Rockland
Neighbourhood Association: Minutes of the Board
Meeting of Board of Directors
April 13th, 2005
Directors Present: Linda Foubister, Catherine Spencer, Helmut Hissen,
Giorgio Amarilli, Yule Heibel, Janet Simpson, Ethelyn McInnes-Rankin,
Susan Bartol-Drinker
Regrets: Doris Schuh, Henry Phillips, Dave Clark, Brian Allen
Guest: Councillor Chris Coleman
Meeting called to order at 19:30.
1. Agenda: Motion to accept as amended: (SBD/HH)
Carried
Minutes of March 9th, 2005: Motion to accept (GA/SBD)
Carried
With corrected spelling of Patly Place
Correspondence
Mail:
City Council Minutes of March 10 and 24, 2005
Letter of March 21, 2005 from Wei Tu to Mayor and Council
Letter from City: Open House in May on expanded secondary suite policy
Notice of Block Watch Meetings
Garry Oak Ecosystems Recovery Team: New inserts for manual
Craigdarroch Castle Announcements
Telephone Calls: Gordon McAllister, Frank Hess, John Graeme re: 1322
Illahie: GA had another tour, and welcomes other Board members for
drop-in tours.
Business Arising:
RNA sent letters to Mayor and Council about density bonus policy,
Spaxman report, and proposed tree bylaw.
Strategic Plan 2005: Motion to accept (CS/EMR)
Carried
Pemberton Trail: March 14th walk with Ken Milbrath. There was concern
about giving up private property, lots of options over fifty years,
worth exploring.
Financial Report:
Membership Account
Balance Dec 31 2004
4574.06
Credits
1670.14
6244.20
Debits
595.99
Balance March 31 2005
5648.21
======
Matching Funds Account
Balance Dec 31 2004
1937.37
Balance March 31 2005
1937.37
======
Garden Account
Balance Dec 31 2004
1371.05
Balance March 31 2005
1371.05
======
Walking Tours Account
Balance Dec 31 2004
2000.00
Debits
270.14
Balance March 31 2005
1729.86
======
Five memberships, four of which are new.
Application forms received: Base grant, Greenways, Artists grant
Committee Reports
Land Use -
Proposal for 1322 Rockland Avenue: will be reviewed at Committee of the
Whole meeting on April 28th at 9 am. Planning Department is not
recommending approval because proposal is not consistent with Rockland
Neighbourhood Plan. Concern expressed that the signatures supporting
the previous plan will be viewed as relevant to the current plan.
Density is defined as floor/space ratio; the term is often misused.
Discussion about RNA policy of requesting the developer and architect
to leave the meeting so the public has greater freedom to express
concerns. CS and HH will write a letter to Planning Department and
CALUC (Alison) for advice.
Chris Coleman Report
Secondary Suites – Looked at Gonzales Plan. Secondary suites have been
accepted in principle, planning open house, concerns with current
illegal suites, implementation for current suites & development of
new suites; may want to consider exclusionary zones, impact on house
prices. HH will draft letter.
Arena was opened!
Tour Buses - report will come later
Strata Title – For duplexes may not apply to 1322; loophole being
worked on.
Police Problem Properties – Fernwood & Burnside – considering a
different process for recalcitrant landlords, considering civil
injunction
Off-leash Bylaw - Draft expected May 1st including signage &
fencing.
Neighbourhood Boundary Linden Street - Bea Holland stated that the West
side of Linden should stay with Fairfield.
Return to Committee Reports
Traffic – emailed from Henry Phillips
“I attended a Blockwatch event at Esquimalt City Hall 23 Mar 05 on the
topic of graffiti, hearing from Insp Gord Gummer of the VPD. Police and
Esquimalt city staff and volunteers have established a program called
"E-TAG" to manage the growing problem, using an integrated approach
covering prevention, education in the schools and, where
necessary, prosecution. See Esquimalt website
http://www.esquimalt.ca/graffiti_removal.htm. (I note a
similar Victoria program, at
http://www.city.victoria.bc.ca/cityhall/currentprojects_downtown_graffiti.shtml,
and http://www.victoriapolice.org/TAG.htm, but the use of Blockwatch
as an outreach method is novel).
In contrast to individual citizens trying to directly 'harass'
various utilities/agencies (hydro, transit,Telus etc) into cleaning up
poles etc, Esquimalt encourages use of the central hotline to
collate complaints and liaise with the appropriate utility or, if
necessary, dispatch a city clean-up crew. E-TAG has a modest
budget, is planning several extensive 'cleaning bees' using
volunteers, and provides self-help cleaning
kits to property owners. There was discussion of the
well-known though somewhat controversial "broken window theory" of
crime prevention, in respect to graffiti (see
http://www.cityofseattle.net/police/prevention/Tips/broken_window.htm )
and some recent prosecutions.
Garden -
Chris will pursue the issue of responsibility for clearing sidewalk of
snow.
Compliments have been received.
Mike Hannah provided a composter.
May apply for a matching funds grant to extend the stone wall. Will
check boundary; Anthony will check price.
Craigdarroch Castle is placing a bench on city property
Community Association Network -
Jack Basey: Docksides is going forward – wave of the future –
pleased with sustainability and LEEDS.
Spaxman Report will be driving force:
Need individual focusing of policy planning
Need a vision for the City of Victoria
Victoria team = Planning + Police + Parks focusing on problem properties
Doug Koch: Alison Meyer will report to Council about CALUC
Density Bonus Policy: How much growth: when and where? Each
community plan should outline what they want in trade for density.
Fairfield hosting a second car-free brainstorming session on April 14
at 7 pm.
Candidates Forum: Fernwood Community Centre, April 23 at 3:30 pm
Welcome Package - delivered to 921 Royal Terrace, 617 and 1041 St
Charles.
Newsletter -
Deadline for next edition will be in June for a July delivery
Walking Tour
Distribution places will be refilled where brochures have been taken.
Land Use Coordinating Committee -
Alison Meyer will take report to Committee of the Whole. There are some
contentious items, i.e. variances should have more neighbour input and
neighbourhood associations’ involvement in plans
Board insurance covers injury. LF noted that directors liability
insurance is available for $750.
Date and time of next meeting
May 11, 2005 at 7:30 pm in the Government House
Volunteers’ Cottage
Close of meeting -
Motion: To adjourn
Carried
Meeting closed at 22:30