May 21 2024
BAMFIELD COMMUNITY AFFAIRS SOCIETY
General Meeting Unofficial Minutes
Tuesday 21 May 2024 at 6.50 pm
via Zoom - hosted by Jamie Willock (Chair)
Attendees (33): Jamie Willock (Chair), Sheryl and John Mass, Tom Jensen, Max Salamon, Louis Druehl, Rae Hopkins, Stacy Denton, Laura Bradley, Bob Beckett, Ben West, Greg Willmon, Bob & Robin Schmitt, Mandy Ross, Birgit Gagne, Barry Sills, Amy McConnell, Mark and Mary Doherty, Tara McNeil, Bernie and Keith Wyton, Clay Steell, Julie Bradley, Glen Ballman, Colin McLeman, Mark Stokes, Shayla Baumeler, John Jack, Jan Teversham, Stella and Wayne Wenstob.
Regrets: Jaleen Rousseau
Guest Presenters: Christine Fang-Denissov, Dayna Gilbert, Sidney Zhang
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.
The meeting was called to order at 18.50
Adoption of Agenda. m/BWest, s/TJensen
Adoption of Minutes of April’s Community Affairs Meeting. m/TJensen s/BWest
ACRD DIRECTOR’S REPORT – by Bob Beckett
#1. Thank you to BCAS Chair and Directors
I just wanted to recognize and thank James and his fellow Directors for their leadership and community contributions. I value so very much the monthly meetings and the input from the community and the various volunteer organizations that contribute to making our two communities a very special place. A special shout out to James for his chair and facilitating skills, along with my thanks for the numerous telephone calls that we have with each other regarding our communities goals and objectives.
#2. Bamfield Area Services Committee Meeting
Last month Louis asked if I would provide an overview of the recently established Bamfield Area Services Committee. The committee is established by bylaw and approved by the ACRD Board. It is comprised of four community volunteers; Christine Gruman, Lisa Bye, John Mass and Bob Schmitt along with 3 ACRD Board Directors; myself representing Area A - Bamfield, John Jack representing Huu-ay-aht First Nations, and Director Moriah Cootes representing Uchucklesaht Tribe Government.
The primary purpose of the Bamfield Area Services Committee was to create one committee with a cross section of representatives from the community including ACRD Board representatives to consider issues and make recommendations to the ACRD Board pertaining to services for one of the following areas within Area A, including Bamfield, Huu-ay-aht First Nations, and Uchuckleshat Tribe Government.
The Bamfeld Area Services Committee will assist the ACRD Board with decision making including budget, policy, infrastructure needs and any other issues relating to the following services established by bylaw:
Bamfield Waste Management
Bamfield Community Parks
Bamfield Volunteer Fire Department
Bamfield Emergency Planning
Bamfield Water System
#3. Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
With improvements to the Bamfield Road I have noticed a number of electric vehicles travelling to Bamfield. Clay Steell has been a strong advocate for seeing if we could access some grant funding and have a station or two installed. I can report that BMSC is going ahead with an installation of an EV Station that will be made available to the public, and the new community hall is in the midst of applying for a grant for their new community hall site. Glenn from Save Paradise Parking has made application and would likely benefit from a letter of support from the community and the ACRD for his application. I also confirmed with Josie Osbornes office that a grant has been approved for Bamfield area, but I have not been able to confirm the recipient.
Comments/Questions.
Clay Steell wondered whether HFN had any funding to help with EV charging stations. John Jack responded that there is an HFN solar power research study ongoing that includes looking into EV chargers.
Stella Wenstob wondered how the new Bamfield Area Services Committee members were selected.
Responses: It was set up with a combination of other committees such as water that was disbanded.
It was posted on Facebook possibly and posted on the ACRD website.
It should have been discussed at a Community Affairs meeting before being set up.
TREASURER’S REPORT (April 31 2024)
Chequing Account $12277.94
High Interest Savings $22,974.59
Member Equity Shares $5.21
Total Assets $35,257.74
Withdrawals $1100 to Bear Aware 2022/2023 GIA
PRESENTATION of the HFN Framework Plan by Forum Asset Management and Urban Strategies Inc John Jack, Sydney Zhang, Christine Fang Denissov and Dayna Gilbert.
John Jack, the elected chief of HFN introduced the presentation. The two consulting companies were chosen carefully as HFN wants to develop a long-term master plan on how to diversify their economy and attract outside interest. The plan will include the treaty lands as well as the private lands in and adjacent to Bamfield.
Bamfield residents need to be included just as much as Huu ay aht citizens as Huu ay aht roots are here in Bamfield. HFN would also like their citizens to return to their lands There may be discomfort for some as the plans unfold but John would like everyone affected to be included in the process of long-term development. He emphasized that there will be one economy and one community.
Stella Wenstob asked if waterways/moorage etc would be included in the plans- Yes.
The presentation will be attached in the email with these minutes.
COMMUNITY REPORTS
- Centennial Park - Sheryl Mass
They are preparing for a busier than usual summer.
Bones is the new maintenance guy and Oscar is the summer student who starts part time in June.
The Timber Frame builders will be staying at the park in June.
A big thank you to the Chamber of Commerce for the picnic at West Park on May 11.
- Bamfield Harbour Authority – Tom Jensen
A dock manager is still needed for the summer.
- Community Hall- Louis Druehl
Concrete has been poured!! The timber framers will be here in June to ‘barn raise.’
- Bamfield Community School- Robin Schmitt
Nothing to report
- Arts Council- Julie Bradley
The Arts Council Market will be held in Centennial Park on June 30, Sunday from 11-2.00. There will probably be a barbecue lunch put on by BCSA.
- BCSA
Please see the BCSA calendar events posted on the corkboard and get details of upcoming summer programmes. Summer camps are now being scheduled.
NEW BUSINESS
- GRANT IN AID APPLICATION – Mandy Ross
Mandy Ross gave her second presentation for $2000 equipment purchases for bear proofing. Please refer to the slides given at the April meeting.
A short discussion on what constitutes effective equipment that can receive rebates followed. The electric fences must be specific for keeping bears out of a yard. The Jora composters come in a Canadian version and a US version and they are not identical but the Canadian one is being purchased for here.
Tom Jensen introduced the idea of Food Cyclers that deal with composting inside a house and thus negate the need for something outside. Mandy said that these would also be acceptable equipment to get the rebates. They costs about $450 so are considerably less expensive than the Jora Composters.
Mandy said there had been a big improvement with the varied new equipment being used. There are fewer encounters with bears and fewer bears are shot now.
Tom Jensen also suggested that more money was requested for the GIA. Jamie said this would be possible through a Board meeting.
- East Side Parking- Barry Sills
Barry Sills wondered what had happened to the parking immediately to the right as one leaves the east side dock. It has always had spaces for the Coast Guard and BVFD but two spaces had been free for others. He reported that only one space is available now. While the Coast Guard and Fire Department have 3 each.
Response: Jamie said he would ask them what has changed.
- West Side Moorage- Tara McNeil
Tara read out notes from Marnie McAughtrie related to moorage on the store dock/Bamfield Inn dock and West Dock as people have started to moor haphazardly while going to Flora’s Restaurant or beyond.
West Government dock:
Outside finger for loading and unloading only
Inside finger for temporary moorage, no fee
Bamfield Inn dock:
Private, no public moorage
Store dock:
East side of outside finger and south and north sides of outside finger for store and post office customers, a 20 minutes maximum
The dock may be used before and after store hours for temporary moorage
Overnight moorage - inquire and pay in the store
All other store dock inquiries go to the property owner (Howard)
- Garbage /Recycling Collection- Greg Willmon
Greg said that the “Frances Barclay” will try to get more garbage and recycling bins onto the West dock and get them changed more often as things get busier.
NEXT MEETING
The next meeting will be on Monday 17 June, 2024
Meeting Adjourned at 20.00 m/BSills s/RHopkins