FRIENDS OF PETRIE ISLAND / AMIS DE L=ÎLE PETRIE

 

Record of Annual General Meeting

October 22, 2002, Queenswood Heights Community Center

 
 
19:30 - 21:00

 

PRESENT:  Al Tweddle, Chair, P. Le Fort, meeting secretary; R. Cloutier, D. Drouillard, D. Villeneuve, P. Waddell, J. Robertson; guest Sherrie Crowder.

 

1.         Record of previous executive meeting (25/09/2002) was approved with addition of AMeeting agenda was adopted; moved RC, seconded PLF.@   Moved: PLF, seconded: RC.

 

2.         Financial report (Chair)

Current balance stands at $5285.71

 

 

Balance fwd 31/12/2001

 

 

 

 

 

$1,812.37

Revenue 2002

memberships

350.00

 

 

City of Ottawa

30,000.00

 

 

Ont. Trillium Foun.

11,700.00

 

 

Boy Scouts

32.14

 

 

Kelsey=s

40.00

 

 

Private donations

271.00

 

 

T-shirt sales

100.00

 

 

Map and misc. sales

35.32

 

 

Turtle Day donations

43.06

 

Subtotal revenue

 

 

15,571.52

 

 

 

$17,383.89

Expenses 2002

Cell phone

189.96

 

 

Website

82.42

 

 

Stationery & supplies

466.76

 

 

Maintenance

348.64

 

 

Wildlife display

39.70

 

 

Food, pop, ice, water

43.26

 

 

Photography

200.00

 

 

Audiovisual B slide pres.

725.00

 

 

Publications

583.75

 

 

Reference material

266.31

 

 

Staff wages

5450.90

 

 

Boat use

172.37

 

 

Mural art

250.00

 

 

Phone, t-shirts

229.86

 

 

Maintenance, supervision wages

3049.25

 

Subtotal expenses

 

 

($12,098.18)

CURRENT BALANCE

22/10/2001

 

$5,285.71

 

 

Financial report is approved as presented (moved: PLF, seconded: JR).

 

3. Chair=s report (Report to City of Ottawa for 2002 season). The Chair gave a summary of his report for the 2002 season, previously distributed. There was discussion on the boat launching area options.

 

AReport to City OF OTTAWA for the Summer Season 2002 - October

 

The Friends of Petrie Island operated the Petrie Island picnic area for the fifth year this past summer. This was the second year of operation with the new City of Ottawa, the previous three years were with the City of Cumberland.

 

An increasing number of people from across the region are discovering the area, and this along with continued use by those familiar with the Islands increased attendance from 34,000/visitor hours  in 2000 to 75,000 in 2002.

 

The Friends of Petrie Island would like to thank the City of Ottawa and its staff for the support they have received this year.                                                                            

 

ORGANIZATION

<          Fifth year of operating the picnic area: 1998 - 1 month; 1999 - 2 2 months; 2000 - 4 2 months, 2001 - 5 months, 2002 - 5 months

<          Continued contacts with various associations: Ottawa Field Naturalists= Club (OFNC), Ottawa Duck club, local community associations, Riverkeepers, SHELL (Turtle Club) and various government bodies

<          Additional City funds were used to hire students for monitoring and maintenance

<          An Ontario  Trillium Foundation grant allowed us to expand our interpretive program

<          Conducted survey on futures uses of Petrie Island

<          participated in Planning meetings and Open houses on the park/beach plans

 

SITE IMPROVEMENTS, USING FUNDS FROM CITY AND DONATIONS

<          Expanded picnic area west and south, cleaned  up shoreline and expanded sand areas; sand donated by Roger Grandmaitre Ltd

<          Built 10 new picnic tables, with materials donated by Home Depot

<          Provided maintenance and cleanup of trail and shoreline outside picnic area

<          Improved the cottage for use as an interpretive center,  electricity was added with City funds

<          A mural was painted on the south  wall of the cottage

<          Improved signage and display areas

<          Majority of work was done Wednesday mornings. Two work days were also attended by the general public. Many Scout and Guide groups participated in clean ups in the picnic area and on the island.

<          Improved area around the canoe launch - (Crappy Bay)

<          provided sand mounds for potential turtle breeding areas at Crappy Bay

<          A wildflower garden was started using driftwood and natural plants

<          previously donated picnic tables using pressure treated lumber were painted

<          Area around the second cottage was used as maintenance area and for some special events

 

OPERATION

 

<                     Wet weather in April, May and June limited access and delayed cleanup of the picnic area, which was inaccessible due to flooding for approx one week in late April, one week in mid-May and one week in June, despite this the attendance in May and June was only slightly below last year=s

<          The City  provided direct funds for toilet rental (4 2 months), materials and grass cutting ($3,900) as well as services of staff  for site improvement and garbage collection ($3,550), for a total value of  $7,450 (the same as the previous year)

<          Daily cleanup, site improvement, and monitoring of the area  was provided by Friends of Petrie Island, using volunteers and students hired with  City grant money - $3000

<          The bylaws were generally obeyed, including dogs on a leash, occasional foot patrols by bylaw officers and Police had a positive impact.

<          Parking - up to 120 cars were counted on peak days. There were 70 regular spots. There were 16 days with over 70 cars and 8 days with over 100.

<          Litter problems were mainly caused by animals in garbage cans and debris washed up from the river

<          FOPI again worked with City staff to protect trees from Beavers (wrapped trees with wire mesh)

 

ATTENDANCE

<          Attendance was based on car counts time 2.5 persons in May/June and 3.0 persons in July/August

<          Ideal weather as well as growing awareness of the area increased attendance.

<          There were 51 days when attendance exceeded 500 and 25 days when it exceeded 1000 and 7 days when it exceeded 1500

 

INTERPRETIVE AND PUBLIC RELATIONS

<                     Trillium grant provided a student for four months, and monies to improve  publications, displays and present an audio visual program.

<          Continued program of monthly posters to educate the public on various natural aspects of Petrie Island and added interpretive boards, increased from 9 to 12  boards on display

<          Updated three brochures and improved the distribution  using the Trillium grant

<          Participated in Wildlife Festival at Carlingwood Mall in April

<          Six  open houses were held with nature displays, including 3rd  Wildflower Walk and a   2nd Turtle Day

<          Jim Robertson, one of our photographers, completed a slide show featuring a Ayear in the life of Petrie Island@, which was shown to various community groups and schools, 31 presentations to over 1250 people

<          Made presentations and gave tours  to Scout and Guide groups, schools and Wildlife Federation of Canada National Conference

<          Our website (www.petrieisland.org) was improved and we have received many positive comments

<          Three Carleton University students are working on environmental projects at Petrie Island

<          Featured on a CHRO and CJOH TV segments: Chairman was also interviewed twice for radio programs and Petrie was featured in Ottawa City Life magazine

<          Petrie Island was again featured in:

-  local publications, Citizen, Orleans Star and Journal, East end Communiqué, Ottawa City Life Magazine

- Wildlife Festival map of nature sites in Eastern Ontario

 

FOPI  REQUESTS COUNCIL SUPPORT FOR:

<                     Construction of Phase 1 of the Beach plan

<                     Develop a management plan for the sand operation area of the Island during construction of the beach

<                     Friends of Petrie Island believe that  the entire 25-acre sand excavation site should be developed as a passive recreation park and that any boating/boat launch  facilities should be located well away from the present sand excavation site; plans should proceed to develop this area

<                     Look at possible use of the downstream bay for canoe, kayak and small boat sailing area as well as shore fishing

 

PROPOSALS FOR 2003

<                     Same operating season as 2002, May to October, operation will depend on the construction schedule

<                     Improved toilet facilities

<                     build another picnic shelter

<                     Work on additional nature trails on Island and mainland shore

<                     Improve cottage/Info center

<                     Apply for another Trillium grant

<                     Expand interpretive program, with additional rotating signage, guided and self guided tours

<                     Increase grass cutting from 6 - 8 times