2023 AGM Minutes

Posted by: Johnny Smoke  /  Category: Meeting Minutes, News

APOA AGM MINUTES

Held March 25, 2023 @3PM in the Gunbarrel Dining Room 23 Members pres.

Representing the Executive: Arnie Erickson – President, Barry Leigh – Vice President, Diane Pew – Treasurer

President’s Report – Arnie Erickson

It’s been another wonderful ski year.

Another community organization, the Apex Community Association, is moving forward with initiatives to meet the community’s needs.

We haver seen our property values increase – an indication of the quality of the ski resort and the lifestyle afforded Apex residents.

We have a short agenda with little activity involving mining and we are still dealing with forest harvesting issues. There has been a change in the way logs are being transported due to on site processing and this has posed an increased risk to the public on the Apex road.

We are losing board members and are hoping members will come forward and offer to take a place on the board.

Treasurer’s Report – Diane Pew

As of March 25, 2023 our accounts contain the following:

Checking account $2001.65

Savings $30.62

Term deposits of $14837.50 came due and reinvested into one $10,000 3yr term paying 5.5% and one 12 month cashable of $4933.98 paying 3.25%.

Expenses for the year totaled $2104.65

Road Report – Gord Reum

Unavailable – report to be given by Subrina Monteith

Guest Speakers

James Shalman – Apex Resort

This summer’s fire event had the potential to be a serious threat to the village. The crews of the BC wildfire service did a phenomenal job protecting the community. We were also fortunate that snow melt and rain earlier in the season increased the amount of moisture at higher elevations and winds during the fire were favorable in limiting its advance.

Apex like other ski hills has been dealing with a lack of available staff and have had difficulty recruiting personnel. Conditions were amazing for the start to season. Revenue for the year was up 23% but expenses were also up. The Resort’s safety record is better than the industry average. Up-coming work activities include summer grooming, painting of the lifts and generally sprucing up the village.

There are plans to purchase a new groomer.

A new water treatment system is being installed which will result in a rate increase for users.

Questions from the floor:

  • Is a portion of payments collected set aside in a contingency fund for repair and replacement? Shawn Whittey’s answer was “yes”
  • How is the water system maintained?
    Shawn replied that maintenance was ongoing.
  • What other entities are associated with the Apex water license?
    Shawn answered that the license for water is in partnership with the cattleman.
  • Regarding fire mitigation, could there be fire-smart work be done in the area below the waste transfer station and along the creek?
    James replied that work was planned and that some of those areas no longer posed a risk.
  • Would a portion of the rate increase go to a reserve fund?
    Shawn Whittey responded that the rate increase would go into a reserve fund for future repairs to water system.
  • Regarding rumors of effluent getting into Keremeos Creek.
    Shawn replied that the creek is routinely monitored for water quality and has always been within required standards.

Subrina Monteith -Area I Director RDOS

Everyone is encouraged to Join Voyent Alert. Working on getting Apex our own postal code. For now property owners should mark their location with a “pin” in Voyent Alert to ensure that they get alerts. This summers fire event showed the value of the fire dept at Apex. Mutual aid from other fire departments was available because we now have a certified fire department.

Waste Transfer Station issues, Subrina reminded everyone of the scheduled large item pickup.

Questions from the floor:

  • Could it be scheduled earlier for those who live out of town?
    The RDOS will consider doing that but the greater amount of snow at that time will make it more difficult.
  • Where can condos place the large item for pick-up?
    Refer to the handout or look on the RDOS website
  • There are problems with people not properly sorting their recycling
    Efforts are being made to educate users but if compliance does not improve, changes will be made to the program. So far no organization is interested in taking on a bottle drive with the wine and beverage bottles that have been collected.
  • Regarding road maintenance: Let Subrina know if you have positive comments that she can pass on about the snow clearing work done by AIM.

Fire Hall – out to tender for design. Construction will possibly begin this summer.

Arnie then commented on the safety issue of dangerous encounters with logging trucks – log hauling has changed – now tandem trailers are being used. He wondered if there could be a role for pilot cars Larry Richardson stated that pilot cars are not feasible. He felt that education of drivers using the road would help improve safety when encountering logging trucks.

James said that there have been incidents involving Resort personnel and he has talked to the company He said that the company is concerned and wants to know when there is an incident. James said that he also wants to be advised of incidents involving logging trucks.

Stuart Seigel asked if there was anyone who did snow removal from roofs. No one was aware of any such service.

Elections

Arnie: One board member left and there is another possible departure which would leave us one short of our required number. He is asking members to seriously think about coming forward.

Meeting Adjourned

Video Presentation: 25 yrs of Harvesting @ Apex

Posted by: APOA2016  /  Category: News

This week representatives from the APOA Forestry Advisory Committee met with government staff from the forest ministry and from 3 of the 4 timber harvest licensees who have been actively harvesting in the Apex area:  LSIB, Weyerhaeuser and Gorman Brothers. The APOA, Nickel Plate Nordic Centre, and Apex Resort have an Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in place that provides a forum for the licensees to convey their harvest plans, and the local stakeholders to provide their input with respect to those plans.

For many years the forestry committee has been voicing concerns about the annual rate of harvesting, and especially the cumulative impact of clearcut harvesting on the Apex area.  That is why we started off our portion of this year’s discussion with a video that shows just how extensive the harvesting has been in the last 25 years. It is definitely having a visible impact!  For example, Nickel Plate Nordic Centre is now surrounded by clearcuts, eliminating the opportunity for any significant trail expansion for the next 50 years.  Trees only grow 6-8 inches a year up here.  Take a look and see what you think:  Apex harvesting video

The Apex MOU is actually the type of landscape level planning and collaboration process that is being discussed during the provincial government’s “phase 2” updating of FRPA, the legislation that governs forestry in BC.  FRPA was updated this year via Bill 21, with more extensive updates planned for next year.  See the discussion paper for details.

The APOA’s position is that in theory our current MOU with the harvest license holders does define a collaborative mechanism for protecting recreation values. But in practice the lack of supporting legislation and regulation inhibits the ability of the participants like the APOA to achieve their goals with this type of ad hoc MOU.  Outcomes such as “protect recreation values” are not well-defined in regulation nor in the licensee’s Forest Stewardship Plans, and hence left up to interpretation and debate.  This leads, not surprisingly, to local residents feeling the cumulative impact of harvesting is too high, while the licensees see it as appropriate for an area that remains included in the timber harvest land base.  What is missing, and what we need added to FRPA and its associated regulations, are well defined measures of compliance.

Compliance in this case would mean achieving the specific goals established during the landscape-level planning phase, which is the phase where well-established intensive recreation areas such as Apex are designated as “special” and hence not to be considered just another part of the timber supply.  The Carmi trail system is another example of an area that is already specially designated, but where the actual goals in maintaining the recreation quality are not well defined. We all want a strong and viable forestry industry in BC, but especially as the timber supply dwindles we must also ensure non-timber values are protected and the economic and social value of area such as Apex are conserved.

The great news is that you can get involved and voice your opinion!  There is a simple online government survey available at: https://engage.gov.bc.ca/forestandrangepractices/  The deadline is July 15, 21019.  So don’t delay!  Let the government know how you think our society can better ensure the Apex recreation area remains one of BC’s premier winter and summer recreation areas.

 

APOA presents to RDOS Directors

Posted by: APOA2016  /  Category: News

On March 21, 2019, Jeff Brown, Chair of the APOA Forestry Committee presented to the RDOS Directors.   The presentation and speaker notes can be found here: APOA presentation to RDOS  The topic was the upcoming changes to the Forest and Range Practices Act, and how the APOA feels this is an opportunity for local governments to become more effective at protecting recreation areas such as Apex.

2019 APOA AGM

Posted by: APOA2016  /  Category: News

APOA Annual General Meeting
Sunday, March 24, 2019
3 PM
Apex Mountain Inn Meeting Room

As well as APOA committee reports, Area I Director Subrina Monteith will provide her RDOS update. James Shalman will summarize resort activities and future plans. Jeff Brown will provide an update on what is happening with forestry legislation in BC and how this may impact the Apex area.

So please mark Sunday, March 24 on your calendar and we will see you there!

APOA Season Opener Social **Update**

Posted by: APOA2016  /  Category: News

The date for the APOA annual Season Opener Social has changed.

It is now on Saturday Dec 15, 2018

Location:  Apex Mountain Inn
Time: 5 PM to 9 PM
Complementary appies for APOA members, drink special: $6

Informational updates from APOA Forestry Committee, Apex Mountain Resort, and RDOS

Fire and Flooding preparedness links

Posted by: APOA2016  /  Category: News

 

Floods What to Do?

Warmer Weather be Prepared

FireSmart – Homeowner’s Manual – reduce fire hazards, preventative steps, home assessment

2018 AGM APOA Sat Mar 17, 2018

Posted by: APOA2016  /  Category: News

APOA AGM notice Saturday March 17th, 2018 3 PM-5 PM at the Apex Mountain Inn games room. Mark your calendars. Hear more about what is happening with forestry, your mountain and the conservation issue of the Apex recreation area.

Your APOA needs you!!! We are looking for members to put their name forward to fill the outgoing board positions. Many of our retiring board members have been at it a VERY long time and it’s time to give them a rest. If you think this may be for you and want further info, please email us your contact details and we can chat more about it by phone. If you would like to put your name forward email us at apoaexec@gmail.com. This is a great way to keep your community strong and influence the future direction of our recreational area.

Minutes of last years AGM can be viewed by clicking this link >>>   2017 APOA AGM MINUTES

APOA- founding member of BC Coalition for Forestry Reform

Posted by: APOA2016  /  Category: News

APOA is a founding member of the provincial organization BC Coalition for Forestry Reform. The website can be found at this link. The initial mission of BCCFR is to assist communities in BC to get directly involved in pressuring the BC government to create the resource regulation and policies needed to ensure local communities have a strong and effective voice in forestry planning and management. The BCCFR membership includes local community organizations from across BC. Websites of the BCCFR member organizations can be found at this link.

Skul’qalt Forestry Operations – Winter Creek/Nickel Plate

Posted by: APOA2016  /  Category: News

Hello All

Please consider this email as a notification that Skul’qalt Forestry LP will be considering operations in our proposed developments in Winter Creek and Nickel Plate this fall/winter season. Skul’qalt is still awaiting CP/RP approval and with the extreme summer we have had are hoping operations will be starting up around Mid to Late October 2017 till December 15, 2017. If the Nickel Plate Nordic Center and Apex Mountain Resort could please let me know of any large event dates between October 1 and December 15, 2017 would be greatly appreciated so I can ensure these dates are noted in my Pre-work & Safety meeting with the logging/trucking contractors.

Potential Operation Schedule:

Winter Creek Development (WC-4 and WC-5) – Highest Priority and Primary target to focus on harvesting/Hauling. Hoping hauling and harvesting operations will be completed by Late November/Early December to avoid as much disruption of the cross country ski-trail system (motherlode and Vindicator). I will keep everyone informed once operations begin and possible timetables.

Nickel Plate/Strayhorse Development (NP18 & NP-19)–We are hoping to complete this project before December 15, 2017 ( before – Christmas/peak ski season for tourists).

Please find the dropbox link to view the draft map of the operational areas in Winter Creek/Nickel Plate/Strayhorse:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/uhr49jl8fh34zvw/AADMT8IXw4kEHR2gazS6Wtq4a?dl=0

Thank you,

Mike Beck, RPF

Engineering Manager

Apex Mountain Resort – New Era Letter Sept 2017

Posted by: APOA2016  /  Category: News

AMR_Ltr_Welcome Sept 2017