Minutes of Board of Directors
Meeting Wednesday,
13th November 2013
Attendees: J.
Simpson
(President), R June (Vice-President), R. Gubby, N. Clark, J.
Wheatley, A.
Campbell. Regrets
received from: D.
Clark, T. Macintosh.
Councillor B. Isitt.
D. Hamilton.
Guest speakers: Brooke Daitl, Parks
Development
Officer, and Dr. Michelle Gorman, Integrated
Pest Management
Coordinator, City of Victoria Parks Department.
Guests: Sue Simpson, Vanessa Dingley.
1)
Meeting
called
to order by J. Simpson @ 7:00PM.
2)
Motion:
to approve the Agenda: propd RG, 2nd
RJ, carried
unanimously.
3) Minutes
of
previous meeting 9th October 2013: corrections noted
as follows:
a) Item
#
6, the letter was printed in Victoria News;
b) Under
Gardens
“Wild” should have been “Woodland”
Motion: to
approve the Minutes:
propd JW, 2nd RG, carried unan.
4) Business
arising
from previous minutes: Tree
bylaw presentation
by Brooke Daitl, Parks Development Officer.
Mr. Daitl
summarized his role
and responsibilities, as did Dr. Gorman. Questions from the floor
were then invited.
RG raised the issue of trees
being removed
recently apparently without any permit or consultation with
neighbours; three
examples were cited (Rockland , Craigdarroch and Manor). Mr. Daitl responded
that in each case the
tree was removed under a permit after inspection by him. In each case there was
loss of structural
integrity due to past damage.
He noted
that no tree can be removed without a permit.
The process can be appealed and a survey done by an
independent arborist
as necessary. Insurance
considerations
sometimes arise.
A question was asked regarding
enforcement of the
replacement policy on Garry Oaks of 2 for 1; Mr. Daitl explained
the
difficulties attendant on enforcing this bylaw; the deposits
must be returned
after a 3-year period, and there are insufficient resources to
monitor
replantings and their upkeep.
A further
complication arises from the lack of a good source of saplings;
this has been
rectified to some extent by the formation of a sapling nursery
under the
auspices of the City.
R.J. raised the concern that
notification by way
of signage was not provided in any of the examples cited above,
thus not
allowing any opportunity for discussion and review by the
community. Mr.
Daitl explained that advance signage is
not enforced on private property, although the bylaw makes no
such
exemption.
It was suggested that perhaps the
bylaw was
overdue for a review; Mr. Daitl said this was anticipated within
the next three
years.
JW raised a concern about the
building envelope
aspect of the bylaw being a virtual carte
blanche permit to developers to remove trees in new
constructions; this is
of current interest in connection with the permit application
for 1082
Richmond. Mr. Daitl
said that a review
of tree removal/protection was a part of the building permit
approval process,
and that if necessary, revision of the building envelope to
ensure neighbouring
tree protection is enforced.
In response to a question about
the recently noted
spread of tree fungal infections, Dr. Gorman spoke at length
about tree
diseases prevalent in the area.
It
typically takes at least 5 years before a disease becomes
apparent; we are now
seeing the results of damage incurred during the housing
construction boom of
the 1960’s. The
natural lifetime of a
Garry Oak was 5–600 years, whereas it is typically 100 years
today.
A RNA subcommittee was formed to
review Tree
Preservation Bylaw 05-106 and submit recommendations for
updating to the City
via Councillor Isitt. JW
will chair;
committee members will be V. Dingley and S. Simpson.
Action:
JW to prepare recommendations for an update of the Tree
Preservation Bylaw.
5)
Webmaster’s
Report
- Don Hamilton
DH presented some statistics on “before
and after” website
hits relating to the email notification to members,
demonstrating the
effectiveness of same; he believes better publicity/promotion of
the RNA is
needed and made some useful suggestions (fridge magnets and
brochures to
distribute at public events).
Motion:
to authorize expenditure of $150.00 (approx.) to purchase
fridge magnets:
propd JW, 2nd AC, carried unan.
DH further suggested that more
advantage be taken of
opportunities to publicize the RNA via press reports of events
such as the Nick
Russell lecture. RG
suggested that a
Publicity committee be formed, either as a stand-alone committee
or perhaps
more logically as a subcommittee of the Communications
Committee. JS
undertook to look into brochures.
Action:
JS to investigate brochure possibilities and report back.
DH then introduced a New Business
agenda item. He
feels that in view of the continued
success of the “Adopt-a-Pole” program, there is no further need
for the
Graffiti committee, and he is therefore disbanding same as of
this time and
date.
6) Councillor’s
Report
(B. Isitt)
Councillor Isitt reported on the
deliberations lately
held on the subject of amalgamation; a recommendation has gone
to Council on a
public referendum, the question to be put being “Are you in
favour of reducing
the number of Municipalities in Greater Victoria through
amalgamation?” Councillor
Isitt briefly addressed some of
the potential problems ensuing from a vote to proceed with
amalgamation. He
believes that it may not be in the best
interests of every community, although consolidation of
emergency services
seems desirable.
He also reported on the
Transportation Workshop
(which was attended by three RNA Directors); recommendations
from the workshop
are in the process of being drafted into a proposal for
consideration by
Council.
RJ raised a question about the
new development
proposal for 1082 Richmond Avenue and the amenities package
which was
unintentionally omitted during the first round of approval. The developer is
regarding the revised
proposal as a new application, although it not clear that the
Planning
Department are in accord with this view.
The floor/space ratio has increased from 1.56:1 on the
initial proposal
to 2:1 on the current one.
Councillor
Isitt said that the formula for determining the amenities
package is being
looked at by staff; they have been directed to come up with a
revised formula
within 1 to 2 months. RJ
questioned how
a revised proposal could logically be submitted with a higher
ratio than the one
previously denied; Councillor Isitt said that possibly the
developer has
anticipated a new directive under consideration by the Planning
Dept.
NC asked Councillor Isitt for a
copy of the list
of workshop attendees and email addresses, who said that that
would be
possible.
RG raised a personal issue to BI
claiming
nothing had been done about the Richmond concerns. NC corrected RG. Considerable work
(much more than usual or,
in fact, warranted) has been done on the Richmond concerns. A letter regarding
Richmond traffic concerns
supported by photographs and info from attendance at the sites
was submitted to
the City (Oct 9), discussed at length with City staff (Oct 16)
and City
response letter (Oct 23) received (N. B. some directors have not
seen this
letter, nor the reply). NC
briefly recited
the individual Richmond concerns and the City's position. (RNA directors are
aware, or should be, of
the Richmond concerns from prior meetings.)
NC said he has serious concerns about the City's
responses to both the
Richmond and Warren Gardens concerns and City's general approach
to taxpayers'
concerns. BI
offered to assist. NC
declined, at this premature time, because
the results are confidential, more work and consultation with WG
residents and
the RNA Traffic Chairperson is needed before sharing with BI and
directors. RG asked
for copies of the
above-referenced letters. NC
declined,
at this time, for the same reasons.
Action:
NC will engage / discuss with WG residents leaders and JS
7)
Committee
Reports
a)
Land
Use:
a follow-up letter on the issues regarding 1322 Rockland has
been sent to
the City.
b)
Communications:
no
time allowed.
c)
Traffic:
no
time allowed.
d)
Social:
no
time allowed.
e)
Safety:
no
recent activity on the noise issue on Despard; the joint
RNA/Block Watch
meeting on Crime Prevention has been cancelled due to lack of
response.
f)
Membership
and
Welcome: no time allowed.
g)
Graffiti:
now
disbanded, see above.
h)
Garden:
no
time allowed.
8)
Letters,
email,
phone calls:
Tabled
to next meeting.
9)
New
Business
a)
Community
Gardens
(JS): tabled to next meeting.
b)
Follow-up
letter
on 1322 Rockland issues (RJ): see above.
c)
Website
updates
(RG): marked-up corrections passed to JS to action.
10) Date and place of next meeting: 11th
December, Volunteers
Cottage,
Government House
If unable to attend, please advise D.
Clark (250) 383-3764
Motion
to adjourn: propd JW, 2nd
RJ, @
9:00PM.