Vancouver park board demands mayor stop making spending promises

The Vancouver park board has sent a letter demanding that Mayor Ken Sim and city council stop making promises about spending plans for projects on park land.

The letter includes a legal opinion affirming that the park board is the sole legal body empowered to decide how park property will be used, including infrastructure improvements. Park board commissioner Tom Digby said the mayor has been making commitments about projects that are not included in the park board's own plans, leading to confusion that may affect how the public votes on an infrastructure capital referendum in the coming civic election.

In May, the mayor announced a 25-metre pool at Sunset Park and identified five community centres as priorities for renewal — Kerrisdale, Dunbar and the Roundhouse among them. None of these are on the park board's priority list, which includes new pools for Mount Pleasant and Marpole, renovals of the Vancouver Aquatic Centre and Kitsilano pool, and overhauls of Kensington and Hastings community centres.

"The mayor can cross stuff off he doesn't want to pay for, but he can't just add stuff in," said Digby. "The mayor has been making statements about certain swimming pools and community centres, stating affirmatively they are going to be included in the plan."

The park board has requested $1.43 billion from the city to fund infrastructure work. Digby said the board is not disputing the city's right to set the budget it can afford, but rather the mayor's right to add projects without consultation. The park board has repeatedly asked for a meeting with the mayor to discuss priorities, without success.

Under the Vancouver Charter, the park board has exclusive jurisdiction and control over Vancouver parks and recreational facilities unless there is legislative change. The city's capital plan is due to be made public in late July.