Winter 2022
SPROAT LAKE COMMUNITY
NEWSLETTER
Published by Penny Cote – Sproat Lake Director – Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District (ACRD)
Sproat Lake Community Association’s (SLCA) Annual General Meeting
is scheduled virtually for Monday, February 28th, 2022 by Zoom. See link below or visit http://sproatlakecommunityassociation.com or ACRD websites for the Zoom link.
The SLCA AGM agenda includes presentations by ACRD staff on the 2022- 2026 draft budget, the Hydrology Flood Assessment, proposed Sproat Lake Zoning By-laws next steps and Policy By-law Enforcement. Other presentations include Mosaic Forest Management, Sproat Lake Volunteer Fire Department & Sproat Lake Parks Commission. See agenda on the back page. All are invited and encouraged to attend.
Sproat Lake Community Association Director Elections
held for SLCA President, 1st & 2nd Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary and 7-10 Directors-at-Large during the SLCA AGM on Monday, February 28th, 2022.
SLCA Director nomination forms are available on the SLCA website for anyone interested in running for a position as a SLCA Director. Completed nomination forms must be sent to the Nominating Committee c/o email address pcote@acrd.bc.ca or dropped to the ACRD office, addressed to the “SLCA Nominating Committee” by Friday, February 25th, 2022. Due to COVID public gathering restrictions, NO nominations will come from the floor. Nomination forms and SLCA Director responsibilities are available online at http://sproatlakecommunityassociation.com or call Penny @ 250-724-5040 for more information.
A Special Resolution will be put forward at the SLCA AGM to request an increase in the number of SLCA Directors, from 12 to 15, to accommodate the continued number of interested community representatives.
SLCA AGM Join Zoom Meeting link–Winter 2022
https://portalberni.zoom.us/j/89135123842?pwd=Zlh 6ZCtFSFhKWmdUakRubkkyUDdtdz09
Meeting ID: 891 3512 3842
Passcode: 520589
ACRD & ACRHD 2022 – 2026 Annual Budgets
Following the ACRD Strategic Plan and targets respecting the future plan and operations of the Regional District, services will be presented at the SLCA.
AGM Monday, February 28th, 2022. The ACRD and ACRHD 2022-2026 draft budgets are available on the ACRD website at www.acrd.bc.ca . Alternatively, you can call the ACRD at 250-720-2700 for further information.
ACRD Public Consultation date for the draft budget is scheduled for Wednesday, February 23rd, 2022 at 1:30 pm via the ACRD Board meeting. The ACRD office is open to the public with all COVID-19 public health orders and restrictions in BC being kept in place.
“Let’s continue to work together to push our curve down – today and in the weeks ahead, so we can get to the brighter, safer days ahead”.
BC Assessments for Sproat Lake – Market Change at 42.68%.
BC Assessment releases property assessment information annually at the beginning of each year. The
value however reflects the market values based on July 1 of the previous year and the physical condition as of October 31 of the previous year. That means for the 2022 roll, the values represent market value as of July 1, 2021 and physical conditions as of October 31, 2021. These significant increases in assessed value often create concerns from homeowners that their property taxes will increase by the same amount. This is a common misconception, the most important factor is not how much your assessed value has changed, but how your assessed value has changed relative to the average change for your property class in the region.
The overall percentage increase from 2021 to 2022 for the region is 40.74%. Included in this percentage is both market and non-market change. The non-market change component relates to changes in property values because of:
- New construction
- New development such as subdivisions
- Zoning changes that result in changes in density or use of a property
- Property Class Changes
- Exemption Changes
The non-market change for the ACRD from 2021 to 2022 is 2.75%. This non-market change increase is significant for the region, and the electoral area increases have been reflected in the workload of the planning department over the past couple of years.
BC Assessment Provincial appeal deadline is January 31, 2022, which is independent from the ACRD.
ACRD Considering Roadside Waste Collection Service
for organics, recycling, and garbage in Alberni Valley Electoral Areas ‘B’ (Beaufort), ‘D’ (Sproat Lake), ‘E’ (Beaver Creek) and ‘F’ (Cherry Creek). This service would increase diversion from our landfill. Community input is important – the ACRD is seeking feedback to help determine the best steps forward for the future of waste collection in the Alberni Valley. For Sproat Lake residents, there will be an ACRD Sort’nGo Open House on Thursday, January 27th between 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm or online session January 26th from 12:00 pm – 1 pm. The ACRD is proposing changes at the landfill, including banning organics (kitchen/food/yard waste). This phase- out is scheduled to begin in 2023. To support this, Sort’nGo roadside collection service will use automated collection trucks. New uniform carts will be used in a weekly organics pick up and alternating, bi- weekly garbage and recycling, with a cost of approximately $250/year per household.
Let Us Know What You Think + Be Entered to Win!
Share your opinion on the proposed service by filling out the survey on the ACRD website at www.acrd.bc.ca/sortngo before January 31, 2022 or call the ACRD for more information.
ACRD Zoning Bylaw Review
Visit the ACRD Zoning Bylaw Review (ZBR) project page to stay up to date with next steps and opportunities to provide input: www.acrd.bc.ca/zbreview. In late 2021, following the closing of the ZBR public online survey, planning staff met with Alberni Valley Electoral Area Advisory Planning Commissions (APCs) to provide an update on the status and discuss key themes. Planning staff have received a lot of public correspondence about the project, including key topics such as the proposed private moorage (dock) regulations. Staff are continuing to meet with APCs in early 2022 and are preparing an updated draft Zoning Bylaw will be available to the public for additional input, and before proceeding to the Board for first reading of the bylaw in Spring 2022. You are welcome to continue sending input on the ZBR project to the planning staff at: planning@acrd.bc.ca.
Mosaic 2022 Update
Mosaic is engaging with various groups at Sproat Lake regarding their planned 2022 harvest activities. Engagement with Sproat Lake Director Penny Cote and the Sproat Lake Woodlands Society is now beginning. The proposed variable retention harvest (shown below) is very small in size (<7 hectares), is 100% second growth and includes various buffers and retention (along roads, trails, and streams). For those from the community who are interested, firewood permits will be available post operations. Harvest activities are currently planned for March or April (to avoid the busy summer months).
Mosaic continues to engage with the community and will share further information, which includes reaching out to adjacent property owners, and organizing a field walk for those that are interested. Mosaic is presenting at the next SLCA AGM as well. If you have any questions, please contact Colin Koszman, Land Use Forester at Colin.Koszman@MosaicForests.com
Sproat Lake Volunteer Fire Department (SLVFD) Chief Mike Cann
reports that the fire department is ready and available to respond to the residents of Sproat Lake. The SLVFD responded to 119 calls during 2021, of which 35 were Medical First Responder. Last year our area saw very few wildland fires, and we were also lucky with storm season as we did not see nearly as much rain and flooding as the rest of the province. The department has stopped practicing in person with the rise in COVID-19 cases but hopes to get back to hands on training as soon as the risk of COVID declines. Remember, if we can’t find you, we can’t help you. Minutes count when we are looking for address signs in the middle of the night. Sproat Lake Fire Department is selling reflective address signs and home protection gutter mount sprinkler systems.
See waspfire.com for more information on the sprinklers. Please feel free to contact our fire department with any questions regarding Fire Smart BC 250-724-1777. Anyone interested in helping our community and learning new skills, please contact me, Fire Chief Mike Cann at mcann@sproatlakefire.ca
Sproat Lake Parks and Trails
continue to provide active lifestyle opportunities to our community residents and visitors. We appreciate everyone doing their part during these challenging times respecting social distancing and staying home if you are sick.
Lakeshore Trail use extends into the spring of 2022 as all permissions are in place. If you have any questions, or would like to join the SL Parks Commission please email Joe Lamoureaux at joe@lamoureuxhometeam.com
Sproat Lake Community Hall
doors are open again to the public. Most of the renovations to the interior are complete with support from the Community Works Funds (CWF) Grant through UBCM and the Province. For access to the SL Community Hall, COVID restrictions are in place following all PHO recommendations including 50% capacity of allowed number of persons in the facility. Face masks are required inside, except while exercising; however, they are still strongly encouraged until further notice. Proof of vaccination is required for spectators or adults participating in indoor sports. This spring will see the resurfacing of the new multiuse court supported with the approval of another ACRD CWF grant.
Do you want to play pickle ball?
To date, there are several men’s, ladies, and mixed groups, organizing safe play respecting COVID restrictions. For more information on how to join the game, call Linda or John Bowers at 250-724-3626.
The Somass Watershed Flood Management Plan (SWFMP)
The SWFMP report and maps are on the ACRD website at www.acrd.bc.ca/somass-flood. The Alberni Valley and Bamfield Committee received the completed peer review of the critical information respecting options for applying 200-year flood plain maps, in the electoral areas by an engineering firm with local experience and knowledge in this area. Update to be shared by ACRD Staff at the SLCA AGM.
Sproat River weir steel plates
were not re-instated in the slots of the Catalyst weir at the lake outlet in the spring of 2021. The levels of Sproat Lake were low for last summer and limited high-water levels so far in the beginning of 2022. It is expected that the plates will be re-installed in May 2022 to manage the annual flow for fish migration depending on sockeye timing, lake level, and rains. The plates will again be removed in the early fall. To date Sproat Lake has not experienced flooding in 2022.
Short Term Vacation Rentals (STVR) Temporary Use Permit (TUP).
We are all looking forward to COVID restrictions lifting and allowing social interactions and travel. The ACRD has 13 STVR temporary permits approved to date. The new Policy By-Law Enforcement & Notice Dispute Adjudication System for ticketing is now authorized by the ACRD Board for Zoning By-law infractions. Please call the ACRD for more information on how to comply with this new by-law.
The ACRD Housing Needs
project is now complete. Visit www.acrd.b.ca/housingneeds to review the new 13 Housing Needs Reports, including one for Sproat Lake.
The Woodstove Exchange Program
offers two options for households upgrading wood stoves:
- The exchange of any woodstove manufactured prior to 2014 switching to an alternative heat source, the rebate amount depends on what you are switching to. For woodstove to natural gas, propane or pellet stove, the savings are $1050 ($750 rebate issued by the ACRD plus a $300 participating retailer discount) while if you switch to a heat pump it is a savings of $1300 ($1000 rebate issued by the ACRD plus a $300 participating retailer discount).
- The exchange of an uncertified woodstove (pre-1994) to an EPA or CSA certified woodstove, the savings are $450 ($300 rebate issued by the ACRD plus a $150 retailer discount).
This offer applies to residents of the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District and rebates are available on a first- come, first-served basis. For further information and how to qualify or to find a participating retailer, check out the link on the ACRD website at www.acrd.bc.ca or phone 250-720-2700. Help your health and your pocketbook. Acceptable air quality is everyone’s right. Protecting air quality is everyone’s responsibility.
SPROAT LAKE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION ANNUAL
GENERAL MEETING AGENDA–Winter 2022
Monday, February 28th, 2022 at 7:00 pm
Join the Zoom Meeting
https://portalberni.zoom.us/j/89135123842?pwd=Zlh6ZCtFSFhKWmdUakRubkkyUDdtdz09
Meeting ID: 891 3512 3842 Passcode: 520589
Welcome to all residents of the Sproat Lake Electoral Area to the Sproat Lake Community Association (SLCA) Annual General Meeting. Voice your opinion. Watch live stream. All agenda updates, reports, and background information are available on the SLCA website: http://sproatlakecommunityassociation.com
- Call the February 28th, 2022 SLCA Annual General Meeting to Order
- Adoption of the Agenda
- Motion for Resolution To increase the number of elected SLCA Directors from 12 to 15 Directors.
- SLCA Election of Officers and Directors
- Minutes of the March 1st, 2021 SLCA Annual General Meeting Available on the SLCA website
- Treasurer’s Report Available on the SLCA website
- Delegates, Petitions & Presentations
- Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District (ACRD) Presenters:
o ACRD Staff (Finance)
▪ 2022 – 2026 Draft ACRD Financial Plan
▪ Draft budget copies available at the ACRD office, www.acrd.bc.ca, or link on the SLCA website
o ACRD Staff (Planning & Development)
▪ Update on Hydrology Flood Assessment for Sproat Lake
▪ Sproat Lake Zoning Bylaws–Next steps on proposed new by-laws ▪ Policy Bylaws Enforcement
o ACRD Staff (Organics Coordinator)
▪ ReportonSort’nGo3-streamcurbsidecollectionreview
- Mosaic Harvest Plan Review and Tours
- Sproat Lake Volunteer Fire Department (SLVFD) Report
- Sproat Lake Parks and Trail Commission Report
- Old business
Sproat River Weir plates and sweep
- New Business
ACRD Sproat Lake Housing needs report is complete and available on the ACRD website
▪ Adjournment – Thank you for your participation.
Water source test bottles and requisition forms are available at the ACRD office for self-testing.
SLCA will consider group water testing in 2022.
Subscribe to the SCLA website http://sproatlakecommunityassociation.com/homepage/slca-blog/ for the latest community updates.
Winter 2022
Sproat Lake Community
