NEWS BRIEFS Mediator books out of contract talks MEDIATION EFFORTS aimed at averting a strike at North Vancouver-based Vancouver Shipyards Co. Lid. (VSY) have broken off and both sides in the contract negotiations are now waiting for Vancouver mediator John Thorne’s recommendations. Thorne, who only entered the labor dispute between VSY and Jocal 506 of the Marine and Shipbuilders’ Union on Monday, booked out of the negotiations on Wednesday. He is expected next Tuesday to deliver a report to the company and the union containing a set of non-binding recommendations. Union business manager Ron Ferguson said an information meeting will be held on Saturday and a vote on the recommenda- tions will be held Oct. 15. “If the membership votes to reject the recommendations, then we'll hit the bricks on Monday (Oct. 15) night,’’ said Ferguson. VSY spokesman Debbie Trinacty said the two sides remain far apart on the issue of wages. VSY's latest offer to the union was $1.11, or 5.0, in the first year of a two-year colicctive agreement and $1.17, or 5.5 per cent, in the second year. The union wants the shipyard to increase that offer by 85 cents in each of the twe years. The union, which is in a legal strike position, has said it would not strike until after its membership votes on Thorne's recom- mendations. NV police search for hotel robber NORTH VANCOUVER RCMP are asking for help in locating a man suspected in a recent robbery at the Avalon Hotel. Two men entered the hotel early Sept. 19 and robbed a clerk of an undetermined amount of cash. While one of the men created a disturbance in the closed tavern area to distract the hotel’s night staff, the se- cond man robbed the ac- counts clerk. The robber has been describ- ed as being a Caucasian male, 24 to 27 years of age, 6’ to 6°2"’ in height, weighing ap- proximately 150 to 160 pounds. He has a very thin build and a reddish blond thick moustache. The man wore old blue jeans and running shoes, a black and red checkered fiannel shirt and had a dirty white bandanna tied around his head. Prior to the robbery, a2 | witness observed a small grey ARTIST'S RENDERING of male suspect in recent Avalon Hotel robbery. station wagon circling the Avalon Hotel. Information re- garding the crime should be forwarded to the Serious Crimes Unit of the North Van- couver RCMP at 985-1311. Friaay, October 5, 1990 - North Shore News - 5 2.5-acre Site in N. Van District considered THE PROPOSED North Vancouver District daycare site o:. Garibaldi Drive could be utilized for several daycare operations according to district land agent Don Sigston. On July 29 council authorized the posting of its intention to use part of the Garibaldi site for a temporary daycare. Four bids were received, in- cluding one from Warm Fuzzies Daycare that was declared invalid because it contained more than one bid, and council resolved in part ‘*...that all offers to lease the district-owned land on Garibaldi Drive be rejected at this time.” Sigston says that, considering the apparent demand for daycare sites as indicated in a recent social planning report. the 2.5-acre site could be made available for sev- eral new or existing daycare operations and provide for a range of facilities that could in- clude infant care, out-of-school care, and group daycare for children aged !8 months to three years and three to five years. The site could provide the re- quired parking, siting areas for the necessary buildings (Warm Fuzzies has already bought a portable for its daycare), and a common playground for the children. Council voted Monday night to instruct staff to conduct site fea- sibility studies and report back on Oct. 15. A motion proposed by Ald. Er- nie Crist that would have allowed Warm Fuzzies to lease a portion of the site whatever the outcome of the survey and subsequent staff report was defeated in a 3-3 vote. Aldermen Craig Clark, Joan Gadsby and Bill Rodgers were opposed; Ald. Rick Buchols declined to vote on the issue after declaring a possible conflict of in- terest. Council also agreed to convene an action forum with childcare agencies to review and evaluate the district’s study on childcare needs, to elaborate on respective roies and responses by different agencies, and to plan the next steps to address childcare needs. Invitations to the forum will be sent to: eall district group daycare and out-of-school care operators; ethe family daycare and preschool associations on the North Shore; *other community agencies in- volved in children’s services to district residents: erepresentatives of other gov- ernment and public agencies in- cluding: Capilano College Early Childhood Education Department, the provincial Ministry of Social Services, North Vancouver School Board, the North Shore Board of Health, North Vancouver City, Not all North Vancouver City parks are maintained to the same degree From page 3 designation is for single-family housing. Could be developed as a passive park at a cost of $20,000. Annual maintenance costs: $2,000. Estimated value of the property if sold for development: $800,000 to $1 million. eAn 8.88-acre area adjacent to Loutet Park at 18th Street and Williams’ Avenue. Zoned for single-family residential. Use, ac- cording to the OCP, ‘‘to be determined by special study.’’ Costs to develop into passive park: $400,000. Annual maintenance costs: $70,000. Estimated worth of land if sold for development: between $4.1 and $5.5 million. The amounts estimated for de- veloping and maintaining the parks are based on the city install- ing drainage control, removing deadfall, creating pathways, pro- ducing signage, and making the parks wheelchair accessible, said city engineer Chuck Gale. But Morris pointed out that such tasks are not carried out in every city park. Using Greenwood Park as an example, he said that none of the work outlined had been done there, and the budget for maintenance in the 25-acre park has been ‘‘zero."’ “The probability is that this kind of expenditure wouldn’t oc- cur at all,’* he said. But Gale replied that staff made some assumptions as to what might be done. He added that if council sees fit, any of the projects could be postponed or omitted, thus reduc- ing the cost of development and the amount of maintenance need- ed. Council amended its motion to indicate that the public should be informed that the referendum is not financially based. “We are not voting for sums of money,*’ said Mayor Jack Loucks. “There is no compulsion by council to spend money this year, next year, or ever’’ if the public votes in favor of dedicating the parks, added Ald. Rod Clark. The city currently has 345.83 acres of park and open space, in- cluding Loutet and Eastview parks. While all of these areas are designated as parks or open space, only dedicated parks are protected from future development without public approval. for multiple daycares tions identified through the forum would be returned to council for consideration. NORTH VANCOUVER _ DISTRICT COUNCIL FF otHiN UNEXPECTED... By Martin Millerchip 4 NOTHING UNEXPLAINED... Contributing Reporter West Vancouver District, and the District Advisory Commission on Community Services. According to district social planner Rupert Downing the op- GRANT BOTTO —REALTOR— Call me today for a complimentary market evaluation. @ HOOURARDS CORRECTION In Woodward's Baby Week/Toy Sale flyer selling Septernber 26 through Octoner 8. the Diary on page 13 at 2 991s not exactly as shown Woodward's apologizes to its customers for any inconvenience this error may have caused 984-9711 (ez) INCOME TAX TRAINING SCHOOL © obtain a new skill * make taxes work for you .° enhance your tax knowledge « step-by-step program For More Information Call: 985-3646 Right ix Downtown West Vaucower SheSmbleside Inn Coutinental cuisine at its best Dinwon Douce every Friday & Saturday Private Roow for Weddings and Meetings Don't horget to call for Thanksgiving Dinner Bubhet Bruck Sundays tlaw - 3pue Dinner Tuesday - Sunday Spw Lunch Tuesday - Feiday (30a 922-0101 1495 Worine Drive, West Vancouver