ASIC Update 13 - 11
Dear Members of ASIC
and the Savary Island community,
In this Issue:
1. Community Hall Manager(s)
2. Transportation
2.a. MoT’s Regional Transportation Plan
2.b. Fall Grading, but no Gravel
2.c. Parking Congestion
3. Volunteer Committee: Noise Reduction Education Program
4. Notice of Correction
5. Membership Questions
1. Community Hall Manager(s). As reported in the October Update, a Licence
of Occupation has been issued for community use of the upstairs at the main
fire hall. Given this new status, ASIC has been tasked with finding an individual
or a group of people to act as the Community Hall Manager(s) to oversee the
community aspect of the facility. This will involve being a booking agent for the
hours or days of occupation, developing procedures for the use of the facility,
such as occupancy limits and maintenance deposits, and some form of cost
structure to ensure the SIVFD can be reimbursed for diesel and propane costs
associated with community use of the hall. We believe the Community Hall
Manager should be a permanent Savary resident year-round, or a group of
managers with differing periods of absence from the island, to keep the job
continuous. Expressions of interest should be sent to
savaryislandcommittee@shaw.ca
2. Transportation.
2.a. MoT’s Regional Transportation Plan. The Ministry of Transportation
has a new online survey to evaluate public support for each of a range of
options to improve transportation in the region and better meet the needs of the
public. If you would like to have your thoughts heard on transportation issues
such as BC Ferries (home-porting, part of highway system), bicycling issues, air
travel options, electric cars, school buses, transit buses, Squamish/Powell River
road link, Lund parking, Savary Island roads, Texada issues, etc., the Ministry of
Transportation would like to hear from you. The survey has some interesting
questions about Savary roads, parking and vehicle use.
Your input would be very much appreciated. Please go to the following link to
complete the online survey:
https://www.research.net/s/prrd_public_consultation_2
There will also be public meetings held to present the options at the following
locations, dates and times:
Wednesday, November 13, Lang Bay Community Hall
Thursday, November 14, Royal Canadian Legion, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Wednesday, November 20, Texada Community Hall, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Thursday, November 21, Lund Community Centre, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Further details can be viewed on the PRRD webpage at
http://www.powellriverrd.bc.ca/2013/11/regional-transportation-plan/
Please note that this is a public questionnaire rather than a specific stakeholder
orientated questionnaire, so ASIC members should respond based on personal
opinion. Please also share this link with your friends and colleagues so that the
response rate can be maximized.
2.b. Fall Grading, but No Gravel. MoT’s subcontractor Capilano Highways
sent a grader to Savary in late October to fix the pot-holes on our main roads.
However, no new gravel was put down, and after a few days of rain, the potholes began to return to their previous state.
ASIC has been pressing for gravel from MoT for several years now to correct
the many road deficiencies here. In 2012, in conjunction with the parking
upgrades on Malaspina, MoT placed gravel on Vancouver Blvd at mid-island,
and that gravel has prevented a recurrence of the mud problem in that area.
MoT recently offered to enter into a discussion with ASIC as to how to provide
the best service to Savary, based on the provincial maintenance agreement. We
are working toward a letter of understanding from MoT outlining what Savary
Island can expect on an annual basis for road maintenance.
2.c. Parking Congestion. There are currently no new developments
regarding parking availability or regulations since the October 10 meeting of the
Powell River Regional District, MoT, RCMP and ASIC. A number issues were
identified that required further investigation. The principle focus for ASIC is on
unlicensed and uninsured vehicles that occupy the limited parking spaces of
Malaspina, Ashworth, and the upper lot behind the Rogers Hall. We have again
requested RCMP action on this ongoing problem.
Also overdue is the completion of Stage-1 of previous PRRD Chief
Administrative Officer Mac Fraser’s March 2012 plan. Stage-1 was to upgrade
parking areas along Malaspina Promenade and install signage that clearly
communicated parking time limitations. That signage was never erected. Stage2, if required, is to introduce parking regulations and associated enforcement
through vehicle towing and impoundment. ASIC has written to MoT and the
PRRD requesting that Stages-1 and -2 be completed with enforceable parking
signage, and vehicle towing and impoundment, to open up parking spaces that
should be available to day-trippers. We recognize that implementation will
involve some challenges, but understand that parking congestion will become
worse without a concerted plan from the PRRD, RCMP, MoT and ASIC.
If you are frustrated with the ongoing lack of available parking spaces near the
wharf, please help us deal with this problem by doing these two things:
# 1. Contact the Powell River RCMP Detachment, either in person at 7070
Barnet or by phone 604-485-6255, to file a complaint. Please remember to
obtain a file number for future reference. Uninsured vehicles parked in the area
of the wharf are subject to fines and towing.
# 2. Send an email to ASIC at savaryislandcommittee@shaw.ca with
information about the incident and include the RCMP file number. We are
documenting ongoing parking issues and are interested in hearing from you.
3. Volunteer Committee: Noise Reduction Education Program.
By Mike Edwards.
The subject of nuisance noise on Savary was discussed at the last ASIC
general meeting. In response, ASIC struck a committee to consider the issue.
There are no noise bylaws on Savary. Freedom from regulation is one of those
things we all enjoy here so the question of what constitutes nuisance noise is an
individual judgment call. My reasonable need to fire up my chainsaw to down a
dangerous tree may well spoil your quiet afternoon on the deck and seem
unreasonable to you.
But perhaps there are some noise guidelines that we could agree are
reasonable? Should we discuss our noisy plans with our neighbours before we
turn on the planer? Should we endeavour to run the quietest generator possible
and then only during certain times?
Please send your ideas on what constitutes reasonable noise guidelines to
savaryislandcommittee@shaw.ca. The Noise Reduction Education
subcommittee will review the submissions for general themes and common
suggestions. ASIC will publish a summary prior to next summer's general
meeting along with a proposal to be considered by the membership.
4. Notice of Correction. In last month’s Update, we incorrectly reported that
Paul Leighton, who has volunteered for the Noise Reduction Education
subcommittee, was from Area-B of Savary Island. Paul is in fact from Area-C, as
is Mike Edwards, who is leading this initiative. We are hoping that volunteers will
step forward from Areas-A and -B so that we have a larger representation of the
island working on the program. Please volunteer at
savaryislandcommittee@shaw.ca.
5. Membership Questions. In the October Update, we shared some
questions that had been asked about ASIC membership. Here is another FAQ:
Q. My company owns a Savary lot, and I own a Savary lot. Can I be a member
twice?
A. You personally cannot be a member twice, but you can be a member while
your incorporated company is also a member. Your corporation is recognized as
a person, so qualifies for ASIC membership, but of course requires a human
representative to do the voting on Motions and in elections. That human
representative is the "designated voter," a term that comes from the previous
Savary Island Committee (SIC) election requirements. The owner of the
company designates the voter, and that voter could be you. You could therefore
vote twice, but as two different members.
To join ASIC or update your contact information, email Sharon Feduniak at
sfeduniak@gmail.com or mail Box 222 Lund BC V0N 2G0.
If you would like to express your viewpoint on anything in this issue, email
savaryislandcommittee@shaw.ca or mail Box 222 Lund BC V0N 2G0.
Thank you for reading this message.
Sherryl Yaciansky
Communications Chair
Association of the Savary Island CommitteeOur mailing address is:
Association of the Savary Island Committee
PO Box 222
Savary Island, Bc V0N 2G0
Canada