Crescent Beach Property Owners Association
General Meeting Minutes
7:30 pm –July 10, 2024
Alexandra Neighbourhood House
Minutes
Approximately 30 members in attendance
1. Call to order: The President, Bob Poulton, called the meeting to order.
2. Adoption of agenda: M/S/C, “That the agenda be adopted as amended.”
3. Approval of Minutes: M/S/C, “That the minutes of May 8, 2024 be approved as distributed.”
4. Unfinished business: A recent update from the City indicates that a Corporate Report regarding the Crescent Beach Proposed Fence for Whistle Cessation decision will be presented to Council in the Fall.
5. Correspondence and Updates
• Drainage: Tindi Sekhon reports that work should start in early August, after the contract is awarded. The work area has changed; work will start at the beach end at Sullivan Point and move up Sullivan onto McBride, perhaps as far as Adam’s Lane. In conjunction with the drainage project, sidewalk and parking improvements will be made on Sullivan from the Point to Kidd Rd, and on Beecher at McKenzie. Please see the attached map of the updated work areas.
• McBride/ Sullivan intersection: The City plans to slightly alter the two intersections of McBride at Sullivan to improve visibility and safety.
• Church: The church on Beecher St has been sold to the Fonteromano Foundation, a private foundation whose charitable mandate includes projects to benefit the community. It will continue as a church.
• Correspondence: A member’s letter to the City of Surrey about the walking path and parking on McBride from Sullivan to Wickson was followed by a similar letter from the CBPOA. The main concern is safety.
• Camera Access at McBride and Beecher Crossings: Linda Annis reported that these cameras are set up to view trains in the event of the need to decouple trains for emergency access. The camera views can be accessed on the City website via Cosmos. They cannot be adjusted to view traffic.
2. Directors Reports
• Treasurer:
$35,000 in GICs matured yielding $1,350
$45,000 re-invested till April 2025 to yield $1,920
Cash balance/ end of 2024 fiscal $3401.65.
• Membership: Margie Schultz, current Membership Chair, reported that the 2024/2025 Membership Campaign is underway. She thanked Bob Abernethy who has taken care of data entry for two years, and Henri Wendel, our resident graphic artist. Thank you, gentlemen!
3. Committee Reports
• Parks: (Ron Sorensen, chairperson) The paddleboard shack not approved to operate at Blackie Spit this season; if CBPOA members observe the public in the environmentally sensitive area of Blackie Spit, please take pictures and submit a Request for Service using the My Surrey App; please see attached an article reprinted from CBC. Similarly, use the My Surrey App if you notice the gates to Blackie Spit are not being closed (10 pm in summer).
• Beach Fires - Beach Fires Working Group (Tricia Ewert, chairperson)
Sign operational May 1, 2024
Jan 1 – June 30, 2024: 99 Fires of which 39 were on South Beach.
Bylaws patrol on sunny weekend summer evenings, closing down the park. Other random patrols on foot and on ATV. If Bylaws are patrolling and if you note a problem call RCMP non-emergency line and ask them to direct Bylaws to your area. Bylaws officers are being paid overtime for this work.
Ticketing is occurring; between 10-30 tickets issued each shift including parking
Sign Change Request: The current electronic sign is confusing. People think the fire ban is seasonal/temporary. New permanent signs are up at access points in Crescent Beach which are larger and the wording has changed: A beach closure sign would cover all bylaw infractions and allow bylaws to give discretionary tickets, e.g. “Crescent Beach Park is closed at 10 pm, MAX $2000 Fine”. This request was denied, we have responded for reconsideration.
An email was sent to the city manager re: Risk of an Urban Fire in the South Beach area. Our concerns were large fires in the South Beach area with strong on-shore winds spreading embers into the foliage on the embankment which, left to smolder undetected could cause a fire that could spread up the embankment, threatening the homes on the bluff, the BNSF rail line and Crescent Beach itself.
South Beach from high tide to the property lines at the bluff is under BNSF jurisdiction, not Surrey Fire Department unless the fire is uncontained. Please call 911 if observed.
The group requested a meeting between CBFWG, the City, and representatives from Fire, Police and Bylaws to deal with issues of organizational divisions.
Here is the relevant section of the Bylaw:
The wording ‘self- contained barbecue’ is subject to interpretation with some saying this applies to briquets and propane and others saying only briquets.
The group will be sending an email to council re our concerns re South Beach area.
Please report all fires!
Surrey Fire Non-Emergency Line (604) 543-6700
4. New Business
• The large mural painted on the Sunflower Café was noted, as was the community clean-up held on Saturday July 13, 2024.
• Also on July 13, a fundraising paddleboard race from 8-2 launched at Blackie Spit.
• Jim Mason spoke to the group about the invasive plant, Japanese Knotweed, which has invaded some properties and poses risks to foundations and underground lines. Please see the attached article.
• Lack of stop signs as Sunshine Alley intersects with McBride or McKenzie mean that vehicles are entering the roadways at excessive speed.
• The next meeting of the CBPOA on September 4 will be a combined General Meeting and AGM. Positions are for two years; positions open at this AGM will be President, Vice-President and Membership. Please consider taking a position within this group. Much of the work can be done remotely if necessary. It is important to keep the CBPOA alive and vibrant. Talk to any of the Directors if you or someone you know could make a two year commitment to the CBPOA.
5. Adjournment – There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned
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