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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-05-20Samuel Wilmot Nature Area Management Advisory Committee May 20, 2025, 7:00 p.m. Room 1c Municipal Administrative Center or Microsoft Teams Present: Y/N Person Y/N Person Brian Reid Past Chair Leanne Fernandez Carmen Aiello Councillor Margaret Zwart Council Liaison R Patrick Bothwell Kate Potter Chair Y Tom Hossie Vice Chair Ken Mercer Staff R Rod McArthur Leah Bourgeois Y MegVandenbrink Y Kayla Stephens Also Present: none Call to Order Chair Kate Potter called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. 1. Land Acknowledgement Statement Kate led the meeting with the Land Acknowledgement Statement. 2. Additions to the Agenda/Adoption of the Agenda Moved by Tom Hossie, seconded by Carmen Aiello That the Agenda be accepted, with the following additions: >monarch update ( Tom ) >letter to OPG ( Tom ) Carried 3. Declaration of Pecuniary Interest There were no disclosures of interest stated at this meeting. SWNAMAC - 2 - May 20, 2025 4. Adoption of Minutes Moved by Tom Hossie, seconded by Leah Bourgeois That the minutes of the meeting of April 15, 2025, be approved. Carried 5. Committee Administration a. Item 1 - New Chair - Kate reminded the committee that she had previously indicated her need to step down from the role of Chair due to work and family commitments. At this point, Vice -Chair Tom Hossie, who had chaired our last meeting, reported that at that last meeting, the issue of selecting a new chair had been deferred because not all members had been present. After discussion took place concerning who might be prepared to step into the role, Brian offered to serve as Chair again until such time as another member came forward, but that he would like someone else to serve as recording secretary since it is difficult to do both at the same time Moved by Marg Zwart, seconded by Tom Hossie That Brian Reid be elected as Chair of the SWNAMAC, effective with our June meeting, and that the issue will be revisited at the end of the calendar year. ,7_1:7:71 �7 b. Item 2 - New Committee Member - Councillor Zwart advised that the selection of a new member of the committee would be ratified next week by Council and that that person could be present for our June meeting 6. SWNA Workplan Q2 a. Item - Spring Cleanup April 26th - Coordinator Meg advised that the cleanup was successful but noted that there were fewer members of the public who participated this year. It also appeared that there was less litter etc. Ken will endeavour to find out the actual quantity picked up by the municipality. Meg noted that long-time member and cleanup organizer Leo Blindenbach had been able to attend briefly. Brian advised that the amount gathered within the SWNA itself was also less this year. The Committee will conduct its own fall cleanup this year as usual. SWNAMAC - 3 - May 20, 2025 b. Item - Wildflower Planting. Tom reminded the committee that this event had been changed from its original date of May 24th to May 31 st . Brian explained that as per his previous communication to members, this decision had been made in conjunction with the provider of the plants to allow the plants to reach a greater size and thereby increase the survival rate. Posters and social media postings have been revised to reflect this change. Tom agreed to be present at the Toronto Street parking lot on Saturday morning, May 24th, in the event that members of the public showed up. Q3 c. Item - Tree Identification Walk - June 21 st - Tom reported that our leaders from GRCA and MOC are on board and provided the following details: > the event will start at the Toronto Street parking lot at 10 a.m. and will last approximately one hour > registration will be capped at 20, but two separate groups could be accommodated given that we have two " guides " > Leah will prepare a poster for promotional purposes and an Event Brite registration template a. Item - Moth Week July 19-27 - Tom reported that this remains on track b. Item - Monarch Tagging - September 13/20th - on track, tags have been ordered. Tom reported that we had two tags recovered, one in Mexico, another in Oshawa en route from Newcastle. This is an acknowledgement that what we have been doing is working. He also advised that Monarch Watch may be able to provide us with a quantity of special monarch " postcards " to give out at this year's event. Q 4 - Item -Photo Contest - Kayla provided the group with an update of this event which will take place in October: > there will be two categories only - one for adults, one for children > entries can be either landscape or " detailed " > entries are to be submitted in Jpeg format with maximum resolution of 1920 X1050 pixels. Kayla will investigate setting up a " drive folder " to facilitate entries and sharing. This will be done in such a way that persons cannot edit the photos and so judges will not be able to see the names of the entrants > committee will reserve the right to post the photographs but all submissions will be acknowledged > winners will be announced via social media SWNAMAC - 4 - May 20, 2025 > it was suggested that the mayor be approached to be a judge and perhaps also someone from the VAC Additional details will be provided at our June meeting Item - Fall Cleanup - date and details to be determined Item - Fall bird box cleanout - details to be determined ( if necessary) 7. Other Business Item -Ken advised that the " fencing " installed by the Region at the top of the grade just east of the Memorial Forest will be removed by his staff Item - Ken advised that the seeding of the cleared area just above the entrance to the waterfront trail has been completed and will not interfere with our planting project on the 31 st Item -New Trailhead Signs - Ken advised that the first of these has been installed at the entrance to the path adjacent to the Toronto Street parking lot. Brian has the key and has placed one of our wildflower posters there. Item -Support Letter to OPG - Tom has completed, circulated, revised and submitted this letter. Thank you Tom. Item -By-Law Enforcement - Tom noted that enforcement has been more noticeable this year but that timing re eg fiddlehead removal was " off " this year due to weather considerations. Still, it was agreed that we are seeing more support from enforcement personnel. Round Table - Carmen - reported that there were a number of small trees planted several years ago on the Cobbledick side that still have the plastic rodent guards on them. These now need to be removed. He and Brian will coordinate a time to do so. Meg - beach walks continue with her children. Lots of fishing line being found .Large numbers of alewives washing up on shore. Tom and Brian advised that this happens with weather considerations - eg water temperature changes - and is not uncommon. Tom - spring ephemerals are now out, as is garlic mustard! The heaviest concentration of the latter is around the Toronto Street parking lot. Kate - noted that there appears to be a blockage along the creek tributary near the south bridge. Ken advised that this is due to beaver activity and will warrant some monitoring but no action is needed at this time. SWNAMAC - 5 - May 20, 2025 8. Date Of Next Meeting The next meeting of the Committee is scheduled to be held on June 17th, 2025, commencing at 7:00 p.m. Location TBD. 8. Adjournment Moved by Carmen Aiello, seconded by Brian Reid That the meeting adjourn at 8:20 p.m. Carried