DISTRICT OF SQUAMISH

Transcription

1 DISTRICT OF SQUAMISH A G E N D A For the Meeting of the Smoke Bluffs Park Advisory Committee to be Held on Thursday, October 3, 2013 at 7:00 pm in Council Chambers, Second Avenue, Squamish BC 1. ADOPTION OF AGENDA Staff Recommendation: THAT the October 3, 2013 Smoke Bluffs Park Committee meeting Agenda be adopted. 2. MINUTES A. COMMITTEE MINUTES (i) Meeting Minutes Staff Recommendation: THAT the minutes of the Smoke Bluffs Park Committee meeting be approved. (ii) June 6, 2013 Meeting Minutes For information. B. BUSINESS ARISING 3. BUSINESS A. (i) Budget Update and District Report E. Naisby (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) Crag Workgroup B. Moorhead Trails & Amenities J. Harvey Mountain Bike Trail J. Harvey/E. Naisby Artic Air Movie Shoot B. Moorhead 4. COUNCIL 5. CORRESPONDENCE 6. ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION 7. TERMINATION Staff Recommendation: THAT the meeting be terminated.

2 DISTRICT OF SQUAMISH Minutes of the Meeting of the Smoke Bluffs Park Advisory Committee held Thursday, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers, Second Avenue, Squamish, B.C. PRESENT ABSENT ADVISORY STAFF Eric Hughes, Member at Large John Harvey, Member at Large Todd Gerhart, Member at Large Laura Modray, Member at Large Jamie Finlayson Climber Access Society of British Columbia Brian Moorhead, Chair, Squamish Access Society Helen Habgood, Deputy Chair, Federation of Mountain Clubs Spencer Fitschen Howe Sound Trials Riders Association Bob Brant, Squamish Trails Society Councillor Raiser Mayor Kirkham Elaine Naisby, Planner Rod MacLeod, Director of Engineering The Chair called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. 1. ADOPTION OF AGENDA It was moved by T. Gerhart, seconded by E. Hughes, THAT the Smoke Bluffs Park Committee meeting agenda be adopted. CARRIED 2. MINUTES A. COMMITTEE MINUTES (i) May 2, 2013 Meeting Minutes It was moved by T. Gerhart, seconded by H. Habgood, THAT the May 2, 2013 meeting minutes for the Smoke Bluffs Park Committee be approved. CARRIED (ii) June 6, 2013 Meeting Minutes For information. B. BUSINESS ARISING NIL 3. BUSINESS A. (i) Budget Update and District Report E. Naisby and R. MacLeod advised on the Smoke Bluffs Park budget and District matters for discussion: $15,869 budget remaining for 2013; 2014 capital budget planning; Smoke Bluffs Park Management Plan will be addressed separately from the other capital projects; Engineering is responsible for environmental management for the District; and, the parking lot and bridge construction projects will require an environmental review process;

3 Page 2 BC Hydro vegetation clearing; that Hydro does not need permission to clear unless a site alteration is involved. Discussion about requesting Hydro to sponsor some aspects of the parking expansion project for mutual long-term interests. Members advised that Hydro should be directed to clear vegetation next week on their site visit. Members were advised that the area would not be cleared enough for parking; Members were advised of the walk throughs with J. Harvey, B. Moorhead and E. Naisby of the parking lot towards Alexis; that a few trees were marked and species groups noted for retaining; Pruning plan for topping smaller conifers every 3 years and budgeting; for future, consider whether the work may be taken on by the committee; New District staff position hired for Events & Filming Liaison; Proposed planting at the entry where the new big culverts are; E. Naisby and B. Moorhead to move forward with finding a contractor and advise members of the quote, and if the costs are anticipated to exceed budget; Increasing budget over $1k if needed; Discussion about whether the District would take over the vegetation work in the future or would this continue to be contracted out. (ii) Crag Working Group Report B. Moorhead advised on the Crag Workgroup activities for discussion: Project started in Tunnel Rock has resumed under a new volunteer; Suggested experimenting with seeding along Second Avenue; J. Harvey and B. Moorhead to look at project for contractor to improve drainage and access to Crack Rock; Committee acknowledged for successfully implementing strategies to distribute climbers throughout the park; Order placed with Climb On for anchor hardware; will be ready mid-sept.; Crack Rock drainage issue and mitigation; discussion about creating a level zone (using riprap and fill); E. Hughes and B. Moorhead to walk through; Consider using mineral soils and gravel for Second Ave. and have it looked at by a contractor. (iii) Trails and Amenities Report J. Harvey advised on the trails and amenities for discussion: Notice removed from the kiosk at top of kids zone (upper kiosk) and updating the wording of the old notice then putting it back in the kiosk; Commented about servicing kids zone park and costs; Commented about the long-term strategy, the kids park and parking lot; Graveling work for Burgers and Fries in the flat zone where gravel has dissipated and erosion; Machine projects.

4 Page 3 (iv) Mountain Bike Trail E. Naisby advised on the mountain bike trail for discussion: Bird nesting season has passed however nests will still need to be respected; Consider that the proposed trail is in a wildlife corridor and any additional trail will have an edge effect (a much wider impact on the wildlife than its physical width); That the District has some concerns about rider safety from the new section mountain bike trail recently built and wants to ensure that the trail is a success; Safety measures and ensuring that the new proposed trail section will meet its intended objectives of reducing high speed mountain bikers from contacting with pedestrians by separating these groups. That the proposed trail has to be designed, built and signed to slow down mountain bikers. That the details of how the trail will be built and how it addresses the safety concerns, especially at intersections, needs to be provided; J. Harvey advised that the lower road was a safety issue and that downhill mountain bikers should be engaged by the design of the new trail to use it instead of sharing the main trail with pedestrians; that the design is a strong influence of whether the trail will be used by mountain bikers; As requested by J. Harvey, E. Naisby read out an correspondence from Roland Benesocky from SORCA (from February 2013) which acknowledged SORCA s review of the trail with J. Harvey, commented on safety and expressed favour with new trail; E. Naisby advised that letter does not address the environment. Members commented for discussion: Event organizers are responsible for safety of their events and for determining, directing and marking the routes; Signage is important in pedestrian areas to warn of mountain bikers; Federation of Mountain Clubs (FMC); that FMC originally agreed to the plan because it increased safety and has no interest in the mountain biking aspect; The newly built section has become a purpose built downhill trail so the responsibilities have changed including due diligence; Consider building new section to slow down downhill mountain bikers since it is easier to travel faster down the improved terrain; Trail will not stop pedestrians and mountain bikers from intersecting; Discussion whether committee has enough interest to pursue project. J. Harvey left the meeting at 8:14 p.m. Newly built trail section was done with approval from FMC and achieved its objectives; however, the District has safety concerns which will need to be addressed if/when the rest of the trail is built;

5 Page 4 Importance of examining the relationship of user groups and the trail; S. Fitchen to research and provide findings and thoughts to the committee; General agreement that the project is on hold until a proposal with details on how to fix the problem of separating bikers and pedestrians is developed (not a proposal which moves the conflict to a different part of the trail). (v) Composting Toilet E. Naisby and R. MacLeod advised on the composting toilet for discussion: $14k grant from Mountain Equipment Co-op covers basic cost of toilet and 2 years of maintenance, does not cover cleaning and supplies (or any additional features or improvements); Consider upgrading design to hardy planks from cedar for durability; Grant expires in June 2014; the District can budget for operating in 2014, or the Smoke Bluffs Park budget can take on additional costs; gives time to plan and to work with Coastal Health; Solids are composted by worms; liquids still have to be dealt with and are filtered through the ground so Coastal Health has to be involved; Consider not using sweeper mechanism but as an add on, follow European method of an automatic lever; lever (incl. door and conveyor) versus sweeper method discussion; Kids zone location preferred for installation since it will keep the cost down and is a good trial run for product; members requested that the District ensure the facility maintenance is covered by Carney s or the District; Suggestion to contact UBC to see how well their installation system is working; R. MacLeod advised that the District will bring the plan back to the group; members supported that staff start working with Geoff Hill from Tech Toilets Solutions and Coast Garibaldi Health. (vi) BC Hydro Vegetation Removal Plans Discussed under item 3. A.(i). 4. COUNCIL NIL 5. CORRESPONDENCE NIL 6. ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION The members discussed roundtable: $8k of $15k budget may be left; E. Hughes and B. Moorhead to walk through and discuss machine projects; Consider budgeting for studies; a study to determine carrying capacity in the park and/or a study of visitors/park users; Summit trail; E. Naisby, B. Moorhead and District Real Estate Manager Neil Plumb to walk through trail for exploring possibilities for further trail extensions in the future; S. Fitschen to be invited to join in;

6 Page 5 Bolt sharpening issue and remediation for spots where bolts have sharpened due to climber inexperience; concerns about future impact on rappelling and resulting problems; E. Hughes and B. Moorhead to address. L. Modray left the meeting at 8:53 p.m. Kids zone cragging area and consensus to take anchors out and ensure kids only sign is removed; Envision increasing Smoke Bluffs Park climbing routes by as possible capacity; Consider carrying capacity and visual impacts of further developing climbs in park; (bleach incidents example as a negative impact). 7. TERMINATION Staff recommendation: It was moved by T. Gerhart, seconded by J. Finlayson, THAT the meeting of be terminated. CARRIED Meeting Adjourned at 8:57 p.m. Next meeting is Thursday, October 3, Brian Moorhead, Chair