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Home My WebLink AboutFND-011-03 '" CI!J!-fl!gron REPORT FINANCE DEPARTMENT Date: GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE TUESDAY APRIL 22,2003 Resolution #{;;;jfJ-/9'J-oJ ~ /' .1)0 '-;; FND-011-03 File#: By-law #: Meeting: Report #: Subject: GREAT LAKES WETLAND CENTRE - PROJECT Recommendations: It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee recommend to Council the following: 1. THAT Report FND-011-02 be received; 2. _THAT the request from Mr_ Chris Conti for a grant of $50,000 to be payable over several years to the Great Lakes Wetland Centre be denied; and 3. THAT Mr. Conti be thanked for his delegation to Council. Reviewed ~.. ~~J.Q.~~~ Franklin Wu, Chief Administrative Officer. NT/hjt 1301 " REPORT NO.: FND-011-03 PAGE 2 BACKGROUND AND COMMENT: 1.0 At the Council meeting of February 24, 2003, Council passed the following resolution: "THAT the delegation of Chris Conti requesting a gift of $50,000 payable over several years, to the Great Lakes Wetland Centre be referred to staff__" 1.1 At the same Council meeting, Mr. Chris Conti appeared as a delegation to provide Council with a presentation pertaining to the Great Lakes Wetland Centre Project. The Friends of the Second Marsh wish to construct an interpretive centre to increase the education potential of the Second Marsh. The construction of the centre and the commissioning of the display is estimated to cost $6 million. Attachment A is a brochure provided by the Friends of the Second Marsh outlining the project. 1.2 It is not recommended to proceed with funding for the Great Lakes Wetland Centre. Clarington currently has a significant number of projects underway and in the design stages that will require funding over the next several years. Some examples include the Hampton Pond recovery project, the Valleys 2000 initiative, and several Lake Ontario waterfront projects for which Superbuild applications were submitted, such as the Bowmanville Waterfront Recreation Area. 1.3 Clarington also currently supports, both through the capital and current budgets, nature trail development and maintenance, acquisition of valleylands and waterfront properties, Port of Newcastle waterfront trail, the Syndey B. Rutherford Walkway, Soper Creek Valley and Samuel Wilmot Nature Area. Clarington is also an active partner with the conservation authorities for areas such as the Westside Marsh. CONCLUSION: 2.0 At this time, it is recommended that Clarington continue its strong, proactive focus towards trail development and preservation/rehabilitation of sensitive nature areas within its borders. Due to the magnitude of the current projects at various stages of completion and the limited funding available, it is not recommended at this time that funds be directed towards the Great Lakes Wetland Centre. Clarington has historically provided some funding for the Friends of the Second Marsh for projects located in Clarington. 1302 REPORT NO.: FND-011-03 PAGE 3 Attachment A: The Great Lakes Wetland Interpretive Centre I nterested Parties: Mr. Conti Executive Director Friends of Second Marsh 206 King Street East P.O. Box 26066, RPO King Street Oshawa, Ontario L1H 1CO CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON 40 TEMPERANCE STREET, BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO L 1C 3A6 T (905)623-3379 F (905)623-4169 1303 .. \'A.. , ~. Attachment A The Great Lakes Wetlands Interpretive Centre . friends is actJ\elv engaged m planmng for the constructIOn of the Grellt Lllkes Wetlllnds Interpretive Centre. to be located on a sIte located immedIately adjacent to Second Marsh on Colonel Sam DfI\e . The Centre w,11 feature a Large Viewing Deck. state-ot~the-an Exhibit Space. a Thelltre. Classroom anti .Heeting Space. an Ornithological Hall ot Fame. a Licenced Restaurant. a Gift Shop, a Book Store. and mueh more' . The estimated cost of construetmg the C~ntre and commIssIoning the dlsplavs WIll be 56 million. esnmated to open m December 2005. Benefits of the Great Lakes Wetlands Interpretive Centre \I.-'\''.;'/"r..ti r"-dUCi...lllOfht! Lind En 1 'IrOflll kl1 ((u' Benej{!.I II //1 Ii,,' gdil1/:.'djj<()}Il ,he CenTre. If II tit . PrOVide year-round enhanced programmmg for ne'...... and eXIsting educational. programmmg . Enhance the protile of Fnends wlthm the GT,-'\ as an emlfonrnental resource for the regIOn . Educate citlzens and b,usmesses on the Importance of haVing an urban \vetland In thIs region l h!iLl\lU and Durham Re\!;/un 1l1!1 clljO)" Illany f:U}f/OIll!c' henejjrs. lhe Centre Hill . Funcnon as a valuable Iounst artraetlon m Durham RegIon. atTracnng over 5-1,()()() tourists, :S,()()() students 3I1d 56.{){){) community visiton each year . Generate 51.35 million per year m dlrect expendItures and substantIal spm-off revenue. whlch \\l!J provlde sustainable revenue for Fflends operaTIons and programs. . Gener~lte ~ Full-Tilnt! Jobs ~md SUIJWrOllS Part-Tinlt! Positions md CO/lstruction Johs (Jur parmer.", Hill he gin:'11 Ihe oppor!WllfIeS [() . Demonstrate thelr Environmentll/ Leadership posItron . JOl!1 \vlth l;;:"'aders arlectmu en\-lfonnL:::nraJ (han!:!;::, through !!1cre~lsed Public Educatio/l and -I warelle.n . fllvitf! the C0J11flUllliZv to e'{peflence first-h:.mG tile EllVil'oll111ental lS.\'lles surrounding the protection of \vetlands in OntariO. . Demonstrate Jfarket Leadenhip and COlllmnllity Investment 111 the GTA. . Dlsplav theIr brand name in a Profile Bllildillg WIth High AllllU1I1 Vi.\ilorship 1304 F'RfENDS OF SECOND MARSH 905-723-5047 friendsofsecondmarsh@rogers.com 'MVW. secondmarsh. com Friends of Second Marsh o Fnends of Second Marsh (Friends) is a not-far-profit charitable organization dedicated to wetlands education and the stewardship of Second Marsh and its watershed. o For the past thirty years, Fnends (formerly the Second 'Vlarsh Defense Association, credited WIth ProtectIng Second 'Vlarsh from Harbour Development) has provided leadership In the commumty-based movement to secure a future for this unique wetland. o Friends is a leader In environmental education, WIth over 1,300 people annually participating in their premier educational programs; Kids in the Marsh Summer Programs and Curriculum Based Wethltld.,. Walks. for school cht!dren. o More than 300 community volunteers partIcipated In Fnends Stewardship Projects last year, includIng the Yellow n"h Road storm drain markIng program, Rain Barrel pt!ot project, constructIon of the Bob l"lills Boardwalk, and the Planting of Trees and Native Plants. o Throughout its hIstOry, Friends has pannered with many organizations for restoration efforts and operatIOnal reqUlremems. Key partners include: the City of Oshawa, Ducks Unlimited Canada, EnVIronment Canada. Central Lake Ontano Conservation Authonty and General Motors of Canada Ltd. The Second Marsh Wildlife Area o Second Marsh IS a unique resource for the Oshawa area. In combination with adjacent areas, McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Reserve and Darlington Provincial Park, Second '\1arsh compnses nearly 4011 hectares of publicly accessible waterfront space "lthIn the Greater Toronto Area. o ThIS habItat supports over 380 plant species, 288 bIrd species, numerous species of mammals, reptt!es, amphibians and fish, and hundreds of species of insects. o Over the past 50 years, more than two thirds of Great Lakes wetlands have been lost to development, draInage and pollution Education is' critical to restoring and maIntaining these wetlands in order to protect bIOdiversIty o Throughout Second 'Vlarsh. self-guided walks are enhanced by a well-maintained trat! system, \vay-finding signs, VIewing to\vers and mterpretIve signs. o The Waterfront Trail, which spans the shores of Lake Ontano from Nlagara-on-the-Lake to Ganonoque, runs through Second Marsh Wildlife Area. o Second Marsh Wt!dlife Area contributed to Oshawa WinnIng the Highe,'t Level Award In the 2001 CommUnIties In Bloom competition .'i I';I.{,' .'1:/ 'I.".'~'" ',-' j. ~ I' :: I,' , ~ 1305 FRIENDS OF SECOND MARSH 905-723-5047 friendsofsecondmarsh@rogers.com www.secondmarsh.com