Approved by the Board of Directors on May 4, 2009
Approved by the General Membership on June 16, 2009
This policy replaces the "Laundry", "Private Areas", "Common Areas," and "Garbage" sections of the previous House Rules, which were last revised by the membership on February 20, 1997.
0.0 ABOUT THIS POLICY
0.1 This policy sets rules for the social benefit of the members of Windmill Line Co-operative (“the Co-op”). It also helps to ensure peaceful use of all areas of the Co-op.
0.2 In this policy, “Common areas” means all areas of the Co-op except members’ units. Members’ units include their balconies and patios. “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Co-op, and “Staff” means employees of the Co-op.
0.3 This is a policy that applies to all members under 15.3(c) of the Co-op’s Organizational By-law. The by-law explains how the policy can be changed.
0.4 All previous policies, whether they were called “House Rules” or something else, that cover the same things as this policy are revoked and replaced by this policy.
1.0 GENERAL
1.1 Members are always responsible for the actions of their children, guests and animals. Guests include anyone that a member, or someone they are responsible for, lets into the building.
1.2 Members, and those they are responsible for, must respect other members’ rights to peaceful enjoyment of their units and of the Co-op’s Common areas.
1.3 The Co-op is a residential area as defined by the City; the City’s bylaws on noise in residential areas apply to everyone in the Co-op. This rule is intended to help Members, and those they are responsible for, to follow the bylaw. If in doubt, the City's bylaws take precedence.
Members, and those they are responsible for, must never cause or allow noise that is likely to disturb the quiet, peace, rest, enjoyment, comfort or convenience of others in the Co-op. In particular (but not limited to these cases):
a) From 11:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. the next day (to 9:00 a.m. weekends and statutory holidays), noise (examples: party noises and music) that is clearly hearable from other units, from Common areas, or from outside the Co-op is not allowed.
b) From 9:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. the next day (to 9:00 a.m. weekends and statutory holidays), noise from tools and appliances that is clearly hearable from other units, from Common areas or from outside the Co-op is not allowed.
1.4 Tampering with the fire system is a criminal offence. In particular, smoke alarms, heat detectors, alarm pull-stations and fire alarm speakers must not be disconnected or painted.
1.5 Nothing is to be thrown from windows, doors, balconies, or the roof.
1.6 Feeding pigeons on Co-op property is not allowed.
1.7 Barbecuing is not allowed on 3rd floor balconies. When barbecuing on patios or the roof, members are encouraged to use environmentally-friendly and low-toxicity materials and avoid the use of starter fluid.
1.8 Any breaking of this policy’s rules should be reported to Staff in writing. Staff must record the event and notify the members responsible by the following business day. Staff can refer the matter to the Board at their discretion.
2.0 COMMON AREAS
2.1 The following are not allowed in Common areas at any time:
a) riding bicycles, tricycles or skateboards, or using roller skates
b) ball games of any kind
c) running, wrestling or horseplay, including play fighting
d) screaming, yelling or shrieking
e) using loud audio/visual equipment
2.2 In addition to all other rules, the following apply to children in Common areas:
a) Children younger than 6 must be supervised by someone 12 or older at all times.
b) Unsupervised children 6 or older can play in the lobbies (not hallways) on the 5th and 8th floors, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on weekdays and from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. weekends and statutory holidays.
c) Unsupervised children 12 or older can stay in the lobbies from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. for quiet games or conversation. It is not quiet if they are clearly hearable from members’ units.
d) Children younger than 6 must be supervised by an adult in the laundry room.
e) Children younger than 12 must be supervised by an adult in the 10th floor Common areas (examples: rooms, corridors, and on the roof).
2.3 No loitering, horseplay or recreational activity is allowed in the elevators, stairwells, garage or basement lobby. “Holding” the elevators unnecessarily and pushing the alarm buttons without cause are not allowed. Blocking passages or doors is not allowed.
2.4 Smoking is not allowed in Common areas except on the roof, and not within 10 feet of a door, window or air intake. Anyone smoking must safely dispose of butts and any other waste in the proper container.
2.5 Members, their children and guests must maintain neatness in the Common areas (examples: not littering, picking up litter when found, reporting any damage immediately).
2.6 Doormats are not allowed in Common areas such as the hallways.
2.7 Damage to walls, floors, ceilings, furniture, or fixtures of Common areas is not allowed. Members are responsible for any such damage caused by themselves or those they are responsible for.
3.0 STORAGE
3.1 Items that are personal property, or reserved for one or more specific member(s), must not normally be left or stored in Common areas. Members must ask written permission of Staff to store such items in Common areas. Staff can give or refuse permission; this must be done in writing. Staff can also set conditions on storage, including time limits to a maximum of 60 days. If permission is not given or if conditions are violated, Staff can remove such items as outlined in section 5.11.
3.2 The Co-op is never responsible for any loss or damage of any items stored in Common areas.
3.3 Staff or the Co-op’s On-Call committee can remove, under section 5.11, bicycles that are stored or parked in Common areas except for the following areas:
a) the bicycle storage room in the basement
b) the bicycle racks in the west breezeway on the ground floor
c) the 5th and 8th floor hallway planters under section 3.5
3.4 Groups within the Co-op (example: committees) can store reasonable quantities of items for reasonable time limits in spaces reserved for them within Common areas. The items must be clearly labelled with the group to which they belong. The Board decides what spaces are reserved for storing such property. Either the Board or the Staff can decide what are reasonable quantities and time limits based on, in no particular order:
a) the size of the room or area
b) the condition of the items
c) health and safety considerations
d) the Co-op’s storage needs
e) any other relevant criteria
If a group is storing more than a reasonable quantity of identified items, Staff can remove some or all of the items under section 5.11, after giving the group a reasonable opportunity to reduce the quantity of items themselves.
3.5 Members can store unpowered wheeled objects (examples: strollers, wagons, bicycles, dollies) in the hallway planters on the 5th and 8th floors. People who have disabilities can store powered mobility devices (examples: wheelchairs, mobility scooters) in these planters. Since there are fewer planters than members, everyone must share space with their neighbours and be considerate of others’ property. In addition, every item must meet all the following conditions; otherwise Staff can remove it under section 5.11:
a) it must work as intended and be in reasonable condition
b) it must belong to a Co-op member or a member’s child or long-term guest
c) it must not block any passage or doorway, or be a general nuisance
4.0 LAUNDRY
4.1 The Co-op encourages those at home during weekdays to do their laundry during those days, so that other members have better access to the facilities during evenings and weekends.
4.2 Laundry room hours are 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. every day, except Wednesdays when it does not open until 12:00 noon, to allow Staff to clean up.
4.3 Laundry facilities are for the use of members and overnight or long term guests, and those doing laundry on their behalf (examples: home care and assistant workers). Day visitors are not allowed to use the laundry facilities.
4.4 The Co-op can reserve some appliances or other parts of the laundry facilities for people with disabilities. In addition, the Co-op encourages able-bodied members to use the upper dryers when possible to free the lower ones for those with disabilities.
4.5 Smoking is not allowed anywhere in the laundry room, including the balcony.
5.0 WASTE AND REUSABLE ITEMS
5.1 For the purposes of this policy, “waste” means anything that the City of Toronto (“the City”) defines as waste (examples: garbage, recyclables, organics, household hazardous waste, and bulky items); "reusable" means anything not defined as waste.
5.2 Members, their children and guests must clean up their waste spills in all Common areas, including the garbage chute rooms.
5.3 In addition to all other rules, these rules apply to members living in townhouse units that are served by the City’s curbside waste pick-up system:
a) They must dispose of garbage using the curbside pick-up system instead of the Co-op’s central garbage system described in 5.8. They are only allowed to use the Co-op's central garbage system if their own bin is completely full. This is because the Co-op is required to pay for townhouse curbside garbage pick-up even if it is not used, and would be required to pay for the extra volume of garbage created if townhouses used the central waste system.
b) They should still separate their waste to reduce the amount of garbage as explained in 5.4. This is because the City charges the Co-op for curbside waste pick-up based on the size of garbage container in use by each townhouse unit. Reducing the amount of garbage reduces the Co-op’s costs.
The Co-op will not provide tags for curbside pick-up of extra bags of garbage.
5.4 It is important that all members separate their waste to reduce the amount of garbage. This is because the City charges the Co-op for garbage picked up but not for recyclables, organics or bulky items. Reducing the amount of garbage reduces the Co-op’s costs.
5.5 Recyclable items and organics, as defined by the City, must be taken to the areas reserved for them in the basement. They must be properly sorted, and recyclables must be clean. This is because the City will not collect contaminated recyclable and organic materials.
5.6 Household hazardous waste as defined by the City (examples: paints, batteries, many cleaning products, syringes) must be taken to the area reserved for it in the basement or to a City household hazardous waste facility.
5.7 Bulky items as defined by the City (examples: mattresses, box springs, furniture) must be taken to the area reserved for them in the basement. They can also be taken to the curbside area reserved for them, but only on days when the Co-op has arranged for pickup of bulky items.
5.8 To discard garbage, it is important that all members use the garbage chute as much as possible, within the limits below. This is because the garbage chute delivers garbage to a compactor. The City charges the Co-op for garbage removal by volume. Reducing the volume of garbage reduces the Co-op’s costs.
It is also important to use the garbage chute correctly so it does not get blocked, which shuts down the compactor. The chute can only be used when the chute rooms are unlocked; at all other times, garbage must be taken to the area reserved for garbage in the basement. Garbage can only be put in the chute if it meets all the following conditions:
a) it is in a bag no larger than a grocery-store bag
b) the bag is securely tied
c) there is no glass in the garbage
To avoid blockages, nothing else is allowed in the garbage chute; other garbage must always be taken to the area reserved for garbage in the basement. (Examples: garbage in bags larger than grocery-store bags; unbagged garbage or garbage in bags that are not securely tied; glass items, whether bagged or not; boxes of any size.)
5.9 To dispose of all waste not covered by 5.3 to 5.8 of this policy, members must follow instructions provided by Staff.
5.10 Waste and reusable items must not be left in Common areas, except in areas reserved for these items. Off-limit areas include the garbage chute rooms, hallways and lobbies, outdoor Co-op property and public property surrounding the Co-op. For all such items:
a) Members or Staff can discard them at any time under any of 5.5 to 5.9 if they consider them waste. Staff can move them elsewhere on Co-op property at any time if they consider them reusable.
b) Members can arrange with a charity or other outside agency to remove reusable items from their units.
c) If a charity or outside agency has agreed to take reusable items but they need to be stored temporarily, members can make arrangements with the Co-op office (see section 3).
d) Members who want to offer a reusable item as a donation to the Co-op must do so in writing and the General Manager can, in writing, accept or refuse.
e) If no written agreement to store or donate an item is arranged with the office by the end of the next business day after an item is found in a Common area, Staff can remove the item under section 5.11. The member responsible will be charged $25.00 for every item that Staff consider a bulky item as defined in section 5.7.
5.11 The Co-op can discard as waste or give to charity the following items:
a) any items left without permission in Common areas (see sections 3 and 5.10e)
b) any items stored with permission (see sections 3 and 5.10c) but where the storage agreement has been broken (example: not removing items within the agreed time limit)
c) any property of a group or committee that is no longer active
5.12 The Co-op encourages members to reduce their waste and to donate unwanted reusable items to people or agencies that can put them to good use. The Co-op can have procedures, events or projects to further these goals.