WVM2010-19r
July 26 Ccl Mtg NOTES
Calendar to Sept 12th
by
Carolanne Reynolds, Editor
www.WestVan.org
Here's your summer
reading issue; next WVM about Sept 10 (subscribers may get
updates)
IN THIS ISSUE:
NB: No
ccl mtg until Sept 13
= Vive le Canada (400yrs, 65 yrs, 150 yrs,
100 yrs, $15M); from the EDITOR'S DESK (Wch census?;
Refugees; PUBLIC CORRESPONDENCE
CAMPAIGN); UPDATES (PAY; Mid-Year Operating
Review; Rec Progs; ACDI; new Dir/Fin; Knotweed in Caulfeild
Pk); POLICEWATCH (Summer Safety)
= CALENDAR, best efforts to Sept 12 ;
CULTUREWATCH (Theatre; Art; Photography; Sculpture; Extreme
Cellos!)
= Sp Ccl Mtg NOTES July 26th: Wetmore
Site (consultation in Sept); Sec Stes Mid-Year Report;
Knotweed Control Pilot Project; Adoption of 2009 Annual Budget
Amendment, Cemetery Regulation, Animal Control and Licence
bylaws; Child Care Ctr Licence Agreement; NO
CORRESPONDENCE OR LIST APPEARS ON AGENDA.
= ANIMALWATCH (gorillas; another large loving seal);
TREEWATCH; INFObit (burqa/niqab banned even in some Muslim countries);
CPTWATCH (good and bad things; Colombia; (CNN) Bedouins; At-Tuwani,
Hebron); WEBWATCH (Iran); SCIENCEWATCH (YERT, solar roadway);
NEWSWATCH (Ottoman Army; Cdn Boat to Gaza); GAZAWATCH (Oxfam);
MONEYWATCH (US bankrupt); HERITAGEWATCH (RoyalTea Report; B C Binning
house tours; endangered Klee Wyck); SENIORWATCH (Retirement;
Age vs Youth); BOOKWATCH (and a canal -- typos) /
LANGUAGEWATCH (Internet Language) / WORDWATCH (AAP for WVM
Glossary; punny words); MAIKU (Musings);
QUOTATIONS/THOUGHTS/PUNS
=== Vive le CANADA
===
+ Cupids, Site of
Cupers Cove, Canada's Oldest British Colony, founded in
1610
Cupids is one of
the most significant historic sites in North America. It was settled
in 1610 by John Guy. Cupids is the oldest official British colony in
Canada and the second oldest British colony in North America. The
400th anniversary celebrations planned in 2010 include historic
reenactments and a series of festivals.
+ World War II: 65th Anniversary of the end, Japanese
surrender -- 15 Aug 1945. My girlfriend's father was a Canadian
POW in Hong Kong; terrible memories.
+ Fisgard Lighthouse at the entrance to Esquimalt
is the oldest lighthouse in Canada.
Craig
McInnes's article (V Sun Sat Aug 14 p5) brought this to my attention
so googled: built 1860.
+ The PNE celebrates its centenary this year --
Happy 100th Birthday!
See Stephen Hume's excellent story of the PNE in VSun Sat Aug 14
pC1. The VSun plans a special edition on the PNE Wed Aug
18.
+ $15M! Great news for our Aquarium!
The proposed upgrades will help the Vancouver Aquarium in its
efforts to conserve aquatic life, provide educational programs, and
conduct scientific research. The Vancouver Aquarium has a unique
mandate in this respect, one that is not shared by any other such
facility in Canada.
The upgrades include the revitalization of aging infrastructure
and the expansion of the Aquarium. These structural elements must be
addressed to ensure the viability of the facility and the well-being
of the 70,000 animals that are currently housed there.
The Aquarium employs 350 people, and has more than 900
volunteers.
The Vancouver Aquarium is the largest aquarium in Canada. It
currently houses more than 70,000 fish and animals. More than 35
million people have visited the Vancouver Aquarium since the centre
opened in 1956. Every year 80,000 school children learn about
aquatic life through its educational programs.
=== from the EDITOR'S DESK
===
o TO CENSUS OR NOT TO CENSUS, TO COUNT OR NOT TO
COUNT, that is the mandatory/voluntary question.
Your Editor's view: Other countries are using other ways
and let's leave it to experts to debate. My opinion is that you
use what you have until you've introduced and explained/justified a
different system. So I'm not against using something else for
our planning but we shd have it in place and accepted first -- rather
strange simply to stop.
o REFUGEES
Pls explain to me what I'm missing. Refugees flee
desperately and seek the first refuge they can find, no?
These refugees are Tamils, right? Tamil Nadu (where they
originally came from before settling in Sri Lanka) is only a few miles
away -- why didn't they go there?
Or why not stop at the many islands and countries on the way
to Canada, wch they say took three months to reach?
Certainly doesn't indicate desperation or haste to
me.
And is it true, each paid about $40-60,000 for the trip?
complaining about poverty/conditions in Sri Lanka?
then not poor? or who paid that? families in Canada?
not a better way or thinking guarantee as refugee?
A lot of mysteries.........
CBC/CTV news said processing them will cost the Cdn taxpayer
$35M.
Minister Toews's legal opinion was that they cd not intercept the
ship in international waters. Why does that not stop the US from
intercepting or sending back those in boats from Haiti and Cuba? or
the Israelis a ship not even going to Israel (was headed to
Gaza)?
Look at how Australia has stopped the ships from pitching up on
their shores?
Canada is one of the most desirable countries in the world.
We simply can't accommodate all those who wd prefer to live here.
Not even all who deserve help -- we're not even 40M and we can't
bankroll the millions who want to come.......
Our immigration laws have to have solid selective fair defensible
criteria not to be ignored or abused, abetted by locals from the same
cultural group.
o PUBLIC
CORRESPONDENCE
As van Falkenburg Jr says, Failure is
the path of least persistence. So, no, I haven't given up.
Let's review how far we've come. That's some encouragement and
we have only one tiny babystep to go for an acceptable
solution.
1 = Correspondence disappeared
unannounced.
Why'd they all go along with total
removal? I was told it was presented at a closed mtg, the one
they have before the ccl mtg starts, and that it wd save $10-15K a
year -- wch then points to gullibility, facts withheld (and they
didn't ask), and lack of taking a pledge to openness seriously.
Multiple Choice.
2 = Brought to Ccl's attention, Ccl asked
it be put on the website (but, unfortunately, did not say where) --
good news indicating they didn't fully realize staff's
intentions/actions.
Slow climb from here, but at least on way
up.
African saying: eating an elephant starts
with the first bite.
3 = Staff cd say it was on the DWV website
but public didn't know where.
4 = I found it on the page with "Mayor
& Ccl" -- now, tell me, seriously, who'd look there for
correspondence that has always been on the ccl mtg
agenda?
5 = Announcements on the home page fall off
in chronological order (Cclr Sop pointed that out) so they said they'd
put it somewhere else but didn't say where.
6 = The Mayor said we just had to 'scroll
down' to find the letters but it was not so (Ccl cd but we cdn't b/c
not there) and mumblings were made about its being difficult to get
to, "three clicks". (If not resolved in September, my
company is willing to have an engineer or two volunteer to help staff
and the webmaster, but I'm still hoping they can do it on their own --
especially seeing those salaries and for 2009 so more now!) More
incredibly, statement made: that's how the Internet/website works --
hence the Mark Twain quotation below (QTN section).
7 = Happy to say that the Correspondence is
now closer to the Agenda and Minutes, on the webpage. At this
point, if you go to the very bottom of the page we go to to see the
ccl mtg agenda, you can click on:"Ccl Correspondence is
AVAILABLE", while not specific, at least it's a
clue.
8 = At this stage, my suggestion is that
the list of correspondence be put back on the ccl agenda (as it was
until March 24) and on that agenda item have the link to click onto
the correspondence wherever they want to put it. This list is
already compiled and appears at the beginning of each week's
correspondence. Easy, doncha think?
9 = As far as I can tell right now, Cclr
Smith is all in favour of having the Correspondence back on the ccl
mtg agenda, Cclr Sop even asked about putting it on the agenda but the
question was dismissed at the Ccl mtg (July 19) and not answered; Cclr
Lewis may be wavering; Cclr Evison gave a vague answer; Cclr Walker
gave a strange answer wrt staff workload (that did not apply); and
Cclr Panz did not return my three phone calls (in July before
recess).
POWER however, is in the Mayor's hands and
whereas at first it seemed she was unaware since they cd 'scroll down'
and it wd be quickly rectified, that did not happen and she said it
was up to cclrs if they wanted it on the agenda. Funny. I
thought the public might want it there. (Let them know.)
Doesn't she? The Outlook poll showed 96% wanted the
Correspondence returned; the Georgia Straight urged it be returned to
the website; unusual no comment I ever saw in the North Shore News.
No opinion expressed by the CAO.
OVERWHELMINGLY though,
not only is the Correspondence
informative with letters
(from govts (prov/fed), bodies (eg, MetroV,
TransLink, UBCM), cmnty groups, residents (concerns but kudos as well
as complaints wch are good to learn about so they can be addressed),
and staff answers to citizens' questions plus info on
devt),
but also
that information/notices/correspondence
is received by Ccl thus part of the ccl's business
(it was part of the Consent Agenda and was
simply rec'd for information unless someone on Ccl asked to discuss or
make a motion about an item listed; without the list of letters -- and
action items named who wd be handling the issue -- looking at the
evening's ccl mtg agenda gives absolutely NO indication there are
letters for Ccl to consider let alone know what they're
about).
INTOLERABLE -- why this step
backward?
Other Ms have the correspondence on their
agendas, WV prides itself for being a leader (quite apart from vaunted
claims of, ahem, 'openness', 'transparency', and 'accountability'),
why close this door? why seemingly reluctantly and obtusely just open
a back door by inches and then a side door slightly? Doesn't
make sense.
10 = FUTURE
Now it appears some staff are on board.
Have been promised this will be resolve by/in September. Let's
watch. In the meantime, pls let mbrs of Ccl know you're in
favour of this access to information to material being considered at a
ccl mtg RETURNED to the ccl mtg agenda, where it shd obviously,
legally, and logically be.
WV's "Vision" and "Cmnty
Engagement" INDEED!
===
UPDATES ===
+ PAY (our $$$s at
'work')
The Premier of BC's salary is $186K -- if you saw the list
of DWV salaries/remuneration in WVM2010-17 (it listed those over
$100K) or looked at the Annual Report info for a more complete list
(see just below), you'll see that many of our staff make nearly that
much and even more. WV has a population of under 45K, BC has
4.5M. The relative responsibilities scream.
Politicians are really underpaid -- and some underappreciated --
and our Council is paid pittance considering their responsibilities
and the time they put in, representing US.
OTOH, our M staff are laggards compared with an LA suburb with
about the same popn as WV:
In the scandal about
public-employees' pay in the tiny Los Angeles suburb of Bell,
California's state controller said that their salaries needed to be
more transparent. It recently emerged that the city manager of Bell
(which has a population of fewer than 40,000) had an annual
compensation package of nearly $800,000, and that council members were
paid to attend meetings, some of which ran at the same time or for
only a minute.
+ ANNUAL REPORT 2009
The Mayor's remarks at the beginning of the July 19th ccl mtg
(see that section below) provide some context and background.
The Annual Report
is available for inspection at the Finance Department in Municipal
Hall and is on the DWV website:
2009 Annual
Report (PDF, 4.5 MB) and 2009 Financial Information Act Report (PDF, 659
KB)
+ Mid-Year
Operating Review Reports
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.
2010 Mid-Year Operating Review (PDF 348 kb) - Received | Regular
Meeting of Council (July 26)
+ REC CTR PROGRAMS
Registration Begins August 18th --
The Leisure Guide will be available online August 9th, and paper
copies will be available in all Community Centres August 12th.
Registration for all programs and services begins on Wednesday August
18th, at 6am for WV residents, and 8am for all other participants.
(Seniors' Activity Centre programs are not affected by priority
registration). See westvancouverrec.ca
+ ACDI Members
Wanted -- Apply by September
10th
Do you have what it takes to be an advocate
for persons with disabilities? The North Shore Advisory Committee on
Disability Issues (ACDI) is made up of people with various
disabilities, and advises the Mayors, Councils, and staff of the three
North Shore municipalities on a wide range of issues affecting persons
with disabilities. Prospective members should have a disability,
be a resident of one of the three North Shore municipalities, be
available to attend meetings on a monthly basis, and be willing to
actively participate in task group work.
The deadline to submit applications is
Friday, September 10th.
For more information contact Lindsay
Hoeberechts at 604 990 2463 or HoebereL@dnv.org or visit any North
Shore municipal web site: * dnv.org * cnv.org * westvancouver.ca
*
+ Nina
Leemhuis Appointed Director of Financial
Services
On Wednesday July
28th, DWV Mayor and Council appointed Nina Leemhuis as the new
Director of Financial Services for DWV.
Nina is a West
Vancouver resident with over 20 years of outstanding achievement in
financial management. Nina previously worked as the CFO at BCIT
where she provided leadership in the area of financial affairs to a
public sector organization with 50,000 students and 2,300 full-time
employees. Since graduating from BCIT, Nina's career in the
field of financial services has included senior finance roles
responsible for financial management, strategic leadership and budget
formulation, and execution processes.
Nina brings
extensive experience in implementing and monitoring financial policies
and procedures with financial accountability measures, and the ability
to motivate and mentor administrative teams. Nina was instrumental in
initiating and providing direction to the strategic planning process
for the financial and administrative areas, ensuring alignment and
support of the vision and mission of BCIT, and also initiated and
directed the Institutional Campus Master Plan and cyclical maintenance
of facilities and infrastructure.
Nina has specific
expertise in a number of areas including budgeting and forecasting,
operations and financial analysis, best practices implementation,
financial policies and procedures, and employee-mentoring, training,
and leadership.
+
Japanese Knotweed Control Project
Japanese knotweed
are tall (1 to 5 m), bamboo-like plants with long, hollow stems and
heart-shaped leaves. It is an aggressive invasive plant that is
threatening native plant species in Caulfeild Park.
Beginning August
20th, knotweed stems will be injected with the herbicide
glyphosate (Roundup) in two areas of Caulfeild Park. The
work will be performed by a qualified contractor under the
supervision of the Parks Department. Funding for this project is
gratefully accepted from the Lighthouse Park Preservation Society and
is managed through the DWV.
This project was
considered by Council on July 26, 2010, and at that time, the
Lighthouse Park Preservation Society offered $3,000 in order for this
project to begin immediately. August is the best time to perform
this work. Council accepted the offer with thanks. Signs
will be posted in the park early in the week of August
16th.
Questions?
Email us or call 925 7130.
=== POLICEWATCH === WVPD Summer
Safety ~ 925 9300 www.wvpd.ca
Date: 2010 July 30 Contact: Cpl. Jag Johal
With the help of our citizens being proactive we
will continue to make West Vancouver one of the safest communities in
Canada. If you observe any suspicious activity, do your part and
call the WVPD. For example:
- If canvassers attend your residence ask
them if they have a letter from The WV Bylaw Section authorizing them
to conduct business in West Vancouver. If the canvassers do not have a
letter from the Bylaw Section, they are not permitted to conduct
business in our municipality, in fact, the canvassers and the charity
they represent may not be legitimate.
- If someone attends your residence and
makes an excuse asking to use the phone or asking for directions, err
on the side of caution and call the WVPD. Individuals involved in
criminal activity may use some of these excuses to determine if anyone
is home. If no one is home, these same people may try to gain entry
into your residence and then take your valuables.
Familiarize yourself with your neighbourhood, if
you see a vehicle that doesn't belong on your street, coupled with who
is in or around that vehicle as well as other suspicious indicators,
once again call the WVPD. The WVPD website contains crime maps
and other police related information compiled by our Crime Analyst,
this information will give you an idea of Crime as it occurs in West
Vancouver. Please do your part and keep yourself up to date with this
information. The WVPD encourages everyone to be proactive and take all
responsible steps to ensure the safety of our
municipality.
=== CALENDAR to September
12th ===
All mtgs are at M Hall
unless indicated otherwise. NOTE: shown are mtgs known at
this date; often there are additions, changes, cancellations after WVM
goes out. Notices/mtgs/changes too late for the last WVM are
sent to subscribers as updates. Check the DWV
Calendar: http://www.westvancouver.ca/Calendar.aspx
Farmers' Markets: Dundarave (Saturdays) and
Ambleside (Sundays)
Visit the B C Binning house July 7th to Aug
28th (see HERITAGEWATCH at end)
== Wednesday August 4 +
Next up on August 12: Carjacked: The Culture of the
Automobile and its Effect on our Lives," with Catherine Lutz and
Anne Lutz Fernandez - hosted by Better Environmental Sound
Transportation. You can register:
www.sfu.ca/reserve.
If you're intrigued by other City Program offerings, do check out
our web site:
www.sfu.ca/city.Application deadline of our certificates for mid-career
professionals has also been extended to August 30:
== Thursday August
12
~
10am - 3pm ~ INSTRUMENT PETTING ZOO at Cmnty Ctr in the Music
Hall
Have you ever wanted to play a trumpet, strum a guitar, bow a
violin, or try out a drum set? If so, this event is a great way to get
introduced to the wide world of music! Children, adults, families, and
musicians of all ages are invited to try out a variety of woodwind,
brass, string, and percussion instruments.
All demonstrations are interactive and led by experienced
musicians, and we encourage you try as many instruments as possible.
This event is free and open to the public. Visit the WV Rec
website for more information or contact
dtones@westvancouver.ca.== Sunday August
15
~ 8:30am - 1pm ~ Kidney Fdn Walk in
John Lawson Park
Two-kilometre walk or five-kilometre
fun run! Join the Kidney Foundation and participate in an
inspiring, community-based event. Info: 604 736
9775,
barbarav@kidney.bc.ca
== Thursday,
August 19
~ 6pm
~ North Shore Family Court/Youth
Justice Cmte Mtg -- CANCELLED
== Saturday August
21 -- WVHS's Third Annual Barbecue!
~ noon to 4pm on the lawn of the Gertrude Lawson House
featuring music, food, and a brief look at a sample chapter of our
planned book on the "Neighbourhoods of West Vancouver" a
celebration of WV's Centenary in 2012. No reservations
necessary; WV Historical Society members and potential members
welcome. Suggested donation $5. Visit www.wvhs.ca or ph
778 279 2235.
== Thursday,
August 26
~ 5pm ~
NSh Adv Cmte on Disability Issues, DNV M Hall
SEPTEMBER
== Tuesday Sept
7 ~ 7pm ~ Parks Master Plan WG, Cmnty Ctr, Cedar
Room
== Wednesday Sept 8
~
5pm ~ Awards Cmte
~ 7pm ~
Field Sport Forum WG, Cmnty Ctr, Mountain Room
== Thursday Sept 9 ~ 4:30pm ~ Design Review
Cmte
== Friday Sept 10 ~ 8:30am ~ Cmnty Grants
Cmte, Cmnty Ctr, Cedar Room
Coho Festival
Sunday September 12
This year's festival activities on Sunday
include: the Coho Family Walk (down the Capilano
River); Entertainment; the Coho
Run (Kitsilano/Stanley Park to Ambleside); Youth Programs; Blessing of the Salmon
Ceremony (by members of the Squamish Nation); Beach and Field Activities; Famous Salmon Barbecue;
Environmental Displays; Beer Garden and classic
rock band; and a Visual Arts
Exhibition
The Library is closed Sundays in July and August.
Mon
- Thurs 10am - 9pm; Fri - 10am - 6pm; Saturday
- 10am - 5pm
*** MASTER OF THE
INSTANT ~~ to August 28
Cartier-Bresson
Photographs from the National Gallery of Canada & Lionel Thomas -
Abstractions 1949 - 1990
*** Salsa by the Sea is every Thursday 6:30 - 8:30pm
until August 26th.
At Ambleside Landing behind the Ferry Building
Gallery
All ages with all levels of dance experience are welcome!
$6 Drop-in Fee
+ Jurors' Choice - August 17 - 29 -- mixed
media
Farnoush Vaziri, Barbara Matthews, Shakun Jhangiani, Jane
Scheffler, Maggie Huang, Gordi Moore, Druh Ireland, James Elton,
Birgitte Nordin, Melissa Vejins, Lorraine Surcouf, Marion Webber,
Bruno Tiffanee Scorer, Riitta Peirone, Leslie McGuffin, Peter Tregale,
Michel Matil, AJ Ballard, Marnie Boullard, Tudor Serban, Zsuzsa
Vitalis
Opening Reception: Tuesday August 17, 6 - 8
pm
Artists in Attendance: Saturday August 21, 2 -
3pm
+ AT THE MUNICIPAL HALL ~ July 29 - Sept 3
Jane Richardson, with degrees from the University
of Victoria, SFU, and UBC, is a fibre artist and painter, who has
exhibited in a wide range of galleries in five solo and nine group
shows. Jane likes large canvasses for abstract works and landscapes.
She is represented by the Leighton Studio Gallery,
Vancouver.
Jane Armstrong, a West Vancouver artist who works
in watercolour, oil, and acrylic, paints landscapes and still lifes,
inspired by nature at home and abroad. She belongs to the Federation
of Canadian Artists and the North Shore Artists' Guild, and is
represented by the Jenkins Showler Gallery in White Rock and the
Rendezvous Gallery in Vancouver.
+ September 3 - 25
Inspired by Nature: Parks of West
Vancouver -- Mixed Media
Opening Reception: Friday September 3, 6
pm - 8 pm
Artists in Attendance: Saturday September 4, 2 -
4pm
* August 10 - 22
-- "Floral
Essence"
Marnie
Boullard and Adrienne Moore paint still life, flowers in the
garden, and flower arrangements in an expressionistic abstract mode,
whimsical, with a strong sense of colour. North Shore artist Marnie's
impressionistic style employs her own matchless approach about the
interpretation of the flower with stunning outcome. Adrienne is a
well-known Richmond-based painter, illustrator. and educator. Her work
has been showcased internationally in numerous solo and group
exhibits.
Opening
Reception: TUESDAY August 10th from 6 - 8pm
* August 24 -
September 5 -- "Pulp Friction"
Director, writer, and
animator, Iranian artist Bahram Javahry brings his unique collection of paper sculptures to
the Silk Purse. What started as a childhood fascination with the
beauty and versatility of paper and the field of animation, has turned
into an internationally acclaimed career. He has exhibited throughout
BC and has won awards in film and animation in the US, Canada, Egypt,
Korea, and the Czech Republic. Come and see this unique collection of
paper art sculpture!
Opening
Reception: TUESDAY August 24th from 6 - 8pm
* September 7 -
19
--
"Natural Tranquilities"
Long-time Lower Mainland
artists Christine
Collison, Martin Henry, and Judy McKinnon exhibit their beautiful collection of still lifes,
wildlife, and landscape paintings in watercolours and acrylics. This
striking group of work creates a soothing, tranquil look at the beauty
of nature in the relaxing atmosphere of the intimate Silk
Purse.
Opening
Reception: TUESDAY September 7th from 6 - 8pm
+++ KAY MEEK CENTRE
+++
Complete list of events: http://kaymeekcentre.com/on_stage/events_calendar
Electronic newsletter: http://kaymeekcentre.weebly.com
Simplest way to get on email list, call
913 3634 or email tickets@kaymeekcentre.com
+++ ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION BRANCH 60, West
Vancouver +++
The Summer-Autumn
Issue of "The Torch" is now available
To view
the newsletter, just click the following link for direct
access:
Thank you for
your interest. / Best
regards, Janice
Mackay-Smith, The
Torch
o WEST VANCOUVER
CHAMBER WELCOMES TOURISTS TO NORTH
SHORE
The WVCC has opened up
a Summer
Kiosk on the South side
of Park Royal Shopping Centre. The Kiosk, located just outside of
Extra Foods, is now open Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm until August 20th. Volunteers will be
on hand to answer questions and provide directions to local tourist
attractions.
Volunteers have been found
from WV Secondary schools, the volunteer workforce from West Vancouver
2010, WV Seniors' Centre and other groups from the North
Shore community. We greatly thank them for their generous time
and commitment to helping make West Vancouver one of the most friendly
and hospitable places to live and work.
o THE 2ND ANNUAL VILLAGE BLOCK
PARTY
~ 4 - 7pm ~ Thurs Sept 9 ~
The Village at Park Royal (Outside Whole Foods/Cactus
Club)
Park Royal in partnership with the West
Vancouver Chamber of Commerce. Festivities kick off at
4pm with roaming performers, live entertainment, a Kids' Corner, a
mini-Trade Show, and a Wine/Beer
Tent.
+++
WALKS with David
Cook 924-0147
= Sunday August 22 -- Stanley Park
Geology: A walk along the sea-wall
An
event for the Stanley Park Ecology Society (Discovery Walks
Programme).
Meet at 10am at the Third Beach concession stand. Duration:
two to three hours.
A walk along the Stanley Park Seawall to learn about the geology
of the area as seen in the sea cliffs and around the shores of Burrard
Inlet. There is a fee of $5 for SPES members and under 18, and $10 for
non-members.
= Sunday August 29 -- Old Growth
Conservancy, West Vancouver
An
event for Nature Vancouver
Meet at 9am at McDonald's, Park Royal for car pooling.
Duration four to five hours.
Terrain: Moderate, hilly. Elevation Gain: 180
metres.
This will be the first ever field trip by Nature Vancouver to the
Old Growth Conservancy in WV. We will be walking the
Trans-Canada Trail which passes along the northwest margin of the
Conservancy and through the old growth forest now protected as a park
by the Municipality of West Vancouver. Bring lunch and water.
= Sunday September 5 -- Ascent of Mt
Strachan, Cypress Provincial Park, WV; a slow hike
An
event for Nature Vancouver.
Meet: 9:30am at McDonald's, Park Royal, for car pooling;
duration: five to six hrs; elevation gain: 500 metres.
Terrain: A steep ski run with a loose, pebbly surface that is
treacherous on descent. Deep-tread hiking boots with ankle support are
essential. Sneakers not recommended. Walking poles recommended.
Join me for a hike from the downhill ski area at Cypress Bowl up
the Collins Ski Run to the peak of Mt Strachan (1454 m). On the way
there will be numerous opportunities to view the geology of the area
in rock-cut exposures formed during the construction of the ski-run.
While this field trip will be primarily to look at the geology, there
will be an opportunity to make a short side-trip to look at an area of
sub-alpine pasture recovering back to forest after an ancient
lightning fire. The highlight will be the southern peak of Mt
Strachan where there are magnificent views and the glaciation has
smoothed a remarkable pavement of metamorphic rocks, the oldest rocks
to be found in the region. This is a full day's hike, so bring
lunch and water, and prepare for changes in weather. If a clear day, a
hat will be required, as the full length of the
route is open to the sky. Registration is not required.
Membership in Nature Vancouver is not required but non-members are
limited to three field trips.
{Your editor notes that Strachan is
Scottish and pronounced STRAHN, for those who have only read but not
heard it}
=== CULTUREWATCH
===
*
THEATRE
TERRIFIC SEASON ~~ Much Ado
About Nothing; Antony and Cleopatra; Falstaff; Henry V Pt 1 and
2
PLUS: Puccini's La Boheme (UBC): 1pm Aug 30; 1pm
and 7pm Sept 6
+ Arts Club (tel 687
1644)
The 25th
Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee by William Finn, Granville
Island Stage held over to Aug 21
+ Dr Sun Yat Sen Classical
Chinese Garden - 662 3207
China Tea
Deal presented by Seven Tyrants Theatre, 7:30pm June 19 - Aug
29
+ Metro
Theatre tel 266 7191 ~~ Brighton Beach Memoirs by Neil
Simon starts Aug 28.
+ Waterfront
Theatre tel 685 1731 ~~ No Sex Please,We're British, zany
comedy to Aug 28
+ Theatre Under the Stars
(TUTS)
-- to Aug 20. Joseph
and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Singin' in the
Rain; ph 734-1917
* ART
+ Vancouver Art
Gallery
- EXHIBITION: JUNE 5 -
SEPTEMBER 6
THE MODERN WOMAN:
Drawings by DEGAS, RENOIR, TOULOUSE-LAUTREC, and other masterpieces
from the Musee d'Orsay. Tel 662 4700; visit http://www.vanartgallery.bc.ca/
- PUBLIC PROGRAMS
-- All Programs free for Members.
NOW SHOWING: July 1, 2010 - January
3, 2011
IN DIALOGUE WITH CARR: Douglas
Coupland, Evan Lee, Liz Magor, Marianne Nicolson
This exhibition strategically pairs
the work of Emily Carr with key contemporary BC artists to draw out a
dialogue between Carr's legacy and the myriad ways in which artists
respond to it.
*
PHOTOGRAPHY
CAROUN: 4th Annual Caroun Photo
Club (CPC) Photography Competition/Exhibition:
Photographers worldwide may take
part the competition. Deadline: August 31
CAPA Definition: Travel
Photography
Travel Photography should be more than
mere holiday snapshots. It should present the experience of travel in
a positive light, concentrating on the most picturesque aspects of
travel definitions. The best travel pictures show not only the
environment, but also people, travellers enjoying saunas, swimming
pools, beaches, sunshine, boating, water sports, mountaineering,
skiing, hunting, on safari -- in fact anything that would be
appropriate for a travel pamphlet or advertisement for a particular
destination.
Masoud Soheili, Caroun Photo Club
(CPC) www.CarounPhotoClub.com
*
SCULPTURE
Zimsculpt Stone
Sculpture from Zimbabwe -- more than 150 stone sculptures from
Zimbabwe at VanDusen Botanical Garden Aug 13 to 26.
* MUSIC
+ EXTREME
CELLOS!
Since 2003, the Extreme
Cellists have taken musical performances to new heights, and depths,
by giving performances in many extreme locations.
Coast-to-Coast Challenge:
Between 24 July and 6 August 2010, the Extreme Cellists successfully
undertook the English Coast-to-Coast walk (as made famous by Alfred
Wainwright), carrying and playing their cellos as they go. This was to
raise money for two charities, Aspire, and PACT - at the time of
writing, over =A34,500 has been raised!
See the cellists' daily
blog!
Previous challenges:
In previous years the Extreme Cellists have successfully negotiated a
number of other challenges, including the Four Peaks Challenge
(climbing the tallest mountains in Scotland, England, Wales and
Ireland with cellos, and giving a performance at the top of each),
running the Sheffield Half Marathon (carrying cellos and stopping to
play twice along the way), the Cathedral Roof Tour (playing on the
roofs of all 42 Anglican Cathedrals in England in just 12 days),
walking from 45-mile route from Manchester to Sheffield in a single
day, and the Monopoly Board Challenge, playing at each of the streets
on the London Monopoly board in just one day.
=== SPECIAL CCL MTG NOTES
July 26th ===
6pm in MHall Main Floor Conference Room; 7pm
ccl mtg in chamber
Note: At 6pm the reg
Cci Mtg will commence in open session and will be immediately followed
by a motion to exclude the public in order to hold a closed session,
pursuant to section 90 of the Cmnty Charter.
6:00 PM
1. CALL TO ORDER OPEN SESSION
2.
EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC
RECOMMENDED: THAT in the public interest, members
of the public be excluded from part of the July 5 reg Ccl Mtg on the
basis of matters to be considered under the following section of
the Community Charter:
90. (1) A part of a ccl mtg may be closed
to the public if the subject matter being considered relates to or is
one or more of the following:
b. personal information about an
identifiable individual who is being considered for a municipal award
or honour, or who has offered to provide a gift to the municipality on
condition of anonymity;
d. the security of the property of
the municipality;
e. the acquisition, disposition, or
expropriation of land or improvements, if the council considers that
disclosure could reasonably be expected to harm the interests of the
municipality;
i. the receipt of advice
that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including
communications necessary for that purpose
(added July 23, 2010);
k. negotiations and related discussions
respecting the proposed provision of a municipal service that are at
their preliminary stages and that, in the view of the council, could
reasonably be expected to harm the interests of the municipality if
they were held in public.
3. Council will then proceed with the closed
session. At its conclusion, the ccl mtg follows.
7:00 PM
4. RECONVENE OPEN SESSION
Mayor: quick announcement: our
2010 Mid-Year Review will be posted on our website as of
tomorrow.
5. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Amended by adding minutes to No. 6, adding Item 7.1 re
1300block MDr and M Hall precinct, adding report to Item 16.
6. ADOPTION OF MINUTES
Adoption of July
19, 2010 Regular Council Meeting Minutes --
Information to be provided.
Mayor: amended b/c I said two Ms in BC
REPORTS
RECOMMENDED: THAT
1. Staff consult with WV owners and occupiers
on the devt proposal for land, at the northwest corner of Marine Drive
and 22nd Street, known as the Wetmore site;
2. Community consultation take the form of a
public meeting in September 2010 and include direct notification to
owners and occupiers within 100 [metres] of the site, notice of the
meeting in North Shore newspapers and notice on the District website;
and
3. Following the community consultation on the
development proposal for the land at the northwest corner of Marine
Drive and 22nd Street, staff report back to Council on the comments
provided by the community and provide a complete review of the
development proposal.
Sokol gave background and continued: 132Ksf excluding parking
garage and exempt -- kitchens, etc. 8Ksf commercial, 3Ksf
Capilano Elder College
2.31FAR
ht 65ft and six storeys; site slopes down 14 ft toward MDr; 76
and seven storeys on MDr side
the top floor and the one immediately below are set back to
min
44% ht coverage across north end passage so greater separation
from Tudor Gardens
cypress and beech trees where house removed will be kept
91 underground stalls, 2... 8 for DWV; bicycle and scooter
stalls
LEED Gold Certification
reduction of potable water use, etc
architectural design slide with aerial view; John Richardson Park
with walk and trail connection; more slides with design, etc
Pacific Arbour Project
if take out for consultation, a number of steps:
lane closure, unopened roadway,
Alternative Approval Process required by Cmnty Charter b/c going
into JR Park
to do swap need the AAP; after second posting two months to
respond and if 10% of electors protest has to go to a
vote
OCP Bylaw Amendment; Rezoning (H3), Design/Devt
OCP Policy H3, specifically mentions Wetmore site
Next steps: consult with the public, public mtg in Sept 2010 but
already have had some mtgs with nbrs and public and some ideas
incorporated -- issues on parking raised and concerns on height,
expect to hear more and see how proj addresses these concerns
after public mtgs will report back to Ccl and then either not
proceed or prepare bylaws
Pacific Arbour here
Mayor: NORTH SHORE NEWSPAPERS AND xxx
Sop: paid back Endowment Fund to bring back up to $24/25M
seniors' bldgs in cmnty are full; shd take a serious look at
providing this in our cmnty
SW: anxious to get underway to provide add'l housing
Ev: worth adding that in my view, having been through the plans
that the architects and the proponents have articulated some of the
concerns in a v sensitive way
look at a proj with many commendable points
Mayor: public mtg then when expect back so?
Sokol: probably hold mtg later in month third week in Sept so ppl
have enough notice so reporting back in Oct
7.1 [ITEM ADDED TO AGENDA]
Mayor: work in 1300block
MS: BSC Initiatives, staff report back about a new public
safety bldg plus residential
funding, comprehensive public mtg strategy
BSC, staff report back to Ccl on Amb Village strategy wrt
redevt of 1300 MDr
MS: ev wondering what's going to happen, and our decaying Police
Bldg
this directs staff to bring back a plan for that block and how
we're going to pay for it
need for a Police bldg; possibly redevping lands around this
site
get started on a length planning proc
[7:22]
RECOMMENDED: THAT
1. Further to the report from the Director, Engineering, and
Transportation dated July 15, 2010 entitled, "Marine Drive Bus
Priority Lane Project", Council [support] the option, where the
constructed works can be accommodated south of the existing median
thereby preserving median and north boulevard street trees;
2. Council [approve] in principle a proposed, at-grade
intersection on Marine Drive near The Village to replace Park
Royal's existing westerly vehicular overpass and pedestrian overpass,
subject to:
* staff review of detailed design drawings, including
streetscape and landscaping standards; and
* staff review of traffic modelling and signalization
design to prevent [queueing] towards Pound Road along Marine Drive
west of the proposed intersection.
RFung: Brent Dozzi will
mbrs of this partnership here, &min of infra, TransLink,
PkRoyal and Gareth Williams Blue Bus
BD: plans will support OCP Section 7; safety benefits for the
corridor
this proj responds to long-standing commitments, pursue
strategies....... Lower Level Road....enhance
transportation.....improve to downtown..... WG.... better access to
LGB....
$1.6M; no direct cost to DWV taxpayers; substantial benefits
to M
transit access, buses to head of queue (typically now have to
wait four to six cycles); transit turnaround and layby in vicinity to
the Village
aesthetics: maintain trees, add some, match with gateway proj,
poles removed, chainlink fencing removed replaced with
ornamental.....
safety re PkRoyal Towers
pedestrian access today does not provide access for those with
disabilities
U-turns at Pound Rd to enter Village now rather than go up and
over
congestion at TWay and MDr, provide another plus controlled
access intersection at the Village to go to PoundRd/Lower Level
Rd
Rick Amantea from Pk Royal: VP of Shopping Ctr
Brent took my whole notes; but one more time, the buses that move
downtown in morning, use PkRoyal to jump the queue to get downtown,
make it efficient
at some time in the future that may not be av and may have dire
consequences
imperative that Ccl take a look at this b/c a bit under the gun;
our part of the funding is at $2.6M; govt funds only av for a certain
time period
we'll be providing some of the fencing, lighting, etc
imp to understand the funding is there today including access for
emergency vehicles to PkR
movement of our customers and vehicles to move from one to the
other without having to navigate that two-lane ramp
Mayor: av to answer some questions?
RM: certainly
Sop: wanted to ask some Qs after the motion. May I
Mayor: certainly
Sop: you speak of xxx why are we being held for ransom
[7:32] .....
RM: looking at my notes; goes back to 2007
at the outset when asked to give up some of our land
facilitate buses in and around our property so no longer have to
rely on us
on table for three yrs
wd not say held to ransom, working together xxx
some lay-over on MDr so minimizes use of our prop and makes more
efficient
Sop: I'll have a followup
Ev: read the report through in full detail but asking
you're eliminating two overpasses
RM: one is in front of NSh Credit Union and the other is the
pedestrian
Ev: easterly not in this drawing
logic for removing the ped overpass?
RM: used infrequently at best and doesn't address disability
concerns
xxx enable ppl to cross at grade there
ML: pedestrian crosswalk by Keg remains?
RM: yes
MS: the purpose of the ground level light is not for the proposed
theatres we've heard so much about this
Mayor: can have more wide-ranging when motion on the floor
[7:36] Roy Bartholomew: Eastmont Drive
portion of Item 8 is section 2, we've heard a little bit
about
the at-grade intersection to replace PkR's overhead routes
on reading the report, I note on p 3 that the authors did some
historical research and state that extension of the Lower Level Road
(LLR), terminating at Amb... has been shown in Sq N
plan since 2004
v interesting
if we did some historical research, we might have done a bit of
research on WV
perhaps Cclr Clark or former Chair of Engg Adv Cmte had they been
av
did a bit of research myself
the famous 1980 OCP , prepared by Dr Robert Collyer, considered
one of Canada's outstanding planners and v lucky to have him
warned hazard of 15th, 21st, ..... gridlock at TWay
crossing
alignment was at 11th St
interesting, no battle between the cmnty and administration
Mayor Humphreys, champion, no way will we allow WV to become a
corridor to move traffic outside of Pk Royal
solns shd be elsewhere and named sev
Collyer wrote in this doc [held up]
the termination to LLR........ and serve south Pk Royal shopping
ctr and NOT terminate at 11th xxx
Mayor: wrap up soon?
RB: interesting Mr Nicholls incorporated that into the 1988
OCP
heard about 2004 OCP but always whose perception
a couple of v imp things in our current OCP
one states, future road devt limited to new streets in future
nbrhds
deliberately
no changes such as a level crossing in PkRoyal
he attached a road map and it does not show a connection
so our current OCP also support the original plan of Dr Collyer
and Mayor Humphreys
[7:42] Ev made motion, then said: one question I have, and we can
plan for five, ten, 20 years and this anticipates ten yrs or so
anticipate the plans for the Sq Nation further south -- what I've
seen, they exit here
will this be adequate or have to look at some alternatives
RF: the LLR modelling suggest that there's a majority of
movement, indeed PkR
even with the approval doesn't mean LLR will be a reality
overnight; just looking at where enters into PkR today; funding gap
that bridge and until funded doesn't look as if that connection is
going through in the near future
this facilitates what's anticipated at this point
if LLR goes through, will be xxx
SW: I'm more apt to support what staff's asked solely b/c of the
funding
need more due process b/c don't know how residents are going to
react with another xxx
I do think Pound is another issue, coming out of xxx
unfortunate PkR so congested, assist Blue Buses
RF: the concept of another intersection at MDr that has some
precedence in some other guiding docs of the District and other
Ms
at this point support in principle for those high-level
docs
consideration wrt landscaping and design to prevent that
queueing
although approval in principle at this point, staff will have the
opp to work with PkR to review design to make sure performs
satisfactory to District, look and feel to gateway
Mayor: return to Ccl?
RF: if Ccl wishes after that
Sop: 13 years ago when another incident hostility with PkR
now we sit down and talk and I applaud that
passion for PkR to expand and Sq Nat same
but this is not about PkR and Sq Nat but about travelling
public
last years been two or three lanes to LGB
we've known there's been gridlock -- on a Sat night when everyone
leaves, gridlock at LGB
we've looked at bus links with TransLink and PkR
there's one little catch, if they don't get the ground level
light they won't support the proj
as a favour; I wd prefer our staff call a public mtg to talk
about that specific ground-level light
once feedback, carry on with process
if tied with business why not xxx
Mayor: and I'd add that the complete plan come back
just a suggestion
Sop: there may be sev ppl who don't want another light at
MDr
one speaker ... don't know ... expansion ...
what are impacts of traffic patterns?
not criticizing staff,
major decisions, get public okay then go ahead
little disappointed PkR tied to xxx
their endeavours, what about ours?
PkR successful and brings more
abide by TransLink
forget WV
not xxx, it's whether to put a light there in the first
place
ML: little bit concerned being asked to approve in
principle
Sop: xxx
Mayor: that's xxx
ML: well, I don't approve in principle b/c not sure that's the
proposal being made
five street lights, four within a couple of blocks!
don't see removal of overpasses, one by NSh Credit is going to
be an improvement
a priority bus lane in parallel with having an at-grade
intersection
if we think a high-vol behind, no idea but think disaster to
PkR
think a bit out of sequence; do analysis before approving in
principle
RF: wrt the public mtg, the proponents have always proposed a
public mtg in the mall
all partners wd have a presence, Ministry and District as
well
diff to hold a public mtg if not a proj
staff's view make sure a proj first then look and have public
get used to idea and feel
wd be a public info mtg
re traffic situation, the intersection of TWay and MDr and the
only way you can improve is another relief point so provide
another
for those travelling eastward, shave some of the traffic off that
wd go straight into PkR and xxx
for westward, takes some pressure off left-turn that takes a lot
of green-phase time
shorten time at TW intersection then turn left
in theory that's how the intersections wd work; look at timing
and phasing
PkR N to S, design wd hv to be done so not bottlenecks
Mayor wd it be okay to add third part that this analysis be
returned to Ccl?
MS: don't know where to start
so will start on process, I'm big on process
you can't improve in principle things dependent on staff
review [and listed several], so what are we approving? basically
nothing
confusing two things
PkR is a value, taxes, value to WV
this Ccl shd be going out of our way to facilitate ingress and
egress to their prop
but we don't have any facts, all subject to
so ask Staff to work with(?) to get bus done, then work with PkR
as to traffic about devts on Sq Lands, etc
all addressed with facts not in principle, subject to all these
drawings and meetings, and ... direct staff to work with Pk Royal re
staff xxx
then work with what cd be there next ten to 20 years; right not
flying blind; xxx
not approving something in principle I don't know what I'm
approving
BD: maybe add a bit more clarity to the discussion
staff have done some analysis; UrbanSystems three years ago was
asked to study re full buildout -- showed splits and volumes so we do
have that info at hand
where traffic coming from and going to
XX [name] of TransLink here today; they're stringent on how we
handle that road, truck, bus movement
if some dire consequences of what staff proposing TransLink wd be
the first to object so we have a watchdog
committed to taking that info from three years ago
looking at change so we have a good picture of what's happening
on MDr
doing new coordination on MDr
to ensure traffic moving West wd be green, green, green
Mayor: xxx
MS: that reinforces my point -- if all that info exists, why
not in front of us so we can make a decision?
TP: a bit confused; in favour of bus
what consequences re timeline and funding
RF: there is a little bit of a push wrt funding and
timeline
current Min of Transp, Blue Bridge replacement, opp to get fed
govt funds and work with prov and funding to add that to proj
also minimizes disruption to the public; so opp to coord
expires Mar 31 -- matching funds
TP: want to carry on; we need to be looking out to the
future
public transp has to be a big part of that
look forward; wd be sad to see that not move fwd
understand Cclr Smith's concern, he is a process guy
shd be our priority to get the Blue Bus moving through
if we get bogged down in process, lose
can light at grade be separated or joined together in that
funding process?
RF: construction of the widening piece for the bus priority
lane does not depend on the at-grade intersection itself wch is sole
resp of PkR and it cd proceed v closely after the bus priority
lane
right now focus on bus priority lane
reason they're linked is transit improvement along the whole
corridor has been looked at in a singular way; specifically to widen
the lane, there's a section of leased land required by
TransLink
PkR has done a lot in terms of facilitating transit from allowing
the layovers and the crossings within their private property on a
courtesy basis, and so at this point they have requested to gain some
certainty over the at-grade intersection as part of the mix thereby
linking the two projs
Mayor: before cclrs speak, I think Ccl v supportive of
the dedicated bus priority lane and v appreciative of the work that
the Ministry and TransLink and the fed/prov infrastructure funding
have put into WV and this is a function of the replacement of the
bridge, and a piece of that budget that can be applied to
this
Part of high-functioning is getting the bus from 11th to
Bridge
recommend approving the first part, bus priority lane on south
side, and refer the second part back to Ccl for more info
not to say the at-grade crossing might not be the best thing; Ccl
is exercising caution b/c we all know part of next 20 - 30 years WV is
going to evolve b/c all the action is right there.
Both PkR plans and Sq Nat; cd easily argue if ped can cross the
road and catch bus better that is liveability, that is life in the
slow lane, and it's not putting the cars first
We want to make really sure the next step is the right one and it
is in a bigger context
Most ppl b/c of that Big Box debate, feel PkR is better off
so that PkR too is well served by the process Ccl is in
charge
so will go back around but I'm suggesting we split the
motion
Sop: who owns MDr to TWay?
BD: M has ROW and the road and infrastructure are the co-managed
by M and TransLink so we have to adhere to the Act wch governs what
and how and when we can do to MRN
Sop: when? it happened, I know
Mayor: wd be nice to hear from TransLink
Sam Hussein (sp?): Dir of Roads with TransLink. Welcome to
Ccl
Marine is part of the Major Road Network wch is the regional
network, voluntary process; Ms nominate their major roads they want
part of the MRN; co-managed by M and TransLink
TransLink provides annual funding for operations, maintenance,
and rehabilitation of the MRN so that's what the District gets
back
we co-manage the major decisions, ppl-moving capacity, safety,
efficiency of the MRN with the Ms
our mandate is to maximize ppl-moving capacity and maintain
reliability, safety, goods movement
Sop: this cmnty based on assessment pays tremendous amt of money
to TransLink and we get money back to improve from TWay to 21st for
Marine Dr, that's the extent--
Mayor: --Cclr Sop--
Sop: --what I'm trying to understand
when you look at bus lane, etc, appreciate efforts, the blue
bridge, wonderful things for us
how do you know a ground-level light is good for us?
we haven't even asked our own ppl who supply the money in
taxes
how do you know?
SH: we work with your staff, we respond to requests and
applications for road improvements; it's a continuous dialogue to look
at efficiency, reliability, and safety for the MRN
We've committed to come back to MDr and do a v thorough
assessment not just of this intersection but of the corridor as a
whole way from TWay all the way west, look at series of intersections,
how make work best we can; will be undertaking that review next
year
will be looking at all major roads on NSh next year, focusing
specifically on MDr
Sop: doc today says if we don't support ground-level position
tonight, PkR will back away from the deal
Mayor: I was suggesting we refer the second part back to staff
for the kinds of info Ccl wishes to have
Sop: may I ask that we ask staff to call a townhall mtg, not a
public marketing display by PkR where we invite citizens to comment on
the ground-level light that PkR, TransLink, and staff say are good for
us, and get feedback
if okay go, if not, look for alternate means
process cannot bypass the ppl who pay the bills; those days
are over
Mayor: I don't think I've ever participated in those days nor can
we propose something with fraction, without the whole picture
Ev: my question is our ability to protest
refer to staff report on p3; states TransLink has some
jurisdiction and has agreed
are we bound by those two statements?
SH: TransLink reacts to M, usu staff comes to us with requests
for improvements, when staff and mall came to us, we said we were
supportive b/c of the bus lane, looking at three to five minutes
savings per bus during peak periods, so that signif improvement, our
primary mandate is ppl-moving capacity; achieving that for next 20, 25
years, is signif
estimating operational benefits for transit passengers in the
region
signal will delay but have to always balance modes, naturally
will delay vehicles compared to today's condition but we look at
multimodel; like the trade-off -- buses save one to two cycles as
conservative est, and possibly three to four as Mr Fung referred
to
redistribute, releasing pressure on TWay; see even further
improvements
Ev: use of word jurisdiction implies some power, authority, to
tell us what to do?
occurs to me that's a poor word; asked if we're bound and now
feel we're not bound by your decision
SH: we can't impose, just work with you on what you propose, but
respond to staff recommendation; make sure it adheres to the
Act.
Ev: so we're not bound
Mayor: there are a few rules you have made us abide by
SH: as long as part of MRN, wch is your choice; what's the best
for the road as part of MRN
MS: follow up on your excellent suggestion; report says there are
options as to how this proceeds
we agree all want the bus priority lane, so why not direct staff
to sit down and make that happen?
there are options; b/c PkR wd be reasonable; in PkR's interest in
keeping us happy b/c want us to approve those theatres when those
proposals come forward
get the proj moving so we can get sr govts' money
as Sop says, the presentation, design, crossing at grade, see
how that's going to meet our future needs
Mayor: are you moving part one? close off debate?
{MS yea Sop: second}
CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY
Mayor: for second part adequate, just the further report and
public process, and back to Cc
MS: exactly what we shd do
Mayor: so that's a referral motion
CARRIED [8:20]
does that give you enough direction, Mr Fung?
RF: yes
Mayor: tyvm; beginning of a new era, one we're going to be v
diligent about: communicating with the public ev step of the way.
Thank you.
RECOMMENDED: THAT the new cul-de-sac
servicing Area 2 of the Rodgers Creek Area be named "Highview
Place".
ML: note received that shd be Hi-View
Sokol: received same and research not about hyphens
google place on phone might not type in hyphen
maybe diff to locate but no red flags
ML: doesn't make a diff to the recommendation but maybe think
about that?
SW: fine with spelling as it is; residential street; hyphen
Mayor: anachronistic?
SW: and doesn't deserve time for debate
sop: says Hi, View?
Mayor: maybe after Hi-View name of the lodge at the top
Ev: refreshing shd come up with something with some meaning
Highview fine but maybe come up with xxx
stay
TP: if staying with Hi rather than Hello, in keeping with the
quirky things in WV like the spelling of Whytecliff Park; stick with
it
MS: let Brit Props do we really care?
SW: multimil houses, quirky doesn't work
Mayor: Brit Prop has the opp to elevate
in this case pretty close; studying books; xxx
agree with Cclr Smith and Walker we're not the street-naming
cmte, we set the Policy, I'd refer to the WG
RECOMMENDED: THAT the District request
inclusion in the list of local government jurisdictions that will be
"Solar Hot Water Ready" under the Provincial initiative.
Sop: xxx some are treed and don't need to do it
do you think xxx ... remove ev tree on their lot in future
changes?????
this tree bylaw, there are concerns about that
asking you point blank -- see as a major consideration? I
think it is
Sokol: new homes to be ready
do not see somebody's going to say ..... b/c this conduit I'll
put this and cut down all trees and ask nbr to cut
at future date make it a bit easier
make it easier in a cost effective manner
Sop: never a doc ... so ... never going to happen again?
Sokol: cannot guarantee
Mayor: sometimes. xxx
worried, where conditions ... well-treed lots facing the wrong
way
hope we're not encumbering xxx
Sokol: wd be an administrative decision
person meets one or two of the above
TP: certainly supportive
I did look at solar for my house and b/c of the trees, the
payback wasn't there
but what I am doing is putting conduit
b/c at some future time might be good to be ready
you might not have to take down any of those trees
the cmnty ctr is piped for solar
the last three houses in front of us for variances, solar
think this is sensible, BC Housing Code, new houses only
think ppl don't realize what solar capacity av, even if just
pool
huge savings from energy and money
toward 33% reduction for 2020
Sop: not in the BC Code; if they put it in they'd still be
spinning
trees take in CO2 around the home
xxx and $1200 for retrofit
SW: only $3-400 now
my father built a new house; regret not putting in xxx
RECOMMENDED: THAT
1. The report dated July 19, 2010 from
the Manager of Permits, Inspections, and Bylaws entitled "Request
for Order of Non-Enforcement of Noise Control Bylaw No. 4404, 2005,
Section 6.1.2- from Metro Vancouver - Hollyburn Interceptor 1400 and
1500 Blocks of Argyle Avenue" be received;
2. Council approve the request from
Metro Vancouver for an Order of Non Enforcement of the Noise Control
Bylaw No. 4404, 2005 Section 6.1.2 for a maximum 2 night period
between August 15, 2010 to October 15, 2010 for construction work for
sewer utility disconnection - Hollyburn Interceptor -1400 and 1500
Blocks of Argyle Avenue; and
3. Metro Vancouver notify the local area
residents of this work project, by way of a "letter drop", a
minimum of 72 hours prior to the work commencing.
CARRIED
RECOMMENDED: THAT Council receive for information the report from
the Manager of Permits, Inspections, and Bylaws dated July 19
CARRIED [8:33]
RECOMMENDED: THAT
1. The report dated July 15, 2010 be received for
information; and
2. Staff bring forward a proposal for consideration in the
2011 budget for an allocation of $9,500 to proceed with the Knotweed
Control Pilot Project.
Mooi: report is result of Ccl's request
Andrew Banks: glyphosate {herbicide Roundup?} interjected
selectively, safe approach
don't have anything in 2010 budget year, propose for 2011
work with LPPS and want to thank them for their research on
this
ML: injecting basically Roundup
AB: right
ML: xxx why don't we spray it on
AB : risk of hitting other plants, best time is late July August
when plants 7ft high
injecting more controlled and found spraying not so successful,
drenches the leaves
ML: makes perfect sense; thought injecting wd be a lot more
Alexandra Mancini, Prez of LPPS: thank Parks for support, in
Caulfeild
stem injection is 90% effective; done once each
season
Parks Report importantly also acknowledges knotweed a threat
to the Caulfeild Park
while respectful of xxx of budget
acutely aware of ideal time, wch is August
an patches not treated now by next year will be double or triple
by next year
as xxx
support with volunteer hours and financially
our $3K be used in 2010, is assured Parks Budget will be used in
2011
this will eradicate in a few open places where it will spread
faster
also by doing some work this year, provide info to Parks WG
once policy devpd, wd help Parks devt practical and reasonable
xxx for xxx
opp to educate the cmnty by doing some work this year
can educate more broadly our Society can facilitate
demonstrate our commitment and District's
Mayor: Mr McRadu or Ms Mooi about advancing this?
Mooi: we wd be v pleased to work on a small proj this year
wd help inform the Parks Master Plan WG; in advance, tyvm
ML made motion and added: 3. that staff be directed to work
with the LPPS in Caulfeild Park to implement an immediate prog
respectful of the amt of funding being proposed by the
Society.
Mayor: will be some funding implications; contingency?
Mooi: with the $3K will be able to implement a small proj
will bring forward $9,500
$3K has bn contracted out to an expert who injects the
knotweed
Mayor: a v gracious gift
MS: group who identifies a need and staff agrees and puts
their own funds
we shd at v least we shd look at matching the $3K from our
Grants, think not fully
ask Mr McRadu if possible to match; obviously in our
interest
group identifying a need coming fwd with a plan, why not
encourage by matching money raising
not way we can? ... but at least investigate to see if our
finding wd allow us to match
Mayor: lots of groups will come forward with $3K
and I totally agree, how much more effective we'll be
is there anything in the $3K xxx
Mooi: currently we do not have the money in our budget
MS: did not want to put staff on spot
if money ... don't expect xxx
ABanks: we will support the $3K contributions with staff and
xxx
in addn, this work has to be undertaken in Aug
so if Grant process, time wd be against us
so support from POV of staff time, notify the public, and xxx ...
LPPS
MS: I didn't mean to prolong this
happened to be watching the news last night, Japanese knotweed
and it's pretty frightening
Mayor and others: that's hogweed
MS: then I'll just shut up
{Actually both have been in the news, but CBC did do a piece
on giant hogweed}
TP: congratulate; working on invasive species for a long time;
generally needed
know Parks WG will be looking at invasive species
long term and critical we have a sound policy we can fund; VERY
supportive
looking at that 2011 budget and working with that Parks WG
invasive policy
wd like public to be aware in BSC and a 2012 milestone, maybe can
be moving that and shifting that to 2011
Mayor: $3K critical, v grateful; will leverage more as we get
formal invasive species policy under way and funded
that's knotweed, not even hogweed ... obviously will xxx
Cclr Panz was right, I was criticized in the paper for not being
successful at attacking this and that's b/c it takes at least four
votes on Ccl, not just one, so it's great to see Ccl so
supportive.
PASSED [8:49]
BYLAWS for Adoption
This bylaw received three readings at
the July 19, 2010 Council meeting.
Sop: I and Cclr Smith voted in negative
This bylaw received three readings at
the July 19, 2010 Council meeting.
CARRIED
16. Animal Control and Licence Bylaw No. 4545, 2008, Amendment
Bylaw No. 4654, 2010 (Ambleside Dog Path and Ferry Building Area)
(File: 1610-20-4654)
Information to be provided.
This bylaw received three readings at
the July 19, 2010 Council meeting.
ML: map; can project map
Mayor: map of FBG? the slight change Ccl made last week?
Holitzki, pointing: this map shows the 5m radius around the Ferry
Building
all here permitted; always here,.....
edge of hard surface
ML: I had a couple of ppl call thinking limited to 5m around the
building and that's all
CARRIED
This bylaw received three readings at
the July 19, 2010 Council meeting.
CARRIED
CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS
18. Consent Agenda Items
REPORTS FOR CONSENT AGENDA
RECOMMENDED: THAT the report dated July 20, 2010 be
received for information.
RECOMMENDED: Report to July 16, 2010 be received for
information.
RECOMMENDED: ... notice to allow construction of
a new detached garage with basement, new driveway and stairs, will
be considered on Monday, September 13, 2010.
19. OTHER ITEMS -- No items.
{This space is for Correspondence}
*** R.I.P.? NOPE -- NOT
ON MY WATCH ! ***
20. REPORTS from MAYOR/CCLRS
MS: I always like to report on something staff has done that
costs little and delivers maximum benefit
plsd to see walking along new waterfront, what was previous
eyesore; Music Box now smartly painted same as Silk Purse, tremendous
improvement
commend staff, doing small things with small dollars....
Mayor: True. Anything further?
wd like to invite everybody to the Harmony Arts Festival opening
Friday night
7:30 is the main stage event; we have a record number, 82 musical
acts this year wch is the most ever, and we're going to try an
intimate wine garden at the foot of 15th St, Millennium Park, for the
first time in our history
hope it's a success and that everybody enjoys it and delights in
WV at its best.
Thank you. Anything further?
21. PUBLIC QUESTIONS/COMMENTS [8:57]
CR: tyvm. I hope after the wine garden Friday night, ppl
will be tempted to have some of the tea at the RoyalTea-by-the-Sea on
the Saturday afternoon from 2 to 4 at Dundarave Park.
Carolanne Reynolds, Editor of West Van Matters; Chair of Heritage
West Van.
After 20 years of travelling and seeing lots of different
countries, over 100 of them, I'm really pleased that Canada has become
multi-cultural and we have rainbow smiles, and it's always great, but
we shdn't forget some of our British history and traditions, so I hope
that all of you wd be, uh, I'd be pleased to have all of you come to
the tea from 2 to 4 on Saturday. You can reserve by
reservations@royaltea.ca or phone 922 4400. There'll be some
bagpipes -- you won't have to cover your ears all the time if you
don't like them; and you'll really enjoy them if you get excited by
the skirl of the bagpipes.
So we hope you all can come and thank you very much.
Have a nice summer.
Mayor: Thank you. You too.
This is Ccl's final mtg before it breaks for the month of August,
so thank you Ccl for all your hard work; and also enjoy the break; and
same to our senior staff
We've got a v ambitious fall ahead of us.
22. ADJOURNMENT
=== ANIMALWATCH
===
+ There are only 720 wild gorillas left on earth.
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR, promotional brochure, May
2010.
+ Amazingly, another seal story! -- major
awwwwww factor -- was sent this:
How to cuddle with an elephant seal. You
can't tell me animals don't have feelings.
You may recall a story only a couple of months ago in WVM16 when
I wrote about a story in Dispatches on CBC radio and added a
videoclip.
[ WVM-16:
Dispatches with
stories from many different parts of the world. Recently there
was a fascinating bit on Paul Nicklen's visit to Antarctica. It's even
emotional. Here's the link: http://www.cbc.ca/dispatchesfor the program June 24 (the story
of the huge leopard seal is about halfway). The segment is about
Paul Nicklen's polar obsessio. He wanted to save the leopard
seal's Antarctic environment. Then it took his head in its
jaws. Here's the link for a videoclip on YouTube about a
encounter with a huge loving leopard seal:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zxa6P73Awcg
]
=== TREEWATCH ===
Trees are under-appreciated by many;
essential for our earth and make oxygen for us to breathe. In my
travels the difference between places with and without trees was
dramatic -- from flying south into India from Nepal/Himalayas and
seeing the dust rising up from the brown earth, to flying over islands
in the Caribbean seeing those with trees attracting clouds that give
rain, much needed water. Protection of trees has been
controversial and problematical, even in 'enlightened' WV with its
'vision'.
in VSun pB4 Aug 12
by Peter Foster, from Daily Telegraph and Agence
France-Presse:
... China's govt is under growing pressure over this week's
disaster after it emerged that there had been repeated warnings of the
dangers of potential landslides around Zhouqu after decades of mining,
logging, and damming rivers for hydroelectric power.
...experts warned that the landslide had been "an accident
waiting to happen".
A 2006 report by Lanzhou University warned of the dangers of
deforestation around Zhouqu for mining and agriculture.
"The hills have become highly unstable and easily subject to
natural disaster of landslides and mudslides," it said.
Zhouqu, in Gansu province, has had more than ten major landslides
since 1823, but experts said the risk had been largely increased by
the deforestation of more than 126,000 hectares [well over 300,000
acres] from 1952 to 1990.
Prof Fan Xiao, a geologist, told a local newspaper: "Local
authorities have ignored daunting warnings about the severe
consequences of dam-building and viewed dams as their key source of
taxation.
Had those warnings been taken seriously, the disaster may have
been averted." ...
=== INFObit ===
"Covering" cultural, not part of religion (Islam)
And to what extent, varies.
In Daphne Bramham's article (VSun pB5), it clarifies that the
burqa and the niqab are being banned, not the abaya or simple scarf
over the head. You may have seen the burqa, a cloak (some say
a tent) from head to toe with only a thick crocheted mesh for the eyes
to try to peer through. The niqab is a head covering with only a
slit for the eyes, but it is only a narrow slit that is
open.
Quebec has banned public services for those wearing them.
France has banned these two with a $200 fine for women and a $40K
fine for men who force wives/daughters to wear them.
Spain, Italy, and Belgium are thinking of banning these
two.
Syria has banned, through legislation, the burqa and the niqab at
universities.
In Egypt, the highest ranking Muslim cleric banned students and
professors at Cairo's Al-Azhar University from wearing full-face
veils.
Christian women used to have to cover their hair/heads at church,
but that requirement has faded away.
And we see some Muslim countries/areas drawing the line at
extreme covering.
Just wait till those women have more education!
=== CPTWATCH ===
Christian Peacemaker Teams: Colombia, At-Tuwani, Bedouins (CNN),
Hebron
+
COLOMBIA: One year later: palm, displacement, and
murder
CPTnet -- 10 August 2010
-- COLOMBIA: One year
later: palm, displacement, and murder by Julie Myers
July 14 marked one year since the
displacement of the Las Pavas community from their land. One year
since the riot police showed up and forced 123 families out of their
homes. One year since 60 hectares of their food crops were uprooted,
14 homes were demolished, their trees were cut down, and everything
was burned. One year since the families began sleeping under plastic
tarps, displaced from their ravaged land. A lot can change in a year,
but unfortunately, a lot has remained the same.
A mono-crop of oil palm, the
invasive export crop fueling the "green revolution" in the global
north, continues to fill the once diverse land of Las Pavas with
oil that is sold to The Body Shop to make cosmetics. [Mono-cropping
is the large-scale planting of one crop year after year. This
agricultural business model, used to increase efficiency and profits,
also depletes the soil of nutrients, increases vulnerability to
disease and pests and destroys the livelihood of small-scale
farmers.]
Meanwhile, in the department of
Sucre, the farmers of La Alemania farm are slowly returning to their
land, after paramilitaries violently displaced them ten years ago. But
their return is not without consequences.
On May 18, five masked gunmen
killed Rogelio Martinez, a campesino leader and human rights activist
of La Alemania. Martinez had accompanied families back to their
farms. For refusing to accept the theft of his land, he was
killed. And he is not the only casualty from the La Alemania farm;
paramilitaries have murdered fifteen people of that farm in their
struggle for land since 1998. Martinez is the 45th human rights
activist murdered in Colombia in the last year and over 400 have
received threats. Not a single arrest has been made.
These are not unrelated
events.
In a country where less than
half a per cent of landowners own 61% of rural land[1], the
continual displacement of campesino communities in Colombia is a
strategic one. In Las Pavas, it was to make way for oil palm planting
by the Daabon company. The oil is then sold to The Body Shop to make
cosmetics. In the department of Sucre, the fertile land is rapidly
being usurped for mega-projects like mono-cropping. Rogelio Martinez
was murdered because the land is valuable to big business. It is very
possible that the farm of La Alemania is intended for oil palm as
well.
Where do we go from here? First
check out Las Pavas's video message entitled, "Listen to us, dear
friends." Secondly, keep an eye open for news and action requests in
solidarity with the Las Pavas community. We can't wait until more
human rights and land rights activists like Rogelio are murdered. They
pay for their resistance with death. We must join their struggle for
justice.
Click here for "Listen to us,
dear friends."
-------
[1] "Poverty, Inequality, and
Drugs." ABColombia.
+ A Good Thing -- At-Tuwani/Hebron,
WB
Date: Mon, 09 Aug 2010 08:42:26 +0300
At-Tuwani Reflection: A Good Thing: Festival of Nonviolent
Resistance -- August 9, 2010
The 3rd Annual At-Tuwani Festival of Nonviolent Resistance took
place on Saturday, 7 August. That's a good thing. The festival was a
celebration. A celebration of the successful completion of the
9th annual summer camp, a celebration of the forthcoming availability
to electricity and water for the village, and a celebration of the
general success of defeating ethnic cleansing as the people of the
South Hebron Hills have remained on their land for yet another
year.
Representatives from nearly all of the villages in the South
Hebron Hills were present and were recognized for their continued
presence in the area and their ongoing resistance to occupation forces
and policies. Certain individuals were also recognized for their
exceptional courage and perseverance in the face of settler violence.
Several hajjis (a respectful name given to older women) in their 70s
and 80s were recognized for their lifelong support of their families
and their sweat and tears which have nourished this arid land for
decades. Others were recognized for the physical signs of settler
violence and racist hatred that their bodies bear, but all who came
forward undoubtedly carried emotional scars and painful memories that
are both invisible, yet unmistakably present.
Various NGOs and individuals who have been involved in At-Tuwani
and the South Hebron Hills were recognized. The awards and
recognition went on for quite some time which showed the level
of support that these communities have in Israeli, Palestinian, and
international networks. The number of people involved in the South
Hebron Hills also demonstrates the level of support that is needed
for the South Hebron Hills to not be wiped off the map through a slow
process of ethnic cleansing which seeks an entirely Judaized Judean
desert.
But despite all of these recognitions and formalities, the
children were in the limelight and were the highlight of this
festival. Children from the area performed skits and informally
entertained by running around with balloons while being generally
cute. The At-Tuwani dance troupe performed a couple of short dabke
routines (a traditional form of Arabic dance). A group of clowns from
Italy, who had been in At-Tuwani as part of the summer camp, also
assisted with skits and entertainment.
The 3rd Annual At-Tuwani Festival of Nonviolent Resistance was a
good thing. People didn't have to send lookouts up on the hillside to
watch for approaching soldiers or settlers, people didn't have to
worry about the months they might serve in jail if arrested, people
didn't have to call CPT to come videotape their cisterns or fields of
wheat that soldiers or settlers demolished. Rather, people attended a
festival where their lives, traditions, and courage were celebrated
and where their kids smiled.
That's what a good thing is.
+ A Bad Thing -- Continued
Ethnic Cleansing - CNN
Israel again razes
Bedouin village
by the CNN Wire
Staff August 10,
2010
Jerusalem
(CNN) -- On the eve of the
holy month of Ramadan, Israeli police re-entered a Bedouin village
Tuesday to repeat the demolition of homes they had razed only a few
days earlier.
Israeli police closed off
entrances to Al-Araqeeb, in southern Israel's Negev Desert, and tore
down houses that had been partially rebuilt in the past week,
confiscated water tanks, attacked livestock, and arrested five people,
said Talab El-Sana, an Arab member of the Knesset.
Even the village sign was
taken down, he said. And villagers, who were getting ready for
Ramadan, set to begin Wednesday, resorted to the cemetery for
shelter.....
According to Israeli civil
rights groups, more than a 150,000 Bedouins live in villages like
Al-Araqeeb, not recognized by the Israeli government, not provided
with any municipal services.....
Tuesday's raid was the
third time the village has been demolished.
Whole article:
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/08/10/israel.village.razed/index.html?hpt=T2#fbid=rVBeZ6ENexE&wom=false
+ Another Bad Thing ~~ CPT -
HEBRON; more ethnic cleansing
[NB: Shuhada is a street Palestinians not even allowed to walk
on; not just roads they're not allowed to drive on]
Israeli Military and Policemen
Shut Three Palestinian Shops
14 August 2010
-- HEBRON
-- Every Saturday for the last
several months, Youth Against the Settlements has led a nonviolent
action -- "Open Shuhada St."-- at the entrance to the Old
City of Hebron. On Tuesday, 10 August 2010 the Israeli military
and police forcibly welded shut three stores that stand directly
behind the area of the weekly Saturday action and across from the gate
of an Israeli military base.
A local friend alerted CPT at 2:45
pm that the shopkeeper had received a warning that the military would
close his shops, and he had half an hour to remove all his
merchandise. After arriving at the site, CPTers alerted other
internationals, partner organizations and media to come. A crowd
of about 75 people assembled in front of the stores. As they
waited, Palestinians removed and hid two of the shop
doors.
A little after 4pm, 30 soldiers and
three policemen arrived and pushed their way into the shops where
internationals and Palestinians were waiting. The soldiers pulled the
civilians out of the shops, scattered much of the merchandise, and
dragged a Palestinian behind the gate. Red Crescent of the
International Red Cross came shortly thereafter and examined the
Palestinian man who had been injured while being dragged. They
determined he had a brain concussion and advised the police that he
needed hospitalization. The police replied they would take the
Palestinian man to the jail, question him, and then decide if he
needed hospitalization.
Declaring the area from the
military base to the stores a "closed military zone",
the soldiers formed two lines and progressively forced the crowd away
from the stores being closed. Other soldiers retrieved the two
hidden doors and welded shut the three shops. An Israeli policeman
pushed the shopkeeper's large cart of merchandise into one of the
stores before the doors were welded shut. One of the CPTers
urged the policeman to bring the cart out of the shop or allow her to
retrieve it for the shopkeeper, but the policeman refused. One
British man and four Palestinians were arrested.
The British man was released the
next morning at 2:30am on the condition that he immediately leave the
West Bank and not return for 15 days. The four Palestinians are now in
Ofer Prison. The brother of the man with the brain concussion reported
to CPTers that his brother was never hospitalized.
__._,_.___
sigh.....
not only settlements
growing and illegal outposts established (sometimes the IDF tries to
remove them but also great resistance) but Israel declares more and
more of the West Bank as 'closed military zones' wch means
Palestinians removed, homes demolished, villages razed,
etc.
and the world, sadly,
remains mostly silent let alone protesting these inhumane insensitive
acts against a ppl without a military to defend themselves while
trying to live in the shadow of one of the most powerful and modern
militaries in the world. The US is quiescent not just b/c of
elections in November but also b/c two thirds of the Congress
and Senate stand to lose if not supported by Zionist organizations in
the US (AIPAC, etc). {Actual figures in The
Economist.}
Harper has changed
Canada's policy from being neutral/objective to siding with the
Israeli govt and not criticizing its policies that violate human
rights -- either a result of Harper's evangelical faith (Christian
Zionist) or a crass grab for the Jewish vote traditionally Liberal, or
both.
Canada has several
Jewish organizations, such as Jews for a Just Peace and Independent
Jewish Voices, who bravely work for justice.
=== WEBWATCH
=== IRAN
Nothing Short of Nukes Will Work by Gwynne
Dyer
August 06, 2010
"New Zealand Herald" -- When Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff and the highest-ranking American officer, was asked
recently on NBC's Meet The Press show whether the United States has a
military plan for an attack on Iran, he replied simply: "We
do".
General staffs are
supposed to plan for even the most unlikely future contingencies.
Right down to the 1930s, the US maintained and annually updated plans
for the invasion of Canada - and the Canadian military made plans to
pre-empt the invasion.
But what the
planning process will have shown, in this case, is that there is no
way for the US to win a non-nuclear war with Iran.
The whole article can be found at:
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article26099.htm
=== SCIENCEWATCH === Solar
Roadways -- Your Environmental Road Trip
Solar Roadways: The Prototype
The Solar Roadways project is working to pave
roads with solar panels that you can drive on. Co-founder Scott Brusaw
has made some major steps forward since our first visit back in 2007,
so we visited him again earlier this year for an exclusive update on
the project, including the first ever video recorded of the Solar
Roadways prototype! For more information visit
www.solarroadways.com .
Hwys made of glass strong as steel; video at:
http://www.consciousmedianetwork.com/video/2010/061810.htm
=== NEWSWATCH === Israel and
the law
+
Palestinian Man Served In The Othman [Ottoman] Army Lives In
Jerusalem
11.08.10 -
15:19 Mayssa Abu Ghazala - PNN -
Shuhada Suliman, is a 118-year-old Palestinian man from Jerusalem,
spends most of his days in his room. ...
Suliman was born in Nablus city, in the
northern west Bank, in 1892. He then moved to the Beit Safafa town
with his family were he is living till today. ...
He [has] lived during the British mandate,
under Jordanian rule, and now lives under the Israeli
occupation.
As many Palestinians living in Jerusalem,
Mr. Suliman also suffers from the Israeli policies against the city
residents. The Israeli state refuses to provide him with medical
assistance because the government based a law which made all
Palestinians born before 1907 unable to receive government
help.
The whole article:
http://english.pnn.ps/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8640&Itemid=56
...was sent this about a Cdn boat to Gaza
Your friend thought you might be interested in this
link:
http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Sending+Canadian+boat+Gaza+moral+thing/3352219/story.html
They also left you these comments:
My favourite bit: "Does Israel occupy Gaza or doesn't
it? The answer cannot be sometimes one and sometimes the other. If
Israel occupies Gaza, then it is responsible for the needs of the 1.5
million Palestinians who live there. If it no longer occupies it, then
it has no right to block access to it by sea or air, or to restrict
the movement of people in and out."
[sounds like a Catch-22
to me! YT]
=== GAZAWATCH === just found out
Oxfam reports weekly
Oxfam Gaza
Weekly Update - 1 to 7 August 2010 11.08.10 -
13:28
The international NGO Oxfam released on
Wednesday its weekly report on the Gaza Strip. The following is the
summary of the report.
Mortars/rockets/casualties/incursions: ...
Fishermen:
There was one reported incident of Israeli naval vessels firing at
Palestinian fishermen this week. The previous week, 1 incident was
reported. Since January 2009, Israeli naval forces have restricted the
access of Palestinian fishing boats to three nautical miles from the
coast; in practice, access is sometimes restricted to as little as one
nautical mile.
Tunnel related fatalities: ...
Palestinians in the "buffer
zone": ...
Rafah border crossing: ...
Power plant and electricity
supply: 812,006 litres of industrial
fuel were delivered this week for Gaza's power plant, which is only
23% of the 3.5 million litres of fuel needed weekly at the current
maximum capacity of 80Mw. The power plant shut down on 7 August for
lack of fuel. Gaza's only power plant has closed down on several
occasions in the past because of fuel shortages. ...
Cooking gas: 654 tons of cooking gas reportedly entered Gaza
this week, 37% of the normal weekly level of need of 1,750 tons. 754
tons of cooking gas were reported to have entered Gaza last week. The
overall cooking gas shortage has been a main concern for humanitarian
agencies since November 2009.
Diesel/petrol: No diesel or petrol was delivered this week to
Gaza. Last week, no diesel and no petrol were delivered to the private
sector. A near total ban on fuel imports for public sale was put in
place by the Government of Israel in October 2008. Around 100,000
litres of diesel and 100,000 litres of petrol are reported to enter
Gaza every day through tunnels under the Gaza-Egypt border (OCHA, 4
May 2010).
Truckloads of supplies: 1,142 truckloads of supplies were permitted
entry this week (993 through Kerem Shalom crossing and the equivalent
of 149 through the Karni conveyor). This is the equivalent of 41% of
the pre-blockade weekly average of all trucks entering Gaza*. 871
trucks were allowed into Gaza during the previous week.
...
The week before the attack on the Gaza
flotilla (23 to 29 May 2010), only 631 truckloads were allowed into
Gaza - 22% of the pre- blockade weekly average.
While imports remain limited, and raw
materials severely restricted (with the exception of materials for
local biscuit production industry), exports remain banned entirely. As
a result, the scale of economic activity remains heavily dependent on
demand in Gaza, which in turn is constrained by the low purchasing
power of the population and the relatively small size of the local
market. Until crossings are opened for export, the impact of the
easing of the blockade on unemployment, poverty and food insecurity
rates will remain extremely limited.
Pre-blockade weekly average (2,807
truckloads) is calculated based on the monthly average of all
truckloads that entered during the first five months of 2007, before
Israel's imposition of the blockade
Exports:
No exports have left Gaza since 18 April 2010. No change in the policy
prohibiting exports implemented since June 2007 has been announced by
the Israeli authorities so far.
Internal violence: ...
See complete
report:
http://english.pnn.ps/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8639&Itemid=63
=== MONEYWATCH
=== from The Sydney Morning
Herald
US is bankrupt and
we don't even know it
LAURENCE KOTLIKOFF August 12, 2010 - 8:33AM
Let's get real. The US is bankrupt. Neither
spending more nor taxing less will help the country pay its
bills.
What it can and must do is radically
simplify its tax, health-care, retirement and financial systems, each
of which is a complete mess. But this is the good news. It means they
can each be redesigned to achieve their legitimate purposes at much
lower cost and, in the process, revitalise the economy.
Last month, the International Monetary Fund
released its annual review of US economic policy. Its summary
contained these bland words about US fiscal policy: "Directors
welcomed the authorities' commitment to fiscal stabilisation, but
noted that a larger than budgeted adjustment would be required to
stabilise debt-to-GDP."
But delve deeper, and you will find that
the IMF has effectively pronounced the US bankrupt. Section 6 of the
July 2010 Selected Issues Paper says: "The US fiscal gap
associated with today's federal fiscal policy is huge for plausible
discount rates." It adds that "closing the fiscal gap
requires a permanent annual fiscal adjustment equal to about 14 per
cent of US GDP."
The fiscal gap is the value today (the
present value) of the difference between projected spending (including
servicing official debt) and projected revenue in all future
years.
Rest:
http://www.smh.com.au/business/us-is-bankrupt-and-we-dont-even-know-it-20100812-12056.html
=== HERITAGEWATCH
===
+ THE LAND CONSERVANCY of BC:
http://blog.conservancy.bc.ca/
A National Historic Site in WV -- the B C Binning
House
Come see a groundbreaking example of West Coast modern
architecture designed personally by artist and architect B.C. Binning
in West Vancouver. This national historic site, designed in
1941, was one of the first of its kind to set the stage for West Coast
modern architecture, and eventually serve as a primary influence for
Arthur Erickson. The residence, following principles of early
twentieth century modernism that influenced architects such as Frank
Lloyd Wright and in conjunction with the artistic style of the
abstract expression, is truly unique. Binning was renowned for his
virtually unparalleled ability to amalgamate art, architecture, and
education. He was in the vanguard of West Coast modern art an
architecture. Come view the lush gardens, innovative
architecture , and stunning view (2968 Mathers Crescent).
Carpooling and public transit are recommended as parking is
limited. Admission by donation.
Tours (limited to ten): Wednesdays (1pm), Saturdays (11am
and 2pm); July 7th to August 28th.
Reservations advised; add'l info contact Kerrie Taylor at 604 733
2313 or ktaylor@conservancy.bc.ca
More info on the house:
http://blog.conservancy.bc.ca/get-involved-with-tlc/campaigns/b-c-binning-residence/
Register soon so you can learn more about this West Coast icon in
our cmnty !
+ ROYALTEA-by-the-SEA ~ 31 JULY
2010 http://www.royaltea.ca/
Great photograph of Bill and Vivian Vaughan in the Aug 6th North
Shore News pA11.
Vivian's outfit was an elegant turquoise and black, dress and
matching hat.
A most dapper Bill showed and told us about his swagger stick,
but most remarkable of all is that someone walking along the seawall
recognized his boater as from Whitgift School [
http://www.whitgift.co.uk/ ] in the UK! And yes, indeed, Bill
had attended that independent boys' school some decades ago.
What a coincidence!
What are the odds/chances???
100% now!
Only in West Vancouver you say?
Pity!
Thanks again to Paul McGrath and the North Shore News!
LATER:
Furthermore, incredibly, Bill said he had a call from an Old
Whitgiftian who lives in North Van. He saw the photo in the NSN and
recognized the crest and the boater so called Bill!
It's a small world after all!
+ KLEE WYCK ALERT!
Date: Sun, 15 Aug 2010 20:44:25 -0700
From: Carolanne Reynolds
<carolanne@heritage.westvan.org>
Subject: Klee Wyck Irretrievable Catastrophe?
Dear fellow former Heritage WG/Cmte mbrs and others:
Rather upsetting to see the article in NSN Aug 13, pA4:
WV's
Klee Wyck faces closure
Arts
programs may be forced out
by NIAMH SCALLAN, N SHORE
NEWS AUGUST 13
Read
more:
http://www.nsnews.com/entertainment/Klee+Wyck+faces+closure/3394723/story.html#ixzz0wjnlK9HP
Well, I'm sure Brent is pleased at the assumption/promotion to
CAO to the bemusement of (the real CAO) Grant......
While some tiny bit of comfort can be squeezed from reading
there'll be some consultation as to the future of Klee Wyck -- albeit
on the agenda of the Parks WG, not (the more appropriate but defunct)
Heritage WG/Cmte -- DWV ought to be embarrassed that they're
considering demolition because of neglect. It's been in
DWV hands for decades! Others let structures deteriorate so they
can justify demolition and build what they want, but how did DWV allow
Klee Wyck (bequeathed to them in trust) in their charge to fall apart
to the present state?
An insult to Dr Ethlyn Trapp? an unpleasant occurrence so others
thinking of bequesting need beware?
Can DWV not be trusted to be stewards of what property/gifts they
are given from citizens?
Shame!
The much-quoted "Vision" of WV as a place of
Excellence?
Leading by example?
'Tis to laugh were it not so sad.
Sincerity is demonstrated by actions, not words.
Klee Wyck lost?
not even referred to a heritage group(s)? no WG or cmte? for
input? even TO the Parks WG?
and right now no DWV heritage body, not even a heritage liaison
councillor AFAIK.
Several steps forward and a great leap backward?
how can we rescue this situation?
any ideas?
Traditionally yours,
Carolanne Reynolds, Chair, Heritage West
Vancouver/North Shore Heritage Forum
tel 604.922.4400; fax 484.5992
www.heritage.westvan.org
PS
Well, that was my first reaction dashed off quickly but it wd
probably be of some benefit to provide background and context.
And to look at this as a wake-up call.
Some years ago, I only learned about the demolition of Hugo Ray's
cabin as it was being done. (For newcomers, Hugo Ray Park is
named after this early pioneer.)
A few years ago (and this also was before Brent's arrival), I
heard that the Gleneagles clubhouse was to be demolished. A cmte
(on wch there was at least one architect) said building new wd be
cheaper than repairing/restoring and it could be a restaurant as
well.
As soon as I and others got wind of this we went to Ccl and
pointed out that a year or two before, Ccl had made a motion to
restore the clubhouse wch was on the Heritage inventory. Vivian
Vaughan was the heritage liaison on Ccl then and with her support and
under her leadership on Ccl plus actions by WRA and others we rallied
to make sure the original motion was honoured and got things in gear
to have the refurbished heritage Gleneagles clubhouse we have today.
A success story b/c saved in time!
What others are at risk?
At least we must make sure, perhaps even if we meet informally,
we shd review the bequest and the situation to see what can be done.
There shd be full information and then public input, not irrevocable
decisions made by staff (another tactic is waiting till too late to do
anything else), not recommendations simply by a WG (valuable as they
are); input from residents -- and even Ccl! -- shd be solicited.
There has been talk of a heritage precinct at the waterfront --
move GLH and Klee Wyck there?
Put the new museum and art gallery at Klee Wyck with improved
access (and adequate parking)?
Develop the site as an Environmental Park (the small house as
offices for Streamkeepers, Old-Growth Society, Friends of Cypress,
Wetland Partners, Shoreline Preservation Society) and have displays,
run awareness/green/sustainability courses, and so on there, maybe as
an Interpretive Centre?
The coverage by NSNews is much appreciated; it has brought this
serious situation to our attention, but it is my fervent hope that,
and again even if informally we meet, there can be a total review of
all the heritage assets with a report on their present condition and
prospects for use, maintenance, restoration, expansion, demolition,
removal, or whatever.
We do not want to be surprised again.
As you must realize, as the first WV councillor for Heritage --
and it was heritage that spurred me to act, to run for office, and to
get a heritage policy developed (not just the heritage celebrations!)
-- this is very close to my heart and while disappointed another break
in the chain, let's not only repair the link but also strengthen the
chain.
Looking forward to hearing from you (fellow heritage-groupies) as
to your suggestions as to what to do next --
and soon!
Carolanne
FURTHER INFORMATION SENT TO ME:
= roof has been in bad shape for a long time; tarp; told
staff..........
= ... the basement was a fire trap with old paint covered easels,
coir liners for hanging baskets and boxes of scraps of paper
and fabric. ... the main problem was the sealing of the
exterior with some type of water tight and air tight coating which has
trapped water causing serious decay.
= ... Probably the most serious loss is not the house but the
loss of the garden. ... the garden, it is apparent that many of
the rare rhododendrons have been reduced to a single stem and will die
out in a couple of years. I understand that there was a
complete inventory of the garden commissioned but all trace of
this has been lost.
= It would seem that there has to be some type of
review of the conditions and responsibilities when it comes to the
District accepting gifts from its citizens.
= The garden around the house was designed by Dr. Trapp and
a landscape gardener. Many of the plants were imported from
the USA, China, and Japan especially for the garden. At
some time in the '60s, the West Vancouver Garden Club gave $300 to
Heinz Berger to buy rhodos from a nursery on Vancouver Island that was
going out of business (this information confirmed in Elspeth's View
Through the Trees.)
Some of these rhodos were put in Memorial Park. These
plants are in very bad shape and some of the rarest have already died
out.
=== SENIORWATCH
=== And They Ask Why I Like Retirement !
Question: How many days in a week?
Answer: six Saturdays, one Sunday
Question: When is a retiree's bedtime?
Answer: Three hours after he falls
asleep on the couch.
Question: How many retirees to change a light bulb?
Answer: Only one, but it might take all
day.
Question: What's the biggest gripe of retirees?
Answer: There is not enough time to get
everything done.
Question: Why don't retirees mind being called Seniors?
Answer: The term comes with a 10 per
cent discount.
Question: Among retirees what is considered formal attire?
Answer: Tied shoes.
Question: Why do retirees count pennies?
Answer:
They are the only ones who have the time.
Question: What is the common term for someone who enjoys work and
refuses to retire?
Answer: NUTS!
Question: Why are retirees so slow to clean out the basement,
attic, or garage?
Answer: They know that as soon as they
do, one of their adult kids will want to store stuff there.
Question: What do retirees call a long lunch?
Answer: Normal.
Question: What is the best way to describe retirement?
Answer: The never-ending coffee
break.
Question: What's the biggest advantage of going back to school as
a retiree?
Answer: If you cut classes, no one
calls your parents.
Question: Why does a retiree often say he doesn't miss work, but
misses the people he used to work with?
Answer: He is too polite to
tell the whole truth.
FINAL QUESTION: What do you do all week?
ANSWER: Monday to Friday nothing; Saturday and
Sunday I rest!
AGE vs YOUTH
The strong young man at the construction site was bragging that
he could outdo anyone in a feat of strength. He made a special case of
making fun of one of the older workmen. After several minutes, the
older worker had had enough.
"Why don't you put your money where your mouth is," he
said.
"I will bet a week's wages that I can haul something in a
wheelbarrow over to that outbuilding that you won't be able to wheel
back."
"You're on, old man," the braggart replied. "Let's
see what you got."
The old man reached out and grabbed the wheelbarrow by the
handles.
Then, nodding to the young man, he said...
"All right. Get in."!
=== BOOKWATCH / LANGUAGEWATCH /
WORDWATCH === Mixture
+ BOOKWATCH, but about
language
A Man, A Plan And A Sharpie:
'The Great Typo Hunt'
The Great Typo Hunt: Two
Friends Changing The World, One Correction At A Time by Jeff Deck And Benjamin D.
Herson
August 9, 2010 -- Incensed by a "no tresspassing" sign,
Jeff Deck launched a cross-country trip to right grammatical wrongs.
He enlisted a friend, Benjamin D. Herson, and together they got to
work erasing errant quotation marks, rectifying misspellings, and
cutting unnecessary possessive apostrophes. The Great Typo Hunt is
the story of their crusade.
Read the
article/review:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129086941&sc=emaf
+ LANGUAGEWATCH, but about
words
How the internet is changing
language
by Zoe Kleinman Technology reporter, BBC News
-- 16 August 2010
'To Google' has become a universally
understood verb and many countries are developing their own internet
slang. But is the web changing language and is everyone up to
speed?
The web is a hub of
neologisms
In April 2010 the informal online banter
of the internet-savvy collided with the traditional and austere
language of the court room.
The whole article:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-10971949
+ WORDWATCH, about
words!
=F8 WVM Glossary [
www.westvan.org/acronyms ] addition:
AAP = Alternative Approval
Process
For
details, see
http://www.cd.gov.bc.ca/lgd/gov_structure/community_charter/governance/alternative_approval_process.htm
=F8 Paronomasia is the act or
practice of punning
=== MAIKU === 2010
August 15/16
~~~
love weaves its way in
out and around
lives
knitting and
unravelling
~~~
summer's full heat
pounds
surrounds our
bodies
melting
together
~~~
close-knit
families
bound, constrained, rarely
leak, break --
sometimes ripped apart
~~~
=== QUOTATIONS / THOUGHTS / PUNS
===
Every exit is an entry somewhere else.
-- Sir
Tom Stoppard, British playwright (b 1937)
If you can't annoy somebody with what you
write, I think there's little point in writing.
--
Kingsley Amis, English novelist and poet (1922 - 1995)
Failure is the path of least persistence.
--
George M. Van Valkenburg, Jr, American writer and inventor (b
1938)
Civilisations are not murdered. They commit suicide.
--
Arnold Toynbee, British historian (1889 - 1975)
makes me think of govts/political parties do not
win; they lose.
Language is the apparel in which your
thoughts parade before the public.
Never clothe them in vulgar or shoddy
attire.
-- Dr
George W Crane, American newspaper columnist (1901 -
1995)
Truth, in matters of religion, is simply the opinion that has
survived.
-- Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde,
Irish writer, poet, and prominent aesthete (1854 - 1900)
The biggest obstacles are not the ones we encounter, but the ones
we erect and put in our own way.
-- Dr.
Mardy Grothe, American psychologist and writer (b 194x?)
+ It's odd that bees
make honey; earwigs don't make chutney.
-- Eddie Izzard, British comedian and actor (b
1962)
+ Why do you sit there
looking like an envelope without any address on
it?
--
Mark Twain, American author and humorist (1835 -
1910)
o There are three kinds
of people. Those that can count and those that
can't.
o He can flawlessly set
up a tent. He has perfect pitch.
o Did you hear about
the nervous preacher? He had sweaty psalms.