Glebe Report

CAPITAL COLUMN
New structure for committees on city council
By
Alderman
Rob Quinn
Spring warmth, summer heat
and the Festival of Spring,
Aqualude and Fireworks inspire
vacation fantasies in
school kids, public servants,
salespeople and even
aldermen.
We'll try to disappear for
a while in late June and/or
early August, depending on
when Denise can leave and
barring a last-minute important
council item or unforeseen
events.
While Alderman Nancy Smith
and I had proposed $8 a
month, council decided on
$10 a month for permit parkers.
Objectors to the original
$20 proposal had quite
rightly pointed out that the
staff argument on increased
costs to the city left something
to be desired.
Nevertheless, council concluded
that parking on
streets for extended periods
(in authorized areas) costs
more and is worth more than
$5 a month.
Owners obviously pay some
of their taxes on the part
of their land used for parking.
For example if an owner
pays $2000 annually in
taxes on a property, 10% of
which is used for parking,
the annual tax is $200. Then
there is the cost of the
land to consider. While the
permit parker does not enjoy
a private exclusive spot,
$10 per month seems a good
deal, all things considered.
Council Committees
A few columns back reported
possible changes in the
standing committee structure
of City Council. It has now
adopted a revised proposal
which includes a new fourth
committee: Economic Affairs.
It will assume responsibility
for economic development,
economic regulation
and housing.
Planning Committee, which
is overloaded, will transfer
recreation matters to Physical
Environment which will
become Community Resources
and Operational Services.
Administration, Policy
and Priorities would become
Budgets, Priorites and Pro-
June 6, 1986, GLEBE REPORT -14
grams. It will have an
oversight responsibility in
respect of expenditure recommendations
from other
standing committees on items
not already provided for in
the annual budget.
Overall advantages of this
new system of standing committes
include a better focus
on generally related items
and more attention to matters
economic which tended
not to get the quantity and
quality of required attention.
Disadvantages include
keeping track of agendas of
committees of which one is
not a member but of which
one must occasionally consider
matters of special
concern to one's ward and
the potentially harmful and
lingering personal tensions
in council's allocation of
members and chairmen to the
new committee structure.
Council has directed that
the new system be operational
as soon as possible after
August 1, 1986, but it may
determine the committee memberships
and chairmen at the
July 2 meeting.
Council traditionally cancels
meetings in the last
two weeks of July and August.
Committee of Adjustment
Four recent applications
to the Committee of Adjustment
have attracted substantial
interest.
One asked permission to
sever the rear yard of 90
Powell Avenue to construct a
new house. The new house
would have faced Lyon
Street. The applicant withdrew
his request after the
GCA, neighbours, the City
Planning Branch and the alderman
registered opposition.
Another proposed to divide
the already relatively narrow
lot at 45 Ella Street and
to build an additional
dwelling. The committee
dismissed the application
which the GCA, residents and
the alderman opposed.
The committee approved a
minor variance to allow a
reduction in parking spaces
required by a proposed increase
in units at 206-212
Queen Elizabeth Driveway.
The GCA, owners of neighbouring
properties and the
Planning Committee have
launched an appeal to the
Ontario Municipal Board.
This is because the true
effect of the decision permits
the expansion from a
six- to an eight-unit building
with only one legal
parking space.
As last month's edition
reported, neighbours convinced
the Committe of Adjustment
to refuse Sobriety
House's application for an
expansion. They argued a
good case which in no way
diminishes that of Sobriety
House. The committee will
hear another application on
June 5.
At my suggestion, Sobriety
House is organizing another
meeting with the neighbours
to see if a good- compromise
is possible. At the very
least it is important to the
community to agree to disagree
and remain neighbourly
whatever the final decision.
The meeting is on June 3 at
8 p.m. at the Glebe Community
Centre.
Crossing Guards
Unfortunately the regional
government's traffic survey
service is unable to supply
new figures for the anticipated
adult crossing guard
ThE
EIECIANCE
Of
EUROpEAN
kiTChEN
DEsiciN
I
report. Apparently the demands
of the Queensway reconstruction
have resulted
in this delay. Consequently
members of council will not
consider the report prior to
late September when interested
groups have indicated
they would be able to participate.
Elections
Congratulations to Jim
McCarthy on his re-election
as president of the Glebe
Community Association, to
Ernie Saar on his re-election
as chairman of the Glebe
Business Group and to Bill
Lippman on his election as
chairman of the Glebe Neighbourhood
Activities Group.
Congratulations also to the
many other directors and
officers of these three important
community organizations.
The community truly
appreciates and needs the
services of these groups.
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