Friends of the Coves Subwatershed Inc. Board Meeting

Meeting Minutes for April 11, 2012, 7:00pm

Location: 111 Elmwood Ave E, Resource Room

Present: Thom McClenaghan, Doug McAndless, Ben Porchuk, Ian Cousins, Heather Popham

Regrets: Eric Shepherd, Gary Kay, Rachel Bezner-Kerr, Steve Trujillo

  1. Previous minutes(Thom): motion to accept by Doug M., seconded by Ben P. Motion carried.
  1. New Business:
  1. Accept 2011 AGM minutes – the minutes could not be found.
  2. New Pamphlets–these pamphlets are used to promote the organization. There are pamphlets done by UTRCA for the City for the other ESAs, and we hope to have one for the Coves once the CMP is completed.
  3. EustonPark Interpretive sign– change “aggregate” to “gravel pit”; change title to Euston Meadow instead of EustonPark. Ben to look for more colourful pictures. Will state that this area has suitable habitat for the Eastern Meadowlark. Still need to find a location for the sign.
  4. LCF Community Vitality Grant –This grant is for $50,000 - $500,000 over one to two years. We need to have partners for a project that is “game-changing”, something innovative. Ben to arrange a think tank about what we could do. Deadline for a proposal idea is May 15. For more information please check out London Community Foundation website.
  5. Coves Clean Up–the annual Coves Clean Up is Sat. Apr. 21 from 9am-12pm. We will meet in GreenwayPark. If we have a lot of volunteers we can send them to Southcrest ravine near the Emery St. crossing. Heather to pick up kit with gloves, garbage bags, etc. next week. Already have some clean up captains to help supervise the different areas.
  6. Car Free event –Sat. June 9 from 11am-4pm. On Dundas St. Heather will send out details of where we can set up later.
  7. Adjustment of Heather’s pay –Doug M. moves that Heather’s salary is to increase to $18/hr as of April 16, 2012, Ian C. seconds. Motion passed unanimously.
  1. Business from previous meeting:
  2. London Horticultural Society (Trillium project) –the City has some concerns of where the trilliums would come from. Ben will speak to Vanessa Kinsley and Bonnie Bergsma about this project.
  1. Organization and Strategic Planning:
  2. Coves film update
  3. The film premiere was a huge success. There were about 100 people at the showing. Nineteen memberships were renewed or bought(nine family, 10 individual), 55 individual tickets were sold, and 37 DVDs and 3 Blu-Rays ordered.
  4. We were thinking of having a 5 minute trailer done, but it would take a long time to get ready.
  5. Elmwood church wants to show the movie May 16 and have it open to everyone
  6. Should FOTCSI have another showing? Maybe at the Hyland Cinema, Landon Library or at the German Canadian Club. We could also approach the local schools and churches to see if they want to show the film.
  7. Should we have the film on our website?
  1. Implementation Committee meeting
  2. CMP: discussed the boundary of the Coves ESA. Stage two is to divide the ESA into management zones. Stage three is the trails. The draft report should be ready April 20 and there will be a public meeting late May/early June.
  3. RBC grant: should hear back early July.
  4. Coves Movie premiere: discussed the numbers and how it was a huge success. What do the FOTCSI want to do next with it?
  5. Southcrest Storm Sewer and Outfall replacement: there will be a pocket park at the top of the property at 264 Greenwood Ave. There will be stairs to access the pipe. Risk Management at the City wants the gate to be locked; FOTCSI wants to have a lookout. If gate locked maybe FOTCSI could have a key and do tours. The slope will be planted with a meadow mix and some trees. Construction in the fall. Discussion of planting rare Carolinian species in this sheltered part of the West Pond. Were told not to plant rare/endangered species by the City. Bill Armstrong from MOE was very concerned about the quality of the water coming into the pond. He suggested maybe using oil/grit separators. J. Cushing wanted to know what the baseline data is for water quality in the Coves ponds. UTRCA and FOTCSI will look for water quality data to bring to next meeting.
  6. Elmwood gateway: will look at the CMP draft report that may inform our next steps. Discussion of keeping the pond that has formed on top of the asphalt. Maybe take out asphalt, and put in a clay liner. How much methane is coming out of the pipe?
  1. Outreach and Communications:
  2. Seedy Saturday
  3. Had a display at CarlingHeights Optimist Community Centre March 10. Lots of groups, including ReForest London and ThamesTalbotLand Trust.
  4. AGM
  5. About 20 people attended. Dana Poulton and Helga Ruppe were our guest speakers.
  1. Other Business
  2. Ben P. has offered to do yoga in the park as a fundraiser for FOTCSI.
  3. Discussion of Valspar property. UWO and FanshaweCollege could get involved by having the property tied to an environmental program. Maybe Valspar will donate the property to the university.
  4. Ben P. suggested having NiagaraCollege’s Ecosystem Restoration program involved in a project with FOTCSI.
  1. Next Meeting:

Tuesday, May 15 2012.