Minutes
Glebe Annex Community Association (GACA)
Board Meeting – Wednesday, October 9, 2024, 7 p.m.

Present: Ryan Hampel, Shelby Hildebrand, Marni Crossley, Scott Templeton, Sue Stefko, Gabrielle Dallaporta, Carrie Bolton, Jonathan McLeod (Office of Councillor Menard)

1. Call to Order and Approval of Agenda

The meeting was called to order at 7:03 p.m.

A motion to accept the agenda was made by Shelby and seconded by Scott and carried.

2. Approval of the Minutes from September 11, 2024

A motion to approve the minutes of September 11 was made by Shelby and seconded by Gabrielle and carried. 

3. Debrief: Community Safety Meeting (September 23)

Ryan provided a debrief of the meeting, which was attended by Councillor Menard and MPP Harden. Most of the meeting focused on the impacts of the John Howard Society on the neighbourhood, but issues arising from vacant properties were also discussed as was littering. Councillor Menard encouraged residents to call 311 to report vacant property concerns. GACA is outside the jurisdictions of the Alternate Neighbourhood Crisis Response (ANCHOR) program. The program is a mobile crisis service, intended to approach mental health and substance use crises from a trauma-informed and culturally relevant care perspective (as opposed to a police-centered response). Ryan proposed that GACA make efforts to extend the boundaries to our neighbourhood – Jon noted that this could be helpful.  There are ‘sharps’ kits available through Ottawa Public Health to help safely dispose of needles. 

4. Discussion: Dalhousie South Park Maintenance Priorities

Ryan provided an update on the Glebe Community Association’s efforts to note maintenance priorities in their annual report. A discussion was held on what, if anything, GACA should put forward. Gabrielle mentioned that it would be helpful to have a water fountain available for events, and that better lighting would be welcome. Jon noted that there’s a city pilot project to connect city public water fountains to hydrants for events (ie short term only) and that we can approach him if we would like to be part of the program in the future. Gabrielle also raised the promised cross-walk across from Abbas. Jon clarified that this is outside the purview of parks, but that the Councillor’s office is still working with the city to come up with an acceptable cost sharing agreement for the project. Shelby mentioned swings – Sue noted that unless trees are cut down there is not enough space to put in a swing set – that was a popular ask before the park was renewed, and all that could safety fit was the circular swing set currently in place.

5. Presentation: Dalhousie South Park—Proposal for Modification

Jessie-Lee Wallace, a GACA resident, explained her proposal for park modifications. This includes improving park lighting (focusing the lights downward to be sensitive to nearby homeowners and avoid light pollution) and extending the fence to include the gazebo to deter chain smokers and to make the area more accessible to families while their children played on the park equipment. Currently the fence separates families sitting under the gazebo while their children are playing. She also proposed covering the benches in front of the park to protect people from the elements as well as a privacy screen, similar to what is used at McNabb Park, at the park entrance, or perhaps between smokers and children, if the benches would be available for smokers. In the future, she would like to see activities for older youth (such as a climbing wall /basketball /swings) and possibly additional picnic areas. This could be especially useful to new Canadian families. Discussion will take place at the next board meeting to allow the board time to digest the proposal.

6. Event Planning: Halloween

Sue provided an update of the upcoming Halloween event, which will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 on Halloween night. There will be treat bags, and weather permitting, a photo booth. Sue asked for volunteers to help for the event, as well as postering beforehand. Marni and Ryan offered to help set up and for the event the day of. Carrie and Scott volunteered to help with postering.

7. Councillor’s Update

Jon provided updates on a number of subjects, including:

• LRT testing – if all continues to go well, the testing/trial, event scenario testing and certification from Transport Canada could be achieved by mid-November at the earliest. Although the planned bus route changes were supposed to take effect when the line opened, this will likely not happen until the spring (April 2025) now, as the city does not like making changes to transit in the winter. 
• The new idling bylaw limits idling to one minute in any 60-minute period, and to five minutes on very cold and very hot days when drivers might need to warm or cool their vehicles. Some complaints were made by GACA residents in the past, so they may see this as good news. Now it will be easier to enforce as the city will accept uploaded videos as proof of bylaw transgression. Even still, this is likely to be used for education and awareness rather than enforcement.
• The Ontario government is allowing developers to apply to add lands to expand urban boundaries of Ontario cities at any time if they pay a $1.8 million fee. (Until now, the city had to initialize a boundary review.)
• Gabrielle noted that bulb-outs such as on Booth Street, are dangerous for cyclists. Jon noted a number of reasons why bulb-outs are used, such as slowing motorists down, preventing parking close to intersections, and avoiding cross-walks at intersections, which can be dangerous. Sue re-iterated the danger of these to cyclists – Jon noted he collaborates with other wards and that this could be a subject of discussion.
• Gabrielle also asked when Orangeville is supposed to re-open after the Midtown Bridges project. Sue noted that it was promised for fall 2025, although given that the project is delayed, this would likely be as well.

8. Circling back on membership

Ryan updated that there are currently 61 memberships as compared to 38 last year. Marni thought that the Lakelander alone had 54 – Scott confirmed that the 61 number was for money already received and in the GACA bank account.

9. Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 7:57 p.m.