West Broadway Community Organization Board Meeting Minutes
West Broadway Community Organization Board Meeting Minutes
November 4, 2015
1. Preliminary matters:
In attendance: Kayla Chafe, Angus Cruikshank, Todd Donohue, Sam Hagenlocher, Choi Ho, Matthew Kreider, Audrey Logan, Greg MacPherson (Executive Director), Brent Mitchell, David Nickarz, Gillian Roy,Joff Schmidt,Andrea Shalay, Will Tarleton
Regrets: Jasmine Tara
Quorum is eight and was achieved. Meeting called to order at 5:35 p.m.
Preliminary matters:
1)Volunteers: Gillian (timekeeping); Todd, Dave (dishes).
2) Approval of minutes of Oct. 7, 2015 meeting: approved as presented.
3) Agenda revisions/approval: Approved as presented.
A. Strategic review:
Respecting and supporting West Broadway’s livability and diversity
1) Staff introduction - Michael Deakin, WBCO rooming house outreach coordinator: Mike started with WBCO in September as the rooming house outreach project coordinator. So far, he’s held a kick off barbeque for the project, had one-on-one meeting with rooming house tenants, and started work on some rooms in the project’s current rooming house on Young Street — a 10-room house with 10 tenants. The house has new owners, who are applying for improvement grants (such as the property improvement project). Mike says he’s enjoying the work, particularly talking with tenants. Greg notes Mike is gifted at working with people in difficult circumstances.
2) Executive director’s report: Greg presented. Highlights: a hearing on the gardner’s complaint regarding 198 Sherbrook was scheduled for Nov. 3. Greg’s been working with WBCO’s new staff, including Michael Deakin and Leah Goertzen, our new housing coordinator. Held a meeting with other neighbourhood renewal corporations about the upcoming provincial election. Working on forming a tenants committee for West Broadway. Working with Thompson’s Funeral Home and the West Broadway BIZ on ideas for community use for the funeral home’s parking lot space. Touring Lion’s Place to explore outreach possibilities.
3) Balmoral Hall update: David updated. He, Brent, and Greg recently attended a meeting with representative from Balmoral Hall, ahead of the Nov. 17 appeal date on the school’s proposed arts centre. Armstrong Point residents were also in attendance. They suggested having ex-officio members from other boards attend BH board meetings. Armstrong Point residents expressed concerns about BH holding to proposed plans for the arts centre. Greg noted that WBCO has built a relationship and credibility with BH. The school is looking at increasing enrolment by 75 to 80 students. The administration said it won’t be more, but there are no assurances that number won’t chance. WBCO’s concerns remain the properties BH owns on Langside, traffic issues around the school, and the possible uses of the proposed new building (e.g. its rental or multi-use possibilities for other neighbourhood groups). WBCO would also be happy to see more involvement from BH in neighbourhood events like the SnoBall. Armstrong Point residents oppose more traffic, and the height of the proposed new building (which would normally be limited to 35 feet, but BH has appealed for a variance to build to a height of 50 feet). WBCO will wait to hear from BH on our concerns before supporting the school’s variance application. Greg notes BH seems to be listening to WBCO’s concerns. There’s a possibility BH may withdraw or postpone their application prior to the Nov. 17 hearing. As for the current Langside properties owned by the school, the fence has been removed around the property previously used as a dormitory, and it is currently vacant. BH is working with WBCO to apply to the province for affordable housing funding.
4) 198 Sherbrook St. update: Greg presented. WBCO’s court date in the complaint from a gardener was Nov. 3. The hearing was a full day, most of which involved presentations from the plaintiff. Greg notes this will result in a large legal bill for the organization, but WBCO was well represented. The judge will now deliberate, and will hand down a decision in the coming weeks. The next step in the 198 Sherbrook development requires WBCO to wait for the province’s call for proposals for affordable housing projects, which could come in November. It’s possible that money could be found from new federal government infrastructure funding.
5) 12 Tribes: Joff presented. Discussion around the letter WBCO would like to send to 12 Tribes regarding WBCO’s support for the joint statement on children and youth prepared by the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario. The suggestion was to send a letter explaining WBCO has endorsed the study, and ask 12 Tribes to endorse it as well. It was suggested WBCO could ask other organizations, like the Broadway Neighbourhood Centre, to endorse the statement as well. Another suggestion was asking 12 Tribes to support the statement, and ask if they’ve changed their stance on corporal punishment. A later statement could focus on WBCO events and 12 Tribes’ involvement in those events.
6) Broadway Neighbourhood Centre annual general meeting and partnership: Brent presented. He, Todd, and Audrey attended the BNC’s AGM. They report it went well, and questions were asked around policies, recreation activities at BNC, etc. There was agreement from BNC that they’d like to meet the recreational needs of West Broadway’s youth as well as they possibly can. It was argued at the meeting that organized sports activity at BNC would have to be initiated by the community (e.g. forming or joining sports leagues). It was suggested WBCO could form a recreation committee — Will offered to head it up, and Kayla, Choi, Todd, Angus, Gillian, and Matthew said they’d like to be involved. Greg also noted a funding application has been made for putting together a possible recreation plan.
BNC was also invited to participate in the new Five-Year Community Plan steering, and the response was positive. Brent received an email from BNC’s new board chair, inquiring about involvement with the new Community Plan.
7) New Five-Year Community Plan process report: Greg. Neighbourhoods Alive! has provided $10,000 to hire a consultant for the planning process. A steering committee has been formed and met. A call for proposals for a consultant has been issued, and responses received. Greg notes one proposal was within WBCO’s budget range, but can’t start until January. The hope was to have the planning process linked to WBCO’s next town hall meeting. The new Community Plan is due by March, but Greg is working on getting an extension.
Decision: To hold off on a WBCO town hall meeting until January.
B. Board business:
1) Poverty elimination: Brent updated. He said he’d like to talk with partners (e.g. other NRCs) about moving forward with poverty elimination efforts. He notes this may be a good time to approach the new federal government about possible support, and would like to pull together a group to meet with new members of Parliament.
Decision: To give Brent permission to approach other organizations on behalf of WBCO to form a group to work on poverty elimination strategies.
2) Committee reports:
- Small grants: Joff updated. The committee met, and proposed small grants as follows:
West Broadway Community Organization (Five-Year Community Plan committee funding): $1500
West Broadway Community Ministry (reflexology program): $750
Rides to Prison (new program to offer family members of inmates rides to visit): $2000
Wolseley Family Place (holistic health program): $1250
Broadway Neighbourhood Centre (washroom renovations): $2000
Decision: Small grants were approved as presented.
- Housing stakeholders committee: Greg provided background on the committee. It received three proposals this month:
- Kikinaw Housing: A proposal for a new high-density housing building on Langside Street, just off Portage Avenue. The proposal was approved by the housing stakeholders committee. Greg asked for board approval to write a letter of support for the project. It was noted there have been past concerns with Kikinaw and building management, but this could be an opportunity for WBCO to express what it would like to see Kikinaw do with a new project. Discussion.
Decision: To authorize Greg to write a support letter for the project.
- Westminster Housing Society: The group owns a house which was partly burned at 128 Langside. They’ve already started work on renovations, and the HSC approved the project.
Decision: The board supports the Westminster Housing Society project at 128 Langside.
- A landlord, Pat McAvoy, has several rooming houses, including one in West Broadway which the rooming house outreach project is working on at 289 Young St. The landlord has applied to Manitoba Housing for a new rooming house improvement grant. If granted, it freezes rental rates for a long period. The landlord is looking for a letter of support from the WBCO board.
Decision: To provide the owner of 289 Young St. a letter of support.
- Big ideas committee: Todd updated. The committee was likely to meet at the end of November. Todd said he’s send confirmation of the meeting date and time.
3) Dates to note:
- WBCO’s strategic planning session for board and staff to be held Nov. 14 at 9:30 — all board members are requested to attend.
- The finance committee was scheduled to meet Nov. 18 in the afternoon. Sam offered to join the finance committee.
- WBCO holiday event: December, date to be confirmed.
- Dec. 3 - a rooming house forum, hosted by WBCO. Registration for the forum begins at 8:30, with the forum beginning at 9:00. The forum will discuss rooming house issues.
6) In camera session.
C. New business: Nil.
Next meeting: Wednesday, Dec. 2 at 5:30 p.m.
Meeting adjourned at 7:35.