Directors present:
Ed, Jim, Beryl, Robert, Derrick. Beecher
Place.
1) Call to order at 7:30 PM Ed chaired the meeting in Andrew’s absence,
welcomed everyone and ran through the agenda indicating there were three items
coming forward under new business.
Derrick apologised to the members for the two March group messages
transmitting with members’ names attached. Our protocol, as you know, is to always
transmit group messages bcc. In my 5
years as Secretary I have always followed the same Gmail protocol, the only
change this time was that I was working from Florida. Having had it happen with
the first message, you can imagine how careful I was with the second message,
but the same thing happened. In discussion with other Directors we have made a
slight change for greater bcc transmission certainty.
2) Presentations – none.
3) Adoption of the March 7th,
2018 General Meeting minutes.
Proposed: Jim. Seconded: Bob. All in favour.
4) Matters arising from the minutes.
4:1 Derrick relayed an update from Don Buchanan, Transportation Planner.
The survey of residents affected by the proposed installation of speed humps
has been completed and the criteria for confirming sufficient neighbourhood
support for implementation have been met: – a) 40 % of households included in
the area responded to the survey and b) 67% or more of those households that
responded indicated support for traffic calming.
The traffic calming plans with the installation of speed humps will be
scheduled for construction based on the timing of the drainage works and the
availability of external contractors.
In a further note from Don, he states, “we’re hopeful the project
re-paving crew has the technical skill to install the speed humps as part of
their re-paving this summer – we will have them do a test to gage this. If not
then we’ll remove the test one, then the humps will be installed in September
when the drainage work is complete”. In total there are 15 humps north of
Sullivan and two on McBride with the locations as noted in the images that went
out with the survey letters. In answer to a request from the meeting, the
locations images will be sent to members. The question was also asked when will
the humps be installed on Gilley?
4:2 One member expressed his expectation that Graeme Cross, City of
Surrey, Traffic Signals Leader, would be present at the meeting, to follow up
with a schedule for the installation of the fence along Bayview and complete
the discussion on the question of no parking/parking along the fence. The
Secretary will follow up with Graeme.
5) Directors’ Reports. 5:1 Treasurer’s report. Jim gave the figures
for total funds. Adoption of the
Treasurer’s report: Proposed: Carolyn. Seconded: Bob. All in favour. 5:2 Membership report. No report,
there being no changes.
6) Crime Prevention. Are there any volunteers for the security
group being suggested by Block Watch to co-ordinate the increased use of
security cameras, as discussed at the March 7th, 2018 General
Meeting?
7) September AGM. Call for nominations.
The positions of President, Vice President and Membership are up for
election. The current Vice President and Membership Director have expressed
their wishes to retire from their positions at the AGM.
Those wishing to volunteer for the positions, to serve for two years from
September 2018 to September 2020 are asked to contact any Director.
The Secretary has expressed his intention to retire when his term is up
at next year’s AGM. It would be valuable to have someone shadowing for a period
of time and able to take on the secretarial duties when Derrick is away
travelling.
8) Paddle Board hut – information from
the City inspection.
The agenda item is a follow up from the March 7th, 2018,
General Meeting – New Business 9:1) “request for an agenda item to discuss the
paddle board hut and is it in compliance with the contract from the City?”
The President has contacted the City Business Systems Co-ordinator and
Ron Sorenson has been in contact with the same person with respect to the
contract the City has with the operator. The chair invited Ron to speak to the
membership.
The issue is the growth of the
hut, now 33% larger than last year and the growth of the physical space
occupied by the paddle board operation with the rocks, previously on the west
side, having been moved further into the parking lot, negatively affecting
parking space. Some additional concrete dividers have also been added further
restricting both parking and exiting the area.
There was support to take a look at the contract terms and conditions to
see if/why creep is happening.
Support for the paddle board operation was expressed form the floor,
“it’s a park and it appears to me only positively with people having the
opportunity to kayak and paddleboard”. “While there are varying opinions, there
is nothing wrong with having this facility at the beach” The meeting was
reminded that in the 2016 survey, 72% of members who responded were in favour
of the paddle board hut and operation.
The Secretary will contact the Business Systems Co-ordinator and request
a copy of the contract.
Ron also stated that he and a small group are going to take a look at the
Blackie Spit Preservation Plan, (1999), and bring any observations forward. The
meeting was reminded that a Review of the Crescent Beach Community Development
Plan, (1999), is still on-going by the City, its only having been deferred
until the implications from the Coastal Flood Adaption Strategy, (CFAS), are
clearer.
9) New Business. 9:1) Jane Jamieson brought forward a concern
that she had observed, at a meeting in the fall, a member wanting to bring
forward a motion and that this had been tabled. Her expectation was that it
would be brought back to a subsequent meeting, which did not happen.
Jane, as a result is contemplating introducing a motion to the effect
that motions can be raised and voted on at a meeting without their having to be
communicated to the membership as a whole. Beryl responded that, having
consulted our Constitution and Bylaws, which state that Roberts’ Rules is the
authority for our Society, she would oppose the motion. The Rules give the
right to members to bring up items under New Business and vote on such, as long
as the motion is not one which requires “previous notice”. This is a protection
for minority rights. Hence a motion so proposed is not necessary. From the floor – we also need to protect
against a meeting being hijacked by an activist group. It was also stated from
the floor that some issues are more contentious than others and need to be in
front of the whole membership.
The feeling of the meeting was that this was a useful discussion and a
reminder that we operate under Roberts’ Rules and that no change is required at
this time.
9:2)
Jane also brought forward that she had attended the April 10th, 2018,
Coastal Flood Adaption Strategy, (CFAS), open house at Rotary Field House.
There were presentation boards on display but no presentation was made.
Jane’s concern is that the stated “Emerging Direction – Crescent Beach”
indicates “Managed Retreat” as the leading long term option emerging from the
study. However, the accompanying graph showing the results from the on-line
survey and the Crescent Beach workshop does not appear to support this outcome.
The presentation materials for the workshop are now available at:-
http://www.surrey.ca/files/CFASOpenHouseApril%2718.pdf
[It is a 17 page package and the relevant Crescent Beach outcome pages
are 11 and 12. There is a feedback sheet on page 16 and feedback and questions
are welcomed at coastal@surrey.ca].
The Secretary will contact Matt Osler, the Project Manager and invite him
to attend the July CBPOA General Meeting and address the observation and
concern.
From the floor, whilst this is a long term adaption study and the
potential outcomes may in reality be for our grandkids’ time, it is important
that any presentations to the City, going forward for policy discussions,
clearly state the underlying assumptions and predictions used as the basis for
the study work. The risk that has to be carefully managed is to avoid any
perceptions or misconceptions at this early stage that could affect property
values.
9:3)
Emerging Petition. A petition form has
been observed at a local business, initiated by a group, looking to determine
support to approach the City with a request to amend the bylaw to allow on
leash dogs on the path at Crescent Beach during the summer months before 10 AM
and after 6PM. This would be for 2019 and on.
The originators of the petition were at the meeting and indicated they
were looking for what support was out there for this. They also have an offer
to install poop bag dispensers and picking up the trash.
They spoke passionately about seeking a compromise position to allow them
to take their dogs, on leash, on the path, rather than down the alleys, in the
early morning and the evening, not during the peak daytime hours. As
responsible dog owners they clean up after their dogs and those of others and
also pick trash up along the beach in the months they are allowed on the beach
path with their dogs.
Other members spoke equally passionately about their concerns with the hygiene
aspects given that not all dog waste can be picked up and it doesn’t rain in
the summer. People in the summer are down at the beach, on the grass in bare
feet and flip flops with their kids and grandkids.
The issue of safety was also raised: we have people, kids on bikes and adding
dogs on leashes would only increase the congestion.
9:4)
An unsightly area. A member raised the issue of the untidy area by the train
crossing where you turn on to Bayview. It was requested that we ask the City
what they could influence to have the BNSF access and lay-down
area cleaned up.
9:5)
Memorial Benches. Surrey is apparently looking to change some rules and wishes
to contact everyone who has a memorial bench. If you have a memorial bench
please contact the City.
10) Motion to Adjourn. Proposed: Eileen. Seconded: Jim. All in favour.
Meeting adjourned at just after 9PM.
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