AGM 2006-08-06
Huntsville Lakes Council
Minutes of Annual General Meeting 2006
Date: August 12, 2006 Location: Robinson Independent Grocer Meeting Room
Present: Bill Somers - Chair - Lake Waseosa Ratepayers Association
Elaine Jackson - Past Chair and rep - Fox Lake Association
Dan Kerr - Director and rep - Mary Lake Association
Mary McCulley - Director and rep - Chub Lake Property Owners Association
Barb Stronach - Director - Fairy Lake Association
Bruce Howlett - Director and rep - Lake Waseosa Ratepayers Association
Yuri Nadoroznyj - Director and - Bittern Lake Association
John Kenny - Director and rep - Lake of Bays Association
Jeanne O'Neil - Director - Harp Lake Association
Regrets: Dan McKeon - Director and rep.- Peninsula Lake Association
Lynda Howe - Director - Fox Lake Association
Absent: Andy Barnett - Director - Lake of Bays Association
Anna Landry - Director and rep - Dickie Lake Association
Brenda Richards - Director - Dickie Lake Association
Guests: Burr Atkinson - representing - Walker & Pells Lake Association
Rob Zingel - representing - Fairy Lake Association
Gary Lintern - representing - Lake Vernon Association
Margarette Ruddock - Harp Lake
Roberta Green - Huntsville Public Library
Don Baker - Huntsville, ON.
Dianne Somers - Lake Waseosa Ratepayers Association
Diane Howlett - Lake Waseosa Ratepayers Association
1. Call to Order: 9:33 AM
2. Approval of Minutes: Motion by Bruce H. and seconded by Mary M. that the minutes form the HLC AGM held August 6, 2005 be accepted. Carried.
3. Treasurer's Report: Motion by Mary M and seconded by Dan K. that the Treasurer's report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006 as received be approved. Carried
The proposed budget for 2006/2007 was presented. Motion by Bruce M and seconded by John K. that the budget for 2006/2007 as received be approved. Carried.
4. Remarks From the Chair:
My thanks to my wife Dianne and to Diane Howlett for their assistance here this morning.
Need your updated information for our HLC Contact List (new presidents, voting rep's, lake stewards etc.) Check the current listing and give us any updates as required.
Dues for year ending today, August 12, 2006 must be paid in order to exercise your vote at today's meeting. You may pay your dues today for the new fiscal year. Receipts are available.
If there are two or more reps from one lake association only one can
vote.
New members are always welcome to HLC. See Bill S. or Bruce H. or contact us at document.write(String.fromCharCode(60,97,32,104,114,101,102,61,39,109,97,105,108,116,111,58,104,108,99,64,118,105,97,110,101,116,46,99,97,39,62,104,108,99,64,118,105,97,110,101,116,46,99,97,60,47,97,62));"> for more information.
Consider volunteering for a committee or for the board. Contact the nominating committee Elaine J. or Bruce H.
Pass on the HLC's newsletters to any interested persons to spread the word about HLC.
Find out more about the Muskoka Lake System Health Program by visiting http://www.muskokawaterweb.ca WRAFT have joined forces with other similar organizations and formed CAPTR. Consider writing a letter from your lake association to WRAFT about your taxes in your area. www.captr.org
HLC Policy committee was busy this year commenting on the Towns Draft Official Plan. Approximately 37% of the comments provided to the Town were incorporated. HLC Policy Committee also provided comments and input into various development applications.
Bill Somers worked very closely with the Town's Clerk Department regarding Mail-in-Voting. All lake associations should encourage their members to participate in the mail-in-voting and get out and vote in this municipal election.
HLC has been communicating with our members through our website at www.huntsvillelakescouncil.com and our various newsletters. Also HLC has been submitting articles to the Forester. If anyone is interested in writing newspaper articles, please contact Mary M. HLC would also like to receive copies of your newsletters.
The Huntsville Library has copies of some of the lake plans in the area. They would also like to receive copies of lake association's newsletter.
The complete chair's report is attached.
5. Amendments to the Constitution:
Proposed changes to the Huntsville Lakes Constitution were presented ( see attached)
Motion by Mary M. and seconded by John K. that the amendments to the Huntsville Lakes Council Constitution be accepted as presented. Carried.
6. An Overview of the Muskoka Lake System Health System Plan - Presented by Mary McCulley:
The District published the Muskoka Lake System Health Program in June, 2005. Its purpose was to look at what is required to maintain or improve the rather good water quality that is found in the lakes in Muskoka.
The LSHP recommends that a limits to growth study be done for Muskoka lakes and recommends a broader approach to lake system health including not only enhanced development policies but stronger stewardship programs and municipal infrastructure.
The LSHP outlines specific planning tools as well as the degree of implementation required ("must" or "urged") with different policies for new lot creation, redevelopment or development on an existing vacant lot. It also suggests varying policies also according to whether a lake is over threshold and the degree of sensitivity of the lake to phosphorus loading.
Earlier drafts of the Huntsville OP did not show detail with respect to over threshold or sensitivity status. However, on May 26, 2006, District made public Amendment No. 32 to its OP, which deals with lake system health. Our July 17th draft redlined many pages previously devoted to LSHP requirements as District's OP will take precedence when it is adopted.
No. 32 commits to developing lake capacity assessments for Muskoka lakes. These will determine the number of lots that can be created on a lake. It also addresses how development will occur on lots adjacent to all shorelines. It follows most of the recommendations of the LSHP and its goal is that lot creation, development or redevelopment will only be permitted where it has been determined that the water quality of the lake will not be degraded.
More details of this presentation are attached
Discussion after the presentation expressed concerns about how policies in the new official plan will be interpreted in regard to development and protecting water quality and how the policies will be enforced. It is important to network between lake associations and keep on top of the issues and follow up on issues that may not be in compliance.
7. Nominations:
The Board would like to thank Directors David Johnstone of Menominee Lake Association, Fred Knell of Hidden Valley Property Owners Association, Anna Landry and Brenda Richards of the Dickie Lake Association and Andy Barnett of the Lake of Bays Association for their contributions to the Huntsville Lakes Council
Elaine J. presented the nominating committee's slate of Directors for the 2006/2007 year. They are: Elaine Jackson - Fox Lake Association, Mary McCulley - Chub Lake Association, - Lynda Howe - Fox Lake Association, Jeanne O'Neill - Harp Lake Association, Bill Somers - Lake Waseosa Ratepayers Association, - Bruce Howlett - Lake Waseosa Ratepayers Association, - Mike Greenfield - Mary Lake Association, - Barb Stronach - Fairy Lake Association, - Dan Kerr - Mary lake Association, - John Kenny - Lake of Bays Association, - Yuri Zadoroznyj - Bittern Lake Association, - Dan McKeon - Peninsula Lake Association, - Burr Atkinson - Walker & Pells Lake Association, - Rob Zingel - Fairy Lake Association
Mike Pearson of Chub Lake Association has agreed to assist our Policy Committee in a non-director capacity.
8. Meeting adjourned at 11:55 AM
Prepared by - Barb Stronach August 25, 2006
Attachments - Chairs Report
Constitution Amendments
MLSHSP Overview
Chair's Report - HLC AGM - August 12, 2006
Feel free to help yourself to coffee & refreshments. Thanks to my wife Dianne and Diane Howlett for helping today.
Washrooms located down the hall on my right.
We need your updated information for our HLC Contacts List (new presidents, voting rep's, policy contacts, lake stewards, etc.) Check info against our current list today if you have not already done so. Let us know so we can update our info and provide info to you in the future.
Reminder: Dues for year ending today, August 12, 2006 must be paid in order to exercise your vote at today's meeting. - see the list of paid memberships or pay your dues for the new fiscal year before you leave today - receipts available. If there are two or more reps from one lake association only one can vote.
New members are always welcome to the HLC - see me or Bruce Howlett or any HLC board member or contact us at document.write(String.fromCharCode(60,97,32,104,114,101,102,61,39,109,97,105,108,116,111,58,104,108,99,64,118,105,97,110,101,116,46,99,97,39,62,104,108,99,64,118,105,97,110,101,116,46,99,97,60,47,97,62));"> any time.
Consider volunteering to help on our Board over the next year - talk to our Nominating Committee - Elaine Jackson and Bruce Howlett.
Lots of good handouts on the table near the door - help yourself - thanks to Mary McCulley, Barb Stronach and others who helped to supply these materials today.
Pass on HLC's newsletters to the members of your lake association to keep them informed on issues, projects and events.
Celebrate our Dark Skies again on August 12th by turning out your lights and enjoying the night stars - tell your neighbours also!
Find out more about the new Muskoka Lake System Health Program at
http://www.muskoka waterweb.ca.
WRAFT (Waterfront Ratepayers After Fair Taxation) has recently joined forces with CAPTR (Coalition After Property Tax Reform). Consider writing a letter from your lake association to CAPTR about waterfront property assessments/taxes - see www.captr.org for more information.
Our Policy Committee under the direction of Mary McCulley prepared a document outlining suggested changes to Huntsville's Official Plan Draft and presented it to the Town of Huntsville.
Average percentage of the number of our comments that were incorporated - at least to some extent - into the new draft is +/- 37%
The Town's new Draft Official Plan comes before Council next Monday, August 14th . This will likely be your last chance to comment on it before Council.
Robinson Lake OMB
This OMB appeal, in December, 2005, focussed on the creation of four new lots with access to Robinson Lake, a part of the Big East Delta Provincially Significant Wetland. There was concern expressed about damage to swamp St. John's Wort, a provincially rare plant, found along the shoreline, although the presence of this plant was disputed. In any event, it was felt that siting of a dock would decrease the chances of damage to this plant.
There was also worry that permitting docks would allow boats on this very small lake and also encourage dredging of the narrow channel to Lake Vernon. This matter was beyond the jurisdiction of the OMB. However, Robinson Lake is Crown land and it was felt that it would be highly unlikely that the Ministry of Natural Resources would give permission for dredging. It was also felt that the small size of the lake decreased the potential for speed.
The Board decided that the various conditions and the site plans gave appropriate regard to the Provincial Planning Statement and to Town and District policies so in a decision dated January 12, 2006, the application was approved. In the agreements accompanying the application, there is much detail provided, among other items, on how care would be taken in the construction of paths down the slope to the lake and of a boardwalk to provide access to the lake over a swampy shoreline. There is also the requirement that new owners be provided with a detailed stewardship brochure. The HLC, which had expressed the worry at the pre-hearing and in letters to the OMB about long-term adherence to the site plan agreement, was assured by the requirement for ongoing monitoring, at the expense of the owners, of the slope to the lake and along the shoreline. This will require a report by a consultant every five years as to compliance.
HLC also provided comments to the OMB pre-hearing on the Pieper re-zoning application on Lake Waseosa and to the OMB hearing on the House re-zoning application on Peninsula Lake. We are waiting the decision of the OMB on House's application. The OMB hearing for the Pieper application is scheduled for November 22, 2006.
The weekend of June 23, 24&25 we held our fourth annual Independent Grocer's Charity BBQ. My thanks to all who participated in this successful venture.
Last month we held our first "End of Year - Get to Know You" BBQ. Representatives from each member association, dignitaries and guests were invited. Twenty-five people attended an enjoyable and delicious BBQ. Thanks to our Chefs John Taylor and Gord Jackson for working the BBQ and to my wife, Dianne, Diane Howlett, Mary McCulley and Lynda Howe for readying the food and general kitchen help. I wish also to thank Independent Grocers and Big Daddy's Fresh Meat for their support.
The HLC has been working with contacts on Deer/Fawn Lake, Otter Lake and Golden City Lake in an effort to assist and encourage them to form an association. I am pleased to announce that residents of Bittern Lake have officially formed an association with Lois Spiers as President, Yuri Zadoroznyj as Secretary and Dino Sbrocca as Treasurer. Congratulations to Bittern Lake Association.
I have been working closely with the Town of Huntsville's Clerk's office regarding Mail-in-Voting and have been sending out to our contacts, information on the subject, encouraging each to apply for the mail-in-vote kit. Huntsville has had a poor voter turnout in the past - partly due to the large number of seasonal property owners. If the Town is successful in getting the mail-in-vote, more seasonal residents along with many local residents will have a more convenient way to vote. Please help us support this effort. If you haven't already done so, send in your application now.
Recently, the HLC has been submitting articles of interest on a monthly basis to the Huntsville Forester for inclusion in this newspaper. If any of you feel comfortable writing for us, please contact Mary McCulley of Elaine Jackson. Your help would be greatly appreciated.
Lynda Howe has been maintaining our website. Please don't hesitate to check it out at www.huntsvillelakescouncil.com. And while you are at it, check out these other association websites - www.harplake.com, www.penlake.ca, www.loba.ca, www.marylakeassociation.ca and www.dickielake.ca. I am sure there are more associations with websites that I have not recorded. If you would like your website linked to HLC, please forward it to me at document.write(String.fromCharCode(60,97,32,104,114,101,102,61,39,109,97,105,108,116,111,58,104,108,99,64,118,105,97,110,101,116,46,99,97,39,62,104,108,99,64,118,105,97,110,101,116,46,99,97,60,47,97,62));">.
Unfortunately we lost for personal reasons, Directors David Johnstone of Menominee Lake Association, Fred Knell of Hidden Valley Ratepayers Association, Anna Landry and Brenda Richards of Dickie Lake Association and Andy Barnett of Lake of Bays Association. We wish these people well in their future endeavours and thank them for the contributions to the HLC.
We have been fortunate to acquire Dan McKeon of Peninsula Lake and Jean O'Neill of Harp Lake as Directors. Hidden Valley Ratepayers Association, Lake of Bays Association and Lake Vernon Association are attempting to identify representatives for their associations. Fairy Lake Association is sending us Rob Zingel as their representative. Welcome Rob.
The Huntsville Library contains files on lake associations in the area. You are invited to file a copy of your lake plan with the library.
Proposed Changes to the Articles and By-laws of the Huntsville Lakes Council
August12, 2006
Article 1
Old reading: The name of this organization is the Huntsville Lakes Council. Hereinafter, in this document, HLC will refer to the Huntsville Lakes Council.
Proposed new reading: The name of this organization is the Huntsville Lakes Council. Hereinafter, in this document, HLC will refer to the Huntsville Lakes Council. Unless otherwise stated within this document, the term ‘lake' shall refer to any body of water that contributes to the watershed.
Article 3, items 3b) and 3c):
Old reading: 3b) All lake associations formed before January 1, 2003 are eligible for membership in the HLC.
3c) The approval for membership of associations formed after this date shall be reviewed by the Board. Approval will be by a majority vote of Directors, a quorum being present.
Proposed new reading: Items 3b) and 3c) amalgamated into a new 3b) and the remainder of items in Article 3 renumbered accordingly:
3b) The approval for membership of associations shall be reviewed by the Board. Approval will be by a majority vote of Directors, a quorum being present.
By-law 3d):
Old reading: 3d) Quorum. The quorum necessary at any meeting of the Board of Directors will be the presence in person of no fewer than four persons.
Proposed new reading: 3d) Quorum. The quorum necessary at any meeting of the Board of Directors will be the presence in person of no fewer than five persons.
The Lake System Health Program and our Various Subsequent O.P.s
As you will recall, District published the Muskoka Lake System Health Program in June, 2005. Its purpose was to look at what is required to maintain or improve the rather good water quality that is found in the lakes in Muskoka.
From studies, it assessed lakes as to whether or not they are above the background level of phosphorus plus 50 percent, and are then considered Over Threshold, and it also determined each lake's sensitivity to phosphorus based on responsiveness to the addition of phosphorus and the mobility of phosphorus into the lake. However, it goes beyond just looking at phosphorus levels by noting that water quality is only one component of lake system health. Other limits to growth are lake perimeter, narrow waterbodies, steep slopes, wetlands and fish habitat. The LSHP recommends that a limits to growth study be done for Muskoka lakes. It also looks at the findings from new science which are showing that phosphorus movement in areas with soil is less from septics than expected and that the increases we see after development on a lake may be due to increased overland flow, especially after storms, due to the removal of vegetation, particularly along shorelines, and the introduction of impervious surfaces including driveways, walkways and rooftops.
It, therefore, recommends a broader approach to lake system health including not only enhanced development policies but stronger stewardship programs and municipal infrastructure.
Planning aspects:
In the LSHP, it is noted that the responsibility for guiding growth and development is shared between District and Area Municipalities.
The LSHP outlines specific planning tools as well as the degree of implementation required ("must" or "urged") with different policies for new lot creation, redevelopment or development on an existing vacant lot. It also suggests varying policies also according to whether a lake is OT and the degree of sensitivity of the lake to phosphorus loading.
Table 1, Summary of Policy, in the LSHP shows for OT and the three sensitivities what is required with respect to the need for site specific assessment, maintenance of vegetation, shoreline use areas, setbacks, limiting of hard surfaces, existence of municipal sewer and water hookups (or enhanced septic systems_ as well as stormwater management and construction mitigation requirements. Table 2, in the LSHP, Summary of Implementation Tools, shows the planning tools required for development, again depending on the OT and sensitivity status of the waterbody on which the development is planned. These tools include: site alteration, trees or development permit by-law, planning approvals, development agreements, site monitoring and use of securities.
Earlier drafts of the Huntsville OP did not show detail with respect to OT or sensitivity status. However, the April 13, 2006 draft outlined in great detail the difference in development requirements.
However, on May 26, 2006, District made public Amendment No. 32 to its OP which deals with lake system health. Our July 17th draft redlined many pages previously devoted to LSHP requirements as District's OP will take precedence when it is adopted.
No. 32 commits to developing lake capacity assessments for Muskoka lakes. These will determine the number of lots that can be created on a lake. It also addresses how development will occur on lots adjacent to all shorelines. It follows most of the recommendations of the LSHP and its goal is that lot creation, development or redevelopment will only be permitted where it has been determined that the water quality of the lake will not be degraded. For example, for all lakes, it recommends strengthened policies relating to the maintenance and restoration of vegetative buffers along all shorelines to a depth of 15m., it limits the shoreline activity area to a maximum of 25 percent of the frontage, it establishes a 30 metre setback for septic systems and a 20m. setback for buildings. All lakes that are OT or have a high or medium sensitivity will be subject to site plan control or development permitting.
OT lakes and those identified as having high sensitivity are subject to additional policy that is most restrictive for lot creation, with some degree of flexibility for the development of existing lots and redevelopment The draft generally prohibits lot creation on private services on lakes that have high sensitivity or are OT unless the Area Municipality has the appropriate tools in place, such as site plan control or the development permit by-law and is prepared to implement detailed technical requirements in planning instruments and agreements. These additional measures include requiring a water quality impact assessment in order first to determine if a lot can be developed without affecting water quality and, if it appears that it can, then to outline what mitigation measures need to be put in place to ensure the long-term protection of water quality. With OT lakes, there is the additional need for the Area Municipality to have in place a tree-cutting and site alteration by-law.
On lakes that are both OT and have a high sensitivity, no lot creation will be allowed.
For OT lakes with a medium or low sensitivity, an OP amendment would be required for lot creation so that specific policy can be put in place before development is permitted to proceed. Development of existing lots and redevelopment need to be able to demonstrate that water quality will not be adversely affected. For redevelopment, there is the added requirement that opportunities to improve existing situations be carried out.
Site plan control is required for all lakes of medium sensitivity as well as for all substantial development to ensure that vegetative buffers are maintained or restored and stormwater appropriately managed.
By the way, those of you who have been using the various drafts of the Huntsville OP
as bedtime reading will have noted the difference in planning rules between the
Waterfront designation and waterfront in the urban and community designations, the latter two having less stringent rules. No. 32, in keeping with the LSHP, does not indicate a difference in policies based on designation. It implies that shoreline is shoreline. The latest Huntsville OP draft still shows dissimilarities in policy between those in the Waterfront designation and those Sections dealing with the Huntsville Urban Shoreline, Hidden Valley and Port Sydney. Hopefully, these differences will be rectified before Council approves the OP.
Municipal infrastructure:
The LSHP notes that urban development and roads have as much or more impact on lake system health as the low density, low intensity use in the waterfront designation. Urban roads, parking lots and other impervious surfaces increase stormwater quantity and decrease its quality. To reduce these stresses, the LSHP urges District to develop programs to manage stormwater in conjunction with Area Municipalities, the Ministry of Transport (for control of stormwater from major highways) and other agencies. This summer District has hired personnel to look at stormwater sites in both Huntsville and Bracebridge. Policy or requirements for further study will result from the findings from these. The MWC is also currently working on stormwater problems and potential policies.
Stewardship:
No. 32 states that District, in collaboration with Area Municipalities, the lake community and other stakeholders will facilitate and participate in remedial action programs for OT lakes, as it is doing now at Three Mile Lake. It also states that especially with respect to OT and high sensitivity lakes, it will participate in stewardship initiatives as appropriate, in collaboration with Area Municipalities, the MWC, lake communities and other stakeholders.
Policies in Draft No. 32 also discourage the disposition of Crown land for private development and encourage the Crown and municipalities to ensure that buffers are maintained or restored along shorelines of public lands.
Public meetings were held in Huntsville, Bracebridge and Bala to outline and take questions about Draft No. 32. 8 were in attendance at the Huntsville meeting.
There is a public meeting this Monday evening coming on the latest July 17th draft of
Huntsville's OP and I encourage you all to attend - to show that you are very interested in development policies. The Policy Committee will once again send Town comments on the new draft. I understand that Council will not deal with it on Monday but it will be up for a vote at its meeting in September so, if your lake association doesn't have its comments ready, there is still time to get them in but I'd advise that this be done as soon as possible.
