MINUTES OF THE PARKS AND ENVIRONMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Transcription

1 MINUTES OF THE PARKS AND ENVIRONMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE HELD IN THE CKF ROOM LANGLEY CITY HALL DOUGLAS CRESCENT, LANGLEY, BC THURSDAY, JULY 3, 2014 AT 7:01 P.M. Present: Guest: Staff: Absent: Councillor Dave Hall, Chair Richard Vanderhaven, NES Shelly Butler Lisa Burgess-Parker, LFN - Honourary Co-Chair of this meeting Miriam Marshall, Candy Ashdown, SD35 Jen Elderkin Councillor Jack Arnold, Vice Chair Rhys Griffiths Rick Bomhof, Director of Engineering, Parks & Environment Len Walters, Superintendent of Parks Janine Clough, Recording Secretary Nathan Pachal Teresa McKenzie, Seniors Rep. Sarah Atherton, LEPS Shawna McDowell Kris Mohammed, Chamber of Commerce 1) AGENDA MOVED BY Committee Member Marshall SECONDED BY Committee Member Ashdown THAT the agenda of the July 3, 2014 Parks and Environment Advisory Committee be adopted as amended with the addition of Brydon Lagoon issues and a GMO update. 2) MINUTES MOVED BY Committee Member Butler SECONDED BY Committee Member Vanderhaven

2 Page 2 THAT the May 1, 2014 minutes of the Parks and Environment Advisory Committee meeting be adopted as circulated. 3) BUSINESS ARISING FROM MINUTES None 4) DISCUSSION a) Park Passport Brainstorming Working Session (continued from May 1 meeting) Features brought forward re: Nicomekl Floodplain (paved) Trail - committee input on the trail map: Add name and location of duck pond at the end of 201 Street beside the townhomes (Superintendent of Parks recognized pond by description given); Locate the oak trees, and other varieties in Portage Park Locate eatable species ie: berries Birds and wildlife in their habitats ie: view Herron from bridges etc Locations of benches and viewpoints Information/interpretation signage; names of trails (maps at trailheads information kiosks with a QR code that can be accessed for more information) Identify tree with the bald eagle nest, west side of 200 Street Identify and find fish species in various locations Committee would like to pursue this idea. Parks staff will give the ideas more thought and report back. It was noted that the Superintendent of Parks will provide a timeline for the new trail map at the September meeting. He will also report out if the recreation staff could assemble a Park Passport and determine if it could be included in the 2014 winter and the 2015 spring recreation guides. Mr. Griffiths suggested that the Rotary Club be approached as a source for funding for signage. b) Community Gardens The Superintendent of Parks presented the following recommendations and the committee agreed that: The new garden have approximately 34 plots; It have adequate space for parking; It be in close proximity to multi-family housing;

3 Page 3 A community group or an organized group of residents in the location should be approached to assist in building and overseeing the day-to-day operation of the garden; It was noted that Council passed a motion to consider a new dog off leash park near the area of 201A Street and Michaud Crescent. This would include the Michaud and Linwood Park locations. Discussion continued about the benefits and challenges of each proposed location. MOVED BY Committee Member Ashdown SECONDED BY Committee Member Marshall THAT the Parks and Environment Advisory Committee recommend that Council consider the following parks to locate a new community garden: Michaud Park, Douglas Park, Linwood Park and Dumais Park; and THAT a public consultation take place to assess interest in the proposed locations from area residents; and THAT community groups or area residents be approached to create a group that will organize, maintain and operate the community garden on a day-to-day basis. c) Metro Vancouver Incinerator Staff input The Metro Vancouver Board is expected to release more information in the future. Currently conflicting information has been circulating. The Chair reported that the project is not going to break ground until approximately Exact timing is unknown. 5) UPDATES a) Council Referral Invasive Species Committee Report Councillor Hall In May 2014, the committee recommended that Council direct staff to investigate the issues and locations of invasive plant species within the City and subsequently provide Council with recommendations for action. Council received the report and determined that with the City s limited resources the request was too labour intensive and costly. Therefore they did not support the committee recommendation. However, Council passed a new motion suggesting

4 Page 4 the committee establish a task force to identify a plan and scope of work to address invasive species moving toward the 2015 Council budget deliberations. The Chair noted that the committee members have a good understanding and combined knowledge of the topic and felt that a subcommittee was favourable. Committee members Vanderhaven, Marshall, & Burgess-Parker volunteered for the subcommittee and will start work on the initiative. Staff to members not in attendance to advise them of the subcommittee and Ms. Burgess-Parker and Ms. Marshall will contact members of community organizations that may be interested in taking part. b) Sendall Gardens Signage Councillor Hall The Chair noted that signage identifying City parks and trails are lacking which makes it difficult to find them. An example was the sign on Grade Crescent at the entrance of the path that leads to Sendall Gardens. MOVED BY Committee Member Butler SECONDED BY Committee Member Elderkin THAT the Parks and Environment Advisory Committee recommend that Council consider, in the 2015 budget process, a staff assessment of park signage, in particular Sendall Gardens and Brydon Lagoon and that it coincide with the production of the new trail map. c) Langley Baseball City Park Upgrades The Caleb Cooke baseball diamond was lengthened to meet the required distance with regard to the outfield. It was noted that when it rains the field condition is not good. Drainage needs to be improved to correct the problem. Langley Baseball would welcome improvements to the fields as it would enable them to host various levels of tournaments at City Park. The committee inquired about what needed to be done to improve the fields and facilities to ensure Langley Baseball will continue to call City Park their home field. The Chair noted that City Park has the potential to add fields to meet the capacity required to hold tournaments however that work would need to be accounted for through the budget process. Ms. Elderkin suggested she contact Langley Fastball and that staff contact Langley Baseball and invite them both to make a presentation to PEAC in September to better understand their needs with regard to improvements.

5 Page 5 d) Trees on Fraser Highway / Downtown Core - Long Term Plan Len Walters The Superintendent of Parks noted that the City removed one tree on the north side of Fraser Highway that will be replanted with a new species in the fall. 6) FOR INFORMATION a) Current Process for Park by Park Inventory and Assessment Len Walters The Superintendent of Parks noted that a vision for each park is not in the Master Plans mandate however staff monitors wear-and-tear and that drives the prioritizing of upgrades. b) Citizen s Patrol Opportunity & Crime Statistic Maps - Information from the Langley RCMP The information was provided in the agenda for review. 7) NEW BUSINESS a) Rhys Griffiths, a member of the public attending the meeting, was permitted time to identify what he felt were the most significant issues requiring attention at Brydon Lagoon. He noted the following: A bullfrog infestation. He noted that the bullfrogs kill the ducklings, which affects the pond. The east fountain is not working and the other fountain works erratically. He felt the poor operation of the fountains is affecting the water quality resulting in a warm, green lagoon. He expressed concern about the lifespan of the pond if nothing is done to rectify the problems. Staff was asked to bring the Dillon Pond Study to the September or October meeting for review. It was requested that the Pond Strategy be included in the agenda. b) GMO Update Ms. Marshall will provide some information to staff for distribution to the committee.

6 Page 6 MOVED BY Committee Member Vanderhaven SECONDED BY Committee Member Marshall ADJOURNMENT: 9:12 p.m. CHAIR Certified Correct: jc RECORDING SECRETARY