APPROVED MINUTES

 GCA Board Meeting

Tuesday, April 23, 2024
Preschool Room, Glebe Community Centre

Chair: John Crump, President
Secretary and timekeeper: Janet Sutherland

Participating Board members: John Crump (Chair), Navroze Austin, Elizabeth Ballard, Bob Brocklebank, Colette Downie, Maggie Gorman Velez, Vaughn Guy, Rochelle Handelman, Christina Honeywell-Dobbin, Angela Keller-Herzog, David Kelly, Deborah Long, Carolyn Mackenzie, Angus McCabe, Genevieve McInnes, William Price, James Stuewe, Janet Sutherland, Catherine Waters, Della Wilkinson, Judy Wilson.

Regrets: Martha Bowers, Anthony Carricato, June Creelman, Laurent Carbonneau, Carol MacLeod, Brenda Perras, Janna Rinaldi, Laura Smith, Elspeth Tory, Catherine Waters.

Community Members: Dave Coyle, Simon Morris, Amanda Rosenstock (Manor Park).

Welcome and Opening Remarks

GCA President John Crump called the meeting to order and welcomed Board members and members of the community in attendance. He acknowledged we were meeting on the ancestral territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe peoples. Quorum was confirmed.

Consent Agenda

The agenda was reviewed and amended to confirm the amount requested in the GGGS motion was $1,600.00 in total.  The agenda was approved as amended. The minutes of March 26, 2024 were approved by consensus, as amended (removed duplication of motion on Lansdowne).

Introduction of Navroze Austin

Navroze Austin was welcomed to the meeting and introduced as the Interim Chair of the Dow’s Lake Residents’ Association.  Membership Committee Co-Chair Maggie Gorman Velez introduced the following motion:

MOTION:
Be it resolved that Navroze Austin be appointed to the GCA Board of Directors as Area Representative for Area 1 (Dows Lake).

MOVED/SECONDED: Maggie Gorman Velez/Della Wilkinson. Carried. MOTION APPROVED.

Report from the City Councillor’s Office

John Crump welcomed Jonathan McLeod from City Councillor Shawn Menard’s office and invited him to provide an update. The following points were highlighted:

  • Great Glebe Garage Sale – The Councillor’s office is involved in discussion with City staff and the BIA regarding a traffic plan.
  • James Tennis Court – several courts are blocked off due to HVAC work being done at the Glebe Community Centre. Shawn is meeting with City staff to reduce the time that the courts will be inaccessible.
  • Queen Elizabeth Drive (QED) – NCC bike days have been announced with no consultation. The QED will be open to cyclists on weekends and holiday Mondays from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (busiest times for accessing Lansdowne for events which will divert traffic into the neighbourhood). Shawn has asked what the traffic plan will be and hopes to mitigate before conversion to the City’s Active Transportation Plan.
  • Glebe Avenue Conversion – the street is being converted to two-way traffic. Bus 56 is being re-routed and there is loss of street parking as a result on Bank Street between Glebe and Clemow. Glebe businesses were not notified in advance. The Councillor’s office is working to resolve this.
  • Lansdowne Redevelopment – The Finance and Economic Development Committee (FEDCO) and City Council approved the Auditor General’s report on how the redevelopment is structured.. Shawn will re-open questions/debate about sole-sourcing and the $200M line of credit in June when the Auditor General’s report on financials and procurement will be submitted.
  • Traffic Calming – re-installations on established streets are running late this year and new calming measures are still under review.

In the question period that followed the following points/questions were raised:

  • Re: Lansdowne, Carolyn Mackenzie asked when the Class B Estimates are expected; response: not sure, may be available through forthcoming architect’s work
  • Angela Keller-Herzog made the point that the HVAC work at the Glebe Community Centre should be environmentally friendly and asked about the heating/cooling mechanism. Jonathan will follow up and get City staff to let us know.
  • Della Wilkinson asked about water and soil sampling that was undertaken at the Glebe Community Centre. Jonathan will follow up and reply to email she sent on this issue.
  • Angela also asked about the cancellation of the City’s consultation process on climate resilience. Jonathan noted that there was an abrupt cancellation of City climate programs resulting in the reduction of staff capacity due to restructuring and the creation of a ‘strategic initiatives’ unit in the Mayor’s office. Jonathan will ask Shawn to update the GCA via email on this situation and support for the Environment & Climate Change Committee.
  • Colette Downie asked if the Great Glebe Garage Sale could get an exemption from the QED closure on May 25th to facilitate traffic in the neighbourhood. Jonathan will share this request.
  • John Crump noted the late notice from the NCC on the QED closures and expressed concern about the changes. The GCA has been trying to get a joint meeting with all parties to discuss, but the poor relationship between the City and the NCC seems to have prevented this.
  • Angus McCabe asked Jonathan to bring Shawn’s attention to an email regarding the Exploration Garden at Central Park which has been damaged, and recommendations on park safety recently sent from the GCA Parks Committee regarding uncontrolled dogs in parks, particularly in Central Park West. There have been incidents of large dogs biting people. It was noted that incidents of dog bites should be reported to Ottawa Public Health, but the role of bylaw officers in issuing fines was also suggested.

John Crump thanked Jonathan for attending the meeting and providing these updates.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Great Glebe Garage Sale – Chair Colette Downie provided the following update:

  • Hoping to exceed last year’s total of $15,000 raised for the Ottawa Food Bank, given increased need in the wider community
  • Will increase social media presence
  • Volunteers will collect donations directly from vendors
  • Have the support of Councillor Menards office in pushing back on City traffic plan to make Glebe and First Avenues two way streets
  • The Councillor’s office is supporting the installation of two portable toilets
  • Requesting funds from the GCA Board to support activities of the GGGS

MOTION:

Be it resolved that the Board approve the following expenses for a total of $1,600:

  • Contribution to portable toilets (2 toilets and a wash station),
  • Marketing and fundraising (printing posters, advertising in the Glebe Report including on-line), and other supplies. 

MOVED/SECONDED: Colette Downie/Carolyn Mackenzie. Carried. MOTION APPROVED.

Lansdowne Committee – Chair Carolyn Mackenzie reminded members of the motion approved at the March meeting to secure an expert planner to support the zoning appeal.  Subsequently the provincial government has tabled Bill 185 which will eliminate third party appeal rights retroactive to April 10, 2024. Our appeal falls within this timeframe, therefore if the bill is approved our case will be dismissed. The GCA’s case management meeting is scheduled for tomorrow and it cannot be postponed, so we have to proceed. The minimum will be done by legal counsel to keep costs low.

The GCA Board of Directors approved the following motion in an electronic/online vote on April 17th, 2024:

MOTION
Whereas the Ford Government introduced Bill 185: “Cutting Red Tape to Build more Homes” on April 10th with First Reading; and

Whereas a provision of the Bill would remove all 3rd party appeals (see Osler website containing summary of the Bill); and

Whereas the Ford government’s own Housing Affordability Task Force Report had recommended removal of the ability to appeal only in relation to affordable housing projects (“Remove right of appeal for projects with at least 30% affordable housing in which units are guaranteed affordable for 40 years”); and

Whereas the GCA is a 3rd party in the Lansdowne appeal, so if Bill 185 passes without amendment, the appeal will be dismissed given a hearing date is yet to be set.

Be it resolved that the GCA advocate that Bill 185 be amended to align with provisions with recommendations of the Ford Government’s own Task Force, namely, that prohibitions on 3rd party appeals to the Ontario Land Tribunal be limited to affordable housing projects as per the Housing Task Force recommendations.  

Upon approval of this motion a letter was written to Minister Paul Calandra and subsequently posted on the GCA website: https://glebeca.ca/letter-to-minister-calandra-re-bill-185/

While it may not affect the implementation of Bill 185, we have joined in the protest against it.

In terms of upcoming important dates, the Auditor General’s report on financing will be tabled in June, with meetings of the City’s Audit Committee meeting on June 24th and then a special meeting on Lansdowne on June 28th.

Health, Housing & Social Services – Co-Chair Deborah Young provided an update on the organization of a Community Safety Forum on May 2nd, in collaboration with the Glebe BIA and GNAG. A panel including Constable Stephanie Lemieux, City Councillor Shawn Menard and MPP Joel Harden will discuss how to respond to challenges related to mental health, homelessness and crime in the neighbourhood. Fifty (50) people are currently registered.  Volunteers are needed to help as greeters and to be a timer. Della Wilkinson was thanked for her support in promoting the Forum at the Sustainability Cafes.  Genevieve McInnes suggested that there should be forthcoming education for children as well on health and safety when finding drug paraphernalia.

Transportation – James Stuewe, Co-Chair of the Transportation Committee, was invited by the Chair to provide comments on the QED closure. He indicated the NCC’s announcement was not surprising, but it was disappointing that communication has been so poor and consultation non-existent. This is Year 3 of QED closures and steps need to be taken to prevent this from happening in the future. By way of other updates, he noted new traffic calming measures that were forthcoming, and the traffic cameras on Bronson.

SPECIAL UPDATE ON GOVERNANCE

Vice-President Colette Downie referred to the report submitted with the agenda and provided an update on steps taken to bring the GCA into compliance with the Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act (ONCA) by the October 2024 deadline:

  • This review is focusing on what is necessary for us to be compliant but is respecting traditional practices where possible.
  • The legislation puts more emphasis on member rights than we have done in the past
  • Board members will be sent the Articles and Bylaw to provide comment and questions on these by May 1st
  • An online meeting for Board members with our legal counsel Kim Cunnington-Taylor, an Ottawa lawyer with expertise in non-profit legislation, will be held on May 14th or 15th with the goal of finalizing the drafts by the end of May/early June and Board approval in June
  • Members of the GCA will approve the new Bylaws at the Annual General Meeting (after having been provided 3 weeks’ notice of meeting and receipt of Bylaws, the annual financial statements, and nominations report). The annual membership campaign must be completed as the official notice of meeting must be direct to members (not just an ad in the Glebe Report or newsletter).
  • Future considerations for other governance changes could include the size of the Board and our committee structure…this is not the focus currently but a Governance Committee could be struck to carry this work forward.

Christina Honeywell-Dobbin raised a point about the need for future onboarding/orientation of GCA Board members to inform them of the Bylaws. Colette noted that there was also the need for education about the rights of members.

ACTION: The Secretary will re-send a reminder to Board members and the links to the Articles and Bylaws for review.

GCA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Vice President Colette Downie reported that in anticipation of the Annual General Meeting, it is time to strike a nominating committee to fill upcoming vacancies on the Board of Directors.  A Call for Nominations will be published in the Glebe Report. It was suggested that Area Reps could let people know during the Membership Campaign. The Executive Committee has proposed a date in September for the AGM, to accommodate completion of the Membership Campaign. As a result, current terms of office will be extended to the AGM.

MOTION:

Be it resolved that:

  • the AGM be set for Thursday, September 12, in person. (Should a suitable venue not be available, the AGM is to be set on Sept 10 or 11 as back-up dates);  
  • an advertising budget of $710 be established to cover print and digital ads in the Glebe Report;
  • a budget of $550 be established for food, drink, other venue costs; and
  • a Nominating Committee consisting of June Creelman, Janet Sutherland and one other individual (yet to be identified) be created to recruit Board members.  

MOVED/SECONDED: Colette Downie/Angus McCabe. Carried. MOTION APPROVED.

In response to a question about guest speaker(s), it was suggested that any ideas for a thematic talk or speaker be forwarded to June Creelman.

ISSUES FROM THE COMMUNITY – None were raised. A number of announcements were made:

  • April 27th Sustainability Coffee House on E-Transportation at the Glebe Community Centre
  • May 4th Annual Park Clean Up Day – 10:00 a.m. to Noon
  • May 5th Sustainability Coffee House on Zero Waste Living at Jim Durrell Arena

CLOSING REMARKS – John Crump thanked everyone for attending and for their participation in the discussions.

NEXT MEETING:  Tuesday May 28, 2024 via Zoom.   

 ADJOURNMENT: Moved by Della Wilkinson. Carried. The meeting was adjourned at 8:42 p.m.