GPAC Meeting Minutes
GPAC Meeting Minutes from September 10, 2014
Grange Park Advisory Committee Meeting
Wednesday, September 10, 2014 – 3:00-4:30pm
Art Gallery of Ontario
317 Dundas Street West
Present:
Ralph Daley, (Co-Chair) Grange Community Association
Rupert Duchesne, (Co-Chair) AGO
Ceta Ramkhalawansingh, (Co-Chair) Ward 20 Councillor
Max Allen, Grange Community Association
Robin Buxton-Potts, Ward 20 Office
Bev Carret, AGO
Lisa Clements, AGO
Peter Couto, Grange Community Association
Brian Green, Toronto PFR
Mazyar Mortazavi, TAS Design Build (member-at-large)
Joan Heeler, St. George the Martyr Church
Sandy Ladouceur, AGO
Mike Mahoney, AGO
Pesha McKendry, Representative of social housing residents
Phyllis Platt, Grange Community Association
Alex Shevchuk, Toronto PFR
Matthew Teitelbaum, AGO
Margie Zeidler, UrbanSpace (member-at-large)
Regrets:
Ena D’Altroy, University Settlement
Miriam Kramer, OCAD U
Summary of Discussion
Welcome:
Rupert welcomed everyone and called the meeting to order.
Approval of the minutes of August 8, 2014
Ralph asked for any corrections or additions to the minutes. Ceta asked for the section “Business Arising – Grange Park Funding Agreement” to be amended as follows:
Ceta indicated that she has not had time to fully review the funding agreement between the City and the AGO for the $5M for the Grange Park revitalization capital project. She wants to meet further with PFR staff about this. Her general observation is that the agreement does not accurately represent the Government Management Committee’s decision re community management of Grange Park. In her estimation, GPAC is not necessarily a community management structure, as it was set up as a committee of the AGO Board; in addition, one-third of the current membership of GPAC consists of local residents. Secondly, the agreement appendix on communications protocol does not provide for community involvement.
Mike clarified that the agreement deals solely with the terms of the $5M in capital funding from the City for the revitalization project. Mike also noted that the agreement was being amended to acknowledge the involvement of GPAC in the communications protocol.
Minutes were approved with these amendments and clarifications.
Business arising from the minutes
- Reflexology path: The meeting agreed that staff would research the cost of incorporating a reflexology path into the labyrinth planned for the park and report back to GPAC.
Dog Off-Leash Area update
Ceta confirmed that City Parks did not approve the request of the Grange Park Dog Owners Association for a DOLA in the south-west corner of Grange Park. There is no appeal process; the only remaining option is for the Ward 20 Councillor to put forward a member’s motion to City Council overriding staff recommendations. The meeting agreed to approach the incoming Ward 20 Councillor with this issue after the municipal election in October. Mike advised that waiting for a decision regarding the DOLA will not delay the progress of the overall project.
Project Update
Mike showed the design development of the south-east corner, which connects Grange Park to Butterfield Park. Washrooms, a maintenance building and a below grade mechanical room will be located in this zone. The existing field house will be removed. Discussions are ongoing with OCAD U to remove the brick wall between Grange Park and OCAD U property.
The meeting also requested an update on the design development for the northwest corner of the park.
Regarding the project timeline, Mike advised that the project is moving through City approvals, which involves approximately 16 different departments. The project will need to receive the full support and approval of the City in order to trigger the capital funding. If the project receives the necessary City department approvals and permits issued for tree removal, some early work may begin in early winter, after the first heavy frost, on trees slated for removal. The substantive work is anticipated to begin in spring 2015.
A high priority is sustaining an excellent level of maintenance for the park post-project. A number of discussions with City Parks involve the selection of trees, equipment and materials that deliver a high level of design as well as a high level of sustainability.
Communications with the community
September 15 had been held as a date in GPAC members calendars for a community meeting to discuss the proposed DOLA in more detail and provide an update on construction activity. Since the DOLA is on hold until after the municipal election, and since construction activity will now start in the spring, the meeting agreed there isn’t sufficient substance to warrant a community meeting. Instead, the a project update will be sent via email to members of the local community and an information flyer in English and Chinese distributed to homes in the neighbourhood.
Next Steps
The meeting agreed that the next GPAC meeting should take place after the municipal election, unless an important issue arises in the meantime.