ISLANDERS' SECURE LAND ASSOCIATION (ISLA)
Directors' Meeting
HICEEC Office, Hornby Island 16 June 2007
Present: Bill Engleton, Kevin McMahon, Michael McNamara, Joanne Ovitsland, Tony Law
M I N U T E S
1. Call to order, agenda and minutes.
The meeting was called to order by Tony Law at 11:20. The agenda was approved with two additions.
The minutes of the 21 May 2007 directors' meeting were adopted by general consent.
2. Financial report
Michael McNamara reported on additional memberships received. He noted that new signing officers are required for ISLA's Union Bay Credit Union Account.
It was moved (Engleson), seconded (McNamara) and carried that Michael McNamara, Joanne Ovitsland and Kevin McMahon will have signing authority with respect to ISLA's account with the the Union Bay Credit Union.
Joanne noted that ISLA needs to pay its contribution to the Housing Conference.
3. Island updates
Hornby - Tony Law reported that first reading has been given to the bylaws with respect to the Weiss property. A public hearing will be held in July. An application has been made by HICEEC for funding from the ACT program with respect to developing recommendations for a regulatory framework for secondary accommodation units.
Denman - Bill Engleson reported that the co-housing proposal on Denman is moving forward and that the Islands Trust has received an application with respect to the North Denman lands. He notes that Denman has a lot of work to do to develop a focus around housing issues.
4. Purposes of the association and charitable status
Joanne Ovitsland and Tony Law reported on the working group meeting to review the purposes of the Society. It was agreed that more refining is needed to meet the requirements for status as a charity. It was suggested that it would be useful to have a better understanding of how Salt Spring Community Housing and Land Trust Society and Habitat for Humanity, both of which are constituted to enable ownership housing, managed to secure status as charities. It was noted that the charities division is willing to provide feedback on draft changes to the constitution. Michael Berman is working on this issue.
5. Weiss property
It was agreed that Tony will draft an article for the July First Edition to restate the process for ISLA to develop a proposal for the land that would be donated by Bernhard and Christa Weiss.
ISLA directors should attend the public hearing and speak to the bylaws. Michael will talk to Bernhard about requirements he might have with respect to the land proposed for donation.
6. Outreach
Joanne reported that ISLA can have a table at a dance at the Ball Park on June 28. Three volunteers are needed: two to person the table and one to help out with the event.
Information on ISLA can be made available at the Real Hornby table at the Farmers' Market over the summer. Tony agreed to draft text for a revised brochure and Joanne agreed to design the brochure. It will include information about the purposes of ISLA, the role of a community land trust, the need for community support and how financial contributions will be used.
7. Housing needs survey
Tony reported that grant-in-aid funding is already over-subscribed. It may be difficult for HICEEC to secure funding. Other options will be explored, but ISLA may need to fund-raise for this. A focused approach is needed requiring a paid person.
8. Lopez CLT
Tony reported that he had talked with Sandy Bishop of Lopez CLT about her coming to give a community presentation and to participate in an intensive working meeting with ISLA to address specific issues that have been identified. She could combine this visit with one to Quadra. It was agreed that the new year would be good timing for this.
9. Policy development
Three important areas of policy development were identified: selection criteria, perpetual affordability and land development (Weiss property). Andrea Kaback has agreed to initiate work on selection criteria. Tony will try to find information on approaches to maintaining perpetual affordability. He will also draft an outline of options for the Weiss property as a starting point for discussion.
10. ISLA Forum
Kevin McMahon described the blog he has set up for an ISLA Forum. He will send out an email to all directors explaining how to use it. It was agreed that this will provide a useful vehicle for sharing information and continuing discussion on issues between meetings - including the issues identified for policy development. All directors should check in with the Forum once or twice a week.
11. Web site
Kevin reported that he is setting up the web site. He needs people to send him content. It will include the mailing address, the phone numbers of the executive and an email address (which directors can take turns being responsible for checking).
12. Membership
It was noted that changing membership requirements would involve changing the bylaws. If we are to continue with annual membership we need to have a stronger campaign for recruitment and renewal.
It was moved (Ovitsland), seconded (McNamara) and carried that ISLA continue
with the existing membership requirements and review in the fall.
13. Work program and budget
It was noted that as ISLA moves into a more active mode a work program and budget will be needed.
It was moved (Law), seconded (Ovitsland) and carried that the Executive be requested to prepare recommendations for a work program and budget for ISLA for late fall.
14. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 1:20pm
Follow-up action
Michael, Kevin, Joanne Establish signing authority at Credit Union
Michael Pay ISLA's contribution to the Housing Conference
Tony Draft First Edition article
All Attend public hearing
All Let Joanne know if you can volunteer on June 28
Tony/Joanne Prepare brochure
Mike Continue looking at charity application
(check with Salt Spring group and Habitat for Humanity?)
Andrea Initiate policy work on selection criteria
Tony Start finding models for perpetual affordability
Tony Draft outline of land development options
Kevin Send email explaining ISLA Forum blog
All Check blog
All Send material to Kevin for website
Kevin, Joanne Establish links between real hornby and ISLA web sites
Exec. Draft work program and budget by late fall