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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-11-13 Minutes Draft minutes - Not vet approved bv Committee NOTES OF MEETING OF SAMUEL WILMOT NATURE AREA MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE HELD ON TUESDAY NOVEMBER 13, 2007 AT 7:00 P.M. Present: (Voting) David Best Jim Cleland Joe McKenna Brian Reid John Stoner Arthur Burrows Jim Kamstra Kerry Meydam Dan Stanoi Councillor Willie Woo Also Present: Jennifer O'Donnell (Non-Voting) Peter Windolf Regrets: Karin Murphy Jim Richards Absent: Warren May (MNR) Greg Wells (GRCA) 1. Agenda Additions There were no additions to the agenda. Acceptance of Agenda MOVED by Jim Cleland, seconded by Brian Reid THAT the agenda for November 13, 2007 be accepted. CARRIED 2. Minutes of June 12,2007 Corrections There were no corrections to the minutes. 1-4 Approval of Minutes MOVED by Kerry Meydam, seconded by Jim Cleland THAT the minutes of October 10, 2007 be approved. CARRIED 3. Issues arising from the Minutes There were no issues arising from the minutes. 4. Sub-Committee Reports Maintenance There was no update ,from the Maintenance sub-committee other than the tree planting, which will be reported on further in the agenda. Communications Articles need to be submitted to Joe McKenna for the next newsletter. Topics could include: the Birds, Bugs and Butterflies event (John Stoner to provide information to Joe), bridge abutment repairs, theMNR Rangers, and the recent CFWIP tree planting project (Peter will provide Joe some text and photos for the newsletter). 5. Updates Street Planting Proiect On Saturday October 20th several committee members participated in a planting project along Toronto Street. Twenty maples, spruce and pine were planted to establish a buffer zone between the Wilmot Meadow and Toronto Street. If our Evergreen Grant application is successful more trees could be added to expand the road side planting further north. Also, a sign indicating that this is a SWNA planting project could be added to increase the public's awareness of the SWNA. Tree Dating Project A couple of appropriate trees have been located, but cutting them will require a larger chainsaw than the Municipality owns. John has called Hydro One to solicit their help, but they have not called back yet. Evergreen Grant Application The application was submitted before the October 31 st deadline. It was submitted by the SWNA Committee, c/o John Stoner, not the Municipality of Clarington. Projects applied for, totalling $9000.00, include wildlife habitat planting, secondary trail development, old field and roadside planting, and educational signage. PowerPoint Presentation The PowerPoint presentation is complete. There will be three copies of the presentation on disk and two on transparencies for use by SWNA Committee members. Suggestions of potential presentation included local schools, Clarington Council, NewcastleIBond Head Ratepayers Association, and Wilmot Creek Community. Hunting Complaints Clarington By-law enforcement has been called by a resident to notify them of hunting occurring along the lake edge at the SWNA. The hunting generally occurs early on Saturday mornings. This is a persistent problem in the fall and winter. Signs informing the public about Clarington's firearms discharge by-law have been in place for three years. The signs are located along the path to the lake so they are certainly visible to hunters. The incidences of hunting appear to be declining however some hunters are still ignoring the By-law and are discharging firearms while hunting from the beach out over the lake. The MRN has indicated that they will not enforce the Municipal By-law. The Committee remains concerned about hunting at the SWNA and passed the following motion; MOVED by Brian Reid, seconded by Kerry Meydam THAT Staff contact the Manager of By-law Enforcement to request an Enforcement Officer patrol the Samuel Wilmot Nature Area on a Saturday morning to enforce the firearms by-law. I CARRIED 6. Other Business/Next Meeting Recycling Operations will provide recycling bags to the Maintenance sub-committee. Bluff Sign Operations will relocate one bluff sign to a more effective location and straighten the signs that are leaning. Kiosk Operations will level the east side of the kiosk to connect it to the trail. Eroding Trail The informal worn path leading to the lake from the west side of the SWNA is being undermined by erosion. Creating another trail further, north to divert traffic from the eroding section may be the best option. The maintenance sub-committee will create this trail by clearing some vegetation and installing woodchips. The sub-committee will notify staff when they require the woodchips. Grass Clippings Clippings from the Newcastle Lions Memorial Forest have been left in a pile to the east side of the forest. The Lions will be asked to spread them out in the future after they cut the grass. Adjournment: 8:10 P.M. Next Meeting: Tuesday December 11, 2007 7:00 p.m. Meeting Room lA Notes prepared by J. O'Donnell