Superstar arbitrator Vince Ready, nicknamed “God” by some after successfully negotiating a settlement in the recent provincial teachers’ strike, has stepped into the fray of the very public and litigious battle between six community centre associations and the Vancouver Park Board.
Hastings, Sunset, Riley Park/Hillcrest, Kensington, Kerrisdale and Killarney community centre associations approached Ready last week. According to a letter obtained by the Courier dated Oct. 31, the arbitrator agreed to set the dates of Nov. 5 and 6 aside for mediation. The associations broke off talks with the park board regarding an interim joint operating agreement more than a year ago after what they say were breaches of that contract. Ready began meeting with the associations and park board Wednesday for two days of negotiations, which were expected to end after the Courier’s press deadline Thursday.
The letter, sent to the city’s legal department from lawyer Dean Davison who’s representing the associations in Supreme Court, reads in part, “Our clients have discussed the ongoing matters of contention between themselves and the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation including, but not limited to the ongoing litigation before the Supreme Court arising from the Park Board’s breaches of the Joint Operating Agreements. The above named societies would like to resolve these matters in good faith and in a fair and efficient matter.
Accordingly, they are interested in entering into mediation with the park board to resolve all issues.”
The deal was contingent on the park board agreeing to the terms by 5 p.m. Monday (Nov. 3). The cost for proceeding was set at $5,000 per party. Monday afternoon the park board responded with a prepared statement, which read, “The Vancouver Park Board welcomes the opportunity to meet with mediator Vince Ready and update him on the negotiations which have taken place and are still underway with the majority of Community Centre Associations. Park Board Chair Aaron Jasper and General Manager Malcolm Bromley welcome the involvement of Mr. Ready given the extraordinary experience he would bring to any negotiation. Senior staff will be available to meet with Mr. Ready later this week.”
While the associations were unable to comment on this latest move, Vision Vancouver park board chair Aaron Jasper said Monday the park board was anxious to meet with Ready but had not yet committed to joint negotiations.
“Staff would like to bring Vince Ready up to speed,” said Jasper. “Our stand has always been to work through negotiation not litigation.”
In January, the B.C. Supreme Court temporarily halted the attempted eviction of the six community centre associations by the park board. In a decision brought down Jan. 17, B.C. Supreme Court justice Gregory Bowden ruled Hastings, Kensington, Kerrisdale, Killarney, Riley Park/Hillcrest and Sunset community centre associations could stay put until a court case is heard later this year or in 2015.
The Vision Vancouver-dominated park board served the six associations with eviction notices in the fall of 2013 after the group launched several legal proceedings in Supreme Court regarding the interim joint operating agreement. The associations launched their first lawsuit in September 2013, asking for an injunction against what was initially the forced use of the OneCard, a universal access pass that eliminates the need for individual community centre memberships. The park board also wanted to centralize programs and services at community centres across the city, which the associations say isn’t practical. As well, the board wants to create a new financial model, which when first proposed would have seen all of the associations pooling their revenues and that money being diverted to “have not” community centres. A new financial model has yet to be decided and negotiations are ongoing in cementing a permanent joint operating agreement.
Meanwhile another 11 associations continue to negotiate their joint operating agreements with the park board. Renfrew Community Centre Association announced this week it too had dropped out of talks.
Gerry Massing, president of the Dunbar Community Centre Association, called the negotiations so far, which have included more than 50 meetings, “demanding.”
“Obviously Renfrew thinks it’s taking too long,” said Massing. “But Dunbar still supports the process.”
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But in my personal view, we’re not there yet.”
While Massing said he’s interested to see how talks go between the six dissident associations and park board with Ready involved, he was not able to comment on the ongoing negotiations Dunbar is still involved with.
“On a scale from one to 10?” We all signed confidentiality agreements so I really can’t say,” said Massing.
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