Harbord Village Residents' Association

Minutes of HVRA Board Meeting

December 19, 2006

Kensington Gardens

Board Present: Gus Sinclair, Sandra DeAthe, John Hong, Katrina McHugh, Tim Grant, Margaret Beare, David Booz, Richard Longley, Sue Dexter, Stuart Schoenfeld, Leslie Thompson, Richard Gilbert, Jane Auster, Jane Perdue

Regrets: Michael Heydon

1. Chair's Welcome: The meeting commenced at 7:05 p.m.
   
   
   

2. Agenda: the agenda was approved, with the addition of 4a, iii, Graffiti, by Tim; and, Website report under 4f, by Gus in lieu of HVRA news for the Gleaner as Michael is absent.
   
   
   

3. Minutes: The spelling of David and Kathy Wurfel's name was corrected in the October 17, 2006 minutes; there were no corrections for the November 21, 2006 minutes. Moved by Sandra DeAthe, seconded by Leslie Thompson and carried.
   
   
   

4. Committee Reports

   1. Environment

      1. Trees Tim
         Someone will be hired in early January to start the registry of absentee landlords. Any suggestions of addresses from the Board will make the process easier, some have already been identified. Gus will give Tim Diane Silver's phone number at City Hall, as she knows how to research this information.
         An application for $10,000 will be made to the Trillium foundation for the tree registry project. If not successful, Tim has another possibility.

      2. Solar David & Tim
         Meetings are ongoing, next MURB meeting is January 10^th, Adam Vaughan will be there - we would like to have his help organizing flyers and public meetings. Next homeowners' meeting is January 23^rd; people have been completing tasks assigned at last meeting. Public meetings will be held later.
         One issue to raise with Adam V. is the question of "right to light" in city zoning plans (e.g., if a resident invests in solar panels, then someone builds and blocks their access to sun). Richard G. felt there was some protection built in, but not in the zoning.
         Sue D. suggested a partnership with U of T; they are large enough to possibly attract OPG funding. Might be good to talk to them.

      3. Graffiti Tim
         There has been another burst of graffiti activity at Sussex Mews and Harbord. We have about 15 hours of labour and Tim has the chemicals if anyone wants, or if their neighbours want, graffiti removal done.

   2. Membership Katrina
      We have 309 paid members, 160 unpaid. The membership list is now almost completely accurate. Katrina will send the list out; please correct your or your neighbours information.

   3. Community Liaison Gus
      All the residents' associations reps met with Adam Vaughan at a recent meeting; he wants to meet with reps once each quarter, and plans to attend our entire meeting on January 16^th. He wants the big picture, and the nuts and bolts of how the constituency works. He has divided the constituency into 3 areas, and is hiring staff now, and wants 1 staff member from each area. Gus reports that Adam feels committed to his campaign promises
      Everyone should think of issues and concerns for their "wish list' for Adam Vaughan, and send them to Sandra who will create one document for discussion with him.
      One important issue discussed was front yard parking. Richard Gilbert suggested a resolution be sent to Adam Vaughan that we would not support front yard parking, and consequently moved that the position of the Board is that we are strongly opposed to granting front yard parking in any residential property in the Harbord Village area. Seconded by Jane Auster, and carried unanimously.

   4. College St.
      No report.

   5. Zoning Gus
      Diane Silver, who worked in Planning for the City, may be available to enter the south side inventory of building use into the database. The database will be a snapshot of 2004-06, and will have to be updated in many years time. Included are interior streets (e.g.; Robert, Major), back lanes, and main streets (e.g.; Harbord). This info is very useful when looking at zoning applications.

   6. Communications Gus
      Please send any material for the Gleaner to Michael.
      Website
      Gus will send the Board a link, ID, and password to check out the structure of the developing web site.

   7. U of T Sue Dexter
      Nothing has happened with the Part II Plan re-opening. Nothing has further has happened with the Huron Sussex issue; they had asked to become part of U of T's real estate planning.

1. Business Arising
   None
   
   
   

2. Other
   January 26^th is Australia Day at the Tranzac Club - come and celebrate!
   
   January 25^th is Robbie Burns Day - there is a celebration at St. Stephen's on the 20^th, with dancers and pipes, and at the Free Times Café on the 25^th.
   
   
   

Meeting adjourned at 8:15. Next meeting January 16^th, 2007, same time, same place.