GACA Board Meeting – June 3, 2020

Minutes, Glebe Annex Community Association (GACA)

Executive Meeting – Wednesday, June 3rd, 7:00 p.m.

Via Conference Call

Present:

Carrie Bolton
David Perkins
Gabrielle Dallaporta
Joanne Benoit
Maja Rakocevic
Sue Stefko
Annalisa Salonius
Jonathan McLeod (Assistant, Office of Shawn Menard, City Councillor, Capital Ward)

1. Call to Order and Roll Call

The Glebe Community Association (GCA) offered to add our membership to their system on Shopify. It looks like it would be easy to implement, and we would not need to pay a fee. It currently costs GACA 59 cents per transaction to use PayPal to accept membership fees.
However, concerns were raised regarding information management and privacy. It was felt that since we already have a PayPal account and we now have Interac E-transfer capability, we do not require another online process.
It was unanimously agreed that we will continue to use our current system of Paypal and Interac e-Transfers.

Maja changed the bank account type GACA has at the RBC. This account now allows GACA to receive Interac e-transfers.
There are no fees for these transfers, although there is a cost to use the auto-deposit feature. It was felt that the convenience outweighed the cost, however.

We had hoped that COVID restrictions would ease prior to the membership kick-off, but it seems that there will be restrictions for some time. As such, it was decided to start the campaign and conduct it virtually, using PayPal and e-transfers to accept membership fees.
The membership email will be sent out soon. People will have the option to meet with us in person if they would prefer to pay by cash or cheque.
It was decided that we will advertise the membership campaign by email, social media, the GACA website, and by putting posters up in the neighbourhood.
A discussion was held on doing mailbox drop-offs. While there was some concern about safety in distributing material during the pandemic, and that it may not be cost-effective to print professionally, it was decided to print on personal printers to reduce the cost. Joanne, Carrie, and Annalisa agreed to print and distribute.

Joanne would like to include a scavenger hunt with our membership drive, as it could be a fun way to inform people about our neighbourhood, including local businesses. The scavenger hunt was unanimously supported.
Joanne will donate a $20.00 restaurant gift certificate to Crazy Pho You, and GACA will purchase the same for Wei’s Noodle House.

Unfortunately, the urban boundary will expand outside the current boundary. Shawn fought hard to oppose this, and many groups and residents spoke out against this as well. We are losing green space and farmland, a big issue as urban sprawl continues. These areas will cost more to service; they are on wells and septic tanks and currently have no city services.

Most parks have now re-opened, giving people an opportunity to enjoy outdoor space now that we are having good weather. There are no lifeguards at the beaches, however.
In response to the need for public washrooms, the city has installed a portable toilet at St. Giles Church on the corner of First Avenue and Bank Street.
Farmers markets are going to open. People will be able to place an online order and pick up. Hopefully if we respect physical distancing, more things will open. Jon said they are looking at more ways to open the Farmers’ markets and to facilitate community groups.

Shawn had a meeting with the Canada Lands Corporation (CLC) regarding 291 Carling. They are now looking at four building zones on the site, the tallest being 20 storeys. They may not provide affordable housing there but instead pay into a fund. They acknowledge that we have enough affordable housing in this small community. We need to have more in the Glebe and Old Ottawa South.
Shawn also met with the Algonquins of Ontario, and they also want a variety of types of units, i.e. not all bachelors.

There is an anti-racism protest march this Friday at Parliament Hill. Shawn and many city councillors are concerned about racism in our city and acknowledge that this is a problem that must be seriously addressed.

We were unable to hold the GACA AGM in May or June, although we still have the option to hold it virtually this fall, or to postpone until next year. We could also hold a July meeting to decide.
It was felt that if we have a virtual AGM, it would not have the same impact.
It was decided that neither a teleconference or virtual meeting would be a good option, and it was decided to postpone our AGM until next year. Given COVID-19, a number of other community associations assessed that the extenuating circumstances of the pandemic made it acceptable to postpone their AGMs, even though holding an annual AGM may be written into their constitution.

We will look at the possibility of holding a park party this year at our next meeting, which is in September.
The 2020 Civic Events funding we have received has not been extended to next year so far, although we are still hoping that we may be granted an extension.