Present: Jeri Brodie, Brent Calhoun, Richard Cavanagh, John Keating, Anita Kung, Brian MacConnell, Beth Marcilio, David Raymont, David Self, Carrie Shipper, Dick and Florence Watts, Mike Foderick (Assistant to Councillor Palacio). Regrets: David Shanoff, Tony Bolla.

Present: Jeri Brodie, Brent Calhoun, Richard Cavanagh, John Keating, Anita Kung, Brian MacConnell, Beth Marcilio, David Raymont, David Self, Carrie Shipper, Dick and Florence Watts, Mike Foderick (Assistant to Councillor Palacio). Regrets: David Shanoff, Tony Bolla.

Heritage & History

1. Regal Road School Portico - an application to restore the school portico has been submitted to the City of Toronto Heritage Fund. The preliminary cost estimate is $67,500; the application is now being reviewed by a preservation panel. If approved, it is expected the the City's Heritage Fund will pay the entire cost.
2. Heritage Awards - on October 17, a certificate of appreciation was presented from Heritage Toronto to RHRA for the wonderful restoration of part of the George Reid mural in the Dufferin St. Clair library. A cheque for $500 was also presented. David Self proposed that the cheque be added to the mural fund that perhaps could be renamed the heritage fund so that the monies may be used for future heritage project possibilities as the need arises. David also proposed that the certificate be framed and donated to the library to be on display. As a result of the huge efforts by David and John McCauley to get the restoration done, the library is now considering restoration of more of the mural. They have retained the restorer, Lazlo Czer, to do a full assessment of the remaining panels for potential restoration. The Doris McCarthy murals have been deemed unsalvageable. However, Ms. McCarthy was approached to possibly repaint her mural. Being 92 years of age, she said she does not have the strength to repaint the mural but would agree to supervise students to do so.

Street Beautification

1. Clean and Beautiful City Secretariat - project funding of $1500 has been received. The monies have been used to build four-season gardens along the Springmount steps and at the Oakwood Collegiate parking lot entrance on Rosemount Ave. Evergreens, bulbs, asters and mums etc. have been planted. It will take some 3 to 4 years for the gardens to mature. Photos have been taken with the asters and mums in bloom.
2. Clean and Beautiful City Secretariat Appreciation Awards - On Oct.18, at the Etobicoke Civic Centre, awards were presented by the City to RHRA, to Wendy Fletcher and Gord Hart, to the OCI Environment Club and to the Police Community Partnership (Division 12) for projects completed in 2004.
3. Watering systems - the old underground water system at OCI is being put into operating condition. As a result, the Rosemount gardens have been flourishing.
4. Daffodil Hill - 700 bulbs were planted last weekend with the help of some 15 volunteers from the community. The trees on the hill are also doing well but need some TLC. Help is needed to remove bindweed from pulling down the smaller trees, and excess trees need to be removed. David Self and Richard Cavanagh have volunteered to assist.
5. Street litter - there appears to be more litter and leaves collecting along the sidewalk curbs. Call Councillor Palacio's office at 392-7011 to request clean up.
6. Graffiti: an order has been issued to the property owner at 1615 Dufferin to have the graffiti removed. There is also graffiti on the retaining walls located on city property in front of 1364, 1366 and 1374 Davenport Rd. Mike will have these locations addressed.
7. Cherry Trees - the Japanese Consulate is offering the City 400 cherry trees that they they would like to plant on public spaces in the city. They are looking for flat sites to plant them. RHRA is in support of having some trees planted on suitable spaces at Oakwood Collegiate. Jennifer Gordon of the OCI Environment Club will follow up on this.
8. Home & Garden TV - H&GTV has approached Mike for potential spaces in this area to develop a demonstration garden. They will meet with Mike, Florence and Dick on October 26 to discuss potential sites. Possible locations may include Springmount blvd, east side of Daffodil Hill, the Glenholme steps, etc.

Planning and Zoning

1. 21 Lauder - the owner has sent a letter of apology to the surrounding neighbours for the disruption that his slow renovations have caused. He continues to work on the house and the front foundation looks as if it could be completed soon and the pile of earth removed from the front of the house.
2. 41 Rosemount - the owner of this empty lot has obtained an independent arborist report that claims the larger tree on the lot is hazardous. City Forestry concurs with the report. We expect City Council to require site plan approval of any development plans. The owner will most likely present new plans for building on the lot in the near future.
3. St. Clair Transit - SOS was successful in its court appearance. The TTC ROW development is stopped for now. The City is challenging the court ruling with the claim that one of the judges was biased.
4. Glenholme parking lot - residents near the proposed lot were polled and 75% were opposed. The matter was brought before Council and the proposal was defeated. The search for an appropriate site for additional parking along St. Clair continues.
5. Planning controls for communications towers - federal and municipal guidelines for the erection communication towers should be formulated by the end of 2005.
6. Dufferin/St. Clair Library renovations - plans are being prepared to expand the south end of the building by 6 feet to create a community room with a glass wall that would overlook the parkette. The front of the building would be restored to its original form and a wheelchair entrance would be built on the south side. The restoration of additional George Reid murals in the north room is also part of the Capital Works project. Further public meetings will be held to discuss the plans. Construction is projected to begin in 2007.
7. 1130 Davenport clean up & plans - the debris from the fire at this garage on Davenport has been removed. The city is in discussion with the owner re alternative future uses for the location.
8. Bike lanes on Rosemount Ave - are proposed for Rosemount Ave in the 2006 budget. Letters of support from residents are welcome. Forward them to Councillor Palacio or to the City Clerk. Brian proposed that RHRA Executive support a bike lane on Rosemount. All present agreed.

Membership
Presently there are 56 paid memberships for the year 2005.

Other

1. Damaged retaining wall at 22 Springmount - temporary repairs have been made. A permanent repair is in the planning stage.
2. "Power Shift" notices - mailed along with your hydro bill is the fall issue of PowerShift. Note - Toronto Hydro is participating in a light exchange where you can bring 2 strings of your old incandescent festive lights in exchange for 1 string of energy-efficient LED lights. The exchange is available at 6:30 pm on November 16,17, & 19. Check your PowerShift insert for details on locations.
3. St. Clair West BIA annual meeting - November 30 at Regal Heights Café. RHRA has been invited to send a delegate. Jeri Brodie was appointed as our delegate.

Next Meeting: General Public Meeting on either November 22 or 29. To be finalized.