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Board meeting minutes: 2025-03-11

1. Welcome and land acknowledgement

2. Call for agenda items, approval of agenda

  • Debrief on provincial candidates debate, next steps for federal debate (Gregg Whetton)
  • OOE Brantwood riverbank tree planting project (see Committee reports – 9. SLOE)
  • OOECA logo/branding update, next steps, and request (see Committee reports – 10. Communications)

3. Approval of minutes

  • No meeting minutes to approve.

4. President’s report – Bob Gordon

  • Catherine McKenney hosted a meeting with Ottawa core community associations. No time for OOECA questions. Brief discussion about schools in the community. 
  • OOECA communication was sent to Catherine McKenney’s office. Hoping to engage 1-on-1 with their office ASAP.

5. Treasurer’s report – Don Fugler

  • Current OOECA balance is $22,268.41 ($24 decrease from February)
    • $45 in revenue from memberships, $69.38 in expenses to have cheques printed, $86.23 expense for Provincial All Candidates Meeting
  • Follow-up on requests from February 2025 board meeting:

6. Capital Ward Report – Hannah Tellier, Councillor’s Office

  • Lansdowne 2.0 decision in October.
  • Centennial Blvd replanting: Low maintenance plants and single-stem trees preferred; no large rocks. City forestry working with Hydro One for proper plant specs. Spring planting planned.
  • AVTC: No updates but optimistic about removal from Transportation Master Plan.
  • Deschâtelets Building: Awaiting funding commitment for school portion.
  • Bullock Ave, Rideau Garden, Elliott Ave renewal: Design started in Feb, construction expected Spring 2026.
  • Des Oblats: Flex stakes for pedestrian pathway damaged during snow removal.
  • Greystone Village: Meeting with city staff and OOECA to address townhome encroachment on Grand Allee.
  • GMH: Construction on Harvey St and Echo Dr starts next week, ongoing through Sept/Oct.
  • Greenfield Ave southbound updates.
  • Follow-up: Illegal left turns on Springhurst—requesting more info/evidence.
  • Sidewalk issue on Main St (Des Oblats to Beckwith); Hannah to inform Jonathan.

7. Community Activities Group (CAG) report – Lee Jacobs

  • Lee Jacobs sends his regrets. No report this month.

8. Provincial Candidates debate debrief, Federal debate prep – Gregg Whetton

  • Feb 20 provincial debate: 200 attendees, 1900 online views, with Liberals, NDP, and Green attending. Conservative candidate reported they had a scheduling conflict.
  • Planning involved 4 CAs: Glebe, Centretown, Old Ottawa South, and OOE; lessons learned on sound and scheduling.
  • Potential venues for future debates: Glebe Community Centre (400 people, good accessibility) or Glebe Auditorium/Horticulture Building (higher cost).
  • Motion to allocate $350 for provincial election debate planning; seconded by John Dance, motion passed with no objections.
  • Kristine supports a larger venue with live streaming for broader access, pending election date and venue availability.

9. Committee reports (links to reports where applicable)

Membership – Jayson MacLean

Main, Greystone, Lees – Peter Tobin

Health and Safety – Georgia Blondon

  • Report: Excerpt from Ottawa Citizen article – SHIH
  • Link about city of Ottawa plan for needs of older adults. Coming out later this year.
  • ANCHOR Program has been very successful. Can Georgia look into this?
  • Centretown looking to attract nurse practitioners (NP). New MPP mentioned having clinics for more NP availability.

FCA (Federation of Citizens’ Associations) – Ron Rose

No written report but brief update provided prior to meeting on FCA areas of focus: proposed zoning bylaw, finalizing a fair resolution of CAs insurance coverage, improving Committee of Adjustment procedures.

Planning – Vacant

  • Report: 166 McGillivray/441 Echo, Greystone Village Phase 4, New ZBL draft 2
  • Minor variance for 166/441 Echo. Neighbours have done great. Applicants consulted and will come back.
  • Unnecessary townhome encroachment on Grande Allee. Hoping city staff come around to our point of view.
  • Final draft of comprehensive zoning bylaw. Unclear why density needs to be disproportionate in OOE. Need space for tree canopy.

Lansdowne – Alexandra Gruca-Macaulay

  • No report this month

Transportation and Infrastructure – Tom Scott

  • GMH project updates – Spring 2025 construction, road closures
  • GMH construction restarts March 18. Seeking front yards to replace urban canopy lost. Public Advisory Committee involved.
  • Coordinating with CAs on AVTC and city on heritage bridge at Clegg Street. Awaiting next TMP update and engagement surveys. Follow-up with Councillor’s office on AVTC consultation objections.

Parks and Greenspace – Vacant

  • No report

SLOE (Sustainable Living Ottawa East) – Vacant

Communications – Kristine

  • OOECA logo/rebrand proposed next steps, request for funds
  • 42 response to survey with respondents favouring nature elements, island community, landmarks.
  • Recommend OOE artist to get some ideas flowing and zone in on concepts. Will look for designer to design logo to be unveiled at September Main Event or November AGM.
  • Motion put forward by Kristine Houde for up to $200 of funds for wine and cheese to convene 5-10 local OOE artists to discuss ideas based on feedback from survey and give renderings from local artist to drive next steps, design with graphic designer.
    • Board vote: 12 board members in favour. 2 abstained. None opposed. Motion passed.

10. New Business

Call from community member encouraging in-person meeting attendance

  • Now that the weather is good, it was suggested to encourage people to come in person for community meetings.

Rideau-River crossing at Clegg in TMP update

  • OOECA had a meeting last year with the Active Transportation Group of the TMP-Update team. An active transportation Rideau-River crossing at Clegg is in TMP update now as a planned item dependent on the degree of development around Hurdman Station. 
  • It may also be considered as a necessary connection in the event that the Old Railway Bridge is closed for renovations.
  • John Dance suggested engaging with the Councillor’s office on a feasibility study and we could seek money this year from the Councillor for such study. If notional plans were in place, it would also set us up for a chance of getting federal money as a ‘shovel-ready’ project. 
  • OOECA to start discussions with Councillor Menard.

Recognizing Board member, John Dance, contributions to the community

  • Congratulations to John Dance for his receipt of a Certificate of Merit as part of the King Charles III Coronation Medal Ceremonies.

11. Adjournment

  • Motion: Bob Gordon; Seconded: Tom Scott

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