Mari Macintosh Honored by Mayor:

President's Report for 2007 November 27, 2007

Written and submitted by Ray Lewis

The year was a busy one, with lots of work on the environmental front and keeping up with changes happening within the city. We also had the opportunity to participate in a true community art project with the Martin Centre Mosaic. Although we are a small contingent of people, our efforts are recognized and appreciated at a number of levels, and I’m sure there are others out there who would prefer we didn’t create the fuss we do!

As all attending tonight are very much aware, we are a small association with a very small membership. This limits what we can accomplish as an organization, however, this is not to say we are not active. Members have been involved with a number of activities this past year including;

- community clean-ups

- attendance at various city sponsored workshops

- participation in the Future Parks program

- ongoing communication and meetings with Tolko to address pollution concerns

- providing guidance material for members on how to contact city officials with their concerns

- bringing forward neighbourhood concerns to by-law and police enforcement agencies

- continuing work with OK Cement and Kelowna Ready Mix to get them to reduce the amount of airborne contaminants they generate

- opposing the establishment of a heliport along Manhattan Dr .

- working with other groups for a better downtown revitalization plan

- semi-annual meetings with the Mayor and all other Resident Associations

One of the continuing projects we were involved with that has shown real progress was the 'smuts campaign' with Tolko. Through continued complaints and keeping the concerns visible with the media, we were able to encourage Tolko to move forward with capital expenditures to ‘clean up their act’. The new emission control systems promised last year have finally been installed, with significant reduction noted in the visible emissions from the co-generating plants.

Another ongoing environmental concern is the cement dust from OK Cement and Kelowna Ready Mix. We have continued to supply information to the Ministry of the Environment and push for the establishment and implementation of the Codes of Practice that have been drafted for this type of industry. To the credit of both OKC and KRM, they have taken steps to improving their operations but there is still room for improvement.

Development is also an ongoing concern in the North End. There are a number of major, high-rise developments planned and/or approved for our neighbourhood. In many cases, the decisions have appeared to be made long before we have any opportunity to provide public input. The concern is that we will have a wall of concrete separating us from the natural beauty and views we have of the lake and mountains. The Milroy view of what is acceptable as the path for downtown revitalization is a dangerous one, dressed up with ‘trinkets’. The responsibility for planned growth lies with all of us. If we don't speak out now with our concerns, it will be too late.

On a smaller scale and much closer to our neighbourhood is the intrusion of the ‘monster homes’ into our areas of smaller, character homes. We need to let the City know this is not acceptable and push for development guidelines that recognize and preserve the character of our neighbourhoods. We are not against development, but want to make sure that the new homes being built blend in with what is already there.

Membership is still a critical element and efforts need to be made to increase our membership. If we had more members, we could accomplish more, which in turn would create a broader perception that we actually did something, which in turn draws more interest in NERA and more members. Survival of the association is dependent entirely on its membership.

We are a small organization, but we know from prior dealings with the city, we do have a voice. We must remember that, and use it to promote and protect the North End. I encourage all of you to get involved with your community, in whatever way you can.

Martin Centre Mosaic Bench:

Latest news: The unveiling of the three benches at the Martin Avenue Community Centre took place on November 17, 2007.

Pictures taken by NERA member Cherie Hanson.

Thanks to the Martin Avenue Center for the use of the gymnasium and support! Thanks to our sponsors and supporters: Tolko, OK Ready Mix and OK Builders, Knox Mountain Market, S.H.A.R.E, the Martin Avenue Centre, Opus, and Bean Scene Coffee.

Director’s Summary Report of Martin Avenue Mosaics Project

Submitted by Meredith Ferner(project coordinator)

The following project idea was brought to NERA last fall and was ongoing for the past year and was completed this month with the unveiling Nov 17.

Goal of project:

Goal of project was to work with an artist to install some community public art in the North End. Project was designed to meet guidelines set out by the City of Kelowna for the matching grant program designed for community public art.

The goal took shape as three benches with three trees to be placed at the Martin Avenue Centre. Each artist designed bench was to be decorated with tiles that community members had a chance to paint with their name or self portrait. We also planned to record the project process in a journal and short video for the public to see.

Funding:

We were awarded the city’s matching grant, which was set at the agreed amount of $2500. Matching funds were allowed to come in the form of cash, donated materials, and volunteered hours valued at $10/ hour. NERA and Tolko donated cash towards the project. Other businesses including OK Ready Mix, OK Builders, and Opus donated materials towards the project. We received deals from many other local businesses. The Martin Avenue Centre generously provided space for our tiling sessions and unveiling. Volunteer hours received exceeded our estimated the amount we agreed to raise.

Those involved:

Holiby Ross was our artist. Project was partnered with the city and we worked with Sandra Kochan from the cultural Services Department. Project was also supported and partnered with The Martin Avenue Centre. The project was made possible with help from many NERA members. Lyn Watson was my assistant, and Ray and Sarah Lewis, Sheree Wolansky and Dirk, Cherie Hanson, Lisa Wensink, Maria Tokarchuck all contributed time energy and expertise! Community members also volunteered their time to help with the tree planting, and hole digging for the benches. We had great community participation in the tile painting and ended up with 183 tiles. (This was approximately 160 individuals who painted a tile) This community participation also came from a few clients of the Kelowna Drop in Centre.

Summary:

We met our goals so would consider project a success; thank you to everyone who helped make this happen!

Graffiti Eradication: The following article was forwarded to NERA by the Graffiti Eradication & Prevention Coordinator:

Graffiti Eradication & Prevention Program

The City of Kelowna ’s new Graffiti Eradication & Prevention Coordinator is calling all citizens to assist in wiping out graffiti! The key to eradication efforts will be the community’s recognition that graffiti is a crime, which costs thousands of dollars every year to remove or cover up. With the help of residents and business owners, graffiti vandalism can be reduced, resulting safer and more inviting neighbourhoods!

Here is how you can help:

• If you see graffiti, report it! Report graffiti on private and public properties to the City of Kelowna Graffiti Hotline - 469-8600 or email a message to graffiti@kelowna.ca. Be sure to leave a detailed message noting the location of the vandalism, and whether it is on private or City-owned property.

• G.E.T. Motivated! Join the Graffiti Eradication Team. We are currently looking for volunteers for this new community policing initiative. Volunteers of the clean team will be trained and equipped to remove graffiti from “street furniture” throughout Kelowna . Street furniture includes mailboxes, lamp standards, transformers, garbage cans and other metal structures located on public and private property.

• Sign up for the Adopt-A-Spot program. Individuals, organizations and/or businesses are invited to adopt a street lamp, mailbox, utility transformer, or other “spot” and pledge to keep it graffiti free for a minimum of 6 months. As a member of the Adopt-A-Spot program, participants will receive a graffiti removal kit, complete with supplies that will assist participants as they take to the streets to wipe out graffiti!

For information regarding all Graffiti Eradication & Prevention initiatives, please contact Colleen Cornock, Graffiti Eradication & Prevention Coordinator at 215-2876 or by email ccornock@shawcable.com

Stockwell Avenue: Recently, Stockwell Avenue was reclassified as a major two lane collector in the 20-Year Major Road Network and Road Classification Plan. This reclassification could have serious consequences for Stockwell, and many other quiet residential streets in the Downtown neighbourhoods. This reclassification shows that the City is planning to increase through traffic within our neighbourhoods.

The following is an excerpt from an email received from the City, by a resident of Stockwell Avenue:

The City has a responsibility to ensure that traffic flows reasonably smoothly throughout the City, while endeavouring to allocate through traffic as much as possible to the major road network. Connecting with arterial roads may not always be easy or convenient, and collector roads serve an intermediate function, providing both access and a certain degree of mobility. In the case of the Downtown road network, the only major east-west roads north of Harvey Avenue which provide continuity between Water Street and Gordon Drive at present are Bernard Avenue and Clement Avenue. In the future, Clement will link directly across Gordon Drive to the North End Connector (now referred to as the Central Okanagan Bypass Road), while Bernard Avenue continues right through to Spall / Glenmore Road. Hese routes will be the more convenient for most users. However, the City's plan is to realign the intersections of Doyle and Stockwell with Richter Street to provide a 4-way intersection. In the long term there would probably be traffic signals at both Richter and Gordon. This would provide an alternative parallel route, but since eastbound motorists would still have to turn left or right to proceed beyond Gordon Drive, it is unlikely to become a major route, but rather a relief valve and back-up route. It is likely that Stockwell would remain stop-controlled at Ethel, which will further constrain traffic movement.

In summary, yes, Doyle-Stockwell will become busier over time, but volumes are unlikely to be much above 400 vph in the afternoon commuter peak before 2020, and at other times of the day it will likely be considerably quieter. While the City hopes to link Doyle and Stockwell in the next few years, even then it is unlikely that the Gordon / Stockwell intersection would be signalised or the stop at Ethel Street changed to some other form of control.

Historical Photos: NERA welcomes any additional historic photos of the North End. Contact NERA if you have photos you would like to submit.

Aerial


Oxford 1947

1965 House