Vancouver Park Board commissioners moved this week to limit the scope of the advisory group that will take a second look at the board’s contentious plan for the city’s pools, but some are still skeptical.
Peter Genge, one of many Lord Byng pool users who rallied against its proposed closure, said this week that while passing the motion is a step in the right direction many are still unsure of the whole process.
“We know that the advisory committee’s advice won’t be binding,” he said.
Earlier this week, commissioners unanimously passed a motion introduced by COPE commissioner John Irwin to limit the scope of the VanSplash advisory group to “only consider the possible future expansion and improvement of Vancouver’s aquatic facilities.”
VanSplash is the proposed long-term plan for the city’s pools, beaches and other aquatic facilities. It included a variety of recommendations including, in one draft, the closure of Lord Byng and Templeton pools. Groups of users from both facilities rallied to save their pools and later recommendations kept the pools open pending a review of the impacts of the new pools and consultation with pool users and the community.
However, at a meeting last January commissioners voted to refer the plan back to staff for further consideration and then in April the park board announced it was striking an external advisory committee to “assist in developing a revised version of VanSplash.”
During the two week application period, Nov. 26 to Dec. 9, the park board received 256 applications — 20 applicants were chosen and the group held its first meeting on Wednesday.
Staff will bring the plan back to the board for consideration in the fall.
@JessicaEKerr
