MARKHAM CONSERVATION
COMMITTEE
Ontario Room – Markham Civic Centre
MAY 22, 2003 – 7:00 P.M.
ATTENDANCE |
|
Members: |
Staff: |
Richard Jarrell (Chair) John O’Gorman Stephanie Sokolyk Councillor Jack Heath (7:10 pm) |
Regrets
Councillor Erin Shapero David Cheng |
Donna Sardone Karen Volpe (7:35 pm) |
|
1.
CALL TO ORDER
Richard Jarrell, Chair, called the
meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.
2.
CHANGES OR ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA
None
3.
ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES OF THE
MARKHAM CONSERVATION
Seconded by Romila Verma
THAT the minutes of the Markham
Conservation Committee meeting held on April 24, 2003, be adopted as amended.
CARRIED
4.
MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES
a) Environmental Sustainability Fund
– No report at this time
b) Don
Watershed Survey Report – The Chair advised he has received several
requests for the CD; he asked that the Committee secretary research the status
of the Don Community Council proposal and report back to the next meeting.
d)
Town
Kyoto Project –
Councillor Heath advised that a report, from the conference, is being prepared
which will outline what other municipalities are doing across North America to
address this issue; he will provide more a further update at the next
meeting. The Chair advised that he and
Donna had met with the Deputy Mayor on this issue; he and Donna will also be meeting
with Vicky McGrath who is preparing a report.
e)
Attendance – The Chair asked the Committee
secretary to contact the Clerk’s Department to ascertain if there were any
other résumés on file of interested citizens and to report back. The Committee accepted with regret Sandra
Guido’s resignation and acknowledged her work over the year. Councillor Heath suggested the re-appointed
of John O’Gorman. Donna will call David
Cheng to establish his intentions.
5. NEW
BUSINESS
a) Interested person for sub-committee
work – The Chair advised that he has been in contact with a person
interested in doing sub-committee work.
6. REPORTS OF
SUBCOMMITTEES
a) Waste Management – Joan Jenkyn referred Committee to the
previous minutes relative to fluorescent bulbs and asked Councillor Heath if
there is anything the Town is prepared to do to address this. Councillor Heath indicated he would speak to
V. McGrath and report back to the next meeting. Joan Jenkyn will prepare a draft letter to Waste Diversion
Ontario; she also introduced Rodney Muir from Waste Diversion Toronto, who is
interested in the Town’s 3-stream program.
Councillor Heath advised the program is going forward in Ward 1 and
target date is still set for September; he indicated that work with the Region
on this initiative is ongoing. It was
agreed that the hard part of the program is changing people’s mindset from
plastic to paper.
Community Outreach and Education – Karen Volpe provided a brief
update on the success of the Earth Day event at Markville Mall in spite of the
ice storm and SARS – great work done by all volunteers who attended; she will
ensure the website is updated with the details. It was agreed that ‘Ozzie the Owl’ was a great success and should
be used at more events.
The Chair reviewed the workshop done
by the Evergreen Foundation; there is another being planned in York Region and
they want this Committee to sponsor the event.
The Chair advised of MCC’s 3rd annual workshop coming on June
14 – items on the agenda will be water and dirty air. It was agreed that refreshments will be served in the morning at
a cost not to exceed $200.
Moved by Richard Jarrell
Seconded by Karen Volpe
That an expenditure, not to exceed
$200, for refreshments for the Markham Conservation Committee’s 3rd
Annual Workshop to be held on June 14, 2003 be approved.
CARRIED
c)
Fundraising
– Nothing to report
at this time
d) Natural Resource Management
Subcommittee – Nothing to report at this time.
7. REPORTS FROM RELATED
COMMITTEES
a)
Markham
Pesticide Reduction Steering Committee – Valerie Burke advised that the
Committee had met to discuss the draft report; it was agreed to defer approval
until further changes were made and the Steering Committee would meet again in
a couple of weeks.
8.
ITEMS FOR INFORMATION
Valerie Burke informed the Committee
of an ongoing problem with grass cutting along the Don River – not adhering to
the ‘no mow’ buffers instituted by the Town.
The Chair advised of a meeting he has had with Linda Irvine regarding
parks design and the naturalization of parkland.
The Chair also spoke of the
Millennium Gardens initiative that had received Council approval in principle
to do – it needs to be re-ignited; he has been approached to sit on a Committee
with 4-5 councillors to review long-range planning for the Anthony Roman
Centre.
The Chair asked that an item, summer
executive, be added to the June 26th meeting.
9.
NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the Markham
Conservation Committee is scheduled for Thursday, June 26, 2003 at 7:00 p.m. in
the Ontario Room.
The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
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