1. Heritage and History
   1. Regal Rd School Portico - Harry Lay reported that the details of an agreement are still being ironed out by the City and the School Board with regard to the restoration of the portico.
   2. Heritage designation of Davenport Rd - David Raymont reported that Councillors Palacio and Mihevic will put forth a motion at the next City Council meeting on April 25th to have Davenport Rd designated as a heritage route.
   3. History/heritage study of Regal Heights - David Raymont reported that rather than having parts of Regal Heights considered as heritage conservation areas, as suggested at the March meeting, he now feels it would be more appropriate to develop a community heritage/ history club. After discussing this with Caroline Ingvaldsen, chief librarian, David now proposes that we collect information, artefacts and fragments of history from the Regal Heights area worth preserving. Articles might be stored and put on display at the library. Self-directed walking tours might be another means of sharing our history. David will chair a preliminary meeting at Dufferin/St.Clair library on April 25 to develop a plan for initial projects. A notice will be sent out prior to the meeting; all interested are welcome to attend.
   
   
2. Street Beautification
   1. Daffodil Hill Clean-up Sunday March 26th - the annual clean up of the hill behind Regal Road school on the Northeast corner of Dufferin and Davenport will take place this Sunday March 26th at 10 am. Volunteers are requested to come with garden gloves, sturdy shoes and a rake or garden shears if possible. This clean up of the hill is in preparation for the blooming of the daffodils, so they may be beautifully presented for everyone's enjoyment.
   2. Funds for garden supplies - Replacement planter barrels, plant materials and watering equipment/parts are needed. Up to $200 was authorized for this season. Pansies for our various gardens will be donated by the Dept of Parks and Rec.
   3. Graffiti - Mike Foderick has been instrumental in following up and having various graffiti sites addressed. We now have a new red mailbox at the corner of Lauder and Regal, which has already been defaced and cleaned up. Graffiti and garbage in the laneways continue to be a problem. This issue will be raised at the Annual meeting to determine whether the community feels this is a problem they wish to address. Otherwise individuals are welcome to call the City's Clean and Beautiful hotline to report graffiti at 416-338-0338. Mike will address graffiti issues on the planter boxes at Glenholme and St.Clair and on the brown phone box on Mount Royal.
   4. Sakura tree project at OCI - approval has been granted to the environment club at OCI to receive 3 free Cherry trees from the city. The club will plant them on Earth Day April 22nd.
   5. Toronto Street Furniture Program - To improve the quality of streets, the City will engage consultants who will prepare and implement a program for coordinating street furniture throughout the city (e.g. planter boxes, garbage receptacles, bus shelters, benches, newspaper boxes etc.) Based on findings from public consultations, a request for proposals (RFP) will be sent to local and international companies. For results of the consultation meetings check the City of Toronto website (www.toronto.ca) and search for 'street furniture'.
   6. Mayor's Clean-up Day, Saturday April 22nd - John Keating has agreed again to co- ordinate the clean up in the Regal Heights area this year.
   7. Environment Day - Councillor Palacio's environment day will be held on Saturday May 6th at Earlscourt Park. Free compost will be available then, as well as on April 21st at the OCI parking lot.
   
   
3. Communications & Website
   1. Background and objectives of RHRA - Laura McGrath presented a comprehensive outline of items to be included in an info sheet to add to our website. Beth Marcilio and Laura will present more on this at the next meeting.
   2. Updating the website - Art Dacks continues to update our website for us. Carolling photos have been relocated and replaced with info regarding the Daffodil Hill clean up day.
   
   
4. Planning & Zoning
   1. St. Clair Transit - SOS has decided not to appeal the TTC ROW project. Construction on the tracks is set to resume this year but is not expected to reach the area west of Vaughan road until 2007. In the meantime construction is being done in our area by Enbridge Gas and some underground Hydro conduits will also be installed in certain areas prior to TTC ROW construction.
   2. St. Clair "Avenue Study" - public meetings on both the east and west divisions were well attended with about 100 to 150 persons at each one. Peter and Dick reported on the events of the evening and the different responses from each meeting. Population density along the St. Clair corridor is expected to increase. Feedback is sought as to the range of density increase that is appropriate for each neighbourhood. Next public meeting to discuss design for the west section will be held at JJP on April 19th, and for the east section, on May 3 at St.Matthews Church.
   3. Regal Heights Bistro - the RH Bistro is applying for a patio license. Only the neighbouring residents on Lauder north of Rosemount will be polled whether they are in favour of granting the license. So far, the Bistro has been well received by the community. If a patio license is not granted after the results of the poll is tabulated, re-application cannot be made until at least two years pass. The City Clerks office will be sending out poll-forms soon, to the occupant of each house in the polling area. Residents are encouraged to respond to the poll so a clear representation of residents' wishes is received.
   
   
5. Finances
   Linda DeGiorgio presented the following on funds available:
   • $50 in petty cash
   • $380 in RHRA Operating Fund (plus $200 authorized for Street Beautification)
   • $305 in the Mural Fund
   • $500 in the Heritage Fund (award recently received)
   
   
6. Other
   1. School news - The RHRA executive expressed concern about the deteriorated condition of the steps and sidewalks on the east side of Oakwood Collegiate. We understand that some repairs will be made this summer, but that this may not include the sidewalks. It was agreed that sidewalk repair is badly needed and that a letter should be written to Maria Rodrigues, our School Board representative, regarding this matter.
   2. Cycling news - the bike users group has put in a request that Heath St remain available to cyclists during the St. Clair Avenue construction. They have also recommended that bold signage be posted in construction zones indicating that cyclists get the right of way over other vehicles in areas of reduced lanes due to construction. Laura shared some interesting cycling statistics with us that should make cyclists and drivers more cautious when sharing the road. There is a collision every 9.5 minutes in the GTA between cyclists and motorists. There is a cyclist injured every 8.6 hours.
   3. "Governing Toronto" consultation - Dick, Florence and Margaret Smith attended one of the consultation meetings held by Mayor Miller at the St Lawrence Hall. It was well attended and well facilitated. Feedback from the consultations will go to the next community council meeting April 4th towards deciding how Toronto is to be governed.
   4. "On the Waterfront" - a series of lectures sponsored by Heritage Toronto will be held on waterfront topics at Enoch Turner Schoolhouse Apr 4 to May 9. (see www.heritagetoronto.org or tel: 416-338-1338)
   5. "The New City" by John Lorinc - is a newly published book by a local resident, that discusses the important role of cities in the future of the "world society". The first chapter of the book can be found on the website www.penguin.ca (search for Lorinc, then go to Excerpt).
   6. Rogers Tower - Rogers has agreed to relocate the communication tower at 1142 Davenport from the back laneway to the roof of the same address. The replacement tower will be smaller.
   7. 28 Winona Drive - the owner of 28 Winona Drive has submitted a proposal to build 5 town homes, one on Winona and four on the vacant lands at the rear. A public meeting will be held to discuss the preliminary proposal. Date to be announced.

Next Meeting: Tuesday April 18, 2006, 7:30 pm at the home of Rosa Cordiano, 1 Burlington Cres.