AGM Minutes : Kalk Bay – St James Ratepayers and Residents Association

Minutes of the AGM of the Kalk Bay – St James Ratepayers and Residents Association held at 20h00 on 14 May 2013 at the Kalk Bay Community Centre.

1. Welcome
The Chair Tony Trimmel welcomed all present (about 75 members and friends) including Cllr D D’Alton, Paul Booth (City Council), Andy Rush (Kayad), Janet Holwill (Fish Hoek Ratepayers), Yvonne Bulgen (Muizenberg-Lakeside Ratepayers), and Captains Knapp & Jephta (Muizenberg SAPS).

2. Apologies
8 were received

3. Special Interest Topic: Main Road Phase 3
Paul Booth reminded the audience of the Open House to be held on Thursday 16 May from 16h00 to 19h00 at the Holy Trinity Church Hall.

This will be a static exhibition of detailed material relating to the forthcoming Phase 3 and the project team will be in attendance to answer questions.

Bearing this in mind he then referred to a 1931 article in the SAICE journal describing the 1926 construction of the Quarry Road – Clovelly section of Main Road. A

ll of the considerations then present (narrow roadwidth, lack of footways, pedestrian unsafety, rising traffic flows, and promenade prospects over the bay), existed now, but magnified many times over. The column and beam viaduct built at that time would be replaced by a back-filled retaining wall encroaching into the rail corridor.

Andy Rush summarised Phase 3:

the 500 m North section from Casa Labia to York Road would take about a year from an expected start in September 2013. Instead of lifting York Road the sewer to the Cape Flats, and water main, would be taken across the station parking area. A stop-go arrangement would operate on Main Road and through traffic would be encouraged to use Boyes Drive.

Concurrently the 700 m long Clovelly retaining wall (to be stone-clad) would be constructed but with minimal traffic disruption. Once back-filled, a 4.5 m foot and cycleway would be laid on top.

For a while traffic would be routed along it until the remainder of the section had been completed. Thereafter the Harbour – Woolleys Pool section would be completed.

Q. Do these proposals form the basis of the Ph 3 tender documents?
A.: Yes.
Q. Is traffic calming not possible along the completed Ph 1 & 2 to reduce the increased speeding?
A.: No, because humps would inhibit trucks’ and general flows.
Q. Can the coastal walkway to Clovelly corner not be part of the project?
A.: It is not part of the brief and lies on Intersite / Prasa land. But Clovelly station will be demolished and the material used as back-fill.
Q. What is the duration of Ph 3?
A.: Two years from September 2013 to 2015.
Q. Can work not be done at night to save time?
A.: There was public objection to this – and even during quiet work eg. when relining the sewer.
Q. When is the current stop-go to finish?
A.: 27 May.

4. Special Rating Area Report-back
Jim Russell reminded the meeting of the in-principle support given at the 2012 AGM for investigating the feasibility of establishing a Local Improvement District (Special Rating Area).

Both Muizenberg and Fish Hoek have already done so successfully. A committee of eight had subsequently driven the process, meeting monthly in liaison with the Council.

A Community Perception Survey was done during November 2012 with the results being analysed and compiled into a document by an independent consultant. This will be placed on the website. The cost of the Survey was borne by the SRA committee alone and they were congratulated by the meeting for doing so.

Next steps are:

the SRA website goes live on 1 July;

a public meeting takes place on 22 July in the Community Centre at which many of the operational details and prerequisites will be explained;

1 July 2014 the SRA commences operation provided all requirements have been met.

5. Councillor’s Report-back
Cllr Dave D’Alton is our Ward Councillor and Cllr Felicity Purchase is Chair of the South Peninsula sub-Council. All matters should therefore be routed via him and he recommended that he be invited to RRA committee meetings to strengthen mutual communications.

He referred to a variety of local issues on which there was little progress to report:

control of public behaviour at Harbour Beach during the Festive Season,

Holy Trinity Church fence,

Brass Bell beach appropriation,

and Kalk Bay Pools upgrading proposal;

on homelessness the DA Caucus is contemplating a change to the bye-laws to strengthen control measures.

Q. What Council action can be expected regarding the abandoned hotel on Muizenberg Main Road?
A.: The owner is insolvent and vagrants appear to be taking over. It is unclear where the project currently resides within the Council system.
Q. Why the Council inaction?
A.: The sub-Council Manager has been requested to report on progress on the various matters and this is awaited. Some Council departments do underperform but most of them do ‘brilliant’ work eg. Roads, Electricity.
Q. What can be done about the continuing noise from the Brass Bell, Cape to Cuba, and Kalk Bay Theatre?
A.: As no complaints had reached Cllr D D’Alton he assumed the problems had been solved.

6. Adoption of the 2012 AGM Minutes
Proposed Mike Mayne; Seconded Eric Stevens.

7. Treasurer’s Report
An accumulated surplus of R45 370 was reported. Proposed Derek Stuart-Findlay; Seconded Bert Stafford.

8. Chairperson’s Report
Tony Trimmel presented his report highlighting a variety of issues tackled by various committee members:

heritage and development (pressures on precinct character, walling and fencing-in of steps and streets, parking congestion on side streets; studies intended during the coming year);

new Integrated Zoning Scheme (officials, developers and the RRA committee are in process of becoming familiar with it);

Brass Bell beach appropriation (the latest step has been the installation of a roller metal door at the beach-mouth of the subway);

beach cleansing (while this has been satisfactory in many areas there was total lawlessness at Harbour Beach and total unwillingness by the relevant authorities to take the promised action during the Festive Season and eg. remove 300 bags of waste);

security (this had improved with the appointment of Capt Xesha and four more officers including Capt McKinnon), Don Yowell was thanked for maintaining the Crimewatch website, and Mike Townsend for providing 3 CCTV cameras to which the Olympia Deli and RRA make financial contributions;

green spaces are generally in good condition and all the local volunteers who maintain them were heartily thanked;

noise nuisance continues to be a problem and SAPS vigilance will continue to be essential.

9. General
Mike Mayne, on behalf of Holy Trinity Church, introduced Father Wilfred the new parish priest and committed the Church to greater involvement in the local community.

He drew attention to the Church’s tight financial situation and the annual Fish Fare that was primarily a fund-raiser to cover maintenance costs, but had also become a popular community event.

The church roof would again need short-term attention costing R40,000 and a larger amount later on. There had also been a fine to pay (R1000) in connection with the court appearance about the illegal fence.

They were therefore not in a position to pay for the re-siting of the fence and requested that a meeting between the RRA and Church be held as soon as possible to discuss the whole matter. This was supported by the RRA and the meeting.

Q. Why not close the Blue Bottle liquor store on public holidays?
A.: This has been suggested many times and the way forward is to organize a petition among residents to this effect.
Q. What is the underlying problem at Harbour Beach?
A.: The 3 landowners (Public Works = the harbour breakwater-jetty-parking area-water surface, Prasa = the railway viaduct and the space in the arches below it, Council = the Point and the beach between the viaducts) pass the buck among themselves. The RRA has urged Council as the responsible local authority to play a leading role in controlling public use and activities there but they have failed to do so.
Q. Cannot some of the available RRA funds be used to hire a lawyer to assist in bringing pressure to bear in the right quarters?
A.: At the moment there is a Harbour Users Committee (on which we are represented), a Boatowners Committee, and a number of IAAPs – all of whom attempt to put pressure on the authorities. A lawyer might well be able to assist.

Statement of intent: The situation cannot be allowed to carry on. The RRA must give notice that it will apply pressure, call the authorities and responsible individuals to account, and embarrass them publicly if they do not fulfil their commitments.

Statement of support: The ‘Gatesville Road Action Group’ was pleased to see that the parking issue arising from guest-house / B&Bs was receiving attention by the RRA, and called for Council to keep proper records of approved establishments and levy higher fines on those operating without approval.

10. Election
Cllr D’Alton took the chair. No new nominations for the committee had been received and none was forthcoming from the floor. Mike Walker proposed that the out-going committee be re-elected en bloc and this was widely seconded.

The meeting ended at 22h15 and enjoyed snacks provided by Ken McClarty of the Olympia Deli – and he was thanked heartily for his support once again.

Notice of Annual General Meeting

KALK BAY COMMUNITY CENTRE, MAIN ROAD, KALK BAY

Tuesday 14 May 2013

19h45 for 20h00

A G E N D A

1. Welcome and Apologies

2. Special Interest Topic: Main Road – Phase 3 (20 mins + 10 mins)

Andy Rush (Kayad Knight Piesold Civil Engineers), Paul Booth (City Council) will present the engineering challenges, design concepts, and time frames for construction of the sections from Wooleys Pool to Clovelly Road, and Casa Labia to York Road.

3. Progress Report on the Special Rating Area concept (10 mins)

Alain Russell will report on the SRA’s progress.

3. Councillor’s Report-back (20 mins)

Cllr. Dave D’Alton will present a progress-report on local issues he has been championing during the year.

4. Adoption of the Minutes of the 2012 A G M

5. Treasurer’s Report and Discussion

6. Chairman’s Report and Discussion

7. General

8. Election of 2013 – 14 Executive Committee

According to the constitution the Committee shall consist of a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson,

Treasurer, Secretary and five additional members. Up to 4 further members may be co-opted.

The 2012 Committee stands down as a matter of course but existing members may be re-nominated for the in-coming Committee. The members of the present Committee available for re-election are: Alan Espey, Rodney Dennis, Revel Donald, Dennis Evennett, Alain Russell, Bert Stafford, Derek Stuart-Findlay, and Tony Trimmel.

Nominations for the 2013 Committee may be made either to the Secretary before the Meeting, or prospective candidates may be nominated at the meeting.  Candidates must be paid-up members of the Association and have been members for at least three months.

The meeting will end at 21:30 – Refreshments will be served

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All residents and ratepayers are welcome to attend the AGM and the Association welcomes new members.

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Annual Subscriptions are due in January each year.

Kalk Bay Historical Association – Schedule of Talks for 2013-14

1. KALK BAY HARBOUR DOWN THE YEARS: CELEBRATING THE COMMENCEMENT OF ITS CONSTRUCTION, 7 JUNE 1913.

DATE: Tuesday 28 May 2013 at 8pm

VENUE: The Bible Institute, 180 Main Road, Kalk Bay

SPEAKER: Barrie Gasson

After more than a decade of dispute and preparation the foundation stone of the Breakwater was laid on the morning of 7 June 1913 by the Hon. Henry Burton, Minister of Transport in the Union Government. By 1919, after wartime delays, the Breakwater, Fish Landing Quay and Slipway were complete. Twenty years later the North Mole and Wooden Jetty completed the enclosure of a basin of 5 acres that has provided shelter to fishing and pleasure craft ever since.

The talk will deal with various themes covering 100 years of harbour history.

2. POLITICS, PERSONALITIES AND WATER IN GREATER CAPE TOWN: REMEMBERING THE MUNICIPAL AMALGAMATION, 13 AUGUST 1913.

DATE: Tuesday 30 July 2013 at 8pm

VENUE: The Bible Institute, 180 Main Road, Kalk Bay

SPEAKER: Elizabeth van Heyningen & Tony Murray

During the first post Anglo-Boer war decade the zeitgeist of Unification ran strongly in southern Africa and culminated in national union. It filtered down into municipal politics on the Peninsula and after much wrangling resulted in the amalgamation of seven small municipalities with the ‘giant’ of Cape Town. Many forces drove unification, the chief one being financial weakness in the face of costly infrastructure development, particular-ly tapping the water supplies that lay in the distant Hottentots Holland mountains.

The talk will expose the politics and the personalities behind the movement and explore the engineering and financial difficulties of bringing water to the amalgamated municipalities.

3. THE DELBRIDGE FAMILY’S CONTRIBUTION TO EARLY 20TH CENTURY KALK BAY – MUIZENBERG

DATE: Tuesday 29 October 2013 at 8pm

VENUE: The Bible Institute, 180 Main Road, Kalk Bay

SPEAKER: Steve Herbert

The brothers John and William Delbridge were builders of many public works in the Wynberg area in the 1880s – 90s (Wynberg Water Scheme and Dams; Mowbray Town Hall). From the early 1900s they became major investors in and contributors to the Kalk Bay – Muizenberg area where they built dozens of homes, notably in finely dressed stone. John Delbridge was the last mayor of the Kalk Bay – Muizenberg Municipality in 1913, the year his brother completed Muizenberg Railway Station which was opened by the Hon. Henry Burton on the afternoon of 7 June 1913. John’s son, the well-known architect William John Delbridge, also designed many homes in the area.

The talk will explore the legacy of this talented and industrious family.

4. HISTORIC MOVIE OF THE PENINSULA

DATE: Tuesday 25 February 2014 at 8pm

VENUE: The Bible Institute, 180 Main Road, Kalk Bay

SPEAKER: To be announced later.

Main Road rehabilition – Invitation to Open House for Phase 3

In March 2008, the City of Cape Town commenced with the rehabilitation of a 4.5km portion of the road from Atlantic Road in Muizenberg to Clovelly Road in Fish Hoek. The work is being undertaken in three phases and entails the rebuilding of the road and replacing all the underground services including the bulk water main, the local water main, gravity sewers, stormwater pipes and culverts.

Phase 1 (“Labia” to Leighton Road) was completed during December 2010. Phase 2 (Leighton Road to Bible Institute) is currently underway and is anticipated to be completed by end May 2013. Phase 3 is anticipated to commence in August 2013 and includes two sections, Main Road from the Bible Institute to Clovelly Road, including the structure supporting the footway above Clovelly station, and the section of Main Road from Labia to York Road.

Kayad Knight Piesold Consulting Engineers have been appointed by the City of Cape Town to undertake the design work and to supervise the appointed contractor for the duration of the contract. The tender documentation for Phase 3 is currently being prepared by the engineers.

In preparation for the commencement of Phase 3 of the construction works, a public Open House is to be held on Thursday, 16th May 2013 between 16h00 – 19h00 at the Holy Trinity Anglican Church (hall), Kalk Bay.

INVITATION TO PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE EVENT:

DATE: Thursday, 16 May 2013

VENUE: Holy Trinity Anglican Church (hall), 42 Main Road, Kalk Bay

TIME: 16h00 – 19h00

You may attend at any convenient time between 16h00 and 19h00

The Open House will not involve a formal presentation. Invitees are welcome to visit any time between 16h00 and 19h00. Informative material concerning the project will be on display in poster format. Furthermore, the project team will be in attendance should you have specific queries in relation to the project.

Should you or your organization wish to attend, kindly RSVP by no later than the 14 May 2013 to Kim Diedericks, Community Liaison Officer, Chand Environmental Consultants, PO Box 238, Plumstead, 7801; Fax: 021-762 3240; Tel: 021-762 3050 or Email: kim@chand.co.za.