BPOA Membership Survey -  March 2024

Questions and Responses: Note: not all respondents responded to all questions

1.      What do you think should be the top priorities of the BPOA? (Rate from 1 top priority to 5 lowest priority) Number given is overall average rating.

a.       1.6   Road safety

b.      2.1   Water quality/environment and shoreline protection

c.       2.7   Developments and construction along the road including short term rentals,

d.      4.4   Social events

e.       3.6   Other: noise (2), water safety (2), light pollution (3), litter (3), all of the concerns noted (3), policing. Note: numbers in brackets means number of people who stated this

Comments:

- short term rentals (3):  we can see the writing on the wall from other jurisdictions nearby and elsewhere.  Noise, speeding (2) by people who have no stake in our community, safety on the lake, etc.  In my view, it is asking for a huge problem if Douro (or at least the east side of Clear and Stoney Lakes do not have a STR bylaw that is at least as restrictive as neighbouring areas (e.g. Smith on the other side of Clear)

- While I think road safety is incredibly important (as an everyday walker it affects me directly) I think by far the most important issue is the water that we all share, and then the land that we live on. We have a responsibility to protect both.

- top priority should be liaison/lobbying Douro on environmental issues, STRs, by-laws, road safety, improved internet, and to attract more doctors to the area

2.      The BPOA has been lobbying the Township for safety improvements to the road. Would you support the BPOA using some of its funding to contribute towards?:

a.      Shoulder improvements:        Yes 29 (70%)                  No 13 (30%)

b.      Improved Signage:                     Yes 20 (50%)                  No 19 (50%)

c.       A radar speed sign?                    Yes 27 (70%)                  No 12 (30%)

d.      Other:

                                                              i.      lower speed to 50 (4),

                                                            ii.      speed bumps (2), painted midline (2) so you can follow safely at night,

                                                          iii.      speed is an issue on the road we need more police presence (2),

                                                          iv.      I think more or enhanced trails adjacent to the road could take pedestrian traffic off the road,

                                                            v.      I feel road safety is largely the concern of owners on Birchview, which is not everyone in the BPOA, and also, this is the responsibility of the township. This should be coming out of tax dollars rather than the minimal funds collected by BPOA (2).

                                                          vi.      Re road safety:  speeding makes the road dangerous for walkers but also for other motorists.  Douro retained an expert who gave a report that the road is in places unsafe and that the speed limit should be reduced. I find it incredible that Douro chose not to follow its expert’s advice.  In my view, the only effective way to deal with speeding (and change people’s behavior) is to consistently ticket the speeders.  This would result in the speeders paying fines and paying more in auto insurance premiums and in some cases, losing points.

                                                     vii.      I don’t see how improved signage would improve safety.  It is also my view that a radar speed sign (which may inform people about how much above the speed limit they are driving) will not have any impact on them slowing down to 60 Kph for more than 100 feet or so. So I think that any money spent on them is wasted.  What I think would be a deterrent to speeding is a speed trap that took a photo of the licence plate and issues a speeding ticket.  Or a policeman doing the same thing.   I would be all in favour of spending some of our funds (how much are we talking about?) on that (although it grates that Douro does not enforce at its expense.

                                                   viii.      Re shoulder improvements, my view is that this may have the effect of speeders going faster (2).

                                                       ix.      I am not sure about improved signage. I would need to know more about what that improved signage would be?

                                                         x.      I think road safety is currently the most pressing issue. I think some board members want to reduce the speed, but many people on the street are against this. I think if we push to reduce speed we will alienate people on the street, instead pushing for improved shoulders, line of sight and signs would be more beneficial.

3.      Do you think the BPOA keeps its members informed on Lake events?  

Yes 42 (100%)       No 0

Do you have any suggestions on how communications could be improved?

-          Quarterly newsletter (2)

-          Use road sign more effectively (2), change it more often (2)

-          Great communications thru emails, timely and informative (3)

-          Circulate Monthly calendar of events

-          Use group chat app. for power outages and bear sightings etc.

-          Have more than one member meeting a year (2)

-          Website is outdated with documents missing (minutes) and some documents inaccessible (2), either update the website or delete it

-          Re the BPOA sign, the wording used to be informative from time to time.  More recently, the wording (eg “Drive With Care”) has been up for a long time.  A suggestion would be to either have no words at all (preferable to signage that remains the same for months) or better still to have the signage change regularly and be informative or maybe witty.

-          Bill does a great job with the group emails either about BPOA matters or forwarding messages from other like the Camp or Kawartha Land Trust, etc.   Many thanks to Bill.  Keep up the good work!!

-          PLEASE use the ROAD SIGN to much greater impact. It has been sitting unchanged for months. It could be a weekly update and much more informative and welcoming tool which sits vastly underutilized despite its attractiveness and the effort to create the logo and garden.

-          The ROAD SIGN is a great source of fun, announcements, alerts – but currently is stagnant.

-          Often emails get buried, in my inbox, I get hundreds of emails, maybe it can be more eye catching or each email is summarized and goes on the facebook page

-          Send out notifications of social events in the area eg) fishing tournaments, regattas (2)

-          Post notices on sign board of changes to garbage/recycle pick-up days

4.      Overall do you feel the BPOA represents your concerns? (Rate from 1 to 5 where 1 is considered excellent and 5 is considered poor)  

         1      21 (53%)       2   10 (23%)       3  1  (1%)     4 4 (10%)             5    5 (13%)

 (some of the #4 & #5 ratings could be because respondents read the rating system backwards)

How and in what areas would you like to see the BPOA improve?

-          We should protest closing of water testing service

-          Keep up good work (2)

-          Re-introduce annual road clean-up (4)

-          Choose one priority to focus BPOA efforts on annually

-          Bring back the newsletter

-          You are doing a great job

-          I like the link with clean up waterfront to be natural and checking runoff from septic should review this yearly

-          More member involvement

-          we need to make more visible progress in dealing with road safety issues.

-          Good survey!

-          More newsworthy messages on our road sign

-          One suggestion might be to try to get younger, fresher blood on the board

-          I do feel that the BPOA represents my concerns.   Douro council advises the BPOA on various matters and the BPOA makes representations to Douro council.  Members of the BPOA board interact with other residents associations in an effort to get coordinated on matters that are common to various associations.

-          Increase membership, more flyers, maybe have 2 meetings... spring and late summer

-          We appreciate the good work that BPOA does in our community

-          Have in-person seminar(s) at CK on topics of interest to members

-          BPOA should develop an educational package for new owners to include: septic tank awareness, safe boating, shoreline protection, by-laws etc..

-          I am very appreciative of the Board members who have volunteered

-          I believe Council pays attention to BPOA presentations and positions. They may not vote in accordance, but we represent a force and financial base that matters. Thank you for your leadership and always monitoring local issues on our behalf.

-          Continue to advocate for naturalizing – bringing nature back to our built spaces and protecting the environment.  Think about sharing best practices in green building, shoreline naturalization and carbon reduction.  Thanks!

-          Thanks to all volunteers.  Great communication!

-          We need to encourage others to help out by volunteering for committee or board