ISLANDERS SECURE LAND ASSOCIATION (ISLA)
Directors Meeting
May 12 2006 Community Health Care Building, Hornby Island
Present: Jan Bevan, Darlene Gage, Tony Law, Riane deSilva, Michelle St.Pierre, Kevin McMahon, Ian Thomson
Guests: Aija Mara, Yusumi Hornsby
Chair: Jan Bevan
Minute-taker: Tony Law
M I N U T E S
1. Call to order
The meeting was called to order at 12:30pm.
1. Check-in
Jan is now getting into her busy season. Darlene is finding it increasingly difficult to get to meetings. Michelle is having to deal with land partnership issues. Riane experiencing Denman as being less pro-active on housing issues. Ian finding that his work in other countries with communities in stress is making it clear to him that Hornby is in crisis. Tony stated that CMHC is providing financial support for development of “net zero” innovative housing. Aija Mara and Yusumi Hornsby attended to find out more about ISLA.
3. Agenda
It was agreed by general consent to focus upon the policy proposals being presented for discussion. It was agreed to add “membership drive” as a new business item.
4. Minutes of the previous meeting
As the revised minutes of the April meeting had only just become available it was agreed by general consent to delay consideration of approval to the June meeting.
5. Matters arising from minutes
Postponed to June meeting.
6. Reports
a) Executive Committee
Jan reported that she had attended the April Hornby Local Trust Committee Meeting at which she made a presentation, as a delegate, to provide an update on ISLA's current activities. Jan reported that the Weiss application was discussed at the meeting and that the planner will be obtaining more information from the applicants.
Jan also attended a meeting of the DIRA Northlands Committee to provide information about ISLA and its current focus upon policy development. In response to questions, Jan made it clear that ISLA would assume a neutral role in land use planning processes on Denman.
b) Financial/membership report
Michael provided a written financial statement showing a current balance of $1,452.83.
c) Projects Committee
Policy proposals discussed later in meeting.
d) Research Committee
Policy proposals discussed later in meeting.
e) Outreach Committee
Tony reported that regular articles will continue.
f) Legal / Finance Committee
No report.
g) Land Use Committee
No report.
h) Fundraising Committee
Michelle and Kevin reported on the dance. $191 was raised plus $100 dollars in membership. More than this, the success of the dance had raised the profile of ISLA in the community. The band is keen to come again, perhaps in the fall, and arranging other venues for the band (including Denman) would reduce costs.
Michelle has met with April Lewis with respect to ISLA benefiting from the Community Fund and has also talked to the Co-op about ISLA being a recipient of its fund-raising efforts.
There was discussion about a possible art auction (Labour Day weekend?) and ISLA being a beneficiary of “Beat without Borders”.
The directors expressed their strong appreciation for the work of Michelle and Kevin in organizing the dance and pursuing other fundraising possibilities.
7. BUSINESS
a) Reporting to DIRA and HIRRA
Postponed to June meeting.
b) Quorum
Jan reported on the Executive Committee's recommendation that the quorum for a directors' meeting be five members or fifty percent of members, whichever is less. It was noted that this would be an interim requirement until new bylaws are adopted.
In discussion, the question was raised about whether there should be at least one director from each island present to enable a quorum. It was noted that at present this would put a lot of pressure on the existing directors from Denman as there are only two. The quorum requirement could later be revised when there is more balanced representation.
It was agreed, as a matter of principle, that the Board will not make any decisions with respect to issues pertinent to a particular island without a director from that island being present.
M/S/C Riane/Michelle – That the quorum for a meeting of the directors of ISLA be 5 members or fifty per cent of directors, whichever is the smaller.
c) New director
Jan reported that she has not been successful in making contact with Eleanor Kneffel who has not attended a Board meeting since the AGM and who had indicated to another director that she was considering resigning. Paddy O'Connell of Denman Island has expressed interest in serving on the Board.
Jan will continue to try to contact Eleanor to see if she will submit a letter of resignation. Jan will also invite Paddy to the next directors' meeting. If Eleanor has resigned, Paddy can be appointed to the Board at the next meeting.
8. Discussion items
a) Meeting processes (including conflict resolution)
Postponed
b) Density transfer
Postponed
c) Denman OCP process
Posponed
d) Denman Northlands process
Riane reported that the DIRA Committee will be conducting a community survey. There is a notice of motion for the next DIRA meeting to disband this committee. The developers are trying to pursue a collaborative process. The issue continues to be controversial with strong positions being taken by some.
e) Policies on projects
Tony presented the first draft of suggested policies for land acquisition together with drafts of information required for decision making.
Discussion included suggestions to address disclosure, community consultation, controversial issues and land use processes. Tony will revise the drafts to incorporate these issues and to provide more clarity. The revised drafts will be circulated in advance of the next meeting so that approval can be considered.
f) Policies on home-owner selection
Darlene presented draft eligibility criteria for selecting home owners together with information on criteria used by the Northern California Land Trust and calculations of income levels necessary for potential home owners to acquire an ISLA home. Jan Bevan presented a draft of ISLA Home-Ownership Criteria.
In discussion, it was noted that there could be alternative types of dwellings utilized that could reduce costs. Labour-intensive construction (such as cob houses) could be cheaper to build if volunteer labour is used. In some circumstances, trailers could provide interim housing. There may be cases of donations of land with existing dwelling units.
It was also suggested that social criteria and financial criteria be addressed separately.
It was generally agreed that ISLA should focus on providing housing that supports overall community needs. Thus, a key requirement could be that households include children. Another could be an applicant's record of on-going service to the community.
It was agreed that an applicant needs to be able prove an ability to pay for housing (such as through a demonstrated rental history). A down payment could be a challenge for those whose circumstances have not enabled them to create savings.
Directors reported that members of the public are interested in knowing what the criteria will be, but it is clear that this is a complex issue that requires more discussion.
It was suggested that perhaps we need to first create a set of principles which can then be used to generate criteria.
The Research Committee will draft a set of principles to govern eligibility. These will be circulated to directors and discussed at the next meeting.
g) Documentation of housing needs
Ian stated that he is encountering resistance from people who d not believe there is a housing problem. Anecdotal information does not seem to do the job. Jan noted that Michael had agreed to review existing information. Tony stated that present documentation may not reveal the extent of the problem because so many people have left the islands.
Tony agreed to draft an article for the summer that would include what documented information is available. Ian will also consider writing an article.
9. New business
a) Membership drive
Darlene expressed the need for a membership drive, particularly on Denman. Riane stated that Denman can be slow at adopting new initiatives, particularly in the present political/social climate. She suggested that ISLA continue with public education and then look at a membership drive in the fall. The store porch and the recycling depot are key locations. Darlene suggested we discuss membership at the next meeting - including trying to secure those who tend to be early adopters.
10. Next meetings
Tuesday June 6 at 12:15 at the Health Care Building, Hornby Island
(Kevin will take minutes)
Friday July 7 at 12:45 - Riane to secure a Denman location.
11. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 3:20pm