Spring Newsletter (April 2009)

Summertime Watering Restrictions

Water restrictions will be in effect June 1st to September 30th. The restrictions include the following:

• No sprinkling, irrigating or outdoor washing from 10 AM to 4 PM
• Outside of this time, sprinkling, irrigating or outdoor washing is restricted to your watering day (see below)
• Watering days for properties with even house numbers are even days of the month (including July 31st and Aug 31st)
• Watering days for properties with odd house numbers are odd days of the month
• Please be water smart and conserve. You will be invoiced for your consumption, in accordance with the current water rates schedule.
• When you hear the emergency sirens, please turn off all sprinklers, to insure an adequate supply of water for fighting fires

We ask for your cooperation so that your friends and neighbors may also enjoy an adequate supply of water during the summer months.

Thanks (in advance) for doing your part.

Notice of NCID Annual General Meeting

The North Cedar Improvement District's annual general meeting will be held on Thursday, April 30th, 2009 at 7:00 PM, at the fire hall. There were two trustee positions up for election this year, one for a three year term and one for a two year term.

Fire Hall Open House

On Saturday, May 2^nd, 2009, from 11:00 A.M. till 3:00 P.M., the North Cedar Volunteer Fire Department invites you to tour the fire hall and have a hot dog, watch some auto extrication exercises and get information on being “fire smart”.

NCID Bids Farewell to Joe Burnett

Joe Burnett started with the District as a trustee in 2001. He served as the fire liaison chair during most of his time sitting on the Board of Trustee’s and this past year was the Chair to the Board. Joe is also the Area A Director with the Regional District of Nanaimo and it is for this reason he is stepping down as a Trustee. The Directors position demands much of his time and Joe never does anything unless he can give 100%.

Joe has been a very hard working Trustee and was the Chair of the building committee for the new firehall. He has worked tirelessly on behalf of the District and the firemen on many projects and continues to do so in his position as Area A Director. He has been a very committed and hardworking trustee on behalf of the community and will be greatly missed by the staff and firemen as well as the Board of Trustees at NCID.

As Administrator of the District during Joe’s time on the Board I cannot thank him enough for all the hard work, dedication and support he has shown both to me personally and to the citizens of Cedar. We look forward to continuing our work with Joe as the RDN Director for Area A and wish to say a big “thank you” for all you have done on behalf of the Improvement District Joe, it has been greatlyappreciated.

Mr. Burnett’s position as a Trustee will be up for election at the AGM for a two year term.

Spring Flushing

The public works department wishes to remind residents that they will be conducting spring flushings of the water system. You will see the staff running water through various fire hydrants throughout different area’s on the water system. This can create low pressure until the line has been flushed as well, as for a short period of time the water may appear cloudy to look at.

North Cedar's Fire Protection Area has Grown

This newsletter welcomes approximately 375 new parcels into the North Cedar Improvement District’s fire protection boundaries.

When the new fire hall was built at 2100 Yellow Point road, it brought all properties within the 8 kilometers of a fire hall for their fire insurance. There are three categories for fire protection insurance: fully protected, semi-protected and unprotected. Full protection means you live within a 1,000 feet of a fire hydrant. Semi-protected means you live within 8 kilometers of a responding fire hall and unprotected means you live further than the 8 kilometers and you do not have hydrants.

When the new hall was built, it brought everyone in the NCID boundary within the 8 kilometer limit. It also brought many properties outside our fire protection boundary, within the 8 kilometers required, however their fire protection fell under a service contract with the Cowichan Valley Regional District, which made their responding hall the North Oyster Fire Department and the responding fire hall was further than the 8 kilometers required for semi-protection. Residents in this zone approached the Regional District of Nanaimo, as their fire protection fell under the Regional District, who had been in a contract with the CVRD for close to 30 years, for service to this area. During that time, growth changed the dynamics of this area and the residents requested the RDN to review the boundaries and make adjustments accordingly, so they could continue to receive fire protection, but also receive the insurance benefit because they now fell within the 8 kilometers for North Cedar’s fire hall.

The Regional District explored all their options and approached the Improvement District regarding a boundary extension and a referendum was held during the November elections. The residents involved voted on whether they agreed to the boundary extension and it was passed by a majority to adjust the fire protection boundaries and become part of North Cedar. These additional properties will also be contributing to the parcel tax for the financing of the new fire hall as are the current residents of Cedar.

The North Cedar Volunteer Fire Department and its staff welcome all the new residents to the District and also invite you to come and tour your new hall on May 2nd, at the open house. Have a hot dog and join in the fun, as well as get some useful fire-smart information.

We hope to see you all here on the 2nd of May.

Burning Permits Start April 15^th

Residents are required to be in possession of a Class “B” burning permit as of April 15th, 2009 for open burning of a 6x6 pile, a burning barrel, as well as camp fires. Permits can be obtained at the office located in the fire hall at 2100 Yellow Point Road and there is no cost for the permit. The regulations are outlined on the permit, as well as what is permitted to be burned and what are banned materials.

We ask that residents be respectful of their neighbours BEFORE you light your fires, by checking on the venting index (instructions are on the permit as to how to obtain the rating).

The permit is good for ONE six-foot by six-foot pile or burning barrel. Fires are not to be burning 24 hours a day. Burning must be completed in a timely manner, so that your neighbours are not inundated with smoke on a continuous basis.

The District does have the ability to fine residents who do not possess a permit, as well as those residents who do not follow the regulations and burn noxious materials. Please ensure all yard waste is seasoned before you burn it and not green cuttings, which create a huge amount of smoke and generate many burning complaints.

We thank you for being cooperative, respectful and responsible about your back yard burning.