Present: Marilyn and David Shanoff, Harry Lay, Linda DeGiorgio, Peter Norman, Anita Kung, Florence and Dick Watts, Mike Foderick (assistant to Councillor Palacio), Regrets: Beth Marcilio, Richard Cavanagh, David Raymont.

Heritage & History

1. Regal Rd. School Portico - The Toronto Heritage Fund grant programme applications are now available. The deadline for submission is October 11th. Regal Road School will apply for the grant in hopes of being funded for the restoration of the front portico. A meeting is planned for September 27th at 3pm at 50 Oakburn, with Paul Lee to review the details of the restoration. Harry Lay will attend as a representative from RHRA. Mike F. will try to arrange for the scope of work to be available to Harry prior to the meeting.
2. Garrison Creek Plaque on Humewood Avenue - Dick, Florence and Ivo Syptak installed the plaque near the intersection of Humewood and Valewood Avenues on August 26.
3. Garrison Creek Walk - Sunday October 2nd. At 1 pm. Meet at the corner of Humewood Ave and Valewood Ave. Organized by the Toronto Public Space Committee and Lost Rivers Group. Please wear something blue.
4. Toronto Heritage Awards - Oct 17, 7 pm. at The Carlu. RHRA has been selected as a finalist in the Community Heritage Awards for its work on restoring the George Reid murals at Dufferin/StClair Library. Congratulations, especially to John McAuley and David Self who will receive two complimentary tickets to the event.?

Street Beautification

1. Clean & Beautiful City Projects - RHRA has been awarded $1500 to create or improve beautification projects in the RHRA area. The Street Beautification Committee: ( Wendy, Gord, John K., Florence and Dick) drew up a plan for the Springmount steps and the entrance to the OCI parking lot. Some planting has been completed; planting will continue into the fall in order to establish four-season gardens. Before and after photos of the gardens will be submitted to the C&B Secretariat.
   Clean & Beautiful City Appreciation Awards - October 18th at the Etobicoke Civic Center. Ward 17 awards will be presented to RHRA for the work done on Daffodil Hill; Wendy Fletcher and Gord Hart for the Rosemount Gardens; the OCI Environment Club for the gardens in front of OCI. and the Police Community Partnership (12 Division) for major litter cleanups.
2. Watering systems - for the Oakwood gardens we are using a partially defunct underground watering system. One of the supply pipes has been repaired at a cost of $146.59. Springmount gardens are being watered with long hoses from John Keating's house and Sarah Loftus' house. Dick emphasized that on-site watering supplies are essential to our expanding greening programs.
3. Daffodil Hill - Councillor Palacio received a letter from a resident complaining that ragweed on the hill is bothersome to her health. Dick has since pulled most of the ragweed out.
4. Oakwood Collegiate north side gardens - the Environment Club has spent the $1500 TD Foundation grant on plants, with emphasis on native plants and with planting advice from Marla Percy and Florence Watts. Jennifer will write a letter of thanks to the Foundation. Donations of native plants for this garden are most welcome.
5. Dufferin/Davenport litter container - after much persistence by Councillor Palacio and Mike Foderick, the long requested litter container has been installed.
6. New Eucan receptacle evaluation - OMG has changed its name to Eucan. They are piloting new litter receptacles that still provide space for advertising on one side and multiple openings for the separation of different litter. Thanks to Councillor Palacio these Eco-mupis boxes, as they are named, do not exist presently in Ward 17. Examples can be found at St Clair and Keele, Eglinton and Keele, Bloor and Christie, and Eglinton and Gabian Way. Council is seeking feedback on these receptacles if anyone has an opinion they wish to share.
7. Street Tree planting project - Thanks to John Keating's May/June canvassing project, 21 trees have been ordered for planting in our area. They will be planted by the City either this fall or in the spring depending to the type of tree that was selected.

Communication and Website

• Photos on the website have been updated and changed. See especially the photos of Canada Day Parade and Daffodil Hill.

Planning and Zoning

1. 75 Regal Road - the fire escape that was built without a permit has now been removed.
2. 21 Lauder Ave - Neighbours have been complaining that the renovations on this house are taking far too long (3 years). The dirt and mess is annoying. Mike is trying to minimize the annoyances.
3. 41 Rosemount Ave - The owner of the lot is now considering revising his plans to avoid serious damage to the trees. He may even try to have the large tree taken down, however this would require persuading City Council to change its current decision to save the tree.
4. 14 Glenhome Ave - The house presently exceeds the gross floor area that it is zoned for. The owner wishes to add an addition which will further exceed the permitted square footage. There is opposition from the neighbours as the addition will impact on the lighting and enjoyment in their yards. Discussions are in process.
5. St. Clair Transit - No direct responses have been received to our letters of concern over the loss of TTC stops from Northcliffe and Glenholme in the new transitway designs. However the Minister's office did acknowledge receipt and stated that approval had been given to proceed subject to conditions. The whole construction project is behind schedule and will not likely start up in our area as predicted in the summer of 2006.
6. Glenholme Parking Lot - there is a shortage of parking in our stretch of St. Clair and the new transitway will further reduce available parking spaces. The City is prepared to buy two properties on the northeast corner of Glenholme & St. Clair in order to build an off-street parking lot. Councillor Palacio is requesting letters from his constituents expressing approval or disapproval of this idea.
7. Mount Royal Parkette - Councillor Palacio is proposing that funds be included in 2006 City budget for major renovation of the parkette. He has also arranged for the installation of a updated water supply to maintain proposed landscaping.
8. Planning Controls for Communication Towers -Federal and municipal guidelines for the erection of communication towers are being formulated. It was reported that the tower in the laneway behind 1142 Davenport may be relocated.

Budget, Finances, Membership

• We have 53 paid family memberships. There is $853 in the bank, plus an additional $305 being held in trust for the library murals. Payment of $146.59 was authorized for the plumbing repair at Rosemount gardens. It was agreed that the $1500 to be received from the C&B Secretariat will be handled by the Street Beautification Committee on behalf of the RHRA Treasurer.

Other

1. Arts Week Meeting - to be held at Dufferin/St. Clair library at 7 pm. Thurs. Sept.22.
2. Location of executive meetings - the suggestion that arose at the last general meeting of holding executive meetings in a public place rather than in private homes was discussed. Those in attendance voted to continue meeting in private homes except for the two general meetings per year in school meeting halls.
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3. Carol Sing - will be organized for Friday December 16th.
4. Congratulations to the Great Gardens Contest winners from our area: 42 Glenhurst, 27 Thome, 38 Highview, and 43 Regal Rd.
5. Congratulations to Emily and Brian MacConnell on the celebration of their 60th wedding anniversary.
6. Issues Councillor Palacio's office is requested to address:
   • 1615 Dufferin has considerable graffiti on the walls.
   • the wall in front of 22 Springmount was damaged by a car in the summer and has yet to be repaired.

Next Meeting: Tuesday October 25, 2005 at 7:30 pm at the home of Beth Marcilio, 79 Regal Road.