Present: Brent Calhoun, Richard Cavanagh, Severino Centritto, Stephanie Ford (councillor Palacio's representative), Mike Hussey, Anita Kung, Beth Marcilio, Peter Norman, Florence & Dick Watts.
Regrets: Amy Bodman, Rosa Cordiano, Linda DeGiorgio, Harry Lay.

1. Heritage & History
   1. St.Clair West in Pictures: "Then and Now Views" – Barbara Myrvold (TPL History Specialist) has prepared a map of 12 sites that are mentioned in the third edition of the book, plus photos of the 12 locations with a short history of each location, past and present. A link has been added to the first page of the History Section of the RHRA website to take you to the Library's website showing this interesting information. RHRA has sold out of copies of the books allotted to us. Any persons still wishing to purchase one can find them for sale at one of the following three branches: Dufferin/St. Clair; Silverthorn and Shaw.


2. Street Beautification
   1. Street-planter requests - requests for 6 planters have been received by Stephanie for locations on Davenport Rd., Robina Ave., and at Mt. Royal Parkette. Further requests for the remaining planters can be made to Florence Watts.
   2. Graffiti – graffiti in the lane north of Davenport Rd between Mt. Royal and Alberta and on the Bell box in OCI boulevard needs attention. Stephanie will follow up.


3. Special Events
   1. Carol Sing – a successful carol sing took place on a frigid December 19th with a turnout of some 60 to 70 persons. The Salvation Army Band had difficulty with instrument valves getting frozen. A $100 donation to the Band was made by RHRA. Photos taken from the Carol sing can be viewed on the RHRA website (www.regalheights.ca).


4. Planning/Zoning/Bylaws/Construction
   1. St. Clair Street-tree plan (Westmount to Winona) - a meeting at Toronto City Hall Jan 19, 2009 with Councillor Palacio and the St. Clair street-tree project consultant to discuss the possibility of adding more street trees to current plans, yielded some positive results.
      37 additional locations appear to be free of problems for tree planting; 15 further locations appear to be somewhat free of problems for tree planting. A second meeting will probably be held to finalize the findings.
   2. St. Clair Avenue Study: a joint meeting of Local Advisory Committees (LACs) will be held at Oakwood C.I. on Thursday January 22, 2009 from 6:30 to 9 pm to present draft recommendations for the re-urbanization of St.Clair Ave. Some RHRA members at this Exec. meeting felt that the initial mandate of the study, to create new zoning and increase the density and population on St. Clair Ave., has not been fully addressed. They plan to invite non LAC members to attend the Jan. 22 meeting as observers.
   3. Sign by-law: public consultation (www.toronto.ca/signbylawproject) - a number of public consultation meetings will be held to consider current sign by-laws. No one present expressed interest in attending one of the meetings.
   4. Davenport Rd. New zoning – a public meeting at McMurrich School on Monday January 19 was well attended and endorsed a proposal to develop new zoning for the north side of Davenport Rd between Winona and Alberta.
   5. Mt Royal bump-out – the next meeting to develop plans for the bump-out will be held in February. Stephanie will try to obtain a scale drawing of the bump-out for Amy Bodman as soon as possible.


5. Communications
   1. RHRA information Board – Florence circulated pictures of the Wadsworth Park community information board. Severino explained the need for such a board in the RHRA community. An info board would be helpful for those without internet access. Severino volunteered to maintain the board if we find a location for one. Stephanie can help to obtain a board from The City. The location needs to be determined. Perhaps more use of existing info board space may be an answer, e.g. community info board in the Dufferin/St. Clair library or boards in the TTC shelters. This matter will be discussed further at the next meeting
   2. Library Bulletin Board – a new community info. board has been installed at the Dufferin/St. Clair library in a prominent location beside the library info. board.


6. Garbage/Recycling
   1. Trash clean-up at 98 Glenholme – the mess outside the apartment at 98 Glenholme has been cleaned up and the building is now supplied with City of Toronto waste receptacles.
   2. What goes in what bin – recently a number of recycle bins have not been emptied. Collectors do check the bins before emptying them. If they see items that are not accepted, the bins get bypassed. After January 31 people will be fined for improper content in bins. Councillor Palacio is working to develop some sort of aid to help people know what goes in what bin.


7. RHRA Meetings
   

   Policies re: General Meetings/Executive Meetings

   In response to the request by a majority of attendees at the November meeting, that four of the eight RHRA meetings per year be held in public facilities rather than in private homes, the executive agreed in general on the following:

   1. the February 2009 Executive Meeting will be in Oakwood Collegiate cafeteria if suitable arrangements can be made;
   2. the eight meetings following the AGM in May 2009 will consist of 7 Executive Meetings and the Annual General Meeting in May 2010;
   3. the 2009-2010 mtgs. in Oct., Jan., Mar. and May will be held in a public facility if suitable arrangements can be made;
   4. we are seeking public facilities for which there is no rental fee.

   There was lengthy discussion without agreement on the following:

   1. how should the community be informed about meeting dates, agendas, locations of meetings?
   2. should motions be put to meetings in writing?
   3. who should be able to vote at Exec. Mtgs.?
   4. should an RHRA constitution be prepared?
   5. this proposal to change the way RHRA has been operating is having negative impacts and is unduly disrupting what has been a smoothly functioning organization.


8. Other
   1. Thank you letter received from Library Board re RHRA assistance with publication of St. Clair West in Pictures, third edition.
   2. Sighting of fox at Springmount Steps, Jan 2, 2009. For recent research on changing ecosytems in Toronto see: Roots, Chant & Heidenreich, Special Places… The Changing Ecosystems of the Toronto Region; UBC Press,1999.
   3. Snow-clearing: the meeting agreed to send a letter to Councillor Palacio requesting that the City improve snow-clearing procedures on Regal Heights streets in order to reduce increasingly dangerous conditions.
   4. Naming laneways – there is a process available from the City to have laneways named, and thus more easily identifiable. Stephanie is willing to assist in the application process if there is interest to name the lanes in the Regal Heights area.

Next meeting: Tues. Feb. 17, 2009, 7 pm. location to be announced.