March EFCL Board Package

March EFCL Board Package Highlights

Download the EFCL March 2012 Board Package


We Need You! Help elect our District B Representative on April 30


Elections are this April at the EFCL AGM and my position is up for election this year. Whether you support me or not please come out so we have quorum for our district and let's make sure we elect a District B Representative.

• EFCL AGM 
• Monday, April 30 
• 6:30 pm at Beacon Heights Community League
• 12037 43 St  Edmonton, AB

The EFCL Board was hosted the Edmonton Public School Board at a
meeting on February 27.  Photo Rob Agostinis.

3.1 Building Parks When Neighbourhoods are Developed
We had a presentation by Bob Priebe, Director of Parks Planning for the City of Edmonton. The City is working on getting park amenities built sooner in neighbourhoods. Priebe explained they have formed a task force or working group and they are looking how parks are presently funded, who pays and how the process could be improved. They are looking at legal tools as well as processes that might be used to facilitate developers funding an constructing parks. This is obviously something many communities would be very interested in. The EFCL Board was generally supportive and asked questions about equity, long term maintenance costs.
Developers are interested in was of creatively funding parks sooner since it may enhance the appeal of a neighbourhood.


5.2 The EFCL 100th Anniversary Project - Will Leagues Contribute?
As leagues will see in a letter coming out soon the EFCL is proposing a major Community League Feature in Hawrelak Park that would highlight the achievements of communities and even feature the names of all 155 community leagues on patio bricks. The project is estimated to cost up to $2 million dollars - latest figures. The EFCL is proposing to create the project in three phases. 
When we have drawings I will post them here. The board decided to propose to the membership (155 community leagues) that each league contribute $400 per year for five years to seed this project. The EFCL would then take that money and add in some EFCL money and use it to raise funds from all levels of government.
Community Leagues will have a chance to vote on this proposal on Monday, April 30 at the EFCL AGM scheduled for 6:30 pm at Beacon Heights Community League. If the motion passes all leagues will be asked to kick in $400 for each of five years to get the program started.
Check out the program description in the board package! It's a pretty exciting project and it would be the first major City feature that promotes and celebrates the work of community leagues. It's our 91 Anniversary this year!


5.3 EFCL to Meet with  City Councillors about: Solar & Energy Conservation, EFCL 100th Anniversary and rink roof projects.


5.6 New Neighbourhood Design Committee
The board decided to put our staff planner Bev Zubot's name forward to sit on the new Design Team for New Neighbourhood Design Guidelines. It is very cool that the EFCL was invited to participate and of course we in the community league movement have a lot to say about the design of new neighbourhoods! You will hear much more about this as we learn more.


5.7 Neighbourhood Parks Consulations
See Bev's report on parks planning issues as they relate to

• Parks with vacant surplus school sites
• Mature neighbourhoods with closed schools
• New neighbourhoods

7.4 Final Meeting with Outreach Workers

Shahriyar prepared a very nice summary of the views of our cultural outreach workers that helps us with our cultural inclusion project. We have made tremendous strides with this work, particularly in communities such as Duggan. If are you interested in getting more engaged with more cultures this report is worth a scan. Please have a peak starting on page 31 of the board package. There is much more to do.

7.5 Community Planning Advisor's Report (Bev Zubot)

See Bev's report for information on:

• Family Housing
• Park Zone Ammendments
• EFCL's Cell Tower Meeting (done)
• Edmonton Winter City Strategy

7.6 Communications Report (Valerie Pachal)

Check out Valerie's report for information on new network support at the EFCL, website improvements and a new look for membership materials.

7.7 Executive Director's Report (Allan Bolstad)

Highlights from Allan's report include:

• League strife chews up resources - there are many leagues in need of assistance right now
• Education Minister supports shared space
• Public School Board hosts EFCL Board
• Status of Renters in EFCL Building
• Rink Roof investigations continue
• EFCL asks EPCOR to support its solar program

Have a wonderful March,

David Dodge

EFCL President and District B Representative