• Directly below are the January 20, 2025 Admin-Finance Minutes.
• The March 10 2025 Operations Meeting Minutes will be posted after adoption at the next trustee meeting, date not yet set.
• The 2024 Annual General Meeting Minutes are draft until amended or adopted at the 2025 AGM.
• Minutes from 2024 can be downloaded from the bottom of this page.
• For Minutes from 2016 - 2023, please see the Archived Minutes page.
MINUTES
Trustee / Admin-Finance Meeting
10am January 20, 2025
via Zoom
1. Approval of the Agenda Moved L.Davis, 2nd B.Brucker. Carried.
2. Approval of the Minutes of December 19, 2024 Moved L.Davis, 2nd B.Brucker. Carried.
3. Year-end bank & reserves J.Reimer
The administrator reviewed the current bank account totals and the reserves expenditures of 2024, including $14,800 paid from the Reserves to the Upper Tank Feasibility Study.
4. Solar panels review
The administrator reported that Mark Long of Lund Electric had supplied an estimate to cover a solar panel system that would keep the Thomson controller charged, ending SSID’s reliance on lead acid batteries. So far, the system on loan had been working well, but had failed twice during the darkest days of the year. Mark had since then installed a charger, and suggested SSID continue monitoring the new system to confirm its suitability before making the system purchase.
5. Budget 2025 final
The budget for 2025 had been previewed in December, and was now ready for approval. Expenditures were based on a $85 tax increase per Class A customer, as presented at the 2024 AGM. This $85 increase, repeating for 5 years to 2029, would cover a placeholder figure of $190,000, which was the least costly of the upper tank replacement options outlined in the feasibility report.
6. Feasibility study
Discussion moved to the 4 options of the feasibility report. A 5th option was also discussed, in which the rope division of Acuren (tank inspectors) would work from scaffolding below the elevated tank to remove the full bottom panel and replace it with a new panel. The trustees were less in favour of this partial solution than a full replacement.
It was accepted that the most expensive option at $2.9M would be rejected by the SSID community. The preferred option, as recommended by the engineers was $1.4M. Borrowing would be required to achieve this goal, and taxes would have to cover the cost of borrowing. The trustees suggested that figures be presented at the 2025 AGM, indicating the cost of borrowing over a 10-, 15-, and 20-year period, with monthly payment plans available to residents.
Further discussion of all options would be necessary, and communications were planned to apprise tax payers in advance of the AGM. The AGM itself should have graphics, and clear messages as to the funds required for each option. It was also considered that a referendum on the subject would follow the AGM.
7. Budget approval
The administrator and trustees discussed that the District Tax and the Asset Renewal Levy planned for 2025 year would be better distributed with more funds available for operations expenses. The total tax for 2025 would remain as planned, but the Asset Renewal Levy that goes straight to Reserves would be a lower figure, and the District Tax higher. The administrator revised the tax allocations, and the trustees agreed, and approved the 2025 budget.
Motion
THAT the 2025 budget be approved as presented. Moved L.Davis, 2nd B.Brucker. Carried.
8. 2025 Tax Bylaw no. 138
The administrator entered the revised Asset Renewal Levy and District Tax figures into the draft Tax Bylaw for 2025. The Chair then read the bylaw aloud, and the trustees approved it.
Motion
THAT the 2025 Tax Bylaw be approved. Moved B.Miles, 2nd B.Brucker. Carried.
9. Message on reverse side of Tax Notice
The administrator had drafted an explanation of tax increases on the reverse of the Tax Notice. The trustees were in agreement with it.
10. Letters
It was briefly discussed that SSID would be sending a letter to the qRD acknowledging SSID’s participation in the Wharf Fire Protection plan, and as required by Vancouver Coastal Health would also create a contract with qRD to protect the waterworks.
It was also discussed that the qRD letter responding to SSID regarding the Tetra Tech hazard studies was inadequate in addressing SSID concerns.
11. MSR Solutions invoice approval Moved B.Brucker, 2nd L. Davis. Carried.
12. Next meeting March 10 2025
13. Adjournment B.Miles
12:06pm
