EFCL April Board Meeting Notes

Hi Everyone in the EFCL Londonderry District (B):

Here's a quick report on happened at the April EFCL Board meeting. I was a packed agenda that unfortunately took us late into the evening.

Thanks to Jeff Stewart of McLeod Communty League for attending the EFCL meeting. It was great to see a district league at one of our regular board meetings. Just a reminder the board meetings are open meetings and members are welcome to attend them.

Download the April Board Package (PDF)

1)   EFCL Reviews Its Role In Civic Engagement

This started because a few City Councillors took exception with us on a number of issues. But this is a much needed exercise. This is a very good opportuntiy for the EFCL and it's member leagues to dramatically improve how we interact on civic issues. We have formed a committee and we will be inviting community league input once we do some basic work on the issue. This is a wonderful opportunity to improve our status, the sophistication and impact of our engagement and to have the role of community leagues respected on a much higher level.

The EFCL has decided to review the manner in which the federation and its member leagues get involved in civic issues.  The goal is to find ways to do a better job of responding to civic issues and complement the city’s public engagement process.

A Civic Engagement Committee has been struck to oversee this exercise.  It is comprised of four board members (David Dodge, David Gibbens, Christine Bremner and Masood Makarechian), two planning committee members (Jamie Post and Elaine Solez) as well as two EFCL staff members (Allan Bolstad and Bev Zubot).   The EFCL is also considering hiring a consultant to help us through this exercise and has tentatively lined up some community advisors to review our proposals.

Here is a sample of some of the broad questions we hope to answer during the review process:

• Should the City be notifying leagues directly, or should EFCL be notifying leagues of project initiatives needing public input?   In what instances should both EFCL and leagues be contacted directly by the City?
• What is EFCL’s obligation vs. the City’s obligation to consult with leagues?
• To what extent should EFCL be educating leagues on planning matters and coordinating the input of leagues? 
• What is the obligation of leagues to consult with their neighbourhood residents? 
• What support should EFCL and/or the City be providing to leagues if consultation with residents is expected? 
• In what situations is it adequate for EFCL to participate in city task forces or workshops without first consulting leagues?  How can EFCL consult with leagues if the information provided at workshops is not public information which can be shared?
• How can the EFCL provide input to the city on multiple topics if we are to adequately consult leagues on every topic?
• And finally, how can EFCL partner with the City in the public engagement process to make best use of EFCL and City resources?

 

The EFCL will draw on the work it has recently done with its leagues on two major exercises.

The first was a review of the sustainability of older neighborhoods, which lead to the creation of the city’s Elevate Report.  The second was a review of the zoning guidelines governing low density development.  In both cases we hosted multiple workshops and developed a consensus on a number of key recommendations from among the league participants.

In one instance, the EFCL reported on behalf of the leagues, while in the other leagues presented their recommendations directly to the city, with some assistance from the EFCL.

While both of these reviews entailed a lot of work, they left the federation feeling that it had helped shape the final product.

The EFCL intends to launch its Civic Engagement review this spring and complete the work by the end of the year.

2)   Solar and Energy Conservation Program Cooking Along

Work is proceeding nicely on the EFCL’s Solar and Energy Conservation Program.   All of the leagues have received their energy and carbon audits and have been asked to submit their list of hall retrofits to the City of Edmonton no later than May 17.  The city will package them and send them to the Municipal Climate Change Action Centre (MCCAC) in order to qualify for $50,000 in grant money from the centre’s Taking Action to Manage Energy (TAME) program.

The EFCL’s board of directors were presented with the summary findings of the energy and carbon audit on its office headquarters at its board meeting on Thursday.  A wide range of suggestions were made, from installing a wind turbine on the roof to reducing lighting levels and installing outside doors that are better insulated.

With respect to the solar installations, two companies have been selected to do the work on the seven community league halls and the EFCL building.  Evergreen and Gold will handle the installations at North Glenora, Meadowlark, Alberta Avenue and the EFCL.  Dandelion Renewables will install systems at West Jasper/Sherwood, Rossdale, Riverdale and Ritchie.

The installations are scheduled for the last part of April and first week of May (assuming the weather cooperates).   A presentation on the energy and carbon audits as well as the solar energy installations is scheduled for our annual general meeting on May 29.

3)   Registrations Pick Up For Volunteer Recognition Event

The federation is pleased to report that 179 community league volunteers have registered for its Volunteer Recognition Event on April 23.  The evening features a series of videos on community league projects and a talk from motivational speaker Laurel Vespi.  Set for the Myer Horowitz Theatre at the U/A Student’s Union Building, the event begins at 7:00 and will conclude around 9:00 p.m., after a wine and cheese social.  The event is open to all community league volunteers and registrants are encouraged to contact Joanne Booth (Joanne.Booth@efcl.org) by April 19.

4)    EFCL Endorses Realtors Website and Safety Council’s New Facility

The EFCL decided to endorse two projects at its meeting last week.  The first is a comprehensive website being put together by the Realtors Association of Edmonton and Area.

Entitled YegisHome, the multimillion dollar initiative is designed to contain a wide variety of information on communities throughout the city, in addition to extensive descriptions of homes for sale.

The Realtors would like to include information about community leagues and their activities on this website, as another means of equipping buyers with information about the community they are considering.  This appears to be a good opportunity for the EFCL and its member leagues to raise their profile and get their information into the hands of potential members.

The second project is the new Centre for Safety Excellence that is being put together by the Alberta Safety Council.

Located near 50 Street and Whitemud Drive, the $10 million facility will house driver education classrooms and feature an expanded Safety City Park for children to learn the rules of the road.

5)   EFCL Prepares For 2013 Annual General Meeting

Preparations are now being made 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).  A draft agenda presented to the board last week included presentations on the federation’s Solar and Energy Conservation Program, 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 and Living Local Arts and Heritage Program.

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

6)   Mark your calendar for Leagues Alive 2013

Community league volunteers are encouraged to mark their calendar for Leagues Alive 2013.  This year’s conference will be held at the Grant MacEwan downtown campus on Saturday, Nov. 16.  The event will once again feature a variety of board development workshops, as well as an opportunity to hear from the federation’s corporate sponsors and have lunch with members of Edmonton City Council.

7)   Federation’s Books in Good Shape

The EFCL received a very favorable review from its auditor, Curtis Friesen of Hawkings Epp Dumont last week.  The federation was complimented on the establishment of a $200,000 financial stabalization reserve, which it has been working on over the past five years, as well as

the manner in which its books are kept.  Curtis will be reporting to the general membership at the May 29 AGM and will be happy to answer questions at that time.

Thanks to Allan for writing up the notes,

David Dodge

District B Rep. and President

Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues

October EFCL Board Meeting Highlights - RGM

Hi everyone, you can download the board package from the October 11 board meeting and here some hightlights from the meeting. 

Notes From The October Board Meeting

1. Registrations Rolling in For “Leagues Alive” Don't Miss It!

Fifty six community league executive members have now registered for the “League’s Alive” Conference and Trade Show,
which will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, November 3 at the Mayfield Inn. So far, the four most popular sessions
are Use of Gaming Proceeds, Bylaws and Policy Development, Event Planning and Role of the President.

In addition, nine members of city council have confirmed their attendance for lunch with the councillors session at 11:30 a.m.
in the trade show ballroom. Registrants will be able to sit at an individual table with any of the following councillors
- Linda Sloan, Kim Krushell, Dave Loken, Tony Caterina, Ben Henderson, Jane Batty, Amarjeet Sohi, Kerry Diotte and Ed Gibbons.

Admission to the conference and trade show, including lunch, is free to all community league executive members. However,
delegates need to register to reserve a seat in any of the sessions, as well as for lunch. It should also be noted that there are no child
care services on site.

2. $60,000 Available To The First Rink Cover Applicants - Act Soon!

In an attempt to encourage one or two demonstration projects, the EFCL is making $60,000 available to the first leagues that decide
to build a cover over their outdoor rink.

Leagues are reminded that there is also federal matching grants of $250,000 available for such a project. The deadline for applying
is November 19. Information on rink cover suppliers is available through the federation office.

3. Living Local Arts and Heritage Grants Available

Leagues are reminded that the EFCL, Edmonton Arts Council and Edmonton Heritage Council are once again sponsoring the Living
Local Arts and Heritage Program. Up to $20,000 is available to any league that wants to engage a local artist or artists to do a project
or performance that recognizes the historical character of their area.

Leagues are responsible for providing 1/3 of the total funding and must provide a letter of endorsement. Applications are available
through the EFCL website (www.efcl.org) by clicking on “Activities” and then “Arts and Heritage Grant.”

4. Leagues Reminded About Fall General Meeting - Oct 23 RSVP now!

Each league is encouraged to send a representative to the fall general meeting of the EFCL, which is set for 6:30 p.m. at Britannia/Youngstown
Community League (15927-105 Avenue). Updates will provided on all of the federation’s programs, elections will be held for board and
committee members and leagues will be asked to consider the addition of a third general meeting, to consider the federation’s budget and
annual program plans, in January or February of each year. Delegates are encouraged to register so we know how much food to order for dinner,
which is set for 5:30 p.m., as well as the number of agendas and reports we need to print.

5. Food And Agricultural Strategy Needs More Meat On The Bones

The EFCL has decided to ask the city to do more work on the Food and Agricultural Strategy before adopting the draft document as city policy.
While liking many of the ideas presented in the policy, such as the promotion of food hubs, farmer’s markets and community gardens, the EFCL
couldn’t determine from the document who was going to undertake any of the projects, how they would do them or where they would get the
resources. The EFCL also didn’t see any commitment to protecting any of the city’s prime agricultural land, which is a key ingredient to providing
locally-grown food.

Without additional direction the federation is concerned that the draft policy won’t accomplish much of anything.

6. EFCL To Register Concerns About Changes To Mature Neighborhoods

The EFCL is not sold on the idea of allowing more front garages and driveways on properties in mature neighborhoods, or the concept of allowing
some properties to sit very close to the street and others quite far back. Hence, it is going to ask the city to scale back on its plans to change the rules
for development in mature parts of the city.

7. Realtors Pitch Fancy New Edmonton Website

The Realtors Association of Edmonton and Area – which is one of the key sponsors of the EFCL – is putting together a $2 million website which will
contain a host of information about the community along with homes that are for sale.

The EFCL has been asked to provide information for the “YEG is Home” website and encourage its leagues to do the same. It has also been asked to
contribute financially to the project.

The federation is quite intrigued by the possibilities presented by this communication tool and will use the next few weeks to flesh out the role it can play.

8. Planning Continues on 100th Anniversary Project

The EFCL is continuing to refine its plans for the upgrade of Hawrelak Park. The biggest decision that needs to be made is the possible inclusion of a
water play feature next to the playground. This will hinge on the recommendations of a consultant the city has just hired, who will review the pros and
cons of including a water play feature as part of the federation’s project, next to the playground, or putting it north of the main pavilion, near the northeast
corner of the lake, where the city will be responsible for the design, development and financing. The consultant will be meeting with relevant stakeholders,
including the EFCL, and welcoming public input over the next few months.

In the meantime, the EFCL will continue to flesh out plans for the Community League Plaza and Stream Upgrade.

9. Conflict Resolution Session Set

In order to help leagues deal with difficult situations, the EFCL is offering “Tips and Tools for Having a Difficult Conversation” at the EFCL office at
6:00 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 18. The workshop is being presented by staff from the Mediation and Restorative Justice Centre.

10.Federation Pleased With Traffic Calming Measures

The EFCL was pleased to see the city approve a set of traffic calming measures to reduce speeding on residential streets. The city will now prepare a
set of custom-designed plans, featuring traffic islands, extended curbs, raised intersections and road medians for neighborhoods experiencing significant
speeding issues.

Neighborhoods are also welcome to apply for a 40 km./hr speed limit on their residential streets. The initiative must be endorsed by the community league
and two thirds of the area residents before it will be considered by the city.

11. Meeting Set with City Council

Eleven members of Edmonton City Council have confirmed their attendance for the annual meeting with the board of the EFCL, which is set for Monday,
October 29. The EFCL will update council on various federation initiatives and seek input from council on future directions.

12. Representing the EFCL on Hockey, Edmonton Journal and Edmonton's Renewable Energy commitees

I have volunteered to represent the federation on three task forces or committees. The first is a visioning task force set up by the Edmonton Minor Hockey Association, which is looking for ways to increase participation and engage the community in the provision of hockey programs.
The second is Edmonton Journal’s Community Advisory Board and the third is the city’ renewable energy task force, which helped spawn the federation’s solar
and energy conservation program.

If you have any questions or comments please call or write anytime. Thanks to Allan for these notes.

David Dodge
President and District B Representative
Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues (EFCL)