Meeting of Board of Directors
September 14th, 2005
Directors Present: Linda Foubister, Helmut Hissen, Giorgio Amarilli,
Yule Heibel, Janet Simpson, Dave Clark, Brian Allen
Regrets: Doris Schuh, Henry Phillips, Catherine Spencer, Ethelyn
McInnes-Rankin, Susan Bartol-Drinker,
Guest: Councillor Chris Coleman
Meeting called to order at 19:35.
1. Agenda: New items: Municipal Election, Bottle gatherers,
VUDA
Motion to accept: as amended (DC/HH)
Carried
Minutes of June 8th, 2005: Motion to accept (CS/GA)
Carried
Chris Coleman Report
Rockland Ave. speed limit enforcement wave coming.
ACTION: we will send a message through the e-mail list that the RNA has
lobbied for more enforcement and hopes for action.
Community Gardens – Tax incentive proposal for allotment gardens may
apply to our neighbourhood garden.
Spray Park– Rotary: $100,000, Parks & Rec: $30,000, City Hall:
$20,000.
Dogs off leash– Smooth implementation of phase 1.
Secondary Suites – Facilitated discussion is coming.
Spaxman Report Implementation - is being considered.
Terrace Ave. – concern about resident parking
Fort St. bike lanes - will monitor neighbours’ feedback.
Open Door / Upper Room – will merge into a new facility “Our Place”.
Looking for alternate location during two year construction period.
Harm Reduction Policy Workshop – Oct. 4, 5.
Despard – Gonzales intersection realignment – proceeding.
Correspondence
Mail:
City Council Minutes: various dates
September 22 public hearing on land use bylaws
Letter from Real Estate Board detailing concerns with secondary suite
policy
Harm Reduction policy on the City website – comments until November
Craigdarroch Castle news
Cary Bulletin – Craft Fair November 9th, through 11th. Potential
conflict with RNA board meeting?
Motion: LF to query Friends of Government House to determine if there
is a conflict (DC/YH)
Carried (HH offers alternate venue)
BC Hydro re: Adopt-a-pole
Notification of grants – Garden $1500; Base $1980
Financial: Account balances:
Membership
$5704.67
Matching Grant $2656.75
Garden Grant
$2871.39
Walking Tour Brochure $1729.86
Committee Reports
Land Use -
Montgomery Ave. - complaints re: visual impact of conforming renovation
Terrace Avenue – 2 houses to be constructed
Craigdarroch Castle has acquired additional properties and seeks
control of City-owned access from Craigdarroch Ave. (original access to
the Castle).
LUC to invite Brian Sikstrom to discuss amendments to the R1A zoning
bylaw.
Richardson St. development – speculation that construction may have
compromised Garry Oak health, contrary to owner’s intentions
Traffic and Safety
Implementation of Lotbiniere – Richardson improvement: deferred to end
of year.
Block Watch meeting: 7:30 PM October 4th at the Truth Centre.
Discussion – how to publicise? Canada Post flyer distribution is 15
cents/house (9 cent delivery plus copy costs).
Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) workshop deferred
for a few months
Garden
Woodchips deployed by hired students.
Extra care warranted to maintain good relations with immediate
neighbours.
CALUCC
Completed their work, report to be presented to Council September 22nd.
Planned to disband, but may be re-formed to advise on issues including
secondary suites, use of precinct plans vs. neighbourhood plans and
planning for the downtown core.
Once Council vets the procedures, our LUC may be revised to comply.
Pam Madoff, Councillor in charge of planning, met with CS and HH to
discuss the market for large suites in Rockland.
Discussion Depending on the outcome of September 22nd presentation to
Council, RNA will draft a letter supporting the process of the CALUC,
comment on the results of CALUC’s work as presented to Council, and
support a similar approach to deal with emerging issues.
Victoria Urban Development Agreement (VUDA)
Design urban core for the Region.
City, Province and Federal Governments participate, but need other
municipalities at the table.
OCP serves as the strategic vision document, supported by operational
plans
Issues include harm reduction and infrastructure renewal.
Need orientation for incoming Council
Newsletter – mistakes were made and editing steps omitted, resulting in
a sub-standard product, but the partnership with the Fairfield Observer
is still deemed beneficial.
Social - Status quo would be November at Craigdarroch Castle, with a
projected cost of $35 per person, offset by a $10 per person change.
Discussion: too expensive, poorly attended.
Options:
No social this year
Merge RNA social with Craigdarroch’s social for immediate neighbours
Action: GA will contact Craigdarroch to see if they want to partner.
New Business
Municipal Election – LUCC core group seeks to change planning approach
by encouraging dialogue amongst candidates and electors. Website may be
PlanVictoria.org or PlanVictoria .ca
Will develop incisive questions re: planning and vision, sponsor an
all-candidates’ meeting, then analyse and report the results, through
the media and a dedicated website.
Bottle Gatherers have increased since new return depot has opened at
View and Vancouver, particularly on recycling pickup days. Concern over
potential associated increase in property crime.
Discussion: Could a message be worded and broadcast that would reduce
this activity? E.g., “save your returnables for organized bottle drives
so as not to encourage the practice of bottle picking from recycling
containers”. No consensus.
Date and time of next meeting
October 12th, 2005 at 7:30 pm in the Government
House Volunteers’ Cottage
Close of meeting -
Motion: To adjourn
Carried
Meeting closed at 22:50