MARKHAM CONSERVATION COMMITTEE

 

TOWN OF MARKHAM

Ontario Room

MARCH 30, 2006

7:00 pm

 

MINUTES

 

ATTENDANCE

 

 

Members:

Staff:

Brent Mersey, Chair

Joan Maddock

Krista Olins

Sandra McEleney

Mike Hough

Joyce Chau

Philip Ling

Mylene Batista Bezerra

Lindsay Turko

Regional Councillor Jack Heath

 

Judi Kosch, Committee Clerk

 

Regrets

John O’Gorman

Romila Verma, Vice Chair

Councillor Erin Shapero

 

 

1.      CALL TO ORDER

 

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

 

2.      CHANGES OR ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA

 

a)   Under Item 8, EAC update.

 

3.      ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES OF THE MARKHAM CONSERVATION

COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON FEBRUARY 23, 2006

     

      The Chair advised of two minor changes to Item 8 pertaining to the Environmental Issues Committee; Committee agreed to the changes.

 

      Moved by Philip Ling

Seconded by Mike Hough

 

THAT the minutes of the Markham Conservation Committee meeting held on February 23, 2006 be adopted, as amended.

CARRIED

 

 

4.   ITEMS FOR INFORMATION

 

a)   The Chair welcomed Thomas Rado to the Committee; he went on to give a brief overview of the role of the Committee and its members and stressed the importance of working together on issues of mutual concern, i.e. urban planning, environment, public health, conservation.

 

b)   The Chair called on each of the members to give a short overview on items they have been involved with over the past month.  Items ranged over a broad spectrum:  environmental sustainability – training/educating the younger population on its importance; cleanup of parks; organic lawn care; involvement in more events during the year to promote environmental awareness; pesticide by-law back on track; protection of wildlife by sustaining natural areas within Markham; Earth Day event; environmental monitoring; improve communications to more clearly identify who is doing what environmentally; waste management – green procurement policy; Big Pipe concerns; Region of Durham’s waste management policy; Region of York’s ‘10 Years In The Future’ initiative; environmental grant workshops – a grants sub committee should be set up within MCC; involvement with York Region Environmental Advisory Meetings – Markham hosting a meeting in May – a strong desire across Region to co-ordinate environmental efforts.

 

5.      NEW BUSINESS

 

a)   MCC Mandate – Deferred

 

b)   Web Page Update – The Chair called on all members to provide Romila Verma with a very brief paragraph on themselves as soon as possible to incorporate into the MCC web page.

 

6.      MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

 

a)   Markham Conservation Committee Goals 2006 – Deferred.

 

b)   MCC Budget – Deferred

     

7.   REPORTS OF SUBCOMMITTEES

 

a)   Waste Management – Joan Maddock briefly reviewed her report (available from the Clerk’s Department) and stressed the importance of resolving the disposal of energy efficient fluorescent light bulbs, which contain mercury.  There was general discussion on the need for a resolution of this issue along with the disposal of batteries – there should be a system in place to handle these types of items.

 

b)   Community Outreach and Education - Lindsay Turko provided a further update on arrangements for Earth Day at Markville Mall, April 29th; Unionville High School, a Boy Scout troop are among the participants; there is an urgent need for more display tables; information is being provided on green bin usage but there will be no Town staff available to answer questions.  All Committee members were urged to participate in this very worthwhile event.

 

 

c)   Cycling & Pedestrian Committee –Sandra McEleney gave a presentation on the mandate of this Committee along with ongoing activities:  the mandate will be sent out to the community for ‘fine-tuning’ and then prepared to go forward for funding.  There will be three Phases – 1, 2 and Ultimate; there are two separate plans – cycling and pedestrian; the cycling plan is progressing well – signage for 67 km (?) of trails is being prepared as part of Phase 1 and there is a plan to increase the number of bike trails (off road) in Phase 2.  The pedestrian trails have a long way to go and she will provide a further update at the next MCC meeting.

 

8.   REPORTS FROM RELATED COMMITTEES

 

a)   Environmental Issues Committee (EIC)  – The Chair and Philip Ling will be alternately attending these meetings; at the meeting held earlier today (March 30th), 4 applications for MESF funding were received; there is great potential for this initiative.

 

b)   Regional Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC) – Krista Olins gave a brief review on the recent EAC meeting co-hosted by York Region and the Town of Aurora; most municipalities in York Region are involved in promoting environmental awareness/issues – anti-littering, pesticide by-law, dangers of malathion usage, fostering business contacts through local Chambers of Commerce for donations both monetary and in kind.

 

9.      NEXT MEETING

 

The next meeting of the Markham Conservation Committee is scheduled for Thursday, April 27, 2006 at 7:00 pm in the Ontario Room.

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

      There being no further business, it was moved by Krista Olins and seconded by Joan Maddock, that the meeting be adjourned at 9:00 pm.

      CARRIED

 

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