MARKHAM CONSERVATION COMMITTEE

1. CALL TO ORDER

Brent Mersey, Chair, called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m.

2. AGENDA

The agenda was accepted as distributed.

3. ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES OF THE MARKHAM CONSERVATION COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON NOVEMBER 15, 2007

The minutes were accepted as distributed.

Moved by Serena Chin

Seconded by Philip Ling

THAT the minutes of the Markham Conservation Committee held on November 15^th, 2007 be adopted as distributed.

CARRIED

4. EVENT PLANNING DISCUSSION:

a. Outreach Initiatives

As reported at the last meeting, Sara Sterling, Special Events Coordinator, is able to assist the committee with planning outreach activities such as Earth Day, but not public relations matters. It is recognized that the Committee may need to engage other Town of Markham staff to assist with public relations matters or to be a resource to the Markham Conservation Committee by providing contacts.

The Committee discussed at length possible venues for Earth Day.

Ms. Sterling reported via email that the Centennial Community Centre will not be suitable to host an event within the next six months because of ongoing construction. She recommended Angus Glen Community Centre as an alternative, possibly holding events there on the Saturday and Sunday prior to Earth Day instead of Earth Day itself (a Tuesday). Placing displays/activities outside the library area (between the library and the pool) and the outdoor ‘pad’ just out those main doors would allow flexibility for both indoor and outdoor activities, depending on the weather. There was some concern that Angus Glen Community Centre might be far enough away to not attract many people to Earth Day displays there.

Other committee members suggested Markville Mall as a venue. However, mall policy indicates a preference for displays that generate revenue for the mall and the Markham Conservation Committee Earth Day displays might be cancelled with little warning should a group rent the same space from the Mall. Another possibility might be hosting the Earth Day events in a tent in the mall parking lot.

5. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

a. Tree By-Law

Chair Brent Mersey provided a recap of the discussions at the last meeting. Planning an appropriate by-law is complex: any such by-law must distinguish between developers and individual property owners, and with keeping valuable trees to sustain the forest. The Town of Markham will likely pass a tree by-law within a few months and might also provide funding for the planting of additional valuable trees. The by-law will encourage developers to retain as many trees as possible when clearing land for building projects. It will be important for the Markham Conservation Committee to assist the Town of Markham in communication and education initiatives about proper maintenance for healthier trees and possible funding for planting more trees.

b. Pesticide By-Law – The Town of Markham plans to establish an ambassador program for pesticides during 2008.

York Region Environmental Advisory Committee Meeting

The Markham Conservation Committee might benefit from ideas from some of the other York Region conservation committees. Chair Brent Mersey will determine whether the Markham committee might host a future York Region Environmental Advisory Committee meeting and whether there might be Town of Markham funding available to assist.

6. NEW BUSINESS

a. Markham Conservation Committee

Chair Brent Mersey encouraged committee members to promote conservation in Markham by becoming engaged in committee initiatives and also becoming involved in other related areas such as waste management.

When asked to share their ideas for the committee, it was suggested the committee:

- include an Earth Day event to showcase how recycling is carried out; Committee members may consider taking a field trip to a recycling facility

- help residents better understand the environment and recycling initiatives

- undertake as many education and outreach initiatives as possible about social by-laws, such as the tree bylaw or the pesticide by-law, and recycling strategies, such as improving recycling rates from rooms on the second floor of homes

- consider having a design competition for receptacles to be used on second floor of homes for recycling items

- entertain a presentation for committee members, and possibly the York Region Environmental Advisory Committee, about “bio-char” a process of putting charcoal in soil to enrich it, and pyrolisis, the process of creating the charcoal

- learn more about the energy situation and community gardens

- focus on supporting Town of Markham initiatives such as the pesticide by-law, recycling, and Adopt-A-Park initiatives

- study environmental initiatives undertaken by California schools

- develop educational initiatives relating to ending littering, perhaps through committee members forming a speaker’s bureau that would take this environmental message to local area schools or arranging clean-up of high litter areas/providing dumpsters

- play a role in encouraging the use of re-usable grocery bags by Markham residents

- keep committee members and Markham residents up to date relating to the impacts of a proposed Community Environmental Centre in Vaughan and the York-Durham Incineration Facility

7. NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of the Markham Environmental Advisory Committee is scheduled for Thursday, February 21^st, 2008 at 7 p.m. in the Ontario Room.

8. ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:05 p.m. on a motion from Tom Rado, seconded by Lloyd Helferty.

ATTENDANCE

Members

Staff

Regrets

Absent