Present: Tony Bolla, Brent Calhoun, Richard Cavanagh, Rosa Cordiano, Linda DeGiorgio, Mike Foderick (assistant to Councillor Palacio), John Keating, Anita Kung, Harry Lay, John Lorinc (guest), Brian MacConnell, Beth Marcilio, Peter Norman, David Raymont, David & Marilyn Shanoff, Robert Szachrajuk, Dick & Florence Watts.
Regrets: Amy Bodman, Peggy Lampotang.

1. Membership Update
   We have 92 paid-up member-families, including 8 families who have already paid their fees for the 2007-2008 season.



2. Finances:
   Operating account balance: $726.45; Heritage acct. balance: $805


3. Heritage & History
   1. Letter from library re “St Clair West in Pictures” and Earlscourt Room – an optimistic response has been received from Josephine Bryant, City Librarian.
   2. Plaque for Regal Road School – a 12” x 18” bronze plaque from Heritage Toronto will cost around $1000 to fabricate and install. The City is willing to pay for half of this cost. John K. will circulate an email asking any interested members for donations towards the RHRA share of the cost. Money from the Heritage fund will be used to cover our share up to a max of $500. Harry will inquire at the school where the plaque can be mounted. Preferably the plaque can be mounted outside of the school at the portico entrance.
   3. Earlscourt History Club – the next meeting is scheduled for the end of May on "researching the history of your house". Location and time TBA.



4. Street Beautification
   1. Street-cleaning pilot program – Regal Heights will be part of a pilot program proposed by Councillor Palacio to enable the cleaning of the curbs on both sides of the streets. New parking restrictions will apply to certain streets on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month between April 1st and November 30th. Streets with already established alternate- side parking will not be affected. The main change will be for those streets that now have permanent parking on one side only. Mike will look into the procedure for streets where parking is now permitted on both sides of the street, e.g. Springmount and Glenholme Ave. Notices will be distributed to households by the Works department once signage is installed on affected streets. For the first few months ticketing will be lenient while residents get use to the new format, and friendly tows will be used. This issue will be reviewed in detail at the RHRA annual meeting on May 15.
   2. Plant removal from library to OCI – the rose bushes are now ready for transplant from the library garden to OCI. It is hoped that it can be done in the coming week or so. Contact Florence if you are able to be of assistance.
   3. Red pine seedlings project – the 100 seedlings requested for RHRA have arrived and will be distributed to RHRA members in the coming days. The seedlings prefer sunny locations. When the small trees have become well established in members' gardens, it is hoped some members will wish to transplant them to larger open spaces in the community.
   4. Street-tree removals and replacements – several large trees have been removed since the last windstorm. Hopefully the residents affected will request tree replacements from the city.



5. Mayor’s Clean-up Day, Saturday April 21st, 10 am
   All volunteers are requested to meet at 10 am in the Oakwood Collegiate parking lot where instructions will be given. Flyers were handed out for posting.



6. Communications
   A photo of ‘Dads of Regal Heights’ hockey team has been posted on the Website. See www.regalheights.ca



7. Schools
   1. Regal Road: lay-by design and construction – a long-term solution to a longstanding problem of cars driving onto the circular drive of the school and causing safety concerns for the children is in the works. The City Transportation department will be putting to tender a lay-by design to improve the separation between vehicles and children. Suggestions were made to further define the separation. The need to maintain vehicle access to the rear of the school was also mentioned. Discussion followed about possible landscaping of the paved area in front of the school. John Lorinc and Harry Lay will investigate the possibilities.
   2. Oakwood C.I. – the drama club's production of “The Women and Willis” by Jason Sherman has recently advanced from the city finals and will represent the TDSB in the provincial finals in St. Catharines during the second week of May. We wish them every success.



8. Planning & Zoning
   1. Mount Royal Parkette – the Mount Royal Parkette committee will meet April 19, 6:30 pm at 39 Mt. Royal with the designers, park supervisor and Mike F. to review revised plans and discuss the ideas of how to beautify the site. The committee will strive to preserve a natural and organic quality in the parkette. The character of the walkway through the park will also be discussed. All interested are welcome to attend.
   2. 1248 Davenport Road – no progress to report
   3. St. Clair Avenue
      1. hydro undergrounding – has been agreed from Vaughan to Caledonia. The local BIAs may be requested to contribute to the cost of the undergrounding in their area. Preliminary work has started.
      2. ROW construction schedule – TTC rail work in the Corso Italia area is expected from July to September 2007. Detail for our area will be presented at the RHRA Annual Mtg. on May15.
      3. Northcliffe/Glenholme stops – the issue is not fully resolved. It is required that proper EA procedure is followed in order to approve the re-instatement of the two stops. Upcoming public consultation meetings are expected to help resolve this issue.
      4. ROW public consultation: the Transit Community Liaison Committee (TCLC) will meet April 30 (primarily for BIA's), and a consultation meeting for the general public is scheduled for May 7. Time & place for both meetings TBA.
   4. Renewal of rooming house licenses at 105 Oakwood, 1535 Dufferin – no negative comments have been received from RHRA members. Any comments can still be sent to Mike.
   
   
   
9. BIA/Community Links
   1. Delegates to future BIA meetings – Peter or Rosa may be available to attend the next two BIA meetings. At the Apr 18 meeting, Peter will seek feedback from the BIA on the Bolla/Watts draft guidelines for BIA/Community relationships.
   2. Solar sculptures : a call to artists to submit their proposals has been published. A decision on the selected artist will be made on June 21st. The project is proposed to be completed by June 21, 2008. More info can be found at www.stclairsolarart.com



10. Other
    1. People Plan Forum, Saturday May 26 – Alejandra Bravo is helping to promote a grassroots forum to receive input from the community on improving the City's planning process. See www.active18.org/PPT
    2. Side Space Gallery, unlicensed enclosure – this previous restaurant patio space is now a gallery without a license to operate on city property. The City is attempting to resolve how to permit this gallery use.
    3. Street-name sign: Mike presented a sample of what the new street signs will look like. The previous signs with the pointed tops will be discontinued. The new signs will be blue and white in colour. Mike will try to arrange for a sample sign for viewing at our May 15 annual meeting.
    4. City of Toronto noise survey – Dick received this survey from the city. Feedback from RHRA members will be sought via RHRA Communications e-mail.
    5. SWRC proposal – their 7-year mandate from the City to make social and economic improvements in the area bounded by Rogers Rd, the CP Railway, Old Weston Rd and Glenholme Ave. will soon be coming to an end. SWRC is considering continuing their functions with a new and similar mandate, but without the City’s formal funding support. Discussion followed outlining the positive changes that SWRC has accomplished. It was decided that Dick would write to SWRC, on behalf of RHRA, supporting SWRC's proposal to continue to function.
    6. Construction problems - the north-westcorner of Oakwood and Davenport is messy with dirt spilling out onto the sidewalks during rains. Construction debris is left on the property at 41 Rosemount. No garbage bin seems to be in use. Mike will send out an inspector.