EcoDensity | Newly formatted Charter and Initial Actions

Newly formatted versions of the EcoDensity Charter and Initial Actions, which Council approved on June 10, 2008, are now available for download on the EcoDensity website: vancouver.ca/ecodensity

While the content has remained the same as approved by Council, the documents now contain graphics and have been formatted for easier reading.

Once again, to view the EcoDensity Charter and Initial Actions and for more information visit: vancouver.ca/ecodensity

Council Approves EcoDensity Charter

Vancouver City Council unanimously voted on June 10 to adopt the EcoDensity Charter.

The EcoDensity Charter commits the City to make environmental sustainability a primary goal in all city planning decisions - in ways that also support housing affordability and livability.

The first two actions to be implemented by the City immediately are:
1. Rezoning policy for greener buildings: Applications for new rezoning will need to meet a minimum LEED™ (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver rating, or similar equivalency in green design. The City will also be expecting that energy performance, water efficiency and storm water use be considered.

2. Rezoning policy for greener larger sites: Changes to rezonings for land that is two acres or more. A number of sustainability measures will be required for these rezonings, and for sites with housing, a range of types and tenures must be considered to increase affordable housing opportunities.

Longer-term actions that will receive priority include: an interim EcoDensity rezoning policy; options for backyard/laneway housing; more options for secondary suites; and removal of barriers to green building approaches.

Council initiated the EcoDensity program in July 2006. The final Charter and Actions incorporated public input from a Special Council Meeting that lasted seven sessions, amongst numerous other public consultation opportunities.

To view the EcoDensity Charter and Initial Actions and for more information: vancouver.ca/ecodensity

Who Needs Insight on Insite?

Eastside
Originally uploaded by Daquella manera

Federal Government Health Minister Tony Clements prefers overdoses leading to death, than safe injection interventions that could lead to health. Appallingly, the Federal Government has made a decision to take the province to court after the BC Supreme Court's decision to support Insite.

Living in Vancouver, it is clear that drastic measures, services, and programs are needed to solve the issues. What is seen on the surface, is rarely ever the cause. While Insite may not be perfect, and it may leave a lot to be desired, it is the first positive step taken in Canadian society to move further forward with progressive and proactive measures that could lead to recovery.

Saving lives from this affliction is far more complex than a safe injection site. That safe injection site, however, becomes a valuable gateway to intervention; coaxing jaded and cynical people off the street who have been abused repeatedly. They might consider surrendering their negative lifestyle to the possibility and hope that our society's limited programs and services can help them get their lives back together.

Change is work, and it is hard work. Every healthy person recognizes this, and when we have bad days, we know how much more difficult - sometimes impossible - it is to succeed with change. If society wishes for the addict, street person, prostitute, and other at-risk individuals to "do the work," then society and government at all levels had better be prepared to do-the-work that creates the systems and structure that ensure success.

Insite, with an average of 600 daily visits, intervened to resuscitate 900 overdoses since opening. Liz Evans, who runs Insite in partnership with Vancouver Coastal Health says, "If those injections were taking place in back alleys, those people would go under. There would be no nurse there to help save their lives."

"I don't think anyone has ever said that Insite is a magic pill that will resolve all the issues around mental health and addictions," says B.C. Health Minister George Abbott.

"No one has ever said that. I see, and the government sees, the provincial government at least, sees Insite as part of a continuum of services aimed at assisting addicts through their life issues."

Regarding Ottawa's drug policies, Abbott said: "I don't think they yet appreciate that it is useful to have the opportunity to bring some stability into the lives of people who have tragically very little stability in their lives."

Local enforcement professionals also expressed varied opinions on the subject, both for and against what Insite offers. The against position rightly expresses the overwhelming level of 'tolerance' that allows inappropriate behaviour to continue unchecked and without adequate consequences (if any). A significant reason our social issues have spun out of control is the lack of accountability, along with actionable and achievable goals that empower change.

Our own complacency had most of Vancouver turn a blind eye to the issues, and the escalation we're experiencing has resulted in more discontentment. As people become discontent, therefore less tolerant, the voices are likely to start clamoring for change. Even so, as expressed by some residents, some professionals, and some government offices, 'we don't want to encourage that here!'

A walk through a local green-space on the edge of Strathcona and Chinatown often reveals many reasons for this attitude's survival. Mere steps into the park space, right along the sidewalk, a mound of hypodermic needles still fresh in their packaging, is found. On the way to work in the morning, homeless are now found sleeping and bundled in filthy blankets on common property on residential streets. Walking across town, men and women alike are accosted on almost every block by those wanting, needing, and even demanding a handout. Could this why Insite is not recognized as working?

On one hand, the Federal Health Minister Tony Clement wants it shut down. This is looking like a political battle, not a battle for lives nor solutions. With the majority of the Conservatives backed by tough-on-crime critics, supporting Insite may have offended their reelection. Here in Vancouver, the Mayor, Chief of Police, and others are in support; likely also seeking the popular vote of Vancouver residents and business.

What are your views, your expertise, or opinions about these people, this issue, and how it can be solved? Are politicians and our systems capable? If not, why and what can we do?

Mt. Pleasant Community Projects Ongoing

Dear SCG Members and Working Group Leaders;

1) Social Coordinating Group

It time again for our monthly Social Coordinating Group meeting - Native Education College (285 5th East Ave).

Tuesday, May 13, 2008
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Regular SCG Meeting #4

The Agenda: basically we will be hearing back from the four working groups on what they have been doing since April 8th. As SCG members you will be asked to comment on possible ways that you can help the working groups overcome any outstanding issues and concerns so that they can continue to move forward to develop and implement the local action plans. We have some new community faces coming out this time!

Pizza and refreshments will be served again, so if you have any allergies please let me know that when you RSVP back so that I can better meet your needs. Thank you. (please include your phone number).

2. Neighbourhood Clean Up

May 10, Saturday, 9:00 am to 12:00 Noon

A small, but very dedicated, group (Carolina Group) is hosting their annual neighbourhood clean up (10 years plus), and we are all welcome. Please let me know if you need more information. Hope to see some of you out this Saturday. Dana's cell 318-7460 (604). We are meeting up at Carolina and 11th Ave E.

3. Community announcements - of the Social kind

If you have an announcement(s) about an event or program that relates to the work that the SCG is doing and you want to share it with others please let me know. I am posting events to the Mount Pleasant community site to better keep us all in touch (an earlier suggestion made at a SCG meeting). http://www.vancouver.ca/commsvcs/planning/cpp/mountpleasant/social/index.htm and look under "Spotlight"

That's it for now

====================

Dear Mount Pleasant CLG members,

Hi, everyone. We have scheduled our fifth meeting of the Mount Pleasant CLG for:

Tuesday, May 20th, 2008
7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Native Education College
285 East 5th Ave. (at Scotia St.)

Since our last meeting, we have completed Shopping Area Workshop (SAW) #1, with over 50 people in attendance. Participants divided themselves into groups according to the existing shopping area in Mount Pleasant they wished to discuss:

1. Uptown (Main: 7th to 16th; Broadway: Ontario to Guelph; Kingsway: 7th to 12th )
2. Broadway West (Ontario to Yukon)
3. Broadway/Fraser (Guelph to Prince Albert)

Following a site visit to the shopping areas, ‘creative sessions’ were held, facilitated by urban designers, to find out key concerns and aspirations held by workshop participants. Posters with potential options/directions and maps were used to encourage discussion and record people’s ideas. We are mailing you a draft transcript of the workshop (i.e., posters with comments, along with photographs of the maps produced by the groups).

Our CLG meeting will review SAW #1 results, and introduce the tasks for SAW #2 (taking place on May 25th; attached is a poster advertising the event). These tasks involve using criteria suggested by workshop participants, along with criteria contained in City policy, to begin evaluating the options which emerged from SAW #1. The CLG meeting will also touch on our preparation for the residential workshops beginning in the fall, the consultancy for a land use and urban design study of Main St. (2nd to 7th), and the work being done by the Social Coordinating Group.

If you are unable to attend this meeting, please call Angela Ko at 604.871.6598 and let her know. Thank you in advance for coming to the meeting.

Yours truly,

Peter Burch
Planner
Mount Pleasant Community Planning Program (MPCPP)

Social Coordinating Group Update

Hello SCG Members and Working Group Leaders

General Updates

1. Neighbourhood Clean Up in Mount Pleasant
May 10, Saturday, from 9 to noon
The Carolina Group (local residents) is hosting its annual clean up around the Carolina Street and 11th Avenue area. They welcome us to join in. I'll will be attending, call me if you need more information.

I know that this is a great opportunity for some of the Working Groups that are already talking about doing their own clean ups; and so this event would be a great way to see how one is actually implemented and to talk to some of the local organizers on "how best to" set up for one your own group in the future - just a thought.

2. MAY 13 SCG meeting #4
I will send out an agenda for next SCG meeting on May 6 (as a reminder please let me know if you have any agenda items, etc).

3. Mount Pleasant Social Issues Website
Please check out the website to see the latest Action Work Plans (under 4 Top Social Issues) that the four working groups have created so far. Also in the 'SCG Spotlight Box' there are other local community events and presentations that might be of interest to you. http://vancouver.ca/commsvcs/planning/cpp/mountpleasant/social/index.htm

That's it for now.

Dana Walker, Social Planner
City of Vancouver

Cirkids School of Circus Arts

Hi Everyone!

Don't forget to book your tickets for Full Circle Circus, coming up May 1-4th at the PNE Garden Auditorium. You can buy your tickets online through www.cirkids.org, or by contacting the office at 604.737.7408.

Attached you will find the show poster and most recent press release - please feel free to forward it along to your friends, family and schools! We do still have space available for school groups the Thursday, May 1st performance at 12:45pm. School group rates are $8 per person for the matinee showing only. Please contact the office for more details.

Best regards,

--
Kim Violato
CirKids Assistant
ph: 604-737-7408
cirkids@telus.net
www.cirkids.org

Cirkids Poster
Full Circle Press Release 2 April 2008

Community: One Passionate Cry

Community
Originally uploaded by Jeff Kubina

Mount Pleasant community members continue to participate with the City of Vancouver community planning initiatives. The most recent Social Coordinating Group meeting hosted a large turnout to address social issues within the community. With the large turnout, even splitting out into groups to address key areas of neighbourhood (and Vancouver) social issues, there were good numbers present and participating to offer a strong voice representative of a diverse community.

In attendance and participating brought a blend of history upon the neighbourhood's issues, growth, politics, and more. Equally, the items tabled added more fodder for the trough. The task? To have each participant place 3 x's alongside a proposed line-item - proposed, as in explored further - that was a practical, actionable priority that could be sustainable once the City is no longer directly involved.

As diverse a community as we are, we are still one community. The traditional strategy to address social issues appears to target special groups. Whether it is for youth, seniors, immigrants, panhandler, or low-income, our problems still resonate, have commonalities. Rather than continue to segregate, re-integrate. Allow the community to discover one another, be exposed and finding opportunities to work and volunteer alongside one another, and our issues can become the shared burden they have always meant to be in any civilized society.

People live, work, and play, and business provides goods, services, and earnings. Taxes are collected, programs are implemented, and the more demanding the public gets, the more strained the public-coffers, the more adept the politically savvy, and the more unwisely spent go our public dollars. A real cohesive community with a solid infrastructure of systems in place, a residents association with appropriate sub-committee's for special interest, and the more benefits a community can enjoy.

Prior experience, other municipal examples, all demonstrate the power of the everyday common citizen and business that contributes to community. LiveInMountPleasant.com places this platform, this website and community portal at the disposal of the Mount Pleasant Vancouver East community. We also like to acknowledge Rick Stonehouse, Real Estate Advisor, whose generous sponsorship has made this possible.

The Community Discussion Forum can be a profound vehicle of impact, enabling participants to Register a User Account and to begin engaging in conversations, connecting people to opportunity, and creating it where there is none. Contact the Community Relations Director for the LiveInMountPleasant.com project here.

Divide and conquer is actually what is happening and will continue if left as is: One Voice, One Community, One People. All multicultural arguments belong in the same solution outlined here. Wherever we see these good things exist, despite the odds, these are people building community. Embrace each other.