Minutes of the RPCRA Board of Directors meeting of March 9, 2011.

Riverside Park Community and Recreation Association (RPCRA)
Board of Directors Meeting
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
19:00
Riverside Churches
3191 Riverside Dr. Room 4

1.0 Welcome: 

1.1 Teresa Reeve opened the meeting 1900

2.0 Approval of Agenda and Minutes:

2.1 Not having quorum, motions to approve Minutes and Agenda were deferred.

3.0 Councillor’s Report:

3.1 Councillor McRae distributed her Report (available below).  Highlights included the complete list of the Festivals held in Mooney’s Bay Park, the details of the 2011 Civic Events Funding Program and the Paint it Up Mural Programme among others.  Councillor McRae also clarified the recently announced Folks Festival’s move to Hogs Back Park.  She said that the Park was NCC property thus not a City responsibility and that she had already made representations to the NCC to direct traffic through Baseline and away from residential areas.

 4.0 Hope Volleyball Presentation:

4.1 The representatives from the Hope Volleyball Tournament presented their site, transportation and clean-up plans along with the planned hours of activities and noise levels in order to receive a letter regarding any objections from the RPCRA.

Site plan. It was noted that the site plan was unchanged from last year.  Residents were pleased to hear that the speakers once again faced west.
Transportation plan. Residents raised the usual concerns regarding traffic and parking but on the whole were pleased with the transportation plans.
Clean-up plan.  Residents were pleased with the clean-up plans and with the adoption of beer cans only policy on the site.  Representatives would continue to send volunteers to all streets in the entire neighbourhood paying special attention to the 2 areas raised by residents on Ridgewood near the Denbury and in the Brookfield field.
Hours of operation.  Hours of operation are to remain the same as last year.
Noise level.  It was noted that officials were going to request, as in previous years, an exception to the noise by-law to 65 decibels. Representatives assured residents that they would monitor the radio sound levels and that these would not start before 8:30am.

• Howard Keck requested that Hope consider working with the community and funding a project at Mooney’s Bay.  Representatives agreed readily and a meeting will take place between the RPCRA and the Hope reps following this year’s event.
• The President of the RPCRA, Teresa Reeve, said that she would take this information under advisement before issuing a letter on behalf of the RPCRA.

5 Lebanese Fun Festival Report
The representatives from the Lebanese Fun Festival presented their site, transportation and clean-up plans along with the planned hours of activities and noise levels in order to receive a letter from the RPCRA. Residents noted that the Lebanese Fun Festival was the only event taking place in the Mooney’s Bay area that was located within a residential area which makes matters more sensitive.
Site plan.  It was noted that the site plan is the same as last year.  There were some concerns raised about the directions of the speakers
Transportation plan. Apart from the usual traffic and parking concerns, residents were pleased with the transportation plan.  LFF representatives assured residents that security agents would prevent traffic from entering Dupont street and would start earlier in the day to ensure no vehicles parked on the street.
Clean-up plan.  Residents noted that the proposed clean-up plan had improved over the previous year and LFF representatives agreed that clean up would include all streets in the entire neighbourhood paying special attention to the 2 areas raised by residents on Ridgewood near the Denbury and in the Brookfield field.
Hours of operation: The hours of operation are to remain the same as last year.
Noise levels: It was noted that officials are requesting, as in previous years, an exception to the noise by-law to 65 decibels for all hours of operation.  RPCRA President advised that she would be researching the decibel levels in interaction with the hours of operation and would possibly make recommendations regarding how late and the decibel levels for the times requested.
Residents concerns. A number of concerns were raised.  Two concerns stood out. 
a) Residents asked that the carnival workers area that abuts residents’ backyards, be more closely monitored to prevent the smoking of various substances near residences, food cooking late at night, noise well into the night and general lack of sanitary conditions spilling over to residents’ backyards. LFF organizers promised to look into the matter and have security ensure there are no such activities.
b) Residents also asked that LFF volunteers treat them with respect when meeting them on the street particularly on Dupont.  LFF organizers promised to look into the matter.

5.2 Howard Keck requested that the LFF consider funding a project in the Community.  LFF representatives agreed to look into this and will meet with the RPCRA after this year’s event
5.3 The President of the RPCRA, Teresa Reeve, said that she will take this information under advisement before issuing a letter on behalf of the RPCRA particularly as to the noise levels and hours of operation.

6. Treasurer’s Report
Howard Keck reported on the finances of the RPCRA.  He noted that the City had sent 1 of the 3 cheques expected for the rinks and the RPCRA is issuing payments for hours of work on a regular basis. 

7. Environment Committee
     Report postponed.

8. Rinks Committee
Report postponed

9. Roundtable
                Residents discussed a variety of issues.

10. Adjournment:
Meeting was adjourned at 21:00

Next meeting of RPCRA will be held on Wednesday April 6, 2011

Various reports:

Councillor’s Report

 RIVER WARD CITY COUNCILLOR MARIA McRAE’S REPORT TO
THE RIVERSIDE PARK COMMUNITY AND RECREATION ASSOCIATION
March 9, 2011
Bank Street CDP Open House
Thank you to the residents of Riverside Park who participated in the Bank Street CDP Open
House on February 16, 2011. Thank you also to the RPCRA representative, Jeff Atkinson.
Festivals in Riverside Park
The following festivals are expected to take place in Mooney’s Bay Park this year:
MEC Paddle Fest (May)
Canoe for Kids (June)
Ottawa Dragon Boat Race (June)
HOPE Volleyball (July)
Ottawa Kids Triathlon (July)
National Capital Triathlon (July)
Carleton U fall orientation (September)
Winners Walk of Hope (September)
Ottawa Mission “Big Pull” (September)
Canadian Triathlon (September)
Bus Route Optimization
OC Transpo is undertaking a review of bus routes in the city to optimize the transit system. OC
Transpo will make recommendations to the City’s Transit Commission on March 23, 2011.
Following a period of public consultation, transit route changes will be finalized at the April 20,
2011 meeting of the Transit Commission.
2
Registration for Spring and Summer Recreation Programs
Just in time to take everyone’s minds off the snow-filled days of winter, the City of Ottawa is
launching its new line-up of recreation programs for spring and summer. From swimming to
yoga and from visual arts to basketball, the City provides an impressive selection of programs for
all ages, including Summer Day Camps at affordable prices and convenient locations.
Program listings can currently be viewed online or picked up as of March 3 at neighbourhood
recreation facilities, Client Service Centres, public libraries and participating retail outlets while
supplies last. For a complete listing of sites where the Recreation Guide and Mon Guide
francophone can be obtained, please visit the City of Ottawa website at ottawa.ca/recreation.
As part of the City’s efforts to reduce costs on printing, learn to swim programs will not be
included in the printed Recreation Guide. I encourage you to view the listings online at
ottawa.ca/swim or to visit a pool in their area to obtain more information.
Registration
 Registration for swimming and aquafitness programs began March 7 at 10 pm for
Online/Touch Tone and March 8 during regular business hours for In person.
 Registration for all other programs starts March 9 at 10 pm for Online/Touch Tone and
March 10 during regular business hours for In person.
I encourage you to use the City’s online registration system to help avoid line-ups and save time.
You will need a Personal Identification Number (Account PIN) to identify your family account
as well as a Client Barcode for each family member. A PIN can be obtained by visiting a local
recreation facility, Client Service Centre, or calling the touch-tone registration system at 613-
580-2588 (Monday to Friday, 7am to 7pm).
2011 Civic Events Funding Applications
Local not-for-profit organizations, such as volunteer-based community or recreation
associations, are invited to apply for funding to provide one-to-two-day civic events that foster
civic pride, develop community cohesion and offer free admission. The City’s Civic Events Fund
supports events linked to and celebrating a civic or statutory holiday, are held in Ottawa and
encompass a broad range of activities, including family entertainment.
Maximum Allocation: $3,000
Application Deadline: March 23, 2011
Program guidelines and application forms are available at ottawa.ca or by visiting City of Ottawa
Client Service Centres. For more information contact 613-580-2424, ext. 26459 or
e-mail: rec-info@ottawa.ca.
3
2011 ‘Paint It Up!’ Mural Program
Following the success of the Paint It Up! program in 2010, the City of Ottawa’s Public Works
Department and Crime Prevention Ottawa (CPO) announced that they are launching the program
for 2011.
The Paint It Up! program was established in the fall of 2009 as an enhancement to the City’s
Graffiti Management Strategy. The program promotes graffiti prevention and neighbourhood
beautification through engaging community groups and at-risk youth in the development of
murals in areas experiencing a high incidence of graffiti vandalism.
The following public information sessions will be held on the Paint It Up! program. I encourage
anyone interested in applying to register for an information session by calling 613-580-2424 ext.
22454.
Wednesday, March 9
1:30–3:30 p.m.
City Hall, 110 Laurier Avenue West
2nd Floor, Colonel By Room
Thursday, March 10
6–8 p.m.
Nepean Sportsplex, Room D
1701 Woodroffe Avenue
Applications for Paint It Up! funding are available at the Crime Prevention Ottawa website or by
calling 613-580-2424 ext. 22454. The deadline to apply is April 8, 2011.
4
Integrated Road Safety Program (IRSP)
February Initiative
Drivers who are distracted with electronic hand-held devices or making unsafe lane changes
have the full attention of the City’s Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) in
February.
Between 2007 and 2009, driver distraction was either fully or partially the cause of 5,800
traffic collisions in Ottawa. These collisions resulted in seven deaths and 1,952 injuries (81 of
them serious).
Unsafe lane changing is also a serious issue. In 2009 alone, 1,162 reportable collisions
occurred on Ottawa roads due to unsafe lane changes – resulting in 142 injuries (three were
life-threatening) and one fatality.
March Initiative
Ottawa Police will be weighing-in on heavy vehicles, unsafe vehicles and speeders as part of
the City’s Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) for March.
In 2009, 150 reportable collisions on Ottawa roadways involved unsafe vehicles – resulting in
31 injuries, three were life-threatening. Causes of these collisions included: defective
brakes, steering, tires, lights, engine controls, trailer hitches, suspension, as well as
obscured vision.
The focus of this initiative will also include heavy vehicle inspections. These inspections will
be done to ensure: compliance with weight restrictions, that loads are properly secured, and
that heavy vehicles are not being driven on restricted load roadways. Properly maintained
documentation, certificates and logs will also be verified.
Speeding is also a major cause of collisions on Ottawa roads. In 2009, speeding or driving too
fast for road and weather conditions resulted in 3,454 reportable collisions. The toll of
speed-related collisions was 15 deaths and 1,002 injuries – 43 were serious.