The Electra

BBQ season is here!

res-secretary — Tue, 15 May 2012 00:34:41 +0000

The sun and warm weather are hopefully here to stay. It also means that many of you will be looking to enjoy freshly BBQ’d food. As the two barbecues in the Social Club are a common amenity for the use and enjoyment of all owners and residents of The Electra, please be reminded of the following rules:

The barbecues are available to owners and residents of The Electra on a first come, first served basis.
Please do not start the BBQ and leave to let it heat up. You must be present at all times while the BBQ is turned on.
Ensure that the grill is thoroughly cleaned after each use. The Residential Section Executive Council has provided wire brushes to clean the grills. Please do not remove them from the BBQ area.
The BBQs are fueled by natural gas. Please make sure that the BBQ is fully turned off after you use the unit.
There is absolutely NO SMOKING allowed in the BBQ area of the social club or on any common area in The Electra.
Feel free to enjoy your dinner outside with friends and family, but please make sure that you clean up after yourself by throwing all garbage in the cans provided and returning the furniture to the way you found it.
Please respect your neighbours who face on to the BBQ area. Please keep noise down to a reasonable level after 9 p.m.
If you encounter any issues with the BBQs or have questions about how to use them, please call the On-Site Manager’s Office at 604.488.0048

Cover your food, please
You may love the smell of those beautifully cooked steaks, but your neighbours may not! Please respect your neighbours and cover your food when walking to and from your unit with any food. The hallways are negatively pressurized, which means that smells from the hallways will easily move into the individual units.

March meeting minutes and owner updates

res-secretary — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 15:33:09 +0000

Below are a number of important updates from the Residential Section Executive Council. As always, residential owners are encouraged to reach out to the Residential Section Executive Council directly if they have any questions about building operations or business. We can be reached at res-council@theelectra.ca or via our Property Manager at kbro@colyvanpacific.com.

AGM package mailing
The AGM package was mailed out to all owners on Monday, March 26. Registered residential owners can also download an electronic copy of the AGM package by logging into the secure section of the residential website. The package can be found in the “monthly meetings” section. Please contact our property manager Ken Bro if you experience any delays in receiving your AGM package.

Fire panel installation update (strata)
The fire panel installation is nearly complete. The Executive Council would like to thank all owners for their cooperation to ensure that this important life safety system was installed and tested. If you have any questions, please contact the On-Site Manager’s Office at 604.488.0048.

Terrazzo repair update (strata)
This project is a high priority for the Strata Council and will be completed as soon possible. The contractors need Mother Nature to cooperate with temperatures that are consistently above 10 degrees Celsius so that the new concrete foundation and terrazzo will be able to cure (aka dry) properly.

Residential Section Executive Council monthly meeting minutes
The minutes from the March monthly meeting of the Residential Section Executive Council are now available to owners. They can be downloaded from www.TheElectra.ca/monthly-meetings/. Hardcopies are also available through the On-Site Manager’s office.

Update on fire panel replacement project

res-secretary — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 16:27:35 +0000

The fire panel replacement project is on track and nearly complete. Earlier this week, the contractor completed the initial installation of the new system and an initial test of all its functions.

The next step will be to verify all of the components. This phase of the installation is underway and expected to take about two (2) weeks.

Occasional bells and verbal communications
During the verification process, building residents will hear an occasional testing of bells and verbal communications.

Testing in-suite speakers
Contractors will also need to access each suite to ensure that all in-suite speakers are functioning properly. The Electra on-site staff will provide two (2) to three (3) days of advance notice to suite residents. The notice will include the date of entry. Please note that due to the amount of work that needs to be completed, contractors are not able to make special arrangements or provide an exact time of entry. We recommend that owners who rent their unit(s) advise their tenant(s) immediately.

We anticipate that the contractors will be finished their work by early April. If you have any questions about fire panel installation, please email res-council@theelectra.ca.

Updates from the Residential Executive Council

res-secretary — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 02:23:41 +0000

The Residential Section Executive Council looking forward to presenting its 2011/12 accomplishments to all owners at the residential annual general meeting in April.
Over the next month, the team will be preparing the owner’s update report and AGM package for mail out. In the meantime, please find below a number of updates on ongoing residential and strata projects.

As always, owners are encouraged to reach out to the Residential Section Executive directly if they have any questions about building operations or business. We can be reached at res-council@theelectra.ca.

Residential Annual General Meeting – April 16
Residential owners are reminded that the next Annual General Meeting of the owners of LMS 1866, Residential Section will be held on April 16, 2012. The AGM package will be finalized at the March monthly meeting of the Residential Section Executive. It will then be mailed out to all owners for review in advance of the meeting.

Please ensure that ColyVan has your most updated mailing address on file to avoid delays in receiving this important information.

Fire panel installation update (strata project)
The fire panel installation is well underway. The new system has been commissioned and is currently being tested by the contractor. It is anticipated that work will be completed over the next month. Residents of the building can expect noises and test alerts while work is being completed. If you have any questions, please contact the On-Site Manager’s Office at 604.488.0048.

Terrazzo repair update (strata project)
As reported in the previous residential monthly meeting minutes, the project has been approved by Heritage Vancouver, but is highly weather dependent. Contractors need 28 days of dry weather with a temperature above 10 degree Celsius to complete the installation. This project is a high priority for the Strata Council and will be completed as soon as possible.

Governance update (residential/commercial)
The residential section has taken the lead on this project, which is being completed in partnership with our commercial colleagues. The legal counsel to the Residential Section has reviewed and provided initial feedback on the bylaws of LMS 1866. The governance committee has reviewed those recommendations and has presented them to the Commercial Section President so the Commercial Section can vet the document through its legal counsel over the next month.

The Governance Committee has also gathered initial feedback from all Executive Council members. Once the Committee receives feedback from the Commercial Section, it will forward all compiled feedback to the Residential legal counsel for final comment.

The Governance Committee is planning a combined Special General Meeting in mid-October 2012 to present LMS 1866 bylaws that have been revised in accordance with new amendments to the Strata Property Act, for ratification by all owners.

Any owner with questions about governance related matters should contact the Governance Committee directly at res-secretary@theelectra.ca.

Residential Section Executive Council monthly meeting minutes
The minutes from the February monthly meeting of the Residential Section Executive Council are now available to owners. The document can be downloaded from the monthly meetings page of the residential website. Hardcopies are also available through the On-Site Manager’s office.

NOTE: Owners must first login to the secure section of the residential website to download the meeting minutes.

Thank you.

Upcoming filming at The Electra

res-secretary — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 20:02:30 +0000

Please note that a production company will be on-site at The Electra next week for filming. The residential areas that will be utilized are the lobby and large storage area at the end of the hall on LM level.

Dates and times are as follows:

February 27 – 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (prep)
February 28 – 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (prep)
February 29 – 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. (shooting)
March 1 – 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (tear down)
March 2 – 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (tear down, if needed)

Approximate times for shooting on February 29:

Residential lobby – 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Lower main storage – 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

During shooting, residents may be asked to wait briefly outside until the scene has been filmed. If you have any questions, please contact 604-488-0048.

Vancouver: Then (1957) & Now (2010)

res-secretary — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:34:33 +0000

My, how Vancouver has grown over the years. It was a sunny day in 1957 when former Miss Vancouver and BC Electric/BC Hydro employee Carole Goldney bravely stood atop the Electra Building for an iconic photo. In the distance, we can see the edge of Stanley Park. Farther away are the North Shore mountains, hazily obscured. From the patches of snow, it appears to be a beautiful autumn day.

Carole, smiling with ease, reaches out slightly, as if she’s about to pluck a ship out of Coal Harbour. Earlier that year, the 19-year-old was crowned Miss Vancouver at the PNE.

In 2010, at the age of 77, Carole returned to The Electra to recreate the photo. On a slightly clearer day you can still see the mountains in the distance, but Stanley Park and Coal Harbour are masked by downtown buildings.

Click here to view the picture and read the full story, which includes a little more history about our iconic building.

Many thanks to residential owner Marlene Sikorra for sending the photo along to the Residential Section Executive Council.

Upcoming work at Dal Grauer Substation

res-secretary — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 02:13:33 +0000

BC Hydro will be undertaking repair work to the façade of Dal Grauer Substation on Burrard Street, to address safety and station security concerns. The work, which will start in late February or early March, involves:

Replacing the Plexiglas windows with new colourless Plexiglas. Privacy film will be installed on the Plexiglas in front of electrical equipment, but not on the Plexiglas in front of the stairwells.
Cleaning/repairing the building frame and concrete facings.
Repairing/replacing the mosaic tiles on the north, south and west walls of the substation.

The work will take approximately three months to complete. Work hours will conform to City of Vancouver Noise bylaw hours. The work is taking place under a traffic management plan as there may be some minor impacts to pedestrian and possibly vehicle traffic on Burrard Street in the vicinity of the substation.

If you have any questions, please contact Lesley Wood at 604 623 4472 or by email stakeholderengagement@bchydro.com.

February owner updates

res-secretary — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 00:21:04 +0000

Window washing starts February 20
As always, this work is weather dependent. We expect the work to be complete for March 1. Please ensure your windows and curtains are closed for privacy. Deficiencies must be reported to Alan by March 9.

Elevator maintenance
Please note that contractors are currently onsite performing repair and maintenance on one of the elevators. As a result, residents may experience longer than usual wait times for elevators. We appreciate everyone’s patience while this necessary work is completed.

Website login
Letters are currently being mailed out to all registered owners of LMS 1866. The letter contains your login information for the secure section of the residential website. Please email Trevor at res-secretary@theelectra.ca if you have any questions.

Residential Section monthly meeting
The next meeting of the Residential Section Executive Council will be on February 20 at 6:30 p.m. in the Social Club. Draft minutes from the January 10 meeting are available for download. Owners must be logged in to download any Strata Council or Residential Section Executive meeting minutes.

Mark your calendars! 2012/13 AGM
Preparations are already underway for the residential 2012/13 Annual General Meeting, which is scheduled for April 16, 2012 at 6:30 p.m. Please mark your calendars! Further information and the owner’s package will be forthcoming.

2011 Holiday office hours

res-secretary — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 22:28:55 +0000

Below are the seasonal office hours for our on-site staff.

Friday, December 23 – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Monday, December 26 & Tuesday, December 27 – closed

Wednesday, December 28 to Friday, December 30 – 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

January 3 to 6, 2012 – 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

NOTE: As always, telephone the ColyVan 24/7 emergency number at 604-683-8399 for emergencies including floods, broken water lines and fire.

Happy holidays to you and your family!

November owner updates

res-secretary — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 21:55:47 +0000

Electra holiday party – Tuesday, December 13

The Residential and Commercial Section Executives are excited to celebrate the holidays with all owners and residents. The event will take place from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Drop by the Social Club for festive treats, beverages and to visit with others in the building.

Christmas tree bylaw

All owners and residents are reminded that live trees are not permitted at The Electra, on Common Property or Limited Common Property (residential rule 5.1).

Smoky cooking? – Keep it in you unit.

If your holiday cooking sets off the smoke detector in your suite, do not open the door to your suite door to vent the smoke to the hallway. That will set the building fire alarm off, alert the fire department and force your neighbours out into the street. The right things to do are turn off the stove, turn on a fan and open your windows.

If you’re forced to evacuate your unit because of smoky holiday cooking, consider ordering in next year.

Minutes from the November Residential Section Executive meeting

The draft minutes from the Residential Section Executive Council monthly meeting are now available. Owners wishing to get a copy of the minutes can email Alan or Luc at manager@theelectra.ca.

The next monthly meeting of the Residential Section Executive Council will be on December 5, 2011 at 6:30 p.m. in the Social Club boardroom.