Vancouver petting zoo and conservatory to close

The Vancouver Park Board voted to shut down the Stanley Park Children's Farmyard and the Bloedel Floral Conservatory at an emotional board meeting on Wednesday night.

The board also voted to cut funding to community centres and sports and recreation programs across the city in order to make up for a multimillion-dollar budget shortfall.

The park board was ordered to cut $2.8 million from its operations by Vancouver city hall, which is also facing more than a $60 million budget shortfall of its own, mainly due to declining tax revenue linked to the economic recession.

'The city has to live within its means.' Commissioner Aaron Jasper

Commissioner Aaron Jasper, who was one of four commissioners who voted in favour of the cuts, said they were tough but necessary.

"The city has to live within its means, we're not a provincial government. We can't run deficits, and so we've all got to do our part," said Jasper.

But Ian Robertson, who was one of the three commissioners who voted against the budget said it could have been avoided.

"I just truly can't believe that the parks commissioners were not listening," said Robertson, referringto the emotional appeals by the publicat the meeting to save the facilities and programs.

The Sunset Nursery, which grows plants for the city, was saved. The budget now goes to Vancouver city council on Dec. 3 for approval.

Libraries also cutting hours

Also Wednesday, the Vancouver Public Library Board proposed cutting operating hours and reducing staffing in several departments in to meet a $1.35-million budget shortfall in its 2010 operating budget.

The trustees said they were also considering closing the Riley Park Branch in January 18 months earlier than anticipated.

"The library board deeply regrets having to recommendthese cuts in service," said board chair Joan Andersen in a statement Wednesday.

While library budget actually was increased by $800,000 for 2010, the service cuts were necessary because that was not enough cash to cover the increasing cost of all services.

The 2010 library budget now heads to city hall for council debate and to be finalized by Dec. 18.

"We appreciate all the support from the public for library services and we are hopeful that the city will find a way to restore part of the library budget when their deliberations are completed," said Andersen.