Rockland Neighbourhood Association:  Minutes of the Board

Meeting of Board of Directors

October 11th, 2006

Directors Present: Janet Simpson, Linda Foubister, Dave Clark, Doris Schuh, Doreen Mueller, Susan Bartol-Drinker, Frank Hess
Regrets: Henry Phillips, Ethelyn McInnes-Rankin, John Weaver, Mitch Hammond,
Absent: Wayne Poohachoff,
Guests: Councilor Bea Holland, Catherine Spencer, Mike Hannah

Regrets for November: DM

Meeting called to order at 19:18

1.    Agenda:       Motion to accept (as amended):  (LF/DM)    Carried
Add:
•    Treasurer's report
•    New business:
o    Moss Rocks Park,
o    Treasures of Rockland;
o    Lotbiniere greenway

2.    Minutes of September 13th: Motion to approve (as amended) (LF/DM)        (JS will send a message, not draft a letter)     Carried

3.    Treasurer’s report (DS)
•    General base funding -     $2774.55
•    membership  -         $6467.15
•    garden -             $6801.21
•    walking tour -         $1501.22


4.    Councillor's report (BH reported through HP)
•    Follow up on Lotbiniere – BH talked to Brad Delabert –
o    will be closed to through traffic, using removable bollards.
o    will be gated on October 31 for Hallowe'en, if the work has not been completed at that time.

•    Blasting bylaw - now construction requires a permit.
o    Questions:
•    Who is the “approving Engineer”? 
•    Consider referrals to arborist, ground water specialist for impact assessment.
•    Any referral or notification to Neighbourhood association?

•    Healthy Communities Grant - up to $2500 –
o    Could it apply to preparation for Neighbourhood planning?
o    Any opportunities for infrastructure grant to get wiring underground?

UBCM is the mediator for many grants and City staff monitor opportunities.

5.    Correspondence and E-mails
o    Correspondence:
o    City: Council minutes 
o    Cary Bulletin
o    Membership Renewal notice for FoGH

o    E-mail
o    Trent St. Forcemain - routed through Gonzales –
o    Oct 25th 4:30 to 8:30 at St Matthias Church open house to inform neighbours of the plan –
o    8 months disruption on Richardson from St. Charles to Madison.

o    D. Dewitt - volunteering to coordinate graffiti removal – also Suzanne Wilson will help.
o    Suggestion: Mylar coating to make cleanup on post boxes easier?

Motion: (LF/SBD)  LF to draft a letter for HP signature to Canada Post: Identify the issue of Graffiti and recommend mylar coating. Copies to Mayor and Council and to MP Denise Savoie.     Carried

Discussion:
o    Could City’s agreement with Canada Post include a requirement for prompt cleanup?
o    SW has additional concern that “Goodbye Graffiti” contract for area east of Moss St cancelled.

6.    Business arising
o    JS - contacted City re: refresh of transportation safety plan; no reply to date.

7.    New Business
o    Moss Rock Park - LF attended on-site meeting –
o    request that city purchase lot and house adjacent to the park –
o    also fronts on Bond Street, so could be incorporated into a greenway that would connect up with Government House and Abkhazi Gardens.

Motion:  (LF/DC) – That the RNA write to Mayor and Council to support the concept of acquisition of this property.

o    LF attended motivational meeting – “Identify Community Treasures"
o    favourite view, tree, person, road, ...
o    rotating gallery of pictures on the RNA website.

Motion: (LF/DC) That the RNA initiate a "Treasures of Rockland" initiative. Carried

Discussion: link to a Community Mapping Exercise; examples exist for James Bay and for Vic West.

•    In July RNA supported Cafe Fairfield  -
•    They received funding from 2010 Olympic Legacy fund.
•    Related event on Sunday October 15th at Fairfield Community Place 1330 Fairfield Road.


8.    Committee Reports

Land Use (zoning) –
•    Committee meeting end of September
•    Shasta Place - application for variance  on setback
•    Oak Bay Avenue – variance on patio placement.

Land Use (strategy) –

•    Sept 19 presentation - 30 to 40 people attended
•    Western Boundaries
•    construction of gates at Craigdarroch and Joan Crescent is underway by management
o    Pemberton Trail –
    •    some resistance from private property owners (Camsack and Wilmar properties) can be expected
    •    increasing efforts to block existing informal access.

o    Potential projects for LU Strategy
•    Historical - heritage standards that would complement the RNA Plan (this would require more resources than the committee has currently)
•    Western Boundaries - there are volunteers to move this forward.
•    Smaller projects –

Look at underground wiring, and lighting in a more heritage type of style
Registry of heritage assets
Tree inventory.

Discussion
•    keep track of all these good ideas, prioritize them and keep them in the hopper.
•    Priority is the "Gateway" project - a signature style for marking entrances to Rockland.

Newsletter -
-    Vic West Voice considered as a model of a community newspaper, but doesn't work for Rockland because lack of related Business Advertising.

Traffic
-    FH: Lotbiniere - Ownership settled - through traffic will be eliminated, with removable bollards south of HH driveway.
Discusion: Link to historical interpretation on life of His Honour M. Lotbiniere?


Emergency Preparedness
Continuing with the weekly routine of emailing out to our list specific ideas for preparing for emergencies.

Garden  –
•    Snowberries removed over shallow soil, and Nootka Roses will be encouraged in that area..
•    Signage decision: - two signs, or one?

Walking Tour:
•    Opportunity for matching grants - walking map, community mapping exercise
•    Be ready with grant application to develop a community map.


9.    Date and time of next meeting
November 8th, 2006 at 7:00 pm at the Volunteers’ Cottage on Rockland Avenue.
   
10.    Close of meeting -
Motion: To adjourn     (DC/JS)                Carried    

Meeting adjourned at 20:44