Harbord Village Residents’ Association
Minutes of HVRA Board Meeting
September 19, 2006 7:00 p.m.
Kensington Gardens

Present: Gus Sinclair, Sandra DeAthe, Gord Brown, Jane Auster, Michael Heydon, Sue Dexter, David Booz, Richard Longley, Stuart Schoenfeld, Susan Pfeiffer, Maria Perin

Regrets: Tim Grant; Margaret Beare

1. Chair’s Welcome: The meeting commenced at 7:07 p.m.

2. Approval of Agenda: The AGM was added to Committee Reports, and several items were added to Other Business. Approval moved by Jane Auster, seconded by Richard Longley and carried as amended.

3. Approval of Minutes: The minutes of August 15, 2006 were reviewed and Gord Brown requested that the following be added to the College Street report under 4 (d):

“He is frustrated and concerned with the continued delays in implementing the long-awaited patio pilot, and disappointed with the lack of effectiveness from Councillor Silva.”

Moved by Gord Brown, seconded by Richard Longley and carried as amended.

4. Committee Reports

a. Environment

i. Trees
Tree survey is on-going. There was a good turnout at the Fall Fair.

ii. Solar
Proceeding apace, and will be an ongoing project for the new Board. Letters to D. Duncan signed at the Fall Fair will be forwarded to him.

iii. Graffiti Michael

Croft St. completed, great work. Michael passed around newspaper articles about the project. Jane sent an email to the graffiti coordinator at the City about the inaction on Bloor, and received a reply that they were now focussing on election signs. There were complaints at the Fall Fair about graffiti.

b. Membership Gus

The constitution will need to be amended at the AGM to have a position on the Executive dedicated to membership. Gus will find a nominee.

Michael and Jane reported a steady stream of renewals at the Fall Fair, and lots of new members. Comments on the renewal forms have been captured on the membership spread sheet. Maria will send the membership file to Gord; it is up-to-date as of September 16, 2006.

c. Community Liaison Gus

Gus will be speaking at the Palmerston Area Residents’ Association on September 25th about how to have a successful residents’ association.

d. College St. Gord

Gord had distributed two motions in advance of the meeting.

Motion 1: “That HVRA inform Toronto East York Community Council (TEYCC) that we are withdrawing our request for the College Street Clearway Pilot, and that HVRA requests Councillor Silva to put top priority on: having MLS complete the post-construction patio compliance assessment (outstanding for over two years now); and, ensuring compliance is built into patio renewals for 2007.”

Motion 2: “That HVRA formally supports the Toronto Coalition for Active Transport, and encourages neighbouring RAs to do likewise. Support would be conditional on having an HVRA member as part of the steering committee that will be maintaining the website over time, and developing questions for electoral candidates.

Concerning motion 1, Gord reported that there is no appetite in Council to push the idea of a clearway pilot on College Street. A pilot undertaken in ’06 would expire in ’07 in any case. Gord felt that the pilot was hurting us, and that the City would not do a post-construction assessment, nor enforce the existing by-law because a pilot is in the works. He suggested, therefore, that we withdraw the pilot and do the assessment and ensure that the by-law is enforced.

Gord was encouraged by the Board not to drop the pilot project, but rather let some time pass, and perhaps in the spring send a shot across the City’s bow about pedestrian-friendly sidewalks. Considerable discussion followed, and ultimately there was no seconder for the motion. Gord’s second motion was deferred until the end of the meeting.

e. Zoning Gus

There will be a public meeting at Trinity St.-Paul’s on Thursday, September 28 at 7:30 concerning the Poor Alex renovation. The applicant changed his plans, and consequently the City Planning Dept. withdrew its objections.

f. Communications Newsletter Jane

Jane outlined reports due for the forthcoming newsletter, to be submitted ASAP.

Website Gus

The website is almost within reach. Mark estimates that all data entry and interactive design will cost $2,500 to $3,000. David will provide Gus with a couple of names of other people who could do this in order to get a second quote. Gus will get a proposal and present a motion to either the fall or spring general meeting. The membership person needs to be IT competent to work with the website, especially the membership section.

g. U of T Sue Dexter

The 5 weeks of OMB hearings of the U of T appeal of rental housing protection in Huron-Sussex starts on Monday. U of T will unveil plans at the next Liaison Committee meeting for Huron-Sussex and the St. George campus.

h. AGM David

There will be one hour devoted to three speakers who will address the issue of energy conservation in the home. Each speaker will have 10 minutes, with time at the end for Q&A.
Action: Gus will get feedback from firemen about the use of the Robert St. fire fund money.

5. No business arising.

6. Other Business

a. Sandra DeAthe presented a motion that HVRA fund the tree for the Robert St. pinch point planter, not to exceed $100. Seconded by David Booz, carried with one opposing vote from Richard Gilbert.

b. Michael suggested using the candidates responses to our questions for the Annex Gleaner. Gus will check with the candidates.

c. Stuart reported on the Robert St rink meeting with U of T representatives, one being Bruce Kidd, head of Athletics. U of T would like to use the field for women’s field hockey, both intramural and intervarsity; this is the configuration they would like to see

-Increase the size of the field from 75 yards to 100 yards. This would mean removing the tennis courts and rink
-Install synthetic turf
-Install field lighting, which by-laws allow them to have on until 10:45p.m.
-Install bleacher seating for 100 people

Stuart felt that they had not given a lot of consideration to the neighbourhood. This new configuration would serve U of T students only. At the meeting Bruce Kidd said they don ‘t want a fight, and are willing to work with the residents. This field is now zoned low-density residential and is a legal non-conforming use. Richard Gilbert reminded the Board that this designation is to grandfather illegal uses only for use “as is”. Changes must go to the City for re-zoning, if the City sees this as a change in use (Helen Coombs), which U of T does not.

There will be two steps going forward: 1) a public meeting. Bruce Kidd wants us to look at the artificial turf at Varsity Stadium first; 2) get the neighbours involved in how to use the remaining space.

d. Tree for Catherine Cragg

A motion was presented by Richard Longley, seconded by David Booz that a memorial tree for Catherine Cragg be planted near 42 or 44 Brunswick Avenue. Passed unanimously.

e. TCAT (Toronto Coalition for Active Transportation)
(Gord’s second motion, as above)

This organization works to promote a better walking and cycling environment in Toronto, and wants to make this an election issue; they are hoping for our support. The Board felt TCAT is very cyclist focussed and that our reservations about this are twofold: 1) there is a lack of specificity in terms of pedestrian issues; 2) their policies need a section on risks on the sidewalks for pedestrians. The TCAT literature currently states that cars are a risk to pedestrians, whereas there is feeling on the Board that scofflaw cyclists are more danger to pedestrians on the sidewalks than are cars.

Gord was slightly in favour of supporting them because while their approach is not perfect, it is a start in the right direction, and is an opportunity to have the pedestrian profile raised significantly.

Richard Longley seconded Gord’s motion. Discussion indicated that we should support TCAT, with qualifications, and have someone on the Steering Committee. Richard Gilbert moved, seconded by Sue Dexter, that if we support TCAT that our involvement is pedestrian focussed and will attempt to emphasize safety, more pedestrian content, and is conditional on a person on who will support these two points being on the Steering Committee. Motion carried.

Gord moved the motion as amended, seconded by Michael Heydon. Carried unanimously. Our logo will appear on the TCAT brochure.

f. Gus announced that the Fall Fair had a $2,100 operating profit. The Board expressed its appreciation to all involved for a good effort.

The meeting adjourned at 9:17 p.m. Next meeting the AGM, October 17th, 7 p.m. in the large meeting room.