Field Recreation Advisory Association Town Hall Meeting, June 24, 2019

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In attendance: Pierre Lemire, Wendy Edge, Dave Selkirk, John Schlichting, Brenda Selkirk, Karla Gaffney, Randle Robertson, Mike Furfaro, Pauline Boisier, Lloyd Lafrance, Sophie Cais, Carla Evans, Dennis Evans, Sally Watson, Flint Palmer, Kathryn Cameron

Excused: Sonya Leenders, Karen Schmidt, Paulina O’Brien, Charisse D’hamers, Greg Dowman

1. Information from CP Rail on Projects in Field slated to start in August 2019 Peter Bayerle, Senior Manager for Projects and Public Works was originally scheduled to attend the Town Hall Meeting to present this information and answer resident’s questions about the projects, but not able to attend the meeting. In his absence, CP Rail recommended that residents visit www.cpr.ca for information and send comments or concerns to Community Connect. Here’s the website information:

“Track reconfiguration / extension project – Field

Beginning in early August 2019, and running until the end of November 2019, Canadian Pacific (CP) is completing a track reconfiguration project in Field Yard. The project will extend the length of CP tracks through the 2nd Street crossing to the west end of CP’s yard.

         Currently, long trains staged at Field must be split among a number of tracks. This type of train movement requires the intermittent occupation of the 2nd Street crossing, blocking the passage of vehicles and pedestrians. Once complete, the track extension work will accommodate longer train lengths on a single track, resulting in fewer blocked crossings.

         As part of the project, and to further enhance public safety, CP will be installing a full railway crossing warning system with bells, lights and gates. 

         During the project timeframe, people should expect to see or hear heavy machinery, rail equipment, banging, idling trucks waiting to proceed, dust, voices, and reversing trucks. Construction-type work will occur during daytime hours; night time work is also expected.

Contacts

         Residents with questions or concerns about our operations can call our 24/7 toll-free Community Connect line at: 1-800-766-7912 or email community_connect@cpr.ca.”

Action

FRAA will communicate with Parks Canada and CP Rail with the intent to work together to minimize construction noise and to secure an exemption from Transport Canada in order to have a silent crossing. Apparently Canmore has silent crossings, achieved by a local bylaw. The FRAA will confirm the information and process. FRAA supports existing Parks Canada construction guidelines of 7 am to 7 pm. Leases stipulate quiet hours in the community are from 11 pm to 7 am. These guidelines are in place to protect quality of life in the community.

         What can residents do? Email Community Connect; let CPR know now what your concerns are and offer suggestions on how to mitigate noise issues, during construction and post construction with a “full protection” crossing. 

1. FRAA Report 

         Kathryn Cameron, President FRAA

Event Recap: Two successful events since our last Town Hall Meeting. 

         On June 2, the FRAA hosted the annual Spring Fling. Great participation. Thanks to Paulina and Flint for organizing the evening. Thanks to Logan, Connor and Flint for their DJ skills. Thanks to the volunteers who worked in the bar and did clean-up.

         On June 15, we held our second offering of Music at the Church featuring Pablo euphoria from Golden. Really fun outdoor evening at St. Joseph’s. Super entertainment! Thanks Flint and Craig for organizing the evening.

Upcoming Events: Canada Day!! Monday July 1, 2019

Schedule of Events

8:30 am to10:00 am – Pancake Breakfast at Field Community Hall, BC Ambulance

8:30 am to 10:30 am – Pickleball Tournament, Field Community Hall

11:00 am – Parade 

11:30 am to 1:00 pm – Barbeque at The Pond, Field Fire and Rescue

1:00 pm – Happy Birthday Canada!! Cake Contest Judging, Sing Oh Canada,                     cake and ice cream

1:30 pm – Boat Race at The Pond

2:00 pm to 4:00 pm – Friends and Family Bocce Tournament, Soccer Field

6:30 pm – Pot Luck Barbeque and Supper at Field Community Hall, outside if the                weather is good, inside if the weather is bad

  • Posters and Sign Up sheets are on the bulletin board by the Post Office
  • To reduce waste, Bonnie Brandt has opted to wash dishes at the pancake breakfast. Don’t hesitate to support this initiative by rolling up your sleeves and taking a turn at the sink. Bonnie has also scoured thrift shops for glassware for the Community Hall. Thanks Bonnie!

Field Summer Music Festival, Sunday July 7, 2019 – Flint Palmer

The countdown is on!

  • Tickets are still available.
  • Parking will be in town on the west end of Stephen Avenue to the yard waste station and on 2nd Avenue. Community supports the plan.
  • Email confirmation to include green message in addition to logistics for the day.
  • Outside water station will be fed by hose from inside the Community Hall.

Next meeting cycle:

FRAA Board Meeting Monday, September 9, 2019
Field Utility Board Wednesday September 18, 2019
Town Hall Meeting Monday, September 30, 2019

Summer Programs at the Community Hall

HIIT – Sundays, 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm, free admission, and Thursdays, 6:45 pm to 7:45 pm, $12 Drop-in fee
Just Breathe Yoga Wednesday, 6:00 pm to 7:15 pm from June 5, 2019 to July 17, 2019 $12 Drop-in Fee or $70 for all seven sessions

Shake It Up with Paulina Fridays, starting June 7, 2019, by donation

Pickleball on the paved surface behind the Community Hall

Friends of Yoho Historic Walking Tour of Field, Tuesdays and Thursday at 8:00 pm starting July 2, 2019 to September 12, 2019

St. Joseph Project

Working with designer on revisions to include an elevator to meet accessibility codes. Once plans are complete we will move to the next step in the Development Permit process with Parks Canada.

Waiting for announcement by Columbia Basin Trust on Built Heritage Grant application for $300,000.

Online Training for Volunteers with RCMP Victim Services Program

It is a more formal process than anticipated. Will continue to work with program coordinator Nuala Wolfe.

Hall Repairs

Hipi Construction contracted to replace the change room exterior exit door and repair the door frame; replace shingles on the shed roof, repair shelves in the kitchen and replace the broken window in the change room.

Honorarium and Insurance

Thank you to Parks Canada for sending the Honorarium and for paying the FRAA insurance with Johnston Meier of Golden.

Spring Bins

In the parking lot behind Truffle Pigs Lodge. Both are now full and ready to be taken away. Suggestions that the garage sale take place in May rather than June, and that we hold at least one “Weekend Givaway” event prior to getting the bins in the future. This gives residents the chance to dispose of usable items and pick up items they need rather than just tossing them into a bin. Reminder that the cost of spring bins is included in calculating solid waste costs.

2. Treasurer’s Report 

         Sally Watson, Treasurer FRAA

Financial reports are attached to the minutes distribution email.

3. Parks Canada Reports 

         Juliet Van Vliet, Townsite Manager

  • Is community interested in pursuing the pilot project to have a 15 minute parking zone in front of the Post Office? Response from people at the meeting was “It’s not really necessary.” Pilot project will not proceed.
  • Townsites Office has moved back into the Lake Louise visitor Reception Centre. Visitor Experience anticipates moving back and opening the centre once renovations are complete, around mid-July. 
  • Hollie Tataryn is the first point of contact with concerns about Townsite management. She can refer people to the proper department or answer questions immediately. General email: pc.llyklotissementsurbains-llyktownsites.pc@canada.ca. Contact Hollie: 403 343 6106 hollie.tataryn@canada.ca
  • Discussion about speeding in Field, the need for line painting at STOP signs and a request to have the seasonal STOP sign installed at the intersection of Wall Street and Stephen Avenue.
  • Discussion about shovelling snow off the sidewalk on the bridge in winter. Added to the August meeting with Highways about winter maintenance along with notification methods for snow removal, i.e. email or portable signs.
  • Townsites supports a pedestrian friendly community. Reminder to residents that parking on sidewalks is illegal.
  • Some water meters still to be upgraded. Assets are working on the project; all upgrades will happen. Questions about billing? Contact information is on invoices. Questions about water meters? Keith Parkinson: 403-522-3623 ext. 31
  • As noted at the last Field Utility Board Meeting on May 1, water and sewer rates will not increase for the 2019/2020 budget year. 
  • Parks Canada has contracted with the Town of Banff to deal with solid waste as of July 1, 2018. Their service is more expensive but also more efficient so increase in solid waste removal costs expected to be minimal if there is any change. 
  • Parks Canada confirmed that Field recycling is still being picked up by highways and brought to the Banff recycle centre. 
  • Baptiste Caïs and Lucy Schmidt both collect refundable containers. If you don’t want to go to a bottle depot yourself, please contact either Baptiste (250-343-6380) or Lucy (250-343-6813) for pick-up or delivery options.
  • Thank you to Chief Furfaro for his leadership skills and service during his tenure as Fire Chief. Parks Canada appreciates everything he has done to manage and help develop Field Fire and Rescue.

4. Friends of Yoho Report 
         Brenda Selkirk, Manager Friends of Yoho

Everything is great!

  • Members can renew their membership at the store.
  • Historic Walking Tours of Field on Tuesday and Thursday evenings start on July 2, 8:00 pm and go until September 12.
  • The Friends of Yoho plan to celebrate Parks Day on Saturday, July 20 with S’Mores at Kicking Horse Campground –weather, fires and construction dependant! Stay tuned for details.

5. Field Fire and Rescue Report 
         Mike Furfaro, Chief, Field Fire and Rescue Department

  1. Call Outs –24 as of 01 January 2019.
    1. 8 in Jan, 7 in Feb, 1 in March, 2 in April, 3 in May, 3 in June
  2. Members – Sitting at 21 members. 
    1. 6 Officers, 5 Firefighters, 7 Probationary Members, 3 Recruits
  3. New and Planned Purchases
    1. New purchases
      1. No new purchases as of last meeting
    1. Planned purchases
      1. New Helmets, Flash Hoods, Heated one time use blankets
  4. Completed Training 
    1. Team Leader, Exterior Fire, Incident Safety Officer, Ventilation, High Hazard Flammable Trains (Crude by Rail in Colorado), Interior Fire, APO, EVD
  5. Upcoming Training
    1. Awaiting Fall Training Calendar (CSRD), Auto-Ex
  6. Apparatus
    1. Engine 1 (all good) – Annual Inspection done last week
    1. Rescue 1 (all good) – Annual Inspection to be done this week
    1. Rescue 2 (Siren and light Issues) – Annual Inspection done last week
  • Field Emergency Plan
    • Field Emergency Plan? Review old Plan, Review new plan
      • FFRD will conduct initial size-up and potential initial containment then may assist in notification and evacuation of residence of Field.
      • Town notification options (Siren=1min continuous blast, Vehicle PA systems, door to door)
      • FEP hopefully to be reviewed by PCA and updated
  • Ongoing Projects
    • Work with PCA to formalize mutual aid agreements with L.L. (ID9) and Golden BC
    • Discussions with PCA about importance of fulltime members on FFR (Fire Chief)
    • Generator for Firehall – PCA Assets working on this
  • Mike Leaving FF&R
    • I have bought a house in Golden and I will be moving next week. I will be stepping down as Fire Chief of the FFRDS as of 02 July 2019. Patrick Cais will step into the Acting Chief position until the Elections at the end of October. I will continue to work as an Auxiliary Member for the FFRDS for the purpose of discussions with PCA in regards to a fulltime Fire Chiefs position. All enquires to the Chiefs’ Email will be forwarded to Patrick Caïs.

Field Recreation Advisory Association recognizes the great commitment to training, equipment maintenance and prepared emergency service Field Fire and Rescue provides to the community of Field and visitors to Yoho National Park. We support at least one full-time paid position on the department. Volunteers in the department juggle responsibilities of family, employment, and personal interests along with meeting the demands of a volunteer position in an organization that offers critical service when people are vulnerable and need help. It becomes an unreasonable expectation for a volunteer Fire Chief to successfully manage all these elements without burning out. Michael, thanks for the initiatives you sparked (pun intended!) to improve the department. We’re so glad you are staying on as an Auxiliary Member to see the processes through to resolution.

6. Round Table

Noise

1. Residents noted that Music at the Church on July 15, 2019 lasted until 1:35 am, with a fire pit and music piped through the speakers used during the performance. Discussion again about lease stipulation of quiet hours between 11 pm and 7 am, and that in the future, FRAA events at the Church will follow that guideline. Concern also expressed that this was an indication of how future events will unfold once the Church is renovated and rented for weddings, meetings, exhibitions, etc. The FRAA commits to following guidelines of quiet hours, with respect for residents and visitors. Discussion included options; noise complaints can be directed to the RCMP.

2. The FRAA received a letter from a resident expressing concern about late night noise from staff accommodations. Advised of lease stipulations regarding quiet hours, advised to call the Townsite Office to have Parks Canada remind the leaseholder of quiet hours guidelines, and that there is also the option of calling the RCMP with a noise complaint.Meeting adjourned at 8:50 pm.