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2) Approval of Agenda and Minutes:
Karen Cameron remarked that the April Minutes did not show her as being present. April Minutes will be amended to reflect her presence. Not having quorum, the approval of the Minutes and Agenda was postponed..
3) The agenda was amended to welcome Ms. Dorothy McAdam, the City of Ottawa’s representative for the Festivals.
Dorothy McAdam introduced herself and explained her position in regards to the holding of Special Events in Ottawa. She added that when an organization wished to hold an event in the City, it had to meet with her department and with the Advisory Team entitled the Special Events Advisory Committee (SEAT). SEAT had the responsibility to evaluate the application in terms of nuisance and safety. SEAT is made up of representatives from the various departments of the City whose by-laws apply in the case of Special Events. In addition, the provincial representatives, Alcohol and Gaming also sits on SEAT.
Ms McAdam informed the RPCRA that the City was in the process of drafting a new by-law for Special Events that would enable it to charge an organizer who did not comply with fines. The by-law will be in effect in October.
.4) President’s Report
Teresa Reeve related her conversation with the Deputy Clerk (DC) regarding the posting of Blades on Riverside Drive. Teresa asked the DC why, after well over a year since they conducted limited consultation the report, has not been completed and the blades removed. The DC advised that her department was extremely busy, that cutbacks affected the work in her office and they have had to prioritize work and this is not high on the priority list. Consequently, she has not finished the report and a decision will not be taken until she has finished her report. The DC is unwilling to take down the Blades until after the decision is taken because she feels she would be criticized for wasting money for the removal if the decision is to leave them up. When advised that the initial letter sent by the City indicated that they were put up just for consultation she advised they are too busy to waste time on removing them if they just have to put them back up. Teresa requested information on the ratio of responses from people who lived in the community close to the location of the Blades, the number from across the city, from other parts of Canada and external to Canada. The DC made if known in no uncertain terms that her Office would not discuss the process or the methodologies used for the limited consultation or to be used to make a decision in this case. They are unable to break down the responses in that manner as half the responses were by e-mail and will not discuss further. She did relate that a request had been made for 5 more Blades in the neighbourhood but refused to answer Teresa’s questions regarding residency, community input, location, etc.
It appears that since the City has advised that this does not fall under the commemorative naming policy and that this was an unusual request that needed to be voted on by the Council because there is no current policy in place to address these requests that the City is unable to refuse to implement Council’s decisions. The motion was put forward by Councillor El Chantiry and seconded by Maria McRae then voted on by all Councillors who agreed.
Discussions ensued and it was decided by all in attendance at the Community Association meeting that Teresa would write the Mayor about the issue.
5) Councillor’s Report
Greg Killough read and commented on the report (see below).
6) Treasurer’s Report
No Treasurer's Report.
7) Environmental Committee
Jeanette Caron announced that the RPCRA’s application to the Paint-it-Up programme had been approved.
8) Transportation Committee
Chris Power reported that he and Greg Killough had had numerous conversations regarding the RPCRA’s priorities. Gregg then summarized the City’s actions regarding the monitoring of the 40 KM limit on Springland; parking on Springland; the addition of yield signs on the Brookfield side of the roundabout.
Eta Schneiderman remarked that the traffic going South on Springland was increasing because of early exiters from the Airport Parkway. Greg K noted the difficulty of monitoring this situation that could only be eased by a Walkley exit off the Parkway.
9) Festival Committee
Teresa Reeve noted that the RPCRA had issued 3 letters of non-objection. She added that she had met with the organizer of the LFF to discuss the issues raised at the presentation meeting. Among others, the letter stated the response to the request for a noise exemption.
The Letter indicated that the RPCRA agrees to a noise by-law exemption for Friday and Saturday night to 65 decibels as requested but will request the City only authorize the regular decibel level of 55 for Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday. As the area where the festival takes place is very small, maintaining a maximum noise level of 55 decibels on weeknights should not have a significant impact on the festival as the music should easily be heard throughout the grounds.
The RPCRA and the LFF will jointly ask the City to ensure a City by-law officer checks on the noise levels a few times each evening both on the grounds and in the backyards of the homes adjacent to the festival grounds to ensure the limit is maintained. We will also request the City have an employee check the vibration level in the backyards of the houses which abut the Festival property. We agreed that should any residents complain that the vibration is excessively shaking their house the festival music will be balanced to reduce the bass.
Members requested that a decibel reading be taken by a City representative at least 3 times on all those nights.
10) Communications Committee
Louise Robert reported that the action item raised at the last meeting to add to the website that all were welcome to the RPCRA monthly Board meeting had been done due to the diligent efforts of Jeanette Caron.
11) Neighbourhood Safety and Police Liaison Committee
This item was postponed
12) Adjournment
Meeting adjourned at 8:15 pm
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