JBNA: AGM Review

James Bay Neighbourhood Association

An on-going feature on land use & planning - to alert, inform, and prompt community action - and to celebrate success!

The April 2013 James Bay Neighbourhood Association (JBNA) meeting was preceded by the Association's Annual General Meeting (AGM). Presentations by Bob Vander Steen (a preview of the James Bay 2012 Air Quality Analysis) and Curtis Grad, CEO, Greater Victoria Harbour Authority (GVHA) with his vision for the GVHA in The Year Ahead, followed.

Annual General Meeting

Marg Gardiner presented the President's Report for the 2012-2013 Annual General Meeting of the JBNA. Her Year in Review highlighted JBNA success over the previous 12 month period, as well as a range of projects in various portfolios which remain active and of concern.

Highlights include:

Quality of Life - Transportation issues and pollution created by, or associated with, activities at Ogden Point continue to dominate JBNA agendas. Successful issues include reduced early morning bus activity, reduced use of sound amplification by ships in port, possible use of small electric downtown shuttle buses (pending), and improved air quality as a result of cruiseship fuels with lower Sulphur. Less successful areas of activity include ship-departure timing, traffic volume and speed on city streets, use of inappropriate highway buses to serve Ogden Point, safety review of harbour airport activities, and consideration of the status of the heliport in the Ogden Point MasterPlan.

Land Use: Parks and Pathways - The JBNA has been disappointed in the lack of progress on the Harbour Pathway, specifically the Coast Guard portion, but hope to see negotiations finalized and work on a path joining Fisherman's Wharf Park and Beacon Hill Park, completing the harbour circuit.

The sewage project planned for the Dallas Road area will encourage changes to the whole area. We anticipate residents to be consulted through Open House events during the year.

External Communications:

Brian Scarfe was invited by the World Monument Fund to present the Victoria cruise-ship experience to the "Harbouring Tourism" international symposium in Charleston, SC.

Marg Gardiner met with Michael Henderson, Regional Director General, Transport Canada.

Special Initiatives:

April 2012: In response to the GVHA "clean-air recognition program", the JBNA Dirty Ship of the Year awards were created. The Crystal Symphony was singled out as having the highest single ship-in-port, one-hour emissions reading in 2011. Three ships were in port when readings were taken for the Team Award. The 'winning' team included Holland America's Amsterdam, the Celebrity Infinity, and Royal Caribbean's Rhapsody of the Seas.

At the end of March 2013, the JBNA Board submitted a proposal to the City of Victoria Special Projects Grant program, seeking funding under the sustainability/environmental category. The proposal is for an Independent Risk Management Process Assessment (ISO3100:2009): Harbour Airport and Alternate Sitings; a Safety Case focused on residential safety. No response has been received from the City.

Sulphur Dioxide Monitoring

North American Emission Control Area (ECA) regulations came into effect on August 1st, 2012. These regulations reduce the allowable sulphur content of ship fuel to 1% from the previous allowable level of 3.5%. Results from the monitor located in James Bay were analysed by both the Ministry of Environment (MoE) and the JBNA. Their reports indicate a decrease in average sulphur dioxide (SO2) levels at the James Bay location after August 1^st. Both reports also indicate a significant reduction in the number of occurrences of SO2 exceeding 35 ppb - the level at which asthma symptoms may be triggered.

(The MoE report has been finalized and will be posted on the JBNA web-site shortly.)

The current SO2 monitor only samples actual ship emissions when the wind is at high speeds and within a narrow direction band (from the South West); high winds from this direction occurred less than 4% of the time during the monitoring period. At least one additional monitor, located closer to Ogden Point, is required to monitor how residents in the areas to the east of, and closer to, Ogden Point are affected by ship emissions.

Ships with the highest emission levels are identified in the reports. These ships should be monitored to ensure compliance with the ECA regulations. Subsequent to the meeting, JBNA was informed that Transport Canada will board ships identified as emission problems in 2012, to review the fuel logs, as requested by the JBNA.

GVHA

Curtis Grad, CEO, Greater Victoria Harbour Authority, presented his vision for the GVHA in The Year Ahead. Grad's plan for the GVHA contained no good news for James Bay. He intends to 'grow his business', berthing more, and larger cruise ships on more weeknights during the summer cruise season. He presented a number of options that are being examined as shoulder and off-season opportunities for expansion which will be discussed in a later Beacon.

The Constitution of the GVHA sets out guiding principles: 'working in a cooperative manner' with community associations and being 'responsive to, and be reflective of, community interests'. Grad explained that Constitutional requirements are Board responsibilities and that the CEO operates at the direction of the GVHA Board.

Grad invited James Bay residents to the GVHA's annual spring open house on May 25, the public's first opportunity to view the newly renovated Steamship Terminal building on the inner harbour.

The Robert Bateman Centre on the upper levels will also be open to the public that weekend.

All-Candidates Forum

The JBNA will be hosting a constituency of Victoria-Beacon Hill all-candidates forum for the upcoming provincial election on Wednesday, May 1^st from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm at 234 Menzies Street (New Horizons Building). Karen Bill (Liberal), Carole James (NDP), and Jane Sterk (Green), will be participating.

James Bay residents will have an opportunity to submit questions about provincial government policies and initiatives from a Victoria perspective.

Join Us for the May Meeting Wednesday, May 8th, 7-9 pm, 234 Menzies (New Horizons)

James Bay residents seeking a reprieve from election forums and promotions are welcome to attend the May 8^th JBNA meeting. Jack Lohman, CEO, Royal BC Museum will present his vision and current renewal plans for the museum.

Preceding the presentation will be an update on the 2013 Shakespeare at the Sea season.

There will also be a short presentation of portions of the Marine Act which explain why GVHA is not a port authority. We also anticipate hearing the outcome of the GVHA Members consideration of the City of Victoria request to regain the right to appoint a director to the GVHA Board.