THETIS ISLAND
RESIDENTS’ AND RATEPAYERS’ ASSOCIATION
REPORTS TO THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, MARCH 31, 2011

Links to the following Reports:

TIRRA PRESIDENT'S ANNUAL REPORT, MARCH 2011

Similar to last year the executive has given significant time and effort caring for the business of the community. The details are covered in their reports and opportunity for comments or questions will be given at the AGM.

At this point the office of Recording Secretary will become vacant with no nominations to date.

I am willing to have my name stand for election next year along with other nominations.

Respectfully submitted,
Ernie Hunter

 

back to the top of the page

SANITATION COMMITTEE REPORT, MARCH, 2011

This report is an addendum to the Sanitation Committee Report which you have received and has appeared in the Spring 2011 Quarterly.

Future tasks that need to be addressed are:

  • A directory sign is the new addition to our Sanitation Yard.
  • Creating a formal dialogue with CVRD with the hopes of garnering their financial support for our locally developed and maintained sanitation system.
  • Continuing to educate our community in areas such as household garbage and recyclable materials.
  • Obtaining 100% collection of fees.
  • Like our Fire Department, sanitation is an essential service. This fact needs to be emphasized, especially to those who do not pay dues to support this essential service.
Challenge:

The biggest challenge remains our ability to financially sustain this essential service. The largest cost factor is the recycle costs which are approximately 70% of the garbage/recycle budget.

  • It is imperative that everyone, be they part or full time residents, pay their share for this service. We do not want a return to the unacceptable "system" that pre-dated this much improved essential service.
  • Continue to evaluate the present system and examine ways to reduce costs.
  • Enhance/support our system so that it will be sustainable for the long term.
Planned Strategies:

With present predictions the current system cannot sustain itself over the long term, especially not without the help of volunteers. A meeting will be taking place with CVRD, Area G Director, Mel Dorey to discuss:

  • Assistance required from CVRD.
  • We are providing a government mandated service.
  • Tax/financial issues for islanders versus the actual service that is supposed to be provided by the CVRD.
  • Thetis Islanders are completely funding this system. The CVRD should have an obligation to assist with grants to sustain this system.
Present and Future Options to address challenges:

Should negotiations with the CVRD fail and contributions do not keep up with garbage/recycle costs we will be required to explore:

  • Going back to the old system - which would not be good for our environment, our community or our island.
  • Provide no garbage or recycle service on island. All garbage and recycle would have to be taken off-island by residents.
  • Cost cutting options - reduce the system to 1 day a week.
  • Request the CVRD impose a tax on every property owner for this service rather than relying on voluntary payment of fees.
Updated Information:

  • All camps and institutions have private contracts for garbage and recycle removable.
  • Cowichan Valley School District #79 is now paying a yearly fee for garbage and recycle fee.
  • Thetis Island Parent Association has recently contributed $500.00 to the Sanitation Fund.
Sanitation Yard Volunteers:

Many thanks again for those community minded volunteers: Bob Bingham, Tim French, Hortensa Nawatzki, Vicki Walker and to Veronica Shelford for her computer expertise and support. Many thanks to Ken Youds, Vicki Walker and Ernie Hunter for agreeing to join our Sanitation Committee, their input and support, like all our community volunteers, is and has been invaluable.

REMINDER: We ALL have a responsibility to support this essential service, whether you are part-time residents or full time residents, whether you use this service or don't, it is a service that is supporting the health of our island and our Community.

Thank you for your support,

Respectfully Submitted,
Steve Frankel, on behalf Sanitation Committee and TIRRA.

 

back to the top of the page

TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE REPORT, MARCH 2011

In June 2010, Andy Newall, Highways Area Manager covering Thetis, visited Thetis. This visit was reported in detail at the October TIRRA General Meeting. As a result of this visit, the area of road repairs was extended, reflectors were added to define the side of the road on Moore Hill, and the yellow lines were repainted. He did not agree to lower the speed limit by the ferry line-up, as there is already a cautionary limit posted. He also did not agree to supply “hidden driveway” signs, saying that is the responsibility of the driveway owners.

In the fall, a question of the safety of trees overhanging Pilkey Point road on Moore Hill was raised. This was brought to the attention of Grant Gordon, who raised it with the highways tree expert. Dangerous trees were removed.

Respectfully submitted,
Graeme Shelford,
Chairman, Transportation Committee

 

back to the top of the page

TRAIL COMMITTEE REPORT, MARCH 2011

The community trail is owned and managed by the Thetis Island Residents and Ratepayers Association. It runs generally north and south through the middle of the island, linking Mission Road with Kenwood Drive.

The number of users has not been estimated. The worn pathway shows that it’s used year round, more often in the warmer months, mostly by people on foot and less often on horseback and trail bikes.

Periodically, the trail committee clears some aggressive vegetation, fallen trees and overhanging branches. Users are encouraged to leave it in its beautiful, natural state. Some logs have purposely been left in order to discourage use by motorized vehicles, which are not permitted on the trail. The spring of 2011 has been particularly wet and the worn pathways in places have served as small watercourses. While bridges are located in some soggy spots, waterproof hiking boots are recommended for the damp seasons.

In addition to its benefits for experiencing the inner wilds of Thetis, the trail is sometimes used by a few pedestrian commuters headed to and from the community centre and school. From time to time, TIRRA has discussed the possibility of extending the trail to link to the Pilkey Point area, but so far there’s been no action on this.

Dave Steen

 

back to the top of the page

LAND USE AND ENVIRONMENT REPORT, MARCH 2011

This committee has not been called upon to address any issues in the last year.
There is therefore nothing to report

Respectfully submitted,
Ann Keir,
Chairperson Land Use and Environment Committee.

 

back to the top of the page

BYLAWS COMMITTEE REPORT, 2011:

The executive has reviewed the current bylaws and have recommendations for discussion at the AGM. These will be posted on the web prior to the AGM. Any actual changes to the bylaws would not take place until the June General Meeting.

Respectfully submitted,
Tooner Knowles  

back to the top of the page

FERRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPORT, 2011:

During the past year the Ferry Advisory Chairs Committee, a body that is made up of the Chairs from each of the 12 regional Ferry Advisory Committees, have been engaged in dialogue with Ministry of Transportation Staff, the BC Ferry Commissioner, and BC Ferries in relation to the next Performance Term, that is Performance Term Three or PT3 as it is referred to.

This term commences April 01, 2012 and lasts until March 31, 2016.

The significance of this is that for this period, the Government will shortly be making decisions that will determine the level of service in relation to both sailings and transportation fees.

The Committee has worked long and hard to attempt to make the Government aware of the impact that continued fare increases are having on island communities. The concern is that there will have to be either significant increases in fares and/or reduction in service in order for the Government to achieve it's legislated goal to reduce its transportation fee and hence move toward a user pay system.

The Province has not increased the fee for service that it pays to BC Ferries since the Corporation was created, unlike the costs faced by BC Ferries in relation to providing service. These have increased significantly. Some of the factors leading to the increase are costs for vessel and terminal upgrades, fuel cost increases, Harmonized Sales Tax and decreased ridership.

BC Ferries in it's newly released Third Quarter Report of Fiscal 2010/2011, notes that on a year to year basis, vehicle traffic is 1.5 per cent lower and passenger traffic is .5 per cent lower than the previous year and that the company is anticipating a loss in the range of $20 million by March 31, 2012. The report farther states that "In addition to low traffic levels, other factors contributing to the anticipated loss are items such as the Harmonized Sales Tax, Transport Canada Mandates and Freedom of Information overhead expenses."

If the Province does not increase it's fee, it is conceivable that the minor routes could be facing double digit increases. The FACC has therefore requested that the government adjust the transportation fee to keep fare caps in line with both inflation and the support that it provides to highways and transit.

On a local level, we have had two meetings with BC Ferries in the past year on July 07 and October 25. Since there have been few agenda items submitted from the community, these meetings are usually of short duration and have focussed mainly on the Marine Operations Report, which is presented by the Marine Superintendent for the Southern Gulf Islands. The minutes of these meetings can be accessed on the BC Ferries website under Public Consultation.

Respectfully submitted,
Ann Keir  

back to the top of the page