SUMMARY - MINUTES FOSS STEERING COMMITTEE - MAY 27TH, 2014

Summary: Minutes of the FOSS Steering Committee Meeting

May 27, 2014

7:00 PM LAMP, 185 5^TH Street, Etobicoke

• FOSS has submitted a formal letter to Councillor Grimes outlining specific suggestions/requests for improvement to the dog park.
•  FOSS supports the development of a community vegetable garden at the originally suggested location only, i.e. in the field found on the south side of Lakeshore Blvd. just west of the Rabba store. Attendees at a meeting held on March 3 unanimously agreed with this location. As of April 17, Councillor Grimes is still not in favour of this site.
• FOSS is concerned that proposed alternate sites (farther south or near the dog park) may be environmentally detrimental. FOSS also questions if there are alternate future plans for development of the Lakeshore Blvd. site that are comparable to the new Humber College welcome centre at the SW corner of Lakeshore and CSSP Drive. FOSS advocates open public consultation.
• As part of its new welcome centre, Humber College plans to protect some green space on the SW corner of CSSP Drive and Lakeshore Boulevard. FOSS advocates the preservation of crab apple trees presently at that location.
• FOSS supports CCFEW’s opposition to expansion of Billy Bishop (Toronto Island) Airport and has written city council voicing its concerns. See blog for details.
• FOSS President, Brian Keaveney, thanked all volunteers and members of the Steering Committee for making Colonel Samuel Smith Park’s annual clean-up day (Sunday, April 27) and the Spring Bird Festival (Saturday, May 24), such a great success.
• Thank you to all entrants in the FOSS-sponsored spring photography competition. Winning photos are now showcased on the blog.
• The semi-circle of benches formerly located on the north side of CSSP marina has been destroyed by the City over lack of maintenance funds. Two benches remain solely due to the personal initiative of a member of the yacht club. A yacht club member is also responsible for building the nesting platforms for the Red-necked Grebes.
• For more information about kids’ (Grades 1-8) nature classes scheduled to be held in CSS Park during May and June, contact Jimmy Vincent (416.675.6622 ext. 5009/jimmy.vincent@humber.ca) at the Humber Arboretum. Be sure to mention the CCFEW subsidy. The park is readily accessible by TTC bus.  
• Report all coyote sightings in CSS Park to FOSS. See blog for details.
• FOSS-initiated off-leash informational signs for dog walkers have been delivered to the Park Supervisor and are expected to be visible soon.