FrançaisAnnual General Meeting minutes August 9 2008
Municipal Hall – Lac des Seize Iles
The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. There were 20 members in attendance. David Gray approved the adoption of the minutes of the last annual meeting and Gloria Gray seconded the motion. Carried.
Committee Reports
Membership
2007
Year ended with 104 memberships representing 192 people
2008
As of August 2, we have 97 members representing 177 people.
A reminder has been sent out to all 2007 members who have not yet renewed for whatever reason and we expect many of those to renew before the end of the season.
We received a very good response to the form in the Spring newsletter, with over 60 renewals waiting for us when we arrived at the Lake.
Our membership form was once again placed in the club packet along with a copy of our Spring newsletter.
We anticipate reaching and exceeding last year’s membership numbers.
The importance of the influence of large membership numbers cannot be underestimated when we present the municipality with our requests and concerns.
Financial
Annual financial report: June 30, 2008
Balance: June 30, 2007
- $5785.92
Revenues:
- Members
- 2007 (62) $1860.00
- 2008 (72) $2160
- Donations
- 2007 $1015.00
- 2008 $1329.76
- Sale (Reglement Eaux Usees) $10.00
Total revenues:
- $6374.76
Expenses:
- Bank Charges 51.44
- Misc. copies / Courrier/ FedEx 200.21
- Purchase (Banner) 114.00
- Donation(Sixteen Island Lake Fishing Club) 200.00
- Professional Services – R. Lapalme 500.00
- Spring Newsletter 200.08
- Purchase Tote Bags 548.05
- Printing Club Packet 98.75
- Registration Quebec 2008 (NEQ) 32.00
- Membership “Eau Secours” (2008) 25.00
Total expenses:
- $1969.53
Balance: June 30, 2008
- $10,191.15 (includes Tom Clasper Memorial Fund $1052.66)
Pieter Folmer
Corina Lupu moved that the financial report be adopted and Carol Holland seconded the motion. Carried
Environment:
It is encouraging to note that constructive partnerships among lake associations, municipal councils, MRC`s and the provincial government are addressing the key concerns that have been identified as paramount to the future health of our Laurentian Lakes. We are very fortunate to have Lucie Robillard and the council as advocates for 16 Island Lake Environmental Concerns.
Friends/Amis developed Long Term Plans when the association was formed three years ago. It is encouraging to note that a number of these initiatives have been addressed but there is still a great deal of work to do.
ACTION PLANS (2006-2007)
Establish Lake Quality Baseline with ongoing testing
Promote proper landscaping for the first 5 metres of shoreline
Work with council to ensure municipality becomes an environmentally responsible citizen
ACTION PLANS (2007-2008)
Develop an aggressive plan to eliminate phosphorous in the lake
Ongoing inspection of septic systems and creation of a monitoring system
Develop a Watershed Management Plan
ACTION TO DATE
Regular water testing was begun in 2007 by Lucie Robillard and Corina Lupu. The overall results were rather positive with a few wakeup calls. The blue algae scare is a constant reminder for the need to change our practices. The testing program has continued this summer. For a more detailed report contact M. Hani, the Inspector for the Municipality.
Infrastructure of the parking lot was changed to help prevent run-off into the lake. The cars are now parked parallel to the lake. A natural grass berm (with shrubs) is being created between the parking lot and the dock. Many thanks go to Councillor George Calder for his efforts in this regard.
Shoreline plantings in village.
Legislation has been handed down from Quebec to the MRC and to the municipalities:
Fertilizer and pesticides are prohibited
Grass Cutting is banned a minimum of 15 metres back from the lake. Residents have 2 years to revitalize their shorelines, either naturally or with plantings.
The first 5 metres back from the lake must be covered with plants and/or shrubs
A 5 metre access is allowed to the lake. If your lot is on a 30% grade access must be a winding path or staircase.
If your house is built in the 15 metre zone you can clear a 2 metre band around the house
Lake residents are encouraged to plant native species
MUNICIPAL GREEN DAY
Friends/Amis participated in this very enjoyable and informative day held at the Centre Tasse. The keynote speaker, M. Lapalme, reiterated his ecology message and the importance of protecting the watershed as it affects our shorelines, water plants and algae. The key points of his speech were to model your land on the natural spaces surrounding it and establish boating zones to prevent erosion from wave action
M. Lapalme’s suggestions for our goals for the future:
Control development before it happens
Have a no run off policy
Control the % of trees
Strict septic rules
Protect all shorelines
He stressed the association should meet with the municipality to be in agreement about bylaws for new development, tourism, commercial and residential properties.
There were a number of kiosks set up for Green Day. Many thanks to Geoff Cresswell for the Friends/Amis totes which were a big success and to Tim Bosswell for the beautiful lake calendars which were on sale at the Friends/Amis kiosk. The other kiosks were Pepiniere Rustique, Amway, the municipality and the MRC . The day also included presentations by Bridgitte Voss from the MRC on shoreline protection and the new regulations from Quebec. A lunch was provided by the municipality.
Education
Members from Friends/Amis presented craft night at the club for the lake children. The theme for the night was to create a poster, poem or story about the importance of the protection and preservation of our lake. Educating the youth of the lake in regard to environmental issues is an important goal of Friends/Amis.
The Municipality of 16 Island Lake has acted on the important advice from M. Lapalme and MRC directives . Bylaws for regular septic maintenance, norms for the protection of the shoreline around the lake and in the village, increased fees for day boaters have been implemented.
N.B. Watch for phosphate –free products. They contain the ECO-LOGO Seal, Eco-Cert or United Nations Seal. Bio-Vert Products can be obtained at La Station.
Friends/Amis is pleased to announce that Alison Warner Timusk has joined the Environment Committee.
Gloria Gray moved the adoption of the environment report and Suzanne Causse seconded the motion. Carried.
Municipal:
A meeting was held at the municipal hall with representatives from the village, the lake and the foot. The issue was to address the merging of the lake with two different municipalities. A major concern is taxation. The consensus is to keep the village a separate entity.
Pieter Folmer is working on a committee separate from Friends/Amis to discuss the rationale for not merging and to develop strategies to reduce taxation.
Land Use Planning
The major goal is to support conservation and to promote the sustainable development of the Sixteen Island Lake watershed. The committee has suggested two approaches: Support and encourage bylaw reform through the control of development on the lake and the increase of the minimum lot size.
Friends of the Lake made a presentation to the Municipality in July with this proposal and is awaiting the results.
Land Trusts and Servitudes
The Land Use Committee is investigating these measures. The municipality is too small to venture on its own. It needs to be involved with other land trusts such as the Nature Conservancy of Canada (Laurentian Area)
A major plan has to be developed. The committee is in the information gathering stage. The consent of major landowners in the Sixteen Island Lake watershed is needed.
The Land Use Committee is waiting on the hearings from the municipality. Restrictive building reform is the most optimistic.
The precedence has been set as Lac Notre Dame has joined in a venture with the Nature Conservancy to put a large tract of land into trust.
Executive Positions Open
Friends of the Lake are in need of a recording secretary and someone to take over the communications portfolio. Please contact Mary Campbell or Penny Love if you are interested. Remember this is a volunteer organization.
New Business
Central Warf ( deal with the car problem at the entrance)
Limit the size of boats on the lake
Educate drivers – Drive at a distance of 25 metres from shore and approach docks at a right angle rather than parallel to the land
It was noted that guidelines for the speed of boats on the lake have helped to reduce speeds.
High Water Marks
The Ministry of the Environment has been visiting properties this summer to establish these baselines. The blue tags and the stakes are the indicators to establish the baseline for conformity to the new provincial.regulations .
Spawning Beds
Lucie Robillard asked if Friends of the Lake could support a study in this area as it critical to the future of fishing in the lake.
A question was raised about stocking the lake with fish. It was explained that the health
of the lake is being tested. Lucie Robillard is conducting water tests for the second year
to investigate the state of the lake and the condition of aquatic life.
Priorities for Friends of the Lake for 2008-2009
Vote by Mail. The municipality is working on this very important issue. Councillor, George Calder, has written numerous letters to the government. Action is needed.
Incorporation of Friends of the Lake. Chris Campbell read the resolution needed to incorporate and to keep the same name. All members were in favour of the resolution. Many thanks to Carol Holland for her legal advice and assistance in this venture.
Environmental Concerns – access to central wharf (cars are parking at the entrance restricting entry to boats). A proposal to council for a 15-20 minute loading zone might alleviate the problem
Water Skiing Restrictions . Ongoing education of lake residents. Restriction of skiing to the centre of the lake
Corina Lupu pointed out that education of our youth is the key to preservation of Sixteen Island Lake.
The meeting adjourned at 11:35 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Penny Love
