Vancouver Courier Sept.09.06
New aquarium plan expands expansion
By Sandra Thomas-Staff writer
A COPE parks commissioner is "astounded" the Vancouver Aquarium wants even more land for its proposed expansion than it requested earlier this year.
Commissioner Loretta Woodcock noted that at a July meeting, the parks board deferred a vote on the expansion of the Vancouver Aquarium- Marine Science Centre because there were concerns regarding the public consultation.
"But now we have a technical report that shows no changes to the public consultation plan, but instead they want to expand their footprint by 50 per cent," said Woodcock. "I can't believe they did that."
Earlier this year the aquarium asked the board for permission to expand by one acre, or 27 per cent. The proposed $80 million expansion includes new larger pools for belugas, dolphins, sea otters and sea lions, and new public washrooms, two galleries, an animal care facility and a restaurant. The revised technical plan shows the aquarium now wants to expand by 1.5 acres, or 50 per cent.
That expansion would mean a loss of 32 trees, and 1.34 acres of greenspace, most of it on the former site of the city's defunct zoo to the south of the aquarium's main entrance. The proposal returns to the board for approval Sept. 11.
Woodcock's surprised the board's NPA commissioners support a public consultation paid for by the aquarium. The aquarium hired communications consultants Kirk & Co. at a reported $300,000 to hold public consultations, which will include notification letters, emails, newspaper ads, information signs, notices at all parks board facilities, open-house events and a survey that will go to aquarium members across B.C.
Woodcock wants a referendum on the expansion. But in May the majority NPA commissioners overturned a 1995 motion that expansion of the aquarium would need approval through public referenda.
Commissioner Allan De Genova, who in May was suspended from the NPA for six months, agrees with criticism of the consultation. De Genova holds the swing vote on the board. If he sides with COPE against the proposal, the expansion project would be voted down.
"I'm just not comfortable with the way the consultation is going down," said De Genova, who historically supports the aquarium. "But I've met with staff and I'm meeting with [aquarium president] John Nightingale Friday. I'll make my decision after that."
Like Woodcock, De Genova is uncomfortable with the idea aquarium members across B.C. have a large say in an issue that affects Vancouver.
"My biggest concern with the consultation process is the minimum community involvement. I want to see a true consultation, not some glossy brochure," said De Genova, a realtor. "It's like they're doing a pre-sale the same way I do when I'm selling a condo, and I can tell you, you can't sell to a salesman."
De Genova said he would be comfortable putting the decision off until next spring if necessary. "I just don't want to respond with some knee-jerk reaction," he said.
NPA commissioner Ian Robertson said he's "disappointed" Woodcock feels the public consultation is influenced by the fact the aquarium is footing the bill. Robertson is the board's spokesperson on the aquarium because board chair Heather Holden is an aquarium employee.
"This is a staff-driven consultation," he said. "Frankly I don't think the consultation would be accepted if it wasn't done in a transparent manner. What validity would it have if the aquarium were controlling it? That's illogical."
Robertson said a referendum is not needed.
"The citizens of Vancouver elected us to make these decisions," he said. "And that responsibility lies with the parks board."
Denis Howarth, a former lawyer acting on behalf of the Coalition for No Whales in Captivity, said by supporting an aquarium-driven public consultation the parks board is committing "political suicide."
"It's like city councillors saying they can't be bothered holding a public consultation on a development so they let the developer host open houses and then provide all of the input," said Howarth.
Nightingale was away until today and unavailable for comment before the Courier's press deadline. Monday's meeting is at VanDusen Botanical Garden, 5251 Oak St., at 7 p.m. (See related story next page.)
published on 09/08/2006
----------------------------------------------------------
Vancouver Courier Sept.09.06
COPE stepping up opposition to bigger footprint
By Sandra Thomas-Staff writer
COPE commissioner Loretta Woodcock: "It's about equal to the entire cricket area. And the park board is going to give it away for free." Photo-Dan Toulgoet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Parks commissioner Loretta Woodcock invited journalists to Brockton Point in Stanley Park this morning to demonstrate what 1.5 acres looks like.
"It's about equal to the entire cricket area," COPE's Woodcock told the Courier Wednesday. "And the park board is going to give it away for free."
The Vancouver Aquarium-Marine Science Centre wants to expand its footprint in the park by 1.5 acres, mostly south of the main entrance in an area once occupied by the city's defunct zoo, and build larger pools for the beluga whales, sea lions and dolphins. The proposal includes plans for two new galleries, meeting rooms, a larger gift shop and a new restaurant.
The first hurdle to the $80 million expansion was removed in May when the majority NPA members of the parks board rescinded a 1995 decision requiring any aquarium expansion be put to a referendum. The expansion proposal goes to the parks board for approval Monday night. A public consultation is underway, which includes a survey that will go to aquarium members across B.C.
Woodcock believes people surveyed about the expansion have no idea how large the area under discussion is.
"When you use the old-school method it works out to 65,340 square feet. That's a lot of footage," said Woodcock. "We used to measure things by square foot, but now they use the new-school method and it comes out to 1.5 acres."
Woodcock notes that at a July 10 board meeting, the NPA commissioners supported a plan to allow the aquarium to increase its footprint by 27 per cent, or the equivalent of one acre. But after questions were raised regarding the public consultation, the decision was deferred until Sept. 10.
"Now in September the aquarium has come back with new expansion plans increasing its footprint by 50 per cent. This is 21 per cent more than in July."
NPA commissioner Ian Robertson said not all the land sought by the aquarium is green space.
Parks chair Heather Holden can't comment on the issue because she works at the aquarium, which put her in a conflict of interest.
"It's not all lawn with plants and trees," he said. "It's already a concrete plaza and that makes a big difference."
Robertson said from the time the park's zoo closed in 1997, the parks board had a plan to redevelop the plaza. He said the latest proposal is the eight or ninth design parks staff have considered for the area.
"It's not like we're taking down trees," said Robertson. "It's already concrete."
Woodcock said the staff technical report regarding the plan shows 32 trees will be cut down in Stanley Park.
"I want the public to come out [to Brockton Point] and see for themselves what this expansion involves," she said. "Imagine taking a public park this size and giving it away for free."
Aquarium president John Nightingale was away until after the Courier's press deadline yesterday.
published on 09/08/2006
-------------------------------------
Vancouver Courier Sept.13.06-
Parks board distances itself from aquarium
By Sandra Thomas-Staff writer
The parks board has distanced itself from a public consultation regarding a proposed expansion of the Vancouver Aquarium.
At a parks board meeting Monday night, the board voted five to one to withdraw its sponsorship of the $300,000 proposed public consultation regarding the expansion, which would have been paid for by the aquarium. Commissioner Ian Robertson was the lone vote in favour of remaining partners in the consultation.
Parks board commissioner Allan De Genova, who brought forward the motion to opt out of the consultation, said he finally saw the public consultation discussion guide and feedback form outlining the proposed expansion for the first time last weekend.
"And it clearly comes across as a joint proposal between the park board and the aquarium," said De Genova. "When I saw the package my first reaction was it was too slick and full of, 'Isn't this a great idea.'"
If approved the proposed $80 million expansion will increase the aquarium's footprint by 50 per cent or 1.5 acres. The plan includes new larger pools for belugas, dolphins, sea otters and sea lions, new public washrooms, two galleries, an animal care facility and an expanded restaurant and gift shop. The proposal would mean a loss of 32 trees, and 1.34 acres of greenspace, most of it on the former site of the city's defunct zoo to the south of the aquarium's main entrance.
The aquarium hired public communications consultants Kirk and Company to organize the public consultation, which if approved will include notification letters, emails, newspaper ads, information signs, notices at all parks board facilities, open-house events and a survey that will go to aquarium members across the Lower Mainland and Greater Vancouver.
De Genova adds he's uncomfortable with the fact the parks board logo and name is prominent throughout the document.
"The park board has spent 100 years gaining a good reputation so as soon as someone sees that they're going to think, 'Well if the park board is involved it must be OK,'" said De Genova. "But we are the landlords and they are the tenants and the best way to handle this is to let the community decide."
De Genova said he has always been a big supporter of the aquarium and adds if the plan is truly as good as it's being represented, the people of Vancouver will see that and vote accordingly.
"The proposal should be put under a microscope," said De Genova. "Just let the public consultation process run its course and let the chips fall. If everything is on the up and up the aquarium should have nothing to worry about."
Aquarium president John Nightingale said he was "surprised and mystified" by the parks board's decision.
"We did exactly what the board asked us to do when they took the plebiscite off the table," said Nightingale.
In May, the NPA members of the parks board overturned a 1995 decision that any future expansions of the aquarium would go to referendum.
Nightingale said since the aquarium is not in the business of organizing public consultations, his staff made inquiries, including to the city manager, about which firm to hire for the job. Nightingale said Kirk and Company came highly recommended.
"We retained them to develop a plan and by far and away this is the biggest and broadest public consultation plan the parks board has ever done," said Nightingale. "It includes at least nine different ways people can participate and all sorts of advertising. I have to believe, and I've been hearing, that people want to express their opinion about this, but they don't even know what's being proposed."
Nightingale said the aquarium's board of directors will meet this week and decide a strategy. Nightingale said he understood that the plan to send responses from the consultation to the parks board would ensure its integrity.
"We all thought we were doing exactly what we were supposed to do," said Nightingale.
published on 09/13/2006
----------------------------------------------
Vancouver Courier Sept.13.06
Aquarium consultation a PR job
by Allen Garr
A tourist in our town faced with the staff reports and recent events at the Vancouver parks board could only assume the board was intent in allowing the Vancouver Aquarium to expand its facilities by another 50 per cent. There's lots of upside and not much downside: just a couple dozen trees coming out that wouldn't be worth a sawmill's time to slice into lumber.
From a tally of the 16 speakers at Monday night's parks board meeting, you would conclude there's massive support for the $80-million project. Eleven of the 16 were in favour. Most, however, were aquarium employees, board members or volunteers.
And when you look at the material presented to the board, including an outline of the proposal to gather opinions from the general public, you may agree with parks commissioner Allan De Genova who said, "This is way too slick for me."
Since it opened in Stanley Park in 1956, the aquarium has received board permission to expand eight times. This expansion is by far the biggest and will gobble up another 1.5 acres of what is now public space.
In 1995, following a controversial increase in the size of the pools for beluga whales, the NPA-dominated board said a referendum would be necessary before the aquarium could expand again. The recent COPE-dominated board promised a plebiscite in 2008 on the future containment of whales and dolphins at the aquarium.
On May 16, the aquarium told the board's planning committee of its latest plan for expansion and revitalization. Among other things, the board was told, none of this would increase public attendance figures.
Two weeks later, the NPA-dominated board passed a motion to reverse the 11-year-old policy requiring a referendum in advance of any new expansion. It also removed the commitment to hold a plebiscite on whales in captivity.
The board told the aquarium it would participate as a partner in the public consultation. And the aquarium agreed to cover the $300,000 cost.
But the board first wanted to look at a technical report on the impact of the expansion and board staff was directed to work with the aquarium to fine-tune the proposal.
The table was set for the expansion to go ahead as quickly as possible. As we were told by aquarium president John Nightingale Monday night, "We want Vancouver to look its best by February 2010." Who knew the aquarium was an Olympic facility?
Monday night board members reviewed the technical report. It listed many benefits including a new food facility, public toilets, better organized public space and free viewing facilities. There would be more and larger pools for the whales, dolphins and other sea mammals.
Board members also considered the public consultation; they received the latest draft two days before. And then the worm turned.
De Genova compared it to a real-estate hustle, and he's seen more than a few of those in his many years in the real estate business. "It sort of tells you how great it is and don't you think so, too."
He doesn't believe the attendance at the aquarium won't increase and put more pressure on park infrastructure. He also doesn't believe the number of whales and dolphins in captivity won't increase.
For those reasons, he moved a motion to remove the parks board logo from the documents the aquarium was distributing and sever the partnership with the aquarium on the public consultation. The motion passed, which caught the aquarium by surprise. Nightingale told one reporter: "I don't understand what they want."
This is not to say the expansion will not go ahead. But it does at least allow the board to appear a bit more concerned about Stanley Park and the public interest and less of a cheerleader for the aquarium.
published on 09/13/2006
-------------------------------------------------------------
Vancouver Courier Sept.09.06
Aquarium working with parks board
To the editor:
I want to correct several errors in two Sept. 8 stories regarding the Vancouver Aquarium proposal for revitalization and expansion ("COPE stepping up opposition to bigger footprint" and "New aquarium plan expands expansion").
The actual land required for the revitalization and expansion proposal is 1.5 acres and this is the same amount of land as was proposed in July.
The consultation does not include a survey of aquarium members. The public attitude survey by Synovate, an independent research firm, will be of Vancouver and Greater Vancouver residents.
The Vancouver Park Board and the aquarium are jointly managing the consultation, not the aquarium alone.
The aquarium encourages the public to participate in the consultation through the web, at public open houses and stakeholder meetings.
Brenda Jones,
manager, public relations
Vancouver Aquarium
---------------------------------------
PLEASE WRITE A LETTER TO THE EDITOR
OF THE VANCOUVER COURIER
and don't forget to add your address and telephone number!
Editor, Vancouver Courier
editor@vancourier.com
-----------------------------
Georgia Straight Talk
Aquarium lease linked to expansion
By charlie smith
Publish Date: 14-Sep-2006
A Vancouver park commissioner says that if the aquarium expands, the park board can increase the annual rent charged for the use of Stanley Park. The Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre pays $40,000 per year under its lease with the Vancouver park board. The lease expires in 2015.
COPE Comm. Loretta Woodcock told the Straight that the lease only covers land now occupied by the aquarium, which has proposed increasing its size by 50 percent, or an additional 0.6 hectares. If this expansion is approved, it will occupy land not covered under the lease.
“The only way we can open up that lease is if they decided to expand outside of their footprint,” Woodcock said. “It allows us to look at the $40,000-a-year rent that they pay us.”
The Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre, a registered charity, generated $24 million in revenue in 2004, according to documents filed with the Canada Revenue Agency. The lease only allows the aquarium to import cetaceans caught in the wild before September 16, 1996—echoing the language of a 1996 park-board bylaw.
Under the lease, the park board is prohibited from interfering with the “day-to-day administration” of the aquarium. In the past, park-board officials have claimed that the park board cannot amend the bylaw regarding cetaceans because it is written into the lease.
Woodcock, however, suggested that if the aquarium alters its footprint in Stanley Park, this would reopen the lease negotiations and the park board could amend its bylaw concerning whales and dolphins. “First of all, it means we can revise the bylaw and tighten it up,” she said.
Denis Howarth, legislative consultant for a group called No Whales in Captivity, told the Straight earlier this month that the park board could amend the bylaw without reopening the lease. “It’s established in administrative law that a government cannot fetter its legislative discretion by contract,” Howarth claimed. “This lease doesn’t fetter the park board’s legislative discretion. There is nothing wrong with the way the city lawyers drew it. If it did fetter the park board’s discretion to amend the bylaw, a court would simply sever those provisions.”
On September 11, the park board voted not to participate in a public-consultation process with the aquarium on its $80-million expansion plan.
Georgia Straight Letters
letters@straight.com
PLEASE WRITE A LETTER TO THE EDITOR
OF THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT
and don't forget to add your address and telephone number!
----------------------------------------
Vancouver Sun Editorial
Published: Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Aquarium's plans to expand are awash in park board bafflegab
The Vancouver Aquarium is anxious to get public input regarding an
expansion plan that promises to make it a better venue for visitors, employees and the
70,000 creatures that reside there. But getting the politicians onside is like
herding fish.
Park board commissioners voted Monday to disassociate themselves from a
public consultation process that they themselves had initiated with the
explanation that it was "too slick." Coalition of Progressive Electors Commissioner Loretta
Woodcock explained that their decision to put the proposal in limbo and thereby
jeopardize the entire project was not anti-aquarium: "It's anti-process."
What a load of poppycock. The consultation was slick all right. The Vancouver
Aquarium was putting up $300,000 to hire professional communicators to
make sure that every detail of the proposal was available to anyone who wanted to
know about it through discussion guides, newspaper inserts, websites, power point
presentations, e-mails, interviews, focus groups, stakeholder meetings, a
public attitude survey and open houses where scale models would be on display.
There would be work with teachers and input from academics and other technical
experts. The process would provide multiple avenues for feedback.
Non-Partisan Association Commissioner Allan De Genova's incomprehensible
criticism: "It needs to be more transparent."
COPE wants a referendum on the expansion, but mob rule is not the way to
conduct a productive discussion on the proposal.
Vancouver Aquarium president John Nightingale says he's bewildered by the
board's action -- or inaction. "I don't understand what they want," he said.
Nor do we. But we know what we want -- a bigger, refurbished aquarium that
will offer even more enjoyment and education than the current facility can
offer. The proposal, estimated to cost $70 million to $80 million, calls for larger
pools for dolphins, belugas, otters and sea lions, new underwater viewing, two new
galleries, new animal care facilities, a new main entrance, new meeting rooms and a
larger gift shop and expanded food services. The free public viewing area will be
replaced by three viewing areas with a combined length greater than the existing one;
two of those will allow underwater viewing.
There has been something of a hue and cry about encroachment on green
space in Stanley Park. But the sacrifice of some grass and trees must be kept in
perspective. Of Stanley Park's 404 hectares, the existing aquarium occupies 1.2
hectares, or less than 0.3 per cent of the total area. The proposed expansion would add 0.54
hectares -- about 1.34 acres for those who haven't yet made the transition to
metric. A good swath of the land to be redeveloped is the abandoned zoo site.
The so-called "footprint" of the aquarium on Stanley Park is the track of
a squirrel rather than of a sasquatch. Think of the relationship of the aquarium to
Stanley Park as a 38-square-centimetre canvas bag base on the typical 0.8 hectare
baseball diamond.
Opposition to the expansion seems focused on trees that will be lost to
accommodate it. But the controversy is based on a false reading of the proposal. It
calls for retention -- not removal -- of 52 of 84 trees affected by the expansion.
No conifers with tree diameters greater than 60 centimeters will be cut down and only two
deciduous trees of that size will be lost. Most of the trees to be cleared
have diameters under 30 centimetres. The proposal calls for replanting to
replace some of those trees.
If not for political dithering, the consultation process would be well
under way by now and there'd be an outside chance of meeting a projected completion
date in the fall of 2009. As it stands, the Vancouver Aquarium doesn't know if the
park board wants it to proceed or not. The board seemed to give it a green light,
saying that the public consultation process must move forward. But then it
put up a stop sign by withdrawing its sponsorship of the process. The Vancouver
Aquarium is at the mercy of the park board. It needs clear direction from
the commissioners. It's time for them to drop their drivel and deliver it.
© The Vancouver Sun 2006
PLEASE WRITE A LETTER TO THE EDITOR
OF THE VANCOUVER SUN
and don't forget to add your address and telephone number!