Regal Heights Residents’ Association Executive Meeting, Tuesday March 25th, 2014, 7pm Home of Beth Marcillio, 79 Regal Rd.
Present: : Richard Cavanagh, Linda DeGiorgio, Marie Goldthorpe, John Keating (Chair), Anita Kung (recorder), Harry Lay, Beth Marcilio, Mike Makrigiorgos (assistant to Councillor Palacio), Dick & Florence Watts
Regrets: Rosa Cordiano, Dave Meslin, MaryAnn Quance
Special guests: Superintendent Scott Baptist, Staff Sergeant Courtney Chambers,
City Councillor candidate Saeed Selvam, Jason Apostol

1. Street Beautification
   1. Gardens – Mary Ann will be meeting with Karinthia, of City Parks and Recreation, on March 28^th to discuss pansy delivery. She will be meeting with the owners of the new retaining wall along Springmount to discuss replanting in the boulevard.
   2. Request for compost drop – compost will be available at 5 p.m. at the OCI parking lot on April 24^th. Compost will also be available during the Environment Day to be held at Loretto College on Saturday May 17 from 10 to 2 p.m.
   3. Daffodil Hill clean up day – will take place Saturday April 26^th as originally scheduled instead of the revised date of April 13^th.
   4. Anti-graffiti paint – Linda reported on the anti-graffiti paint that one of her neighbours has used on his garage door with much success. It is a clear coat that dries glossy and graffiti won’t stick to it. Her neighbour even tested it by spraying black paint of the door. The black spray paint just slid off! The name of the company that did the work is Ground Solutions Canada. http://www.groundsolutions.ca

    

2. Planning, Zoning, Construction
   1. Crossing guard, Rosemount and Oakwood – no update available
   2. BIA liaison update – the RHV BIA general meeting was well attended. Several new businesses have started up this past year that include a chocolate shop, bakery, art gallery and cafe. Residents are encouraged to visit the new establishments to support the neighbourhood. The BIA has decided to continue with the Regal Tender currency promotion.
   3. Committee of Adjustment applications, 47 and 51 Oakwood Ave. – Harry reported that the variances requested will be hardly noticeable from the outside. Both houses speak to a trend happening in the city of single family homes being severed into 2 lots. While the houses maintain the exterior to continue to look like one building, the interior is built in duplex style.
   4. Minor variance 113 Davenport – Just outside of our boundaries an application to add a third storey addition in the rear will exceed the maximum zoned for but should not be problematic for our area.

    

3. Community Events
4. 1. Visit by Superintendent S. Baptist and Staff Sergeant C. Chambers of Police 13 Division – Scott who became the superintendent for 13 Division this past January introduced himself and Sergeant Courtney to the group. He reported that the 13 Division is the only division in Toronto to have no gunshot injuries in the year 2013. So this really is one of the safer areas in Toronto. The police are focusing on issues in our area dealing with the methadone clinics, graffiti, and break & enters. A thief operating in the area has been dubbed “the Spider-Man Bandit” as he has been charged with multiple break and enters through 2nd level entries to steal high end watches and jewellery. People are warned to be aware of this potential and to take safeguards against this.
      * CPLC is organizing a scholarship fundraiser to support one needy child at each of the high schools in the area. A Dinner/Dance will be held on May 9^th at New Casa Abril, 475 Oakwood Ave. Tickets cost $50 with cocktails beginning at 6pm followed by dinner at 7. Contact Cindy Beman at 416 780-9741 for tickets.
      * Superintendent Baptist can be reached at scott.baptist@torontopolice.on.ca or by phone at 416 808-1314; Sergeant Chambers can be reached at 416 808-1301 should anyone wish to speak to them about any concerns.
   2. Municipal election candidates meeting update – Margaret reported that OCI auditorium is available to use at cost of $83 on Thursday October 2nd. There would not be enough time in one evening to host all the mayoral and councillor candidates. Either we find another venue for a second meeting on Thursday October 9^th, or we decide to host only one meeting for either the mayoral or councillor candidates.

    

5. Community Welcome Project – Beth has some introductory letters ready to distribute to new residents to the area.
7. Membership & Finances
   1. Update on membership – Dave is proposing to use postcard type invitations as an outreach to increase the membership numbers. Questions about the cost of production and delivery arose. A draft of the postcard was circulated. Some typos were noted. A different photo is suggested. Further comments and suggestions can be forwarded to Dave at dave@pigeonhat.ca
      

      Finances	Feb 18/14	March 25/14
      Operating Fund	$2,131	$2,126
      Heritage Fund	992	992
      Mt. Royal bump-out (in trust)	745	745
      Street Sale (in trust)	87	87
      Petty Cash	72	72
      Total	$4,027	$4,022

    

8. Other Matters
   1. 1. Northcliffe Village Residents’ Association – is hosting a pub night at the Fox and Fiddle on Thursday March 27^th at 6:30 pm. Regal Heights residents were also welcome to join them.
      2. Pub night – we will plan to host another pub night on April 24th
      3. Earth Hour – will be observed this Saturday March 29th from 8:30 to 9:30. This hour is used to honour the earth by closing all lights for that hour.
      4. Regal Road School Centennial Celebration – a suggestion was received that a plaque to commemorate the occasion should be considered and possibly placed in the circle on the top of the school portico. Harry will investigate.
      5. Street Sale Chairman – Margaret Rao has kindly agreed to co-ordinate the street sale again. She is asking that street captains help with the collection of the table fee on the sale day.
      6. Recycle and garbage bins strewn in the middle of the sidewalk – Linda commented that lately the waste bins have been left in the middle of the sidewalks, on collection day after they are emptied, thus obstructing the path for pedestrians and strollers. Also the amount of loose debris falling onto the streets seems to be increasing. These complaints should be reported to Councillor Palacio’s office on the day it occurs as the garbage collection company would then have to return to do the collection according to the terms of the contract.

   g) Weekly business feature of Davenport – Saeed is profiling businesses in the area on his website/facebook page. This venture compliments the Regal Tender initiative to try to increase local shopping in the area. Check it out at saeedselvam.ca or at facebook.com/teamselvam

Next Meeting: Tuesday April 15, 2014, 7 p.m. At 2 Glenholme, home of Harry Lay