CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES

RATIFICATION DU PROCÈS-VERBAL

Minutes 8 of the Richmond Conservation Area Management Team meeting of 16 April 2002 were confirmed as amended by the following:

· Page 5 – Second last sentence “H. Snyder suggested the City change the contract in order that the area just be scraped.” was deleted.

· Page 7 – Third paragraph amended to add: “It was noted that use of nails is an acceptable way of posting signs on trees”.

· Page 8 – Other Business – First paragraph amended to indicate that RCAMT, FOJ, RTA and RCVA will participate; R. Marler will ask OFNC.

Items of Business

Points À L’Ordre du Jour

1. WATER / LAGOONS SUBCOMMITTEE REPORT

RAPPORT DU SOUS-COMITÉ CHARGÉ DE L’EAU ET DES LAGUNES

P. blancher reported that water levels have continued to remain high. Cell B has no loss and Cell A has only minimal loss – unexplained 2mm per day, with both rainfall and airport evaporation readings taken into account. McManus’ final report will have input from both the City and RCAMT. P. Blancher further reported that McManus had reduced monitoring to three days per week when it became obvious that there was no great leakage. RCAMT has monitored every day and will continue to do so over the next year, perhaps reducing the monitoring to a once per week basis. Cell A seems to have more waterbirds, perhaps due to the increased water levels and hence enlarged food supply. Migratory birds are also stopping at the lagoon area. He indicated that he has prepared a wildlife observations spreadsheet which he would be happy to provide to anyone interested in recording their observations and returning the data to him.

INQUIRIES

DEMANDES DE RENSEIGNMENTS

No inquiries were received.

OTHER BUSINESS

AUTRES QUESTIONS

Chair B. Hutchinson reported that the City is favourable to taking the next infrastructure step. She has given P. Blancher’s name as the Team’s contact person for implementation of the Management Plan. The permanent water taking permit will be proceeded with, along with its related steps. The consultant, R. Holder, has suggested taking water in the Fall. R. Marler felt we would need to see what summer brings in terms of weather. C. Craig suggested the need to determine a threshold above which water can be taken and below which water cannot be taken. In response to H. Snyder’s query respecting the level of infrastructure work, P. Blancher will report back at the next meeting or update members with an email. Chair B. Hutchinson also advised that CACE will grade the area. R. Marler suggested the possible need for stone in the parking area. P. Blancher indicated the big issue is security and access now that roads have been created. H. Snyder indicated that although he has done a preliminary analysis, he needs additional information from the City such as: use criteria for various sectors within the RCA, maintenance accesses required by the City, policy regarding invasive use of RCA around built up areas (i.e. cutting of the grass, dumping and use of areas as homeowners’ back yards) and whether or not they have a management plan in order to complete his report. As the City does not have a plan, with the Team’s concurrence, H. Snyder will make assumptions and proceed with his report. S. Murphy advised that she was endeavouring to arrange a walkabout. R. Maybury suggested that the accesses and barriers be looked about during the walk. S. Murphy further reported that the Eagleson gate will be re-instated. H. Snyder felt that trails input is required for his report. S. Murphy advised H. Snyder to make his best assumptions, present various potential solutions based on the problems and use the City’s name as he felt appropriate. B. Marler stressed the need to educate people living in area and on the riverbank. L. Duffy proposed that a member of RCAMT approach the homeowners with respect to the conservation area. H. Snyder questioned who would tell homeowners that they were not to ride their garden tractors down to the river, or ask them to move their picnic tables on the riverbank back to their yards etc. He suggested the City’s help is needed.

B. Finch updated the Team on the status of the hiring of a student, indicating that notification should be received in a couple of weeks with respect to the grant. He, C. Craig and P. Blancher had met immediately prior to this evening’s Team meeting to discuss tasks; some no cost, some low cost, some higher cost (water sampling) that could be done by the student. C. Craig will get the short list of suitable candidates. Less sophisticated monitoring, maintenance, meeting with neighbours, inventory etc. were tasks that a student could undertake. B. Finch indicated that FOJ has tree guards and proposed the student might do some trees in the RCA. S. Murphy informed members that the City was unable to provide any equipment. She indicated that Accutest had been recommended for testing. Their quote was $10-$17 per sample with a twelve sample total (3 cells, 2 samples per cell, 2 occasions) for a cost of $261.18. To do the recommended testing (3 cells, 2 samples per cell, 3 occasions) would cost approximately $400.

L. Duffy observed that when walking in berms, wearing of darker coloured clothing was less likely to disturb birds. She noted that B. Marler had put up the purple martin houses today. She felt it important to find a way to hide people walking the berms to minimize disturbance. As birds are not nesting in the trees at the entrance to the parking lot, she suggested opening up this entrance. She further suggested moving the sign closer to Eagleson so as to be more visible and putting in stone steps on the east side of the berms between Cells B and C.

L. Duffy further advised that the nature walk would be held on Sunday, June 2 with Tony Beck as guide. She hoped that E. Snyder would again talk about flora and fauna. An advertisement on this event has been placed in the Stittsville News. She suggested purchasing an appropriate gift for Mr. Beck.

S. Murphy advised that the walkabout would take place within the next two weeks. With respect to the cleanup of Cell C, she reported on the email sent by B. Alting-Mees. P. Blancher indicated that with marsh hawks nesting, he was concerned about a work crew going in and disturbing the habitat. It was suggested that cleanup be delayed to after mid July. It was noted that the City has not yet responded to E. Snyder’s email respecting ‘floatables’ in Cell C. R. Marler indicated that he had not observed the ‘floatables’. S. Murphy will look into this. C. Craig suggested the larger issue is how to resolve this as the Cell is used for sewage – what will happen in the future – perhaps some kind of screening is required. Councillor J. Stavinga indicated her thought that bucket screening was going to be done. Chair B. Hutchinson suggested looking at it during the walkabout. Future solutions could then be discussed, for implementation after the birds have finished nesting.

Councillor J. Stavinga indicated that the City will soon be working on the 2003 budget and that the RCAMT begin thinking strategically and working on at least a three year budget. Some of the items could be costed by City staff. She will determine staff contacts for costing.

H. Snyder invited participants to remain after the meeting to see his preliminary analysis.

S. Murphy reported on the reinstatement of Cell B, scheduled after the end of June. B. Alting-Mees proposes to let the area renaturalize over time. She has forwarded E. Snyder’s suggestions on to B. Alting-Mees. P. Blancher indicated that similar work is required on the north and southwest side of Cell C and proposed work not commence after mid-July. Chair B. Hutchinson referred to the email from E. Snyder proposing appropriate species. P. Blancher would like to speak with E. Snyder respecting the loss of some hawthorns and possible planting of some native shrubs. In E. Snyder’s absence, Councillor J. Stavinga asked if there were any points in his proposal that could be carried out. The team preferred a less expensive option than that proposed by E. Snyder. S. Murphy will talk to B. Alting-Mees. P. Blancher will also discuss with E. Snyder.

A brief discussion was held respecting Ducks Unlimited suggestion of use of herbicides to clear ground and the City policy prohibiting its use. The team recognized that the methods for removing existing vegetation proposed by E. Snyder are an alternative to herbicide use.

ACTION ITEMS

MESURES DE SUIVI

· P. Blancher to report back respecting level of infrastructure work to be undertaken.

· S. Murphy to look into matter of ‘floatables’ in Cell C.

· S. Murphy to follow up with B. Alting-Mees on reinstatement of Cell B and E. Snyder’s proposals.

ADJOURNMENT

LEVÉE DE LA SÉANCE

The meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m.

NEXT MEETING

PROCHAINE RÉUNION

The next meeting will be held on June 18, 2002 at 7:30 p.m. Chair B. Hutchinson asked members to think about budgets for 1, 2 and 5 year plans and email her with suggestions which she will compile and circulate in advance of the next meeting.

A/Committee Coordinator Chair

Équipe de gestion de la zone de conservation de Richmond

Minutes 9 / Procès-verbal 9

Richmond Arena’s Seniors’ Meeting Room

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST