ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING MINUTES
Sechelt Arts Centre
Business Meeting of the Membership
Present: Board of Directors:
Gray Waddell Joan Pedlar Bob D’Arcy
Fran Wilson Bruce Woodburn
Approximately 28 members of the Association were present representing a quorum.
1)
Presentation – at
- He is not just responsible for wild life management but air pollution (smoke), inland fisheries, habitat protection (logging, mining) – anything that affects the habitat for all
- With just one officer the resources are not available to spend all day on relocation exercises for bears and in any event if the public do not take steps to discourage bears coming into the community then the problem will never be resolved. The enemies of the bears are fruit trees, garbage and bird seed and it is everyone’s responsibility to speak to neighbours who are exposing these attractions in the community.
- The “Bear Smart” program is the main thrust of his efforts to reduce the conflict with bears as once a bear is adapted to non-natural foods sources he can not be changed back
- Stop the cycle by stopping the attractions or else the bears must be destroyed for public safety.
---- A break from
2)
Call to order of the Annual General Meeting – President, Gray Waddell,
a) The head table of the officers of the association was introduced
b) Attendees were referred to the agenda handed to all as they arrived
3) Rules of Order – were outlined by the President: members can only vote if members for 10 days or longer; a quorum was in attendance and voting.
4) Minutes of AGM of 2004 – copies having been circulated, the adoption of the minutes was moved by President Gray and carried
5) Change of Agenda – To accommodate, Item 7.1 of the agenda was moved to be dealt with at this point – Bruce Woodburn, SHCA Director of Public Works gave a brief but informative presentation on the results of the recent Sandy Hook Traffic Survey. It highlighted:
a)
The need of for removal of an extreme
safety hazard on the curve on
b) The really only acceptable changes for residents were widening the roads and shoulders. Things like increased lighting and signage were strongly rejected.
c) The board intends to make a presentation to the District requesting improvements to the dangerous curve especially in light of this year’s paving program and at the same time request some intersections be cleared of visibility hazards.
d) Questions were taken from the members and the President thanked Bruce for his fine work.
6) President’s Report – President Gray first gave special thanks to the work of the Secretary/Treasurer, Bob D’Arcy and special thanks were given to Joyce FitzPatrick and her merry band for the refreshments which were to follow. He then covered some off the highlights of the past year and made specific reference to some recent developments:
a) The real estate boom which could present challenges for all with new developments
b) The new water main installations
c)
Urged everyone to see the new playground
installation at
d) Getting bus service appears remote
e)
District move to ban all backyard burning
effective
f) New tree cutting bylaw that bars all cutting in public parks including Sechelt Heritage Forest ant that there are substantial fines - $1000 per tree plus.
g)
The short history of a recent attempt at
a variance in
h) Working to open Sandy Hook Trail again
i) Problems with parking on the narrow roads
j) DOGS that have owners who let them bark at all hours and run off leash. The only solution is to speak to the owners and failing any results from that, call the bylaw officer.
k) A general question about support for a picnic resulted in a half-hearted response.
The President asked for his report to be adopted. Carried.
7) Treasurer’s report – Bob D’Arcy reviewed the financial report for 2004, a copy of which was appended to the agenda, and on a motion from Bula Hess the 2004 report was adopted. D’Arcy gave an update to May 24, 2005 and advised that at that date the Association had 90 members of which 37 were new.
8) Proposed Bylaw Amendment: Moved by Heather Waddell:
BE IT RESOLVED:
THAT Part 43 – Duties of the Secretary be amended to read
43. The secretary must do the following:
f) maintain the register of members unless otherwise advised by the Board.
AND
THAT Part 44 – Duties of the Treasuer be amended by the addition of the folowing paragraph e)
44. The treasurer shall:
e) maintain a register of members in lieu of the secretary if so agreed by the Board.
CARRIED Unanimously.
9) Nominating Committee Report – The President reported on a committee made up of himself and Joan Pedlar and moved the report for adoption:
Note: Board Members serve rotating two year terms
a) Current Board Members whose terms do not expire until 2006
Joan Pedlar, Fran Wilson and Bruce Woodburn
b) Proposed new board members are:
Sue Jackel, Valerie Quadfass and Paul Manson
(Jackel and Manson were introduced from the floor and the President introduced Quadfass who was unable to attend the meeting)
c) Current Board Members prepared to stand for another two year term
Gray Waddell and Bob D’Arcy
Since this is less than the allowed 12 members the President called for election by acclamation. This was passed by a show of hands with no dissenters.
10) Open Discussion and Question – members asked about various issues including:
a) How an item like the SH Road variance got so far without formal notice to the neighbours and the intention of one member to write to the District. The SHCA would be copied and may support the letter.
b) How to get a beach access on Coracle Drive opened
11) Adjournment was moved BY THE President at 9:05 and the President reminded the membership that Sue Jackel would be displaying material relevant to the upcoming Recreation Referendum during the refreshment period.
REFRESHMENTS WERE SERVED AND LOTS OF SOCIALIZING WENT ON!
ATTACMENTS:
a) 2004 Financial Statement
b)
Summary of Presentation by Murray Smith – not edited by him.
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Presentation by
Murray Smith, Conservation Officer
In Charge of Field Operations
Tel: 604-740-5858
Fax: 604-885-2445
Observe, Record, Report – 1-800-663-9453
Notes taken by the Secretary/Treasurer
At the Sandy Hook Community Association
AGM
May 26. 2005
Originally from Saskatchewan, Murray joined the conservation service 18 years ago with his first posting in Maple Ridge. He has just come off 12 years in Prince George where there were 100,000 people in the immediate area and it was real conservation officer territory with poachers and other infractions to chase down.
He was posted here since he was the only one who applied for the open position! When the prior officer left he feels that the position would have been filled eventually but that letters from the public and local organizations speeded up the process. With only one officer here it is half the prior compliment with more work to do. He covers all the way from Egmont to Gibsons.
His responsibilities include: human wildlife conflict resolution; burning as in smoke affecting air quality, inland pollution (spills); inland fisheries (trout) and mining – as it affects the habitat. Victoria leaves him pretty much on his own to sort out the priorities.
The process when there is a problem is that someone calls the 800 number and the operator there, who is experienced, will try to resolve the issue on the phone. Only failing that will the matter be referred to Murray and he will then determine what, if any, action is needed.
While the chance of a bear or cougar attack is almost minute there is no way that a chance can be taken especially with children and bears have been hanging around Sunshine Coast Schools. There are 2 traps on the coast and he has those deployed but relocating bears is not an option. They have to be shot once they have become used to the food of people and are not afraid of people anymore. The bear wandering around the neighbourhood is already sentenced to death by being there and the residents are to blame for attracting them. The costs to relocate are prohibitive and it does not solve the problem. More bears just keep coming if the attractants are in place.
Education is the key and with bears it comes down to 3 things: fruit trees, garbage and bird seed.
- While fruit trees may be nice it is critical that the fruit be picked immediately when ripe in August. Once on the ground the rotting smell can attack bears for 10s of miles. If you are not going to religiously take the fruit off in time then cut the tree down - period.
- Garbage – should be tied up in a closed plastic bag to keep the smell enclosed and in a good can with lid and NEVER put out ahead of time. It should be kept in the house behind closed doors or in a substantial shed or enclosure.
- Bird seed should never be left where a bear can reach it. Twelve feet up with a pulley and post method is the only solution that allows for the joy of feeding birds without attracting bears.
- Responding to a question about composting, he said that composting garden refuse was fine but NO kitchen waste (vegetables or fruit) should go in the compost. The bears love the rotten stuff.
It is important that the education and policing be conducted initially by the neighbourhood. If you see someone leaving out garbage, not picking up fruit or with bird seed in easy reach the first step is to call on them and explain how this can kill a bear. If they do not take notice then call Murray to speak with them. BUT first try yourself or accompanied by friends in the community.
Murray would like to get one Team Leader in each community for the community to turn to and to check on attractions for the bears. He will be coming to Sandy Hook for this.
2004 was the worst year ever for bears with 750 calls on the coast vs. the usual peak of about 300. With the drought the berries up high dried out and down came the bears seeking those still edible only to find garbage, fruit and bird seed to fatten on.
Murray is encouraging the coast governments to pass bylaws with ‘Bear Smart’ provisions with fines for leaving garbage out and other attractants so far no luck.
With respect to smoke the guidelines for land clearing refuse are still being worked out but the most likely is a burning area away from everyone with burning on days when the smoke would be carried into the wilderness.
Brochures and other material are available and Murray will speak to groups. Just call.
In summary: STOP THE CYLCE OR THE BEARS WILL BE DESTROYED. THERE IS PRACTICAL ALTERNATIVE.