2008 November Final Minutes

Crescent Beach Property Owners’ Association
November, 2008, General Monthly Meeting

Date: November 5, 2008
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: Beecher Place, Crescent Beach
Directors in Attendance:
Mark Nelson, President
Bruce Friesen, Membership Chair
Karen MacPherson, Past President
Directors Absent:
Malcolm Stewart, Secretary
Don Sinclair, Acting Treasurer

Call to Order
Mark Nelson, as Chair, called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m. It was established that a quorum was present.

Minutes of the Meeting of September 3, 2008
Errors and Omissions: None noted.

Motion to adopt the minutes
Moved: Karen MacPherson
Seconded: LeaBuburuz
Motion carried.

Treasurer’s Report – Mark Nelson

August 2008 September 2008
Credits: $0.68 $1,874.89
Debits: $2000.00 $2000.00
Term deposits (month end): $17,579.09 $19,579.09
Cash (month end): $15,551.22 $15,526.11

Motion to adopt the Treasurer’s Report
Moved: Lea Buburuz
Seconded: Pam Mahony
Motion carried.

Membership Report – Bruce Friesen
* 356 Members for the 2008/2009 membership year, as of the end of October.
Compares to a total for the 2007/2008 membership year as of the end of June, 2008
81 Members have paid for the 2009/2010 membership year as well
* $2685 has been collected
* Thank you very much to each of the 15 canvassers who contributed to this campaign.
Motion to adopt the Membership Report:
Moved: Jim Mason
Seconded: Bob O’Brien
Motion carried.

General Updates

08.11.01: Wickson Point Presentation

The City of Surrey provided an update on work to integrate the Wickson Point properties into Blackie Spit Park. The City was represented by Tiina Mack, Manager, and Lisa McNiven, Landscape Technician, City of Surrey Parks, Recreation and Culture - Planning, Research and Design.

Since acquisition of the last two lots on Wickson Point and demolition of the existing house, the City has:
· prepared a concept plan (how the area will be used, access, etc);
· held a stakeholder meeting to collect input; and
· held a first public open house to explore the concept plan.
The concept as presented is to expand and enhance Blackie Spit Park. The additional area would be primarily for passive recreation, possibly with a shelter of some kind, and possibly taking the opportunity to create an “entrance” to the park enhancing esthetics and calming traffic. Handouts were provided showing concept planning ideas and potential design elements.

Comments and questions from the Members, and City responses:
· shelter for rainy days – possible
· speed of traffic on McBride Avenue - possible actions include a curved entrance road to the Park, and raised crosswalks
· fire pit – not likely as City staff anticipates problems, but the suggestion could be repeated at the next open house
· retain existing trees, lowering the grade around them so they survive – this is the current intent
· name for the area – not decided, but probably the area will not be differentiated from Blackie Spit Park as a whole.

Next Step: The next Public Open House will be:
· November 25, 2008
· 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
· Beecher Place

08.02.02: Drainage Study Update

The City of Surrey Engineering Department provided an update on the drainage study. The City was represented by Carrie Baron, Manager, and Victor Jhingan, Project Supervisor, with consultant Samantha Ward of UrbanSystems assisting in answering questions.

The presentation recapped progress to date:
* Study objectives are to understand the current system performance and limitations, identify opportunities for improvement, and develop a plan for the future both medium and long term.
* A survey of properties owners collected data on drainage conditions throughout the community. There were 154 responses to the survey, which is an excellent response rate, and appreciated by the City.
* Six monitoring stations have been installed.
* Data to date shows the water table close to the surface in winter and particularly at high tide, leaving little room for infiltration during rain events.
* Further sea level rise is projected, including the effects of climate change.

The City displayed four options, intended to cover the full range of possibilities:
· Open ditches
· Pipe system enhancements
· Phased raising of land levels as future development proceeds
· Restricted lot coverage
The presentation materials used were excellent.

In discussion, the City staff indicated they understood the problem was a major one, required a substantive response. The solution will probably required significant expenditures, and towards that end the City has included funds in the City ten year plan ($25 million?) with the intent to have this project included in funding program split between the City, Province and Federal Government.

Meeting participants provided comments to City staff both oral and on written notes. Further input by e-mail is welcome, by the end of November. CBPOA members are encouraged to submit comments to the CBPOA Blog, for consolidation and forwarding to the City.

The City will return to the CBPOA with study findings and recommendations, by the end of January. CBPOA comments will be welcome, in parallel with extensive review within the City of Surrey planning and budgeting processes.

Traffic Committee

The Traffic Committee chair position remains vacant (as is the Treasurer position).

Lea Buburuz mentioned a proposal for a traffic loop at the end of Sullivan Street similar to the existing circle at the end of Beecher Street, and stressed the need for the Traffic Committee to become active.

New Business

The annual Christmas Party will be held in conjunction with the next CBPOA meeting, December 3, 2008, with a pot luck.

Meeting Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m.

Next Meeting
Date: December 3, 2008
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Place: Beecher Place, Crescent Beech

Contact Information
President Mark Nelson 604 531 4999
Vice-President vacant
Acting Treasurer Don Sinclair 604 541 3931
Membership Chair Bruce Friesen 778 292 1954
Secretary Malcolm Stewart 604 541 9004
Past President Karen MacPherson 604 535 5938