2009 April Final Minutes

Crescent Beach Property Owner’s Association
April, 2009 General Monthly Meeting

Date: April 1, 2009
Time and Location: 7:30 PM Beecher Place, Crescent Beach
Directors in Attendance:
Mark Nelson – President
Malcolm Stewart – Secretary
Bruce Friesen – Membership Chair
Directors Absent:
Karen MacPherson - Past President
Don Sinclair – Acting Treasurer

Mark Nelson as chair, called the meeting to order at 7:30 pm. It was established that a quorum was present. The normal order of business was altered to allow the City of Surrey’s Victor Jhingan to provide a progress report on the Crescent Beach drainage study. The City’s Carrie Baron and Urban System’s Samantha Ward joined Victor.

08.02.02: Crescent Beach Drainage
Victor Jhingan took the lead in the presentation that highlighted the following:
o A drainage study was undertaken to in response to Crescent Beach resident concerns that flooding has become more frequent and significant.
o Looked at the factors influencing drainage including the effect of precipitation and tides, climate change and development.
o Early information from monitoring wells installed throughout the community show that ground water is highly influenced by precipitation and tides.
o Ground water levels are increasing due to higher tides and less capacity to absorb rainfall as a result of development.
o Currently, the community is served equally by storm sewer and municipally or privately owned rock pits. The existing Maple Street pump station is in need of replacement within the next 5 years.
o Once factors influencing drainage were better understood and with the information gathered from the community through a questionnaire distributed last year, a service strategy was developed.
o The community’s preference for a buried perforated storm sewer system (closed along the shoreline), combined with a new pump station and flood box has been proposed. This, along with raising low lying areas, establishing new minimum building elevations, putting in place grading and drainage requirements and, in the long term, raising the dykes, should provide a solution.
o Total capitol cost of the project is on the order of $28m and funding is expected to be a challenge. Put into perspective, the current annual drainage budget for the entire City is $11m.
o A budget for design and construction of the Maple Street pump station will be the first priority.
o Data is still being collected and Victor committed to present the project plan and timelines to the CBPOA in 2 to 3 months.
o Copies of the report to Council were provided.

Discussion
o It is important to understand that ground water prevents the land from sinking and there is a delicate balance that must be maintained.
o Members suggested that development guidelines to increase water absorption and set building elevations should be put in place as quickly as possible.
o Members also suggested incentives be put in place to encourage the use of impervious paving materials.


Errors/Omissions to the March 5, 2009 Minutes
Mark Nelson indicated a $2,000 term deposit had been double counted in the March Treasurer’s report and the term deposit total is revised to $21,579.09.

Adoption of the revised March 5, 2009 Minutes
Motion to adopt the revised minutes: Ron Sorenson
Second: Bob Poulton
Motion carried

Treasurer’s Report – Mark Nelson

Activity in February 2009:
Credits: $0.44
Debits: $0.00
As of February 27, 2009:
Term Deposits: $21,579.09
Cash: $11,562.73

Adoption of the Treasurer’s Report
Motion to adopt the Treasurer’s Report: Bob O’Brien
Second: Carol Abernethy
Motion carried

Old Business

09.02.03 Artesian Wells
Bruce Wood presented the following motion:
“Whereas there is an interest on the part of the Crescent Beach Property Owners Association to establish an emergency supply of water for the community as part of an overall emergency plan, it is resolved that the Crescent Beach Property Owners Association ask the Municipality to enter into discussions about local emergency water and the development of alternate emergency water sources.“
Motion to adopt: Bruce Wood
Second: Ron Sorenson
Motion carried
Mark Nelson will write the letter.

09.03.03 Metro Vancouver Waste Export Amendment
Mark Nelson recommended that the CBPOA write to Metro Vancouver expressing concern over the proposed Amendment. The following motion supported his recommendation:
“The CBPOA write to Metro Vancouver objecting to any strategy that will increase train length or frequency until permanent emergency access to Crescent Beach is in place. Also, the CBPOA will ask that Metro Vancouver present the emergency response plans referenced in their material to the CBPOA membership.”
Motion to adopt: Ron Sorenson
Second: Barb Armstrong
Motion carried
Mark Nelson will write the letter with copies to the Mayor of Surrey and others involved in emergency planning.



General
o Carol Abernethy on behalf of Sally Stewart provided advice of a CPR course to be offered at Camp Alexandra on May 11, 2009 and May 13, 2009 at 7:00 pm. The course can accommodate up to 100 people and is offered at $40/person. The course is open to the community with registration on or before April 20, 2009. At least 20 people must register for the course to proceed.
o Mark Nelson indicated that vehicle speed in the community was a concern and he has asked the Community Policing to set up their speed-reader boards on an upcoming weekend.
o Mark also made a call for nominations for the Treasurer, Secretary and Vice president positions. Elections are at the July AGM.

Meeting Adjournment
Motion to Adjourn at 8:45 PM: Ron Sorenson
Second: Carol Abernethy
Motion carried

Next Meeting
Date: May 6, 2009
Time: 7:30 PM
Place: Beecher Place

President: Mark Nelson @ 604.531.4999
Vice President: Vacant
Acting Treasurer: Don Sinclair @ 604.541.3931
Membership: Bruce Friesen @ 778.292.1954
Secretary: Malcolm Stewart @ 604.541.9004
Past President: Karen MacPherson @ 604.535.5938