GCA Board Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, April 27, 7:00 p.m.
via Zoom
Chair: Laura Smith
Acting Secretary: John Crump
Board members present: Laura Smith, Robert Brocklebank, June Creelman, John Crump, Jennifer Humphries, Carol MacLeod, Steph Small, Angus McCabe, Vaughn Guy, Christina Honeywell, Carolyn Mackenzie, Rochelle Handelman, Elizabeth Ballard, Judy Wilson, Bill Price, Brenda Perras, Colette Downie, Caroline Warburton, Andrew Marquis, Kate Reekie, Sue Stefko, Angela Keller-Herzog
Others present: Shawn Menard, Jonathan McLeod, Sharon Chartier, Roland Dorsey, Rebecca McKeen, Peter Heyck
Opening Remarks
Laura Smith opened the meeting with an Indigenous reconciliation acknowledgment and welcomed guests to the meeting.
Approval of the Agenda and Minutes
The approval of the agenda was moved by Bill Price and seconded by Brenda Perras. The approval of the March 23, 2021, minutes was moved by Carol MacLeod and seconded by June Creelman. Both the minutes and the agenda were approved.
Report from the Councillor
Shawn Menard provided an update on the renovation of the Bank Street bridge, Lansdowne stakeholders’ sounding board, Aberdeen Pavilion repairs, the fire hall park and traffic calming measures.
Great Glebe Garage Sale Committee
Motion 1: Great Glebe Garage Sale (GGGS) 2021 Virtual Edition
WHEREAS the GCA decided to cancel the 2021 edition of the GGGS in light of the ongoing health emergency and public health restrictions. At the same time, the GCA resolved to promote other ways to contribute and donate to the Ottawa Food Bank and promoting environmental benefits such as diverting waste from landfills, including through other platforms to donate sell or gift including GiveShop.
WHEREAS in summer 2021, the GCA raised $1000 in aid of the Ottawa Food Bank through a virtual event lasting several weeks using the Give Shop app. Giveshop is an Ottawa startup that hosts an on-line marketplace allowing the posting and sale of items with proceeds going to a chosen charity. Give Shop takes 15 percent of sale proceeds and item donors receive a tax receipt (should the items sold result in a donation with a value of more than $10). Curbside pickup is encouraged to make it safe/ easy to hand off items, during the pandemic.
WHEREAS the 2021 event saw some postings of high value items on the Give Shop app. However, the event was hampered by the fact that the minimum dollar value for posting items, or groupings of items, was high (was $25 at the time), some residents found using an app more difficult and were looking for a web based alternative and the event was held over the quieter summer months. In particular, this appeared to have a significant impact on interest in buying items through the app.
WHEREAS since last year, Give Shop has grown in size and popularity and has added more charities and a website alternative to the app (see giveshop.ca). It has also lowered the donation value minimum to $10.
WHEREAS holding an event in the Spring, at or around the time the in-person GGGS is normally held (starting the last weekend in May) could draw more attention to the sale and see more items posted and sold through the app to benefit the Ottawa Food Bank. This could also coincide with the planned end of the province’s Stay at Home Order and other COVID-19 pandemic restrictions making marketing of the event through Glebe businesses more viable and visible.
WHEREAS the Ottawa Food Bank supports holding another GGGS -Virtual Edition this Spring. The GCA, Ottawa Food Bank and Glebe BIA as well as Give Shop would collaboratively design a social media and poster campaign to promote the event in the neighbourhood and the city. Some individual businesses have also expressed interest in helping promote the GGGS Virtual Edition 2021. For example, Metro in the Glebe has offered a $500 prize for donations through the GGGS Virtual Edition – with each donation offering an entry and a chance to win.
WHEREAS some Glebe residents will also look for ways to donate directly to the Ottawa Food Bank rather than sell items through the Give Shop marketplace website/ app.
BE IT RESOLVED that the Glebe Community Association launch the GGGS – Virtual Edition 2021 in support of the Ottawa Food Bank the last week of May and over three weeks, with the possibility of a sort additional extension should this appear likely to boost donations.
BE IT ALSO RESOLVED that the Glebe Community Association continue to promote other ways to contribute to the Ottawa Food Bank directly (eg through a weblink for direct donations) and through promotion of other ways to divert still useful items from landfills.
The motion was moved by Colette Downie, seconded by Jennifer Humphries. All GCA committee members present voted to approve the amended motion, none opposed.
Transportation Committee
Motion 2: Queen Elizabeth Drive (QED) Traffic Impact Study
WHEREAS over the past year the NCC has conducted a pilot project involving the closure of the Queen Elizabeth Driveway to vehicular traffic during certain periods;
AND WHEREAS the GCA recognizes the high level of demand for additional active transportation facilities in the Glebe and surrounding neighbourhoods, and the benefits that such facilities bring;
AND WHEREAS the GCA notes that usage of the QED has been high during the periods when it was closed to traffic;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that that the GCA supports further projects involving the closure of the QED between the Pretoria Bridge and Fifth Avenue to provide active transportation space;
AND BE IT ALSO RESOLVED that the GCA request that the National Capital Commission and the City of Ottawa collaborate to conduct a traffic impact study in order to reasonably mitigate negative impacts on the surrounding neighbourhood.
The motion was moved by John Crump, seconded by Brenda Perras. The motion passed with five GCA committee members opposing.
Motion 3: Bronson Transit
Background
Bronson Avenue in the Glebe is a high volume corridor surrounded by increasing residential density. Despite the increasing number of potential riders, transit service on Bronson has deteriorated dramatically in the past 10 years to the point where it is no longer a reasonable transportation alternative for many of those living along the corridor.
Prior to OC Transpo’s route optimization in 2011, Bronson Avenue in the Glebe was served by two frequent bus routes (then the 4 and the 85), both of which served the Rideau Centre. The route optimization process re-routed the 85 off of Bronson, effectively cutting bus service in half on the northern portion of the corridor. Route 4 continued to serve all of downtown and the Market/Rideau Centre.
Upon the opening of the Confederation Line, route 4 was replaced by a new route 10, which now terminates at Lyon Station on the west side of downtown. As a result, riders heading from the Glebe to the eastern side of downtown, the Rideau Centre or points east, must now transfer to the train and ride 1 or 2 stops. While this adds a few minutes to a short inbound trip, it becomes more problematic on the outbound trip, where riders must take the train and connect to a bus that comes every 30 minutes after 6 pm and on weekends. What was a 15-minute trip can take anywhere from 25-40 minutes.
Motion
WHEREAS Bronson Avenue is an increasingly high-density residential corridor that is served by a single bus route;
AND WHEREAS due to frequency reductions and route changes, the quality of transit service on Bronson has been decreasing for the past 10 years while the population increases, making it an unattractive alternative for residents who are taking short trips to the east part of downtown and the Market area;
AND WHEREAS these changes have cost OC Transpo significant ridership in areas in which transit once had a very high modal share;
AND WHEREAS relatively minor changes to the number 10 bus route would make a significant difference for riders coming from inner urban neighbourhoods like the Glebe, and could once again make the bus a reasonable alternative for short trips;
BE IT RESOLVED that the GCA requests that OC Transpo review the number 10 route and extend it to the Rideau Station, and that once service returns to normal levels, that the number 10 be made a true frequent service route that properly serves the inner urban neighbourhoods.
The motion was moved by John Crump, seconded by Rochelle Handelman. Motion passed with one opposing vote.
Parks Committee
Motion 4: Pandemic-related Increase in Garbage Overflow
WHEREAS the current COVID-19 Pandemic has understandably increased the amount of park use and take-out waste, and consequently garbage overflow, in park garbage containers;
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the GCA requests the City establishes a schedule where the garbage is removed more frequently;
AND evaluates and identifies additional locations where garbage containers could be useful.
The motion was moved by Angus McCabe, seconded by Carolyn Mackenzie. All GCA committee members present voted to approve the amended motion, none opposed.
Environment and Parks Committees
Motion 5: Light Pollution at Lansdowne
WHEREAS light pollution disrupts the day-night pattern and shifts the delicate balance of our environment;
WHEREAS a growing body of evidence links the artificially brightened night sky directly to measurable negative impacts including disrupting the ecosystem and wildlife, and harming human health;
WHEREAS artificial lights have devastating effects on birds that migrate or hunt at night and that navigate by moonlight and starlight, causing them to wander off course and killing millions of birds every year, that die colliding with needlessly illuminated spaces and buildings;
WHEREAS light pollution is harmful to human health, due to disrupting the day-night pattern and reducing the visibility of the night sky which many residents value;
WHEREAS the International Dark-Sky Association (https://www.darksky.org/light-pollution/) urges cities around the world to reduce night lighting and combat light pollution, and aims to ensure that “The night sky, filled with stars, is celebrated and protected around the world as a shared heritage benefiting all living things”;
WHEREAS there is increasing evidence that public safety including the deterrence of crime can be accomplished using limited and low-level lighting;
WHEREAS overhead lights installed in Aberdeen Square at Lansdowne Park for Winterlude are currently on from early dusk to at least sunrise;
WHEREAS Aberdeen Square at Lansdowne Park receives lighting from adjacent streets;
WHEREAS Safe Wings Ottawa strongly urges reduced lighting at Lansdowne Park, including turning off Aberdeen Square lighting during night hours, and supports GCA advocacy in this regard;
WHEREAS the City has recently adopted Bird-Safe Building Design Guidelines and is supportive of bird-friendly practices, including the GCA and Safe Wings Ottawa efforts to ensure bird-friendly window treatment at the new Ottawa Public Library and Library and Archives Canada facility (per GCA Motion adopted in June 2020);
WHEREAS night lighting increases energy consumption and costs, thereby working against the goals of the City’s Climate Change Master Plan;
BE IT RESOLVED that the President of the Glebe Community Association write a letter to Dan Chenier, General Manager, Recreation, Cultural Facility Services Department of the City of Ottawa with a copy to Mark Goudie, CEO of the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group requesting that the additional lighting in Aberdeen Square at Lansdowne Park be turned off from 11 pm to 6 am daily. The letter should highlight the harm additional lighting can cause to birds during migration, and cite the endorsement of Safe Wings Ottawa for this request. It should also signal that the GCA urges that lighting best practices with regard to birds be adopted for the Park as a whole, and that the NCC Capital Illumination Plan be used as a guide in this regard, given the proximity of Lansdowne to NCC lands and the Rideau Canal.
https://ncc-ccn.gc.ca/our-plans/capital-illumination-plan
The motion was moved by Jennifer Humphries, seconded by Anthony Carricato. The motion was approved.
Motion 6: Appointment of an Auditor
Whereas the GCA’s year-end is April 30th of each year at which time the organization must prepare its financial statements for the AGM.
BE IT RESOLVED that the GCA requests Ted R. Lupinski, CA to review the GCA financial statements for the year 2020-21 on a pro-bono basis.
The motion was moved by Caroline Warburton, seconded by Vaughn Guy. The motion was approved.
Motion 7: Advertising in Glebe Report
BE IT RESOLVED that the GCA allocate a budget of $260 for a quarter page colour ad in the Glebe Report in order to call for nominations to the Board of Directors and to advertise the date of the Annual General Meeting.
The motion was moved by June Creelman, seconded by Jennifer Humphries. The motion was approved.
Discussions and Updates
15 Minute Neighbourhoods
Carolyn Mackenzie spoke about a Carleton University professor, John Milton, who is looking for support for students to survey residents on 15 minute neighbourhoods. A request has been made to use the GCA’s distribution list for the survey. The request has come through the Planning Committee and the data will be shared with the GCA. Following a short discussion, the board agreed to share the list and looks forward to seeing the results of the students’ work. The survey will go out during the first week of May.
Discussion Item: Changes to the Board of Directors Manual
In advance of the upcoming Annual General Meeting and the naming of a new GCA board for 2021-22, the Executive wishes to update the by-laws and board of directors’ manual (BoD Manual) to include policies and practices that have been developed over the last five years and to provide clarity to the question of co-chairs (a role which is not mentioned in any of the GCA governance documents). The purpose of the discussion at this meeting was to introduce the idea of changes to the manual and board members were invited to give their opinions.
June Creelman and Sharon Chartier, a former GCA board member, provided an overview of three main areas being addressed: the relationship with Dows Lake and Glebe Annex; votes between meetings; and the role of co-chairs on the board. The latter includes an examination of whether committees with two co-chairs should have one or two votes on the board. There was a lengthy discussion about the proposed changes to the manual. Following this discussion, a motion will be prepared for the May 2021 board meeting. Changes are to be confirmed by members at the Annual General Meeting and would become effective when the new Board of Directors is voted in at the AGM. Date on cover page would be corrected to say June 2021.
Discussion Item: Synapcity Study
This item was deferred due to a lack of time and will be discussed at the next board meeting.
Nominations for 2021-22 GCA Board
June Creelman asked for volunteers to support the work of the Nomination Committee to support efforts to recruit new members. GCA Board members that are interested in helping June should contact her by e-mail. June said the positions of Treasurer, Communications, and Chair of the Education Committee will need to be replaced. She asked people to reach out to their networks for potential new board members.
During the discussion there were comments about increasing the diversity of the board to include representatives for tenants, youth and Indigenous peoples.
2021 GCA Annual General Meeting
Laura Smith discussed the timing of upcoming GCA Annual General Meeting. In particular, she was interested to find out if GCA Board members had a preference for either a June or September meeting. The consensus was to hold the AGM on 15 June.
President’s Report
Laura Smith gave an update on an executive meeting that took place earlier in the month, the agenda for which included the AGM, the board manual and the Synapcity proposal on engagement, as well as dealing with an urgent motion from the Environment Committee on collaborating with GNAG and Ecology Ottawa to hand out free trees in May at a date to be determined. A decision was made Laura also said the Glebe Report is looking for distribution managers. An email has been received from the NCC concerning a time to discuss evaluation criteria for the proposed Bistro at Patterson Creek.
Issues from the Community
No issues were raised.
Other Business
There was no other business.
Adjournment
The motion to adjourn was moved by Bill Price and seconded by Anthony Carricato.