­­BAMFIELD COMMUNITY AFFAIRS SOCIETY

 General Meeting Unofficial Minutes

21March 2022 at 6.30 pm

via Zoom - hosted by Jamie Willock (Chair)

Attendees (28 ) Jamie Willock (Chair), Rae Hopkins, Jan Teversham, Julie Bradley, Jared Higgins, Susan Derasp, Stella Wenstob, Jerry Gassner, Robin and Bob Schmitt, Stefan Ochman, Sally Mole, Louis Druehl, Ben and Margot West, Ashley Armstrong-Klyne, Bob Beckett, Bernie and Keith Wyton, , Laura Schmitt, Mandy Ross, Glenn Ballman, Frank and Jeanne Novak, Duane Nookemis, Vicki Holdman, Amy Hollings, Clay Steel,

Regrets : Jaleen Rousseau, Wayne and Lyn Markel, Sean Rogers, John and Sheryl Mass.

Acknowledgement of Indigenous Lands: The BCAS acknowledges that the land on which we meet is within the Traditional territory of the Huu-ay-aht First Nations where indigenous peoples have lived since time immemorial.

Statement of Inclusivity: The BCAS is responsible for fostering a public forum within its community to facilitate communications and services that diverse groups identify as respectful, inclusive and accessible.

The meeting was called to order at 6.32pm.

Adoption of Agenda:  of 21 March 2022  m/JHiggins, s/SMole

Adoption of Minutes m/RHopkins s/SDerasp

ACRD Director’s Report- Bob Beckett

1. Island Economic Trust funding announcement 

The Island Economic Trust announced $50,000 funding for a new gathering space on the west side of Bamfield . Special thanks to Andrea, Jan and Christine for their vision and efforts in pursing this grant. The press release from Island Economic Trust is attached:

NEW PAVILION IN BAMFIELD’S WEST PARK CELEBRATES LOCAL HISTORY AND CULTURE

Thursday, March 17, 2022

Outdoor gathering space will enhance commercial and recreational opportunities in West Bamfield 

COURTENAY, 17 March 2022 – The Village of Bamfield will create a new outdoor gathering space on its popular western peninsula to meet visitor and community needs, with funding support from Island Coastal Economic Trust’s THRIVE Small Capital Program.

Bamfield is a beautiful rugged rural coastal community comprised of two geographical areas separated by the Bamfield Harbour.

While East Bamfield is accessible by road, West Bamfield is only accessible by boat and is comprised of a general store, post office and government dock – all positioned along its iconic boardwalk. Residents and visitors arriving by boat have limited options, particularly in inclement weather. This project will create a new gathering place in nearby, underused West Park, the West Side’s only large public space. Improvements will include a weather-sheltered pavilion, carvings and signage showcasing the Huu-ay-aht people and stories, as well as interactive forest walks.

“This project is a great example of reimagining and repurposing community assets to create new opportunities and meet evolving demand,” says Aaron Stone, ICET Board Chair. “Increasing options for visitors and locals, in this unique part of Bamfield, will support increased visitation and economic activity throughout this outdoor-pursuit focused rural village.”

New interpretive signage featuring local information and history will draw visitors from the boardwalk area to enjoy West Park’s spectacular ocean views of Barkley Sound. The all-weather shelter will provide a welcoming space for gathering and eating, as well as hosting artisan fairs, music events, yoga workshops and more – re-establishing the park as a vibrant community hub. Natural, all-ages interactive forest installations will invite locals and visitors into forested portions of the park to experience and enjoy a slice of the coastal temperate rainforest ecosystem.

Masters Students from UBC’s School of Architecture and Landscape are assisting with the park redesign. The pavilion will be built with local sustainably harvested wood from the Bamfield Huu-ay-aht Community Forest. Traditional Huu-ay-aht carvings and signage will be incorporated into the shelter to celebrate the people who first called this area home and have culturally significant places nearby. 

“Our community is grateful for the funding from ICET and the Targeted Regional Tourism Development Initiative, as well as the dedicated Bamfield Parks Commission Volunteers for their project vision and ongoing hard work,” says Bob Beckett, ACRD director for Bamfield. “We’re anticipating significant visitor growth once improvements to the gravel road from Port Alberni are completed. Residents and business owners have identified West Park as a strategic way to accommodate the desires of residents and their families, increased tourism and expand opportunities for seasonal commercial ventures, while maintaining our unique village experience.”

The project will receive $50,000 through a collaborative funding arrangement between the Island Coastal Economic Trust and the Targeted Regional Tourism Development Initiative (through Tourism Vancouver Island), that provides one-stop funding support of up to 100% of project costs to stimulate and promote vitality in downtowns, Main Streets and business districts across the region.

“We gratefully acknowledge the Province of BC for the funding to support the THRIVE Small Capital Program and help community projects such as this be realized,” says Anthony Everett, President & CEO, Tourism Vancouver Island. “As we support tourism businesses and communities in the Vancouver Island region on their road to recovery, reimagining this area of Bamfield will only better the visitor experience.”

The project is set to get underway shortly.

2. 2022 Budget highlights with proposed gas tax grants

Bamfield Liquid Waste Management Proposed Service

Budget Highlights -$150,000. Gas Tax grant -2022

Liquid waste management has become an area of high importance and high risk for the Community of Bamfield. As the forest main road work gets completed, it is expected that development will continue to grow. It is important that as development grows, strategies are built to protect public health and the environment through the management and disposal of treated waste. The first step in building these strategies is the creation of a Liquid Waste Management Plan (LWMP). Staff have met with representatives from the Ministry of Environment (MoE) and have been provided recommendations for steps moving forward; the first of which is the development of a LWMP. $150,000 of Community Works Funds have been allocated towards this project in 2022

Bamfield Water System

Budget Highlights -$500,000. Gas Tax Grant - 2024

Corrective maintenance and repairs to the West Bamfield submarine line were completed in 2021 to provide an interim solution for the major damage caused in 2020. While these repairs seem successful, efforts continue to secure funding for the replacement of the line. A previously submitted grant application was unsuccessful, however another application will soon be started and should have an increased likelihood of success with the creation of both the Asset Management Plan and Long-Range Infrastructure replacement report. Strategies have been undertaken to bridge the funding gap between the current funding levels and those set out within the Asset Management Plan. 2022 will see the review and update of the Bamfield Water System DCC Bylaw.

Bamfield Community Park

Budget Highlights - $100,000. Gas Tax Grant - 2025

The Bamfield Parks Commission operates the Bamfield Community Park service. Additional ACRD staff time has been allocated in 2022 to review the Parks Commission bylaw and operations of the park in terms of risk. The development of documents such as maintenance plans are required to support the operations done by the Commission.

• Labour and benefit costs have increased as more staff time has been dedicated to this service to assist in park amenity improvements, grant administration, risk management, and land tenure work.
• Members of the Bamfield community have driven the concept of a revitalized west park as a community gathering place. Through grant funds and in- kind donations, a design for the structure has been created. The ACRD has recently applied for grant funding though the ICET Thrive program which would enable construction to begin in 2022.
• The Bamfield Parks Commission have proposed the extension of the public wharf facility that it operates from Centennial Park. Prior to an extension, the ACRD marine tenure must be expanded.

Bamfield Volunteer Fire Department

Budget Highlights - $400,000. Gas tax Grant for Westside Fire hall - 2024

The ACRD Fire Services Review is nearing completion and funds have been allocated towards deficiencies and recommendations in the report.

The BVFD will continue to focus on meeting Fire Underwriters Survey (FUS) standards to ensure the best available fire insurance rates for the Bamfield community. Two initiatives are planned for this year:

• Fort Garry Fire Trucks was the successful bidder for a new Mini-Pumper Fire Apparatus for the Bamfield Volunteer Fire Department. The build process has started, and delivery is expected in late 2022.
• An upgraded fire pump for the Fire Boat is being investigated.

As identified in the BVFD Asset Management Plan the capital reserve fund for this service is not adequate to support the amount of infrastructure required for this department.

BVFD will continue with their VIERRA firefighter training programs and will work with the Regional Fire Services Manager to meet required provincial standards.

Please note that the proposed final budget is on the ACRD website for your review.

3. Draft Zoning Bylaw

Draft Zoning Bylaw for Bamfield and entire region is available for reviewing on the ACRD Website and there is an online session via Zoom on April 7th from 4-6:00 pm.

I would like to thank everyone who has provided feedback, including most recently our own APC committee who sat through a ACRD staff presentation.

As a follow up to the APC meetings held in late 2021 and early2022 to review and provide feedback to the draft Zoning Bylaw, Planning staff wanted to let APC members know that the MARCH 2022 DRAFT ZONING BYLAW is now available.  All proposed documents and updated maps are available on the project webpage:  www.acrd.bc.ca/zbreview   

Please also note that there are upcoming online and in-person public information sessions scheduled as follows:

 - April 7^th  - an ONLINE session via Zoom from 4:00 – 6:00 pm (see www.acrd.bc.ca/zbreview for details and the link to register for this online session)

The session will begin with a short presentation around 4:10 pm by Planning staff to provide an overview of the Zoning Bylaw Review Project, and March 2022 draft update

BEAR HAZARD ASSESSMENT FOR BAMFIELD AND ANACLA- Mandy Ross

Mandy gave a presentation on the findings from information gathered and research carried out in Bamfield and Anacla. The power point presentation is attached to the email.

TREASURER’S REPORT – Susan Derasp.

Chequing acct                     $10682.34

High Interest Savings       $22423.37

Member Equity                  $       5.21

Total Assets                         $33119.92

Change from previous month    ($1843.04) made up of $0.86 interest and ($1843.90)  UBC student expenses for West Park planning

COMMITTEE REPORTS

1. BMSC update from Sean Rogers

• Our summer program starts May 6^th
• We have launched a new project called the Kelp Rescue Initiative – you can learn more at www.kelprescue.org
• The Community High School working group met on March 8^th – it is a small working group with Huu-ay-aht First Nations, Julie Bradley, Christine Gruman and the BMSC. We are currently developing the case for support, beginning with parents, in addition to gathering information about the history of similar initiatives that were in the community – stay tuned for more announcements as we are committed to this goal.
• Julie added that community consultations with current and future parents will take place in May and June.

2. Huu ay aht First Nations- Duane Nookemis

• The Waste Water system is set to open in April
• A 4 plex and a duplex have just been completed
• There will be an old growth summit in April
• The Integrated Resource Management Plan (IRMP) is underway

3. Community Hall- Louis Druehl

There will be an Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday 16 April at 11 a.m.

4. School- Robin Schmitt

• The school is currently on spring break
• Three new students recently registered and that brings the total enrollment up to 25.
• Kindergarten registration for the fall is ongoing.
• Optional mask wearing will kick in after Spring Break.

5. BCSA- Sally Mole

• Basketball now has two groups- an adult one and one for everybody.
• Yoga will be led by Jazlyn
• Dodgeball is coming up
• There will be a Community Lunch to celebrate Eileen Scott’s 100^th birthday on Wednesday April 13.
• There will also be a sail past on the Easter weekend. Her actual birthday is on Monday 18^th.

6. Community Forest- Stefan Ochman

• The next Board Meeting is on Thursday 24 March
• Tyler Bohn is back working on the East West Trail and is concentrating on opening up the last part of the trail that will cut through old growth.
• Mapping of the areas that will not be logged is ongoing now using Google Earth and the expertise of Lachlan West who is helping as part of his community service required for High School completion

7. Parks Commission- update from Sheryl Mass

• The park is preparing for another busy summer season with Rhiannon Richards staying on as our Park Manager. 
• A new float is being constructed to replace an aging one and longer term plans to increase the moorage capacity at the dock are coming together. 
• We are also looking at increasing the size of the trailer parking lot, ramp upgrades and some electrical upgrades to the washrooms/ showers. 
• The Smiley rink upgrade was completed months ago and we can turn our attention to the playground equipment.
• The big news is the approval of the ICE T funding for the West Park structure, thanks to the dedication and hard work by Andrea Butler, Jan Teversham and Christine Gruman. I will now let Jan continue to fill you in on the happenings in West Park
• Jan added that there is still a shortfall in funding and that Mainroad is being contacted to see if their community funding would be a good fit for the project.

8. Bamfield Health Clinic- update from Amy Hollings

• There will be a Covid vaccination clinic on March 30 and appointments are to be booked as usual.
• Narcan kits are available for those who require one.

9. BCEP - Bob Schmitt

There will be a training for anyone interested in being part of an emergency response on the weekend of 23 and 24 April.

OLD BUSINESS

The Active Transportation network (ATN ) planning project- Jamie Willock

The surveyors have not been lined up yet.

Joe Dalman of UBC ( who worked on the planning of the West Park Revitalization Project) is interested in linking up with this planning project where appropriate for Landscape Architect students.

The next meeting will be on Tuesday 19 April 2022.

Meeting Adjourned at 7.30 ish  m/SOchman, s/JHiggins