Published by the University Neighbourhoods Association Volume 7, Issue 2
FEBRUARY 15, 2016
CAPS4ART Brings Neighbours Together
UNA Board to Approve Reduced Budget Neighbours Levy projected to decline for third year in row; funds will be withdrawn from two reserves
Top collectors in a community art project that raises awareness of recycling: (left to right) Yi Xiao (Wesbrook), Rose Wang (Hawthorn) and Donghong Liu (Hawthorn). Please see stories on Pages 6-7.
Celebrating Excellence and Innovation: Wesbrook Wins Gold at Nationals Awards
What’s in Future for Iona Green Playground? Public meeting in Chancellor Place will be held in March; independent moderator will facilitate the meeting
UBC Properties Trust CEO Al Poettcker and Director of Strategy and Marketing for UBC Properties Trust Ashley Willard Bauman receive the Gold Award for Wesbrook at the Nationals 2016 for Best Landscape in a Master Planned Community. Please see story on Page 3.
The public will have its chance to weigh in on the thorny issue of what to do about the University Neighbourhoods Association playground in Chancellor Place at a meeting on March 10 at Carey Centre Lecture Hall (see ad on Page 2). The UNA has called this meeting to hear from residents about whether existing play equipment should be left in place in Iona Green, thereby maintaining the status-quo, or whether this equipment should be removed entirely from Iona Green. The UNA will engage an independent moderator to facilitate the meeting, the results of which will be brought forward to UNA directors for consideration and decision. PLAYGROUND continued on Page 2
Directors of the University Neighbourhods Association will approve a $3.44 million operating budget for the coming fiscal year April 1, 2016 to March 31, 2017. This budget represents a 4.8% reduction from the one last year. To balance its budget for the coming year, the UNA will withdraw funds from two reserves: the Rate Stabilization Reserve and the Access Reserve. The reduction comes as UBC projects a decreased Neighbours Levy for the third year in a row. The UNA reports this reduction in the budget will continue to create financial challenges, and in order to offset this reduction in income and to control expenses, the UNA Board of Directors has done the following: • All departments, including the services managed by UBC Properties Trust, were asked to defer increases. • All departments, including the services managed by UBC Properties Trust, were asked to defer capital or other projects that were not critical to the operations of the UNA. • Management was asked to review all expenses to find additional savings. This results in reductions in the majority of budget items in all UNA operations. Changes to expenses include: • Landscaping expenses have been held to a 1% increase after an 11% reduction in 2015-16, despite having additional property added to the UNA for maintenance. • The cost of Victim Services & Community Policing was transferred to the RCMP. • Special Projects will again be deferred until revenues return to normal. • Labour expenses overall will increase marginally by 5% despite the addition of the new 30,000 sq ft Wesbrook Community Centre and the approved salary band adjustments. • General Meeting expense will increase 6% to account for changes to the election process. • Culture, Recreation and Leisure expense have been reduced by 11%. Meanwhile, UNA reports that legal expense has increased to account for negotiations of the Neighbours’ Agreement schedules, leases and compliance to the new BC Society Act.