HomeMy WebLinkAboutApril 15, 2024
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Minutes/Meeting Summary
Waterfront Visionary Advisory Committee
April 15, 2024
Hybrid - Electronic Meeting
Main Committee Room
7:00 pm
Attendees: G. MacPherson
A. McGean
A. Small
K. Stott
L. Tidd
A. Bathe, Region of Durham
K. Dunlop, Alkame Dragon Boat Services
S. Stanleigh, Fairport Beach Neighbourhood Association
A. Zeeb, Frenchman’s Bay Yacht Club
X. Kane, Pickering West Shore Community Association
K. McDonald, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority
J. Kyte, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority
Councillor M. Brenner
Councillor M. Nagy
A. Shah, Senior Advisory, Creative Industries & Tourism
J. St Amant, Coordinator, Cultural Services
D. Finn, Supervisor, Parks & Property
R. Holborn, Director, Engineering Services
A. Mostert, Manager, Landscape & Parks Development (Staff Liaison)
J. Currie, Legislative Coordinator (Recording Secretary)
Absent: N. Bryan, Ontario Power Generation
Item/
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action
Items/Status
(Include deadline
as appropriate)
1. Indigenous Land Acknowledgment
A. Mostert read the Indigenous Land Acknowledgment
Statement.
2. Review and Approval of Agenda
-C~of-
P1CKER1NG
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Item/
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action
Items/Status
(Include deadline
as appropriate)
Moved by A. Zeeb
That the Agenda for the April 15, 2024, Meeting of the
Waterfront Visionary Advisory Committee be approved.
Carried
3. Disclosure of Interest
No disclosures of interest were noted.
4. Approval of Minutes
Moved by A. Zeeb
That the Minutes of the March 18, 2024, Meeting of the
Waterfront Visionary Advisory Committee be approved.
Carried
5. Delegations/Presentations
5.1 Community Visitor Plan 2024-2027
A. Shah, Senior Advisory, Creative Industries & Tourism and J.
St Amant, Coordinator, Cultural Services appeared before the
Committee via electronic connection, and through the aid of a
PowerPoint presentation, provided an overview of the City of
Pickering’s first tourism plan, developed by a Steering
Committee with representatives from local businesses,
attractions, residents, community groups, regional staff, and city
staff, and facilitated by Central Counties Tourism.
J. St Amant summarized the Steering Committees four
organized Sessions and identified the Community Visitor Plans’
set goals and associated action items.
A. Shah provided an outline of the Municipal Accommodation
Tax (MAT) as a local tax levied by municipalities on short-term
rental accommodations such as hotels, motels, and short-term
home rentals. A. Shah spoke to the benefits of MAT, and that it
could provide funding for the City of Pickering’s tourism plan
should it be approved and implemented by Council.
Discussion with the Committee members and staff ensued
regarding:
• the merit of highlighting Pickering as the Gateway to Rouge
National Park;
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Item/
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action
Items/Status
(Include deadline
as appropriate)
• the draft Plan going to the May 6th Executive Committee
meeting for endorsement noting that the Plan will never be
complete, and that it is an ongoing process;
• North Pickering being underrepresented in the Plan as
presented;
• finding businesses in North Pickering to be a destination and
highlight, and items being added overtime;
• Claremont being a focal point in North Pickering;
• the opportunity to create unique branding for tourism and
creative marketing;
• that 50% of the MAT tax, if implemented, would be going
towards branding and marketing of Pickering Tourism; and,
• clarification that the implementation of the MAT tax will be
going to the May 6, 2024, Executive Committee meeting for
consideration.
6. New Business
6.1 Frenchman’s Bay, water quality and weed control
D. Finn, Supervisor, Parks & Property appeared before the
Committee and spoke to the Pilot Project to lessen the Eurasian
water-milfoil weed in Frenchman’s Bay (the Bay). He noted that
reports show that the lessening project appears to be working.
Discussion with the Committee members and staff ensued
regarding:
• the possibility of the City purchasing a weed cutter boat and
there being restrictions on City action and weed cutting due
to ownership of the Bay by Pickering Harbour Company
(PHC);
• clarification that the Bay is still up for sale with a reduced
asking price and whether the City of Pickering could put
another offer for the property;
• investigating using ProcellaCOR in the Bay;
• the Toronto Region Conservation Authority not having done
sufficient research on ProcellaCOR or submergent
vegetation management to provide comment at this time;
• a previous trial to combat the milfoil using weevils;
• there being additional vegetation, other than the milfoil
present, and that the presence of some weeds being
environmentally beneficial to the Bay;
• looking into the PHC Queen’s Royal Charter and the
responsibilities of PHC listed within it;
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Item/
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action
Items/Status
(Include deadline
as appropriate)
• references made to the 2009 Stormwater Management
Master Plan – Frenchman’s Bay Watersheds, Consultant
report prepared by Marshall Macklin Monaghan Limited;
• the Bay requiring a multipronged approach to weed control;
• investigating other waterfronts facing similar issues;
• requiring a subcommittee to find real solutions and consulting
with multiple agencies;
• creating a Frenchman’s Bay Aquatic Habitat Restoration
Strategy, referring to the Toronto Aquatic Habitat Restoration
Strategy as a guide;
• clarification of the technicalities of creating a subcommittee;
and,
• whether a subcommittee would have access to contact
information of experts on the subject matter.
Moved by G. MacPherson
1. That the Waterfront Visionary Advisory Committee request
that Council consider a Frenchman’s Bay Aquatic Habitat
Restoration Strategy, that would look at environmental,
recreational and physical aspects of the Bay with the
purpose of aiding the City to Manage the Bay,
2. That further to the recommendation of the Waterfront
Visionary Advisory Committee, that Council be requested
to direct staff to consider this request and to provide a
report and recommendations to be brought before Council
in October 2024, with budget recommendations.
Carried
Moved by K. Dunlop
1. That the Waterfront Visionary Advisory Committee strike a
Frenchman’s Bay Aquatic Habitat Restoration Strategy
Subcommittee.
2. That G. MacPherson, L. Tidd, and A. Zeeb be appointed to
the subcommittee.
Carried
6.2 Petticoat Creek Conservation Park
Deferred to June meeting.
6.3 Tree Planting and other landscape attraction zones on
the waterfront – A. McGean
Deferred to June meeting.
City Staff to
compile a list of
relevant contacts.
A. Mostert to
provide a report
to Council
regarding the
Committee’s
recommendation.
Subcommittee to
provide a
delegation at
Council regarding
the above
recommendation.
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Item/
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action
Items/Status
(Include deadline
as appropriate)
7. Other Business
A. McGean recommended that the Committee narrow its focus
and identify three to four topics to focus on.
A. Mostert to
email Committee
Members to
request their top
five priorities.
8. Next Meeting
June 17, 2024
8. Adjournment
Moved by A. McGean
That the meeting be adjourned.
Carried
Meeting Adjourned: 9:06 pm