Below is a summary of key items discussed at the Municipality of Port Hope regular Council Meeting held on Tuesday, August 6, 2019.
Waterfront and Riverwalk Working Group Members of Council established and adopted the terms of reference for a Waterfront and Riverwalk Working Group (WRWG). The By-law outlines that the Working Group will consist of no more than seven members: five members who are residents and/or ratepayers of the Municipality, being a minimum of 18 years of age and not an employee of the Municipality; one member from the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority; one member of the Parks, Recreation and Culture Advisory Committee. The By-law also stipulates that a majority of the members of the Committee shall be persons with a high level of expertise or experience with respect to environmental matters including landscape and open space planning, public education or community outreach, terrestrial and aquatic ecology and hydrology. The By-law, including the full terms of reference, can be found on the Council Portal of the Municipality’s website.
Land Acknowledgement Statement
Council adopted the following Land Acknowledgement Statement, to be recited at the beginning of Council meetings and at other municipal events; “We acknowledge that this meeting is being held on the traditional territory of the Mississauga Nations.”
Additionally, Council directed Municipal Staff to investigate and propose an Indigenous education program for Council and Staff, to cultivate a greater understanding of the adopted Land Acknowledgement Statement and so that it may be used with the understanding of its historical and cultural context. Staff will present a proposed program and corresponding budget at a future Council meeting.
Waterfront Trail Re-Routed
Council supported the re-routing of the Waterfront Trail beginning at the Sculthorpe parking lot heading east along Lake Street for an undetermined period of time. This was recommended by Staff in a report to the Parks, Recreation, and Culture Committee on July 2, 2019 after recent heavy rainfall and high water levels from Lake Ontario this season has damaged the Trail. This portion of the path was previously remediated after similar damage was caused by weather and water-related incidents in 2017. Until the root cause of the high water events are better understood and appropriate, effective remedial measures are known, Staff advise that no further work will be done to the Trail.
Resolution of Support Regarding Lake Ontario Water Levels
Council has supported the Town of Cobourg in their request to the Federal and Provincial Governments to conduct a formal investigation into the flooding events of 2017 and 2019 in affected Municipality of Port Hope Council Meeting August 6, 2019
communities along the Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, specifically the economic impacts and damage to infrastructure.
The International Joint Commission (IJC) approved Plan 2014, a plan to regulate water levels and flows in Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River to protect against extreme water levels, to restore wetlands and to prepare for climate change. This plan has had a negative effect on the shorelines of the Municipality of Port Hope and other municipalities surrounding Lake Ontario.
The IJC is guided by the Boundary Waters Treaty, signed by Canada and the United States in 1909. The Commission was created after both governments recognized that each country is affected by the other’s actions in lake and river systems along the border. The intent of the commission is to ensure that the two countries cooperate to manage these waters and to protect them for the benefit of today’s citizens and future generations. Council supports this resolution to advocate for the IJC approved Plan 2014 to be evaluated and measured for effectiveness and verifiable impacts by the Federal and Provincial Governments and to Council authorize the Mayor to engage with government and non-government organizations and agencies involved with Lake Ontario flood mitigation.
Council Community BBQ Residents are reminded that Members of Council are hosting a free community BBQ on Thursday, August 15, 2019 from 6 to 7 p.m. at Memorial Park. Following dinner, residents are encouraged to stay for the Cameco Summer Bandshell Concert Series performance, beginning at 7 p.m. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Minutes from this meeting will be available pending approval at the next Council meeting on Tuesday, September 3, 2019, at which point they will become the official record of the meeting.
A recording of the August 6, 2019 Regular Council meeting and the Committee of the Whole meeting is available at http://porthope.ca/council-communications.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
