HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-02-14 Minutes
Draft minutes – Not yet approved by Committee
NOTES OF MEETING OF
SAMUEL WILMOT NATURE AREA
MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
HELD TUESDAY FEBRUARY 14, 2017
7:00 PM
Present: Melanie McArthur Councillor Corinna Traill
Jim Cleland Brian Reid
Kate Potter Tom Hossie
Regrets: Paul Davidson Leo Blindenbach
Suzanne Land Patrick Bothwell
Absent: none
Staff Present: Peter Windolf
1. AGENDA
MOVED: by Kate Potter SECONDED by Melanie McArthur
THAT : the agenda for February 14, 2017 be accepted
CARRIED
2. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
Approval of Minutes
MOVED: by Councillor Corinna Traill SECONDED by Kate Potter
THAT: the minutes of December 13, 2016 be approved.
CARRIED
SWNA February 2017 Minutes 2
3. ITEMS/UPDATES
Monarch Butterfly Event-April 9
Clarington Council endorsed the Mayors Monarch Pledge which is a continent wide
initiative to increase the dwindling population of the Monarch Butterfly. The pledge
was directed to the SWNA Management Advisory committee to identify actions to
create and enhance monarch butterfly habit and educate citizens about how they
can make a difference. One of the actions selected by the SWNA committee is to
“Launch a public communication effort to encourage citizens to plant monarch
gardens at their homes or in their neighborhoods.”
On April 9 at 2:00PM at the Newcastle and District Recreation Centre the SWNA
committee will host a Monarch Butterfly presentation led by SWNA committee
member Tom Hossie. The presentation will provide a basic background on the life
cycle and the conditions that have led to the significant population decline of the
monarch. It will also include information about what the community can do the
enhance habitat for monarchs. A flyer will be created to advertise the event at
municipal buildings and on-line.
Fall Monarch Event
The April event will be followed up by a late summer event (tentatively scheduled
September 10) for another of the action items selected by the SWNA committee,
“Initiate or support citizen-science efforts that help monitor monarch migration and
health.” The September event will include capturing and tagging monarchs at the
SWNA during their migration through the area on route to Mexico. The information
on the tagged butterflies is used by Monarch Watch to track the success of
migrating monarchs. Tom Hossie has been involved with two previous tagging days
at the SWNA. In 2015 two of the fifty monarchs tagged at the SWNA were
recaptured at their overwintering grounds in Mexico.
Peter Windolf will contact the GRCA to see if they have any butterfly nets that could
be borrowed for the event.
Monarch Pledge Actions
The committee briefly reviewed the list of action items that were included in the
pledge. The actions are intended to create and enhance monarch butterfly habit and
educate citizens about how they can make a difference. Plans are in place to
address most of the items but more discussion will be required at future meetings to
implement all of the items.
In addition to the above actions Peter Windolf has arranged to meet with Operations
to discuss ways to modify turf maintenance to enhance monarch habitat at some
sites along the migratory route.
SWNA February 2017 Minutes 3
Trail Construction Update
The construction of the woodland trail that links the Waterfront Trail to the existing
trail along the north side of the sewage treatment plant started in September. The
clearing, grading and installation of granular base for the trail and the installation of
armourstone bridge abutments were completed in November.
On January 30 the Cor-ten steel bridge was installed and the trail is now open for
public use. The project will be completed in the spring with the paving of the trail
surface.
The committee will arrange a grand opening for the trail after the paving is
complete. The grand opening will be discussed in more detail at a future meeting
but it will probably occur in May.
New Garbage Drums and Bird Houses by Clarke High School
The Clarke High School art department has completed painting ten 45 gallon drums
for use as garbage containers at the SWNA. The drums are now stored at the
Operations yard and will be put out in the spring.
The school wood shop is building 15 new birdhouses and 5 butterfly boxes that will
be installed by the SWNA committee. The school will advise when they are ready
for pick-up.
Spring 2017 Clean-up
The spring clean-up at the SWNA is scheduled for Saturday April 29. Leo
Blindenbach will be coordinating the SWNA event along with a Port of Newcastle
clean-up with the Operations Departments as part of Pitch-In week.
4. OTHER BUSINESS
With the resignation of James Hodge from the SWNA committee the Clerks
Department will be asked to advertise for a new member.
5. MOTION TO ADJOURN
MOVED: by Kate Potter SECONDED by Tom Hossie
THAT : the meeting be adjourned.
CARRIED
Adjournment 8:15 PM
Next Meeting: Tuesday March 14, 7:00PM
Notes prepared by: P.Windolf