2024 Annual General Meeting Minutes

—

in

Minutes
Glebe Annex Community Association (GACA)
Board Meeting – Wednesday, May 22, 2024, 7 p.m.

1. Call to order and introduction of board  

The meeting was called to order at 7:01 p.m. by President Laurent Carbonneau. He welcomed attendees and introduced the GACA board members present, including Sue Stefko, Joanne Benoit, Gabrielle Dallaporta, Ryan Hampel and Carrie Bolton.

2. Approval of Agenda  

The agenda was shared and made available on the GACA website. There were no objections, and it was approved as presented.

3. Approval of Minutes of 2023 AGM  

The minutes from the 2023 AGM were prepared by Joanne Benoit. With no objections raised, the minutes were approved.

4. President’s remarks  

Laurent provided an overview of key developments in the community over the past year.

  • Development updates: A general slowdown in development was noted. The Katasa Group building near Carling is nearing completion. The 299 Carling project remains under review and is expected to feature four towers and a park.
  • Community incidents: A fire affected buildings at 317–325 Arthur Lane South; those structures have been demolished, and the lot is now for sale.
  • Civic Hospital Project: A major development of 2.5 million square feet is underway, including 640 rooms and a large parking garage. It will have significant community impact. Completion is anticipated by 2028.
  • Booth Street Complex: Future plans are uncertain, though a park at the south end remains on track.
  • Traffic and infrastructure:
    • The westbound Bronson off-ramp was scheduled to reopen the day after the AGM.
    • The Percy St. underpass is set to reopen in June.
    • Noise barriers along the 417 near Bronson and Kent are expected to be completed this year.
  • Community events:
    • The previous Party in the Park was a success and will be repeated this year.
    • A GACA-led Halloween event was held for the first time and had over 100 attendees.
    • Participation in the city’s Cleaning the Capital campaign occurred in both spring and fall.
  • Membership drive: Laurent encouraged residents to join and renew their memberships to support community initiatives.

5. Community safety update – Cst. James Kennedy  

Constable James Kennedy from the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) provided an update on community safety.

  • OPS initiatives:
    • The development of a district modeling system, currently being piloted in the Market and Lowertown areas, will expand citywide by 2027.
    • A data-driven approach is being used to address hotspots for crime.
  • Crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED):
    • Emphasized improving sightlines, lighting, and surveillance to deter crime.
    • Residents were encouraged to trim overgrown trees and consider mechanical deterrents like mirrors and cameras.
  • Reporting and emergency calls:
    • Residents were reminded to report all incidents, even if minor, to help build a data profile for OPS resource allocation.
    • A new crime data portal is available on the OPS website and will be better able track trends in the neighborhood.

6. Councillor’s update

Councillor Shawn Menard provided an update on city-wide and local issues.

  • Waste management: The Solid Waste Master Plan is set to be presented next month, with a new three-bag garbage limit starting September 30.
  • Lansdowne 2.0: The city’s $400 million redevelopment plan was approved with modifications but remains controversial.
  • Civic Hospital connectivity: A final round of consultations regarding transit integration is scheduled for June 19 (in-person) and June 24 (virtual).
  • Development and traffic calming:
    • There are ongoing discussions with developers to ensure that contributions benefit local communities.
    • A traffic calming fund has been allocated for pedestrian safety improvements, including a proposed crosswalk at Henry and Bell.
  • 417 Noise barriers: The installation between Rochester and Kent is scheduled for completion by fall 2024.
  • Community safety: The city is working with OPS and organizations like the John Howard Society to address safety concerns in the neighborhood.

7. Treasurer’s report (delivered by Laurent)

Laurent delivered the financial report on behalf of Treasurer Scott Templeton.

Financial summary:

  • Opening balance (May 2023): $4,598.52
  • Revenue:
    • Memberships: $380.00
    • Interest Earned: $119.76
    • Donations and Fundraisers: $190.00
  • Total Revenue: $5,288.28

Expenses:

  • AGM Zoom Expense: $24.28
  • Community Events (Halloween, BBQ, etc.): $647.27

Closing balance (May 2024): $4,641.01

Pending expenses:

  • Glebe Community Association Membership: $76.00
  • Federation of Citizens Association Membership: $40.00

Contingency fund:

  • Current balance: $2,492.00

Laurent expressed that the financials indicate that GACA remains financially stable.

8. Election of Directors

  • The board for 2024 was tentatively confirmed and will be discussed at the next regular board meeting. 
  • Community members were encouraged to consider joining the board or participating in activities.

Adjournment

With no further questions or discussions, the meeting was adjourned at 7:45 PM.