I’m not an architect or a planner but I am a resident who has had the good fortune to live in my Dunbar neighborhood for almost 25 years. We’ve raised our two boys here and we love the area, but I do not like what I see. I’m not talking about the demolition of older single-storey bungalows which are being replaced with larger homes … what I am talking about is the construction building of homes with a design that in no way fit into the character of the neighborhood.

Case in point – an ugly square, bunker-looking home that is being built in the 4000 block of West 33rd Avenue in Vancouver. I pass by it every weekend while walking my dog home from the park and I cringe. I cannot quite get over whatever would possess an architect to design such an ugly home. I am sure former Director of Planning, Brent Toderian was a fine individual but if he is responsible for allowing homes like this to be constructed, then in my opinion he deserved to be dismissed.

I have no problem with the demolition of older bungalows to make way for larger, energy efficient homes. I understand that change happens and we need to densify. What does concern me is the long-term impact these homes of dreadful design will have on protecting the character of our neighborhoods.

Maybe we need to bring in neighborhood design panels that would have the opportunity to see the design of a home and approve before it’s built. What do you think?

I want to especially recognize my colleagues from the NPA, John Coupar and Melissa De Genova and from VV, Niki Sharma and Trevor Loke who were successful in winning a seat at the Board table for the first time. A shout out to Constance Barnes, Sarah Blyth and Aaron Jasper who were returned for a second term. You all have been given the responsibility by the voters to preserve, advocate and protect our valuable Parks and recreation services. Remember this when you are making those important decisions at the Board table.

So what’s in store for me? Who knows! I’m going to remain open to all options that come my way.

For now, it’s time to reflect on the past six years; six years that have been some of the most rewarding years of my life.

Oh … and what about this website? It’s going to remain but it will look and feel a little different. Stay tuned!

“I am very proud of what I have accomplished over the past six years as a Park Commissioner in Vancouver”, says Robertson. “I was motivated to run in 2005 because of the lack of artificial turf fields in Vancouver. When I was elected we had none, now we have six new artificial turf fields plus two fields at Andy Livingstone Park have been re-surfaced”.

Ian Robertson was Chair of the Park Board during the wind storms that struck Stanley Park in 2006 and 2007 destroying over 10,000 trees and the world-famous seawall. “I am also proud of being Chair and leading it through one of its most challenging times in the Board’s history”, noted Robertson. Over $9 million was raised to support its recovery which led to an extensive and wide-reaching plan being developed that guided the restoration work.

“It’s time for me to focus on spending more time with my family and my career at Rocky Mountaineer. I am grateful to the residents of Vancouver for electing me to two terms and the opportunity to serve the city”.

Ian Robertson was first elected in 2005 and was Chair of the Park Board in 2007 and Vice Chair in 2006 and 2008. Ian was re-elected in 2008 and is the lone NPA Commissioner on the Park Board. During the current term he sits on the Park Board’s Planning and Environment and Services and Budgets committees. He also serves as liaison to the Grandview Community Centre (Trout Lake), Riley Park Community Centre, West Point Grey Community Centre, Dunbar Community Centre, Jericho Sailing Club and the Vancouver Aquarium.

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Unexpected extended business travel in Toronto will prevent me from being able to attend the special Council meeting tonight where I was registered to speak to you to voice my concerns as Park Commissioner regarding the proposed $1.030 million cut to the 2011 Park Board operating budget.

Over the past three operating budgets, the reduction to the Park Board operating budget has been just over $5.2 million – four times more than the previous eight years combined. I acknowledge that we are in challenging economic times however the residents of Vancouver have told you in a recent survey that parks and recreation services are in the top three of service areas that they do not want cut and in fact they want protected. Last year the Board was asked to reduce its budget by $3.9 million which meant we had to reduce recreation services – as a result valuable children’s summer programs were eliminated. Surely if Council can find $30,000 to spend on backyard chicken studies, we can find the money to spend on kids and families.

I have two major areas of concern with the proposed cuts to the 2011 Park Board operating budget – the introduction of user fees for youth sports leagues to access playing fields and the pending closures of washrooms during the September to March period.

Sports leagues across this city have expressed to me grave concern about the impact the introduction of user fees will mean to their ability to deliver valuable sports programs. As an example Little Leagues have written to me highlighting they will have to pay an additional $3000 to $5000 per year per league to access ball diamonds. Money spent on fees for field use is not money spent on equipment, uniforms and skill development This will have a significant impact on all children and youth leagues in all neighborhoods across the city.

The closure of washrooms during the late fall/winter period will have a significant impact on residents of all ages. Given Vancouver’s relatively mild climate – people are outdoors all year round. Think about our elderly and other people that are reliant upon a washroom being close at hand. What about soccer games that are played this time of year? What are players and spectators supposed to do? All other municipalities around Vancouver provide washroom facilities in their public parks and playing fields; why can’t Vancouver?

Vancouver is known across North America for its world-class parks and recreation services – I ask that you reconsider the unreasonable cut to the park board budget. Surely this Mayor and Council do not want to leave a legacy of destroying a park board that many administrations before you have valued and supported.

Thank you for your time.

Ian Robertson
Commissioner
Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation

In 2010 the Vision Vancouver park board caucus was unanimous in approving nearly $4 million in cuts which resulted in the elimination of critical summer programs for children and the closing of the Bloedel Conservatory.  Thanks to the valiant efforts of The Friends of the Bloedel and the outcry from thousands of residents across every corner of this city, the Bloedel was saved. 

 The Vision Vancouver park board caucus and council don’t get it when it comes to ensuring park board services and facilities need to be protected and advocated for. I’m convinced that if it were up to City Manager Penny Ballem, the current elected park board would be replaced with an appointed board.

Green Party Park Commissioner, Stuart Mackinnin and I are aligned on this issue – see our news release below:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 26, 2010

VISION VANCOUVER’S CUTS TO PARK BOARD BUDGET HIT HISTORIC HIGH

 Reductions to Park Board operating budget four times higher under Vision Vancouver’s watch

 Vancouver, BC – Vancouver Park Board Commissioners Ian Robertson and Stuart Mackinnon are calling on Vision Vancouver to return the park board’s operating budget to historic levels.  Since being elected in 2008 the Vision Vancouver park board caucus has slashed the Board’s operating budget more than four times more than the previous three boards combined. 

“This is another example of the Vision Vancouver park board caucus not advocating for the protection and adequate funding of the park board.  Clearly they are getting their marching orders from the Mayor’s office on how to vote.  It’s time they stand up and say no more cuts”, says Park Board Commissioner Ian Robertson. “It’s clear that the Mayor and his colleagues have decided that chicken coops and bike lanes are more important than community centre programs for children and the elderly. This shouldn’t be about politics, it should be about supporting families and the aged.”

“The Vision Vancouver commissioners have the opportunity this year to finally stand up to their city council comrades and say enough is enough. It is now time to start re-investing in our parks; time to encourage recreation”, adds Commissioner Mackinnon. “Times are tough—I know that. But when the economy is hardest hit is when people need their neighbourhood parks and recreational services the most”.

The board’s operating budget has been reduced by $5.3 million since 2009 versus $1.2 million in the previous eight years combined.  Recreation services has seen the biggest reduction within the board’s operating budget since Vision Vancouver took power with over $2 million being cut which has resulted in valuable children’s summer programs being eliminated.

Since first being elected to the Vancouver Park Board as Commissioner in 2005, Ian has advocated strongly for improved sports facilities with particular emphasis on increasing the number of artificial turf fields in Vancouver. As a father of two boys who are very active in all types of sports, Ian witnessed first-hand the huge lack of all-weather fields in the city which prevented youth and adults from enjoying their sport to the fullest.

A resident of Vancouver for over 20 years, Ian has a strong record of community service and advocacy as a former PAC President at his sons’ elementary school, four years as President of Dunbar Little League and a past volunteer of the Dunbar Neighbourhood Patrol.

In the second year of Ian’s first term he was elected Chair of the Park Board and this is where we saw his leadership skills take centre stage. In the early hours of December 15, 2006 the most violent storm to hit Vancouver in over 40 years struck the crown jewel of Vancouver, the city’s beloved Stanley Park tearing down over 10,000 trees and causing a wake of destruction that left the residents of the city, the province and the country bewildered. Over the next 23 days Ian’s diary chronicled 83 media interviews and countless phone calls and e-mails from around the world.

Under Ian’s leadership and direction, the Board came together, parked their political differences and joined forces with park staff, consultants and volunteers to develop a wide-ranging restoration plan. Within four months of the ferocious storm battering Stanley Park, the restoration plan was approved by the Board and set in motion.

GEORGIA STRAIGHT COLUMNIST CHARLIE SMITH SPECULATES OF AN IAN ROBERTSON RUN FOR MAYOR 2011

The ongoing dissatisfaction with Vision Vancouver’s radical policies and Mayor Gregor Robertson’s uneven and at times arrogant positions have citizens and journalists alike speculating on who might replace Gregor Robertson in 2011. Charlie Smith of the Georgia Straight writes, “Ian Robertson is the type of middle-of-the-road, business-friendly politician who appeals to many Vancouver voters. And if Gregor shuffles off into the sunset to become NDP leader, then the NPA commish could pick up extra votes in the 2011 election…”

This comment from respected ‘Straight’ journalist Charlie Smith comes on the heels of a column written not long ago by 24hours Vancouver political heavyweight Alex G. Tsakumis, who wrote, “If (Ian’s) “cousin” Gregor can’t put a lid on the wing-nuts in Vision Vancouver, then maybe the nameplate on the door in three years will still read ‘Mayor Robertson’…it’ll just be a different Scotsman…”

There is no question that the Vision Vancouver experiment is NOT working and the people of Vancouver might be looking for a return to a more moderate, reasonable, but truly progressive voice to lead the city of Vancouver.

“I’m really flattered by all the attention but I honestly haven’t given it that much thought, although I will admit that strong supporters of Philip, Larry, Sam and surprisingly Gregor have all asked me to consider running for Mayor in 2011. There seems to be a lot of disappointment with Vision and a need to return some sanity to City Hall, there’s no doubt about that. Vision just doesn’t have a coherent plan to tackle the major issues, instead fixating on bizarre initiatives…”, says Ian. “Gregor talks a good talk, but for example, essentially shutting down the Burrard Bridge won’t help the environment when endless traffic jams will only further contribute to our carbon footprint and make feeder streets and neighbourhoods more dangerous on either side of the bridge.

And what about some real advocacy for the homeless? What about drug treatment and mental health support services for the poor and addicted on the DTES? Gregor needs to be persistent in his efforts with both Ottawa and Victoria. These were all promises that he made as a Vision mayoral candidate during the election, and he and Vision have failed us on every one of them. They don’t even have a plan–they’ve got nothing except chicken coops and tearing up the lawn at City Hall. They’re efforts are ridiculous. Someone should remind them that we are hosting the world soon, and the people of Vancouver deserve responsible civic government before during and after the Olympics. Vision Vancouver is clearly not the answer.”