Attendance - About 65 people attended the meeting.

Opening Remarks - Chairman Dick Watts welcomed everyone to the annual meeting and shared a history of the Association and the initiatives that RHRA has taken over the years.

• Library murals restoration
  David Self reported that the first phase of the mural restoration at the Dufferin/St. Clair library has been completed. Some time between 1923 and 1926 renowned muralist George Reid painted the mural that has been restored. The image is that of a family reading a book together. It is a most appropriate painting to have in the children’s room in the library. The cost of the restoration was $12 000. Fund raising will need to be resumed soon for phase two. It is estimated to cost. $35,000.



• Regal Road School Portico
  Harry Lay is working with the school board to restore the front portico pillars. Regal Road School is a heritage building and a great view of it can be seen from south of Davenport Road.



• Garrison Creek
  Medallion markers and signage along the creek’s path are reminders of the Creek, which was buried as a storm sewer in the 1880’s. The goal is to create a path all the way down to Fort York. A parkette at Ossington and Shaw has been named Garrison Creek Park and will be further developed this year. A decorative mural is to be painted on the railway underpass near Shaw and Dupont. Recently, the creek has been re-surfacing near Fort York.



• Communications & Website www.regalheights.ca
  We have paid for this domain name for the next couple of years. Communications and meeting minutes are circulated through this site with information from RHRA and other community sources. Minutes of the meetings are sent by e-mail to all members who have computers and hand delivered by Severino Centritto to members who do not have access to email.



• Street Beautification, Gardens, Trees
  
  
  • community gardens – Many thanks to all who planted, cleaned up, dug, watered and did whatever was necessary when asked. That is what has made our gardens true community gardens. They are lovingly referred to as the: Rosemount gardens, Oakwood garden, Daffodil Hill, Mt. Royal Parkette (at Alberta Ave), Springmount Blvd, and Library Gardens as well as 29 half barrels tended to by volunteers. A new project is underway in conjunction with students from the OCI Environment Club to create a garden by the St. Clair Ave. entrance to Oakwood Collegiate in time to celebrate OCI’s centennial year. Donations of perennials would be appreciated, call Florence or Marla Percy if you have anything to contribute or if you know of a good landscaper who might be willing to assist with designing the garden.
  
  
  
  • Litter clean up
    This year 34 people came and helped on Clean Up Day. Thanks to all participants. But, litter is a year round problem. There is evidence that if an area looks clean there is more reluctance to throw things down so please pick up litter whenever you are able.
  
  
  
  • Graffiti
    There are three different kinds of location that graffiti can be found on:
    • public property – in this case call the city and they have a protocol to remove it
    • private property – is more difficult to have removed. There is a new bylaw that will be enforced by by-law officers who will issue notices to private property owners to remove graffiti on their property. Hopefully, tips for graffiti removal will be given.
    • public institutions – e.g. schools, mailboxes – this is the most challenging to work with. All these institutions are expected to resolve this graffiti issue internally. Yet, we do not often see the results and thus we have resorted to adopting mailboxes for clean up. More volunteers are needed to help especially with boxes located east of Oakwood Ave.
    
    
  • Springmount Ave., Springmount & Glenholme steps
    The city has agreed to trim the trees on parts of Springmount Ave. and along the Springmount blvd and Glenholme steps. We hope the work will be done soon.
  
  
  
  • Litter receptacle at Dufferin/Davenport
    An OMG litter receptacle has been requested in hopes of reducing the amount of litter that ends up on Daffodil Hill. While the City said there is not enough room on the sidewalk to install one, the plan now is to cut into the bank to create enough room for one.
  
  
• Planning, Zoning & City Policies
  
  
  • Committee of Adjustment
    Dick receives a copy of applications made to the Committee of Adjustment for the Regal Heights area. This enables him to be available to residents who are concerned about the requested adjustments that may affect their properties. He is willing to share his experience and knowledge in how to proceed.
  
  
  
  • 41 Rosemount
    Alex Russell, owner of the house on the corner of Oakwood and Rosemount spoke of his concerns over the proposed building that has been recently approved for 41 Rosemount by the Committee of Adjustment. He has appealed the decision to the Ontario Municipal Board.
  
  
  
  • Community Council boundaries and meetings
    Community councils have been reduced from six to four, and the boundaries have been redrawn. Regal Heights was formerly a part of Toronto South. We are now assigned to the west area (Etobicoke York). For the most part, there will be no difference except if one needs to attend Committee of Adjustment meetings, or Community Council meetings for such matters as front yard parking applications, parking permits or requests for tree removal. These meetings will be held at Etobicoke Civic Centre or at York Civic Center.
  
  
  
  • St.Clair West BIA & revitalization
    Presently St.Clair West BIA runs from Westmount to Glenholme Ave. Efforts are being made to expand to Winona this year in hopes of having more strength to improve the streetscape. The BIA supports many ventures, June 12th St. Clare festival is one of them. A presentation of a model of urban design, to improve the streetscape of St Clair Ave, which the 3 BIAs (Corso Italia, St Clair Gardens and St.Clair West) sponsored, will be on display. To promote revitalization of the area, there will be an Arts week in Sept/Oct where works of local artists will be on display from Winona to the Delta Bingo. Contact Tony Bolla if you want to be a part of it. A photo contest of what St Clair Ave looks like in 2004 will also be held. Additional volunteers are welcome to help in these ventures. Check www.ourfuturetogether.com for more information.
  
  
• Special Events
  Carol sing – was held last December and was well attended. It will most likely be held again this December. Canada Day Parade will be held this year on Thursday July 1st. It will begin at the St Clair Ave entrance to Oakwood Collegiate. Residents are asked to wear red and white and bring noisemakers to be a part of the parade through our neighbourhood streets.



• Privacy Policy
  RHRA is developing a privacy policy in keeping with the new legislation re having a privacy policy in place. David Shanoff has been appointed Privacy Officer.



• Treasurer’s Report
  Funds on hand
  Bank balance and petty cash $1093
  Membership fees received May 18 450
  TOTAL $1543
  
  Estimated expenditures
  general operations - public mtgs., notices, photocopies, bank charges, website $425
  street beautification - planters, plants, tools, soil 200
  special events - Canada Day, Carol Sing 175
  in trust for Phase 2 Library Mural Fund - (included in the bank balance) 300
  contingency 443
  TOTAL $1543
  
  45 family memberships were sold at this meeting at $10 each. We usually have a membership of about 70 families, if we get 25 more memberships the contingency would be increased by $250 to nearly $700.



• Appointment of 2004-2005 Executive Committee
  There are 8 executive meetings a year. We take a break during the summer and at Christmas. All members serve on a volunteer basis. The present executive members were identified and were reappointed to continue for another year. (The following people attended three or more executive meetings from Sept 2003 to May 2004: Tony Bolla, Jeri Brodie, Richard Cavanagh, Mike Hussey, Linda De Georgio, Wendy Fletcher, John Keating, Anita Kung, Brian MacConnell, Beth Marcilio, David Raymont, David Shanoff, Florence Watts, Dick Watts.) Executive meetings are held in members' homes and are open to all RHRA members.



• St. Clair Transit Study
  A study is being done by an Environmental Assessment Team (EA Team) made up of staff from City planning and transportation, TTC, and consultants. They have conducted several public meetings and a couple of workshops to obtain public opinion on possible changes to St Clair Ave. transit. Meetings originally proposed for May have been postponed; revised dates for the presentation of final recommendations to City Council are being negotiated. Jeff Gillan, Chairman of Corso Italia BIA, explained their transit proposals for St. Clair. The plan is available for viewing at www.torontocorsoitalia.com . The plan depicts wider sidewalks, permanent parking, permanent bike lanes, a shared lane for cars and the TTC and far-side loading platforms. We understand that this concept will be considered by the EA Team in its review of alternative design concepts. Discussion followed.

The meeting ended at 9:30 pm.