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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-03-14 Minutes Draft minutes – Not yet approved by Committee NOTES OF MEETING OF SAMUEL WILMOT NATURE AREA MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE HELD TUESDAY MARCH 14, 2017 7:00 PM Present: Melanie McArthur Councillor Corinna Traill Jim Cleland Brian Reid Kate Potter Leo Blindenbach Paul Davidson Regrets: Tom Hossie Patrick Bothwell Suzanne Land Staff Present: Peter Windolf 1. AGENDA MOVED: by Kate Potter SECONDED by Melanie McArthur THAT : the agenda for March 14, 2017 be accepted CARRIED 2. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING Approval of Minutes MOVED: by Melanie McArthur SECONDED by Paul Davidson THAT: the minutes of February 14, 2017 be approved. CARRIED SWNA March 2017 Minutes 2 3. ITEMS/UPDATES Mayors Monarch Pledge Trinational Workshop The Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) is an agency of the Canadian, American and Mexican governments. As part of the CEC Environmental Cooperation’s project a workshop was held to gather municipal representatives and partners from the 3 nations to learn about and work to expand the Mayors Monarch Pledge initiative across Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The seven Canadian municipalities that have signed the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge were invited to attend along with representatives from the US and Mexico. Peter Windolf attended on behalf of Clarington and gave a presentation about the action items that Clarington, through the SWNA Committee, is undertaking to preserve and enhance monarch habitat. The workshop provided opportunities for municipalities to share ideas and approaches for monarch conservation. A field trip to witness a large scale restoration project and citizen science monitoring effort was also part of the workshop. Come Fly with Me-Monarch Butterfly Event-April 9 One of the actions selected by the SWNA committee as part of the Mayors Monarch Pledge 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 include information about what the community can do to enhance habitat for monarchs. The event flyer has been distributed to SWNA members and has been advertised on the SWNA social media platforms and the Clarington web site. The flyer will also be posted at Clarington libraries. Brian Reid has advised the Durham Field Naturalists and the Probus Club of the event. GRCA will also post the event flyer at some of their locations. Committee members who are available are requested to arrive at 1:15 to help direct people to the room. Fall Monarch Event (September 10) Another of the action items selected by the SWNA committee was, “Initiate or support citizen-science efforts that help monitor monarch migration and health.” The September 10 event will include capturing and tagging monarchs at the SWNA during their migration through the area on route to Mexico. The GRCA has agreed to lend 24-30 butterfly nets for the day. P. Windolf will arrange to pick them up from GRCA in early September. SWNA March 2017 Minutes 3 Milkweed seed distribution Brian Reid has approximately 3000 milkweed seeds collected from the site last year. He has planted 200 seeds in trays for transplantation later this year at the SWNA. Seeds will be offered to residents at the April 9 monarch event and at the Newcastle Horticultural Society plant sale on May 13. Trail Grand Opening The construction of the woodland trail that links the Waterfront Trail to the existing trail along the north side of the sewage treatment plant will be completed in May with the paving of the trail. Once the project is complete a grand opening will be held. The tentative date for the opening is Saturday May 27. The date and time will be confirmed at the April meeting. New Bird Houses by Clarke High School Clarke High School wood shop has completed building 15 new birdhouses. Five butterfly boxes are also in production. All of the boxes will be installed this spring by the SWNA committee once T-bars are obtained. A thank you letter will be sent to the school for their efforts on the bird boxes and the painted garbage barrels. SWNA Twitter account A twitter account is now active for the SWNA. Tom Hossie has created the account and will post new content when forwarded to him. 4. OTHER BUSINESS With the resignation of James Hodge from the SWNA committee the Clerks Department has advertised for a new member. The application deadline is Monday March 20 at noon. 5. MOTION TO ADJOURN MOVED: by Leo Blindenbach SECONDED by Kate Potter THAT: the meeting be adjourned. CARRIED Adjournment 8:00 PM Next Meeting: Tuesday April 11, 7:00PM in the 3rd Floor meeting room. Please gather in the lobby at 7:00PM Notes prepared by: P.Windolf