Islanders Secure Land Association (ISLA)
June 1, 2008 at New Horizons Centre
Present: Joanne Ovitsland, Scott Sweeney, Kevin MacMahon, Michael McNamara, Michelle Wilson, Bill Engleson, Erin O'Brien-Hornsey
Recorder: Reina LeBaron
Guest Presenter: Margaret Eberle
Approximately 24
community members
Regrets: Ian Thomson, Michael Berman
Call to order: 11:15 am.
1. Introduction: Michael McNamara opened the meeting and introduced the current board members. He announced HICEEC’s Community Housing for Small Communities Workshop coming up on June 6-8, 2008, sponsored in part by ISLA
2. Guest presention: Tony Law introduced the guest presenter Margaret Eberle who is the consultant working on a Hornby and Denman Housing Needs Assessment. Margaret Eberle made a presentation on housing trends in Canada and the situation on Hornby and Denman islands specifically.
3. Agenda was approved by general consent.
4.
Minutes of March 10, 2007 Annual General Meeting
were presented by Bill Engleson.
M/S/C Bill Engleson/Tim Biggins “That the minutes be adopted as
read.”
5. Director’s Report presented by Michael McNamara:
Charitable Status: The ownership model is the most available and will be pursued by ISLA initially. There is also a need for rental housing which will be pursued later. By pursuing the ownership model, ISLA is deciding not to pursue charitable status with Revenue Canada.
Housing Conference: The 2007 Housing Conference was very successful. The board is looking forward to the upcoming Community Housing for Small Communities Workshop which will focus on the logistics and practical details of setting up community housing.
6.
Treasurer’s Report
presented and reviewed by Michael McNamara:
2007 fundraising raised just over $1000. The current bank balance is $2,935.
ISLA will receive funds from the Community Quilt raffle this year. More
volunteers are still needed to help with the Quilt raffle.
Union Bay Credit Union is willing to waive the $10 per month fee on the ISLA
account. It is not clear whether UBCU will be willing to refund the $260
already removed from the account for monthly fees.
M/S/C Michael McNamara/Scott Sweeney “That the Treasurer’s Report be
accepted as presented.”
7.
Weiss potential
land donation: Michael
McNamara displayed a map of the Weiss property and outlined the process thus
far:
Land has been traded out of the ALR (with a net gain
for the ALR). Rezoning is underway to shift a
property line and subdivide thirty acres into four small (approx. 2.5 acre)
lots and donate twenty acres to a community housing group such as ISLA.
The Weiss’ have satisfied all Islands Trust requirements including having an
environmental assessment done on the Riparian zone of Beulah Creek. The final
lot sizes will depend on water and waste capacity.
Once land has been donated for community housing it will still need to be
rezoned with a specific development plan.
8.
Denman Report
by Bill Engleson: Denman’s
Official Community Plan is currently under review. Although the Advisory
Planning Commission recommended approving secondary dwellings for many lots,
there is not much likelihood of them being approved for the R1 zones although
they may be approved for the larger-lot R2 zones or in a specified area around
downtown Denman. The issue is impacted by the question of whether to require
Housing Agreements and if so, how to administer them. There has also been
discussion around “density banking” when setting aside land for conservation.
There has been some interest on Denman in creating a separate Denman Community
Land Trust. If ISLA is to be a successful inter-island group there will need to
be more outreach done on Denman.
9.
Election: All present board members agreed to stand
for re-election.
Jo Ann Harrison and Henning Neilson were willing to stand for election.
There was extensive discussion about conflict of interest. Both Jo Ann and
Henning are connected to the proposed Denman Northlands Project which has been
very divisive on Denman.
It was pointed out that there are protocols for dealing with conflict of
interest. It was pointed out that there are other ways to be involved with ISLA
besides becoming board members.
Following the discussion, Henning and Jo Ann withdrew their names from the
election but expressed their willingness to support ISLA in whatever way
possible.
Tomas Soucy of Denman was willing to stand for election but was unable to
attend the meeting. The membership did not feel comfortable voting for him in
absentia.
It was pointed out that a constituted board may accept further board members
after the AGM if it proves necessary.
Jenny Brown was nominated and was willing to stand for election.
Masoud Zadeh was nominated and was willing to stand for election.
Michael McNamara called three times for further nominees.
M/S/C Jan Bevan/Scott Sweeney “That all the current board members and
the two nominees present be elected as the board of ISLA for 2008.”
Adjourned: 1:17 pm.