General Meeting – May 27 2019

GREENSPACE ALLIANCE OF CANADA’S CAPITAL

Greenspace Watch

General Meeting

MINUTES

May 27, 2019

Hintonburg Community Centre

1064 Wellington Street West

K1Y 2Y3

Members present: Paul Johanis (chair), Nicole DesRoches, Erwin Dreessen, Daniel Buckles, Jason Kania,

Regrets: J.P. Unger, Adam Caldwell, David McNicoll

The meeting commenced at 8:15 pm, following the AGM.

  1. Adoption of the agenda

The proposed agenda was agreed upon.

  1. Administrative items

a. Minutes of the April 29 2019 meeting (for approval)

Moved by Erwin, seconded by Jason. Carried.

b. Treasurer’s report

Reimbursement to Erwin for payment of the GA’s motion cost ($151.88). Moved by Nicole, seconded by Jason. Carried.

c. Association reports

Erwin reported on the FCA general meeting of May 15, which heard presentations by City staff on Recreation Infrastructure standards and on Funding Partnerships.   He handed Paul a datastick on the standards which is meant to invite engagement with the City.

  1. Policy instruments

a. Official Plan discussion paper responses

Paul and Daniel reported on the initial meeting of the “People’s Official Plan” on May 15th, which was well attended with about 20 participants, including several from beyond the immediate sponsoring groups  – the GA, the FCA, Ecology Ottawa and CAFES. At that meeting, it was agreed that a joint response to the discussion papers produced by the City should be prepared, along the lines of the framework developed by Paul to make climate change the central organizing theme of the new Official Plan. Paul presented this framework and the draft response to the discussion papers and invited comments and suggestions. Following an in-depth and engaging discussion, the proposed response was supported, with some modifications.

Action: Paul to coordinate with FCA, Ecology and CAFES to submit this joint response to City staff prior to the deadline (originally May 31, it was subsequently extended to June 30 by the City).             

  1. Threats

a. Rural greenspace

b. Major urban greenspace

c. Other greenspace

The Meeting adjourned at 9:30.