SIRRA Survey Results

I would like to extend a thank you to all of you who answered our survey. We had a record response rate this year – 47 – or almost 25% of our membership. The top three issues were: BC Ferries, Health Services and Property Taxes. No surprise that BC Ferries is considered the most important issue facing our island – it has been for the last few years with rising fares and service cuts bringing home the real threat that we may not count on the level of accessibility we currently have, in the future. Health was the second most important issue, reflecting the recent need, and challenge, in replacing our island nurse. Happily we can report that a replacement was found, albeit a LPN and not an RN, but we do have a nurse. So many thanks to our island’s Health Committee and Dawn Wood for being instrumental in making this happen. Property taxes was third and the hot potato this year was BC Assessment’s seemingly random decision to increase the assessments by up to 30% on parcels +10 acres while decreasing other properties with as much as 10%. SIRRA , jointly with Mayne Island’s MIRRA, demanded an explanation from BC Assessment Authority and received a less than satisfactory answer. We were asked to spearhead a mass appeal, however, on the advice from a Commercial Appraiser, we were told that individual appeals have a higher success rate than a mass appeal. We have since heard that many large parcel property owners were indeed successful in rolling back the increases. The maintenance of our roads is always near and dear to our hearts and was fourth on the list. With a large portion of the island having been repaved, we now focus on specific problem areas, the safety of Harris Road being top of the list. Emergency preparedness, water and other transportation were seen as less important, but there were some thoughtful comments provided in these areas. I have attached two documents: a graph that shows the results of the survey and all the comments made by members, listed by topic area. It makes for interesting reading! Thank you all for participating. You have provided SIRRA with good guidance and your board will do its best to ensure we continue to speak with a strong voice. Of course, the more members we have the stronger we are – spread the word and get your neighbours and friends to join us! Best Regards, Eva Hage

 

SIRRA Survey 2015 – Member Comments

Ferries

 1. Talk with BC ferries about idea so increase service

 2. Continue trying to get the message to BC Ferries that we need stability and we need a new approach to servicing the islands that is sustainable, environmentally friendly and one that helps are community survive and flourish.

 3. Keep the pressure on the Province for lower fares and increasing financial contributions to the ferry service.

 4. Keep up the campaign for lower fares and fewer cuts.

 5. Force the Gov't to return the BC Ferries to the Dept of Highways. Audit the entire operation. Remove the incumbent Directors and management and all political appointees. Elect a Committee from West Coast Residents to monitor the performance of the Corporation.

 6. Lobby, harass, convince politicians to maintain and or improve service and research effects on what reduced service and fares have on Island

 7. Keep up the good work trying to maintain decent service and fares to Saturna

 8. Communicate on all things related to the ferries; to the people of Saturna and the public considering using the ferries to come to Saturna. Attempt to influence positive change and minimize negative impacts.

 9. Write all MLA's, esp. Min. of Transport & Hwys, Premier, newspapers (Van Sun/Province/Times Colonist) explaining devastation to our community. Write also Min. of Finance re falling real estate equates to lower taxes for them. Call local MLA & Min of Trans & Hwys every 2 weeks. Do not take no for an answer. Gov't needs to understand the millions of $ they are losing due to the misguided ferry service. 10. Ferry service needs to be revised

11. The major issue is underfunding by the province. That is the single message that must be sent to government. Everything else (reservation system, high salaries, etc) is a smokescreen.

12. Work to make the ferry system in BC fair for all; reduce fares; establish schedules to accommodate all

13. Put pressure on the government to de privatise the ferry corporation

14. Continue to facilitate communications with BC Ferries and residents. Review proposed changes to schedule and provide alternative suggestions where appropriate – i.e. having Wednesday sailings cancelled instead of weekend sailings this year.

15. Lobby to maintain or improve service and cost. Affordable ferry service is the lifeblood of our community.

16. Work on establishing more frequent ferry service to Mayne to connect with other ferries; government subsidy of rates

17. Please try to coordinate with other islands to lobby for equitable funding for ferries via a vis other more heavily subsidized transport modes (transit, roads, inland ferries) to halt the degradation in our island economies.

18. Keep lobbying the government for improvements. Partner with the other Gulf Islands and other interested parties. Keep the media informed and do more to get the general public on our side.

19. Promoting better access and reasonable fares 20. More advocacy on Ferries -­‐ fares, fairness, political change, tourism

21. Decent connections to the mainland

22. Lobby politicians at all levels as much as possible to return BCF to highways department and declare it an essential service.

23. Work on means to reduce the cost of ferry transport to and from Saturna. This will look after the important topics of property values and preserving/encouraging island businesses.

24. Keep the heat on our government to lower fares.

25. Keeping members informed of developments with BC Ferries and lobby for retaining service to Saturna

26. Continue to advocate for reasonable ferry costs. This will ensure the viability of the economy on the island.

27. Fare reduction, daylight sailings on main routes

28. We as a group need to keep constant pressure on BC ferries as to our needs.

29. Keep the increases to a minimum 30. The ferry service is our highway and should not be priced out of reach for any residents on the Gulf Islands, nor should illness need to be scheduled around ferry service.

31. Lobby for an understanding that the ferry service is part of the highway system and therefore is in need of the same subsidies as the rest of BC's highway system

32. Ferries -­‐ Help to keep us informed.

33. Continue to fight for accountability in BC Ferries and continue to work toward better service.

34. Continue to advocate for better service and lower fares.

35. Explore alternate ways to travel other than the ferries......be part of the solution with creative thinking outside the box.

36. Explore alternates to existing ferry service.

37. Ferries is where 90% of SIRRA's efforts should be focused.

38. For me, none are even close to the importance of the ferry situation. Many thanks for all that you do!

39. Keeping focus on cost and efficiency of ferry service which has been very good to date

40. Lobby to make part of highways system again and declare access to one's own home a RIGHT.

Health Services

 1. Advocate for health services so folks do not have to leave their homes because of a lack of such services.

 2. Co-­‐ordinate with other islands, regular visits from a nurse or nurse-­‐practitioner.

 3. Try to get adequate nurse coverage for the island

 4. Increase availability of medical staff, home nurse

 5. We might add funding our Medical Clinic rather than Parks and Rec -­‐ we need health services not "free" salmon bbq's, ice cream and sandwiches, or yet another unused water access.

 6. Appointment of a Home Care Nurse replacement has taken far too long. Those who are in need of home care need it now. Aiding Saturna folks to enable them to stay in their homes is vital.

 7. Lobby the provincial government, specifically the Minister of Health, to address the issue of little medical services on Saturna specifically but all the OGI'S.

 8. Make sure that there is a long-­‐term plan for health services.

 9. Continue to pressure for a home care nurse on Saturna 10. Work to maintain and improve service so residents can receive minimal treatment without having to leave Island for minor problems.

11. Work with all agencies to provide the best possible health care on Saturna. Keep the people on Saturna updated on health related issues.

12. Re-­‐instate nurse position.

13. New island nurse! Perhaps SIRRA could link with the Health Committee for a specific purpose -­‐ to use our resources to help attract some nurse candidates who could move to Saturna.

14. Ensure continued nurse support for the island.

15. Health services -­‐reinstate the home care nurse

16. A permanent full time Nurse Practitioner is required on the Island.

17. We need to maintain or improve health services on Saturna, not see them decreased.

18. Aging population dictates health services on island and must reflect mainland services

19. Petition the health services for a full time nurse 20. Proper staffing of health facilities on Saturna.

21. Keep lobbying the government for adequate on-­‐island health services.

22. I believe that we are getting some nurse service back so keeping on top of the situation is important. No action at this time.

23. Full time nurse/practitioner or at least a nurse available full time on the island

24. We need a Home Care nurse.

 Property Taxes

 1. We need to deal with the unreasonable increase of taxes on larger properties.

 2. We do not mind spending for our fair share of property taxes but it seems that Saturna residents pay a very high tax for very little service. That said, we should be able to pay our volunteer fire fighters. Almost everyone else does.

 3. Property Taxes -­‐ Oversight

 4. Continued emphasis on how assessments are determined such as questionable modeling techniques

 5. Write all MLA's, Min. of Finance, Premier, newspapers etc. It is ludicrous that Assessment Authority would raise large property owners taxes based on a computer model & ignore the few sales that have taken place. This is not right & gov't should have huge pressure put on them by SRRA.

 6. Why do we have $30k in property taxes going to Parks & Rec when we have 50% of our island in (Federal) park, yet funding (Island Health Authority) for our ambulance/First Responders is $10k. What a travesty! Please address this ludicrous inequity.

 7. Ask for reassessments of our properties

 8. Get the Islands Trust to reduce spend rather than dipping into the reserve all the time to maintain a high level of expenditure. This could be achieved by encouraging them to avoid mission creep beyond their land-­‐use management mandate.

 9. Please address the inequity in assessments on large properties -­‐ or at least determine why the assessment authority has now determined these large properties to having increased 25% to 30% when almost all other properties have experience substantial decreases in market value and corresponding assessments. 10. Keep pushing for fair and equitable assessments and taxes.

11. Property assessment increases for large landowners as well as for the rest of us

12. Reasons for sudden devaluation of most properties?

13. Keep members informed of what the taxes are used for and lobby to keep taxes down.

14. Continue to tell the government that we get few services in relation to property taxes

15. Address discrepancies in assessments; lobby the federal gov't to pay its fair share.

16. Not worried about taxes themselves, but SIRRA should make sure that assessments are fair for all. That one aspect or type of property is not unfairly taxed. When Gov't needs money they will use whatever "fair subterfuge" they can to get it.

17. Insist on better services for our tax dollars. We get little return for what we pay.

18. An Audit by an independent group about where and how our taxes are spent. Do we receive full value for our taxes? What are the criteria for setting assessments and mill rates?

19. The past emphasis on decreasing property taxes seems to me over-­‐rated. I'd like to see greater results for what we pay

20. When assessments are down 20 % our taxes should go down as much. Fight for it or in 10 years there won't be anybody here

Roads

 1. Harris Road surfacing with tarmac

 2. Help us (Saturna Beach population) lobby for some road maintenance

 3. Harris Road desperately needs improvement and paving

 4. Lobby Dept of Highways to fix/service roads, including Harris road

 5. Roads are frequently in a state of disrepair. Harris Road is dangerous in the areas where the ditches have eroded the road bed

 6. Cliffside Road is a mess of patches and should be repaved.

 7. The roads are too narrow for safe walking and biking. Separate lanes are needed on major roads, like East Point Rd.

 8. Public road to Thompson Park

 9. Work with road maintenance on a plan for continuous improvement and not major repaving project at very long intervals. Post warning when adverse road conditions. 10. Our roads are still not up to snuff & need to continue the good work that was started under Susy's watch.

11. Our roads, signage, maintenance are good. Hill up to store is a little worrisome/precarious looking.

12. Keep pressure on government to maintain existing roads and improve those already identified as dangerous.

13. Let's finish paving all the roads. If this government can't look after 43 km of roads, what can they look after? We are 1/2 way there so get the job done

14. Continue to press for better roads

15. Roads -­‐ again, keep up pressure. Not sure what new initiatives at this point.

16. Continue to fight for better, safer roads on the island.

17. The road maintenance needs increased funding

Emergency Preparedness

 1. Request/establish evacuation plans for catastrophic fire situation.

 2. Ensure that the fire station and other emergency equipment is well-­‐maintained, and available  

 3. Make sure that all residents know what to do in different emergency situations

 4. Support for ambulance and fire services

 5. Assist in developing and publicising a response to the catastrophic forest fire that will come some day to Saturna.

Water

 1. Local control of water services. CRD is just too expensive and we can no longer afford them.

 2. Encourage rainwater collection systems.

 3. As all island residents know, water is a precious resource for us. We need to be sure that it isn't being wasted in any way. SIRRA can issue notices of water conditions on the Island, and hold meetings to educate residents and visitors alike about the H2O situation.

 4. Educational campaign to encourage wise use/conservation

 5. Potential for community water system for East Point area

 6. Continue efforts to enhance water capture solutions

 7. Investigate a means of collecting rainwater and storing it in tanks. For a community system.

 8. Support notion of metering

 9. I do have concerns about the Boot Cove/Lyall water system costs going through the roof. SIRRA could approach the local water committee to see what SIRRA might be able to do.

Other Transportation

 1. A convenient Inter-­‐Island transportation system would open up our access to more and varied medical services as well as promote a closer community relationship between residents of the Southern Gulf Islands, particularly in terms of commercial, cultural and spiritual interests.

 2. Please encourage other levels of government to contribute some even minor funding to our community shuttle bus operation.

General Comments

 1. Stay on it. Strive for excellence.

 2. Declare Independence and separate from the rest of BC as an independent province.

 3. Keep up the pressure -­‐ as often as possible, reinforce with politicians (CRD as well as provincial) the need for a shift to a provincial infrastructure approach, rather than an economically driven one.

 4. It would not accept my second item in the checkbox which is not on your list.......economic stimulation, promoting tourism etc.. .........if this improves, everything else follows

 5. Lean on MLAs and candidates for MLAs as well as minister.

 6. Low cost housing for young families to keep our community vital.

 7. Ensure those that volunteer on the Island are treated well for the time and effort they put in for us all.

 8. Communicate all issues and facilitate collection and distribution of islanders' viewpoints. Work for unity and respect to all.

 9. I think, esp. the first two items would take the Boards full time work to be effective.....don't spread yourself too thin.

10. Focus on the core issues -­‐ don't waste energy on other less important matters.

11. I'll likely think of some AFTER I submit this survey! Thanks for volunteering to maintain and protect the beauty and function of life on "our" Island.

12. There should be a phone booth at East Point park. Work with communication providers to allow for reliable internet and phone signals across the island at speeds that are in the 21st century. Without that commercial life on the island is seriously hampered as people cannot work from home and start up small businesses.

13. Not in the list but more important than any of the others -­‐ lobby for anything that will expand the full time residency and improve incomes -­‐ STVR, more proactive building regulations.

14. Marketing/ publicity to increase interest in island real estate

15. Telus needs to know the importance of an East Point phone for emergency purposes.

16. Communication amongst residents regarding events and activities suffers from the lack of one common place to find information that is updated frequently and is accessible to most residents. We have a plethora of web sites, chat groups, notice boards, etc. The Scribbler attempts to give readers timely notices but can only publish the information that it is given, and is limited with only one publication a month.

17. I think it is shameful that the volunteer firefighters are not paid for call outs.

18. Affordable housing and more jobs on island.

19. Focus on being proactive, instead of reactive. 20. TOURISM which will attract young people to live and work on Saturna. Affordable housing is also a priority.