The first MPCA meeting of 2016 was held on January 12. Discussion included:
LAP – Melissa Austin, Lead Planner on the Montgomery Place LAP, attended the MPCA meeting. She was joined by Alan Wallace and Paul Whitenect. City staff is both impressed with the turnout to LAP meetings and frustrated by the bevy of opinions and thoughts expressed, with no clear recommendations for the future emerging. The next LAP meeting on heritage and culture is Feb. 10, 7 pm, St. David’s Trinity United Church.
Montgomery Park Rink – The Rink Committee reported that a budget for Montgomery Park rink repairs would be presented at a community meeting on January 13. The rink was built in 1995 and belongs to the Association and the people of Montgomery Place. Committee members talked with contractors to draw up a budget for the repairs – resurfacing the asphalt, replacing boards with pressure-treated lumber, netting, gravel, lights. A budget estimate of $28,000 was presented to residents attending the community meeting on January 13. The motion approving the expenditure of up to $25,000 passed unanimously. Grant applications are being submitted, and sponsorship opportunities are being sought to secure funds that will hopefully cover the majority of the cost.
Read the minutes at www.montgomeryplace.ca/meeting-minutes-011316
Family ice times this winter are Saturdays and Sundays from 1-4 pm.
Montgomery Park Hill –Police were called when a car drove into the park to shine its lights on the hill for a snowboarding party. Driving in parks is prohibited. Can we get a light
installed at the top of the hill? Park lighting was investigated a few years ago. When an estimate of $90,000 to improve park lighting was given, the project was dropped.
Community Watch – Broken booze bottles littered the Rec Building and rink area over the Christmas holidays. If debris and litter continue, rink lights will not be turned on.
Winter Indoor Programs – Two programs were cancelled for lack of enrolment: All-Level Yoga and Youth Night. Kindergym for three to six-year-olds was cancelled when an instructor could not be found. The Babysitting Class in March hopes for more enrolment.
Newsletter Distribution to Cypress Gardens – Printing an additional 200 copies of the MPCA newsletter would cost an extra $800 annually. We will continue posting a copy in each building.
Email List – Ben Schmidt continues to work on a community email list for notifications. Montgomery Place residents can sign up at www.montgomeryplace.ca/email-list-form
Montgomery Place 70th Anniversary – Grant applications are being prepared in support of the special event planned for September 17, 2016 to celebrate our community’s 70 year history. The day will take us back to the 1940s. Save the date. Invite Montgomery ex-pats and friends.
Montgomery School – Thank you to Community Association volunteers who provide a much-enjoyed rink used by our Montgomery School students. No school for students on Jan. 29 and February Break, Feb. 15-19. Parking around the school continues to be a challenge.
St. Dominic School – Thanks to everyone who attended the Kindergarten Open House on Jan. 21. No school for students on Jan. 29, Feb. 5 and Feb. 15-19.
City of Saskatoon – The Downey Speed Skating Oval is open 2-8 pm Mon-Thurs, closed Friday, open 10:15 am-6 pm Sat-Sun. There are new dates for 2016 for garbage and recycle pick-ups. Check www.saskatoon.ca/collectioncalendar
Next Meeting – Join us on Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016 at 7 pm in the Montgomery School Library.