HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-02-16 MinutesDraft minutes -Not yet approved by Committee
NOTES OF MEETING OF
SAMUEL WILMOT NATURE AREA
MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
HELD ON TUESDAY FEBRUARY 16, 2010
AT 7:00 P.M.
Present: (Voting) John Stoner -Chair Dan Stanoi
Darin Murphy-Vice Chair Brian Reid
Jim Cleland Pat Mulcahy
Joe McKemla David Best
Councillor Willie Woo
Staff Present: Peter Windolf
Regrets: Shirley Minifie
Absent: Greg Wells - GRCA Arthur Burrows
Warren May - MNR
1. Agenda
Additions
Recycled bat box -Jim Cleland
Evergreen Application -John Stoner
Acceptance of A eg nda
MOVED by Karin Murphy, seconded by Jim Cleland
THAT the agenda for February 16, 2010 be accepted.
CARRIED
2. Minutes of January 20, 2010
Corrections
There were no corrections to the minutes
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Approval of Minutes
MOVED by David Best, seconded by Jim Cleland
THAT the minutes of January 20, 2010 be approved.
CARRIED
3. Issues arising from the Minutes
There were no issues arising from the minutes.
4. Sub-Committee Reports
Communications
Joe provided a hard copy of the Winter 2010 Newsletter. The newsletter has now been
printed and is in the process of being distributed to the mailing list.
Shirley will place copies of the newsletter at the Wheelhouse in the Wilmot Community.
Karin will post the laminated version on the kiosk.
5. Updates
Winter Bird and Mammal Count
A Winter Bird and Mammal Count was conducted on February 7. The count was lead by
John Foster from the Durham Field Naturalists. Three teams were assembled to count at
different areas of the SWNA. Committee members present were David Best, Jim Cleland,
John Stoner, Karin Murphy, Shirley Minifie, Dan Stanoi and Brian Reid. Five others
from the Durham Field Naturalists also participated.
The consensus of those who attended was that it was a good first step and learning
experience and the results will provide a good baseline for future counts.
A significant number of water birds were counted but the overall numbers and variety of
birds was low which is consistent with other 2010 bird counts in Ontario.
Unfortunately the lack of snow made the mammal count difficult since tracks were hard
to find. Some of the marmnals counted were American Beaver, Muskrat, Eastern
Cottontail, Red Fox, Coyote, and White Tailed Deer.
The results from the count will be brought to a future SWNA meeting.
Trail Relocation -Cost Estimate
At the January meeting, two conceptual layouts were presented to illustrate how the 27%
trail slope east of the pedestrian bridge can be reduced. The committee endorsed the
option that re-routes the trail S/E from the bottom of the slope for approximately 100m
until it reconnects with the existing trail. This would decrease the grade on the trail to
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10% and would remove a small portion of the trail that currently encroaches onto the
Hydro One corridor.
The cost estimate for the project including all engineering, taxes and contingencies was
$77,000. Although there is no funding currently available to complete the work the
conceptual design and cost estimate will be valuable should the project be included in a
future capital budget or if a trail funding program becomes available through another
level of government.
Newsletter/SWNA blot
The Winter 2010 Newsletter was the last print edition. The option of creating an SWNA
blog in lieu of a Newsletter was discussed. A blog would be easily accessible to anyone
doing an Internet search for the Samuel Wilmot Nature Area. The blog could provide up-
to-date information about the SWNA, future events or work occurring at the SWNA.
Information could be posted to the blog imunediately rather than accumulating stories for
a future newsletter. After discussion of the blog's potential benefits the following
Resolution was moved by Brian Reid, seconded by David Best;
That the SWNA establish. a blog to provide up to date information on SWNA activities
ccnd events.
Carried
It was agreed that all information provided by SWNA Committee members for the blog
would be sent to the Municipality. Jennifer O'Donnell would upload the information to
the biog.
Trails Open 2010
In conjunctiori with Doors Open Ontario the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario
(ACO) will feature trail walks as part of their 2010 program of events. The Clarington
Branch of the ACO has requested that the SWNA be included as a Trails Open site. The
events are timed to coincide with Doors Open on the weekend of June 5 and 6. A
minimum of one guided tour must be offered on the day of the event lasting from 30
minutes to four hours. After discussing the merits of participating in the Trails Open the
following Resolution was moved by Karin Murphy, seconded by Pat Mulcahy;
That the SWNA committee agree to participate in Trails Open 2010 and offer guided
tours of the site on June S and 6.
Can-ied
Discussion about the details of the event determined that the SWNA tours could start
from the Cobbledick parking lot at 2:00 PM on both June 5 and 6 and will last 1-1.5
hours. Brian Reid and David Best have volunteered to be available for the tours, others
may also be available but could not commit at this time. Karin Murphy will contact
Leslie Wilson from the Newcastle and District Historical Society to see if she would be
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interested in participating in the tours or if she would be available to attend a future
SWNA meeting to brief members about interesting historical details of the site that they
could use during the guided tours.
Further discussion with the Ciarington branch of the ACO to firm up details of the event
will be required.
Evergreen Green Grants Program
An application was submitted to Evergreen in advance of January 29, 2010 deadline. The
proposed project would include tree and shrub planting in the riparian zones, the old
fields, and along the edges of the SWNA. John Stoner has received confirmation that the
application was received by Evergreen and that funding decisions will be made by March
31, 2010.
Recycled Bat Boxes
Jim Cleland brought a sample of a bat box made from recycled plastic. The box was very
sturdy but also very heavy. The cost of the bat box wasn't known but it would be
investigated further if the committee decides to install more bat boxes in the future.
6. Other Business/Next Meeting
Brian will talk with John Foster about holding a spring event at the SWNA themed
around Wildflowers.
Motion to Adjourn
MOVED by Brian Reid, seconded by Joe McKenna
THAT the meeting be adjourned.
CARRIED
Adjournment: 8:30 P.M.
Next Meeting: Tuesday March 9, 2010
7:00 p.m.
Meeting Room lA
Notes prepared by P. Windolf