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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-04-08 Minutes Draft minutes – Not yet approved by Committee NOTES OF MEETING OF SAMUEL WILMOT NATURE AREA MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE HELD TUESDAY APRIL 8, 2014 7:00PM Present: (Voting) Michael Goleski Brian Reid (Chair) Karin Murphy Leo Blindenbach Kate Potter Geoff James Suzanne Land Councillor Corinna Traill Bonnie Seto Jim Cleland Regrets: Melanie McArthur 1.Agenda Additions Milkweed planting Fall Scavenger Hunt Acceptance of Agenda MOVED SECONDED : by Geoff James by Leo Blindenbach THAT : the agenda for April 8, 2014 be accepted CARRIED 2. Minutes of January 28, 2014 Approval of Minutes MOVED:SECONDED by Kate Potter by Councillor Corinna Traill THAT: the minutes of January 28th be approved. CARRIED SWNA April 2014 Minutes 2 3. Items/Updates SWNA Photo Contest Flyers for the 2014 Photo contest are posted on the Clarington web-site and SWNA blog. Laminated flyers have also been post on site and at various locations around the SWNA. Ten submissions have been received to date. The deadline for submissions is May 5 at 4:00PM. The Opening ceremony for the exhibition will take place at the VAC on May 15 at 7:00PM. Newcastle Leash Free Park A public Open House was held on February 19 at the Newcastle Library to obtain input from Newcastle residents about the need for a future leash free park in Newcastle. One of the potential locations presented at the Open House was in the N/E corner of the SWNA, just north of the hydro corridor on Toronto Street. Two other sites were also identified as possible locations for the leash free park. The overwhelming preference from the comments received was that a location in the future Newcastle Community Park adjacent to the Newcastle Aquatic Centre would be the best location. Only four comment sheets supporting the Toronto Street location were submitted. A report to Council will be prepared with the findings of the Open House. Based on the comments received from the public the Newcastle Community Park site will be the location recommended by staff. OPG sponsored planting May 3 OPG sponsors a Boy Scouts planting event annually. Typically 350 -700 bare root trees are planted during the event. OPG contacted the municipality looking for a suitable location for this year’s event scheduled for Saturday May 3. The SWNA committee suggested that more trees could be planted to enhance the buffer between Toronto Road and the Wilmot Meadow. The planting event will probably begin at 9:00AM. OPG will be contacted to firm up the details of the event and the committee will be notified by e-mail. Carbon Farmer proposal The municipality has been contacted by a private company called the Carbon Farmer about the possibility of planting trees at the SWNA. The company plants trees on behalf of individuals and corporations for carbon offsets. The Carbon Farmer plants the trees and maintains them for two years until they are established. They plant small re- forestation size native trees. SWNA April 2014 Minutes 3 The committee agreed that creating a buffer of trees between the Wilmot Community and the Lake Meadow would be a good addition to the SWNA. A sketch of the location has been sent to the Carbon Farmer for consideration. If they choose to go ahead with the project it would likely be in the spring of 2015. Tree Clearing on SWNA Trails The ice storm in December has left many downed trees at the SWNA; some are still blocking the trails. The Operations Department may get assistance from the Fire Department to clear trees off paths. Operations have been notified that there are several locations were trees have fallen over trails that should be cleared. Great Lakes Guardian Fund application The committee was notified that latest application to the GLGF to construct a limestone trail on the Toronto Street side was not approved. It was the second application submitted for the project. Milkweed planting project Brian Reid suggested the committee investigate planting milkweed to enhance butterfly habitat at the SWNA. Peter Windolf will investigate the availability and costs to purchase milkweed and other butterfly friendly plants for the May meeting. If funding is found for the planting it could be incorporated into a butterfly themed event in the late summer or fall at the SWNA. Kate Potter will investigate a possible funding opportunity through her contacts at Weyerhaeuser. 2014 Scavenger Hunt The committee previously agreed to hold a fall Scavenger Hunt in 2014. The committee discussed the merits of making the Scavenger Hunt part of the Newcastle Fall Festival. Brian Reid will follow up with his contacts to see if that is feasible. 5. Motion to Adjourn MOVED: THAT: by Kate Potter SECONDED by Geoff James the meeting be adjourned. CARRIED Adjournment: 8:00 P.M. Next Meeting: Monday May 5, 7:00PM Room 1A Note; the May meeting is not on our regularly scheduled date in order to judge the photo contest submissions. Notes prepared by: P. Windolf