12 11 2008 OMEGA MinutesTOWNSHIP OF ORO-MEDONTE
ORO-MEDONTE ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP ADVISORS (OMEGA)
MEETING MINUTES
Thursday, December 11, 2408 ~ 7:03 p.m.
Council Chambers
Present: Bob Barlow
John Bosomworth
Meryl Drake
David Edwards
Ruth Fountain
Susan Grant
Regrets: Steve Cromwell
David Kennedy
Wilf McMechan
Josephine Martensson-Hemsted
Andy McNiven
Doug Shelswell
Mike Vandergeest
Kim Wand
Jim Woodford
Gerry Murphy
Jim Purnell
CouncillStaff Councillor Sandy Agnew
Present: Councillor Mel Coutanche
Councillor Terry Allison
Doug Irwin, Director Gorparate
ServiceslClerk
Marie Brissette, Committee Coordinator
Lisa McNiven, Manager Engineering and
Environmental Services
Others Jennifer Brock Allan Johnson
Present: Jamie Brock Bruce Keeling
John Crawford Ken Ewens
Doris Crawford Peter DeVillers
1. Councillor Coutanche called the meeting to order.
2. ADOPTION OF AGENDA:
Motion No. OMEGA-081211-1
Moved by Meryl Drake, Seconded by John Bosomworth
It is recommended that the agenda far the Oro-Medonte Environmental Group Advisors
{OMEGA) meeting of Thursday, December 11, 2008 be received and adopted.
Carried.
3. DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST & THE GENERAL NATURE THEREOF - IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE ACT:
None declared.
4. MINUTES:
a) Minutes of OMEGA Meeting held on September 18, 2008.
Motion No. OMEGA-081211-2
Moved by Susan Grant, Seconded by David Edwards
It is recommended that the minutes of the Oro-Medonte Environmental Group Advisors
(OMEGA) meeting held on September 18, 2008 be adopted as printed and circulated.
Carried.
5. PRESENTATIONS:
a) Jennifer Brock, re: Zero Waste Simcoe.
Ms. Brock provided a PowerPoint presentation.
Motion No. OMEGA-081211-3
Moved by John Bosomworth, Seconded by Susan Grant
It is recommended that
1. The information received December 1, 2008, and verbal information presented by Jennifer
Brock, re: Zero Waste Simcoe, be received.
2. It is recommended to Council that the Township endorses the principle of a program for
the County of Simcoe that will instill practices to encourage a zero waste community.
Carried.
b) Bruce Keeling, re: Application for GrantlSubsidy, Huronia Woodland Owners Association.
Mr. Keeling distributed a presentation to members of QMEGA.
Motion No.OMEGA-081211-4
Moved by Josephine Martensson-Hemsted, Seconded by Mike Vandergeest
It is recommended that
1. The Application for Grant/Subsidy received November 7, 2008, and information presented
Bruce Keeling, re: Application for Grant/Subsidy, Huronia Woodland owners Association,
be received.
2. That it is recommended to Council that the Application for GrantlSubsidy submitted by
Huronia Woodland Owners Association, in the amount of $4,250.00, be approved as an
Environmental Initiative.
Carried.
6. ITEMS FROM PREVIOUS MEETING:
a) Highlight key messages.
7. WORKING GROUPS UPDATES:
a) Qro Moraine
• Oro Moraine Report Card.
Members of the Working Group advised of an upcoming Oro Moraine Report Card to be
coordinated by the NVCA in conjunction with various agencies.
b) Growth Issues
Members of the Working Group advised they would reconvene in the New Year.
Page 2
OMEGA Meeting- December 11, 2008
c) Habitat
• Draft Tree Preservation By-law.
Motion No. OMEGA-081211-5
Moved by Jim Woodford, Seconded by Kim Wand
It is recammended that the meeting notes of October 30, 2008 and verbal information
presented by the Habitat Working Group, re: Draft Tree Preservation By-law, be received,
and that the Habitat Working Group proceed to develop more specific recommendations on a
Tree Preservation By-law.
Carried.
d} Water Quality 1 Lake Management
• Brochure distribution "Protecting Your Water & Shoreline Property.
• Bass Lake Update.
Motion No. OMEGA-081211-6
Moved by Bob Barlow, Seconded by David Edwards
It is recammended that
1. The correspondences dated November 27, 2008 from David Featherstone, Manager,
Watershed Monitoring Program, NVCA, and Wayne R. Wilson, Chief Administrative
Officer, NVCA, re: Bass Lake/Oro-Medonte Update be received.
2. And that the verbal information presented by the Water QualityJLake Management
Working Group, re: Bass Lake/Oro-Medonte Update, be received.
Carried.
e) Sustainable Agriculture
Members of the Working Group reviewed the success of the Simcoe County Farm Fresh
initiative.
8. COMMUNICATIONS:
a) Update from Provincial Environmental Advisory Committee (Oshawa, October 4, 2008).
Motion No. OMEGA-081211-7
Moved by Ruth Fountain, Seconded by David Edwards
It is recommended that the verbal information presented by Councillor Agnew, re: Update
from Provincial Environmental Advisory Committee (Oshawa, October 4, 2008), be received.
Carried.
Page 3
OMEGA Meeting -December 11, 2008
b) Sandra Trainor, Project Manager, Simcoe County Farm Fresh Marketing Association,
correspondence dated November 15, 2008, re: Application for GrantlSubsidy.
Motion No. OMEGA-081211-8
Moved by Qaug Shelswell, Seconded by Meryl Drake
It is recommended that
1. The correspondence dated November 15, 2008 from Sandra Trainor, Project Manager,
Simcoe County Farm Fresh Marketing Association, re: Application for Grant/Subsidy be
received.
2. That it is recommended to Council that the Application for GrantlSubsidy submitted by
Simcoe County Farm Fresh Marketing Association, in the amount of $625.00, be approved
as an Environmental Initiative.
Carried.
9. OTHER BUSINESS/QUESTIONS:
a) Member updates.
b) Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority, re: Presentation of LSRCA's Stewardship
Programs.
Motion No. OMEGA-081211-9
Moved by Susan Grant, Seconded by Ruth Fountain
It is recommended that
1. The verbal information from Councillor Agnew, re: LSRCA's Stewardship Programs be
received.
2. And further that the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority be invited to make a
presentation at a future OMEGA meeting.
Carried.
c) Review of OMEGA's first year.
What has worked well;
• Strong focus to move forward with OMEGA initiatives
• Co-Chairs working well with Members, current format works well
• Terms Of Reference for Working Groups provide solid foundation
• Funding for 2008 far environmental initiatives
Page 4
OMEGA Meeting -December 11, 2008
What needs improvement:
• Resolve leadership gaps with the Working Groups
• OMEGA should be more as a "sounding board" for specific environmental and
Township impact issues (i.e. impact of the Clean Water Act and Nutrient Management
Act, Weeds By-law, animal density on farms) rather than "looking far work to do".
Several Members of OMEGA had joined OMEGA believing that this would be the
primary rate of OMEGA
• Environment Impact Statements for developments should be referred to OMEGA for
comment
• OMEGA initiatives/activities should be included in the North Simcoe Community News
• Screen funding requests to avoid opening OMEGA far all Environment Initiatives
• Increased input from Members on Agenda items
• Council Members/Staff to provide administrative support for Working Groups
10. NEXT MEETING DATE: Thursday, February 19, 2009 at 7:00 p.m.
11. ADJOURNMENT:
Motion No. OMEGA-081211-10
Moved by John Basomworth, Seconded by Bob Barlow
It is recommended that we do now adjourn at 9:16 p.m.
Carried.
A digital recording of the meeting is available for review.
;-
Co-Chairperson, Councillor Coutanche Co-Chairperson, Councillor Agnew
Committee Coordinator, Marie Brissette
Page 5
OMEGA Meeting- December 11, 2008