Secondary Suite Resolution

We have attached a resolution below recommended by our Planning Committee and adopted by the Board of Cambrian Heights concerning the proposed Secondary Suite City Bylaw change below. This issue was discussed at length and utilized for reference the handouts from the recently held Secondary Suite Information Sessions as well as the “Secondary Suites Frequently Asked Questions” obtained the office of Councillor Druh Farrell. In addition we reviewed what was available on the City website and in recent press reports. This resolution was passed April 13th in advance of our AGM April 28th.

When reviewing the City proposal we were struck by two main issues. The first of course was the impact in R-1 zoning areas (Cambrian Heights has considerable R-1 zoned areas) where residents generally have invested the majority of their wealth and paid a premium to reside in an R-1 development. The second issue was one of potential impact on infrastructure, services, general appearance and activity associated with higher density living.

Upon review of the material, as previously indicated, we found the City’s answers and position on these issues less sophisticated, detailed and lacking in actual comprehensive review that would normally be expected for major change in effective zoning for a large portion of the Calgary homeowner and taxpaying population. In addition, as a Community Association there was no accurate way to determine all the residents position on this proposed change other than “street-side” discussion and repeated feedback requests in our monthly newsletter and webpage over the last few months. This did not yield significant response to the issue. Thus the genesis of our second major recommendation, that all affected homeowners be given the opportunity to vote their position in compliance of the provisions in the Municipal Government Act.

Our position as a Board is to represent the impacted residents in such a way as to protect their individual rights and freedom of choice to have a final vote on an issue so central to their home and families. This resolution has been circulated to other community associations and to Ward 7 Councillor Druh Farrell.

Daryl Connolly, President
Cambrian Heights Community Association

CHCA – Secondary Suite Resolution- Download here 

2015 AGM Agenda

Cambrian Heights Community Association
Annual General Meeting
7:30 pm, Tuesday, April 28, 2015
At the CHCA Community Hall

1. Call to Order

2. Approval of Agenda

3. Approval of Minutes of the 2014 AGM

4. Presidents Report

5. Treasurer’s Report

– Audited Financial Statements for Fiscal Year ended March 31, 2014
– Review of Unaudited Statements for Fiscal Year ended March 31, 2015
– Appointment of Auditor for Upcoming Fiscal Year

6. Approval of Special Resolution amending existing Bylaws establishing a Corporate Membership
Category

7. Approval of Resolution establishing the fee for a Corporate Membership at $100 per year and leaving
all other categories unchanged.

8. Approval of Resolution changing the Associate Member annual fee to $15.00

9. Election of Directors and President for 2015-16

10. Presidents Outlook 2015-16

11. Other Business

12. Adjournment

Invited Guests

Kyle Fawcett, MLA Calgary-Klein & Minister of Environment & Sustainable Resource Development
Druh Farrell, Councillor Ward 7

Nominations

It is the intention of the current Board of Directors to stand for re-election and Daryl Connolly will stand for election as President.

Current Board of Directors: Daryl Beatty, Daryl Connolly, Gary Davies, Jodi Dixon, JoAnne DorvalDronyk,
Sonya Hnatiw, Jennifer Manns, Susan McGregor, Barb Milne, Daniel Vallee and Gary Wilson.

Wine & Cheese Reception to Follow

 

 

Special Resolution Establishing Category of Corporate Membership in
Cambrian Heights Community Association Bylaws

 

“ASSOCIATION BYLAWS”

BE IT RESOLVED AS A SPECIAL RESOLUTION of the Community Association:

That the amendment to the Community Association Bylaws as filed with the Registrar of
Corporations of Alberta be amended by adding the following Clauses and renumbering the
impacted sequence of existing Clauses and references as required:

 

ARTICLE 2                DEFINITIONS AND INTERPERTATION

2.1.12 “Corporate Member” means any business operating adjacent to or within the
Association boundaries as defined by the City of Calgary. Corporate members have the rights
and limitations described in clause 3.5.
2.1.22 “Member” means a Regular Member, a Life Member or an Associate Member,
as applicable, whose annual Membership dues, if any, are paid and whose Membership is not
under suspension.

ARTICLE 3                MEMBERSHIP

3.1.1 (d) Corporate Members.

3.5 Corporate Member

3.5.1 A Corporate Member may not vote in an election and any other determination at a
General Meeting, and may not seek or hold office in the Association, but otherwise has the
same rights as a Regular Member.

President’s Message – April 2015

With the success of our first Winter Skating Party we will make this another annual event. Many thanks go to the Rink Guys as the ice withstood spring like weather and bright sunny skies. Pop music, copious amounts of whipped cream and hot chocolate, cookies, a fire pit and a visit by our MLA Kyle Fawcett complimented the on ice activities. Also thanks goes out to Kidsport Canada for the use of Skate Shack providing free skates and helmets. Our next event will be an Open House after the Annual General Meeting April 28th. We encourage everyone to attend to learn about the Community, its plans for the near and long term as well as visiting with our invited guests from the Federation of Calgary Communities, our Ward 7 Councillor Druh Farrell and our MLA Kyle Fawcett. Following this event will be a Community Cleanup Program on a joint basis with Rosemont Community May 16th, and the annual CHCA Stampede Breakfast July 11th. We are hoping to add additional events in the Fall to compliment our very successful annual Halloween Party at the end of October. Check our website for details of all social events, news and contact information. If you wish to volunteer for any of these events please do so by contacting any of the Directors listed in the newsletter or website. Get involved to support and make a better community!

As indicated previously the Board has formed a Planning Committee to monitor and respond appropriately to development applications within our community. What we need is feedback from the Community as to what residents want to see in terms of new development. At year end both our mayor and Ward councillor were advocates for Secondary Suites and the City seems poised for increased inner city resident density in Cambrian Heights. We need your opinions in order to reflect the Community on these issues to City Council. Please email your comments to cambrianheights@gmail.com with any thoughts on this critical issue to our community. Also reference our website for up-to date information on this and other City Planning issues.

As mentioned last month we are planning further work on the Hall and to the kitchen facilities and are awaiting a decision on City support grants. When completed this will restore the kitchen to full cooking facility status allowing expanded utilization in the future. All such activity will be undertaken within the financial ability of the Community, which currently remains solid due to hall rental income and casino proceeds. We have additional long term plans for the facility that will be considered by the Board during the next fiscal year. All such activity will be predicated on increased usability of the facilities by the Community residents. While we encourage Community Membership, all our activities are open to every resident of Cambrian Heights. We encourage you to participate and communicate your thoughts on existing and new programs that will enhance your community experience.

On Behalf of the Board;
Daryl Connolly, President

President’s Message March 2015

Our Community Association continues to focus in 2015 on increasing social events and use of
the Community Hall. On February 14th we held our first Winter Skating Party. Future events
include an Open House at the Annual General Meeting April 28th., a Community Cleanup
Program on a joint basis with Rosemont Community May 16th, and the annual CHCA Stampede
Breakfast July 11th. We are hoping to add additional events in the Fall to compliment our very
successful annual Halloween Party at the end of October. Check our website for details of all social events, news and contact
information.

As indicated previously the Board has formed a Planning Committee to monitor and respond
appropriately to development applications within our community. What we need is feedback
from the Community as to what residents want to see in terms of new development. At year end
both our mayor and Ward councillor were advocates for Secondary Suites and the City seems
poised for increased inner city resident density in Cambrian Heights. What are your questions/
opinions? What type of developments would you like to see or not see? Get in touch with any
Board member and in particular members of the Planning Committee so we may better
understand and therefore reflect the wishes of Cambrian Heights residents.

On a matter of safety and social concern in our community I have previously asked for your
help. We informed everyone of repeated instances of one or more persons driving their vehicles
through our community Parks and play fields knocking over small trees and shrubs and at the
same time endangering any pedestrians in the area. We are exploring alternatives with the City
Parks and Police to discourage this activity. There is no practical way to barrier our parks to
vehicular access. We continue to ask anyone witnessing such activity to report it immediately to
the police (it is a crime and therefore can be reported to 911 or directly to the police nonemergency
line at 403-266-1234 press “0” to speak to someone right away) or if reporting
damage from such activity to “311”.

On the facilities front we have installed lights to better enable viewing at night of our event sign
in front of the Community Hall on Northmount Drive. In addition during 2015 we are planning
further upgrades in the hall and to the kitchen facilities. If completed as planned this will restore
the kitchen to full cooking facility status allowing better utilization in the future. All such activity
and future developments will be undertaken within the financial ability of the community which
currently remains strong. We continue to encourage new residents and old to join and
participate in the Community Association and bring forward new ideas and the volunteer spirit
Calgary is known to possess. We make things better through participation.

On Behalf of the Board;

Daryl Connolly, President

Secondary Suite Bylaw Amendments For Cambrian Heights

The City of Calgary is hosting an Information Session on this topic for the residents of Ward 7 (which includes Cambrian Heights) on Wednesday, March 4th at Fort Calgary

Additional information can be found on the City of Calgary website.

We encourage all Cambrian Heights residents to become familiar with this issue and attend the information session.

What to do when you see vehicles driving in green spaces

The Cambrian Heights Community Association is working to address an issue brought forth by several residents: vehicles driving off road in our green spaces. This is not a new activity to our community or to the city in general. What brings this activity to our attention is an escalation of the damage and disrespect for public safety and parks. In the January newsletter we reported the surprising destruction that took place in November. We wish to follow up that report with the following:

  1. What to do when you see this crime occurring; and
  2. Results of discussions with City representatives.

Reporting a crime in progress:

Driving through parks is a crime.

Any crime in progress can be reported to 911 or directly to the police non-emergency line at 403-266-1234 (and press “0” to speak to someone immediately).

It is recommended that:

  • You keep the police non-emergency number handy for quick reporting (e.g., program it into your cell phone; post it on your fridge);
  • You call as soon as safely possible;
  • You do not approach these people or their vehicles; and
  • You do not assume that someone else has made the call to the police.

Be prepared to give the location (i.e., a house address nearby) and a description of the vehicle.   A licence plate number and/or pictures are helpful if they can safely attained, but they are not necessary.

Reporting a crime that has already occurred:

Any damage to our parks should be reported as soon as possible to 311. Do not assume that someone else has made the call.

If you notice that someone has driven through the parks please contact the Community Association at 403-284-1175 or cambrianheights@gmail.com with the location, approximate date and time of the crime, and any damage noted. The Community Association is tracking this information and sharing it with the Police and other City departments.

You may also report any damage or criminal behaviour anonymously to CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at http://calgarycrimestoppers.org/home.

Discussions with Parks and Police:

Deterring this activity is very difficult for Parks and Police.

Parks has had many ideas proposed over the years and some solutions have been implemented in other communities. Unfortunately, most have failed to fully stop the behavior. For example, fencing and obstacles merely shifted the activity to other parks. In other cases, the drivers found new entrances to access the area causing more damage.

Police have temporarily increased patrols in our area and officers respond as quickly as possible to calls.

Community involvement:

After our initial discussions, it appears the best solution for deterring this activity is public awareness, education and action. We can start by taking individual responsibility for our green spaces. If we see this activity in progress, we can report it to 911 or 403-266-1234 (press “0). If damage is done to our parks we can call 311. At the community level, the Community Association can review its programs and services to see if we can increase respect, stewardship and positive use of our green spaces. We can continue to work with City representatives to consider physical deterrents at strategic locations within Cambrian Heights.

We encourage you to contact the Community Association to learn more about this issue. You can leave a message at 403-284-1175 or email: cambrianheights@gmail.com. Board members will be available to chat at our upcoming Winter Party on February 14th from 1:00 to 4:00pm at the rink behind the Community Hall. Please come out to enjoy our great skating rink, free skates, hot chocolate and camaraderie of neighbours.

We look forward to hearing your ideas and solving this issue together to keep Cambrian Heights a vibrant and strong community.

Cambrian Skating Rink

Our new rink coordinator, Scott, has been busy prepping the rink for the skating season. If you need a great reason for getting outside this winter, perhaps you’d like to help out with maintaining our ice? You can contact Scott at 403-284-1175.

The rink is available to everyone on a first come first serve basis; however, if a group wanted to establish a regular game of shinny or regular drop in skating party, etc., you could advertise in the newsletter or on our community outdoor sign.

Newsletter articles need to be submitted before the 10th of each month and emailed to Barb at blmilne@shaw.ca.

For advertising on our outdoor sign contact Lora at CHCA_Hall@telus.net, 403-284-1175.

Presidents Message February 2015

A New Year brings with it new issues/directions and of course resolutions. Your Board will continue to work towards both improving communication of all issues whether they be old, new or modified. I will try to highlight these issues in the monthly President’s Message but suggest everyone check the website a few times every month for up to date detailed information on issues and events. Our monthly newsletter is also a valuable source worth reviewing every month.

For 2015 our focus will remain on increasing social events and use of the Community Hall. The number of these events is only restricted by availability of volunteers and of course new ideas. If you have any suggestions and/or are able to volunteer for events please contact us at cambrianheights@gmail.com. You are also encouraged to partake in the first event of 2015 and meet some directors who will be in attendance. It remains the best way to maximize your community benefits and meet new neighbours. Our first event will be a Winter Skating Party February 14th. Check the website for details. Future events include a Community Cleanup Program and an Open House at the AGM in the second quarter plus the annual Stampede Breakfast in July.

As indicated previously the Board has formed a Planning Committee to monitor and respond appropriately to development applications within our community. What we need is feedback from the Community as to what residents want to see in terms of new development. At year end both our mayor and Ward Councillor were advocates for Secondary Suites and the City seems poised for increased inner city resident density in Cambrian Heights. What are your opinions? Get in touch with any Board member so we may better reflect the wishes of Cambrian Heights residents.

On two matters that relate to safety and social concerns in our community I have asked for your help. Last month we requested dog owners respect the on leash rules set out by the City for all green spaces and in particular the restrictions for dogs in our playgrounds and sports fields. In addition we reported considerable damage to our public parks and green areas during a mid November snowfall by one or more persons driving their vehicles through these off road areas knocking over small trees and shrubs and at the same time endangering any pedestrians in the area. This reckless activity has continued. As a result the Board has enlisted the Calgary Police Department and bordering residents with camera’s in an effort to curb this activity. We are also investigating potential physical deterrents with the City. We ask anyone witnessing such activity to report it immediately to the police and request that people wishing to experience off road activities with their vehicles restrict such driving to appropriate venues.

On the facilities front we have recently installed lights to better enable viewing at night of our event sign in front of the Community Hall on Northmount Drive. In addition during 2015 we are planning upgrades to washrooms in the Hall and to the kitchen facilities. If completed as planned this will restore the kitchen to full cooking facility status allowing better utilization in the future. We are committed to maintaining the Hall as a focal point for the Community activities and will continue in this pursuit.

On behalf of the Board;
Daryl Connolly, President

President’s Message January 2015

With the beginning of a new year comes annual resolutions to improve our health, communicate better with others, make better business decisions and generally improve the quality of our lives. Your Cambrian Heights Community Association (“CHCA”) shares those resolutions as we progress into 2015.

From a health perspective we encourage participation in the jazzercise and yoga programs currently being offered at the Community Centre and detailed on our website (cambrianheightscommunity.com). From a communication perspective we have recently updated our website and will be planning a significant revision in 2015 to reflect increased awareness for residents of our community in development activity, social and educational programs and City transportation issues that impact Cambrian Heights. Please contact the association (cambrianheights@gmail.com) with any suggestions you may have to improve the quality of our website.

As indicated in my December report the Board is working on both developing a system through the Planning Committee to monitor and respond appropriately to development applications within our community. We are also developing a short and long term Business Plan in 2015 to guide the Boards allocation of financial resources and program activities. We constantly look for new ideas to increase the community participation in our facilities and welcome involvement of all community members either through email or attendance at our monthly Board meetings.

While 2015 will once again see the Community Association host its annual Stampede Breakfast, we are also planning a Winter Skating Party over the Family Day weekend and an Open House at the Community Centre sometime in March-April. Please access the website or Newsletter for dates and details.

On two matters that relate to safety and social concerns in our community I have to ask for your help. The first request is to dog owners to respect the on leash rules set out by the City for all green spaces and in particular the restrictions for dogs in our playgrounds and sports fields. Information is available at the City website (www.calgary.ca – search dog parks). The City has removed signage but we remind everyone that specific off leash areas have been established but otherwise dogs are to remain on leash. On a second issue there was considerable damage to our public parks and green areas during our last snowfall by one or more persons driving their vehicles through the off road areas knocking over small trees and shrubs and at the same time endangering any pedestrians in the area. We ask anyone witness such activity to report it immediately to the police and request that people wishing to experience off road activities with their vehicles restrict such driving to appropriate venues.

On behalf of the Board we wish all residents a happy and prosperous 2015 and remind everyone that improving and enjoying our community is directly related to participation and volunteering.

Winter Party

Winter PartyLove your Family, Community and Winter!

On Saturday, February 14, 2015 the first Winter Party was held in the afternoon ( 1-4 PM) at the outdoor rink behind the Community Hall. Despite unseasonably mild weather this first ice skating event was well attended with over 50 participants including our MLA Kyle Fawcett. The community provided:

  • Skate Shack – free use of ice skates and helmets courtesy of Kidsport Canada
  • Fire Pit
  • Hot chocolate bar and cookies
  • Skating – games
  • Music
  • Neighbourhood discussion for future events and community activity.

It will be our intent to organize more events on this type into 2015-16. Please give us your comments and suggestions. We have added some pictures highlighting the afternoon activities.

 

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