WERA General Meeting for March 24 2015

W. E. R. A. General Meeting;

March 24, 2015: commenced 7:02 p.m.

                                Chair: Elmer Rudolph;      Recorder: Gavin McLeod

                                Number of attendees: 15

1. Approval of minutes of previous meetings: Motion to approve minutes of January 27, 2015. Moved by Elmer Rudolph and seconded by Bill Zander.
2. Additional Agenda Items:.
3. Jane’s Walks: Mary Wilson reported on the upcoming Jane’s walk in New Westminster, this will be the third Jane’s walk in New Westminster. Jane’s walks will be held all over the world on May first, second and third. There is no cost and anyone can participate by being a walker or a walk leader or both. This year’s event is sponsored by Travel Smart, New Westminster Tourism and New Westminster Parks Culture and Recreation. More information on Jane’s walk can be found at: http://janeswalk.org/canada/new-westminster/ and https://www.facebook.com/events/1608451819384363/.
4. Presentation on Saving the Columbia Street Parkade: Doug Whicker (acoustic engineer) and Jerry Johnson, a licensed engineer in Canada showed the attendees a powerpoint presentation in which he illustrated an argument against the destruction of the west end of the parkade and suggestions for improving the structure including repurposing the top level as a park similar to New York’s Highline park (former railroad trestle), Highline park attracts millions of visitors a year and has created a real estate boom in the area: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Line_%28New_York_City%29. The city considers the parkade to be an eyesore and a barrier between downtown and the river. The UBC school of architecture offered to help show Council how the parkade could be repurposed and is in favour of saving it: http://www.sala.ubc.ca/work/student-work/imaging-new-westminster.
5. Repurposing of Portables at Tweedsmuir School: Ingrid Tymn reported on her proposal to retain the south side portable for repurposing as a Community activity site, this will require approval from the School Board and probable participation by New Westminster Parks Culture and Recreation. Issues will be liability, ownership and maintenance. Gavin McLeod suggested that MaryAnn Mortensen, west end resident and school board trustee should be contacted.
6. Changes to the City of New Westminster Council Procedure Bylaw No. 6910, 2004: Elmer Rudolph provided an update on the change in how delegations can present to city council: The purpose of the proposed amendment is to restrict such delegations from addressing the subject matter of a bylaw after any required public hearing for the bylaw has been scheduled, to ensure that the public hearing process is procedurally fair.
7. Translink Plebecite Mail In Ballot: Elmer Rudolph did a quick survey to see how many people in attendance had received their ballots for the referendum.
8. Neighbourhood Traffic Advisory Committee: Joanne Dawe is the WERA representative: nothing to report.
9. Community Policing Committee Report: Gavin McLeod Reported from March meeting, there was a reduction in number of break ins to vehicles and theft of vehicles.

Meeting adjourned at: 9:06 p.m.

Next meeting: Tentatively Tuesday May 26, 2015 at Unity in Action Church from 7pm to 9pm.