Rockland
Neighbourhood Association: Annual General
Meeting
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Wednesday February 10, 2010
Grace Lutheran Church, 1273 Fort Street Victoria, B.C.
Agenda
2009 Board of Directors
President: Janet Simpson
Vice President: Richard Cane (resigned)
Secretary: Dave Clark
Treasurer: John Weaver
Past President: Doreen Mueller
Directors:
John Edwards
Lois Johnson
Bob June
Catherine Spencer
Tony Wade
Jay Jennings (resigned)
Randall Walford (resigned) Call to Order
Meeting Duly Called and Members Notified
Confirmation of a Quorum
Announcement of Scrutineers
Featured Speaker: David Speed, Assistant Director, City Parks
Approval of Agenda
Introduction of 2009 Board of Directors
Introduction of Guests – Councillors – City of Victoria Brian Sikstrom
– Senior Planner, Victoria Chief Jamie Graham - Victoria
Police Ray Lonsdale - Victoria Police
Ralston Alexander – Victoria Police Board
Mark Loria Art Gallery of Greater Victoria
Minutes of Feb. 11, 2009
Annual General Meeting
President’s Report Financial Report
Committee Reports Members’ Concerns Report of the Nominating Committee
Election of Directors for 2010/2011
Announcements
Closing Remarks
ROCKLAND NEIGHBOURHOOD ASSOCIATION
Minutes of the Annual General Meeting
held February 10, 2010
at the Grace Lutheran Church
1. The meeting was called to order at 7:35 p.m. There were 40 voting members in attendance.
2. Motion: to approve the agenda (Dave Clark / Lloyd Ollila) Carried
3. Vice President Janet Simpson introduced the
directors in attendance and thanked departing directors John Weaver,
Doreen Mueller, Tony Wade, Richard Cane, Randal Walford and James
Jennings
4. Featured Speaker: Assistant Director of Parks,
David Speed; (with technical support from Chris Hyde-Lay, Assistant
Supervisor of arboriculture).
Urban Forest Strategy
City has 85 parks – total area of 450 acres
40,000 public trees, half in parks, half on boulevards
200,000 trees on private property.
Council initiated strategy 5 years ago, after a series of big storm events –
■ Many trees are reaching the end of their lives, losing vigour, need a replacement strategy.
Must consider invasive plants, diseases, pruning for structure and health
The Official Community Plan and Neighbourhood Plans
will have a role in establishing community-based tree standards.
Benefits from trees include esthetics, climate moderation, fresh oxygen …
Undertook a study and worked with technical staff
and community representatives to develop a strategy – committee hasn’t
met recently, but will be involved in the final draft, expected in 2
months
Focus on 3 areas
How does the city manage their trees?
Currently the average canopy closure across the
city is 17% (Rockland at 34%; James Bay at 19%; Downtown 3%)
502 new trees planted last year, same target for this year
Trees on private property
What tools are available? Tree preservation bylaw,
other strategies. Work with Planning Department. Let your city
councilor know of concerns, issues.
Proactive steps to achieve goals
Tree appreciation days, outreach to residents and children,
Planting trees is relatively easy, but maintenance
for the first 5 years, including regular watering is expensive
There are only 8 staff on the Arboriculture team. Not a lot of resources available.
How can residents help out with watering, pruning broken branches, etc?
Questions from the audience
– (L. Ollila) Recent clearing of all trees on a
property on Despard Avenue – were none of those protected under the
current bylaw? Answer: That was the case – Chris inspected the property
and none were protected under the bylaw (non-native, or smaller than 80
cm diameter)
■ (C. Hartwick) Last year several boulevard trees
were removed on Craigdarroch. Do you have to wait for stumps to rot
before replanting? Answer: Acacia trees were removed for structural
reasons – will be replanting to drought-tolerant maples. Part of the
strategy is changing the selection of street trees e.g., better
resistance to disease and breakage.
■ (H. Hissen). Currently there is not much motivation
for private property owners to be proactive, planting and caring for
Garry oaks on private property. Still paying taxes on lands being
managed for the public good.
(D. Hamilton) 5 Garry Oaks on his property –
last of the grove that once extended between the Crease and Spencer
estates. No support, nothing to preserve then beyond this generation.
(JW) Observation – mature oak, healthy, arborist
maintained by previous homeowner, but new owner cut down the tree, as
it was judged to be within the existing building envelope.
■ (Answer) The concept of the Heritage Tree Program
has been put forward – it will require inventory and recognition of
these assets. Such an investment hasn’t been made yet. At Summit Park
staff are talking to immediate neighbours, developing an option to
introduce a covenant to protect private trees, with Habitat Trust as
the covenant holder. Brooke Daitl is the staff member who administers
the tree preservation bylaw.
■ (J. Weaver) Severe pruning of trees by BC Hydro is
detrimental to tree health –- can’t utility wiring be relocated
underground? (Answer) BC Hydro has transferred responsibility for
pruning to city staff, supported with an annual budget of $80,000.
Underground wiring is not a parks issue, but just a matter of cost.
■ (J. Weaver) – There have been two collections of
leaves in normal years, but this year not until New Years’ eve when a
small vehicle inefficiently gathered the leaves. Boulevards are in poor
shape (muddy, weedy) from that prolonged cover. (Answer) –Leaf pickup
focus has been on Fairfield, Rockland and high Quadra – this year the
order was reversed, and in future years it will go back and forth, with
drainage risk getting priority. Another issue was the breakdown
frequency of the large vacuum units – in some areas it is more
efficient to use smaller vehicles.
5. Introduction of guests
Chris Coleman – Councillor, City of Victoria
• Encourages Neighbours to call him directly if they
have concerns or would like to discuss issues. (w) 250-361-0223
Brian Sikstrom – Neighbourhood Planner, City of Victoria
Jamie Graham, Chief of Police
Ray Lonsdale, Victoria Police crime data analyst
Ralston Alexander - Victoria Police Board
Mark Loria - Art Gallery of Greater Victoria
6. Minutes of the Annual General Meeting - February 11, 2009
Motion to accept the minutes (E. McInnis-Rankin / J. Weaver) Carried
7. President’s Report (Janet Simpson)
Motion to accept the report (J. Weaver / D. Clark) Carried
8. Financial Report (John Weaver)
Motion to accept the financial report (J. Weaver / L. Ollila) Carried
9. Committee Reports:
Motion to accept the Communications report (B. June / D. Schuh); Carried
Motion to accept the Land Use report (B. June / J. Edwards) Carried
Motion to accept the Woodland Garden report (B. June / A. Sebastian); Carried
Motion to accept the Membership report (H. Edwards / D. Clark); Carried
Motion to accept the Social Committee report (D. Schuh / D. Clark);; Carried
10. Resolution
Proposed bylaw change to increase the transparency of each director’s stance on motions brought before the board.
Motion Be it resolved that Bylaw 7.07 which now reads:
“Questions arising at any meeting of the Directors and committee of
Directors shall be decided by a majority of votes. In case of an
equality of votes, the Chair of the meeting does not have a second or
casting vote and the motion fails.”
Be amended to read:
“Questions arising at any meeting of the Directors and committee of
Directors shall be decided by a majority of votes. All votes by
Directors shall be recorded. In case of an equality of votes, the Chair
of the meeting does not have a second or casting vote and the motion
fails.” … (B. June / L.Ollila)
24 for; 5 opposed) carried
Discussion friendly amendment to ensure transparency of voting and a public record.
Motion to add “polled and” so that the new text reads “… All votes by
directors shall be polled and recorded.” (F. Hess / L. Ollila)
Discussion on the amended motion (D. Hamilton) is this going to be too
onerous? Has experience on boards that try to operate by consensus. Are
we going to be able to recruit directors and officers with this model
in force? (D. Clark) Will the Board be able to use discretion in the
exercise of this new requirement when it comes to routine procedural
motions?
Vote on the amendment to the motion 22 for; 5 opposed Carried
Vote on the amended motion 24 for; 5 opposed Carried
11. Members' concerns –
(F. Hess) – Police Chief Jamie Graham’s presentation last year was
good; any perspective on homeless, and crime after a year in that
position? – (Answer) Ray Lonsdale ran statistics today – Rockland is
the 8th largest area of the city, but ranks at number 18 in calls for
service. There has been a steady decline since 2006 – down by 45%.
Break and Enter crimes are down by 80%. More detail can be
included in our next newsletter. A great solution to the crime problem
is adequate housing. The City is making progress on this front. The
Pandora Street situation was an effect of the camping bylaw that
required campers to be out by 7 AM, and they milled around. The City
provided funding to allow “Our Place” to open earlier (at 7 AM) and now
the problem is reduced. Have to fight to keep neighbourhoods livable –
bring the issues to the police – don’t let them slide, or else there is
a cycle of exodus, businesses closing, and deterioration. Force is
actively recruiting, and there are volunteer opportunities. A larger
issue is the patchwork quilt of police departments – city is social and
crime magnet. 58% of taxes come from businesses; the average annual
salary is only $38,000.
(J. Weaver) has written letters to the Solicitor General on behalf of
Neighbourhood and Community Associations supporting regionalization of
police forces. – The answers are political rhetoric, or, more recently,
that citizens have a right to decide on local policing.
(L. Ollila) thanks to the past year’s board. Graffiti group is forming
to take direct action. (Answer) Chantal Ziegler (City Police) is
developing a dictionary of tags, and getting cumulative evidence for
tougher sentences. (Ray Lonsdale) Police web site gives everyone access
to month-by-month crime reports, statistics by neighbourhood. (D.
Hamilton) Graffiti action meeting is scheduled for March 16th, 2010 at
the Grace Lutheran Hall.
12. Report of the nominating Committee
Don Hamilton, Chair of the Nominating Committee,
which included Dave Clark, presented nominations for officers and
directors.
Elections: (all by acclamation)
for Past President: Janet Simpson
for President: no nominations – unfilled at present
for Vice President: Bob June
for Secretary: Dave Clark
for Treasurer: Catherine Spencer
Directors (all by acclamation):
Jean Gubby
John Edwards
Bill Brooks (nominated from the floor by J. Weaver / B. June)
■ Realtor with RE/MAX, concerned about deteriorating heritage properties.
13. Central Middle School garage sale Sat April 24 – drop off goods on Friday April 23rd
14. Motion to adjourn at 9:10 PM (D. Clark/A. Brooks)