Meeting, Wednesday, November 25th, 2009 @ 7:00 P.M.
Present: Michael McNamara, President; Michael Berman, Treasurer; Jenny Brown, Secretary; Ian Thomson, Masoud Zadeh, Cindy Anderson, Sharon Rogalsky and Janet LeBlancq, Administrator. Guest: Ron McMurtrie, Engineer.
Ron was thanked for attending and proceeded to provide the following suggestions: It would be a good idea to go on a walk about of the 20 acres to look at the land, dig a couple of test holes, flag off some areas that have potential for septic fields, drainage fields and eliminate all the areas that don’t have potential. We could see what the hazards look like. This should be scheduled soon. Then a crude estimate could be given as to the capacity of the property. Other engineering issues include drainage in relation to septic fields and directing water away from the building sites. Roger Vinnedge is currently doing a site survey. Ron gave information re the VIHA sewage system regulations and municipal sewage regulations. Models illustrating ratio between housing units and sewage treatment systems were discussed. How many square meters of suitable soil do we have is the first question that needs to be addressed. Ron and Michael McNamara will coordinate a date for the walk about.
1. Minutes of the October 22nd meeting were approved by general consent.
2. On Going Business:
a) Board member recruitment is on going. All members are identifying potential appointees.
b) Formation of Committees: Planning (Design/Build) Committee; Fund Raising Committee; Residency Committee (eligibility and selection); Finance Committee. Cindy will do the online Serve it Right applications for events. Some guidelines needed; an evolving process is preferred. Society members eligible to serve on committees. Janet will do draft committee guidelines.
c) Site work: surveys and mapping progress: Roger in process of doing site survey. No drawings yet. Environmental assessment volunteer Ryan Preston wants to see the land when it’s wet…now would be good. 12 – 15 units may be more realistic in terms of engineer’s comments. We have a technically challenging property with humongous infrastructure costs. Water test results are in and Michael will email to us.
d) Fund raising: firming up summertime hall booking dates and updates of progress of “A Roof Over our Heads”; will be an email consultation from Jenny. Halloween fundraiser is tentatively booked for ISLA. Idea of raffling a dollhouse has an island artist group excited. The dollhouse may have some green initiatives such as solar panels designed by local artists. Skits about housing would be fun. A photo exhibition could include outhouses. Regulations of raffle lisencing will be investigated. Would it be possible to be involved with the privy installations at the beach accesses and Hornbize these as a fund raising project? Jenny Brown provided details of the recent meeting of interested islanders involved in the initiative “A Roof Over Our Heads”. April date. ISLA sponsored. General consent. A minimum of 50% of proceeds of proceeds of sales of hats and artworks to be for ISLA. July: dollhouse; theatre; art show. July 25,26,27..Sun.Mon.Tues. August dates hall booked…Janet to check and email dates to board. Jenny away in Aug. Do we want to have any event(s) at the hall in August?
4. Correspondence:
a) Nov. 5th email from Tony Law referring parkland dedication to CVRD: received and filed.
b) Jenny Brown’s email of Nov 21st re circumstances of the urgent housing needs of a Hornby couple. There was discussion. How does ISLA respond to housing emergencies. Continuing with the housing needs registry board as part of the outreach program on the Co-op porch is helpful in identifying housing needs. The role of the HOIHS in addressing emergency housing issues was mentioned.
5. Treasurer’s Report: latest financial reports emailed to all board members were approved by
General consent. The treasurer noted that May 1st – April 30th is the fiscal year.
6. Administrator’s report:
a) ACT grant request for $5000 submitted November 19, 2009: Michael Berman to assist in answering questions asked in reply to our submission.
b) Direct Access funding application for total of $50,000 being prepared: $10,000 society core funding; $5,000 environmental assessment; $10,000 rezoning process; $25,000 site preparation. Michael Berman to confer with Janet on these proposed amounts. (Following discussions with Direct Access personnel November 26th, it was determined that our project segments do not fall within their funding parameters, so application will not be filed.)
7. Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 9:45 P.M. by general consent.
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Michael McNamara, President Janet LeBlancq, Recording Secretary