General Meeting – 20 July 2004

The draft agenda was amended by reversing the order of ltems 3b and 4 so that “Priority Items” became Item 3b and “Business Arising from the Minutes” became Item 4, by adding “Administrative Matters” as Item 5, and by renumbering “Other Items” to Item 6. Juan Pedro moved and Daphne seconded that the agenda be accepted, as amended. Carried.

Motion:  Barbara moved and those present agreed that item 6c(3) of the minutes of the meeting of May 26, 2004 be amended by changing “Rural Nature Features” to “Rural Natural Features”.

Motion:  Barbara moved and Janice seconded that the minutes of the meeting of June 23, 2004 be approved.  Carried.

There were no new membership applications.

The proposed membership exchange with the Coalition for a Healthy Ottawa continues to be deferred.

The Treasurer reported a June 30th bank balance of $1,431.78 and mentioned the $1,500.00 Term Deposit Certificate.  The amount of petty cash was not reported.

With Juan Pedro taking the lead, a general discussion about recruiting new members was held.  It is highly desirable for the Alliance to have a large membership which is not active all the time but could be called upon for action-alert type items and whose membership fees would provide funds for various activities, including the possibility of hiring people to assist the Alliance.  A publicity campaign, possibly involving news stories and ads, would be a way to raise public awareness of the Greenspace Alliance.  How to communicate effectively with members of varying degrees of committed involvement is a challenge.  Two possibilities are:  only Alert items would go to some members, or Alert items plus a Newsletter would go to those members.

J.P. to prepare plan before Sept. meeting and e-mail plan to Board members.

Amy and Barbara attended the public meeting on July 12th organized by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH).  Representatives of MMAH explained the three planning reform initiatives – Ontario Municipal Board Reform, Planning Act Reform and Implementation Tools, and Provincial Policy Statement changes.  Following introductory presentations, the public made oral comments, which were noted by the organizers.

The by-invitation workshop meeting was re-scheduled to July 20th.  Amy sought, and was granted, permission from the contact at MMAH for a representative of the Greenspace Alliance to participate.  Amy participated. The workshop consisted of a presentation followed by each table of people tackling a question.

Written comments about the three planning reform initiatives are due August 31st.  Chris volunteered to head a committee consisting of Amy, Barbara, J.P. and himself to prepare comments.

Everyone to submit comments to Chris by Aug. 9th.

Chris to prepare submission.

A report, “Where Will We Live,” will be discussed at a City-sponsored, by- invitation meeting on August 6th.  The report will be used by the City to defend its position that adequate land for building new housing exists within the current Urban Boundary, and that boundary expansion is not merited at the present time.  It will be important for the Greenspace Alliance to know whether greenspace is involved and how surplus federal lands are treated.  If a representative of the Greenspace Alliance is to attend the meeting, it will be in conjunction with the invitation to the Federation of Citizens’ Associations.

Chris reported that O.P. appeal #50 (LaPlante) had been withdrawn.

Bill has drafted comments for the Alliance to submit to the City concerning the proposed Official Plan amendment to change the land use to permit a limestone quarry.  It has not yet been read by most of the Board members. Bill reported, through Barbara, that the Public Lands Act would not apply when the City sells land for a quarry.  The Act applies only to the Ministry of Natural Resources when provincial land is being sold for a quarry.

Bill had brought the matter of the bulldozed trees to the attention of Ward Councillor Diane Deans, who referred it to the planner.  Barbara reported that it is not apparent that the City is doing anything about the fact that the owner appears to have violated one of the conditions of sale.  Amy suggested that perhaps this should be handed over to the Federation of Citizens’ Associations because the City is not following its own rules.

Barbara to review draft submission.

Barbara to ask Bill to follow- up with Councillor Deans.

Treasurer’s Report

The carried-forward issue of the invoice from Ottawa U. concerning a charge for a volunteer event held in 2003 is to be resolved by waiting for Ottawa U. to contact the Greenspace Alliance again if money is owed.  Barbara contacted Sara Gagné who was the Greenspace Alliance’s volunteer coordinator at the time, and she was unaware of any charges associated with the event.

The charge for room rental at City Hall for meeting rooms in May and June has not yet been paid because of the lack of an invoice.

Carried forward from May Mtg:

Bill to request invoice from City of Ottawa for meeting rooms.

The need to find a less expensive meeting place than City Hall ($50.00 per meeting) continues.  The consensus of discussion was that it is preferable to try to reserve a no-charge place for the entire year rather than having to try to find a meeting place every month.

MOTION: Chris moved and Daphne seconded that Amy attempt to reserve the Champlain Park Field House for meetings for a year.  Carried.

Barbara noted that the Greenspace Alliance does not yet have an auditor and thought the person Bill had originally suggested did not work out. Amy noted that Greenprint had an unpaid auditor.

Amy suggested a speaker about land trusts for the September meeting.

Barbara to check with Bill about auditor.

Amy to contact speaker.

Pollution Probe

Amy reported that Pollution Probe is working on getting major stakeholders of the Mississippi, Rideau, South Nation, Gatineau, and Lièvre watersheds together on planning regarding the overall watersheds.  Pollution Probe is looking for interested community people.