District B Update - Highlights from the April 2014 Board Meeting

Highlights From the April Board Meeting

Download the April 2014 Board Package

Hi everyone, it’s been a very busy year so far. I have been spending a fair amount of time involved with the following committees:

Winter Cities Council

Winter Cities Shake-Up: Inspiring Greatness in Winter Cities: January 28 – 30, 2015

I sit on the Winter City Council and we are pleased to announce that next January, Edmonton will play host to Winter Cities Shake-Up 2015. 

Winter Cities Shake-Up 2015 is an international conference on shaking up preconceptions about how we plan, design, live, work and play in winter cities. And as the host, we would like to invite all of you to participate in making this conference a huge success! How?

Edmontonians can share ideas for Field Trips for delegates coming from all over the world! We would like to show visitors (and residents!) the great things that are happening in and around Edmonton, from festivals to attractions to community initiatives. So, if you have any great ideas feel free to submit them here.

We also welcome all Edmontonians to participate in the conference. Details on registration will be released on our conference website. It's time to show the world what a great winter city Edmonton is!

EFCL Civic Engagement and Business Planning Committee 
I sit on this committee and we have started meeting and are busy attempting to find new ways for the EFCL and community leagues to engage in civic issues as well as come up with a proposed 5-year business plan for the EFCL. The Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues intends to consult with a number of community leagues, along with city councillors, city administrators and other stakeholders in order to prepare its 2014-2018 Business Plan.  The federation’s board of directors approved the consultation plan at last week’s board meeting.

Both Western Management Consultants and the Centre For Public Involvement have been hired to help prepare the plan, which will include a significant review of the federation’s civic engagement practises.

Development of the plan has been jointly funded by the EFCL and City of Edmonton.  Interviews are scheduled for April, May and June.

EFCL 100^th Anniversary Committee – I have been helping with several of the 100^th Anniversary Committees at the EFCL. We are working on identifying themes for highlighting in displays at the park feature in Hawrelak Park.

Jason Watt to stand for election as District B Planning Representative

Jason Watt of McLeod, running for District B
Planning Committee Representative.

The biggest news this month is Jason Watt has stepped forward from McLeod Community League and he is interested in serving as our Londonderry District B Planning Representative. In fact he has already attended a planning committee meeting to see what they do and he wound up chairing the first meeting he attended!  It’s very important that we have quorum for the EFCL AGM on May 21, so we can elect a represenative.

 EFCL Welcomes Review of Volunteer Requirements at Casinos

The Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues is pleased to hear that a review will be undertaken of the volunteer requirements at local casinos.  The federation believes that some events – particularly those on weekdays – are overstaffed and would like to see a reduction in the number of volunteers that non-profit groups need to provide.
Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission (AGLC) executive director Bill Robinson offered to launch the review at an April 1 meeting of industry stakeholders, after the EFCL voiced a concern about the recent decision to extend the hours that volunteers are required to be on site. 

Effective April 1, casinos are allowed to open their tables at 10:00 a.m., instead of noon, and keep them open until 3:00 a.m., instead of 2:00 a.m.  Non-profit groups are required to supply volunteers to help operate these games.
Robinson also agreed to review the impact that additional casino hours have on revenues and volunteers.  He thought this review could be done in 9-12 months.
The EFCL received widespread media coverage of its concern about the casino hours, shortly after a news release was issued on March 27.

SOCAN and RE:SOUND Open to Negotiations

Representatives of both SOCAN and RE:SOUND have recently told the EFCL that they are interested in negotiating a group rate for leagues that allow music to be played at events in their hall.

Currently, each organization is attempting to charge leagues a tariff for this right.  SOCAN charges $185/year, so long as the gross annual revenues at these events don’t exceed $15,400.  RE:SOUND charges $9 per event ($18 when dancing is involved).

The EFCL has informed them that a vote will be taken at the federation’s May 21 Annual General Meeting, asking leagues to indicate whether or not they would like the EFCL to negotiate a multi-year, group rate for all of the leagues that have halls.  The intention would be to seek a significant discount, along with an understanding that leagues would no longer be responsible for any accounting.  If the music organizations agree, then the EFCL would add the negotiated rate to the yearly membership fees that it charges to each league that has a hall.

A representative for RE:SOUND said his group would not bill any leagues between now and the May 21 general meeting.  A representative for SOCAN said she would also like to explore ways to make the accounting process easier for volunteer groups, regardless of whether or not a group rate is put in place.

EFCL Applauds Mayor’s Effort To Address Poverty

The Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues supports Mayor Don Iveson’s attempt to address poverty in Edmonton and is willing to help where it can.  The federation believes it is vitally important that all Edmontonians be able to fully participate in local activities and upgrade their skills, regardless of income level.

At last week’s board meeting, EFCL directors noted that leagues have been helping thousands of Edmontonians throughout their 93-year history, by providing a wide-range of low cost programs and events.  Leagues have also often found ways to quietly cover the sports registration and other fees of low income people when the situation presented itself.

The federation plans to hold a workshop where leagues can share among themselves the approaches they have taken to accommodate low income people in their area.  Plans are being made to hold this session at League’s Alive, the federation’s board development conference held in November each year.

EFCL Looks For Common Ground On Social Housing

The Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues is ready to participate in a review of social housing, which the city hopes to host in the coming year.

Last week the board noted that it is important to find ways to increase community acceptance of social housing projects, through proper planning and consultation.  The federation believes that projects should be spread throughout the city and the region, to avoid an over-concentration in downtown neighborhoods.

A three-year moratorium on social housing was put in place in five inner city communities (Alberta Avenue, Boyle Street, Central McDougall, McCauley and Queen Mary Park) in October, 2012.  The federation continues to support the moratorium until ways to distribute social housing around the city and region are established and proven to be effective.

EFCL To Host Meetings With Edmonton School Boards

The Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues has decided it’s time to meet with the Edmonton school boards, to discuss a series of issues of mutual concern.

The federation is particularly concerned about plans each board has to consolidate schools in mature areas, which will mean the loss of a facility in some neighborhoods.  In addition, the federation would like to explore ways for the community to make better use of existing schools.  The use of community league parking lots has also been raised in a number of areas, given the number of students arriving by car at schools located nearby.

The federation will contact each board shortly to find a mutually convenient time to meet.

Federation Starts Work On New Website

The Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues has struck a committee to oversee the development of a new website.   The website will include a revamped membership sales feature, as well as a page where citizens can contribute to the federation’s 100^th Anniversary project.

The EFCL hopes to have the website up and running by the end of September.

Thanks to Allan for notes summarizing the April meeting.

See at the EFCL AGM on May 21, 2014!

David Dodge

Londonderry District B Representative
EFCL

EFCL May Board and Planning Committee Notes

Hi community leagues in the Londonderry District B of the EFCL (Lago Lindo, Kilkenny, McLeod, Evansdale, Northmount, Londonderry, Steele Heights, Balwin, Killarney, Delwood, Glengarry, Rosslyn, Belvedere community leagues in Edmonton)

Here is a report on both the EFCL Board Meeting and the meeting of the EFCL Planning Committee.

EFCL Looks at Adding Wind Turbine to Its Renewable Energy Arsenal

The EFCL board of directors has decided to investigate the possibility of installing a wind turbine on the roof of its office building (7103-105 Street).  The board made the decision after reviewing an energy audit that suggested a turbine could be an effective way to reduce the federation’s energy bills and carbon footprint.

According to audit, a wind turbine would cost approximately $29,700 to install and would produce approximately $1,110 in electricity each year, at today’s prices.  This equates to a annual saving of 4.8 tonnes of cardon dioxide (greenhouse gas) if this electricity was produced by traditional methods (coal and natural gas).

The federation will investigate potential cost sharing opportunities, including the Taking Action to Manage Energy (TAME) program offered by the Municipal Climate Change Action Centre.

The board’s decision comes only days after the federation successfully installed a 1.2 kw, five panel solar energy system on the roof of its office building.  Development of the solar energy system, which comes complete with an energy production display monitor in the lobby of the office building, was done as part of the federation’s solar and energy conservation program.  This program saw the completion of energy audits and installation of solar energy systems at seven community league halls (Ritchie, Riverdale, Rossdale, Meadowlark, Alberta Avenue, West Jasper/Sherwood and North Glenora) this spring.

Final Tripartite License Agreement Signed

The EFCL is pleased to report that all of the community leagues with land have now signed a tripartite license agreement.

The last signatory, Glengarry Community League, put pen to paper in a private meeting with EFCL president David Dodge last week.  A key precondition for Glengarry was the development of an addendum that outlines the steps the EFCL will take if it is ever needs to assume control of the league’s facilities, as outlined in the terms of the license agreement.  This addendum is now attached to the document signed by Glengarry, the EFCL and City of Edmonton.

Completion of the new agreement is a major milestone for all parties.  It provides clarity on how the land the city provides to each league is to be used and how disputes are to be resolved.  It also clarifies the supporting role that will be played by the EFCL.

Negotation of this agreement was also accompanied by the creation of a significant city grant program to help leagues build and repair their facilities.  Called the Community League Infrastructure Grant Program (CLIP), it makes $3 million available each year for everything from painting a room to building a new hall.

Edmonton Northlands Wants to Connect With Community Leagues

The EFCL is quite excited about a partnership opportunity that is starting to take shape with Edmonton Northlands.

Northlands would like to see greater community involvement in its operations, notably the annual K-Days Parade and K-Days Exposition during the summer.  They would love to see leagues sponsor one or more parade entries and are exploring the idea of a community night at the fair grounds, when league members could get in for a reduced rate and community leagues could jointly operate an exhibit or game (like our football toss) as a way to raise our profile and earn some money for the leagues.

Both of these ideas seemed to have good potential, particularly if the EFCL and Northlands were able to help facilitate the development of parade entries and a booth at the fair, to make it easy for leagues to participate.

Edmonton Northlands has been invited to make a presentation on this topic at the May 29 Annual General Meeting of the EFCL.  It is our intention to invite league reps to sit on a committee to flesh out ideas and opportunities for 2014.

If this partnership is put into place, Northlands would become one of the EFCL’s corporate sponsors and would be identified in our advertising and at all of our events.

Parking and School Construction on the Agenda:

EFCL to Meet with Edmonton Public School Board

The EFCL has invited the trustees and senior staff of the Edmonton Public School Board to a dinner meeting on May 15 to discuss some key issues of mutual concern.  These include the plan for new schools in growing parts of the city, retention of older schools in mature parts of the city and the provision of adequate parking and drop off areas around all schools.

The federation is keenly aware of the role a school plays in bringing people together in a community and wants to see as many new buildings constructed and older buildings maintained as possible.  It also wants to ensure community usage of all school facilites.

Recent trends among parents to drive their children to school has lead to an array of parking and drop off issues in the immediate area of the school.  In some cases this has affected the local community league, when parents utilize the league’s parking lot before and after school each day.

EFCL’s 100^th  Anniversary Project Rolls Along

The EFCL continues to make good progress on its 100^th Anniversary Project, which is earmarked for the southeast corner of Hawrelak Park.

On April 24, the federation took part in an open house that the City of Edmonton organized to show the public all of the changes that are planned for the park. These included the city’s plan to construct a water play feature between the playground and our project, as well as deepen one end of the main lake this summer to enable swimming during triathlon events.

Most of the visitor’s attention – and that of the media in attendance - was focused on the city’s water play project.  The city’s consultant had two concepts on display (see attached drawings).  The first drawing showed an extensive wading pool, complete with a central island, surrounded by a large sand beach area.  New washrooms would also be included.  This concept was expected to cost approximately $4.4 million and would utilize almost the entire grassy space between the playground and the east end of our project (that starts with a small pond).  Additional features not included in the budget were a spray deck ($653,000), Parking Lot Expansion ($472,000) Walkway to the Parking Lot ($197,000) and Walkway to the EFCL Project ($18,000).

City proposal Concept 1 Beach Play - the EFCL project
connects with the bottom left of the concept.

The second drawing showed a much smaller, concrete or rubber surface wading pool as well as a spray deck.  This development was pegged at $2.1 million, which represents the funds that the city already has in place for this project.  Additional features not included in the budget were Washrooms ($803,000), a Beach/Sand Area ($78,000), Parking Lot Expansion ($472,000), Walkway to the Parking Lot ($197,000) Walkway to the EFCL Project ($25,000).

City proposal Concept 2 Water Play - the EFCL project 
connects with the bottom left of the concept.

We prepared a display that showed the conceptual plan for the Community League Plaza, which will house a display on community leagues, and a walkway by the existing stream, which will connect the city’s water play feature to the main lake in Hawrelak Park.

Most of the 35 people who attended the open house were in favor of our project and appreciated the fact that we were doing something to recognize the contribution that community leagues have made to the City of Edmonton.  It was also evident that Hawrelak Park is heavily used by many groups, as some people felt it didn’t need any further development at all.

The two water play features, along with a summary of the public feedback, will be presented to city council’s community services committee on June 11.  The committee will recommend one of the concepts to City Council for approval.

In addition to this work, the federation has hired Marius Veldtman, a consultant we worked with on our infrastructure assessment program, to oversee the development of a Request for Proposal (RFP) for project management and design work on our 100^th Anniversary Project.

Marius has located six Edmonton firms that are interested in submitting a proposal.  He is now preparing the bid documents and should have them ready to send out later this month.

Our anniversary committee has expressed an interest in reviewing the responses, as well as interviewing the company representatives.  Once this process has been completed, it is our intention to compare the RFP results to the city’s offer for project management services before determining the best route to follow.

In addition, the EFCL is reviewing the potential of developing a Cultural Heritage Walk on the pathway next to the stream.  The walkway would feature displays that show the contributions individuals and groups from different cultural backgrounds have made to the City of Edmonton and as such, attract visitors to this part of the park. This component has the potential to bring a number of other partners to the table, to help fund the overall project and increase its appeal to all three orders of government.

The EFCL could also use this opportunity to describe what it is doing to reach out to people from different cultural backgrounds.

EFCL Wants In On Elevate Task Force

The EFCL Board of Directors made it clear that they want to see a role for the federation in the revitalization of older neighborhoods, which is the job of a task force trying to implement recommendations contained in the city’s Elevate Report.

Board members were pleased to hear that all three levels of government, along with the local school boards, are members of the task force.  One of the primary recommendations of the report was to bring all of the key parties at the table.  The EFCL was also pleased to hear that the city has appointed a staff person, Jack Araujo, to work on this project.

The board was concerned to hear that the task force has yet to identify any projects or programs, other than to begin by comparing the capital budget plans of each organizations.

The board made it clear that they want to be involved in the development and implementation of a variety of projects and programs, including those that attract and retain families in these parts of the city.  The loss of families is a huge concern to the federation, given the substantial investment many leagues have made in local infrastructure (playgrounds, courts, halls and rinks) and the manner in which families with children help bring the community together.

Ms. Araujo, who provided a status report on the project at last week’s board meeting, said she would do what she could to ensure that the federation is represented in some fashion.

Traffic Safety Partners Discuss Speed Management Continuum

The Traffic Safety Partners committee, which includes city staff, police, school board and EFCL reps, has given its blessing to a newly-created method of analyzing and responding to neighborhood traffic concerns.  It is called the Neighbourhood Speed Management Continuum and it looks at traffic speeds, traffic shortcutting and number of collisions, along with the location of playgrounds, schools and recreation centres.

The continuum will help the city determine the most appropriate response to local speeding problems, including engineering measures and speed reduction campaigns like the 40 km hour speed limit program.

Senior-Friendly Community League Promoted

The EFCL is working with the Seniors Coordinating Council of Edmonton to determine ways in which community leagues can do a good job of reaching out and engaging seniors.

Our plan is to hold one or more workshops where representatives of leagues and various senior organizations review various initiatives that leagues could consider.  This could include having a senior’s liaison officer on the board, giving special consideration to the needs of seniors at league events and ensuring that league facilities are accessible to people with mobility issues.

Information gathered at the workshop would be tabulated and presented in newsletter articles, on websites and in the community league resource guide, to name three.  Workshop participants would also brainstorm ways to develop and promote activities that are of  interest to seniors.

Leagues interested in this initiative are encouraged to contact the EFCL’s community development officer, Shahriyar Khan.

EFCL Prepares For 2013 Annual General Meeting

Preparations are well along for the federation’s 2013 Annual General Meeting, which is set for 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 29 at Duggan Community League (3728-106 Street).  This year’s meeting will feature presentations on the federation’s Solar and Energy Conservation Program, the 100^th Anniversary Project and the new bar code system on community league membership cards.  Quick updates will also be provided on Leagues Alive 2013, the Balconies in Bloom program, the Living Local Arts and Heritage Program, our Civic Engagement Review and our new partnership with Edmonton Northlands.

The federation will also be seeking new board members in the west end, as well as planning committee members in the west end and Castle Downs area.

Community league delegates are urged to contact Joanne Booth at the EFCL, particularly if they are coming for dinner, which commences at 5:30 p.m.

Vitalize Conference Looks Good This Year

A number of board and staff members at the EFCL are making plans to attend the provincial Vitalize Conference, which is set for June 13-15 at the Shaw Conference Centre in Edmonton.  The conference is built around the following seven themes: board governance, communication, human resources, leadership, organizational development, technology and general interest.  This conference is a great opportunity for leagues to provide their volunteers with training and a chance to network.

The continuum and its use in promoting traffic safety will soon be presented to city council for its consideration.

EFCL Planning News

Light Efficient Community Policy Complete

The EFCL, along with the Light Efficient Community Coalition, played a major role in getting the city to consider developing a policy to reduce light pollution and energy consumption, while enhancing safety on city streets and city property.

EFCL Vice President David Gibbens and planning advisor Bev Zubot represented EFCL on the advisory committee throughout the policy and information document, working alongside very knowledgeable city engineers, consultants, coalition members and city department staff.  In addition to creating a progressive policy, this project forged positive working relationships and a pool of experts that we can turn to when communities raise street lighting or park lighting concerns.  

EFCL Prompts the City to Review Bylaws for Eating and Drinking Establishments.

The EFCL Planning Committee and Central Area Council encouraged Executive Committee of Council to support the Administration’s recommendation to review the relevant Zoning Bylaw and the business license bylaw.  We are hoping that the amendments will prevent the morphing of restaurants into late night bars, and will properly evaluate parking requirements.

        

Body Rub Centre Bylaw remains an important issue for the EFCL Planning Committee.

Our committee strongly believes that Body Rub Centres should be more than 100 m away from community halls, schools and other locations where children or vulnerable people congregate.   It plans to prepare background information and a survey that will be distributed to leagues by email and at the AGM, May 29^th.   Bylaw amendments will be considered by Council on June 10^th.  

EFCL Gains Insights at Building Edmonton Symposium

Hosted by the City & the Urban Development Institute, the symposium featured a number of developers and city planning staff in panel discussions, along with EFCL executive director Allan Bolstad

Mayor Mandel, who gave the opening speech, sees Council as the promoters of development.  He said it has only turned down two projects during his time on council.  He said community leagues, not Council, are the problem, when it comes to moving the city forward.  He said leagues oppose affordable housing in the inner city, oppose seniors and don’t want their complexes on surplus school sites.  He said they are also opposed to too much traffic for no good reason.

In the panel discussions, developers such as Jodie Wacko emphasized the importance of flexibility – all policy documents should be a living document so that the rules can be changed on the fly in response to customer demands.  Allan Bolstad said leagues are interested in stability – that the city should develop policies and regulations and stick to them so people know the rules and can depend on them. 

Tegan Martin-Drysdale of Redbrick Real Estate Services asked why the EFCL and its leagues were so involved in civic and planning issues.  She noted that the EFCL and its leagues do not represent everyone in the neighbourhood.  Allan acknowledged that the leagues only represent their members, but that the city often relies on them for public input.  He noted that the EFCL and its leagues have some binding agreements with the city, relative to consultation, and that leagues have been involved in civic engagement since their inception in 1917.

EFCL considers Active Role with Bike Routes

Given the level of discontent with the city’s planned bike network, the EFCL has decided to explore how it could assist in the development of welcomed, safe bike routes and bike infrastructure in neighbourhoods.   Four potential roles for EFCL have been identified through a meeting with Transportation staff and Great Neighbourhoods.  

a)     Assistance with social marketing of bike infrastructure – promoting safety, community building, benefits of cycling (predominantly a city role)

b)     Discussion of safe bike route designs at the Transportation Safety Partnership Committee meetings (EFCL staff Allan Bolstad and Shahriyar Kahn are members of this committee)

c)     A review of Public Involvement Plans for bike routes

d)    A bike route design workshop with leagues, in the fall, sponsored by the City and the EFCL.