Minutes
St Johns Redevelopment Task Force, 1Up, Centennial Daycare, Silver Threads
November 23 2012
Karen McAuley - Centennial Daycare
Edie Copeland, Terry Prentice - Silver Threads
Alice Ages, Liz Bloomfield, Christine St. Peter – 1Up
Brenda McBain - Trio
Elizabeth McCauley, Graeme Brown, Deborah Curran, Robert Brown – St Johns
Agenda
1. Welcome from St Johns
Acknowledge the Trio’s innovative integrative vision.
Acknowledge vision for the site and how well the integrative intergenerational
vision fits with it, and the more we work on it the more we realize that it has legs.
We are going to create something better than the sum of its parts.
2. Updates
St Johns proposes to cover the items under #1 – Introduction in the comprehensive
agenda that was circulated.
Would like some specific things answered today given the Trio’s timelines and
immediate reporting requirements.
St Johns
We have now made a formal presentation to the Diocese of New Westminster on
November 1. The presentation went very well. There were lots of questions from
Diocesan Council. The members discussed our proposal and indicated that they
want to discuss further. They have sent the proposal to the Asset Management
Committee (chaired by Chris Pease who is managing properties). Chris fully
endorses the proposal. The Asset Management Committee then make a
recommendation that goes to the Diocesan Financial Committee, to ensure there are
no adverse financial commitments. It then goes back to Diocesan Council for further
discussion/approval. These groups meet monthly, so we will not have a response
before February/March.
Because we are the first church that has come along with a viable project for the
Diocese they are not quite sure what to do with it. So the process will take a little
longer than the projects that follow. We anticipate that once they have approved the
principle of the project St Johns will be able to move forward on all fronts. The
vision is that there will be a lease of the land from the Diocese to St Johns and St
Johns will then manage the details.
1
We will not go to the congregation until we have approval from Diocesan Council.
However, we have kept Parish Council up to date and they are fully supportive of the
project.
While there is a small risk that the Diocesan decision will not be positive, we are
proceedings with the preparation of the rezoning, communications and partnership
development. We anticipate submitting a rezoning application post Diocesan
approval and congregational ratification in April/May.
As far as we are concerned, we are still on track.
Robert met with Vancity for the next phase of consultation and rezoning. They
indicated that they love the project but we should consider taking a more
comprehensive approach, meaning talking with our development partners to fund
them as well.
Trio
In a holding pattern as the Trio is ready to move as information comes to them. They
may be forced to make a decision, but want to have enough information not to give
up something that may be really good. Also under pressure in terms of funding
momentum. Funders are saying we need more than a good idea. We need a location.
An MOU is the critical piece.
3. Questions from the Trio
Land tenure – The Diocese does not want to sell the land. We have always talked
about a 99 year lease and said that to the Diocese.
Building – St Johns would like to see a four story building in terms of maximizing the
use of the land. We have another organization that is interested in their
administration offices being on site. The Trio does not want to be landlords.
There is still the vision of a campus on this site, a campus that already has several
buildings, uses and activities on site. St Johns understands that you need operational
autonomy, but the new building is critical to realizing this campus building. Using
design, we can address this need for autonomy as well as maximizing space use
through sharing board rooms etc.
Time and risk and the two aspects of this project that have to be addressed.
Community Governance – there are lots of resources out there and the model has to
be co-created with the main groups on site. We can educate ourselves and then
come together and talk about what works. It has to be consciously created and
funded.
2
3. Process Moving Forward
Small working group that will work through, in more detail, each of these issues.
Suggest one representative from the Trio and one from the church, with consultants.
Two representatives from St Johns and Robert, and the Trio can decide on how
many people will attend.
Meetings every two weeks in different office spaces of the participating
organizations.
Liz, Karen and Terry for the Trio.
Deborah and Graham for St Johns.
First meeting:
It would be helpful for St Johns to have the Trio walk St Johns through the space
needs discussion.
St Johns would also benefit from an on-site parking figure, and the financial
evaluation of the Trio (what is the Trio’s budget/bottom line for space)
Trio would like a site/facilities tour.
3