Woodsworth Housing Co-operative, Inc.
Approved as a policy at a General Members' Meeting on June 19, 2014.
(Replacing a policy approved Sept 19, 1991 which was revised as The Use of the Penthouse / Community Room and Outdoor Patio Bylaw (# 40) on Oct 5, 1995; and approved as policy during consolidation, Sept 30, 2010.)
Preamble
The Penthouse Room is a welcoming, safe space for the members of Woodsworth Co-op and its purpose is for the use and enjoyment of all residents of the co-operative. The use of the room will not interfere with the rights of the members to the quiet enjoyment of their homes.
1. Purpose
The Penthouse Room is for the private use of members and is available free-of-charge for use as a drop-in centre; for co-op, social, business, recreational and educational events and Board approved-community events; and for members’ private events.
Members follow the Bylaw <policy>, Reservation Form terms, Booking Agreement, and approved Guidelines when booking and using the Penthouse Room.
1.1 Patio The rooftop patio is a common area for all co-op members and is not available to be booked for private use during an event or at any other time.
2. Managing Expectations
Woodsworth members expect other members to respect their peace and quiet, while members using the penthouse room expect to be able to entertain their guests in a reasonable fashion.
a) Members must use co-op speakers (or equivalent off-the-floor speakers) for amplifying music.
b) Under Toronto Municipal Code 591, playing of loud music is prohibited between the hours of 11:00 pm to 7:00 am, the next day, and to 9:00 am on Sunday and Statutory Holidays.
c) In case of emergency, members should contact Woodsworth staff or, after hours, On-Call.
d) On-Call and Woodsworth staff have the authority to shut-down any event if the behaviour of attendees violates Woodsworth bylaws and/or liquor laws.
e) Woodsworth Co-operative may ban a member or members from using the penthouse room for a period of time for extreme or repeat disruptions or violations of this bylaw <policy>.
3. The Penthouse Room as a Drop-In Centre
The Co-op encourages the use of the Penthouse Room as a rich resource for community building and member initiatives are welcome.
From Monday to Sunday, the Penthouse Room is open as a drop-in centre from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. (laundry-room hours), except when it is booked for an event.
When using the Penthouse Room as a drop-in centre:
a) Members use their own door-fob to access the Penthouse Room; otherwise the door will be open during the day.
b) Members are responsible for their own items, including food and drink as no lock-up is available
c) No alcohol is permitted to be sold, but alcohol may be consumed
d) The member(s) using the Penthouse Room will be responsible for returning the room to a clean and orderly condition immediately after use.
4. The Penthouse Room as an Event Space
In addition to the Penthouse Room as a Drop-In Centre, this room can be booked for events – co-op events, member-sponsored events, and member private events.
4.1 Hours
The Penthouse Room is bookable for these events on a first-come, first-served basis during these hours;
9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.* Sunday to Thursday **
9:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. Friday and Saturday
* includes set-up and clean-up
** in the event of a long weekend or a statutory holiday, hours may be booked to 1:00 a.m.
4.2. Co-op Event
Events organized by the Co-op have priority over other events and may be booked up to a year in advance. Example: Social Committee events, Committee meetings, Board of Director events, etc.
a) These events are open to members, their long term guests and children.
b) No alcohol is permitted to be sold at this type of event, but alcohol may be consumed.
c) No fee is levied. No damage deposit is required. Reservation Form must be completed.
This type of event is booked through the co-op office.
4.3 Member-Sponsored Event
Events sponsored or organized by a member, whether occasional, weekly or monthly, may be booked up to six months in advance. Example: Pilates, glee club.
Member for-profit events may also be booked up to six months in advance, to a maximum of four events per year per member. Example: jewellery sale, art-show, professional seminars, etc.
a) These events are open to members, guests and to the general public.
b) Events may be advertised locally and within the co-operative.
c) No alcohol is permitted to be sold at this type of event, but alcohol may be consumed.
d) No fee is levied. No damage deposit is required. Reservation Form must be completed.
e) Members may not charge an admission/cover-charge to any function where alcohol is served. However, fees may be collected for educational seminars, courses, etc.
This type of event is booked through the co-op office and upon confirmation from the office, the member posts the information on the calendars outside the Penthouse Room. On the day of the event, the Member may write the details and hours of their event on the display board outside the Penthouse Room.
4.4. Member Private Event
Event organized by a member (s) and attended only by invited family, friends and guests known to the member. Example: wedding reception, anniversary party, birthday party, etc.
a) The Penthouse room may only be booked by a member for his or her own personal event, and this member will act as host of the event and be in continuous attendance. Guests at parties or events will normally have been invited personally by the member.
b) The general public is not allowed and there can be no intent to profit from the sale of alcohol.
c) Private events cannot be publicly advertised.
d) A member can only have one open booking at a time, i.e. he or she cannot book another event until the upcoming event has happened or been cancelled.
e) The member who booked the event must be present throughout the event and takes full responsibility for their guests’ behaviour and the noise level.
f) No fee is levied. A damage deposit as set by the Member Schedule of Fees is required. Reservation Form and Booking Agreement must be completed.
g) The member will meet with On-Call, or other designated members, for access to the Penthouse Room at the beginning of the booking period.
h) If damage occurs, the member will be notified and all or part of the damage deposit will be used, otherwise the damage deposit is cancelled within 10 days after the event.
i) If there is damage in excess of the deposit amount, the assessed amount will be attached to the member’s housing charge, to be paid over time on a monthly basis.
Any dispute over damages, or other deductions from the deposit may be appealed (in writing) to the Board of Directors within 14 days of notice of such deduction by the Co-op.
This type of event is booked through the co-op office and the member making the booking posts the information on the calendar in the Penthouse Room. On the day of the event, the Member may write the details and hours of their event on the display board outside the Penthouse Room.
5. Alcohol at private events
No alcohol is permitted to be sold at this type of event, but alcohol may be consumed. According to the AGCO (Alcohol and Gaming Corporation of Ontario), a “private place” is defined as an indoor place to which the public is not ordinarily invited or permitted and is not available for rent to the public for occasional use. A Special Occasion Permit (SOP) is not required for a function at a private place if there is no sale of alcohol and events are only for invited guests. Members may not charge an admission/cover-charge to any function where alcohol is served.
6. Co-operative’s Liability
Woodsworth Housing Co-operative Inc. assumes no liability for any injury to person or damage to personal property which may occur in the course of member sponsored/private events in the Penthouse Room. Woodsworth Housing Co-operative Inc. abides by all federal, provincial and municipal laws, including the Fire Code, which assesses the maximum number of people allowed to use the Penthouse Room, currently 88 people.
Important:
PARTY ROOM USERS – New Restriction on Window Signage / Decor
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