DAMP REVENUES
According to a park board staff report, the wet, cool spring and summer we suffered are partially to blame for revenue losses between January to June this year.
The report says the board occurred net costs of $31.7 million this year compared to $27.6 million for that same time period in 2010, an increase of $4.1 million or 9.4 per cent of the 2011 budget. The park board total revenues to the end of June were $18.7 million-42 per cent of budget, down from 46.4 per cent for the same period last year-while gross expenditures were $50.5 million.
"The revenue decline is significant," reads the report. "If revenues were being received at the same rate as 2010, the board would have almost $2 million more than currently reflected. Close monitoring of both revenues and expenses will be required to ensure that the impact of the potential shortfall doesn't impact the board's ability to meet its budget."
The report adds the economic forecast could improve before the end of the year, but warns, "it should be noted that due to the unknown impacts and timing of the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Services Review projects there is some risk associated with this forecast."
The park board has had its budget hammered by the city in record numbers in recent years, so this is not a good sign for things to come. To see a complete copy of the report, go to vancouver.ca/ parks and check out the Oct. 17 park board meeting agenda.
TWIN TOWERS
The park board will decide Oct. 17 whether to allow a telecommunications company to install two cellular antenna sites along the Stanley Park causeway.
The causeway is already home to six similar towers installed by Telus, Bell Mobility and Rogers, which have two antennas each located on lamp standards generating $6,000 for each site per year. These agreements are generally in effect for 10 years with options for three to five-year extensions.
In the case of Globealive Communications Corporation, otherwise known as WIND Mobile, the rent will be $11,500 a year per site for the first five years, with a rent review at the end of that term and an option for three, five-year extensions.
POOL LEGEND
The park board is expected to approve a staff recommendation at its Oct. 17 meeting to name the new special events room at Hillcrest Aquatic Centre after Percy Norman, in recognition of his service to the city's swimming community. The Riley Park Community Association made the initial request for the name.
Norman, who died from a heart attack in 1957, was considered the top swim coach in Canada and Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»for years. The park board of the day voted in 1960 to change the name of the pool at the community centre from the Riley Park Swimming Pool to the Percy Norman Memorial Pool, which only recently closed. The special events room at Hillcrest will be used for meetings, birthday parties and community celebrations.
RUN FOR OFFICE
The deadline to register as a nominee in the November municipal election is Oct. 14. As of the Courier's press deadline Thursday, I counted 13 potential candidates in the run for park board. To see a complete list and check each of the candidate's nomination documents, go to vancouver.ca.
Twitter: @sthomas10
