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Heritage Planning Advisory Committee - May 10, 2007 Minutes   |
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7:00 p.m.
Room 110, Regional Administration Building,
150 Frederick St, Kitchener, Ontario
Present were: Jean Haalboom (Chair), Patricia Wagner, Tom Hardacre, Harriet Schaefer, Connie Davison, Liz Heinrichs, Jody Decker, Ron Hackett, Karen Hammond, Wendy Wright Cascaden.
Staff: Lucille Bish, Mai Al Nabhan
Regrets: Kathryn McGarry
DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY INTEREST UNDER THE MUNICIPAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST ACT
None Declared
DELEGATIONS
Shahzad Rahman, Senior Project Manager - Transportation and Environmental Services at the Region of Waterloo gave a presentation on Bridgeport Bridge, Kitchener. The presentation outlined the history of the bridge and offered a copy of the original blue prints and structural details which were recently located in the archives of the Regional Transportation Office in St. Catharines. Shahzad highlighted the importance of these documents to determine possible future rehabilitation.
MINUTES
MOVED by Harriet Schaefer
SECONDED by Patricia Wagner
THAT the minutes of the Heritage Planning Advisory Committee meeting of March 8, 2007 be approved.
CARRIED
COMMITTEE IN-SERVICE
a) Members’ Guide
A binder with roles, regulations and heritage related legislation was prepared by Regional staff and delivered to all HPAC members. The idea of this binder is to provide current and new members with all needed background materials that would help them perform their role as an advisory body to Regional Council.
b) Terms of Reference – To endorse
A revised version of HPAC Terms of Reference in accordance with current guidelines was prepared by Regional staff and presented to HPAC members for endorsement before it is submitted to the Regional Council for consideration. HPAC members suggested a modification in item (1.d.) to include supporting local Municipalities with respect to heritage policies. A revised copy will be brought to next meeting for endorsement.
c) Meeting time change
HPAC members agreed to change the meeting time from 5 to 7 p.m. instead of 7 to 9 p.m.
INITIATIVES
a) Main Street Bridge and Queen Square, Cambridge
Lucille Bish presented to HPAC members the new initiative for the rehabilitation of Main Street Bridge and Queen’s Square Project in Cambridge led by the Region of Waterloo, Design and Construction Division. Councillor Haalboom suggested having one HPAC member as a contact person for that project. Karen Hammond volunteered for the job.
b) Hartman Bridge – Sign Unveiling
Mai Al Nabhan reported to the committee on the progress of the arrangements for the ceremony that is going to take place June 8, 2007 at Kirkpatrick Park in New Hamburg. Connie Davison reported that Forest Glen Public School will participate in the celebration; Grandview school needs to confirm. Both are schools in New Hamburg.
c) History Under the Tree event – 14 Mill Park Sign Unveiling
Regional staff discussed with the committee a tentative list of speakers and invitees to the unveiling ceremony. Patricia Wagner agreed to speak at the event about the historic research undertaken by her for the interpretive sign.
d) Historic Places Initiative Project, Heritage Resource Center (HRC), University of Waterloo, Progress Report
Lucille Bish presented HRC Historic Places Initiative Project progress report for March and final report for April. A total of 61 files were drafted, approved and entered into the Historic Places portal. Files were from Kitchener, Waterloo and Township of Wellesley. 16 files for the City of Cambridge will be drafted in the next phase of the project (May – August 2007).
INFORMATION/UPDATES
a) Landmarks, Not Landfill
Mai Al Nabhan updated the committee members that the City of Kitchener and the City of Victoria in British Columbia have adopted the Region of Waterloo’s Resolution in support of Heritage Canada Foundation initiative Landmarks, Not landfill on March 20, 2007 and March 9, 2007 respectively. A copy of the Architectural Conservancy of North Waterloo (ACONW) newsletter that featured the Waterloo Region Council approval for the resolution was passed to members. Tom Hardacre thanked Regional staff for keeping HPAC updated on the issue.
b) Olde Home Workshop ‘Well Clad: maintaining a sound exterior’, by Chris Borgal, March 22, 2007 - Observation
Mai Al Nabhan attended the workshop and reported that it was very informative and well attended. It provided real life examples and various methods of maintaining a sound exterior.
c) Robert Woolner – Resignation
Councillor Haalboom announced Robert Woolner’s resignation and expressed her regrets to lose a valuable member. HPAC members joined Jean Haalboom in her regrets and suggested that Councillor Haalboom write Robert a thank you letter on their behalf expressing HPAC gratitude for his service.
d) Alternative Journal – Heritage Issue
Staff reported that Alternative Journal, Heritage Issue should be ready for distribution in early June. 135 copies were ordered based on recipient list suggested by the committee in their meeting December 14, 2006. Copies of the journal will be delivered to the recipients in June 2007.
e) Local Municipal Consultation and Coordination
Lucille Bish presented to the committee the communication protocol between the Region and local Municipalities and stressed the importance of clear communication among municipalities. She informed HPAC members that all meeting agendas and minutes will be forwarded to municipalities to keep them informed of HPAC activities and initiatives.
f) 2007-2010 Strategic Planning Process
A draft of the Regional discussion document ‘Strategic focus: Developing our Strategic Priorities’ was presented to committee members for review and input.
Members expressed several concerns with regard to heritage. The concerns were: why heritage is under ‘Human Services’ and not ‘Growth management?’ Why heritage is not related to tourism? Why use the word “promotes” and not “preserve?” Why can’t “heritage” stand alone separate from arts and culture?
Councillor Haalboom informed HPAC members of a Council meeting open to delegations and the public on May 23, 2007. She encouraged members of the committee to attend and express their view on heritage issues. Ron Hackett expressed interest in representing HPAC and all members approved.
Lucille Bish encouraged HPAC members to have input to the ‘Strategic Focus’ by filling the survey provided and mail back to the Region.
g) Letter from Donna Cansfield, Minister of Transportation to Councillor Jean Haalboom in regard to heritage bridges.
Councillor Haalboom presented a letter from Minister Cansfield in reply to her earlier letter requesting the Ministry to introduce a financial program for maintaining and rehabilitating Ontario’s heritage bridges. The Minister’s letter stated that the province does not have plans to introduce a heritage bridge funding program in Ontario at the moment and directed HPAC to contact the Ministry of Transportation since they are developing guidelines for identification and protection of provincial heritage bridges. Minister Cansfield offered the Ministry staff’s help, if needed, in providing advice or guidance on how to carry out this process for municipal bridges.
Councillor Haalboom asked for direction from committee members. Ron Hackett suggested that she write a letter to the Township of Wellesley asking them to have the Ministry of Transportation rehabilitate bridges. A copy of this letter should go to Caroline Di Cocco, Minister of Culture.
h) Heritage Conference, May 4-6, 2007 - Guelph
Councillor Haalboom reported to HPAC that the conference was informative and educational. She participated in a panel discussion ‘Unpacking Issues: Revisiting and learning from 2006-2007.’ The panel consists of three politicians and three heritage advocates. Lucille Bish gave a presentation on Cultural Heritage Landscape initiative in Waterloo Region.
k) Extension of Fairway Road
Lucille Bish updated HPAC members of the Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) currently undertaken by the Region of Waterloo to consider the extension of Fairway Road from Zeller Drive in the City of Kitchener to Fountain Street in the City of Cambridge including a new bridge crossing the Grand River. A copy of the Region’s notice to Planning and Works Committee Meeting to be held on May 15, 2007 was distributed.
NEXT MEETING
June 14, 2007
ADJOURN
MOVED by Tom Hardacre
SECONDED by Jody Decker
THAT the meeting adjourn.
CARRIED
COMMITTEE CHAIR, Jean Haalboom, Councillor
MINUTES PREPARED BY, Mai Al Nabhan, Cultural Heritage Principal Planner
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