2008 May Final Minutes

Crescent Beach Property Owner’s Association

Date: May 7th, 2008
Time and Location: 7:30 PM Beecher Place, Crescent Beach
Directors in Attendance:
Karen MacPherson - President
Mark Nelson - Vice President/Treasurer
Malcolm Stewart – Membership Chair/Secretary
Directors Absent:
Don Sinclair - Past President

Karen MacPherson as chair, called the meeting to order at 7:30 pm. It was established that a quorum was present.

Adoption of the April 2nd, 2008 Minutes
Motion to adopt the minute: Ted Crosby
Second: Barbara Armstrong
Motion carried

Treasurer’s Report – Mark Nelson
Activity in March 2008:
Deposits: $180.33
As of March 31st, 2008:
Term Deposits: $22,578.09
Cash: $8,578.14

Membership Report – Malcolm Stewart
$5,520 collected representing 364 members in 2007/2008 and 172 members in 2008/2009

Train Committee Update: Karen MacPherson
Karen MacPherson provided an update of the recent train survey on behalf of Lea Buburuz:
o The survey was distributed to 600 homes in hard and soft copy.
o The deadline was May1st, 2008 with 82 residents completing the survey.
o Lea will be tabulating the results for presentation at a future meeting.

General
08.02.02 Update: Crescent Beach Drainage Problems
Karen MacPherson first thanked Ron Soresen and Bob Gray for their work on behalf of the Community to resolve drainage issues. She then introduced the City of Surrey’s, Victor Jhingan (Project Manager) and Carrie Baron (Drainage and Environment) along with Samantha Ward, the lead consultant with Urban Systems. They collectively provided the following update:
o Urban Systems has been retained to evaluate the effectiveness of drainage in an area bounded by Mud Bay, Boundary Bay and the BNSF railway.
o It will be a broad study including the implications of climate change, changes to sea levels and expected changes to the community’s buildings and landscape.
o Drainage is currently managed by storm sewers taking water to the channels behind the Mathisen farm or through private and public rock pits.
o The channels gravity drain at low tide and are pumped at high tide.
o There has been an excellent response, including photos and anecdotal information, to a recent survey sent to property owners.
Urban Systems will be undertaking the following activities:
o A geotechnical survey to understand the soil characteristics and its ability to infiltrate water at low and high tides
o Hydro studies including the digging of wells to establish ground water levels and the relationship between tides and ground water flow. An archeologist will be present for all digs.
o An evaluation of the Maple Street pump station.
o A site walk of the dyke to examine flood boxes and ensure the dyke is adequate to protect the community.
o The development of a drainage model that will allow scenario analysis from today to 50 years in the future. As an example, the drainage performance could be evaluated under a scenario where a high tide is combined with a rainfall event and a pump station failure.
o Identification of upgrades and priorities to allow the City to put capitol programmes forward through their budgeting process. The first priority will likely be the replacement of the Maple Street pump station, the oldest in the City.
Through discussion the following points were made:
o There is no grade in the Village and very little pipe in the ground.
o Sea levels are rising
o There will be an early focus on minimizing flooding of existing properties.
o The study will attempt locate the salt and fresh water “wedge” to understand its impacts on drainage.
o There was discussion around ground water runoff from the bluff and its channeling to the sea behind Ted Crosby’s property. The outflow was built below sea level and has resulted in flooding of Ted Crosby’s home. Work is underway to build a clay barrier to prevent future flooding.
o It is difficult if not impossible to keep any infrastructure on the sea side of the dyke. Storms and resulting severe wave action destroy infrastructure.
o A storm surge monitor was recently installed in Boundary Bay by the Federal government. It is not clear whether or not the public will have access to the information.
o There was a question about “foam” ridge appearing on the beach, typically at this time of year. It is not related to drainage, however Carrie Baron committed to follow-up with the City’s biologist and report back to Karen MacPherson.
o There will be a public forum in November, 2008 to present the draft results of Urban System’s study and recommendations. Recommendations could include changes to site coverage rules and the use of alternate materials for driveways and patios that allow water infiltration.
o The map used in the presentation will be posted on the CBPOA blog and at Camp Alexandra.

08.02.01 Update: Nav Canada Report: YVR Airspace Study 90 Day Review
Karen MacPherson introduced two SCAANS (South Surrey Citizens Against Airplane Noise) members, Janet Peers and Colleen Kusack, who provided the following update:
o Last year, to increase capacity, Nav Canada introduced one of the most significant changes to a flight route in its history taking aircraft from a route north of the truck crossing to one over Delta. There was no consultation.
o People expressed concerns about the route changes, however there was not a coordinated approach.
o A meeting with Nav Canada was arranged through Russ Hiebert. Colleen was one of 12 citizens selected to meet with Nav Canada, however, the meeting did not result in any change.
o The Community started to organize under the SCAANs banner.
o Under pressure Nav Canada modified the route moving aircraft over the peninsula and Boundary Bay. However, while solving some problems, the change exacerbated others.
o There are 2 major runways at YVR, 26 and 08. Historically 26, which impacts Surrey, is used 51% of the time. Should 26 be used 24 hours per day, there would be about 132 flights per day increasing significantly in the summer months.
o In January and February, the complaints received by YVR were 862% higher than those received in the previous 4 years. Of those received, more than 60% were from the Surrey area.
o Council has agreed to hire an aeronautical consultant who will make recommendations on ways to reduce noise and recommend alternate flight routes that could meet Nav Canada’s needs.
o SCAANs is advocating the return of routes to those of pre May 10th, 2007.
o Dianne Watts and Judy Villeneuve have both been actively involved.
o It is expected the City will approach Nav Canada for a face to face meeting.
o Two City lawyers are active on the file.
o Nav Canada is a private organization whose charter requires only consideration of safe and efficient operation of the airways. Environment and consultation are not considered.
o YVR plans to install noise monitoring, likely at Crescent Park. YVR has been very cooperative throughout all discussions.
o SCAANs encourages all citizens to send complaints to Nav Canada and politicians with a copy to SCAANs for their tracking. Complaints are the only measure used and one should be registered every time there is a concern. Emails were provided in the April minutes and can be found on the CBPOA blog at www.cbpoa.ca by selecting the SCAANs link.

Meeting Adjournment
Motion to Adjourn at 8:45 PM: Ron Soresen
Second: Barb Schillinger
Motion carried

Next Meeting
Date: June 4th, 2008
Time: 7:30 PM
Place: Beecher Place

June Agenda Items: In addition to normal agenda items the following item is scheduled:
• Land Use Committee Quarterly Update

President, Karen MacPherson – 535.5938
Vice President and Treasurer, Mark Nelson – 531.4999
Past President, Don Sinclair – 541.3931
Membership and Secretary, Malcolm Stewart – 541.9004