MINUTES

 

GCA Board Meeting

Tuesday, January 24, 2023

7:00 – 9:00 p.m. at the Glebe Community Centre

 

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, Steve Ball, Laura Smith, Christina Honeywell-Dobbin, William Price, Sue Stefko, Carolyn Mackenzie, Carol MacLeod, Angela Keller-Herzog, Della Wilkinson, Catherine Waters, Jason Vallis, Matthew Meagher

 

Others present: Jonathan McLeod, Constable Megan Arbuthnot, Michael Beauchamp

 

Welcome and approval of agenda and draft minutes from November 22, 2022

A motion to approve the agenda was put forward by Della and seconded by Rochelle.

Motion carried. Agenda was approved.

A motion to approve the minutes from November 22, 2022 was put forward by Bill and seconded by Janna.

Motion carried. Minutes were approved.

Report from the City Councillor

Jonathan McLeod provided an update on the following topics:

  • City budget: info on consultations can be found on the Capital Ward website
  • Snow clearing
  • Bank St. soil cell tree project

Intro and Q&A with Constable Arbuthnot 

(Community Policing – Glebe/Old Ottawa South)

 

Constable Arbuthnot introduced herself to board members who may not have met her at the October meeting and offered to take any questions.

 

Q&A:

  • Anti-theft bike registration: Const. Arbuthnot offered to come to community events to promote this initiative. Suggestion was made for her to come to the Great Glebe Garage Sale.
  • Stats and incident reporting: board members had questions about how incidents are counted and reflected in the stats, online reporting vs. calling in.
  • Issue with drivers running red light at Bronson and Fifth. May need extra traffic surveillance here.
  • Impact of idling police cars on air quality was raised as a concern.


Events:

  • March 4th at Algonquin: fundraiser for Special Olympics
  • Coffee with a first responder / partnering with coffee shops in the community – details to be confirmed.

 

GCA Board retreat follow-up: reflections and feedback

 

John and Colette thanked board members for their participation in the recent GCA board retreat and welcomed any feedback that people may have.

 

  • Catherine Waters suggested that an overview of committee work/history might be helpful.
  • Question was raised about records management and archival of GCA records
  • Suggestion was made about committees providing an annual report at the end of the year to be posted on the website.
  • Idea was put forward to have something ready earlier in the year to align with membership drive to help encourage community members to join.
  • Further discussion required regarding how the GCA wishes to proceed with sharing our history with the community.

 

MOTIONS:

Motion 1: that the GCA vote on new area representative for Dow’s Lake

 

Whereas Paul Saurette has stepped down from the GCA board, be it resolved that Jason Vallis be appointed as Area Representative for Area 1 (Dow’s Lake) effective immediately.

 

The motion was put forward by June and seconded by Carolyn.

Approved. Motion carried.

 

Motion 2: that the GCA approve spending $300 on the GCA Board Retreat

 

The motion was put forward by Colette and seconded by Janna.

Approved. Motion carried.

 

COMMITTEE MOTIONS:

 

Motion 3: that the GCA write to the City in support of the DLRA submission re: development on Bronson Ave.

Whereas the DLRA is preparing written comments to the City regarding a significant development proposal on Bronson (at Carling, opposite Glebe Collegiate),

Whereas the letter will be drafted by Kristi Ross, the lawyer retained by DLRA, with financial contribution from the GCA, with input from the DLRA,

Whereas the letter will include comments and concerns regarding the development,

Whereas the DLRA is seeking the support of the GCA in amplifying the comments to be included in the letter to the City,

Whereas the deadline for comments to the City is January 25, but due to extenuating circumstances, the DLRA will be requesting an extension from the City to complete and submit the letter likely the week of January 30,

MOTION:  that the Board direct the GCA Executive to work with the GCA Planning Chair to review the DLRA submission/letter, and, as appropriate, write an accompanying letter to the City in support of the DLRA letter. 

The motion was put forward by Carolyn and seconded by Angus.

Approved. Steve Ball abstained. Motion carried.

Motion 4: GCA membership with the Federation of Citizens’ Associations and Community Associations For Environmental Sustainability (Environment Committee) 

  1. A) Be it resolved that the Glebe Community Association (GCA) continues its membership in the Federation of Citizens’ Associations of Ottawa (FCA-FAC), a forum for citizens associations and similar non-profit volunteer groups in Ottawa with an annual membership fee of $35. The membership benefits the GCA by providing a platform to share information about issues and, when appropriate, takes joint action with other community associations across Ottawa.
  2. B) Be it resolved that the Glebe Community Association (GCA) continues its membership in Community Associations For Environmental Sustainability (CAFES) with an annual membership of $100. The memberships benefits the GCA by providing a network that supports effective environmental action at the municipal level towards creating and safeguarding a healthier and more livable city.  CAFES works to reduce waste; protect parks and greenspace; increase our urban forests and promotes 15 minute neighbourhoods. 

Questions/comments:

  • June suggested revising the motion into 2 parts given that the GCA is already a member of the FCA and has been for over 20 years. Motion was revised accordingly.

 

  1. A) The motion was presented by Della and seconded by June.

Approved. Angela recused herself due to Conflict of Interest. Motion carried.

 

  1. B) The motion was presented by Della and seconded by Angus.

Approved. Angela recused herself due to Conflict of Interest. Motion carried.

 

Motion 5: the regulation of vehicular parking by film production crews and staging of off-duty/“base-camp” film crews

 

Whereas the Glebe Community Association (GCA) recognizes the importance of Ottawa’s film industry to the economy and character of our city; and

 

Whereas ensuring vehicular parking by film production crews and staging of off-duty /  “base-camp” film crews running diesel-fuelled power generators and creating other noise/light pollution issues on neighbourhood streets, including those adjacent to parks (an occurrence particularly acute these days on Clemow Avenue from O’Connor to the barricade) is reasonably regulated will help to preserve the day-to-day quality of life of these neighbourhoods and their parks; and 

 

Whereas the GCA and residents are grateful to City of Ottawa staff and the Ward Councillor for their receptiveness and efforts to date to remediate this issue in our neighborhood; and

 

Whereas codifying such efforts with specific bylaws and/or regulations will ensure that,  similar to how film production is managed by the cities of Los Angeles and Toronto, a regulatory framework is in place to continue both the protection of the city’s neighbourhoods and the viability of the city’s film industry moving forward;

 

Therefore be it resolved that the GCA recommends to the City of Ottawa that it further codify the regulation of vehicular parking by film production crews, staging of off-duty/“base-camp” film crews, and other related activities with bylaws/regulations that could include such measures as requiring that:

 

  • film production base camps be restricted to designated parking lots (i.e. be provided with specific parking alternatives/requirements by the City);
  • only productions being filmed in a neighbourhood be permitted parking on that neighborhood’s streets, only while film production is occurring, and only in the immediate vicinity of the filming (i.e. same street and block); while the base camps remain at the designated parking lots (and equipment from the production site is returned and parked overnight at the base camp);
  • particular attention be paid to the hours that production crews (as distinguished from “base camps” that remain parked at designated parking lots) set up and tear down in neighbourhoods (by a reasonably prescribed hour in the evening (rather than through the night/morning) to help avoid neighbours’ sleep disruption); 
  • there be a limit of permits granted annually for a specific residential site to avoid the potential of it becoming a permanent film set, and that reasonable limits are placed for the length of any given production’s stay at a site, all without being detrimental to the viability of the production itself and Ottawa’s film industry in general.

 

The motion was presented by Angus and seconded by Bill.

Approved. Steve Ball abstained. Motion carried.

 

Committee updates:

  • Colette indicated that the Great Glebe Garage Sale will require some additional volunteer resources this year to assist with fundraising for the Ottawa Food Bank and to develop plans/groundwork to come back to the Board. Also need to consider developing an emergency plan in case of inclement weather. Janna offered to include some text in the next GCA community mailer. Jonathan offered to include a blurb in the next Capital Ward newsletter. Catherine Waters volunteered herself to help with this initiative. 
  • The Transportation Committee provided a brief update on the Active Transportation Fund grant and next steps. The next phase will be the RFP. They are working to finalize documents to send to firms. They will hold public consultations and put together a plan for Board approval. More info to come.
  • Lansdowne: June informed members that a non-profit group called Parkways for People has organized a public consultation scheduled for Jan. 30/23. Shawn Menard and Mark Goudie will be speaking. Carolyn Mackenzie will also say a few words.

President’s Report:

*This item was deferred due to time constraints.

Items for Discussion:

  • June provided an update on the family who was impacted by the fire at The Papery and let the board know that they were able to find a suitable home for the family.
  • Carol informed the board that the Membership Committee will proceed with door-to-door for this year’s campaign.
  • June indicated that there is now a fee to rent a room at the Glebe Community Center. Approx $20.
  • Sue informed board members that a public consultation regarding the Ottawa Civic Hospital will be taking place Feb. 9/23 at 6:30 p.m.

Motion to adjourn: moved by June and seconded by James. Meeting was adjourned.