MINUTES

 

GCA Board Meeting

Tuesday, January 25, 2022

7:00 – 9:00 p.m.

 

Chair: Laura Smith, President

Secretary and timekeeper: Janet Mayhew

 

Board members present: Laura Smith, June Creelman, John Crump, Janet Mayhew, Angus McCabe, William Price, Elizabeth Ballard, Janna Rinaldi, Carmen Sanchez, Carolyn Mackenzie, Dan Chook Reid, Rochelle Handelman, Vaughn Guy, Judy Wilson, Sue Stefko, Bob Brocklebank, Deborah Long, Silvia Grandi, Colette Downie, Brenda Perras

 

Others present: Yasir Naqvi MP, Monica Fathallah, Jonathan McLeod, Jay Miller, Eric Nicol, Patricia Lightfoot, Dana Rogers, Chitra Roy, Sheila Vaselnak

 

Welcome and approval of agenda and draft minutes from November 23, 2021

 

Laura Smith opened the meeting with an Indigenous land acknowledgement.

 

A motion to approve the agenda was put forward by Janna and seconded by Bob. 

Agenda was approved.

 

One change to the minutes was requested. It was suggested that the minutes reflect more clearly that the motion re: cannabis retail stores was carried.

 

A motion to approve the minutes with the minor revision was put forward by June and seconded by Colette. 

Minutes were approved.

 

Introduction and remarks from Yasir Naqvi, MP

 

MP Naqvi introduced himself to Board members, many of whom remember him from his previous role as MPP. He indicated that he has been meeting with other community associations and business improvement areas and he looks forward to working with the GCA, our City Councillor, Shawn Menard, and our MPP, Joel Harden.

 

He outlined his priorities in the following areas:

  • Covid-19 pandemic: support for people and businesses, and encouraging vaccinations;
  • Affordable housing: including community housing and solutions to Ottawa’s chronic homelessness, leveraging federal lands to build social and affordable housing;
  • Climate change: taking aggressive action, making sure plans are implemented, looking at local level solutions, encouraging more active transportation, air quality and traffic impacts, greenspaces and tree canopy
  • Racial injustice and reconciliation: more representation in public services and communities, efforts to be more progressive and inclusive

 

Board members had an opportunity to ask questions. The following topics were raised:

  • Ottawa Civic Hospital development and concerns re: traffic
  • Affordable housing: Bank at Chamberlain identified as a property that should include affordable housing

 

MP Naqvi encouraged Board members and the community to contact his office directly if they have any questions or concerns.

 

Report from the Councillor

 

Jonathan McLeod from Councillor Shawn Menard’s office provided an update on the following items:

 

  • Town Hall meeting re: developer influence taking place Feb. 24 (more details on the website)
  • Heritage issues and properties on the registry
  • Ottawa Civic Hospital and the proposed designs for the parking garage
  • Bronson re-design
  • Queen Elizabeth Drive and Colonel By
  • 275 Clemow and the construction and blasting that is ongoing
  • Lansdowne: transportation, access, flow

 

Board members had an opportunity to ask questions. The following topics were raised:

  • Taggart building: 17 storeys when approval was for 16 storeys
  • Transportation: safety audit of Bronson was conducted. Details to be shared with Shawn’s office
  • Closing of QED to traffic and concerns re: increased traffic in the community

 

Committee motions

 

Motion 1: Transportation Pilot Study (Transportation Committee)

 

Whereas the GCA Transportation Committee has a mandate to promote active transportation safety in the neighbourhood;

And whereas the Committee has been presented with an opportunity to work with a professional in the field to conduct a pilot study of the neighbourhood which will produce a report that can provide a basis for advancing GCA positions with the City of Ottawa;

And whereas opportunities for external funding sources for the study have been identified which may allow for the study to proceed;

Be it resolved that the GCA endorses the initiative of the GCA Transportation Committee, in partnership with Councillor Menard’s office, to draft a proposal to attempt to secure funding for a pilot study, the scope and structure of which would be subject to further approval by the GCA.

 

Discussion:

Question was asked whether the GCA could partner with other organizations working on active transportation. Response from John was that yes, the scoping exercise will look at this.

 

Motion was presented by John and seconded by Rochelle. Motion carried.

 

Motion 2: Great Glebe Garage Sale 2022 (GGGS Committee)

To maximize the chances of the sale taking place, it is recommended that the GCA continue to advertise the GGGS date and communicate that whether the sale takes place will be subject to public health rules/ requirements applicable at the time. The GCA should look to make a final decision no later than 2 – 3 weeks ahead of the Sale date to provide the BIA and community organizers with some certainty on planning.

Motion was presented by Colette and seconded by June. Motion carried.

Motion 3: GCA submission for parkland dedication bylaw review (Parks Committee)

 

Whereas the City of Ottawa is reviewing its Parkland Dedication Bylaw as a result of the Province’s COVID-19 Economic Recovery Act;

 

Whereas the Glebe Community Association (GCA) continues to see the need for the City to require parkland dedication as a result of development, and the provision of contributions in lieu of parkland where the provision of parkland is not feasible;

 

Whereas the GCA sees the need for policies for parkland dedication in communities that are parkland-deficient (based on the City parkland target of 2 hectares per 1,000 residents);

 

Therefore Be it Resolved that the GCA recommends the following:

 

  1. That the City of Ottawa continue to provide for the provision of parkland as a result of development (first priority), including the provision of contributions-in-lieu of parkland where parkland dedication is not feasible;
  2. That the City of Ottawa implement the target parkland policies as identified in the City’s Parks & Recreation Facilities Master Plan to meet population growth (eg 2 hectares per 1,000 residents);
  3. City staff, as part of their review of the bylaw, should consider its impacts in light of the Parks & Recreation Facilities Master Plan’s target of 2 hectares per 1,000 residents and should explore opportunities and means whereby a revised bylaw can better target added density through development and building permit applications to contribute towards closing the gap, especially in neighbourhoods which are severely deficient in parkland per capita.  The FCA recommends that the criteria under the relevant table under Part II Conveyance and Payments be primarily density related either to the number of units or expected number of residents;
  4. That in any community or ward that is deficient in meeting the City’s parkland target of 2 hectares per 1,000 residents, the allocation of contributions-in-lieu of parkland be 100% to the ward (instead of the current 60% to the ward, 40% to the City-wide fund default). Consideration should be given to more active use of designations of “special districts” under the bylaw or in secondary plans (cf the Preston-Carling Secondary Plan).  
  5. And that the current City policy established in 2010 of not collecting contributions-in-lieu of parkland be rescinded.

 

Motion was presented by Angus and seconded by Elizabeth. Motion carried.

 

Motion 4: Creation of ad hoc committee for City’s rezoning of 30-48 Chamberlain Avenue (Planning Committee)

 

Whereas the GCA has filed an appeal of the City’s rezoning of 30-48 Chamberlain Avenue to allow for a 16 storey mixed use building;

 

Whereas Carolyn Mackenzie, Chair of the GCA Planning Committee will act as the GCA’s Lead on the appeal effort;

 

Whereas preparation of the appeal will include discussions and decision-making on short notice;

 

Whereas the nature of appeal process requires confidentiality of these discussions;

 

Be it resolved that an Ad Hoc Committee be struck for the purpose of providing advice and guidance to the Lead on preparation of the appeal on a confidential basis. 

 

The Ad Hoc Committee would include, but not necessarily be limited to: Carolyn Mackenzie, Peter Hook, Matt Meagher, June Creelman, and Bob Brocklebank. Neither the Lead of the Ad Hoc Committee would have authority to commit to any financial expenditures on behalf of the GCA without prior approval of the GCA Board. The Committee will continue to engage with residents impacted by this development while seeking resolution of the appeal in accordance with previous positions of the GCA. Further, the Committee will provide updates to the GCA Executive as often as possible, and as appropriate, to the GCA Board.

 

Discussion:

A question was raised regarding the involvement of an impacted resident on the committee. Carolyn explained that the GCA and residents filed different appeals, so there may be different concerns/views.

 

Motion was presented by Carolyn and seconded by John. Motion carried.

 

Committee Updates

 

Health, Housing & Social Services

 

Update on the following initiatives:

  • Bottleworks: next collection to take place February 19 and March 19. 9:30 am to 12:30 pm at Kundstadt Sports
  • Snow Moles: people interested can check out the website: https://coaottawa.ca/snowmoles/
  • Affordable Housing: more to come in an upcoming issue of the Glebe Report

 

Membership Committee

 

The Membership Committee is looking at software options to handle their membership processes and information.

 

Silvia also informed Board members that she will be moving out of the Glebe and the GCA may wish to find a new representative for the Glebe-2nd / Bank-Canal area.

 

Transportation Committee

 

The Transportation Committee provided an update on the following topics:

  • Pilot study on traffic in the Glebe
  • Improving safety around Mutchmor/Corpus Christi schools and traffic calming in the area
  • Concerns with QED closure
  • Snow Moles program

 

Heritage Committee

 

The Heritage Committee provided an update on the following topics:

  • Demolition Request for 5 Cobalt
  • Objective of GCA Heritage Committee
  • Heritage Register Properties in the Glebe

 

The Heritage committee is considering other areas of the neighbourhood that could be classified as ‘heritage conservation districts’ and they may bring a motion to the board about this soon. 

 

Items for Discussion

 

Draft communications protocol


Janna presented an update on the draft communications protocol and Board members had a chance to ask questions and provide feedback. 

 

A question was raised about the reach and intended audience of our communications. For example, info about the Glebe Garage Sale would be targeted to people beyond the Glebe. Colette will send feedback to Janna.

 

Another question was asked about how the GCA handles media requests.

 

The comms protocol will be voted on at the February meeting.

 

President’s Report

 

Laura provided an update on the following:

 

  • Update on the bistro: Laura and June met with the NCC in December; we understand they also met with those who live closest to the bistro. They are planning to put out a survey in February (TBC) as part of the evaluation of the bistro pilot project. We will be sure to share the link with GCA members. NCC staff will then make a recommendation to their senior management about the future of the pilot project.
  • Hospital: On request of the Environment Committee, the GCA executive passed an urgent motion in December to request that a full environmental assessment be done at the hospital site. Laura subsequently wrote to the Minister of the Environment (https://glebeca.ca/2986-2/). [*Please see the detailed motion included at the end of the minutes.]
  • Secondly, Laura attended two sessions with the City, other community associations and advocacy groups to discuss mobility around the hospital site and trees / landscape design. Laura reiterated the GCA’s positions on these two topics. The minutes from the sessions can be found on the City’s devapps site.
  • Glebe BIA: Laura had an introductory phone call in December with Patrick Burke, the new executive director of the Glebe BIA. She shared some of the areas where we have worked with the BIA in the past, as well as other issues that are top of mind for the GCA.
  • New Ottawa Police community police officer: Constable Mohamed Islam is our new community police officer. We will look to invite him to a board meeting in the future.

 

Adjournment

 

Carolyn presented a motion to adjourn. The motion was seconded by Bill.

Meeting was adjourned.

 

Motion regarding need for an Environmental Impact Assessment at the new campus of The Ottawa Hospital

Whereas on October 13, 2021, City of Ottawa Council approved The Ottawa Hospital (TOH) Master Site Plan application for its new campus on the site of Queen Juliana Park, and lifted the holding provision;

Whereas included with the application were a Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment (dealing with site contamination and related environmental issues) and an Environmental Impact Statement and Tree Conservation Report;

Whereas in May 2021, the Environmental Impact Statement recommended further study be undertaken with respect to potential impacts to the natural environment as a result of the proposed project including:

  • Species at Risk Assessment (Federal SARA) and targeted field studies
  • Acoustic Bat Surveys
  • Breeding Bird Survey, including Raptor Nesting Survey
  • Snake Basking Survey
  • Migratory Bird Habitat

Whereas the Environmental Effects Analysis Report combined with the Environmental Impact Statement and Tree Report are minor assessments that were commissioned by TOH, and do not constitute an independent report;

Whereas the Master Site Plan includes a parking garage for 2500 cars (comparable to what exists at the Ottawa Airport), slated for construction in March 2022;

Whereas a substantial number of the 524 mature trees to be removed for TOH construction are being removed to accommodate the parking garage and (to be constructed later) above ground parking;

Whereas the site provides only limited integration with public transit;

Whereas both the tree removals and car-focused transportation plan are incompatible with the climate emergency as declared by the City of Ottawa in April 2019;

Whereas the land rests on unceded and unsurrendered Algonquin territory and consultation with the Algonquin leaders about the environmental impacts of TOH new campus were inadequate;

Whereas TOH new campus development is on federal land (50 acres) and thus falls within the authority of the Impact Assessment Act (IAA) as a designated project where physical activities may cause a change to the natural environment that are within the authority of Parliament such as the Species at Risk Act or the Migratory Birds Convention Act 1994.

Therefore:

Be it resolved that, while the GCA supports the need for a new campus of TOH, the GCA urgently requests that an independent and public Environmental Impact Assessment be completed for the new TOH campus before ground is broken for construction;

Be it resolved that the GCA President write to the Federal Environment Minister (copied to Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Hon. Marie-Claude Bibeau, Parks Canada President and CEO Ron Hallman, Heritage Minister Hon. Pablo Rodríguez, Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott, and Mayor Jim Watson) expressing support for the request of the MPP and Councillor, urging that the Minister request an Environmental Impact Assessment;

Be it further resolved that the GCA bring this concern to the attention of residents in the GCA newsletter and sharing the GCA letter to the Minister on the website.