MINUTES

 

GCA Board Meeting

Tuesday, March 22, 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, Rochelle Handelman, Judy Wilson, Cassandra Church, Della Wilkinson, Carol McLeod, Silvia Grandi, Sue Stefko, Anthony Carricato, Colette Downie

 

Others present: Shawn Menard, Giuseppe, David Sweanor, Trevor Boicey, Jane Bower, Constable Mohammed Islam, Katie Gibbs, Patrick Burke, Brenda, Gail, Karen Junke

 

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

 

Laura Smith opened the meeting with an Indigenous land acknowledgement.

 

A motion to approve the agenda was put forward by John and seconded by Angus. 

Agenda was approved.

 

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

Minutes were approved.

 

Introduction and remarks from Constable Mohammed Islam

 

Constable Islam introduced himself to the Board as the new community police officer for the Glebe area. He has a background in Social Work and believes in the importance of community and working together. His objective is to bridge the gap between Glebe residents and the OPS. He provided his contact info to Board members and encouraged them to reach out with any questions/concerns. He looks forward to working with the GCA on issues that matter to the community.

 

Questions:

  • Does Constable Islam have a home base in the community? No, his office is located at HQ on Elgin St. He drives around to patrol the community and will be cycling in the warmer weather.
  • Does Constable Islam interact with schools and children in the community? The initiative to have community police in schools has ended, but he does plan to introduce himself to neighbourhood schools and network with schools and students.

 

Report from the Councillor

 

Shawn Menard provided an update on the following topics:

  • QED/active transportation: possibilities are being considered. The QED may be open for active transportation at certain times. Community associations will be informed when a decision has been made. Concerns re: Pretoria/O’Connor and access to Lansdowne. The Transportation Committee will receive updates.
  • Traffic calming measures: options can be sent to Laura. Updates to be posted in The Glebe Report.
  • Bronson Avenue redesign: public consultation to take place May 4 from 7:00-8:30 p.m. on Zoom. Registration info to come.
  • Lansdowne 2.0: info not yet available on the redesign. Maybe a new stadium on the east side, condos on the north side. Meetings to take place next week, and meetings with community stakeholders to be scheduled. Meeting to take place early April. More events are being planned at Lansdowne, including indoor skateboarding which will continue until April 12, 2022. Lights at Lansdowne are yellow and blue to recognize the ongoing war in Ukraine.
  • Parkland dedication bylaw: info session to take place March 31 and April 5. City staff will present and people are welcome to ask questions.
  • Bank St bridge: construction will start in April and wrap up in the fall.

 

Questions:

  • When will the City go back to in-person meetings? First in-person council meeting scheduled for March 23, 2022. Feedback is helpful and will be relayed to the Clerk.
  • Issues with divots in the sidewalks on Bank St and a hydrant in the middle of the sidewalk. Community is encouraged to put in a 311 report with a cc to Shawn’s office.
  • Concerns re: QED being closed to traffic and the potential for emergency vehicles not being able to get to the hospital. Planning took this into account and it should not be an issue.
  • What lessons were learned from the illegal occupation that took place downtown? There are multiple inquiries happening. The hope is that these inquiries will be independent and result in answers as to how this was allowed to happen.

 

Motions:

 

Motion 1: to approve the use of GCA funds to pay for insurance coverage

 

Whereas the GCA has previously purchased insurance for coverage of $2 million for each of Directors’ and Officers’ Insurance and Commercial General Liability Insurance,

 

Whereas the property manager at Lansdowne required $5 million of general liability insurance for the pop-up gallery last year,

 

Whereas future events or initiatives may similarly require $5 million of general liability insurance,

 

Be it resolved that the GCA board spend up to $650 to renew its Directors’ and Officers’ Insurance for coverage up to $2 million;

 

Be it resolved that the GCA board spend up to $750 to purchase Commercial General Liability Insurance for coverage of up to $5 million.

 

Motion was put forward by John and seconded by Anthony. Motion carried.

 

 

Committee motions:

 

*Motions 2 and 3 were deferred

 

Motion 4: Seeking a Healing Forest Garden at the fire hall park (Parks Committee)

 

WHEREAS the GCA wishes to take advantage of reconciliation and respect-building partnerships with the Algonquin community, the Healing Forests initiative, the City of Ottawa and the Ottawa Horticultural Society’s Community Planting Program at the new seniors’ park; and

WHEREAS spring construction of the senior’s park at 365 O’Connor needs to incorporate changes that will support this approach to park design;

THEREFORE the GCA asks the Councillor to ensure:

THAT a reconciliation, partnership and native plantings approach be incorporated into the final design of the 365 O’Connor seniors park; and

THAT this spring’s excavation plans take these issues into account and include grading and soil removal/replacement for a rain garden, and enabling other plantings that support climate resilience and the resilience of owners of the unceded territories on which we sit.

Motion was put forward by Angus and seconded by Elizabeth. Motion carried.

 

Committee Updates:

 

The Parks Committee provided an update on recent activities and hopes to return to the GCA Board with an updated motion on how best to achieve the GCA’s goal of ensuring that further intensification of the downtown core remains consistent with the city’s commitment to preserving and enhancing parkland and other greenspace in our city’s downtown neighbourhoods.

 

The Health, Housing, and Social Services Committee provided an update on the Seniors Watch initiative. A public health clinic/health hub is looking for 4,000 square feet in the area. The committee may have a motion for the GCA to endorse this.

 

The Membership Committee provided an update on the planned membership campaign. In May, the committee will go door-to-door and will continue with engagement online using the same tools they have used in the past. A motion will come to the GCA next month for the membership campaign and an article will be submitted to the Glebe Report. The Chair of the Environment Committee expressed interest in joining the door-to-door campaign to share information about the tree planting initiative. Further discussion to take place.

 

The Great Glebe Garage Sale (GGGS) Committee provided a written update, included in the agenda.

 

All Candidates’ Meeting:

 

June informed Board members that the plan is to organize another online meeting for the upcoming provincial election. Lucy van Oldenbarneveld has agreed to host the event. Board members suggested that other community associations be invited, but that the event be led by the GCA. The only expense will be the Zoom upgrade. This will be held in mid-May. More details to follow.

 

Questions:

  • Could we do an in-person meeting instead? Could we look at the numbers to see how they compare (in-person vs Zoom)? 
  • Some members expressed their preference for a virtual event due to the ongoing Covid pandemic. One member suggested that more questions from the public be addressed. June indicated that planning would continue with these comments taken into consideration. A motion will be made at the next meeting for the funding required for Zoom.

 

GCA Annual General Meeting:

 

June informed Board members that the AGM is being planned for June 14, 2022 and the event will be in-person at the Glebe Community Centre in Scotton Hall. The room has a capacity of 400 people but attendance is expected to be under 100. Attendees will need to follow the GCC policies as it relates to in-person events during the pandemic. Members were asked about whether they thought it would be a good idea to invite a speaker. In the past, speakers have included MPs, MPPs, Councillors. A suggestion was made to invite our community police officer or a city planner. This item will return to the Board next month for further discussion.

 

President’s Report:

 

Laura Smith provided an update on the following items:

  • Written reports
  • Media requests re: GGGS
  • Seeking an individual to take on the GCA Treasurer role
  • Laura will feature on the cover of Neighbours in the Glebe for April

 

Other business:

 

  • Carol updated the Board to inform them that the Mary Tsai Scholarship fund would support kids enrolled in the GGGS leadership program.
  • Colette informed Board members that they will bring back the “tap” donation option at the GGGs and she asked that anyone who has any ideas to help with writing an article on the GGGS reach out to her.

 

Adjournment

Motion to adjourn the meeting was put forward by Elizabeth and seconded by Bill.

Motion carried. Meeting was adjourned.