MINUTES
GCA Board Meeting
Tuesday, February 28, 2023
7:00 – 9:00 p.m. via Zoom
Chair: John Crump, President
Secretary and timekeeper: Janet Mayhew
Board members present: John Crump, Janet Mayhew, June Creelman, Colette Downie, Angus McCabe, Janna Rinaldi, Rochelle Handelman, James Stuewe, Christina Honeywell-Dobbin, William Price, Sue Stefko, Carol MacLeod, Angela Keller-Herzog, Della Wilkinson, Catherine Waters, Jason Vallis, Debbie Long, Maggie Gorman, Brenda Perras, Elizabeth Ballard
Others present: Jonathan McLeod, Michael Dobbin, Nicole Allen, Roland Dorsay, Jane Bower, Mark Asfar, Nicholas Hofley, Reuben West, Heather, Brooke MacDonald, Lauren, Peter, Susan Bernard, Jay, Alex Stecky-Efantis, Cindy
Welcome and approval of agenda and draft minutes from January 24, 2023
A motion to approve the agenda was put forward by Della and seconded by Colette.
Motion carried. Agenda was approved.
A motion to approve the minutes from January 24, 2023 was put forward by Janna and seconded by Rochelle.
Motion carried. Minutes were approved.
Report from the City Councillor
Jonathan McLeod provided an update on the following topics:
- City of Ottawa budget (vote happening Mar. 1)
- Bank Street transportation project
- Ottawa Hospital/LRT at Dow’s Lake study
- Wastewater projects
- Pretoria reconstruction
- Bank Street Bridge finishes
- Aberdeen Pavillion and Square
- GCC air cool condenser unit
- Browns Inlet signage
- Speed cameras in the neighbourhood
Q&A: Board members asked about work at the GCC, signage at Browns Inlet, and a sign regarding sledding dangers near Browns Inlet. Jonathan to follow up with more details.
MOTIONS:
Motion 1: that the GCA approve the renewal of its Volunteer Canada membership at the cost of $150
Motion was presented by June and seconded by Angus.
Approved. Motion carried.
COMMITTEE MOTIONS:
Motion 2: request for sound barriers and noise study (Transportation)
Whereas the section of the Queensway in central Ottawa that passes through the Glebe and Centretown, some of the densest residential areas in Ottawa, and yet is one of the few sections of the Queensway without continuous noise barriers;
And whereas the GCA regularly receives numerous complaints from residents and has heard concerns from parents and students of Glashan Public School which is immediately adjacent to the highway;
And whereas high noise levels have a negative impact on the quality of life in urban neighbourhoods, with recent research showing a correlation between noise pollution and negative mental health impacts;
And whereas the GCA has received various assurances over the years that noise barriers would be added when construction took place on this section of the highway;
And whereas the Midtown Queensway bridge replacement project is currently underway and will encompass the entire portion of the highway in Central Ottawa;
Therefore;
The GCA requests that the Ministry of Transportation and the Province of Ontario formally commit to the installation of continuous noise barriers along the Queensway from Booth St. to the Rideau Canal no later than the completion of the Midtown Bridge Replacement Project and that the MTO explore opportunities to install noise barriers earlier;
The GCA requests that a formal noise study be conducted in accordance with 2013 provincial standards along the entire corridor, for both background noise levels and peak noise levels, with comprehensive community consultations included as part of the study.
Motion was presented by James and seconded by Elizabeth.
Approved. Motion carried.
Motion 3: application to the City of Ottawa Community Environmental Project Grant Program
Whereas the City of Ottawa has declared a climate emergency and has adopted an ambitious climate change master plan;
Whereas on February 2nd, 2023, the City of Ottawa sent the Glebe Community Association an email seeking applications for its Community Environmental Project Grant Program (CEPGP) looking for community-based initiatives that support an environmental sustainable Ottawa;
Whereas the GCA environment committee met on February 23rd, 2023 to brainstorm ideas that cumulated in five events over a 10-month period starting in October 2023 focused on the sharing of experiential knowledge on sustainable projects in the Glebe;
Whereas each event will focus on one aspect of sustainable living including Homes, Gardens, Transport, Energy, and, Food & Waste and will be set-up as a coffee house so that neighbours can learn from the lived experience of neighbours;
Whereas the events will be held in the main hall of the Glebe Community Centre on a Saturday morning in the months of October, November, January, April and May;
Whereas the events will seek sponsors from the Bank Street BIA to provide coffee and tea who will have their business featured on associated promotional material;
Whereas the costs associated with these events will include room rental, printing of promotional materials such as posters, postcards and a feedback survey;
Whereas the in-kind contributions of volunteers and donations must be equal or greater than 33% of the projects value;
Whereas the impact of the project will be evaluated by the number of attendees, results from attendee feedback surveys and an article submitted to the Glebe Report.
Therefore:
Be it resolved that, the GCA strongly supports the environment committee developing a fully costed CEPGP application for the March 31st, 2023 deadline.
Motion was presented by Della and seconded by Elizabeth.
Approved. Motion carried.
Motion 4: that the GCA recommend to the City measures to ensure Long Term Health and Viability of Brown’s Inlet Park
Whereas the Glebe Community Association (GCA) has heard concerns from area residents about the long term health and viability of Brown’s Inlet Park and;
Whereas it is recognized that the long term viability of trees, habitat, and limited active recreational play spaces in small city parks adjacent to natural bodies of water and ecosystems such as Brown’s Inlet may need protection;
Therefore be it resolved that the Glebe Community Association
- recommends to the City of Ottawa that there be a City-led process of public engagement on Brown’s Inlet Park to explore measured, data-driven solutions that will promote the long-term health and usability of the park for all residents, such as:
○ evaluation of the health of park trees and recommendations for any remediation required to maintain the ongoing health and protection of the trees and other vegetation against all foreign contaminants
○ enhanced vegetative buffer zones along water courses
○ more, user friendly and accessible containers for the separate, safe, environmentally friendly, disposal of feces, perhaps already successfully piloted in Ottawa and other jurisdictions, and emptied as regularly as possible
○ reasonable, balanced regulation of activities that may be damaging or disruptive of the park’s short-and long term recreational and/or environmental milieu.
Questions/comments:
- Friendly amendments were suggested to revise the motion.
- Community members shared their concerns about this motion.
- It was agreed that feedback should be provided to the city and that expertise by professionals is important.
- Jonathan from City Councillor Shawn Menard’s office indicated support for separate containers for dog waste and noted that work is being done on this. Pilot to be expanded.
Motion was presented by Angus and seconded by Elizabeth.
Board members voted on friendly amendments which were defeated.
Original motion was approved by a majority and carried.
COMMITTEE UPDATES:
Brief updates were provided by:
- Heritage Committee: implications of the “More Homes Built Faster Act”
- Transportation Committee: sound barriers along the 417
- Planning Committee: the GCA Executive approved a motion to send a letter in support of the DLRA re: development at Carling and Bronson outlining remaining issues with the development.
- Environment Committee: work is being done to implement more green bins in schools
- Lansdowne Committee: meaningful public consultations are needed to restore public trust. Letter was sent to the Mayor outlining GCA’s concerns, in coordination with other community associations.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT:
John Crump informed board members about Steve Ball’s resignation from the board given his recent move to a different area of the Glebe. The board is seeking a new representative for the Lansdowne area.
ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION:
Colette provided an update to board members regarding changes to the Ontario Not for Profit Act and the impact that would have on board activities. Additional details were provided by email and further discussion to take place at future meetings.
ADJOURNMENT:
Motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Bill and seconded by James.
Meeting was adjourned.