February 21 2023

Submitted by site_admin on Thu, 02/23/2023 - 18:23

BAMFIELD COMMUNITY AFFAIRS SOCIETY

General Meeting Unofficial Minutes

Tuesday 21 February 2023 at 6.30 pm
via Zoom - hosted by Jamie Willock (Chair)

Attendees (27): Jamie Willock (Chair), Bob Beckett, Sheryl Mass, Julie Bradley, Tom Jensen, Robin Schmitt, Bob Schmitt, Ben and Margo West, Max Salamon, Tara McNeil, Stella Wenstob, Stefan Ochman, Jan Teversham, Alison and Paul Bird, Susan Derasp, Kurt Krantz, Jaleen Rousseau, Jeff Honig, Clay Steel, Kevin McAughtrie, Sean Rogers, Jane Morrison, Enid O’Hara, Glen Ballman. Jazlyn Haberl

Presenters:   

Teri Fong, Jennie Brun .ACRD

Ben Howells. Pachena Bay Music Festival

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 6.32 pm.

The agenda was passed m/SMass s/BSills

Adoption of Minutes of 16 January Community Affairs Meeting. m/SWenstob s/BWest

PRESENTATIONS

FINANCIAL PLAN  2023-2027 ACRD- Teri Fong

Teri presented the financial plan for 2023-2027 and the presentation will be attached in the email.

Questions answered:

  1. Increased waste and increased costs. The costs of hauling waste out of Bamfield is very high. Money is recouped through taxation but ACRD is supporting Bamfield.
  2. Of the 127 building permits issued last year 9 were for residences in Bamfield, 3 were for commercial buildings and 1 was for  undesignated- probably a shed.
  3. ACRD is trying to encourage medical staff to work in the ACRD
  4. The proposed 21% tax increase is consistent with other regions. Fire protections costs have increased a lot
  5. Administration costs are shown in the budget.
  6. The ACRD Grant-in –Aid amount is approx. $15000- Details can be found on the ACRD website.
  7. The amount of funds allocated to Bamfield Parks has gone up to $26,000, $ 8000 will come to the Parks Commission while the rest is for staff in ACRD who try to maximize grants etc.
  8. West Coast multi use trail Referred to a trail on Long Beach.

PACHENA BAY MUSIC FESTIVAL- Ben Howells

This will be held July 14-16. 2023. 500-800 attendees are expected. Live music will be a part of it – Blue Moon Marquee. The organisers hope to really engage with local people. For more information, please visit https://www.pachenabaymusicfestival.com.

Questions Answered.

  • Relationship with HFN. Negotiations took place in 2020 but then Covid hit. Now the organisers work with the Huu-ay-aht Group of Businesses (HGB )and the campground managers directly.
  • Harm Reduction Strategies. This is multitiered and starts with documentation on the event. There is a first aid space with trained medical staff, a chill-out quiet space, a security service, a shuttle service, an emergency response strategy

ACRD DIRECTOR’S REPORT - Bob Beckett

Annual Budget  deliberations and process

I would like to thank Teri Fong and staff for the presentation tonight, and making herself available to field questions regarding the proposed budget for Bamfield. Over the next few weeks, the ACRD Board has the difficult task of determining how we move forward and ultimately agree on, and approve the final budget.

As Teri has alluded to, Bamfield has some unique challenges relating to taxation including remoteness, the need for two fire stations and equipment, aging infrastructure and limited taxation revenue. As it stands today the current proposed increase for this year is an approximately 22% increase representing about $150.00 per household increase. 

Over the next few weeks, I along with my ACRD Board colleagues will look for ways to reduce the percentage increase and your thoughts and input tonight would be appreciated. I would also encourage you to send me your thoughts and recommendations via email: bbeckett@acrd.bc.ca.

Ukraine - Bamfield Connection

I have had the pleasure and honour to represent our communities while physically working in Ukraine this past June and earlier this month. Our most recent trip focused on providing medical supplies, lower arm prosthetics, fire rescue equipment and educational supplies.

SD62 Board Chair Ravi Parmar accompanied our team on this last deployment and invited 2 Ukrainian grade 11 high school students to spend time in Langford this spring as part of a Global Stewardship Program. BMSC has also very generously invited our Ukrainian students and 1 SD62 student to participate in a BMSC field trip experience. While in Ukraine we shared a couple of videos with the two school districts that we are working with, highlighting Bamfield and BMSC. The two school districts/communities were so thrilled at the opportunity to send two of their students abroad and look forward to hosting two Vancouver Island students when the war is over. 

CORRESPONDENCE

A letter of collaborative support has been sent to Bamfield Lodge and Bamfield Harbour Authority (Fisheries Dock) in response to Bamfield Lodge’s request for BCAS support for their dock expansion plans. The letter is attached in the email.

TREASURER’S REPORT from Susan DeRasp

As of January 31st 2023

  • Cheque acct.                              $13,242.35
  • High interest savings account    $22,562.81
  • Member account                        $5.21
  • Total assets                               $35,810.37                                                                                 

COMMITTEE REPORTS

  1. BMSC- Sean Rogers
  • Sean thanked Bob Beckett for the work he has done related to bringing two Ukrainian high school students to Vancouver Island. He said 100 Ukrainians were arriving at Calgary airport every day!
  • The School groups are up and running and there is a great team of educators at BMSC to receive them and inspire them.
  • Summer Courses are up coming and the deadline for registration is in early March.
  • Research is ongoing and restoring the kelp forests has had a lot of interest shown and is a success story for 2022.
  • Waste Water Treatment is up and running. Lake Butler is managing the system.
  • More unmarked graves have been discovered by the Tseshart First Nations in Port Alberni.
  1. BCEP-Emergency Preparedness – Bob Schmitt
  • Staff from the Health Clinic checked the BCEP medical supplies at the east side firehall and replaced expired items. The supplies in the west side firehall will also be checked.
  • An ACRD consultant is coming to Bamfield on March 8 to test all the tsunami sirens.
  • An event will be planned for the 2nd week of April to increase awareness of safety procedures in the event of a tsunami.

 3. Bamfield Community School Association – Jaslyn Herbel

Please check out our website and social media, or contact Jaslyn at bcsacoordinator@gmail.com for information about our programs and events.

  • We are alternating between drop-in Yoga and drop-in Circuit Training each Wednesday evening.
  • The BCSA Dodgeball League is back - We play Thursday nights from 6:30-8:30pm. If you don't want to commit to a whole season, drop-ins are welcome!
  • Friday Night Chill is held every month.
  • Community members are invited to join us on March 9 at 12pm for a Community Lunch at the school. and you can stay after lunch for Reading Buddies, which takes place every Thursday afternoon at 1pm.
  • BCSA and HFN are partnering in K-7 programme over Spring Break from 10-3 for the first week 13 -17 March Break and then HFN is sponsoring a ski trip to Mount Washington for the second week.
  • Friday 24th is film night. 7.30-9.00.  NFB films to celebrate Black History Month. This will be at the school.
  • March 3rd 3-4:30PM, Alberni Valley Pride Ally Program to be held over Zoom to register email Alberni Clayoquot Health Network: achn@acrd.bc.ca
  • BCSA has held a successful Bamfield Aquaculture Program fieldtrip visiting Nova Hatchery and are looking forward to hosting more if anyone with local farming knowledge would like to host a tour or share knowledge.

 4. Parks - Sheryl Mass

  • ACRD has found a grant for parks renovations/upgrades where 80% of the funding is provided. The main office/shower block at Centennial Park needs new windows/showers and a roof. If this grant is received these can all be done in 2024.

 5. Community Forest- Stefan Ochman

  • The community lumber has now been delivered to Bamfield.
  • There is a Board meeting this Thursday 23rd
  • The seedlings planted last year on the patch cuts are perhaps 90% dead afters the drought last summer. They will need to be replanted.
  • Clay added that the Community Forest Board now bases all decisions on an ecosystem-based management plan for the forest.

 6.  Bamfield Health Centre- Enid O’Hara

  • There are two vacancies for nursing staff. We have 4 nurses now, but 2 positions are vacant. And it takes time to fill the positions.
  • The historical items that were in the clinic have been given to the Historical Society and removed.
  • Masks and hand sanitizers are still needed at the clinic. Dr de Pape came on Feb 14 and Dr Nell should be here in 4-6 weeks.
  • There are vacancies for admin and casual housekeeping positions.

 7. Bamfield Harbour Authority- Barry Sills

  • A water lease expansion is being sought for Fisheries Dock.

  8. Bamfield Community School- Robin Schmitt

  • Registration is open for next year.
  • BMSC collaborative activities are appreciated.
  • Jaz’s planned activities are also very much appreciated.

NEW BUSINESS

  1. GIA-Sheryl Mass

Sheryl presented the request for a GIA to fund the repair of the Composting Toilet access on the Boardwalk. The composting toilets were built primarily by volunteers and minor repairs have also been made by volunteers. The toilets lie on Community Hall land but Bamfield Parks maintains them. Liability Insurance has been paid by Community Affairs GIAs and the Parks Commission. A second presentation will take place after the March 20 meeting.

  1. Transfer Station

Sheryl commented on how messy the transfer station is. She wondered what could be done to improve things? Cameras?

Bob Beckett will follow up with Jenny Brun in ACRD.

The next meeting will be on Monday 20 March 2023 at 6.30pm. This meeting will be devoted to MOORAGE. The owners/operators of the four public docks have all agreed to attend to discuss current operations, limitations and issues as well as their plans for the future. These are MoT, HFN, ACRD and DFO-SCH. Private dock owners will also have a chance to discuss issues.

Meeting Adjourned at 8.37  m /SOchman /BWest   Unanimous