FRAA Board Meeting June 8, 2020

In Attendance: Sally Watson, Sonya Leenders, Kathryn Cameron

Excused: Paulina O’Brien, Flint Palmer, Greg Dowman

1. Meetings, Programs and Events Review – We are cautiously starting programs again. 

HIIT:  (High Intensity Interval Training) with Laura Penner on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm, $6 admission, and group-lead on Sunday evenings from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm, no charge, outside on the paved surface (skating rink/pickleball court). Please text Craig if you plan to attend.

Yoga: Yoga Flow With Julie on Thursday evenings at Field Community Hall from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm, by donation. Social distancing measures in place for us to flow safely and stay healthy. Mat placement will be taped on the floor. Bring your own mat 

Field Utility Board Meeting: Scheduled for phone meeting on June 16, 2020. FRAA to send items for discussion to Parks Canada by Thursday, June 11, 2020.

Town Hall Meeting June 22, 2020: The Board feels that it is too soon to hold a public Town Hall Meeting in an inside venue, so this meeting has been cancelled. Minutes of both the FRAA board of Directors Meeting and Field Utility Board Meeting will be circulated by email to the community email list and posted on the fieldbc.ca website.

Canada Day Celebrations normally held throughout the community on Canada Day are cancelled for 2020. However, the FRAA encourages everyone to decorate their house or yard or business, and have a family/household/bubble Canada Day barbeque to love your life, love your family and celebrate our good fortune to live in this remarkable country! 

Community Social Distance Street Party has been in discussion for a couple of months now. Again, the Board feels that it’s too soon to host an event but are exploring options that give us chance to get together, stay safe, visit and enjoy some music. It’s on the radar.

2. Hall Rentals

Elements Physiotherapy and Massage from Golden have expressed interest in renting the Community Hall one day per week during July and August to offer services to visitors and residents. The Board feels that since we are basically mid-pandemic now, 2021 is probably a better time to embark on this option. Sally to communicate the decision with Elements Physiotherapy and Massage.

No recent hall rentals, and none on the horizon.

3. Community Hall Clean-up and Standards/Protocols

The FRAA will follow Infectious Diseases Protocols when cleaning the Community Hall after it has been used. Sally to forward guidelines to Board members.

4. Landscape Contract

Contract has been awarded to Burgess Lawn Care and Maintenance. Mowing and planting have started.

5. Community Bulletin Board

Sonya presented concept. Feels that the corkboard is in good condition. Working on organization and headings. Budget of $150 approved. 

6. Community Garden Proposal 

There is interest for a community garden in Field. It is a complicated process. The group is scouting potential locations with a timeline to have the community garden established for 2021.

7. Letter to CP Rail on malfunctions of new crossing and plans for mitigation/repair 

This will be referred to Parks Canada for action. The new crossing has been in place since late November. The physical crossing is extremely rough/unfinished. The signal mechanism malfunctions frequently. Both need to be addressed.

8. Field Fire and Rescue Department (FFRD)

Parks Canada has hired a consultant to audit operations. Report to be complete by mid-September. FFRD has signed a contract with Parks Canada to provide fire protection services, and road rescue for extrication and vehicle fires in Yoho National Park until the end of September 2020. 

9. Constitution Update 

The Board members will review proposed changes by September. Proposed changes will be presented to the community and if approved will be filed with the BC Government. The changes are minimal. Sally will file the Annual Report this week.

10. St. Joseph Project 

Site meeting scheduled for Monday, June 15, 2020 to discuss variance issues. Helen Irwin has completed the first draft of the Basic Impact Assessment, and all current information has been forwarded to russell and russell design in Canmore. We need engineered drawings to apply for the gas tax grant. Owl monitoring continues. We’re making progress.

11. Go International Volunteers

Ron Allen reports that there will be changes to the program this year to manage participant safety. He recommended that we put together a short list of ideas for FRAA projects. The Board identified cleaning and staining the deck, and painting the outside doors. Other suggestions?

12. Field Utility Board Agenda items to discuss with Parks Canada

  • Invoices for public washroom use and Honorarium have not been paid to date, numerous reminders have been sent
  • Traffic lights at Field Intersection update
  • Kicking Horse Ski Club proposal to fund PC position to maintain ski trails
  • Opening public washroom at Community Hall in 2020 
  • Field Emergency Plan Update timeline
  • Communication with CP Rail about plans to finish the crossing (extremely rough) and mitigate signal malfunctions that have plagued operations since November. 

13. What’s Open in Field and Yoho

Yoho Bros Trading Post: Open Friday to Sunday 9 am to 7 pm,  and Monday to Thursday 10 am to 7 pm

Velvet Antler Pottery: www.velvetantlerpottery.com open daily from 11 am to 6 pm

Truffle Pigs Bistro and Lodge: www.trufflepigs.com open

The Siding Café: The Siding Café on Facebook, closed

Emerald Lake Lodge: Open as of June 3, 2020 https://crmr.com/covid-19/

The Boathouse Trading Co. : Open daily 10 am to 5 pm https://sites.google.com/theboathousetradingco.com/emeraldcanoes

Cathedral Mountain Lodge: Plan to open August 1, 2020 https://www.cathedralmountainlodge.com/special-advisory/

Lake O’Hara Lodge: www.lakeohara.com News release April 22, 2020: Lodge not open for the 2020 summer/fall season.

Great Divide Lodge: www.thegreatdividelodge.com Call for information.

ACC Backcountry Lodges: https://www.alpineclubofcanada.ca/web/ACCMember/Huts/Home.aspx?hkey=2859ab1c-3d06-42d6-ab37-5a2e0c77f2ec

Parks Canada stakeholder update dated June 1, 2020 will be circulated with the minutes.

14. Round Table

Sally to pay WSP invoice for last work done on the lot survey, covers registering info with Government of Canada.

Village of Field website, www.fieldbc.ca  is almost up to date with minutes of Board and Town Hall Meetings. To be complete by end of June.