GCA Board Meeting Agenda
Tuesday, September 22, 7:00 p.m.
via Zoom
Chair: Laura Smith
Secretary and Timekeeper: Sheryl Lattimore
Board members present: Elizabeth Ballard, Bob Brocklebank, Dan Chook Reid, June Creelman, John Crump, Silvia Grandi, Jennifer Humphries, Carol MacLeod, Brenda Perras, Bill Price, Steph Small, Laura Smith, Sue Stefko, Caroline Warburton, Sarah Viehbeck, Sheryl Lattimore, Kate Reekie, Angus McCabe, Angela Keller-Herzog, Vaughn Guy, Christina Honeywell, Andrew Marquis
Others present: Jonathan McLeod, Shawn Menard, Bhagwant Sandu, Sarah Young, Bruce Jamieson, Jay Miller
Opening Remarks
Laura Smith opened the meeting with an Indigenous reconciliation acknowledgment.
Approval of the Agenda and Minutes
The approval of the agenda was moved by Jon Crump and seconded by June Creelman. The approval of the minutes was moved by Bill Jameson and seconded by Bob Brocklebank. Both were approved without changes.
Report from the Councillor
Shawn Menard welcomed Laura Smith as she assumes the responsibilities of the GCA President. In his comments to the GCA he highlighted a number of ongoing initiatives including: work by City of Ottawa officials to remediate the electrical box outside Scores Pizza on Bank Street; Munk Street construction plans; Pretoria Avenue demolition; public consultations regarding Aberdeen Square; and, the redesign of the Bank Street bridge. Shawn Menard also indicated that the City of Ottawa is working with consultants to determine timelines and next steps for Phase Two of the Firehall Park. In addition, he also provided an update on the City of Ottawa’s Public Health Strategy with respect to COVID-19 and forthcoming changes to the Brewer Park testing facility.
Committee Reports
Parks Committee
Motion 1: Evergreen Glebe Parks Plan
Whereas the GCA is committed to the preservation, maintenance and improvement of Glebe parks, the pursuit of new greenspace space proposals, and accountability in the allocation plans for annual spending on parks; and
Whereas the GCA Parks Committee draft Evergreen Glebe Parks Plan, circulated in report form to Board members for their review on August 21, 2020 and again to new Board members on September 16, contains recommendations consistent with these goals;
Be it resolved that the recommendations of the GCA Parks Committee draft Evergreen Glebe Parks Plan be adopted and approved.
Bruce Jamieson, Elizabeth Ballard and Angus McCabe presented the plan for approval. The motion was moved by Angus McCabe and seconded by Elizabeth Ballard. All GCA committee members present voted to approve, none opposed.
Health, Housing and Social Services Committee
Dan Chook Reed stated that he will begin conversations with GCA partners to determine if the Mutchmor Rink is a viable option for Winter 2020-2021. He also mentioned that Bottleworks, in support of Operation Come Home, will be undertaking a bottle collection in the Glebe.
Other Updates
Caroline Warburton presented the first reading of the GCA’s Budget, which will return to be voted on in October 2020. The GCA’s revenue has been negatively impacted by the need to move to an on-line funding model due to COVID-19, but the overall financial health of the organization remains stable.
President’s Report
Laura Smith thanked all the GCA volunteers for their support to the organization and encouraged everyone to review the GCA bylaws. She also informed meeting participants that consultations are expected to occur shortly concerning the development at the intersection of Bronson Avenue and Carling Avenue and that there should be a public open house in late-October 2020 on the Bank Street Height and Character Study.
Issues from the Community
Motion 2: Consistent Speed Limits through the Glebe
Whereas the Glebe west of Bank Street has a speed limit of 30 kilometres per hour, and
Whereas the GCA asked at that time that the rest of the Glebe also have a speed limit of
30 kilometres per hour, and
Whereas different speed limits in different parts of the community confuses drivers, and
Whereas speeding on the long blocks between Bank Street and the Queen Elizabeth Drive has been an ongoing issue, and
Whereas several blocks of the Glebe east of Bank Street have repeatedly requested that speed on their blocks be lowered to 30 kilometres per hour,
Be it resolved that the Glebe Community Association requests that speed be made a
consistent 30 kilometres per hour throughout the Glebe.
The motion was moved by Carol MacLeod and seconded by Elizabeth Ballard. All GCA committee members present voted to approve, none opposed.
Other Business
Angela Keller-Herzog commented on the Federation of Citizens’ Associations.
Adjournment
The motion to adjourn was moved by Bill Price and seconded by Brenda Perras.