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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-09-12 MinutesDraft minutes – Not yet approved by Committee NOTES OF MEETING OF SAMUEL WILMOT NATURE AREA MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE HELD ON TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 12, 2006 AT 7:00 P.M. Present: Allan Hewitt, Chair Arthur Burrows David Best (Voting) Karin Murphy, Vice Chair John Stoner Greg Well, GRCA Joe McKenna Jim Cleland Also Present: Peter Windolf, Staff Dianne Graham, Secretary (Non-Voting) Regrets: Councillor Don MacArthur, Brian Reid Absent: Leanne Sobol 1. Agenda Additions There were no additions to the agenda. Acceptance of Agenda MOVED by David Best , seconded by Karin Murphy THAT the agenda for September 12, 2006 be accepted. CARRIED 2. Minutes of August 8, 2006 Approval of Minutes MOVED by Joe McKenna, seconded by John Stoner THAT the minutes of September 12, 2006 be approved. CARRIED 3. Issues arising from the Minutes None 4. Sub-Committee Updates Recap of Bugs, Butterflies and Birds Event There was a good turn out for the Bugs, Butterflies and Birds Event on Saturday August 26, 2006. Approximately 70 people attended despite a similar event at the Orono Crown lands. Wildlife biologist James Kamstra lead a walk and provided a presentation on indigenous bugs and butterflies and birds. The date selected was very good because there where large numbers of butterflies at the Nature Area staging for their migration south. Planting the butterfly garden was completed by committee members but was difficult due to the poor soil conditions in the Lake Meadow. For future events a portable microphone for the speakers was recommended. Some Butterfly houses were installed but need to be stabilized to stop them from moving. Five more houses are to be installed. Jim and David are going to look into installing the houses in a more secure fashion. Based on the success of this event and some of the others that have been scheduled during good weather months, the committee was asked to re-consider the merits of holding an Earth Day event each year when the weather conditions are often cooler and wetter. Perhaps the SWNA feature event should be held later in the spring or summer. Communications Joe is very close to completing the Newsletter. Since he could not be at the Butterfly event John will write a brief article and e-mail photos to Joe for inclusion in this newsletter. The newsletter will be sent to Peter for review prior to printing. Arthur suggested that upcoming Events could be advertised with signs to let the public know when and where the Event is taking place. The committee agreed that a sandwich board style wood sign would be a good idea. On the day of an event (or perhaps earlier) the sign could be placed at either the Cobbledick or Toronto Street side of the SWNA. The board could have text such as “Samuel Wilmot Nature Area-Special Event Today”. The intent would be to draw people in from the road who might not otherwise know of the event. Arthur was asked to look into having the sign produced by the Wilmot Creek wood shop. The committee budget could cover the cost of materials. Allen suggested that a description of the SWNA could be included in the next version of the Municipality’s Leisure Services Guide. Peter will discuss with Communications and Marketing and report back to Committee. 5. Possible 2007 Capital Projects The Municipality is now beginning to prepare a draft of the 2007 Capital Budget. Many of the projects from the original management plan have been completed so the committee was asked for 2007 project ideas by the next meeting. Potential projects discussed included; -Paving the Waterfront Trail from Cobbledick to Toronto Street. Two new sections of waterfront trail on either side of the SWNA are being constructed this fall. Both will be paved. Paving the Wilmot section will provide a continuous paved trail from Bennett Road to Mill Street. This project would exceed our usual $45,000 budget allocation so a first phase to pave the approaches to the Bridge should be considered. This would help to eliminate the erosion of the trail at these two steep sections. - A secondary trail leading from the Lovekin Cairn into the valley and reconnecting with the waterfront trail at the bridge. This trail could be limestone or woodchip. 6. Project Updates Kiosk Peter distributed a drawing of the Kiosk. The proposed kiosk would have stone columns to match the existing cairns. A double sided sign with a map of the SWNA could be displayed on one side. The other side could have another interpretive message and also a space to display our newsletter and advertise upcoming events. The best location of the Kiosk was also discussed. It is important that it be a prominent visual element at either the east or west entrance into the nature area. Three potential locations were identified. The Cobbledick entrance to the Lake Meadow trail, the Toronto Street parking lot, and the Toronto Street entrance to the waterfront trail. The Kiosk will be constructed this fall and the location will be decided at the October meeting. Trial Upgrades Peter will speak to Murray Devitt from Operations regarding the schedule for trail repairs and culvert installations that they discussed on site in June. Bridge abutment erosion The project will go ahead as per the preliminary drawings prepared by TSH. The fisheries window will not allow construction in the creek until next spring. 7. Other Business Maintenance of the SWNA The need for maintenance along the trail edge and possibly around the bird houses was discussed. By fall vegetation grows as high as the birdhouses. Since the birds have already finished nesting by fall it was decided that they do not need to be trimmed. However the edges of the trail should be cut on a more regular basis. Peter has discussed with Operations and they will cut a 1m strip along the trail edge 3 or 4 times a year instead of just once. The term of the SWNA committee ends with this term of Council. Usually in October or November the municipality holds a committee night to advertise the committees that the public is invited to apply for. Applications are available at that event. Dianne will check with the Clerks Department to obtain applications for the SWNA committee so that existing committee members can reapply if interested. Arthur suggested installing signs to discourage over night camping at selected areas. Adjournment: 8:30 P.M. th Tuesday October 10, 2006 Next Meeting: 7:00 p.m. Meeting Room 1A Special Guest; Faye Langmaid Manager of Special Projects-Clarington Planning Department Presentation about the protection of natural areas and the interconnection of wildlife corridors. Notes prepared by D. Graham