Huntsville - Lake of Bays Lakes Council

A Year‐to‐Date Activity Report for Muskoka Watershed Council, including a financial report on designated funds, was distributed with the agenda. The Activity Report will be shared with the District Municipality of Muskoka, Muskoka Heritage Foundation, and watershed municipalities. It is anticipated that Activity and Financial Reports will be developed and distributed on a semi‐annual basis. Interim Report Card The Strategic Directions Committee has developed a draft interim report card on municipal planning. Judi Brouse reviewed the contents of the draft and solicited input from the Council. Following a lengthy discussion on the content and format of the interim report card, it was agreed that MWC will aim to release the interim report card on the long weekend in May with a full page advertisement, media release, and background report on the MWC website. A revised draft will be brought forward for Council input in the new year. Roundtable Update from Member Organizations Please see the attached MHF and MHT Activity Report for activities undertaken by the Muskoka Heritage Foundation and Muskoka Heritage Trust. Huntsville Lakes Council – Elaine Jackson will be stepping down as HLC rep on MWC and will be replaced by a new member at the next meeting. Ian thanked Elaine for her hard work on MWC the past several years and wished her luck in the future. HLC is undertaking a strategic planning exercise, has worked with the Town of Huntsville to acquire navigational buoys, and submitted 53 recommendations to the Town of Huntsville that were incorporated into their Official Plan. Muskoka Lakes Association – Peter Seybold and Eleanor Lewis – the MLA hosted 2 workshops during the summer on stewardship and water quality that were well attended and Judi Brouse was a feature speaker at the AGM in July. The MLA’s water quality program was removed from the Environment portfolio and given its own portfolio. The program has over 100 volunteers and promotes stewardship and awareness. Updates & New Business • Margaret Casey notified Council that the Marnoc Development proposed for Lake of Bays is coming before LOB Council again and requested that MWC submit another letter to the Township restating MWC’s earlier position on habitat fragmentation. Correspondence • Notice of Muskoka Centre Sewage Treatment Plant Demolition by C.C. Tatham & Associates Ltd. • Notice of Completion for a Category B Project Evaluation (Class Environmental Assessment) for the Mary Lake Dam by the Ministry of Natural Resources. • Notice of Completion of Consultation and Documentation Report ‐ Category B (Class Environmental Assessment) for the Muskoka Centre Sewage Treatment Plant by the Ontario Realty Corporation. • Notice of a second Open House for the Bala Falls Small Hydro Project by Hatch Energy. • Notice of Design and Construction Report Submission for Highway 400 Service Roads in Georgian Bay Township from URS Canada Inc. • Request for input from the Township of Georgian Bay for their Master Plan and Urban Design Guidelines for Port Severn. Next Meeting The next meeting of the Muskoka Watershed Council is scheduled for Friday October 17, 2008 at 1:00 p.m. in Partners Hall in Huntsville. Lunch will be provided prior to the meeting courtesy of the Huntsville Environment Committee. Adjournment Ian Turnbull adjourned the meeting at 3:20 p.m.