Rockland Neighbourhood Association

Meeting of the Board of Directors

1401A Rockland Avenue

May 13, 2015

Present:  Janet Simpson (JS), Bob June (BJ), Dave Clark (DC), Sue Simpson (SS), Norman Clark (NC), John Edwards (JE), Dave McWalter (DM). Marc Hunter (MH), Vanessa Dingley (VD), Stephen Roughley (SR), Chief Frank Elsner, Officer Ross Smith

Absent: Ian Mayhill, Pamela Madoff

Meeting called to order at 19:01

·       Agenda

o   Following added by NC

§  RNA Awards

§  RNA Stationery

§  RNA Minutes

§  RNA Policies and Procedures

o   Motion to approve agenda as amended (BJ/VD)

§  Carried

·       Minutes of April 8, 2015

o   Motion to approve as amended (SR/VD)

§  Carried

·       Police Chief’s Report

o   The Chief discussed the draft strategic plan

§  Four pillars

o   Community mobilization

o   Listening to people in the communities

o   Intelligence-lead policing

o   Evaluates trends across communities with the aim to stop crime before it happens

o   Working with Vancouver which has a computer program that is 80% predictive of crime

o   Communications

o   Need to supplement social media presence with information in traditional media outlets (TV, radio, newspaper)

o   Information push to businesses and 13 neighbourhood associations

o   Being our Best

o   Promote the best and brightest; focus on training and education

o   Focus on fitness has been successful; next area of focus will be mental health

o   Traffic

§  Department looks at accidents, location and causes as primary focus; however neighbourhoods are not forgotten

§  City of Victoria Traffic Department would be pleased to talk about traffic calming tactics; however the data are not indicating issues in the neighbourhoods

§  There are traffic issues not necessarily related to speed

§  Concerns should be sent to Chief Elsner so he can triage issues

o   Discussion

§  Is it possible to reinstitute community police officers?

o   As of Jan 1, there is zone policing

o   The city is divided into three quadrants with officers assigned to each

§  Community Resource Officers (CROs)

o   Chief Elsner would like these in the communities

o   They become familiar with the residents and the area and build trust with the community

·       Councillor’s Report

o   No report

·       Business arising

o   E mail notification to members of dog event-will be updated at next meeting (MC)

o   Letter detailing neighbouthood priorities-will be updated at next meeting (IM/VD)

o   Amalgamation-done; will be put into newsletter and posted on web site

o   Newsletter articles

§  Deer Management-DC to do

§  Hedges and Sidewalks-SR to do

o   Request of pole painters

§  Will be put into next newsletter (SR)

·       New Business

o   Permitting Process for Tree Removal

§  This discussion centered around the Atlas Cedar on the property of the Belmont

§  At the time of the meeting, the topic of the removal of the Atlas Cedar was to be discussed at the May 28 Council meeting

·       The removal permit has since been rescinded; no further action is planned

§  RNA would like to be notified if a protected tree is to be removed on private property in Rockland

§  The question was raised as to whether the current tree preservation bylaw needs to be revamped/re-evaluated

o   Spam

§  Will be discussed at the next meeting

o   Welcome Chair

§  This responsibility is part of the Membership Committee which has a Ian as its chair

§  An additional chair is not required

o   Committee Reports

§  Land Use

·       !745 Rockland

o   Community meeting is scheduled for May 26

o   Plans are due May 18

·       AGGV

o   A balance will be struck between space needed for parking and the removal of Garry oaks

o   Wilspencer/Moss corner may be replanted with a Garry oak meadow

·     1070 Craigdarroch

o   New building will go back to the lot line

o   Garage will front onto Joan Crescent

o   Cypress is registered as an item of interest with the city

·     Seniors Home (previously closed) is now fully occupied

o   Is this a change of use?

·     1000  Craigdarroch

o   Was sold to a developer

·     Pemberton Meadows is for sale

§  Communication

·       No update

§  Traffic

·       No additional update

§  Social

·       GH Soiree will be on August 7

o   Will be put in the newsletter (SR)

·       Dog Event

o   MR will put together a sub-committee

·       Other ideas being considered

o   Open air movie; RNA dog calendar; ceilidh at Craigdarroch Castle; Shakespeare at Craigdarroch Castle

§  Welcome

·       Five visits in the past month

§  Garden

·       RNA will provide Friends of GH with seeds from our albino camas and, in exchange, will be allowed to dump our garden waste in their compost

§  Environment

·       DC met with resident and adjacent neighbours to follow-up on resident’s inquiry regarding on-going maintenance of the path running from Warren Gardens to Richardson

o   Most favour some sort of improvement to smooth out the ruts and address the soggy area

o   A simple and inexpensive solution is needed eg., wood chips on the path

·       DC had an open house to engage residents on environmental issues

o   He will follow-up with a survey

·       A second open house may be held in conjunction with the AGGV Paint-in

·       Grant process is being revamped

o   DC will determine the deadline for submissions for greenways and neighbourhood improvement grants

o   Newsletter

§  Articles to be submitted

·       Belmont Atlas Cedar (JS); Garden (JS); GH Soiree (MH); spotlight on volunteers (JS to be the first)

§  All articles to be submitted to SR by May 17

o   Awards; Logo; Stationery; Minutes

§  Discussion carried over to the next meeting

·       Meeting was adjourned at 21:11 (DC/SR)

·       Next meeting-June 10, 2015 @ 1401A Rockland