HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-01-14 Draft minutes – Not yet approved by Committee
NOTES OF MEETING OF
SAMUEL WILMOT NATURE AREA
MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
HELD TUESDAY JANUARY 14, 2020
7:00 PM
Present: Rod McArthur Councillor Corinna Traill
Kate Potter Carrie-Anne Atkins
Leo Blindenbach Brian Reid
Meaghan Vandenbrink
Regrets: Evan King Patrick Bothwell
Tyson Brooks Tom Hossie
Staff Present: Peter Windolf
1. AGENDA
MOVED: by Brian Reid SECONDED by Kate Potter
THAT: the agenda for January 14, 2020 be accepted;
CARRIED
2. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
Approval of Minutes
MOVED: by Leo Blindenbach SECONDED by Rod McArthur
THAT: the minutes of November 12, 2019 be approved
CARRIED
SWNA January 2020 minutes 2
3. UPDATES
New Member introduction
Carrie-Anne Atkins the newest member of the SWNA committee was introduced
and welcomed to the committee. Carrie-Anne lives in the Port of Newcastle and
works in OPG’s community relations. She is very familiar with the SWNA and has
assisted on several previous SWNA events through her role at OPG.
Wildflower Seed Grant
The SWNA was successful in obtaining a Wildlife Preservation Canada grant to
purchase wildflower seeds to enhance pollinator habitat.
One acre of grassland at the SWNA just north of the lake shelter will be seeded with
a variety of wildflower seeds in November 2020. Site preparation throughout 2020
will require monthly tilling to eliminate weed seeds from the planting site.
The limits of the planting site were staked by members of the committee in early
December. Kirk Kemp from Algoma Orchards agreed to assist on the project after
being approached by Leo Blindenbach.
In December 2019 he mowed and tilled the site and has committed to tilling on a
monthly basis in 2020. He will seed the site in November 2020.
Wildlife/Environmental Awareness Festival
The committee participated in this new event on November 23 and 24 at the Garnet
B. Rickard Complex. The event included vendors and environmental groups
interested in environmental awareness. Several members staffed the SWNA booth
on each day.
The event was generally well organized but attendance was modest. The
presentations and wildlife exhibitions were popular features of the event and it was
good opportunity to raise the profile of the SWNA.
The event may be moved to the spring in 2020 and the committee will consider
attending again. It was recommended that a better display for the SWNA be
available for these types of events. The municipality will investigate purchasing a
retractable banner for the SWNA committee to use at future events.
Pollinator Presentation April 26, 2020
Brian Reid has arranged for a presentation by Sheila Colla, an interdisciplinary
Conservation Biologist interested in pollinator conservation. Her presentation will
dovetail with the other 2020 initiatives by the committee to enhance pollinator
habitat at the SWNA. Brian has recently communicated with Dr. Colla to confirm her
attendance.
The event is scheduled for Sunday April 26, 2020 at the Diane Hamre Recreation
Centre in Newcastle. Wildlife Preservation Canada who provided the SWNA with a
wildflower seed grant will be contacted to see if they are interested in participating
at the event.
SWNA January 2020 minutes 3
Kate Potter will also provide a presentation about the iNaturalist app. iNaturalist is a
citizen science project and online social network of naturalists, citizen scientists,
and biologists built on the concept of mapping and sharing observations of
biodiversity across the globe.
2020 Spring Clean-up
Leo Blindenbach reported that the spring clean-up for the SWNA, Port of Newcastle
and Bond Head is scheduled for April 18. Further discussion about SWNA volunteer
involvement will take place at the February or March meeting.
SWNA Name Tags
A request was made at the November meeting for more SWNA Committee name
tags for use at public events. Engineering staff has provided additional tags and
lanyards for any members that need them.
4. OTHER BUSINESS
Winter Maintenance Signage
The committee requested that the standard Clarington Winter Maintenance sign be
installed at both ends of the SWNA trail to alert user that the trail is not maintained
in the winter. Operations will be asked to install the signs.
5. MOTION TO ADJOURN
MOVED: by Carrie-Anne Atkins SECONDED by Councillor Corinna Traill
THAT: the meeting be adjourned.
CARRIED
Adjournment 8:00 PM
Next Meeting: Tuesday February 11, 2020
Notes prepared by: Peter Windolf