SUMMARY: MINUTES FOSS STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING, FEBRUARY 28TH, 2017

Summary: FOSS Steering Committee Meeting       
February 28th., 2017, 7:05 PM, LAMP, 185 5^th Street, Etobicoke

• COLONEL SAM PARK CLEAN-UP DAY WITH ALAN ROY: Sunday, April 23. 9am-3pm. Volunteers needed.  Bring your own gloves and boots. Water and garbage bags supplied. Draws, prizes and giveaways. Directions/information will be posted at park entrances. Watch for the “sandwich boards”. Contact Alan Roy at alan_roy@rogers.com or call 416-937-4568 for more information. 
• SPRING BIRD FESTIVAL: Saturday, May 27. 10am-2pm. Bird walks (begin at 9am). Face painting. Possible photography sale (subject matter related to Col. Sam Park). FOSS children’s projects (build bird houses/feeders). And much more
• BARN SWALLOW NESTING SITES: FOSS supports a proposal submitted by CCFEW for the design and building of suitable Barn Swallow nesting structures at Col. Sam Park.  Final approval by the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) is pending
• WINTER BIRD FEEDING PROJECT: The project has been a great success. Thank you from FOSS to all the dedicated volunteers who keep the feeders topped up.
• PROPOSED PHOTOGRAPHIC WORKSHOP: Tentatively scheduled for Spring 2017.
• Location: Colonel Sam Smith Park. Fee will be charged. Check the blog for more information.
• “MEN’S” PICNIC SHELTER REPAIRS AT COL. SAM: FOSS will continue to lobby Councillor Grimes about needed repairs for the shelter. The Councillor’s office has responded that it is “looking into it” and that the repairs may be considered for inclusion in the 2017 park works’ plan.
• TWO-HOUR PARKING LIMIT ON SOUTH LOT AT COLONEL SAM: In order to reduce the number of parking spots taken up by non-park users in the south lot, a new two-hour parking program has been instituted.
• IMPORTANT BIRD AND BIODIVERSITY AREA (IBA): FOSS is investigating the possibility of Col. Sam Smith Park’s being designated as an IBA on the basis of the presence of large migratory rafts of Red-necked Grebes and as a location for the annual migration of Whimbrels.
• SUB-COMMITTEE VOLUNTEER POSITIONS OPEN: FOSS would greatly welcome volunteers willing to serve on sub-committees and who would contribute their ideas and time to make the park an even better experience. Project possibilities include: the annual Bird Festival, ecological improvements (e.g. barn swallow and filtration plant fields advocates, removal of invasive plant species), bird feeder fillers/monitors, photo/art exhibits, etc. See blog for contact information.
• For users of Sam Smith Park who have expressed concern to FOSS about the ad hoc sale of alcohol and food (with no provision of suitable sanitary facilities) during Aussie Rules football games, FOSS has been informed by the city that the sale of food and alcohol and the use of barbecues are not allowed except by special permit from the city’s licensing department. Anyone with concerns should call 311 or contact 311@toronto.ca. Any complaints submitted are greatly strengthened when accompanied by a photo.
• FOSS is concerned about the rapid growth of invasive burdock in the park. It presents a danger to small birds that get caught up in the seed heads. For more information, see an October 2015 article thatappeared in the FOSS blog.
• FOSS will investigate the possibility of a burdock cutting session to be held at approximately mid May to help eradicate this problem.
• SIGN VANDALISM IN COLONEL SAM PARK: Signage in the park is under constant threat from vandalism. Some of the signs appear to be irreparably marred. Pleased report all vandalism to 311 or 311@toronto.ca. The city’s response is complaint driven.