NOTICE OF APOA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AND AGENDA
Saturday March 13, 2010 at the Longshot Cafeteria, Apex Mountain Resort
2:00 Registration/Sign up for membership (paid members are eligible to vote at the AGM) Read more…
While you didn’t hear from your Board over the summer, that didn’t mean we weren’t busy.
For those of you with email, we were able through the good offices of our Vice President, Jane Drapeau. to get out some key notices and we will continue that practice.
We just couldn’t tell you as much as we would like to because we don’t have a webmaster. Our Board members have skills and abilities but website updating isn’t one of them! So this is a plea, a call, a request, an invitation to a member to volunteer as APOA’s webmaster. Phenomenal job satisfaction will be your reward! Just let any Board member know of your interest. And that way you’ll help your organization help you and the rest of us too!
In the meantime, the articles in this issue will provide you summaries of what’s been happening or what’s emerging.
Please note our new postal address above.
Here’s to a good snow season!
Denis O’Gorman
President
6:00 PM Saturday, December 19
Tempest Room at Apex Inn
Apex Mountain Resort
$20 ticket includes 2 x 3oz. wine pours
and 6 different appies/canapés.
Tickets are limited and must be reserved by Dec. 14
Reservations: Call Apex Mtn. Inn and Spa
250.292.8126
The water rate increase application by the Resort, as the water utility, is before the Water Comptroller. APOA presented questions on various aspects of the rate request. On water stewardship, we asked if autumn water drawdowns on Nickel Plate Lake ( a reservoir) could be reduced. Domestic and snowmaking uses result in only 4 inches of total annual drawdown. An update on the decision will be provided by email notice once it it received.
APOA members are advised there is renewed interest in a potential garnet mine on Mt. Riordan. The interest is on claims known as Shamrock and Billy Goat between elevations of 1900 and 2100 metres. These claims are located roughly .75 km north of Apex’s Winchester run and .75 km west of The Circle.
The emerging proposal by Crystal Peaks Abrasives Partnership Ltd. (CPAPL) is of special interest to APOA members given concerns with the 1990’s proposal when the claims were included in the former Apex Recreation Area. Bob Hall, a principal of CPAPL, advised that a partnership agreement with the Penticton Indian Band (PIB) has been signed and that PIB Chief Jonathan Kruger announced it at a recent economic summit.
CPAPL’s “Notice of Work” (October 2009) for exploration activity calls for 7 new drill holes and collection of 6000 metric tonnes of material from 3 existing “prospect sites”. While that notice extends to October 2010, Mr. Hall advises that they are aiming at 6 to 8 months to advance their proposal through the regulatory process. He notes the plan is to move ore for processing at a site on PIB lands.
APOA’s Board is arranging to meet with Mr. Hall and their local consultant Adam Eneas. We will be seeking more details on the proposal, its timing and provisions for informing the public. Mr. Hall wishes to open a comprehensive consultation with APOA and notes that the Ministry of Energy and Mines will also outline consultation requirements.
APOA will be contacting the Ministry to obtain an understanding of Government’s review process and how the public can be informed and participate. We will be providing APOA members an update after our meeting with CPAPL.
The challenge for APOA will be to represent property owners interests in the assessment process while recognizing that BC’s Mining Act conveys considerable rights to develop claims that have proven potential and are judged to be manageable and acceptable under environmental laws.
The 2003 fire season made all of us familiar with the concept of urban interface fire hazard. More recently, funding has become available to local governments- firstly for developing plans and then for field operations to reduce this hazard.
At APOA’s last AGM, RDOS forestry consultant John Davies outlined hazard reduction principles. Over the summer he updated the Board on his emerging first phase plan. It focuses on reducing forest fuels in a 30-50 metre band around the northern fringe of Apex. It extends from west and north of the Circle eastward behind Bighorn, the Scout Cabin, Whitetail and Cahill.
No field action could occur until funding was secured. In late October, RDOS was advised that their application for fuel reduction around Apex and other communities was approved.
On November 9 John Davies commenced putting crews in place to start thinning, limbing, piling and burning in the Phase 1 area.
In Phase 2, the treatment area will be increased to be between 70 and 100 meters from private property lines. Between these two phases, John expects to be on the Apex site throughout the winter..
The following phase will focus on an area east of Strayhorse and the Resort Village plus Chute’s End.
John will also be recommending to the Forest Service that treatments occur south of the ski runs (Dividend area) and the lower slopes of Green Mountain.
He emphasises that while fuel breaks will help, full success depends on property owners implementing Fire Smart guidelines.
Owners with concerns or questions can reach John at john@valhallaconsulting.ca
Or 250.540 3473
Saturday, November 29th at Apex
Business at 3 PM in the Longshot Cafeteria
Mark Woods of RDOS and consultant John Davies, present:
Operational Planning for Community Wildfire Protection at Apex
Monkey Business at 4:30 PM at the Gunbarrel:
Tunes by Cowgirl Julie and Sidekick Rick
Beer and Burger $10 Special for APOA members (courtesy the Gunbarrel)
Get updated, support RDOS efforts and have fun!
The APOA’s season opening event on November 29 starts with an important presentation on community wildfire protection. Newly engaged by RDOS, James Davies, RPF, will be responsible for moving last year’s hazard assessment into an action plan. Mark Woods, RDOS Emergency Services Manager, indicates that prioritization of funding for wildfire protection will be influenced by active community interest, and support. This is your chance to show RDOS that Apex residents are strong supporters of enhanced protection for our valued community.
Your attendance is doubly important because BC government sources indicate that the mountain pine beetle attack is expected in earnest in our area this year. Sick and dead trees will add to fuel loads and increase the wildfire risk.
Following the presentation there is a beer and burger social at the Gunbarrel for APOA members.
Fortunately, pine beetles aren’t the only thing hard at work at Apex. APOA Board members met with Apex Mountain Resort management to discuss your responses to the APOA member survey distributed at the AGM last spring. This is detailed in the Survey Results article further down the page.
Regrettably and despite repeated efforts, there has been no progress on advancing the trails management plan at Okanagan Vista. The need to reconcile conflicts between motorized and nonmotorized recreation and to sustain the recreation resources was identified in the BC Government’s 2001 plan (LRMP). APOA has sent numerous letters to BC Cabinet Ministers and to MLA Bill Barisoff. A recent exchange of letters with Minister Stan Hagan has shown that constructive leadership from the BC Government is lacking. The Government response remains insufficient and the issues unresolved. For more information and some initial suggestions on how you can start to help address the issue, please see the update on the next page.
Regarding the Apex Resort Master Plan, APOA’s Board has been advised that the necessary discussions between the provincial government and the Penticton Indian Band (PIB) are underway, led by Provincial officials responsible for First Nations Consultations. APOA understands the goal is to arrive at a “framework agreement” which would open the door towards updating the 1980 Resort Master Plan.
Newly elected PIB Chief, Jonathan Kruger, has expressed interest in a “strategic plan that deals with the environment, our health, social issues, and making our community stronger”. For this reason APOA’s Board remains optimistic for a “win-win” solution.
To support APOA’s efforts, both your membership dues and your active support are necessary. At our current 80 paid-up memberships, over half are necessary just to cover our liability insurance. Please encourage your friends and neighbours to join the APOA. It only costs $25 a year to support your community. You can sign up from our website at www.apexpropertyowners.com., or by mail.
Looking forward to seeing you on November 29.
Denis O’Gorman,
President, APOA
There was an encouraging start at a March 2007 workshop to resolve ongoing recreation conflicts on the Okanagan Vista cross country ski trails. This valuable local recreation resource was established several years ago by the Forest Service and Penticton Outdoors Club. However the promised follow up meeting to address outstanding issues has not been convened by the province. This is a resource management and conflict resolution matter that is clearly the responsibility of the provincial government to address. A proper plan must be in place before the needed re-signing of trails and general area management can commence.
The Okanagan Recreation Officer (Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts) has indicated that in the absence of a responsible group, his Ministry may start the process of “dis-establishing” the Okanagan Vista Ski Area. To prevent such an significant loss to our community what is required is a facilitated examination of the broader Vista recreation area so a coordinated plan can be created to provide for both motorized and non-motorized recreation in a compatible way. This will require government leadership to guide the process and to implement the needed management framework.
The Recreation Officer also indicated they want evidence of people’s willingness to take on the needed tasks of re-signing, routine maintenance and reporting “violations”. With the departure of the Penticton Outdoors Club from Okanagan Vista, a stewardship group is needed. For this reason, interested people are asked to indicate their willingness to assist with these activities. Please express your interest by writing or e-mailing the APOA at the address provided at the top of the newsletter. The list of names will be presented to the Ministry.
Two letters, one from Minister Stan Hagan (replying to our May letter requesting action), plus APOA’s August response are available on the “News” page of the APOA website. Also, APOA member Murray Brown is preparing a synopsis of Okanagan Vista history, summarizing the efforts to realize the goals outlined in the original LRMP. This summary will be also posted on APOA’s website. Watch for updates!
Denis O’Gorman
At the APOA’s spring AGM an opinion survey was conducted. It covered topics under four categories: resort management, activities, resort village, and resort facilities/services. The results help point out areas where improvement efforts can be best directed.
APOA board members Jane Drapeau, Phyllis Matthews, and Julia Valenti held a meeting with Apex General Manager James Shalman to discuss the survey results. Each topic was reviewed in detail and these positive understandings were established:
So be proactive, take on a project, find a solution, get together with others and help create the mountain experience you want.
We are pursuing a similar meeting with Apex ownership with emphasis on furthering a constructive
working relationship to help improve Apex Mountain Resort for our mutual benefit. James’ openness to suggestions and the scope for helping create a positive mountain experience are encouraging.
Julia Valenti
The corner above Apex Ranch has been paved and widened, ditching and some culvert repair has been done on Apex road. Our main ongoing concern is the corner below Creekview Condos and above the Scout Cabin. The culvert just below the reservoir was repaired and should direct runoff under the road and into the creek. Many culverts which owners are responsible for are either inadequate or blocked by sand and debris. Argo intends to plow roads wider from the onset this winter. Road maintenance hours are unchanged.
Happy skiing!
Phyllis Matthews
Apex Recreation Management Zone
Denis O’Gorman, APOA president, requests action on the recreation planning process for the Apex Recreation Resource Management Zone. View the letters here and here.
The Ministry of Tourism, Sports, and the Arts responds. View the minister’s reply here.
Denis replies, suggesting that the situation is more severe and more urgent than the Minster implies in his letter, and requesting that the Ministry commit to organizing the promised meeting of stakeholders. View Denis’ reply here.
Minutes can be viewed as a PDF file. Click here.
Our last newsletter discussed the efforts of Apex Mountain Resort (AMR) and the Province to further consult with the Penticton Indian Band (PIB). The goal is to work towards an “accommodation agreement” with the Band which responds to the interests of the Band.
In December, APOA was advised that various possible development scenarios identified by the consultant had been presented to the PIB. They asked AMR to identify their preferred scenario or option. Any ski area plan is intended to balance lift capacities, accommodation capacity and new development. The intent is that revenues from new development will support investments in new lifts.
Once again, AMR has agreed to attend out AGM (see details below) and provide an update.
Denis O’Gorman
Through late November notification, both Weyerhaeuser and Gorman Brothers, the principal forest operators around Apex, called for public comment on their amended Forest Stewardship Plans (FSP’s).
Amendments are proceeding because government directed in January 2007 that a set of objectives laid out in the Okanagan Shuswap LRMP (Land and Resource Management Plan) be built into the FSP’s which forest licensees must prepare. These new objectives cover a range of important topics including wildlife, biodiversity, riparian areas, cultural heritage, recreation areas, regionally significant trails and scenic areas. FSP’s must lay out strategies to achieve these objectives. For example, strategies spell out provisions for consulting with recreational user groups prior to forest road construction or harvesting. Note the FSP’s also outline the companies’ proposals regarding beetle attack areas.
To see APOA’s response to these draft FSP’s, please go to our website at:
http://apexpropertyowners.com/news.html
Denis O’Gorman
A conversation with RDOS Emergency Services Manager, Mark Woods, resulted in some disappointment. Turn-over and other capacity problems at RDOS have resulted in delays in applying for provincial funding that would pay for the necessary “operational planning”.
Mark’s hope is to still secure a skilled and experienced individual to lead this exercise. This will obviously entail a considerable amount of coordination with the forest operators in the area (Weyerhaeuser and Gorman Brothers) as well as the Forest Service. As well, APOA has stressed the importance of close liaison with APOA and other reps to ensure community values and concerns are properly taken into account.
Denis O’Gorman
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Longshot Cafeteria
Apex Mountain Resort
2:00 PM
Registration and collection of membership dues
($25 cash or cheque)
2:20 PM – 5:00 PM
Meeting Agenda:
Last March, a workshop was sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts (MTSA) to start the process of addressing conflicts over winter use in this area, described as the “Apex Intensive Recreation RMZ (or Resource Management Zone).”
MTSA assumed responsibility for Recreation Sites and Trails from the Ministry of Forests who, with the Penticton Outdoor Club, initially developed the Okanagan Vista Cross Country ski trail system. The club, partly related to Government’s policy respecting insurance, has withdrawn from an active role in the area.
Meanwhile its accessibility has led to growing use and related to that, growing conflicts between skiing and snowmobiling. While the 2007 meeting led to acceptance of the trails map from the 1995 protocol as a starting point for confirming designations, the agreed follow-up meeting to work on outstanding issues, implementation measures, and a recommended statement on the future management of the area has yet to be convened.
Such a meeting is being actively encouraged to address conflicts the LRMP (2001) clearly identified, and which, in the absence of action, continue to grow.
Denis O’Gorman
Apex Fire Brigade Society
Fundraiser
Saturday, March 15th at 6pm
at the Gunbarrel
Dinner, Dancing, Live & Silent Auctions
Magic Tricks, and VALDY IN CONCERT!
TICKETS $55
Reserve your tickets
at Double Diamond Hostel – 292-8256
(Limited number of tickets available.)
Your Fire Brigade Society has been hard at work:
Jeff Brown
For police emergencies, call 911. Volunteers have no policing authority.
For medical emergencies, call 911. The Fire Brigade is not equipped to respond to medical emergencies. You should also call the Apex Resort office at (250) 292-8222. They will contact the local Ski Patrol.
In case of fire, call 911 from a safe location. However, you should also keep the full list of volunteers with you. 911 operators will only contact the top tier of the phone tree. In the offseason, this may not be sufficient! You should keep phoning volunteers until you talk to someone who is on the mountain and able to respond. The volunteer will then continue working the phone tree to contact as many volunteers as are available to respond.
In case of fire, start calling phone numbers in the following order. Once you have contacted a volunteer they will organize the phone calls to alert all volunteers. All numbers are area code (250).
Other Emergency Numbers:
Feeback from the APOA, response from Gorman Bros.
Below is the original letter sent by Denis O’Gorman to Gorman Brothers Timber Ltd.
To see the response from Kerry Rouck click here. (It is a PDF file). It is simplest to view the PDF file as this provides Denis’s comments and Kerry’s response interleaved in context. Read more…
Feeback from the APOA
From: D O’Gorman [mailto:denisogorman@telus.net]
To: ‘brian.drobe@weyerhaeuser.com’
Subject: AMENDMENTS TO WEYERHAEUSER FSP
Dear Brian,
On behalf of the Apex Property Owners Association I am forwarding some comments on the FSP amendments advertised by Weyerhaeuser Canada. Read more…
A group of Apex residents has recently stepped up to the challenge of providing fire protection for the property owners and businesses of Apex Resort. Bob Thompson, a retired fire fighter with over 30 years experience, spent numerous hours reviewing the village layout, analysing requirements, and developing the equipment requirements and fire fighting strategies needed to protect our homes. By far the most experienced member, Bob is the fire brigade’s training officer and “the guy in charge” at any fire. Bob began training a small group of volunteers this summer. Read more…
The Regional District’s Community Wildfire Protection Plans began in 2004 to improve fire prevention in the urban-forest interface. The purpose of the program is to assist communities in the development of plans that will assist them in improving forest fire prevention and protection. The program is funded by the Ministry of Forests and Range and administered by the Union of BC Municipalities.
The outcome of the planning stage of this program has been released by the regional district, and is now posted on the RDOS website at: http://www.rdos.bc.ca/index.php?id=530.