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01 17 2008 OMEGA Minutes€~i ~ ~~ i TOWNSHIP OF ORO-MEDONTE x ORO-MEDONTE ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP ADVISORS (OMEGA} i MEETING MINUTES "~ Thursday, January 17, 2008 @ 7:02 p.m. Council Chambers Present: Bob Barlow Andria Leigh John Bosamworth Josephine Martensson-Hemsted Steve Cromwell Wilf McMechan Meryl Drake Andy McNiven David Edwards Gerry Murphy Ruth Fountain Jim Purnell Susan Grant Kim Wand Margo Holt Jim Woodford Allan Johnson Regrets: Vera Cameron-van Amelsvoort Avery Parle Lynette Crawford-Mader Don Hanney David Kennedy Jacinta McNairn CounciUStaff Councillor Sandy Agnew Present: Councillor Mel Coutanche Doug Shelswell Beverley Smith Mike Vandergeest Peter Wigham Doug Irwin, Clerk 1. Councillor Coutanche called the meeting to order. 2. ADOPTION OF AGENDA Motion No. OMEGA-080117-1 Moved by Jim Woodford, Seconded by Meryl Drake It is recommended that the agenda far the Ora-Medonte Environmental Group Advisors (OMEGA} meeting of Thursday, January 17, 2008 be received and adopted. Carried. 3. DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST & THE GENERAL NATURE THEREOF - IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ACT None declared. 4. MINUTES FROM NOVEMBER 15, 2flfl7 MEETING Motion No. OMEGA-fl8fl117-2 Moved by Susan Grant, Seconded by Ruth Fountain It is recommended that the minutes of the Oro-Medonte Environmental Group Advisors Group (OMEGA} meeting held on November 15, 2007 Meeting be adopted, as amended, as follows: (1 } Motion No. OMEGA 071115-1 -Replace "Wednesday", November 15, 2007 to "Thursday", November 15, 2007. (2} Item 7 and Motion No's. OMEGA 071115-4 and OMEGA 071 1 1 5-5 -Replace "Planning" with "Growth Issues". (3} Item 7, Identify Categories for Issues and Opportunities: - Add "Integrated pest management" to Growth Issues, - Add "Keep in perspective" to Agriculture in forefront under Sustainable Farming, - Add "Algae" under Lake Management. (4} At the end of the Issues and Opportunities section, add a phase stating, "The OMEGA Members concurred that Education was the consistent factor with all of the Issues and Opportunities identified." Carried. 5. PROCEDURAL BY-LAW 2flfl7-136 Councillor Agnew provided an overview of Procedural By-law 2007-136. Section 18 of the By-law was highlighted. 6. REVIEW OF ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES APPROVED BY COUNCIL Councillor Coutanche provided an overview of the Issues and Opportunities approved by Council. Page 2 OMEGA Meeting -January 17, 2008 ~' r 7. TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR WORKING GROUPS IDENTIFIED AT NOVEMBER 15, 200? MEETING Motion No. OMEGA-080117-3 Moved by Josephine Martensson-Hemsted, Seconded by John Bosomworth It is recommended that the correspondence received November 21 and 22, 2007 from the OMEGA Working Groups re: Terms of References, far Growth Issues, Habitat, and Oro Moraine be received and approved, as amended to change "lobbyists' to "educators" on #3 in the Growth Issues. And Further That it is recommended to Council that the terms of references for the three (3) OMEGA Working Groups for Growth Issues, Habitat, and Oro Moraine be adopted, as amended. Carried. 8. STATUS UPDATES FROM WORKING GROUPS Motion No. OMEGA-080117-4 Moved by Gerry Murphy, Seconded by David Edwards It is recommended that the status updates from the OMEGA Working Groups far Growth Issues, Habitat and Oro Moraine be received. Carried. 9. TREE PRESERVATION BY-LAW REPORT Motion No. OMEGA-080117-5 Moved by Margo Holt, Seconded by Kim Wand It is recommended that the correspondence dated January 2, 2008 from the OMEGA Habitat Working Group re: Tree Preservation By-Law Report be deferred to the next regularly scheduled OMEGA meeting. Carried. Page 3 OMEGA Meeting -January 17, 2008 ~- 10. CORRESPONDENCE RE: MOTION, USE AND SALE OF COSMETIC CHEMICAL PESTICIDES Motion No. OMEGA-080117-6 Moved by Margo Holt, Seconded by David Edwards It is recommended that the correspondence dated December 4, 2007 from Mayor Hughes re: Motion, Use and Sale of Cosmetic Chemical Pesticides be received. Carried. 11. CORRESPONDENCE RE: OMEGA ORO MORAINE WORKING GROUP Motion No. OMEGA-080117-7 Moved by Josephine Martensson-Hemsted, Seconded by Bab Barlow It is recommended that the correspondence dated January 6, 2008 from Pat Woodford re: Request to Become a Member of the OMEGA Working Group for Ora Moraine be received. And Further That it is recommended to Council that Pat Woodford be appointed as a Member of the QMEGA Working Group for Oro Moraine. Carried. 12. ENGAGE OMEGA MEMBERS ON WORKING GROUP Motion No. OMEGA-080117-8 Moved by Bob Barlow, Seconded by Josephine Martensson-Hemsted It is recommended that an QMEGA Working Group be established far Water Quality, that incorporates Lake Management, and that the following members be appointed: • Bob Barlow, • David Edwards, • Wilf McMechan, • Josephine Martensson-Hemsted, • Gerry Murphy, • Beverley Smith. Carried. Page 4 OMEGA Meeting -January 17, 2408 ~t_ ",. Motion No. OMEGA-080117-9 ~ - Moved by Andy McNiven, Seconded by Josephine Martensson-Hemsted It is recommended that an OMEGA Working Group be established for Sustainable Agriculture and that the following members be appointed: • Andy McNiven, • Josephine Martensson-Hemsted, • Doug Shelswell, • Allan Johnson, • Mike Vandergeest. Carried. Motion No. OMEGA-080117-10 Moved by Allan Johnson, Seconded by Steve Cromwell It is recommended to Council that Avery Parle be appointed to the Growth Issues Working Group. Carried. 13.OMEGA FUNDING Motion No. OMEGA-080117-11 Moved by Josephine Martensson-Nemsted, Seconded by David Edwards It is recommended to Council that funding in the amount of $25,000.00 be allocated to the Oro-Medonte Environmental Group Advisors (OMEGA) for Education, Communication, Studies and raising the profile of OMEGA activities/initiatives. Carried. 14.OTHER BUSINESS Discussion occurred with respect ta: • Canada Day Celebrations -Fireworks -consensus was that fireworks are not a significant environmental concern. • Slow Moving Vehicle Signage -beyond the jurisdiction of OMEGA • Bass Lake Working Group -meeting scheduled for Saturday, January 26, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. Page 5 OMEGA Meeting -January 17, 2008 15. NEXT MEETING The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 21, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at the Township of (7ro-Medonte Administration Centre. 16. ADJOURNMENT Motion No. OMEGA-080117-12 Moved by Gerry Murphy, Seconded by Allan Johnson It is recommended that we da now adjourn at 8:54 p.m. Carried. A digital recording of the meeting is available for review. ~~ Co-Chairperson, Councillor Coutanche ~:~_ Clrk, J. Douglas Irwin r .:s Co-Chairperson, Councillor Agnew Page 6 OMEGA Meeting -January 17, 2008 OMEGA -- Growth Issues Working Group Terms of Reference Adopted by OMEGA Resolution OMEGA-080117-3 The Growth Issues Working Group recognizes that the Township has a number of other authorities which review and assess planning applications and applicable policies. The mandate for this OMEGA working group is not to duplicate these existing processes but to provide additional input and opportunity to review planning policy for the Township and to provide advice on future policy considerations from an environmental perspective. The mandate for the working group will be to: 1. Make recommendations to Council in regard to future policy amendments which are intended to strengthen the environment first philosophy of Council; 2. Provide feedback to Council as requested on environmental planning matters; 3. Ability to act as public educators in the implementation of Council's planning directions; 4. Planning working group interconnected to other OMEGA working groups/priorities: Oro Moraine, Water Quality, Waste Management, Habitat, and Recreation. Intent is for planning group t provide advise and recommendations to Council on the mechanism for implementing their above working group mandates i.e. policy, by-law, education OMEGA -Habitat Working Group Terms of Reference Adopted by OMEGA Resolution OMEGA-08011?-3 A habitat is the place a plant or animal lives. Habitats in Oro Medonte are as diverse as the plants and animals that live in them, ranging from the obvious such wetlands, streams, lakes, forests and fields, to small vernal pools that are necessary to sustain creatures like the wood frog. Most plants and animals are uniquely adapted to survive in a specific habitat, and if that habitat is destroyed, the plant or animal's survival is severely threatened. Habitats do not function independently of each other: wetland creatures need forests and fields to provide upland cover for nesting. Woodland creatures need wetlands and streams for water and food. Fields provide hunting opportunities for the variety of raptors -such as the Great Gray Owl -that stage in our forests. Nor can habitats function in isolation: a lonely stand of trees in the middle of a residential area serves neither deer nor residents very effectively. When wild animals cross through developed areas to get to sources of food and water, conflicts inevitably arise. For habitats to function effectively they must be healthy and connected, allowing plants to thrive and animals to pass through safely according to their natural habits. Habitats do not just benefit plants and animals. Wetlands improve water quality, woodlands help reduce carbons in the air and streams feed the lakes we enjoy for recreational purposes and as a source of water. We are all connected: the destruction of one type of habitat starts a negative chain reaction that will indisputably end up at our doorsteps and reduce quality of life in this township and beyond. All habitats are essential in the fight against, and adaptation to, climate change. Oro Medonte is blessed to be home to a rich diversity of habitats. This is part of the cultural fabric that makes up this township and the reason why many choose to live here. It is an interesting paradox then that because this is such a desirable place to live, habitats are under significant and constant threat. This is most recently evidenced in a communication from the Committee of Adjustment which has formally expressed its dismay at the number of applications resulting in the needless destruction of healthy, mature trees. The township must assess its habitats holistically and in their entirety, balancing the interests of humans, plants and animals alike, to sustain the quality of life here and ensure that these essential places are not needlessly destroyed. For all of these reasons, we would ask council to give favourable consideration to the establishment of a Habitat Working Group under OMEGA that would research, assess and make recommendations on issues pertaining to habitats in Oro Medonte. OMEGA -Oro Moraine Working Group Terms of Reference Adopted by OMEGA Resolution OMEGA-080117-3 The OMEGA Oro Moraine subgroup recognizes the significance of the moraine & suggests it be a priority for OMEGA. The Oro Moraine is a significant natural heritage feature in Oro-Medante & the province. The moraine is home to several 'species at risk' .The moraine is important as it provides recharge to ground water aquifers. Population growth & development pressures are & will be increasing significantly on the moraine. Resource extraction pressures will also increase. The OMEGA Oro Moraine subgroup would like to work towards enhanced protection for the moraine & its aquifers. We would like to promote moraine greenspace protection through acquisition & easements by government & conservancy organizations. We would like to halt the negative impacts of habitat fragmentation on the moraine by restoration & tree planting projects. An educational component would provide information about the moraine & its significant natural features far moraine residents. The OMEGA Oro Moraine subgroup would like to work toward achieving these goals.