Fraser Heights Community Association

FRASER HEIGHTS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION MINUTES

February 19, 2014

President’s report

• Web site – www.fhca.ca
• Lindsay Ryerson, president
• FHCA is a volunteer organization – we volunteer our time to represent the community
• If you have problems in our community, please send your information to us and we will look into these issues (go to Contact Us on the fhca.ca website).
• If you are not currently on the email list, go to our website and sign up.  This is our primary site to collect comments from residents about community issues so we know about them and can send them on to the City.
• FHCA helps shape policy and issues that involve our community

Treasurer’s report

• Financial statement –total account balance is $3,932.18

Police and Security – Corporal Bryan Tepper (acting as district commander)

• Bryan has just come back to Surrey after 2.5 years away and reported the crime rate had gone down in his time away
• If you don’t report crimes in Fraser Heights, there will be no record of themso police can’t track the criminals.  Call the Non-Emergency RCMP number 604-599-0502 about any incidents, no matter how small they seem.
• Overall plan with everything that’s happening – RCMP – moving back to front line policing so they are visible.  Manpower is the problem right now.  Last year they asked for 57 officers and got 1 or 2.  A lot of new recruits go to smaller communities.
• If you see a crime, you’re the public eyes so let police know about it.
• Surrey RCMP have website – up and running – online reporting of crimes/incidents if don’t need immediate police attendance (e.g., people coming and going, recovery etc).   Mischief on property (graffiti on fences, etc., –   You’ll be able to use bylaws to post complaints about these problems.
• There is a 6 member bike patrol – they work out of the old bylaws office (old City Hall) and will cover the entire City
• District offices have 2 officers who can go on the road for visibility and community safety.  They can give out tickets etc. where needed.
• Write emails to the City of Surrey (RCMP) to say you want to see RCMP on the streets.  Visible foot controls help stop petty crime
• Theft from mailboxes – residents can install their own cameras to film mailboxes as long as the cameras do not encroach on a resident’s privacy (you can’t film into someone’s house).  Your camera should be pointed into the street at not at a home.
• Mailbox theft has been a big issue and will get worse.  Some Postal carriers have had their keys stolen from them.  Canada Post is upgrading some of the community boxes to sturdier boxes – requests can be made to Canada Post to have these installed to replace your current boxes.
• Empty your mailbox daily (they are often broken into between 3 and 5 a.m.).  They’ll steal anything out of the boxes.
• Community safety officers are now starting to use “bait mail”in some of the boxes
• The Overpass from Tynehead had been a crime generator but has now died down.
• RCMP would like to see lights along the new Barnston pathway for safety reasons.  There are long stretchesof bushes with no houses or lighting that could become problematic.  Parks don’t generally consult with RCMP on their park pathway plans.
• If you do have issues, there is a bylaw about “in the park in the dark” – it is a $200 fine for being in the park in the dark so problems could be dealt with by issuing fines.
• Email parks about this – trees and lighting – there are funding constraints for project but if the community has concerns, they’ll have to address the lighting issues.

Recovery, Alcohol, Assistive Living Homes

• Michelle, a Bylaw officer (from City Bylaws) reported on Recovery homes – The City works with bylaws involved in these homesand the police deal with crime that may ensue from them
• Michelle passed out pamphlets to attendees “Community Safety Reporting” – they havephone numbers for City issues e.g., for street lights out, sidewalk repair, drainage issues, graffiti etc.  This information can also be found at 222.surrey.ca – look for Report a Problem tab along the top right of the page.
• 12 years ago Ministry of Health used to license Recovery homes but now individual municipalities deal with these homes.
• Fraser Health Authority regulates Supportive and Group Homes and Alcohol and Drug Recovery Homes
• A list of Recovery orAssistive Living/Recoveryhomes list is available online.  Go to the Ministry of Health or Fraser Health Authority – Assistive Living registry list.  There are some unlisted homes for women due to safety issues.
• Bylaws are going to be identifying the unlicensed homes then entering them on the registry list in Phase 1.  It will take about six months to get onto registry once the applications have been received.
• Unregulated homes will be shut down unless they get ministry approval to operate.  If they don’t apply, City has the right to shut them down.
• There are currently none in Fraser Heights – some unregulated Recovery homes were shut down in October in this area.
• Several of these types of homes are non-profit facilities.  If necessary, Licensing and Zoning issues can cause them to be shut down
• There will be a hefty fee charged per year to operate these homes
• By-law Enforcement Office contact is Michelle Orsetti, best to contact by email at mlorsetti@surrey.ca , but can also be reached by phone at 604-591-4871
• Currently, Recovery homes can be set up in any residential area but there are regulations about how close they can be to a school and that only one can be in a particular area.
• The Owner of one of these homes does not have to live in the house.  One operator may have 6 homes but must have manager at each facility.  Operator is recorded on the registry
• Supportive recovery and mental health or senior issues are regulated by the Ministry of Healthy, not City Bylaws
• If resident or community has issues with these – they have to contact the Ministry of Health.
• There is a limit of 6 residents allowed to be in care in one home (some currently have 10 in care) – zoning bylaw is for 6 so Ministry is trying to get all down to 6 in care.  They can have 4 caregivers at the facility so there can be no more than 10 overnight
• When these houses are shut down, the residents are given time to find other facilities
• Fraser Heights Residents askedBylaws to add “if residents will allow facility in their neighbourhood” to the current wording.
• Bylaws is trying to get the land required for these homes to be rezoned so the public within a mile can have their input at a public meeting as to whether a “house” can be set up in their area.

Development:

A. City of Surrey Presentation on multi-use pathway in Fraser Heights

• For presentation, click on link below
• FHCA Presentation_Feb_19_2014_FINAL
• Phil Bellefontaine and Tim Kooistra did a presentation (from the engineering dept)
• Phase 1:  The new Pedestrian Pathway will be on the north side of Barnston Drive, between 168 and 170A.  It will link into the pedestrian overpass over Hwy #1 to Tynehead (which has been a huge success – in excess of 200 to 300 people cross the bridge per day).  Many of those crossing are students from Pacific Academy.
• Barnston Drive has been an issue in FH – there has been some traffic calming but there have been no sidewalks
• 70 plus trees will be removed but new trees will be planted in the boulevardto replace them.  53 significant trees have been identified and where needed, the pathway will meander around those trees.
• This will be a four metre wide, multiuse pathway
• It will continue eastward through the back of Bothwell Park – near the playing field
• Curb bottles will be installed at intersections so it will be easier for pedestrians to cross those intersections
• The land being used for the pathway is City owned land.
• City has met with Pacific Academy and withBothwell Elementary.  Both schools saw value in this project for students traveling to and from school
• City is hoping to begin construction this summer and complete it within this year.
• Lighting – none is planned at this time.  Residents requested lighting as it is very dark around that area and there have been a lot of break-ins there.
• This project has been on the City’s plans for many years.  The City is encouraging people to walk/cycle.
• Instead of going away from Barnston and closer to the residential area, residents requested the pathway go along Barnston.  It was reported that there would be a $$ cost to fill in ditches etc. that was not in their budget.
• If you want to have any input or have your voice heard, send details to transportation@surrey.ca
• Everything being proposed is on City property
• The City has standards as to how close to pathway plants can grow and how high – they will be kept trimmed
• Phase 2 – it is not in the budget at present but at some point in the future, there are plans to continue this route to 172^nd Street along the gas right-of-way.  It will eventually run to 104 Ave then down to Surrey Bend
• Pathway will not be going through private property – It is all on City owned land.
• The portion that goes through PA is on private property
• Feedback is important, especially from people directly affected so please email your comments and concerns to the City
• Use the heading “Barnston Greenway” or Fraser Heights greenway on your emails

B.Update on Trans Mountain Pipeline routing

• Marcie and Leanne have been following the developments on this project
• The existing pipeline from approx. 1950, runs from Edmonton to Burnaby.  For most of pipeline, Kinder Morgan will build another pipeline next to the existing one.
• Last year, KinderMorgan proposed an alternative route that would have run along the SFPR instead of the existing route.
• Dec 2013 – Kinder Morgan submitted their proposal to Ottawa
• Earlier in February, some home owners received notice that the pipeline was once again going to follow existing pipeline to 172 or 173 then head north.  This is a new development and has not been submitted to Ottawa yet.  They want to submit this alternate route by the end of the March.  Fraser Heights Residents have 6 weeks to act – write emails is the best because they leave a record.
• Only people on the proposed line (172 to 173) were notified of this change.  The letter wasn’t clear to home owners as it sounded like it was a done deal.  Kinder Morgan came to residents’ homes to survey.
• From the maps, the pipeline route looks like it is a right of way, not expropriation of property
• Residents said it made no sense to run through residential area. 
• Contact Kinder Morgan – let them know you don’t want it to go through your property.  So many levels of gov’t involved so cannot pinpoint one person to contact but phone or send emails to Christie Libby at info@transmountain.com Tel 1-866-514-6700
• Only 8 residents that would be affected by this route changereceived letters  They need to go to the National Energy website and continue to request the pipeline be laid away from residential areas
• Make reference as to how it will affect residents in general, the community, environment, wildlife etc. (not about your own personal info)
• Send a copy of your emails to our association –National Energyis aware of these developments as our Association has been in touch with them in regards to this

Traffic issues:

• A traffic signal will be installed at the intersection of 156^th Street and 108^th Ave as there is not enough room to install a roundabout that would allow buses and larger vehicles to get around it.
• There will be road modifications at the intersection of 104 Ave and 176 Street (Hwy 17 to the north and Hwy 15 to the South) to address right and left hand turns starting next week.
• The Golden Ears connector will run from that intersection along Daly Road to new intersection at 177A.  This will become the only way to get to Barnston Island.  Construction will begin this spring – completion summer 2015.
• Signage as come down hill – many people miss turn onto 104.  Thesign will be replaced when Golden Ears connector is completed.

Members Concerns:

• Petition on Train Whistles to mitigate noise – Nasser Hozar – passed this around. Trains are increasing both in frequency and in weight.
• Article in Sun – New West, Langley and Township of Langleyhave had this issue.  Panorama Ridge has lowered the number of whistles – 13 crossings whistling to 1.
• Contact Nasser at nasserhozar@shaw.caif you would like to sign the petition or have questions.
• There was mention that yard engine has been blowing whistles in the yard recently during the night (it had stopped for a couple of months but has since resumed).

Fraser Heights Secondary School Extension

• At this point in time, the new addition will not be ready till after spring break as there are a number of inspections that have to be done once the building is completed by the second week of March.
• The portables are scheduled to be removed over spring break

Next Meeting (and the last of this school year) will be Wednesday May 7,2014 in the theatre at Fraser Heights Secondary School at 7 p.m.

The meeting dates for the fall of 2014 will be announced during the summer of 2014.

1)      Feedback on multi-use pathway along Barnston Drive: send email to transportation@surrey.ca (email title: Barnston Drive multi-use pathway)

2)      Feedback on Transmountain Pipeline: Christie Libby at info@transmountain.com Tel 1-866-514-6700

3)      Registry for the recovery houses is available on the Provincial Ministry of Health http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/assisted/mentalhealth_locator/index.php/displayfacility/bycommunity/1

1. Contact if suspicious activity is going on: Michelle Orsetti, By-law Enforcement Officer, mlorsetti@surrey.ca and 604-591-4871

FRASER HEIGHTS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION MINUTES

September 18, 2013

 President’s report

• Web site – www.fhca.ca
• Lindsay Ryerson, president
• FHCA is a volunteer organization – we volunteer our time to represent the community
• If you have problems in our community, please send your information to us and we will look into these issues (go to Contact Us on the fhca.ca website).

Treasurer’s report

• Financial statement – total account balance is $4,363.96

Police and Security – Staff Sargent Dean Scott

• Dean Scott, Div 2 commander for the RCMP (for the past 3 years), is assigned to this area.  Dean is at the RCMP office at 5 every morning so contact him with any concerns you might have – he is excellent at answering emails or forwarding them to the appropriate departments.  His email address is dean.scott@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.
• Dean had planned on attending the meeting but due to unforeseen circumstances, he was unable to come.

Traffic Issues

• 156^th Street traffic issues – request for light at 108^th St. – Residents said 156 St. northbound can be backed up from the vet’s office at 104 Ave all the way to 108 Ave. preventing cars from turning onto 156 from 104 Ave.  A consultant will be hired to examine this intersection.
• 104 Ave eastbound to SFPR (South Fraser Perimeter Road) – there is a left turn signal now – it has been in place for about a month
• Plans for an exit to 104 Ave heading west from SFPR are in the works – somehow it is slated to be fitted in advance of the jug handle.  Final drawings have not been released yet and there is no date as to when this will happen – at the moment it remains an illegal right turn.
• HOV – on west side of Port Mann the HOV lanes are for vehicles containing more than one person between 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays.  From 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. weekdays and from 7 p.m. Friday till 6 a.m. Monday (also on holidays), the HOV lane is open to all traffic.  On the east side of the Port Mann Bridge, the HOV lanes are in effect 24/7.  Residents expressed concern over the lack of signage stating this as many people have been caught by police for driving in the HOV lanes on this side of the Port Mann bridge in the off-peak hours.
• Sept 30th, 3 pm at the City Hall Conference Centre, Rick Sparrow will be speaking for 10 minutes about problems on 156^th Street.  At 111A Ave/156 St, the curb is extended out 6 feet into road which has left the road too narrow and unsafe.  With the new houses being built in that area, the pavement along 156 St from 108 to 112 Ave is in a state of disrepair.  The City said they are waiting for the development to happen before fixing the problem.  Resident stated that it could be 20 years or more before all the old houses are sold and redevelopment happens along that stretch of 156 St.
• When residents have approached the City about 156 St, the City has said “no one else has talked to us about this issue” – they need to be reminded they have been contacted many times.
• Residents have asked to have the City to review slowing down the traffic by Northview Park (on west side of 156 Street at 111 Ave) by adding signage but the City said the current signage meets North American Standards therefore there will be no action.
• The more people that phone and complain to the City, the more they will realize this is unacceptable.  Email, don’t phone as there is a paper trail – there is a comment site on the Surrey website where you can submit your complaints.
• SFPR – It is partially open now and will definitely be open in Dec – exact date is not known yet.  Traveling to the ferries/Richmond/airport will really improve once it opens.  Noise abatement pavement has really helped reduce the noise of traffic. This road is not expected to be tolled in order to encourage trucks to use it. 

Twinning of Trans Mountain Pipeline

• Instead of twinning the existing pipeline with the existing pipeline locations, Trans Mountain Pipeline is currently studying running the 2^nd pipeline along the SFPR or other areas so it won’t be in or along residents’ backyards.  They are also looking at alternate routes to go through Bridgeview and Langley for the least disruption of property.  There was a meeting at the end of June but the results have not yet been released.
• Trans Mountain does have a website and when it shows a map of where the pipeline is definitely to go, we’ll put a link to this website on our website.  The existing pipeline is on their website but the proposed one is not clear.

Member’s corner:

• Grow-ops – 154 St and 109 Ave – one was just shut down this week.  Residents wanted more patrols as they have said it takes a long time before the police do anything about these houses.  The RCMP are aware of this.
• Mailboxes in the FH area have been broken into – In the last month, 19 boxes in FH have been broken into and 28 in the Cloverdale area.  Residents who’ve had their community boxes broken into have to go to either Cloverdale or to King George Blvd to pick up their mail, depending on where they live in FH.
• The thieves seem to be targeting the slider lock at the bottom of the parcel boxes.   Residents asked why the mail from the community boxes that have been vandalized wouldn’t go to Nesters – Nester’s could not secure the volume of mail that would come from all these mailboxes. 
• PO boxes – with the expansion of Nesters, there might still be some mail boxes available for renting. 
• Canada Post is working on switching out the locks so they are difficult to open (main locks).  Some boxes have had the main locks changed so they cannot be jimmied but it takes time to change out all the mailboxes that have been hit.
• One resident suggested fundraising money to put toward getting all the FH mailboxes fitted with the new locks – Heather will contact Canada Post about this.  All boxes are expected to upgraded, in time.
• Residents are urged to pick mail up daily – without any mail in the boxes, the thieves would be encouraged to move on.  Some of the community boxes are being broken into on a monthly basis and on Long weekends as many people may not have picked up their mail.
• Garage sales – Residents requested that people take their signs down after their garage sales are over – they are an eyesore. 

Transit plan:

• HOV bus at 156^th St from Langley is currently off the record
• Daryl Delacruz is representing a group to get a rapid bus stop at 156^th St.  He created a business case document and may possibly hold a rally.  The HOV bus  from Langley to Braid Station (will go to Lougheed Station when construction of ramps is completed on the #1), originally was to stop at 156^th St but is no longer planned to stop there.  Daryl’s email address is daka_x@outlook.com  He has a blog where you can follow this issue. http://darylvsworld.wordpress.com/2013/08/27/double-responses-to-fraser-heights-nimbyanti-transit-letter/.

Recycling depot:

• An Application for recycling depot at 104 Ave and 173 St has been put forth (at foot of hill on 104 Ave as you head toward the SFPR). 
• There were concerns that trucks would pass through the whole community on the way to the recycling depot and that nails etc. could drop off these trucks onto our local streets.
• The City will be having an information session with the proposal  – that info will be on our website as to when the session will be held (location and date)
• Trucks may come in saying they are making local deliveries when in fact, they are heading to the recycling depot – this could mean 100s of trucks could be using our roadways.
• If you have concerns, please email your concerns to City Hall
• We need to know types of trucks will be passing through and what they will be carrying.

Fraser Heights Secondary School Extension

• It is due to open at the end of the first term or the beginning of February 2014.

Liquor Store Application:

• It was turned down by the City of Surrey at the end of June so neither the original or revised location will be allowed to have a Liquor Store
• As of Sept 1, 2013, Swordfern Management Ltd, from Richmond, has taken over ownership of the Fraser Heights mall from Kevington Building Corp.  They’ve done some cleaning up of the mall and there should be some new tenants moving in

 Other community news:

• George Pedersson, President of the Rotary Club of Surrey-Fraser Heights, talked about the Rotary club. 

a)           Each club focuses on helping their community.  The FH Rotary club is only 4 years old.  They would love to talk to you about any concerns in the community.

b)           They focus on helping people to become connected to the community and country and help to facilitate integration of individuals into society

c)           They mentor and help the youth.  There is a young Rotarians club at the high school that has 106 students as members who are learning about leadership and giving back to the community as a way to impact the world.

d)           They help those forgotten by society to experience life at a level they hadn’t previously done so.

e)           There are currently 9 members in the FH club – if you want to find out more info, contact George by phone at 604-809-1157 or by email at gpederss@direct.ca.  Their website is www.rotary.org (they are District 5050)

f)             Their goal is to give back to society and expect nothing in return.

g)           Their meetings are on Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m. at Boston Pizza (and there may also be 4 or 5 other meetings a year).

h)           At Christmas, they put together 100 to 150 gift bags for the homeless and deliver them.

• Surrey Board of Trade can help deal with traffic, environmental, tax and financial issues – they have members who specifically deal with these problems.  If you want the City or province to hear your complaints, the Surrey Board of Trade has a lot of credibility with the gov’t.
• Residents complained that parking at the FH mall is very limited as students and parents of students are parking there.  Currently, portables and construction are taking up much of the parking spaces in the school lots.  Once construction is finished, much of the parking will be restored to the high school.  Once construction is finished, there will be a 2^nd drop off at the side and front of school.  The gates will be open to the Recreation Centre so people can flow through easier.  As a community association, there is not a lot we can do – complain to the mall to enforce their parking.  School has warned students they will be towed if they park there. 

Next Meeting will be Tuesday November 12, 2013 in the theatre at Fraser Heights Secondary School at 7 p.m.    

Future meetings will be:  February 19^th and May 7^th, 2014