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/13/books/13walks.html?8bu&emc=bub2
{I managed to buy this book at the great
little bookstore 32 Books in Edgemont so hope to read it
soon.}
=== ALMOST NEWSWATCH
=== for fans of The Daily Show....
Is Jon Stewart the
Most Trusted Man in America? by MICHIKO KAKUTANI; Published: August 15
IT'S been more than eight
years since "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart" made its first foray into presidential politics
with the presciently named Indecision 2000, and the difference in the
show's approach to its coverage then and now provides a
tongue-in-cheek measure of the show's striking
evolution.
Jon Stewart describes the
morning meeting as "a gathering of curmudgeons expressing
frustration and upset." For more on
this sardonic approach to news, see:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/17/arts/television/17kaku.html?em
=== NEWSWATCH
===
= VSun, Aug 15
pA10: photo of a self-pouring teapot circa
1886
pA13: NASA needs Russian Soyuz!
US space shuttles will be retired in 2010 and funding for
replacements are being considered by the Congress but even with it,
none will be ready till at least 2015. That's why the Americans
are negotiating for Soyuz to fill the gap.
{hm -- will they still be friends after Ossetia
skirmish???}
= In discussing deportation of an American deserter, CBC
made the contrast with the 100,000 who came up during the Vietnam
War.
= Requested permission from Randy Cassingham for these
snippets:
+ GOT A LIGHT? Scientists in
Argentina say methane holds in 23 times more heat than carbon dioxide,
and is a neglected culprit in global warming. To try to quantify
how much the country's 55 million head of cattle contribute to the
problem, the researchers have mounted fart collection tanks on the
backs of cows to measure the gas they emit (no, really!). Early
results from the Argentine National Institute of Agricultural
Technology and the Argentine National Council of Scientific and
Technical Investigations show that the average cow blows out 800 to
1,000 liters of the flammable gas per day, and that feeding them
clover and alfalfa instead of grain reduces emissions by about
25%.
(London Telegraph) ...So the mythical cow didn't so much
"jump over the moon" as it was rocket
propelled.
+ IF ONLY SOMEONE HAD...: "Fire
Destroys Truck Full of Extinguishers" --
Lancaster (Penn.) Intelligencer Journal headline
+ YOU HAVE *GOT* TO SEE the photos of the
gas collection tanks on the cows! (Third story.) The photos are
so funny I made it the featured video story this week:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNLOPnpk5wU
+ MISS MARY JANE, PLEASE PICK UP THE WHITE
COURTESY TELEPHONE FOR AN URGENT MESSAGE: A Japanese customs officer
exercising his sniffer dog at Tokyo's Narita airport put a 142g (5 oz)
bag of marijuana into an unsuspecting traveler's suitcase after it
arrived from Hong Kong. "The dog couldn't find it," a
customs spokeswoman admitted. Worse, "the officer also forgot
which bag he put it in" and it was delivered to baggage claim.
Using a real customer's luggage to train drug dogs is against
regulations, the spokeswoman explained, and the officer has been
reprimanded. "If by some chance passengers find it in their
suitcase, we're asking them to return it," she added. Customs
officials valued the missing pot at 1 million yen
(US$9,500).
(London Times) ...$2,000 an ounce? The cops always have the
best stuff.
=== WEBWATCH
===
*** Is computer use changing children?
Distinguished neuroscientist Baroness Greenfield wonders what
computers are doing to the children who use them a lot.
"...The brain, says the
distinguished neuroscientist, changes all the time - but it is very
sensitive to the environment [it's] in, and so it might be affected by
the continual use of computers..."
See: <
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/technology/7564152.stm
>
*** APPALLING NEWSWATCH -- fallout of
war......
The tragic last moments of Margaret Hassan [Brit in Iraq] --
Thursday, 7 August 2008
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/fisk/the-tragic-last-moments-of-margaret-hassan-887135.html
... She stands in the empty room, a deplorable, terrible, pitiful
sight. Is it Margaret Hassan? Her family believe so, even though she
is blindfolded. I'm not sure if videos like this should ever be seen ?
or perhaps the word is endured ? but they are part of the dark history
of Iraq, and staff of the Arab Al Jazeera satellite channel have grown
used to watching some truly atrocious acts on their screens.
*** FISKWATCH --
Saturday, 16 August 2008
Robert Fisk's World: A region boiling with tales of kings, gangs,
and war
The tag line has: "Two groups from Moscow fought it out with
Kalashnikovs amid Dubai's architectural masterpieces", but
there's far more in these tales of rumours in the Middle East from
Doha to Tehran to the Pisgah Mtns in the US -- Petraeus and the
missing king of Morocco along the way. See:
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/fisk/robert-fisks-world-a-region-boiling-with-tales-of-kings-gangs-and-war-899000.html
=== MIDDLE EAST WATCH
===
*** Nonviolent resistance:
http://english.pnn.ps/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3323&Itemid=1
Subscribe to PNN:
<http://la.mef-la.org/mailman/listinfo/newsletter>,<mailto:newsletter-request@la.mef-la.org?subject=subscribe>
*** FULBRIGHT SCHOLARSHIPS FOR GAZANS?
This is from June
but I think some got to go:
http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/63778
*** Int'l Federation of Human Rights
Boat attempting to go to Gaza:
http://english.pnn.ps/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3354&Itemid=1
*** COMPREHENSIVE
ARABICNEWS.COM
with articles from LATimes, Washington Post, NYT, Christian
Science Monitor, etc., eg:
Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2008 19:21:49 -0700 (PDT)
Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad today officially welcomed
his Algerian counterpart, President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
Gallegos said "We continue to urge the Council of
Representatives to seek a compromise that can be adopted
promptly"
Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) said that the
Egyptian government has imposed a new measure obliging Internet
caf=E9s to gather and keep certain personal information from visitors
who use their services
Syria's release of prominent activist Aref Dalila on August 7,
2008, after seven years in detention, was welcomed, but the government
did not free dozens of more detainees being held for non-violent
political activities
Palestinians mourn poet
Darwish's death
Palestinians yesterday mourned the death of Mahmoud Darwish, one
of the Arab world's greatest modern poets.
Gulf name controversy: Arabian or
Persian, Iranian uses music in support
Iranian music band 'Shams' will symbolically perform a concert in
protest against what is regarded officially by Iran as a distortion of
the name of the Persian Gulf, the manager of Tehran's Saadabad Palace
said.
Palestinan President Mahmoud
Abbas received on Sunday Israeli Member of Knesset and former Meretz
chairman Yossi Beilin in the West Bank City of Ramallah on the latest
developments in the Palestinian territory as well as the efforts made
to push the peace process forward.
Go
The joint United
Nations-African Union (AU) peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID)
reported today that one of its helicopters came under fire in West
Darfur.
Go
News from around the web:
Egyptian Judge Sentences Exiled Dissident to Prison for
Writings in 'Foreign Press' - WashingtonPost.com
Palestinian negotiator considers binational state -
WashingtonPost.com
Iraqi Army Is Willing, but Not Ready, to Fight - NY
Times
Easy-listening West Bank station goes off air -
WashingtonPost.com
Tigers make a fresh start in Baghdad - LA
Times
Bears chill out as Cairo zoo reforms
- WashingtonPost.com
=== CCL PH/MTG
NOTES July 28th ===
--> PUBLIC
HEARING
1.
CALL TO ORDER
2. PUBLIC HEARING
Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 4360, 2004, Amendment Bylaw No.
4567, 2008; Zoning Bylaw No. 2200, 1968, Amendment Bylaw No. 4568,
2008; and Phased Development Agreement Authorization Bylaw No.
4569 (Rodgers Creek Area), 2008
Planning Staff will describe the proposed bylaws.
Applicant: British Pacific
Properties, for the owners.
Subject Lands: Rodgers Creek
Area of the Upper Lands.
Purpose: To revise the Official
Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw to allow for the development of the
Rodgers Creek Area consistent with Option B (maximum 1,875,600
sq. ft. of residential building area consisting of 736 dwelling
units) of the proposed Rodgers Creek Area Development Plan,
Overview Report dated March 7, 2008 and to secure a variety of
associated amenities and development features through the Phased
Development Agreement mechanism of the Local Government Act,
Section 905.1.
Proposed Official Community Plan (OCP)
Amendment: The proposed OCP amendment would revise the policies for
the Upper Lands:
1.
to allow the Rodgers Creek Area to be developed to a maximum 1,875,600
square feet of residential building area consisting of a maximum 736
dwelling units;
2.
by adding Rodgers Creek Area Development Policies and Development
Permit Guidelines; and
3.
by making consequential amendments to the OCP such as realigning the
1,000 foot connector so that it extends northwest from Chippendale
Road to connect to upper Cypress Bowl Road.
Proposed Zoning Bylaw Amendment: The
proposed zoning bylaw amendment would:
1.
create the Comprehensive Development Zone Three (CD3) which
would provide for development consistent with Option B of the proposed
Rodgers Creek Area Development Plan, Overview Report dated March 7,
2008; and
2.
rezone the specified lands:
from: R.S.7 Single Family Zone 7 and
R.S.8 Single Family Zone 8
to: Comprehensive Development Zone
Three (CD3).
Proposed Phased Development Agreement
(PDA): The proposed PDA secures a variety of amenities for West
Vancouver including:
=B7 the extension
of Chippendale Road to Cypress Bowl Road;
=B7 $500,000 for
restoration and enhancement of environmentally sensitive
areas;
=B7 various
public realm elements of the Rodgers Creek Area Development Plan set
out in the Overview Report, including mountain bike and hiking
trails;
=B7 the green
building and building accessibility standards set out in the Overview
Report;
=B7 integrated
storm water management plans for Pipe, Westmount, and Cave Creeks
watersheds;
=B7 a wildland fire
management plan;
=B7 a serviced
site for District use in Area 6; and
=B7 a $7,940,000
cash contribution to a District reserve fund to be used for projects
determined by Council.
In exchange for these amenities and
features of the development, the land use and density provisions of
the proposed CD3 zone would not change for [ten] years without the
owners' approval. In addition the applicant will provide
$250,000 for traffic improvements at 15th Street and Mathers Avenue
and on 21st Street (between Inglewood Avenue and Highway No. 1) prior
to adoption of the zoning amendment bylaw.
{without discussing at least three
different Uplift figures presented to Ccl, how many of the measures
above wd benefit the devt rather or more than the cmnty as a whole?
What's the total?
Not only that, it appears from the
presentation by staff that there will be add'l accessory bldgs that
will NOT count in the FAR }
3.
PUBLIC HEARING PROCEDURE [Explained by Mayor]
4.
REPORTS/CORRESPONDENCE
1)
Reports received up to July 24, 2008:
TITLE [with date received or to be
received omitted from this list]
Rodgers Creek Proposed Bylaws -
Additional Component of the Proposed Community Benefits
Package [R-1]
Rodgers Creek Area: OCP, Zoning and
Phased Development Bylaws
[R-2]
Rodgers Creek Area Development Plan -
Additional Information
[R-3]
Rodgers Creek - Proposed Community
Benefits and Public Amenities
[R-4]
Rodgers Creek Area Development
Plan [R-5]
Rodgers Creek Truck Traffic Routing
Plan [R-6]
Rodgers Creek Area Plan Working Group
Report to Council [R-7]
Rodgers Creek Fiscal Impact
Report [R-8]
Environmental Setback
Summary [R-9]
Rodgers Creek Tailed Frog Survey Summary
Upper Lands, District of West Vancouver [R-10]
Rodgers Creek Area Development Plan -
Sustainability Review and Evaluation
[R-11]
Rodgers Creek Area Development Plan -
Overview Report [R-12]
Rodgers Creek Traffic Impact
Study [R-13]
2)
Correspondence [numbered 1 to 13] received up to July 24,
2008:
G. Ward Hall, Resident,
Resident, Resident, Resident, Resident, Resident, G. Pajari,
Resident, E. Fonseca, President, Ambleside Dundarave Ratepayers'
Association, R. Griffiths, D.
Baxter, J. and M. Hoyle
On July 7, 2008, Council set the
date for the Public Hearing. On July 11, 2008, 863 Notices were
mailed to owners/occupiers within the notification area specified in
the map in Appendix A attached to the report from the Manager,
Community Planning dated June 30, 2008. The statutory notice of
Public Hearing appeared in the North Shore News on Sunday, July 20,
2008 and Wednesday, July 23, 2008. The Municipal Clerk will note
written submissions received for the July 28, 2008 Public
Hearing.
Geri Boyle, Planning staff: [on slide: four cmnty building
principles, then continues:]
Respecting envtal resources; let the landscape inform;
science-based approach;
McHarg's Design with nature: concept on ecological planning
Sieve Analysis Map identified 30 riparian areas; from this
planning areas and conservation areas
Mtn Pathway -- probably from BPP's envisioning notebook
Future Cypress Village to the west; Locating density in proximity
to amenities
Confident the envmt protected -- 55% of the land area remains
undeveloped, riparian and steep slopes, so large contiguous areas of
green space
six residential clusters; 1.875Msf of residential floor
area
bldgs will fit landscape and have an architectural character
approp to the mtnside location.....
Housing Diversity: 736 -- so 13% sgl fam; 3%
duplex/triplex; 14% townhomes; 70% apts, at least 30% of wch under
1000 sf in size
cmnty-based plan; collaborative process; public process; WG
Leading Age Process and Leading Age Plan
PLAN basis for bylaws; three are subject to tonight's PH
Key elements: amends UL policies to 1.875Msf and 736 dwelling
units -- at present 2.5upa
Allows Mulgrave School to use land to the north of its site for
school facilities other five - eight acres land than a sports
field
update sev maps to show the new Chippendale alignment to Cypress
Bowl Rd
extending SW, now to [NW?]
Second bylaw represents Option B -- one exception is no
provision for accessory housing, is in recommendation by WG; felt more
approp Housing Dialogue report and provide some consistency
one zone for entire area CD3 (213 acres)
how FAR is treated: different elsewhere in cmnty;
eliminated
440 sf for car parking...
if you build 6000sf, aren't exclusions such as
basement
pretty close to what bylaw will permit accessory bldgs up to
240sf excluded
mechanical rooms in basements
open balconies beneath roof overhangs to the extent less than
6% of total FAR up to 300sf
Final bylaw not called CB bylaw, called Phased Devt
Agreement
land use and density wd not change for ten years
{You've probably heard that you can't fetter a Ccl's
discretion.
Apparently there is now legislation that a municipality can
set zoning for ten years, for 20 it requires provincial
approval.}
$7.9M in five instalments
extension of Chippendale to Cypress Bowl within 18 months
$500K for restoration and enhancement of environmentally
sensitive areas
bridge over Rodgers, over and above [?]
public realm elements of the Area Plan get implemented; grades,
activity nodes
Green building
Integrated storm water mgmt for Pipe, Westmount, and Cave Creek
watersheds
a wildland fire mgmt plan
a service site ~.8 acres in Area 6 transferred to DWV, use as
District sees fit -- 55Ksf, 55 units, for District to decide ...
Working with the District to achieve artificial turfing of
McGavin Field -- field under construction
{ah yes. BPP shd hv finished it as part of what the
arrangement when they got the zoning for Deer Ridge West. So now
it's part of the Rodgers Crk devt. It's not a regulation
competition field, unfortunately I've been told, but I do hope this
time they'll provide for washrooms and parking!
why the money (whose?) for artificial turf? to be used
by whom?}
$250K for traffic improvements on 15th and 21st.
Concluding Remarks:
best efforts consistent with Overview Report and WG; feel whole
planning, grounded in directions set out by OCP; exemplary mtnside
devt, will become the standard; expect devt over five to ten years,
BPP can speak to that, really b/c of market.
Sop: have a memo from you that CD3 wd give certainty to owners
for a period of ten years from the date of adoption. What
happens after ten years?
GB: say Area 6 is not devpd. If Ccl of day wants a
different zoning, cd do it.
PDA only deals with zoning not the OCP or DP guidelines --
land use and density
5.
PUBLIC INPUT {as always, best guesses for names; typed
as they spoke}
SSch: Ccl has received 23 from public and 13 reports
>1 Holly Alexander: of WV Ch of Commerce; compliment on
progress; spent weekend reading through it, a delight...
often stopped by biz owners, when can put theirs in this new
devt
this will also offer rec
WV Ch of Commerce supports sust; this devt encourages foot; hope
Ccl give speedy approval
>2 Dol Mingay (?): lived in WV for past nine years; last home
in Chelsea, currently in Taylor's Lookout
Option B offers choice; esp attractive -- mix of accommodation;
traffic diversion
BPP to build, that encourages good design; looks its best
keeps look of our natural heritage; wholeheartedly support
it
>3 Phil Aldrich: I represent the 21st Area Residents, about 45
owners; took time to talk to them
Here's a short letter I'd like to read out:
Duchess to Queens, applaud thoughtful planning; new mode of devt
thinking, bodes well for more socially sust nbrhds
at the same time 736 units will have an impact on traffic;
volumes on 21st already a serious prob; grown over the years to
400 vehicles per hour and while not at capacity will make situation
worse
35 houses facing the road; srs' cmnty, elem school, day care,
cmnty ctr, ...
never designed as a .....
this less than progressive planning from another era
never designed for his kind of use; loss of safety, reduction in
quality of life and .....
A short history: in 1967 Ccl, 21st along with closure at 26th, no
measures to compensate for this
1977 Library enlarged, ..., srs' ctr, ice arena, Kiwanis,
PJ, etc
Seawall in 1988; Deer Ridge; Aq ctr; KMC; yet to come new Cmnty
Ctr to open early in 2009
each has added a little to the prob, some more than others
first met many Ccl mbrs midNov 2005; Nov 20 '05, Jan '06;
supported traffic-calming
Traffic mgr worked with us, similar to Bellevue and Mathers
unanimous support
unfort'ly, lack of funding; only something at xxx and roundabout
at Queens; none for the ...
we believe RCrk, opp -- increasing $7.9M or separating capital
spending
perfectly good unanimously endorsed xxx plan
funding now; then can share in the quality of life for
everyone
Mayor: must have practised for five minutes
PA: had an egg-timer
Mayor: former cclr Liz Byrd
>4 LB: joined longrange planning in 1989 -- this is what the
future of WV shd be about
talking to Jim McLean -- Mayor Soprovich
Mayor: that's twice you called him Mayor Soprovich
Sop: thanks
LB: sorry; [prev tried to keep/protect?] trees, weren't
successful
Whitby not a success compared with what we have on the
table
I'm reaching the age where I've got to move into one
wd suggest some of the CBs wd be directed toward the Arts, you
know where I come from
support it 100%
>5 Mark Ballard: moved to WV in 1977, serving in real estate
industry, mbr of Ch of Comm and on parish ccl of St F in the
Woods
My focus is how Option A and B meet; Option B greater
number of smaller and more affordable units
some might say relatively unaffordable in today's market but
provided you with a booklet (spreadsheet of all homes in WV, HBay to
Capilano sold this year av $738 per sf; know BPP is using $750 per sf;
I've used $900; also provided you with active listings Water's Edge,
over IGA, Galleries on the Bay, and Stonecliff and that come? 878$ per
sf
[slides]
Young Families; purchase price of $827K; requires 25% from
family, $75 comes to $621, rule of thumb $500 per # of loan, comes to
$3100/mo, requires income of $125K
one $67K and the other $45K so basically a v affordable humanly
sustainable
Mayor: wind it up
MB: come at end
>6 Pamela MacGregor: speaking on behalf of ...
Mayor: name of person you're speaking on behalf of
PM: raised on Vancouver's west side...
cmnty info mtg earlier this year; v impressed with plan itself
but also with process
will be a wonderful cmnty for all, natural landscape, healthy
outdoor lifestyle
linking; making a complete cmnty; shopping, eliminating trip to
Amb and Dund nec today
most will shop at Caulfeild V; note flood control to respect
residents lower down
plan has my full support
>7 Sharon Bayer: live in NV; here representing the mtn biking
cmnty; started riding here in 1972
interrupted by a cul de sac, ...
no until altered forever
thank you, Mdm Mayor for this process
in 2000, draft mtg bike plan; Biking Assn spoke to OCP
RCrk to forefront b/c ...
land mgrs engaging biking cmnty; value these trails, Fromme and
Seymour
app work done to accommodate [thank staff]
importance of integrating rec into plan; app BPP ...
Mtn Bike Cmnty looks forward to a future
trails known for; educating
>8 Allan Bardsley: been here for more than 20 years
in March of 2007 first got involved with planning for RCrk
impressed with breadth of WG; one thing was missing --
recreational interests
in June last year when came out ... Cclr Day ...; thank you Madam
Mayor for such an open process
how well envmtal issues have been addressed; consultative process
works
who'd have known ...
agreement BPP and DWV for permanent trails
current free-for-all can evolve into a managed plan .... so
impact of bikes can be controlled
technically challenging trails as we enjoy today
a step closer to that goal thank you [named staff and BPP
ppl]
once settled, look forward to Cypress V ...
when is the [trail?] going to close instead when is the pub going
to open
>9 Max Nikpay: Prez of BPAHA; prepared a little letter in
support
followed plan over years; bd of directors had a detailed private
briefing in April
believe results extremely gratifying and all participants to be
congratulated
such a thorough and independent process; complexity and
sensitivity
Our assn over 700 homeowners, sgl fam area
different stages, enabling us who want to downsize
completion of Chippendale also tremendous enhancement to life in
our nbrhd
connector relieve 90% of truck traffic -- UL Hwy; this has been a
serious concern
traffic concerns for everyone today; hopeful some of the
mitigation funds adeq re N/S ...
understand future village will become an alternative, making life
above Hwy even more desirable than today
>10 Todd Hannah: lived on Glenmore for four years
mtn biking my wife and I shared passion, v imp to us; WV offered
this to us
thank BPP and DWV for working together; nice my interests being
considered
expert level trails imp part of this network; world-renown;
preserve for future generations and tourism
current trail network wd be maintained and leveraged
>11 George Pajari:
I wish to speak to the community benefit and amenity contribution
calculations, in particular how they compare compare with uplift to
determine if this is an equitable proposal. I have no comments on any
other aspects of the plan.
The first problem I have is with the process.
It appears that the proper calculation of the Uplift, Uplift
being the increase or possible increase in the land value accruing
from the proposed rezoning, that the proper calculation of the Uplift
was an afterthought. The Working Group dissolved before any of the
reports, from the fiscal impact consultant, on the community benefits,
and uplift calculations, were written. I and I'm sure Council
would liked to have had the benefit of the WG's opinion on the
community benefits [CB] package and its calculation.
Second, problems with the raw data.
To determine the change in the land value from the existing
zoning to the proposed zoning, we need to know accurately what is
permitted today -- but almost every report has a different
description of what is permitted: there's one set of numbers in staff
reports; there's another set of different numbers in Fiscal Impact
report; and yet another set in the most recent BGS report. Even more
incredibly, the BGS report has two different figures as to what is
permitted on the same page.
I ask you, how can you proceed if not only do your expert
consultants not agree with each other, in one case one of your experts
does not even agree with herself!
Third -- we have a problem with trying to move
the public process ahead during the summer. Many speakers at a
previous Public Hearing as well as some councillors have pointed out
the problems with people being away during July and August.
Here we have a critical report from an outside consultant, who
I understand gave a secret briefing to Council explaining her report
and then left on vacation shortly thereafter and has been unable to
address the many questions that have come up with respect to her
report. Other consultants who made reports to Council, the Fiscal
Impact report and others, made public presentations, so it raises the
question of why Council did not feel it appropriate to have that
briefing in public. How can we proceed when we still have
significant questions about a key aspect of this proposal -- questions
that appear not to be able to be resolved at this time?
A fourth problem is that I have not received a
response to my letter of May 15th pointing out numerous flaws in
the staff reports on uplift calculations and suggesting an uplift of
between $81M and $135M might be an appropriate calculation.
The BGS report confirms many of the flaws in the staff report
but does not point out any problems with the alternative model I
propose.
My model could certainly be flawed but I have not received a
response, the BGS report does not point out any flaws, and we have not
received a staff report to reconcile these discrepancies
A fifth problem is that the model used by BGS, the land
residual value or subdivision model, is renowned for being
inaccurate.
You will recall during the Pat's Restaurant discussion a similar
model was developed that showed on a two-million-dollar property the
value could either go up by a million or down by $800,000 depending on
which numbers you used.
Tony Sevlka, writing in the Canadian Appraiser, "A Review
of the Subdivision Development Method", wrote that "the
[residual land value approach], in addition to being very complex,
time-consuming, and costly to prepare, when used on its own without
an abundance of reliable market data, can be the least accurate raw
land valuation technique. Many reasons have been advanced as to
why the [model] fails to qualify as an acceptable valuation model in
estimating the market value of raw land.."
So we have a model which is known to be inaccurate that
published literature says must be validated against actual market
data, and yet the report from the consultant has no actual market
data, and no validation of the report.
I would suggest without any disrespect intended to the author
that a report that suggests increasing the density from 308
units to 736 units would cause the land value to plummet by $84
million is somewhat hard to believe without market data to back up
the conclusion.
Is there anyone in the room who would suggest that if their own
house [on] their lot were subdivided into two or three lots with three
houses no larger than the existing house [in total], that their land
value would drop? Of course not! So I would ask Council to adjourn
this public hearing until they can receive a staff report that
reconciles the contradictions and the many questions that exist with
respect to these reports so that we can be confident that this is not
another gift from the West Van rezoning tooth fairy.
>12 Barry Ferguson: support of a letter written to Ccl
Coho Society, volunteer org; BPP has been one of the founding
sponsors; participated with BPP, found streams to be lacking; 29 yrs
ago realized a prob; some of the solutions hard to get to
the Hadden Crk brought salmon back first time in 40 yrs
Streamkeeper on WG; sensitivity in plan to habitat
mtn bikers ...; commend handed over to District as a public
amenity...; mtn pathway; enhancement to salmon ...; job of society to
continue to monitor this area; compliment sust
>13 Donald Kirkwood: Chair of Mulgrave School
Directors
signif long term impact on school; past ...
express our support; reflection of ...; goes beyond better to
best; sp thx to WG; plsd final Chippendale road alignment; recommend
support bylaws, job well done
prior to [motion?] we request that Sched 1 para H be amended cd
use all or part of area xxx rather than just the five acres presently
referred to
Mayor: provide that
>14 Valerie Abramson: lived in WV since 1964; bkground of hwy
devt as it affects me
had a small creek and two years it stopped running
phoned staff, had diverted creek and xxx back; it did, and again
[disappeared]
want to find where the missing water went; McGavin field
or new sidewalk culverted
bring to your notice b/c of all the
assurances
creeks not there
do have pictures
two creeks that ran into
Mayor: appreciate that and we'll follow up
>15 Trish Panz: bn involved in many envmtal initiatives: PRAC
and chair of Envmt WG; my own personal views
produced a well thought out plan, in spirit of cooperation
set a new standard for inclusive planning; comments speak to the
goodwill behind that process
process looked at envmt first -- where devt shd not go
fragmentation xxx
min ecological footprint; commitment to a future mtnside
village
imp shift from traditional sgl fam homes to broader choices,
xxx recent surveys
coming Nbrhd Character [WG report]
footprint -- WG has demonstrated flexibility of thinking
challenge for the future
green bldgs and infrastructure
>16 Doug Saxon
[Mayor called, no one came]
>17 Michael Evison: lived in WV for about 40 years
already submitted a letter; read one or two parts
...... from exclusive Canterbury...., Whitby Estates, ...
evolution continues with Taylor's Lookout
eightplexes; sophisticated approach...
deliver more in the way of public benefits and amenities than
prev examples
pathway; 55% [green?]
imp in a smaller subdiv; with my landscape background and
interest; seen progress east to west
enlightening, trust Ccl will follow through
Mayor: Saxon?
[still no one came forth -- but must hv put name on Speaker
List]
>18 Wilf Wassesleben: live in Chippendale, lived in Props for
over 25 years, continue to move west
seen mistakes in planning taken place in many areas
Whitby has attn to detail shd strive;
controlled home design, protection of views; prot of green space;
area can be proud of
buildout plan -- learned from Whitby Estates
plsd BPP will build more.... major issue Whitby, incomplete
... shoddy
hi quality design, considerate of nbrs
wrt devt, looking forward to xxx
multiple nbrhds, diff needs; protecting over 50% of
close to future village; compliment; cmnty living above the hwy,
recommend approve
>19 Carolanne Reynolds: Your second former
councillor tonight!
Anyway I'm here as Editor of West Van Matters; I'm going to try
to speak v quickly.
This has been very interesting and the housing variety and
diversity proposed is in keeping with that aspect of the OCP
guidelines. We're glad of course that half is green and
trails.
And of course most of your comments you have heard hv bn
complimenting the diversity and the plans, and not much has been about
the cmnty benefits b/c of course we didn't find out about that until
much later, and after the plans.
The confusion is over the present value of the land, zoned
for about 300 units, and the increase in land value for 736
units {ie Uplift} -- and btw I saw on the slides
something about some accessory bldgs, so I'm not sure if that's
included in your calculations for the Uplift b/c of course they wd hv
value. The increase is called the Uplift.
The Cmnty Benefits [CBs] policy's goal is for a portion
[of the increased value wch the owner has not paid for] to go back
to the cmnty for this upzoning, so that not just a gift to the
owners. The higher value is shared b/c developers are not
buying this land, and this upzoning is given to them, and this
permits increased density. Many cmnties seek about two
thirds or three quarters of the Uplift, and that's why it's important
to find out what that amount truly is.
{Allow me to expand on this, wch I didn't do when speaking.
One City of Vancouver planner is particularly proud of getting 98% on
one upzoning (I think it was a $200M change so that's still $4M for
the owners/devprs); keep in mind that this is only about the zoning,
the value of the land. All the profit of whatever is built is of
course for owners.}
Every enquiry I made, every realtor, said more units result in
higher value. If one unit is 3000sqft for example, two units of
1500sf each is worth more. The upzoning, Uplift, is not
clear from the reports that have been given, including the most recent
one.
{If you read the most recent, incredibly you'll see an
argument for saying the land drops in value with more
units!}
One report uses 5000sf per unit at 2.5upa (presently allowed) and
another has 6Ksf [for] each. No wonder sometimes the sqftg given
is 1.6Msf and others 1.8M.
Mayor: It's 1.875
{The Mayor is quite right as far as what is in the motion but
that is not the point I was trying to make however rather than debate
that, I continued with my presentation.}
CR: thank you. The Uplift stated varies from nothing --
unbelievable! -- to $16M to $37M to even higher.
{See letter dated May 15 from G Pajari, in WVM2008-17,
discussion on Correspondence:
(29) G. Pajari, May 15, 2008,
regarding Community Benefits with respect to the Rodgers Creek
Development
Referred to Director of Planning, Lands and Permits for
consideration and response.
(33) May
7, 2008, regarding Rodgers Creek Report
VV: Item 29 and 33 both on subject of Uplift.
---
NB: As GP said when he spoke earlier this evening, you'll
see his letter was referred to the Dir/Planning for response but no
response/reply has yet been received.
Come to think of it, no reply to my letter dated May 16
referred to Dir/Finance on financial points -- that's why I've asked a
couple of times at PQP what the guideline is for lapsed time until
answers.}
Some of the amenities, such as a road, as Cclr Clark and others
have said, are benefits to the devt, not to the whole cmnty. I'm
not saying they aren't good, they're really good but there's a shared
benefit.
There shd be widespread public input to determine CBs, our
share. Maybe a WG?
The figures or amounts given shd be examined thoroughly and
explained, b/c it's v confusing, the various numbers we've been
given.
[There have been so many versions] Maybe Rodgers Crk shd be like
a Stanley Cup, best of seven! for the cmnty, that is.
{oh groan. Was trying to introduce some humour but that
was rather weak. Sorry.}
Anyway, for the cmnty share we shd hv widespread input and it shd
be a win-win, and not just winner take all.
{And this isn't, b/c there are some CBs.}
When it comes to the CB part, as I mentioned in the past, I
thought that 10% of the funding
{Awkwardly said, apologies. Pls allow me to clarify.
What I meant is 10% of the Uplift, and that shd in cash (or kind) so
there's a formula in place to fund these areas. Ccl, maybe with
an adv cmte making recommendations, wd make the decisions as to what
project(s) the funds are applied to. }
shd be [given] to each group: to the Environment -- there shd
be an Envmt Fund started --, an Arts & Cultural Fund, and a
Heritage Fund.
{IOW, start three funds with money given to each of them
from every upzoning. That ensures these areas have money in
place and are not subject to sudden cancellations or lack of funding
during budget deliberations.}
We had an excellent report from the Envmt WG earlier this year.
They only asked for about $30K, and it was cancelled during the budget
deliberations. If we built up, just 10%, for these three funds,
there wd be a fund there that your WG and Ccl cd draw on, and it wdn't
be subject to budget cuts when they're necessary.
So please allow time for the cmnty to have its say wrt its
share of the CBs. The devt is lovely and I'm sure it's desired,
but there's too much confusion over the Uplift, and there hasn't been
much input as to what CBs the public wd like from this increase in
value.
Thank you very much.
>20 Ashley Morgan-Dann: in reference to this proposal; watched
many mtgs on TV; against
partly against b/c another 700 to 1000 cars; still struggling to
envision that; hope work done to make that feasible
positive aspect as we have many young families and attract
many
also many young families splitting and cannot continue to live
unless affordable housing
have one parent remain in home and the other in a smaller; as
part of social circle; support that side
as far as CBs, we have been before you, mentioned
continue to look for rec activities; plsd mtnbikers so happy;
anything that allows us to reap, is positive
have add'l rec activities; lost our movie theatres, our driving
range
option for our young families
hope you have another look at the CBs, get land for rec use;
understand other groups, not just equestrian; fairly compete for
use of that land; in that same tone; pls do consider McGavin field,
artif turf, we have 32 fields in WV
part of the CBs of this
>21 NAME [?]: 3246 xxx
moved there in 1974; professional realtor; no biz relationship
with any of the owners
after attending an info mtg wrt the plan
shd work for a wide range of .... in WV
informal mtgs, phone calls; most requested email copies
app fact a new direction; like large style planning rather than
subdiv by subdiv; like concept of Upper Lands as a cmnty; Dundarave
above the hwy with a mtn feel; sgl fam format to a blending of homes,
reflect modern realities
maintenance/maintaining? 1200sf?
will fit with landscape; imp that BPP has begun planning for this
village ctr as soon as approved
cmnty shuttles to get to or from when don't wish to walk or
cycle
exciting architectural design and ...
>22 Heinz ????: letter to read to you; resident in WV for 27
years
following this project, attended mtgs; served on board of
homeowners' assn
in general commend this project; stuff done by Ccl, Engg, -- diff
and right direction; job well done
a fifth fire hall in the area? wd like to know where/when going
to be built; hope in first phase
congratulations, how progressing
Mayor: no one else wishing to speak
so then Mark Bower/Ballard (sp?) another brief opportunity
>23 (spoke as 5 earlier) MB: to finish my previous
discussion
re young family affordability; one partner $67K, other at $45K
per year -- allows M employees and teachers to live in our nbrhd
Option B 920sf, $900sf more affordable at $750 [?????]
av home for downsizing home for senior is $1.5M, wd allow
investment of $670K [???]
selling at 65 and you're living to 90
$1K pr month income; $2255 per unit; sell av home, borrow
$500K
when ppl say WV is affordable; my parents live in a 5Ksf home and
my mother talking about moving to 1500sf
my sons are in 20s, thinking of living in WV; without these small
units, they're talking about NV
??? we've moved a woman out, lived here last 40 years
[8:43, some laughter] Mayor: anyone further wishing to speak?
questions for staff before closing or adjourning?
Sop: where do we stand in relationship to the accessory bldgs, on
other?
Sokol: no accessory bldgs allowed
report from Cmnty Dialogue WG , will have some recomm re
accessory bldg units
{still trying to find out about this; Sop was right to
ask. The slides by Geri Boyle referred to bldgs under 240sf not
being counted, so that's something we shd look at closely -- cd
increase both FAR as well as site coverage.
Then if the CD/Housing WG (meeting Aug 19) sends a
recommendation to Ccl wrt legalizing secondary suites and other
housing potential, eg infill or granny suites, this will also affect
FAR, etc. This may therefore mean that Ccl cd rescind third
reading and amend. Then the tricky bit will be to decide if it
wd then require re-opening the PH.}
Sop: Mulgrave?
GB: school owns the prop; outside boundary
[pointing to map on west side of chamber so those of us on the
west/left side cannot see map or what she's pointing to, let alone
those out in foyer]
can expand but do hv to come to Ccl
perhaps a small school for childcare; cd be all or part of this
area
wdn't compromise any riparian areas; applic wd hv to come before
Ccl
small lot sgl fam housing; xxx and ..... housing
VV: wd like to understand the finances wrt land not built
on
that land as we understand it is to be donated to M at
conclusion of construction
GB: majority of it; green space left natural, to Ccl, some of
it by covenant
VV: have we done a comparison, financial?
if accepts...
first of all no longer receive prop taxes yet resp for
upkeep; why not entirely in hands of devpr or new
owners?
have we done that comparison?
GB: analysis has not been done; but analysis of Option A and
B; clearly indicated Option B wd bring in more
VV: wasn't able to distinguish that
6.
CLOSURE OR ADJOURNMENT OF PUBLIC HEARING
RD: move all written and verbal submissions be received and
that PH be closed
{pretty confident; usually receipt first, and then some
questions/discussion on whether or not to adjourn or close the
hearing. Decided in the mtg Ccl had from 4:30pm leading up to
the ccl mtg? Surprise no one asked to
split.}
VV: think it wd be premature; a lot of ppl wd xxx
we are the only ppl who can take care of financial as a
whole
taxes going up and xxx quality go down
BPP's own booklet says value of this will be
$1B
we'll get 2.5M only; $8M is only minuscule
Mayor: so you're arguing for adjourning or finding out something
further?
VV: a number of [speakers?] wd say ... until much better
answers
matter of Uplift and land coming to us and matter of fifth
firehall
have a serious impact on financial
shd hv these matters dealt with in this way
can't close this PH until we've taken that next
step*
{PH is closed}
*8:52
{PLEASE NOTE: the CBs, presented
in the form of the Phased Devt Agreement, only appeared ON TABLE at
the mtg -- so how cd the public have had time to read it, review it,
express an opinion on what they wd like in return for this gift of
increased land/zoning value?}
--> SPECIAL COUNCIL MTG
NOTES
Mayor: tonight is the last mtg for two mbrs of staff
Rick Beauchamp 40 years in public service; in Aug
improving relationship with Sq Nation; as well coordinated three
Ms in bylaw adjudication; adopted throughout BC, won award
editor for 20 years of pubn; thank you and for your broad contrib
to public... in general
RB: thank you for those kind words; been a pleasure serving a sp
cmnty; seems like yesterday first mtg
over years; been v fortunate, bldg state of the art facilities;
partnerships, ... nbrs, DNV and CNV
certainly have enjoyed my staff: WV not reached its peak, best is
yet to come
thank staff who have supported me and xxx
Mayor: moving up the ladder, so to speak, Fire Chief worked here
for 30 years; xxx Chair, VP of Gr
major accomplishments
Jeff Oates: 22 years; ccl reports and budgeting; all been good
and challenging
believe I leave you with .... highly regarded in cmnty and
provincially
time for a break; a few months before I enter M politics -- just
joking
closest, getting to watch you as I sip a gin and tonic.
Cclr Clark: still laughing at that -- didn't think a firefighter
wd be dumb enough to get into M politics
1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
July 28, 2008 Special Council
agenda amended by:
=B7 Adding to Item 2: Minutes for July 14 and July
21, 2008 meetings;
=B7 Adding to item 9: memorandum regarding Phased
Development Agreement Authorization Bylaw No. 4569 (Rodgers Creek
Area), 2008;
=B7 withdrawing Item 13 regarding WinterSong
Festival;
=B7 adding to Item 14: report regarding Terasen Gas
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Application;
=B7 adding to the Correspondence List: items (19.2),
(21.1), and (29.1);
----------
ON TABLE INFORMATION
PACKAGE FOR SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING MONDAY, JULY 28, 2008
(COMMENCED IMMEDIATELY
FOLLOWING THE PUBLIC HEARING)
MINUTES (Item
2)
July 14, 2008 Regular
Council Minutes
July 21, 2008 Reconvened
Public Hearing/Public Meeting Minutes (re: 445 13th
street)
July 21, 2008 Reconvened
Public Hearing Minutes (re: Ambleside Town Centre)
REPORTS
Item
9: Memorandum from the Manager of
Community Planning regarding Rodgers Creek Area - Phased Development
Agreement Authorization Bylaw No. 4569 (Rodgers Creek Area),
2008
Item
14: Report from Manager of Building
Construction and Contracts titled "Terasen Utilities Energy
Efficiency and Conservation (EEC) Application"
Item
(19.2):
D. Lang, Lang Motors, regarding Request for
Delegation
Item
(21.1):
July 22, 2008, regarding Sunset Avenue Thoroughfare
Nightmare
Item
(29.1):
D. Marley, July 27, 2008, regarding Finance Committee
Report
----------
2. ADOPTION OF MINUTES {see
above, on table}
Mayor: public can speak except for PH
items, closed
REPORTS
JC: must excuse myself for items 3 and 4
3. Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 4360,
2004, Amendment Bylaw No. 4543, 2008 - Ambleside Town
Centre
This bylaw
received second and third readings at the July 21, 2008 Regular
Council meeting.
ADOPTED with Sop
opposed
4. Zoning Bylaw No. 2200, 1968, Amendment
Bylaw No. 4544, 2008 - Ambleside Town Centre
This bylaw
received second and third readings at the July 21, 2008 Regular
Council meeting.
ADOPTED with Sop
opposed
5. Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 4360,
2004, Amendment Bylaw No. 4541, 2007 - 445 13th
Street
This bylaw
received first reading at the March 17, 2008 Regular Council
meeting.
RECOMMENDED: ... be read a second and
third time.
[9:02] Mayor: someone ask Cclr Clark to rejoin us
JF: maybe he didn't know I was a fast reader
Sop: maybe he's having a gin and tonic
MS: move second reading; had plenty of discussion on this, let
builder get on with it and substantial tax revenue to District
JF: think it's an excellent plan; brings multi-fam, used by young
fams, close to school, beach, public transport
Sop: no doubt from design of bldg, well done
not supporting, don't think residential shd go on ground
level; on Marine Corridor be reserved for commercial
my only concern is that if in future years, some amenity to gas
stn, what will happen to residents in this bldg when something in
front of them completely
no green, no play area for chn; v busy road
guess in some areas, close quarters, but we really have to look
at what entire areas is going to bring
I'm not supporting residential in that area
VV: I agree, wd like to see commercial or at least mixed
comm/resid
Mayor: think zoning we just passed is zoning
Sop: we didn't
Mayor: we just did
Sop: sorry, think
Mayor: so we begin; this is a modest proposal; as good for
renewal in Amb
believe we'll see... improve...
[CARRIED with Sop opposed; same for third reading]
9:07
6. Zoning Bylaw No. 2200, 1968, Amendment
Bylaw No. 4540, 2007 -
445 13th Street
This bylaw
received first reading at the March 17, 2008 Regular Council
meeting.
RECOMMENDED:.. be read a second and third
time.
PASSES with Sop and VV opposed
7. Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 4360,
2004, Amendment Bylaw No. 4567, 2008 - Rodgers Creek
Area
This bylaw
received first reading at the July 7, 2008 Regular Council
meeting.
RECOMMENDED:.. be read a second and
third time.
Mayor: we've had presentation by staff
RD: have already spoken on this so just want to thank Geri Boyle
and BPP; also want to...
Streamkeepers who supported this plan... and mtnbikers...
pioneering mtnside... all of NAm
thorough analysis of the landscape; geography, drainage,
affordable housing, diverse
considerable public amenities; ... grants
{As I said, most support the plan ie 55% green,
variety/diversity; the problems swept under the rug is that the
Fiscal Report came after the WG stopped meeting, the Uplift
calculations varied, new CBs at the mtg tonight, and NO consultation
either with the WG or the public wrt the CBs!}
.... 21st, considerable public amenities as well; goes back many
years for me
Liz Byrd mentioned..... I was part of those discussions in 1995;
BPP has done an enormous amt of research
Mayor: second reading
[RD moved second reading seconded by JF]
Mayor: Ccl will make an amendment at this point
RD: amended in section 1... deleting the following words... five
acres ... replacing re Mulgrave school
[Amendment Mulgrave asked for made]
Mayor: any debate or friendly amendment?
SSch: amendment motion shd hv vote called itself
Mayor: in response to earlier request
PASSES
Mayor: now second reading as amended
SSch: have a mover and seconder; if agreement, then as
amended
Mayor: now in position to debate; Cclr Day, wanting further to
say?
Sop: remember going back a few years.. if I knew more than I
did
opp to look at Whitby Estates; through course of time; took
approx four years
I wanted to do diligence, walked corner to corner and diagonally;
alder trees, and top of bank
wanted certain things in those days; we didn't have CBs ... we
did finally get less impervious surfaces
paid considerable attn, thought we got things valuable
advanced from prev devt; thought we did a reasonable job
shortly after that, BPP presented us with an artist's concept --
theirs for us to look at RCrk
said don't come back until entire RCrk; they went away for a long
time; lo and behold, present
one was v diverse housing; close attn to creeks and storm mgmt
and xxx
one key is Chippendale connector truck mgmt plan allow them to
use Cypress Bowl Rd and not enter Chartwell
also a road network, clusters of devt, less road network and
impervious than we saw in Whitby, narrow roads
now what we have entertained here
I know BPP will never stand for xxx
amt of envmtal work done on that hillside; our needs and needs of
cmnty; look at greening around nodes
when you cut a footprint for a devt outside
no groomed areas; if you groom you've got maintenance costs;
natural state, we won't have to service
all in all come a long way
in my view when this goes forth probably have one of the finest
hillside devts in NAm
have watched this closely; compliments to WG
assessments probably take ten years
also as I understand have $1M set aside to look at acquisition
for a small shopping ctr in next phase to complete cmnty
VV: the one thing I do recognize as Cclr Sop reminded us
long time ago ... bad the long time our applics take
area two presumably, all they need is approval so they can get to
work
wd not be adverse to allowing that .....
commits us for ten years; for next three ccls, nothing they can
do, hands tied
the only thing we need to commit ourselves to is Area 2,
progressing
ev keen on these small xxx
even Option B, xxx have to take of
costs, there are easier ways of getting 155 smaller units
all of the statements re village, shopping, all depends on our
land; competition for that land; Parks shows as a future park
maybe public wd like to comment on park or shopping
there
shd hv looked at Cmnty Charter and looked at some sort of
partnership so some financial benefits
short end of the stick primarily b/c fifth firehall
may wait for next stage but Fire WG said this year, and recent;
said under immediate recommendation
not leaving it
as we learn from fiscal impact report, this will cost $2.5M
per year in combine capital and operations; then we're $1M in the hole
a year from what we see
can't do this without taxes going up and ... Fiscal
Report tells us
nothing ... shared xxx
all same; but going to be getting usage by popn increase by about
3%
all ways affect quality of life
xxx don't understand xxx ? when we don't understand
doesn't accept traffic study and only 50 more cars at LGB at rush
hour
... we shd let them [BPP] go ahead, but just Area 2
need to see where we stand, CBs; shopping area
hasn't been worked out from ... POV
trustees of public purse if we simply leave it as this ...
as one of the ...
[otherwise?] giving another gift from the [WV rezoning] tooth
fairy
... we're not doing our homework properly
MS: Public Hearing said it all, overwhelming support
either cut down all the trees, build large sgl fam; down
21st
{false dichotomy -- no one suggested that! and given
large sgl-fam homes not selling now, but condos are, doubt that wd be
the choice or desire
TO BE CLEAR: support for the plan, NOT support for the
(choices, low value of) CBs!}
or do sensible thing; create a mtnside cmnty out there
pubs, note I said that in plural; amenities; a place where ppl
want to live
demand is switching from large houses to smaller; downsizing
latter part of life
{exactly!}
.... wch we require
winner on all sides; addressing traffic, housing needs, services
close to their home
enthusiastically approve it watch it unfold, watch with pride and
sense of achievement
JF: speaking in support; involved in this report for years, was
on Sch Bd and served on that cmte
worked with an environmental planner from Vancouver (lived in
WV)
huge number of ppl on that cmte; at outset no idea of how
did lead to a v good set of recomms; OCP renewal steering cmte,
also comprised with ppl fam
a commendable public process
this group familiar with devt, planning, a group of
visionaries
no fear of commitment, put into action for next ten years
with BPP, change can occur and if benefit to both parties,
can....
{Again, no discussion re CBs}
JC: I support this application, this devt; wd like to say v
fortunate in WV we have the quality and residents come to the table
... when
bring expertise, caring attitude, diligence; also fortunate to
have a dvpr, a landowner, supportive for many years, will continue to
do so; WV residents here
can think of many situations around Lower Mainland, nightmare for
staff
and we get nothing but cooperation
what Cclr Smith said and Mayor Sop
[laughter]
think we shd just get on with the job
Mayor: while this process took ten years; not b/c of lack of
vision; ... no need
last year, streamkeepers, mtnbikers, ...... bring cmnty
together
signif that citizens step forward; tonight heard from cmnty
certainly we've never had better studies from .......
that goes a long way to a .... understandable
keeping urban footprint small; these are imp values in WV
future, particularly in Upper Lands; dialogue on housing; not
easy for us
highly supportable; there is no other alternative in our
view
terms out there in Motel Six, chicken coops, xxx
beautiful homes there; gratifying when wish to see cmnty evolve
diff from our past
wd like to acknowledge about $1.3M to our revenues
never seen such a comprehensive
b/c this Ccl put CB policy in place
further comments?
[Second Reading carries, as does Third; VV opposed to
both] 9:35
8. Zoning Bylaw No. 2200, 1968, Amendment
Bylaw No. 4568, 2008 - Rodgers Creek Area
This bylaw
received first reading at the July 7, 2008 Regular Council
meeting.
RECOMMENDED: ... be read a second and third
time.
CARRIES with VV opposed
9. Phased Development Agreement Authorization
Bylaw No. 4569, 2008 - Rodgers Creek Area
This bylaw
received first reading at the July 7, 2008 Regular Council
meeting.
RECOMMENDED: ... be read a second and
third time.
Mayor: proposed amendment
RD: amended as further draft; provided on table, at July 28th
ccl mtg
{a PH shd involve citizen input that the public have had an
opportunity to read -- not the case with this. Just shoved
through. It might be great but virtually no chance to see
it!!!}
Mayor: just a blackline copy, slight changes to phased
agreement
{but we don't know that! and how much time have we
had even to read the whole PDA let alone consider or offer other
recommendations?}
[Amendment CARRIES with VV opposed]
Mayor: call with amendment
[Second reading passes as does third; VV opposed] 9:38
10. Recommendations for Amendments to Zoning Bylaw
Regulations for Child Care
RECOMMENDED: THAT Staff bring forward
zoning bylaw amendments for child care uses based on recommendations
from the Child Care Services Working Group outlined in their memo of
July 7, 2008.
MS: plsd to introduce this report; will just wait a few seconds
here
[ppl leaving]
plsd to introduce; undertaking a review; WG est'd Mar 2007; need
of chn and fams in nbrhds
Mayor: xxx
MS: haven't even got there yet -- [I'm?] peddling,
Cclr F!
intent to encourage childcare primarily in church and school;
place in resid zones
wd like to ask ... Joanne McKenna to provide context to this
report
and Anne Mooi and Leanne Sexsmith staff wd be pleased to answer
any questions too
JMcK: thank you for inviting us here; chair for almost a year;
plsd to be sitting here with report put together for/with staff for
you
seven basic tasks; needs assmt, zoning changes, opps for
facilities (completed re sites; in new devts); will come back [with?]
guidelines; reviewed cutbacks; issues raised by closing
Cedardale
this WG and the DWV has been successful in securing two prov
grants -- great kudos to staff here
secondly Childcare learning Ctr has found a new.. opening that in
Sept this year; wonderful news
raising profile of how imp childcare is; esp to working parent
like myself
Ccl progressive outlook
and to reiterate, took a lot of the info ... on a needs
assmt
mbrs of public, two diff forums; valuable info; how best to
facilitate; priority for overall strategy
new childcare spaces, inverted triangle; at end looks at comm
areas and then lastly residential areas
just one component
one strategy alone will not meet all childcare needs; a more
responsive childcare syst; proud to have been part of this WG;
creative partnerships, with staff, licensing, parents, grandparents;
great success story
we are seeking your endorsement at the conceptual level; there
will be further opp to review these and there will be a public
process
happy to respond to any questions; invite Leanne
Sop: tyvm for all your hard work; leading us through
first heard about this by way of increase in nbrhd; in laying
this out done a v good job
only question in area, in 16, allowing away from schools and
churches, a DVP, wd that come to Ccl?
Sokol: yes
Mayor: right
Sop: if understood, excellent layout
JC: this was discussed last year at the Finance Cmte
suggestion under xxx Assembly
exemption we offer to churches and we ask for nothing in
return
often in churches; obvious place, room there six days a
week
in deliberations, look at some obligations, where it makes sense;
opp for more
VV: understand Gordon House has a grant from the prov
does that mean the capacity will go up?
Leanne Smith: child xxx will move to Cmnty Ctr; with grant money
will create a childcare facility at Gordon house, function
MS: thanks; nice to see this bubble up to surface
[MADE MOTION]
VV: do have reservations in resid nbrhd but in favour of good
childcare; will vote in favour and then will look at bylaw wrt around
resid
JF: I too want to thank ev; thorough research; took time to come
to terms with needs; wonderful to see; came from a year ago stressful
circumstances; think we shd all be delighted
CARRIES/UNANIMOUS
{Yes, this is a great success story and even got grants
from the prov of hundreds of thousands of dollars.}
11. Wetmore Site - Requests for
Proposals
(File: 0510-16)
MS moved: that Staff be authorized to issue
a Request for Proposals for the Wetmore Lands, as described in the
July 21, 2008 report of the Associate Director - Major
Projects.
Mayor: Mr Sokol, introduction?
Sokol: Staff's recommendation is included in the report, but I wd
like to add that Ccl directed staff to prepare the RFP; staff has met
with several proponents for projects, coming with clarification,
providing some flexibility to enable broader response when it does go
out.
Mayor: two mbrs of public wishing to speak: George Pajari and
Carolanne Reynolds and we're pushing up to 10pm so Mr Chan, just time
the three minutes, that wd be great.
GP: tyvm, Your Worship, Ccl.
I understand that one of the primary motivations of
considering the sale of the Wetmore property is the financial demands
on the cmnty b/c of various capital projects, and not b/c Ccl has
brought forward an integrated plan on the disposition of its real
estate holdings in general. And so wd like to ask through
you, Madam Chair, Mr Laing as I understand it, by selling the
Wetmore property, the Endowment Fund will be reimbursed the original
purchase price, and the funds received in excess of the purchase price
are therefore above-threshold funds that can be used for other
purposes. And if that analysis is correct, cd
not the same fiscal impact on the M be achieved by notionally selling
Wetmore back to ourselves? By that I mean Ccl passing a
bylaw wch deems the Wetmore property to be held in the Endowment Fund
at its current market value, and not its purchase price, thereby
releasing funds above the threshold value without you having to either
touch {change} the threshold value or in any other way act
contrary to the spirit of the Endowment Fund.
Mayor: thank you for your question. Mr Laing.
RL: the five-year capital plan of the M did take account of the
market value of the Wetmore site, and it did anticipate that on
disposition, that the entire market proceeds wd go into the Endowment
Fund. That has already been taken into acct in quantifying what
the needs for the cmnty ctr were, and what wd happen with the Wetmore
funds.
GP: I understand that to be the case. My question is, wd
re-evaluating, from an acctg perspective only, the Wetmore property at
its current market value not have the same effect of freeing up funds
that an actual sale wd have?
RL: I guess it begs the question where this alternative funding
source wd come from with the District's existing resources.
Mayor: as well as where does this leave the OCP policy wrt the
Wetmore site, biz plan wrt the Wetmore site, and its actual use.
{G comments:
Two attempts at asking the same question and two
non-answers. Why can't I get a straight answer to a straight question?
Who said anything about an alternative funding source? The Endowment
Fund has two types of investments: bonds/notes and the Wetmore
property. They can't cash in the bonds/notes as that would drop the
fund below the threshold which is not permitted. But if they accounted
for the Wetmore investment at its current value and not its purchase
price, the fund would then total more than the threshold and they
could cash in the investments above the threshold value -- the same
net result as selling the property. Yet two attempts to get Laing to
admit this fail. What are they hiding and why?
CR, Your Editor, adds to GP's comments:
If not hiding or unaware, maybe rather it was that GP's
point was not understood. In any case, since Ccl can pretty well
put whatever zoning it wants on that site wch it owns, it can upzone
it to something worth $50M or more -- highrise or whatever. DWV
paid about $5.5M for the property, a realtor told me a couple of years
ago that it had already increased in value to $15 or 20M. So you
can see why many of us want to keep it and do not want the property
sold -- especially since there are ways to fulfil the requirements of
the investment and the threshold and the Endowment Fund without
selling. It's a v valuable municipal asset!
And it's adjacent to the civic ctr so logical for some sort
of at least partial cmnty use.}
Next, Carolanne Reynolds.
CR: As the Planning Cmte and others have said -- it is unwise to
sell assets that will appreciate (such as land) for bldgs that will
depreciate, as the cmty ctr [will]. Surely the Finance Cmte, a
Task Force, or a Select Cmte or WG cd study this.
If determined to sell the land [as Ccl's] only option, for
example, if you have to sell land, here's a list of all the M-owned
property
[holds up many pages listing M-owned land]
Surely there are some street ends or lanes or something that
cd be sold, rather than such a valuable site.
{all are expendable}
I'm sure other ppl wd come up with better ideas than I cd to keep
Wetmore but still fulfil the obligations, and that wd be what my hope
wd be.
{This is misinterpreted later so I clarify in PQP. Of
course properties listed are more than these little bits; I just named
some that wd be no great loss to the cmnty -- and wch nbrs often are
happy to purchase, just like the one on the agenda June 16, in issues
WVM2008-19 and 20. @@@
Unfortunately I see that I didn't read out this part of what
I'd written to say -- maybe b/c it gives an actual explanation in
figures to what GP was saying but it may have made things clearer to
ppl trying to follow what was being proposed:
Can we sell Wetmore to ourselves for what we paid for it, about
$5M, and then have it listed at what it's worth with new zoning, maybe
$20M, in our Endowment Fund affecting threshold?}
Ccl mbrs are stewards of our assets. Pls take good care
of them and make wise and positive choices.
Sop: process, for sale?
Sokol: section, page five, option of 99-year lease;
preferred
Sop: have ... before, have a long list of holdings
long term visioning have not set forth with any plan for our
holdings
whether or not this is the right site to sell at this time
know Mr Laing wants threshold come back
talked about lowering or borrowing
always felt in this flat piece of land, not the right thing
to do is to sell
at least what options, at least a lease option then if lease
option
might see a second 320TWay see an [ever-growing?] Endowment
Fund
we haven't done enough study wrt our holdings for that piece,
let alone all of them
there wd be under threshold; pay for Cmnty Ctr as
well
when you come back to us with proposals, take to heart;
I don't want to support selling that
VV: I agree with Cclr Sop
not enough xxx
think of next few years, ten, 20; to solve problems that may
arise
strategic of that
shd keep that land; far more valuable to [possess?] that
land than a few more dollars in a bank acct; other ways of
solving our problems around the cmnty ctr
[from gallery: hear hear!]
MS: first step in
calling for proposal don't have to accept them
if they make sense
we need to examine our options
generating v little in terms of [income?] ... no taxes
cmnty has strong needs for srs' housing
staff to encourage go on the site; really no downside to call for
proposals
makes no biz sense; b/c bldg depreciates
10K cranes; nobody wd devp anything, clearly
{is this intentionally distorting what was said? or maybe he
didn't hear or doesn't understand that value of land increases and
value of bldgs decreases....... infrastructure ages and needs repairs
then replacement}
shd pass, look at motions; see if acceptable to public
JF: recall at time, two possible
add on to civic ctr site -- cmnty group looking into site,
determined land wasn't nec
{and some cmtes advised against selling site! ask mbrs
of prev Planning Adv Cmte!}
second, to be sold for cmnty use ... then enhance
cmnty use being proposed serious; long waiting list; for ppl who
are xxx
JC: been opposed to selling land
will propose, does make sense
fear in doing that... staff assume ... automatic segue into
will support [to see options?]
RD: agree; might decide not to do anything at all
bought 2001, idea wd be reimbursed
cmnty ctr
not fair to say rushing; bought in 2001, we've made a lot of
money on it
a lot of social useful ....
than just sitting on empty land; certain economic benefits
[10:05] think back to 320TWay when Ccl decided to sell that;
faced enormous opposition
$8M lease, added $2M grew to $30M
investments, bonds, ... made $30 - 32M
{Absolutely critical to recall what was involved and is
missing from these comments.
First of all here was a referendum to sell/lease and it
FAILED. So it was not ethical or moral to go against the results
of a referendum after campaigning to honour it.
As for the money, if Ccl had looked at Uplift and had
had a Cmnty Benefit policy for every upzoning/increased density that
was actually put into practice, DWV wd have had easily more than ten
times that amt in its coffers over the last 20
years.}
all ... Aq Ctr renos to Ice Rink, soccer field, Gleneagles
Cmnty Ctr
ctr from lease not sell
we wdn't just invest the money
social ... certainly worth looking into ... an idea of what might
be possible
Sop: my view is a bit diff; feel there are options; for
disposition of our lands
feel were moving ahead a little too quickly; the recomm does
state a RFP on Wetmore lands
call for proposal preference is a 99-yr lease
all bids must indicate
not consider a purchase option, shd not be included
looking at a 99-yr lease; so why put out a proposal to sell?
still not supporting it
have to do more work wrt our lands and holding
not an opportune time to
no matter what used for in future
Mayor: OCP Policy H3; one of the v few for alternative resid
housing; the more pervasive argument
not put citizens on a lane end or
{lane end? what a joke! astonishing
comment/misinterpretation (intentional?) by the Mayor! who ever
suggested or wd suggest that? Nothing I heard (or said).
Drawing a strawman to knock down? not allowed to speak at this point
so I can only refute this misstatement at PQP.}
am sure you're all ... stopped
doubt anyone wd accept 12 storeys; rather three to six
storeys
explore all our options
right now the dribble in for pennies, unbiz-like
we're here to serve ppl of the cmnty, crying need for srs'
housing; couple with rec and health
already put a lot of time; fully supportive of finding out what's
possible
SSch: seconder?
RD
Carries with Sop opposed 10:10
12. Finance Committee - Activities Update and
Recommendations
RECOMMENDED: THAT Council instruct
staff to:
a)
Work towards qualifying for the GFOA budget award with the District
budget of 2010;
b)
Develop the 2009 budget using the best practices described in the
attached "District Budget Information";
c)
Hire, on an interim basis, the additional financial resources required
to assist with the necessary budgeting, accounting and reporting
system upgrades;
AND THAT Council include as part of its
direction to staff regarding the 2009 budget, the assumptions that
staff should make regarding issues as brought forward from the Finance
Committee in this report.
MS made motion: staff, cmnty, and Ccl want to be the
pacemaker
working with Mr Laing and Mr McRadu; cmte feel a a first step,
a-b-c of this work plan
a more transparent and accountable process; allow us to move to
next step; measuring progress of how we're doing
see how sr staff are doing; how Ccl and overall org are doing;
take first step; budget process; lead us to a more vibrant process in
future and plsd to say where we're doing has support of staff
commend them
JC: nothing to add; steals my motion, says it all
Sop: these three steps clear; info and descriptions come out;
applaud cmte coming out with these
we're now July, away in August, buy time in Sept, election in
Nov
where will we be in budget process, Mr L?
RL: staff will be working diligently throughout month of
Aug
anticipate we'll have draft documents for this Ccl to look at
prior to this election
signif review and possible change once election; we'll do that
work as required
CAO: more on the FCmte, not budget so now or later
Mayor: now
CAO: want to thank cmte; discussed what role of FCmte
what want to see; residents want to see clean.... what are
the good docs out there
good doc to date, good readership; residents, a number v
experienced in financial matters
asked them to look at xxx ... not with that with a fever
looked at Ms both BC, across Canada, and in NAm
financial acctg and reporting; pull all material together; we
believe able to pull together a doc
not only GFOA compliant, but by 2010, those Ms will be looking at
best practices will be looking at WV
Sop: a year to get underway -- 2010?
CAO: disc with FCmte, our target date is 2010, two budget
cycles
CARRIED
{My compliments at PQP} 10:18
13.
WinterSong Festival -- Information to be
provided. WITHDRAWN
14.
Terasen Gas - Energy Efficiency and Conservation Application
-- Information to be provided.
VV made motion; CARRIED
15. 4259 Rockbank Place - Excess Rock
Removal
RECOMMENDED THAT the July 16, 2008 report
"4259 Rockbank Place - Excess Rock Removal" from the Director of
Planning, Lands and Permits be received for information.
{Assume that means approval? why? precedent?}
CARRIED
BYLAWS
16. Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 4414, 2005, Amendment
Bylaw No. 4564, 2008
This bylaw
received three readings at the July 21, 2008 Regular Council
Meeting.
RECOMMENDED:... be
adopted.
JC: last week I read this; literally at
11th hour; slipped my mind; recomm picked up but not number
size of homes automatically fall under
examination; in here at 6K and WG
recommended 4K; reason anxious to bring
up; size of homes going into future
smaller; fewer of them; less revenue, fewer homes
wd like to amend this sq ftg
number
Mayor: need to rescind third
reading
[JC moved/Sop seconded]
JC: amendment from 6 to
4Ksf
Sokol: I wd suggest rather than
amending, put it in place now;
then as we move forward making amendments; next year
Fire Dept made recomm; deemed to be sufficient;
bldg permits we're seeing now
once bylaw;
right not 6K good number
Mayor: Mr Sokol believes it's
working
Martin Ernst, Fire Dept: wrt 6Ksf for now,
sufficient b/c also includes commercial;
Cclr Clark on point for future
JC: I'll withdraw
Mayor: plan working well; back to adoption
SSch: no, third reading; put forward again with no changes
[ADOPTION CARRIES then withdrawn!]
we'll come back
{This marks beginning of debate about
procedure b/c third reading passed then rescinded; can't adopt a bylaw
at same time as third reading; law requires a day
between.}
17. General Local Elections Regulations Bylaw No.
4447, 2005, Amendment Bylaw No. 4571, 2008
This bylaw
received third reading at the July 21, 2008 Regular Council
Meeting.
ADOPTED
CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS
18. Consent
Agenda Items - Reports and Correspondence
The following Consent Agenda items may be
considered separately or in one recommendation.
RECOMMENDED: THAT the Consent Agenda items
as follows be approved:
=B7 Item 19 -
Ambulance Station at 1542 Fulton Avenue
=B7 Item 20 -
Development Applications Status List
=B7 Item 21 -
Local Government Infrastructure Planning Grant Program - Water
Infrastructure Asset Valuation and Water Infrastructure Capital
Renewal Plan
=B7 Item 22 -
Local Government Infrastructure Planning Grant Program - Options for
Greenhouse Gas Reduction Study
=B7 Item 23 -
Community Engagement Committee Report
=B7 Item 24 -
Appointment to Municipal Insurance Association
=B7 Item 25 -
Correspondence List [complete list in previous issue of
WVM]
(22) C. Reynolds,
WV Matters, July 18, 2008, regarding Council Meeting
Minutes
26. REPORTS from
MAYOR/CCLRS 10:24
Mayor: while Ms Scholes is checking; Harmony Arts opens; Odlum
Brown at Hollyburn Ctry Club
Sop: will staff miss us during month of August
27. PUBLIC QUESTIONS/COMMENTS
CR: Before what I really came for -- didn't want ppl to get the
wrong impression about two things that were said.
One is that I think most ppl do agree that the Rodgers Crk
devt is good; I don't think that was in doubt. It's just
that the CBs weren't known until later, so nobody was criticizing that
the WG did a great job on all the rest of that.
{keep in mind the WG and the public didn't review the
CBs let alone the report received tonight}
The second thing -- wrt Wetmore perhaps Cclr Smith,
perhaps two ppl, misinterpreted I guess perhaps what I said. I
certainly wasn't thinking of street ends and lanes for seniors'
residences, and one of my suggestions when we bought Wetmore was
that the bottom -- one, two, three floors -- be for cmnty use, such as
an art gallery or something like that. And the upper -- second,
third, or fourth floors -- be for seniors' residences. So
there is a way to combine; I just didn't want to take up the time
earlier. There is a way of combining, keeping that, having
cmnty use and having it as a residence for seniors, and that's why
I suggested we shd look out for [that].
Secondly, I think that's great.
{bizarre -- either that or can't count!}
I have observed some of the Finance Cmte mtgs and I
think that's really great, the progress they've made, and these
recommendations, and they shd be commended for what they've done.
So that's really great,
but
what I was really here for is that it's RoyalTea-by-the-Sea
time on Saturday, from 2 to 4. This is our ninth annual
RoyalTea-by-the-Sea, so wear a fancy hat. The piper will be
there piping, and it's a $5 donation, and there'll be remarks I guess
around 3 o'clock.
{oh dear. Forgot to say it's at Dundarave Park and how
to reserve. Oh well, it's over now and though weather
threatening in the morning, it was a sunny afternoon. Cclr
Vaughan was there in tea attire (and a photograph of her with the
piper was in the NSN Aug 13), and Bill Vaughan was there in a top
hat!}
I hope you can all come. I hope it will be fun. It's
the ninth annual, and I'm really excited it's lasted so long, and been
so great, and I hope to see all of you there. The men cd wear
top hats, if they don't want to wear.... So. Thank you
very much and I wish you all a happy summer.
[10:28] Mayor: still waiting
[am guessing it's wrt passing third reading and when adoption can
be]
wrt adoption of fees and charges
when we decided to third reading; implicit; we are getting
together workshop Wed morning 9am July 30th
[10:30] motion to adjourn... hm?
Ssch: looking at calendar
Mayor: made a decision, does that not deal with the issue? able
to deal with it Wed at 9am?
SSch: third reading; third reading has been rescinded
Mayor: then we had third reading
SSch: Wed at 9am
Sop: hope all mbrs have a great month off; look forward to seeing
you all in Sept.
28. ADJOURNMENT 10:32
*** FIREWORKS!
-- CELEBRATION OF LIGHT in English Bay.......
Aren't those fireworks a highlight of the
year!
This year there was Canada with The Attack, US
with Love, and China with The Power of the Dream.
Canada's theme turned me off but had to admit it
deserved marks as the first to have a story (started off with the red
lights and sirens), so that was an innovation. Also the
synchronization was about the best we've ever seen/heard.
The US started with the outline of red hearts,
had a flourish at the end of the third 'movement', and ended with the
outline of stars. With so many great American artists, it was
curious that singers chosen were Andrea Bocelli (Italian), Bryn Terfel
(Welsh), and Rod Stewart (English).
China had a great variety: 2008, the Olympic
rings, flowers, happy faces, many bursts going very high.
This year had three very different sets of
fireworks, so a range of experience.
The finale was about the best ever -- it was
longer this year b/c the provincial govt put on eight minutes at the
beginning celebrating BC's 150th anniversary to a brief commentary on
our history. This time Canada's segment was
impressive.
What is so special watching it as we do from
Beach Avenue in front of the barge, is seeing the height overhead
along with the rainfall effect sometimes off the barge, and especially
the fireworks that skip in front of the barge as well as those that
come right out of the water and then change colours.
We thought China was spectacular but wondered who
wd win b/c we knew that there were marks for synchronicity and Canada
definitely had that.
I've just checked to see what the judges said
(see
http://www.celebration-of-light.com/_pdf/Media%20Release%20-%20August%203.pdf) and they had a tie too -- Canada and China!
(one of the seven judges was ill) Tiko Kerr broke the tie and
chose Canada (his reasons are outlined in the media release if you
click on above) while China won the People's Choice by one per
cent.
Anyway, now I've found out that it's marked out
of 100, with 20 marks for each category: general concept, colour,
originality, quality of production, and correlation of
music.
Planning for 2009 starts in September so
please contact them to keep it in English Bay -- someone mentioned
they might move it to Canada Place and for Canada Day and while I
obviously want to celebrate Canada Day and at Canada Place, more ppl
can see the fireworks when it's in English Bay. That's why over
a million!
Don't want to wish my life away but really
looking forward to Fireworks 2009!
PS -- just found out a few minutes of each can be
seen at http://strutta.com/fireworks
=== HANAN ASHRAWI ===
Passport Games
You may have seen the well-educated
and well-spoken Hanan Ashrawi interviewed on CNN. She is an
elected mbr of Parliament (and is Christian). A couple of years
ago someone said he had met one of her daughters in Vancouver.
There's another daughter (b 1981) living in the US at the moment.
She recently tried to return home for a visit and entered a Catch-22
world:
http://english.pnn.ps/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3083&Itemid=1
=== MAHMOUD DARWISH, Palestinian Poet
(1941 - 2008) ===
--- from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahmoud_Darwish
Mahmoud Darwish
(13 March
1941 - 9 August 2008) was a respected Palestinian poet and author who won numerous
awards for his literary output and was regarded as the Palestinian
national poet.[1] In
his work, Palestine became a metaphor for the loss of Eden, birth and
resurrection, and the anguish of dispossession and exile.[2][3] The poet Naomi Shihab Nye has commented about Darwish's
work,
"Darwish is
the Essential Breath of the Palestinian people, the eloquent witness
of exile and belonging...."[4]......
Darwish
quotation: "I will continue to humanise even the
enemy... The first teacher who taught me Hebrew was a Jew. The first
love affair in my life was with a Jewish girl. The first judge who
sent me to prison was a Jewish woman. So from the beginning, I didn't
see Jews as devils or angels but as human beings." Several poems
are to Jewish lovers. "These poems take the side of love not
war,"[3]
--- from:
http://www.sakakini.org/literature/mdarwish.htm
Mahmoud Darwish is
considered to be the most important contemporary Arab poet working
today. He was born ... in the village of Barweh in the Galilee, which
was razed to the ground by the Israelis in 1948...
Darwish was a
member of the Executive Committee of the PLO and lived in exile
between Beirut and Paris until his return in 1996 to
Palestine.
His poems are
known throughout the Arab world, and several of them have been put to
music. His poetry has gained great sophistication over the years, and
has enjoyed international fame for a long time...
... In 2000
he published Jidariyya (Mural) a book consisting of one poem about his
near death experience in 1997. He published his book of poetry
"Stage of Siege" in 2002. In 1997 a documentary was produced
about him by French TV directed by noted French-Israeli director
Simone Bitton.
[Here you'll find
his poem
Without exile, who am I? wch starts:
Stranger on
the bank, like the river . . . tied up to your
name by
water. Nothing will bring me back from my free
distance to
my palm tree: not peace, nor war.]
--- Update: Days of mourning declared, and burial in
Ramallah with hope moved to near home/birthplace in Galilee; memorial
in Vancouver Aug 16.
=== HADRIAN'S WALL/BRITISH MUSEUM
=== (BBC July 18 presented by John
Wilson)
HADRIAN -- I've never visited Hadrian's wall but earlier
this year I became one of the first people in nearly two millennia to
see Hadrian's loo. The Imperial lavatory recently emerged amidst
excavations of Villa Adriana, Hadrian's sprawling hillside retreat at
Tivoli. Archaeologists have also discovered what they think may be a
mausoleum for Hadrian's lover -- a Greek boy called Antinous. The
private life of Hadrian -- along with his cultural and military
pursuits -- is explored in a new exhibition at The British Museum . We
have a preview.
Hadrian's first political decision as Emperor was to order a
military withdrawal from territory now known as Iraq, the historical
resonance of which will not be lost on my guests - David Aaronovitch,
Marina Hyde and Simon Sebag Montefiore -- as they discuss Erroll
Morris's new documentary.
ERROL MORRIS -- In Standard Operating Procedure, Director
Errol Morris talks to the US Army soldiers who were photographed
abusing prisoners in Abu Ghraib jail. Their jokey snapshots became
criminal evidence. I'll be asking the panel whether Morris was right
to portray the soldiers as scapegoats in a global political
scandal.
=== LANGUAGE ===
bocog and apostrophes
*** NEW WORD: bocog
In VSun Aug 16 pG1, Miro Cernetig introduces a new verb coined in
Beijing during the Olympics: bocog, as in having been bocogged.
It's from Beijing Organizing Cmte for the Olympic Games. It
means to be blindsided or stymied by BOCOG with rules and regulations
you never saw coming. He gives examples of what's been done to
companies, sponsors, BC/Cdn govt re pavilion, journalists, etc., and
even the IOC.
*** APOSTROPHES
Some of you know that I'm involved with AWAD (A Word A Day) that
goes out to over 600,000 subscribers in over 200 countries.
Recently, in AWADmail (a selection of email received on the week's
words) wch comes out at the end of the week, there were some amusing
responses wrt apostrophes, that much maligned little mark.
Sometimes it appears some ppl scatter them around like sprinkles on
cupcakes. For a while I toyed with the idea of having a website
apostropheinfo.org but we let it expire and my plans are to do some
more work on grammarinfo.org (if I ever find time).
Anyway, here are some of the responses from AWADmail --
http://wordsmith.org/awad/awadmail313.html -- reproduced here with Anu
Garg's permission.
APOSTROPHE TALES
+ Many years ago, my sister was
regularly finding a small, black cat on her porch. The cat was
friendly and affectionate so she assumed it was someone's pet.
Enquiries around the neighbourhood, however, did not turn up an owner,
just others who were also feeding the cat whenever it appeared. One
rainy evening, my sister brought the cat in and decided she was going
to keep it. Holding the cat aloft and looking it in the eye she mused
aloud, "What am I going to call you?"
Her husband responded. "Call it
Apostrophe."
"Apostrophe!! Why?"
"'Cause it's small and black... and
somebody left it out."
Princess Apostrophe (known as 'Triffy')
became a much cherished member of the family.
- Nancy M
+ I often see apostrophes inserted in ad copy in newspapers
and flyers, and that's when my patience runs out. I made up a fake
organization called the "American Association Against Apostrophe
Abuse" (AAAA) and I send a "citation" letter to the
abuser. Here is an example:
You are hereby cited for apostrophe abuse. This dangerous
predilection to use apostrophes to make plural forms of singular
common nouns and even proper names is rending asunder the very fabric
of civilized American society. Unless we take a stand against these
flagrant, senseless, and random acts of apostrophe insertion, our
children will grow up to be ignorant of the power of words and the
rule of grammatical law as we know it.
- Ken
B
+++ Mary M:
I'm conservative (grammatically)
and what gives me fits is
the proliferation of apostrophes
in plurals and itses.
+ Jeff Deck, founder of the Typo Elimination Advancement
League, completed a coast-to-coast circuit of the US five weeks ago,
correcting hundreds of misplaced apostrophes on public notices. You
may like to read a story I wrote about his commendable crusade,
published by the South Korean citizen reporters' journal
OhmyNewsInternational: http://tinyurl.com/47nrwv
- Eric
S
+ My dad was an old-school grammarian who often lamented
the misuse of punctuation among other abuses of the language. He would
have loved the term "greengrocer's apostrophe" as shown by
one of his favorite stories:
Back in the days when grocery stores advertised their sales with
large writing right on the store windows, he noticed with dismay a
grocer's big sale of "DUCK'S! CHICKEN'S! TURKEY'S!" Another
passerby, quite inebriated, had also taken note -- and offense! --
and, swaying and staring fixedly at the abomination, the man crossed
the street, took out his handkerchief and carefully wiped off all the
apostrophes. "I could have kissed him!" was the way my dad
always ended the tale.
-
Laurie K
+++ Among several apostrophe sites and blogs out there,
this one features photos of the mangled signage and other public
notices out there with misplaced squiggles:
http://www.apostropheabuse.com
- Larry
R
+++ I have been so annoyed about this that I have written a
poem:
(to the
meter of "Trees", with apologies to Joyce Kilmer)
I think that I shall never again
see
a properly used apostrophe.
The glyph that floats high in the
air
falls to the word, but who knows
where?
Poems are made by fools like me,
but
Only God seems to know how to use the
apostrophe.
- Jan M
+ The same phenomenon exists in German, too. It occurs in
native German as well as English since many words and expressions in
advertisements, banners, etc. are (wrongly) taken over from English.
There's a whole bunch of websites collecting photos of
Deppenapostrophen (fool's apostrophes). A meta-link to the collections
is http://www.deppenapostroph.de
-
Ulrich S
+ Imagine my horror when I realized I had married a man
who, although very well read, absolutely could not grasp the proper
use of an apostrophe. Not only that, but he assumed that a comma was
interchangeable with an apostrophe. To make things worse, he often
made the sale signs that his retail store used! It wasn't
uncommon to see "carpet,s for sale". I always knew when he'd
been
on the job!
-
LaRonda B
+++ The misuse of the apostrophe has been a pet peeve for
many years. In fact, while I was teaching in high school, I wrote my
own epitaph:
Here lies Sue,
She didn't die from disease,
She died while teaching
The apostrophes!
- Susan F
=== COMPUTER PROBLEMS
===
STORY SENT TO ME:
I was having trouble with my computer. So I called Eric, the
11-year-old next door. Eric clicked a couple of buttons and solved the
problem.
As he was walking away, I called after him, 'So, what was wrong?
He replied, 'It was an ID ten T error.'
I didn't want to appear stupid, but nonetheless enquired, 'An, ID
ten T error? What's that? In case I need to fix it again.'
Eric grinned... 'Haven't you ever heard of an ID ten T error
before?'
'No,' I replied. 'Write it down,' he said, 'and I think you'll
figure it out.'
[Answer at end of Domain Names so you can see if
you figured it out.]
=== DOMAIN NAMES / URLs/WEBSITES
=== from
a subscriber.....
All of these are legitimate companies that didn't spend quite
enough time considering how their online names might appear ... and be
misread. These are not made up. Check them out
yourself!
1. 'Who Represents' is where you can find the name of the
agent that represents any celebrity. Their website is
www.whorepresents.com6. And don't forget the Mole Station Native Nursery
in New South Wales, www.molestationnursery.com
9. And the designers at Speed of Art await you at their
wacky web site,
www.speedofart.com[Answer to computer problem: did
you write down I D 1 0 T ?]
=== BARD-KU === (as supporters of Bard on the Beach we attend
opening nights)
- THE TEMPEST - written 2008 July 2nd
8:05pm
voluminous cape
green, marine, umber ~~
pale
sky-blue eyes survey scene
Opening scene.
Read twice, slowly, pausing after each line and a little longer
after 'umber'; haiku are supposed to seize the moment and this was the
effect of the absolutely unforgettable entrance by Allan Morgan as
Prospero at the very start of the play -- he came/rose from behind and
loomed. Did the green/marine/scene make you think of the sea?
and umber the land (island)? then the sky as the lights made us focus
on his pale blue eyes like beacons.....
I was simply spellbound.
And then the magical play unfolded with music, singing, and
acrobatics....
- TITUS ANDRONICUS - written 2008 July
12th, the next day, about 5pm
Shakespeare provides skeleton;
director, organs;
and
the actors, skin.
Kim Collier's interpretation is brilliant, lifting a bloody,
vengeful, depressing play from its gory gloom.
=== QUOTATIONS
===
My psychological inertia is nothing compared to the quivering
invertebracy of these Labour plotters.
--
London Mayor Boris Johnson on the plight of Prime Minister Gordon
Brown.
Benjamin Disraeli: No government can be
long secure without a formidable opposition
"A monk asks a superior if it is permissible to
smoke while praying.
The superior says certainly not.
Next day, the monk asks . . . if it is permissible
to pray while smoking.
That, says the superior, is not merely permissible,
it is admirable.
The moral of the story is that much depends on how
a thing is presented."
--
George F Will (b 1941)
{Reminds me of the Jesuit saying: better to ask forgiveness
than permission.}
You may have noticed I've recently discovered Doug Larson,
English Racer (1902 - 1981) and have been putting in some of his
sayings. Here are more:
o A lot of people
mistake a short memory for a clear conscience.
o A weed is a plant that
has mastered every survival skill except for learning how to grow in
rows.
o There must be a happy
medium somewhere between being totally informed and blissfully
unaware.
PUN CORNER:
o The best place for a mathematician
is behind a counter.
o OLYMPICS: One of the first things you'll notice at the Beijing
airport is a whole lot of Chinese checkers.
o POLITICS: Why are the White
House Staffers a sad lot? Because after being Bushed for eight years,
they can now look forward to being either Baracked or
Cained.
o I was enamoured with the famous
Paris art museum. It was Louvre at first site.
YEARS OF WEDDED BLISS:
An elderly gent was invited to an old friend's home for dinner
one evening. He was impressed by the way his buddy preceded every
request to his wife with endearing terms such as: Pretty Girl, Honey,
My Love, Darling, Sweetheart, Pumpkin, Baby, etc. The couple had been
married almost 70 years and clearly they were still very much in
love.
While the wife was in the kitchen, the man leaned over and said
to his host: "I think it's wonderful that, after all these years,
you still call your wife those loving pet names."
The old man hung his head. "I have to tell you the truth,"
he said, "Her name slipped my mind about ten years ago and I'm
scared to death to ask her what it is!"
CARTOON: A beggar holding out his hat, with a
sign saying 'Unemployed poofreader'.
QUESTION: Would a
Mormon working for the Postal Service be a Letter Day Saint?
Roaming Freely in a Land of Restraints by Abby
Aguirre, published:
August 12