Minutes

Sarnia Urban Wildlife Committee

February 18, 2004

 

Attendance: : Dave Shortt, David Smith, Bruce Strangway, Brenda Lorenz, Bruce Ballingall, Stan Robinson, Nikki May

Regrets: Art Teasell, Terry DeMarco, Alan Welsh

 

  1. Good wishes to Art from the whole team for a speedy recovery!
  2. Minutes from January reviewed.   Fix spelling of Litrenta. Moved by Brenda, seconded by Bruce S., passed to accept
  3. Election of Officers:

    •  Art as Chairman: Brenda nominated, Bruce B. seconded, passed

    •  Dave Shortt as Vice Chair: Nikki nominated, Dave Sm. seconded, passed

    •  David Smith as Treasurer: Bruce S. nominated, Brenda seconded, passed

    •  Nikki as Secretary: Dave Sh. nominated, Bruce B. seconded, passed

  4. Financial Status. David reviewed status and planned expenditures.   We are planning more expenditures than we have funds.   Additional suggestions: Brenda says we can use more copies of the Huron Flyway brochure.   Brenda brought in $12 from Horticultural Society.   Stan recommended that we send a formal letter of thanks to Shell and the TD foundation.   Passed. [Nikki to draft for next meeting.]   
  5. Dennis Rupert Prairie Reserve. Brenda is working on a new sign with Ken Hall. She will email us when draft is ready. Bruce S. is going on the Burn course March 10,11 at Ridgetown College. Lambton Rural Stewardship Network may cover the costs. 
  6. Blackwell Road Wildlife Refuge. New fence is approved, and letters are to be sent to the neighbours notifying them of this change to the property.   Timing of the fence is probably sometime in April/May.   Bruce S. discussed the possibility of talking to neighbours to the west about possible easements on some interesting woods with vernal pools.
  7. Perch Creek Wildlife Habitat.   Bruce S. will be cleaning out bird boxes soon, and building raptor boxes.   He has seen quite a few nesting raptors at the site.   The SCRCA is planning another path around the back of the site.
  8. College Park. Bruce S. is thinking about how to build a small marshy area in the park without attracting vandals and plant thieves.   Discussion about how to deal with mosquito perceptions ensued.   David Sm. and Bruce S. will get wood chips soon.  
  9. Logan Pond. Dave Shell application is now due in April, so he is considering the fence in the fall, and restoring the bank in the Spring of 2005.   He is looking at getting cedar posts for stabilizing the bank, and live stakes for the bottom of the slopes were discussed.   The possibility of putting in horse oats this year, for a cost of about $10 was discussed.   Brenda summarized the Logan Pond meeting for the group.
  10. Dwarf Sandcherries. Stan and Art will get cuttings when snow levels drop.
  11. Website update:   Nikki proposed a website upgrade so that changes could be made more easily, and the look is updated.   Brenda moved and Bruce S. seconded. Approved.
  12. New Business : Brenda suggested we have a public event to promote ourselves better.   An article in the newspaper and a possible barbecue at Perch Creek along with a tour was suggested.   Sarnia is hosting the next FON meeting on March 27.   Dave Sh. moved, and Stan seconded the expenditure to support this.   Bruce S. will let us know when we can join a group to collect wild plants from the newly cleared Industrial Park in Moore.
  13. Next Meeting : March 17, 2004.