TO The Community of Saanich FROM District of Saanich DATE January 30, 2017 RE Meeting Notes Haro Woods Jan 28th Community Engagement Goward House, 2495 Arbutus Road, Victoria BC Attendance In total, 18 attendees from the community provided input for the 2.5 hour long event. Four Advisory Group (AG) members also volunteers and attended, bringing the total number of participants to 22. Our thanks to all who provided their comments so that work on the draft plan can begin. Once the draft is available, another community event will be announced. Presentation Gary Darrah (Saanich Parks, Planning and Design Manager) welcomed attendees. Becky Goodall (Saanich Parks, Designer/Planner) gave an overview of the history of Haro Woods, the community input gathered from 2010 onward, showed maps of trails and explained that the purpose of the event was to determine support from the vision and to create some goals. Comments from attendees: We didn t hear about previous events? Why was this not put out to resident associations? (A: All information was sent out through resident associations, posted on the Saanich website and posted in Saanich news. Added note: Saanich also sent out the notice to an extensive list of stakeholders, mailed residents via Canada Post, hand delivered flyers, posted signs on-site, notified via social media) Suggest to put up notice on announcement board We are not talking about kids jumps. These are build by adults. They are 6ft! Who s in the advisory group? (A: Becky explained representation and thanked those who represent the community) Bike usage present in values statements!?! page 1 of 7
Review of Vision Facilitation began that included acceptance of rules for respectful discussion. The group reviewed the vision statement: Haro Woods is a healthy, functioning urban forest that welcomes all respectful users. Vision wording was then explored in more depth. Comments at this time included: Keep wording as forest, not park Is it a forest or woods? (A: Darren Copley, Saanich Environmental Education Officer, defined a forest as not just trees (woods) but three layers: forest floor, understory, canopy & emergents) Need mediation to prevent erosion Is it possible that for instance removing blackberry could destroy habitat? (A: Darren said that invasive species removal is done slowly so new native plants can be planted in their place) Preferred wording welcomes all respectful uses not all respectful users A respectful user was defined as: Picking up litter Leave no garbage No bikes! Discussion that inclusion is important Rules can t be enforced Education is key Let s include managed No bikes of any kind Public outreach to educate and promote awareness of sensitive natural areas No off-leash dogs Put a belt around the biggest tree as to its age Bike only on paths, signs about erosion Restore disturbed areas e.g. CRD attenuation tanks Do not dump garden waste Respect all users, respect wildlife example: don t chase deer or stamp on creepies Must recognize users includes students and children and allow them to use the park not limit them to looking Respectful user one who leaves the world as they found it Management policies must allow for trails/fences/(hedges) etc as improvements to direct use and protect soils / plants from degradation and prevent braiding page 2 of 7
Jason Jones (title) was asked to provide insights on what youth have asked for when he worked on the Youth Strategy for Saanich. He said that the youth survey showed that they believe parks are for kids & old people yet there is nothing for youth to do youth like some risk. Discussion continues about wording and again defining respectful use. Add to vision: accommodating respectful use respectful is not inclusive enough Add to vision: ecosystem Add to vision: inclusion Promote natural eco forest system Vision to include ecosystem and wildlife. Change users to use Vision use not users, include eco-system and wildlife Change users to use Keep it natural no concrete, no structures, no asphalt Discussions then moved to goals for the three themes: access/connection, protection and recreation. GOALS Previous Goals for Access and Connections 1. Unrestricted access for people and animals no fences 2. Maintain connection across CRD parcel Additional Goals for Access and Connections Access must include children, teens and university students Signs page 3 of 7
Connection with other parks Finnerty (2 entrances), Arbutus (2 entrances), Haro (1 entrance and exit point) No development e.g. no amenities or parking No paving, no concrete, no asphalt The entry to Haro Woods where creek ends needs to be improved and watch for pedestrian signs Get rid of enter at your own risk signs. Put up some trail names or mini maps like Goward Woods No concrete, no asphalt, chip trails Previous Goals for Protection 1. Functional hydrological system 2. Minimize tree loss 3. Promote biodiversity 4. Protect Finnerty Creek 5. Remove invasive species 6. Support the urban forest 7. Multiple stakeholder stewardship, bring landowners to joint stewardship 8. Protect and enhance animal habitat 9. Restored into a native environment Additional Goals for Protection Promote programs educating public of environment of what an ecosystem is Restore to point that salmon return Protect and preserve creek Identify and protect designated features i.e. creek bed Saanich, CRD and UVic must work together for a vision and management page 4 of 7
Promoting awareness of unique environment of cultural history of Coast Salish people. Protect wildlife habitat UVic housing has youth who need woods to play. They need to be engaged in planning Protect the creek and all wildlife Create protective covenant Educate about protection about erosion etc. Healthy forest. Every 5 years to survey wildlife and plants Reduce invasive, Increase natives Recognize dynamic nature of forest Team needed to remove ivy off trees and ground Recognize that wildlife varies by various forests (native programs) Watershed run-off managed to prevent run-off Salmon creek habitat restoration (possible?) Limiting width of trails to avoid braiding fracturing forest ecosystem Sanctuary for rapidly disappearing wildlife Previous Goals for Recreation 1. Allow kids to play 2. Accommodate off-trail biking 3. Forbid off-trail biking Additional Goals for Recreation Natural appreciation of the park/urban forest No biking (not even kids) Bikers must stay on trails and no digging and building No conditions Public programs on urban forest: what is it? how to keep it? No bikes of any kind; no motorised vehicles Off-leash dog - maybe stay on trails Dogs on lease (leash?) Discussion: What is respectful use? Leave the place as you found it Educational programs Respect wildlife Good water management What is respectful use based on kinds of users? (i.e. dog walkers, biking, joggers, etc Don t leave dog poop! page 5 of 7
Take litter On trail better than off trail Not all dogs can be controlled Not enforceable Limit braiding (trail widening) What about access to the forest? We need safe forest access. Cars whip around the corner. What about off trail biking? No, on-trail biking only Discussion about whether on-trail biking could be allowed under conditions? Group requested a vote taken but only 5 of 20 people chose to vote: 2 yes, 3 no. What might those conditions be? No digging or building, speed limits, bells or other caution devices, signs, designated areas or trails, grading, volunteer stewards Let s not forget streams Restrictions are also for the safety of little children on bikes Child said that we love to be in the park Clear signs on where people should/shouldn t bike Staff/personnel to maintain trails Designated area for more rambunctious cycling Speed for trail riders Bells or warning system or with voice Cycling OK but no digging! Keep to natural paths Cycling passage ways (shared trail) for university students Need some designated trails, Bikes only, reinforce those to prevent natural degradation Others no bikes Professionally designed BMX trail Well marked trail to alert pedestrians Offer outreach/public viewing of smaller events e.g. contests Prevent/limit trail braiding Area for jumps and mountain bike riding in disturbed areas Other trails ride on trails to reduce braiding on edges South island mountain bike help Environmental assessment Use only in low impact way page 6 of 7
Mitigate and manage erosion Encourage volunteer stewardship/trail maintenance (work with SIMBS*) *SIMBS is the South Island Mountain Bike Society Park watch program (similar to Gorge) No digging, and public education Give me the area at the bottom to bike/jump (section with hole in it) While we did not request solutions or actionable items, we invited those who had action items to provide their comments for review though these were not discussed. Suggested action items: Use bottom of woods by Haro (Road) to allow kids/teens to build jumps, hideouts, etc. Start dialogue with UVic and CRD re: joint management of contiguous lands Use that does not negatively impact the natural space, wildlife, bird population zipline at Houlihan Park Need examples of managed bike trail systems to show how to deal with negative impacts Display, slide show Provide a slide show of how a managed bike trail system Water-street run off (management) in Finnerty Creek watershed to stem erosion Restoration of salmon in Finnerty Creek (is this possible?) get UVIc Enviro studies involved? Humans do not always have to come first. Respect nature. Limited off trail use of all forest users Remove invasive species Get CRD, UVic and Saanich talking together Pass a bylaw prohibiting biking in Haro Woods No bikes or dirt bikes nor any motorised vehicles Protect the creek; clean it up Make by-law to prevent BMX and other bikers No paving, no concrete, no asphalt Saanich, CRD and UVic must work together for a vision and management Bikers must stay on trails and no digging No development e.g. no amenities Team needed to remove ivy off trees and ground No bikes or mountain bikes. Pass bylaw to ban them. Co-ordinate with CRD and UVic to create a parks that serve different needs Coordinate with CRD & UVic on acceptable uses for parts of Haro Woods in general Define and enshrine in bylaw permissible use. Then enforce. Natural paths and trails. No concrete. No asphalt. The group agreed that due to time restraints that the Advisory Group should take the suggested wording and work that into the vision statement that can be posted online for community input. Wishes for a happy year of the rooster were shared and we wrapped up just before 12:30 p.m. page 7 of 7