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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-06-09 Minutes Draft minutes – Not yet approved by Committee NOTES OF MEETING OF SAMUEL WILMOT NATURE AREA MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE HELD TUESDAY JUNE 9, 2015 7:00 PM Present: (Voting) Kate Potter Leo Blindenbach James Hodge Suzanne Land Melanie McArthur Brian Reid Jim Cleland Councillor Corinna Traill Taullie Thompson Paul Davidson Dyan Amirault Regrets: Patrick Bothwell 1. AGENDA MOVEDSECONDED : by Suzanne Land by Kate Potter THAT : the agenda for June 9, 2015 be accepted CARRIED 2. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING Approval of Minutes MOVED:SECONDED by Leo Blindenbach by Melanie McArthur THAT: the minutes of May 12, 2015 be approved. CARRIED SWNA June 2015 Minutes 2 3. ITEMS/UPDATES Grants Transportation Diesel Spill A site inspection with EFI, Clarington, GRCA and MOE was held on April 17 to identify any remaining concerns. Suzanne Land attended on behalf of the SWNA Committee. An inspection of the trails revealed many areas where the trail was disturbed by vehicles involved in the clean-up. Those areas were identified and inventoried by EFI Global. On May 28 P.Windolf inspected the trail repairs with EFI Global and Kamstra Landscaping. The repairs were deemed acceptable and no further action is required. 2015 Waterfront Trail Construction Project A topographic survey and field visit have been done by Engineering Department staff to begin the design for the new trail route. A plan showing the proposed route will be brought to the next meeting. It is anticipated that the construction will begin in late summer for completion in the fall. Birds of Prey Event The Newcastle Lions have generously provided $500 to allow the SWNA Committee to arrange a public education event themed around Birds of Prey. Several committee members have posted the event flyer at various locations around Newcastle. The event has also been publicized on the Clarington web site and at community facilities. A digital version of the event poster has be circulated and committee members are encouraged to post it or share it as they see fit. Taullie Thompson volunteered to build an ‘A’ frame sign that will be used to publicize future events at the SWNA. The sign will be placed roadside on event days to encourage walk in traffic. P. Windolf will provide a sketch with dimensions to Taullie. The Operations Department will be asked to provide picnic table and cut the grass in the event space a few days prior to Saturday June 27. Newcastle Fall Festival/Scavenger Hunt October 3 at 11:30 AM The 2015 Scavenger Hunt has been scheduled for in conjunction with the Newcastle Fall Festival. The Scavenger Hunt will be held along the Lions Trail to hopefully attract more people. The SWNA committee will have a booth at the Newcastle Town Hall in the morning to promote the event. P. Windolf will check the availability of a Clarington tent for use by the SWNA committee. MNR Rangers The MNR Rangers, a student employment program, have previously worked at the SWNA for a number of years. In 2015 the MNR is offering the Rangers at no cost to municipalities who have use them in the past. The Rangers will be available at the SWNA for two days but SWNA June 2015 Minutes 3 their exact schedule is not known at this time. The committee discussed the type of work that they could do this year. Burdock removal, clearing vegetation from the Snake Hibernaculum, and relocating a woodchip trail were suggested. The committee’s preference is early summer so the MNR will be asked to confirm available dates. Carbon Farmer tree planting proposal The municipality was contacted by a private company called the Carbon Farmer in April 2014 about the possibility of planting trees at the SWNA. The company plants trees on behalf of individuals and corporations for carbon offsets. They plant small re-forestation size native trees. The committee previously agreed that creating a buffer of trees between the Wilmot Community and the Lake Meadow would be a good addition to the SWNA. The Carbon Farmer was provided a list of native trees that would be acceptable at the SWNA and they are scheduled to plant on June 22 and 23. Summer Meeting Schedule The committee usually meets in either July or August during the summer. The next meeting will be on-site and will be scheduled around the availability of GRCA Biologist Ken Towle who will be asked to lead a walk and discuss relevant issues such as invasive species and the wetland monitoring project. P.Windolf will contact Ken Towle for his availability in July or August. (UPDATE; Ken Towel confirmed he is available on Tuesday July 14 at 6:30PM) 4. OTHER BUSINESS Leo Blindenbach is helping to organize Clarington’s Doors Open event. To help promote the June 27 Birds of Prey event at the SWNA Leo will distribute a small event flyer with the Doors Open handout. Brian Reid asked that the most recent SWNA contact list be include with the distribution of the June minutes. 5. MOTION TO ADJOURN MOVED: SECONDED by Leo Blindenbach by James Hodge THAT: the meeting be adjourned. CARRIED Adjournment 8:00PM Next Meeting: Tuesday July 14, 6:30 PM on-site at the Toronto Street Parking Lot for a site walk with GRCA Biologist Ken Towle. Notes prepared by: P.Windolf