Part 2: Climate Lens Direction, Biodiversity Input, and Tree Project Support — 11/07/2023

The meeting was chaired by Kate MacNaughton, Picton councillor. The agenda was approved after being moved by Jane Lesslie and seconded by John Hirsch, with all members voting in favour.

The previous meeting minutes were adopted following a motion moved by John Hirsch and seconded by Angus Ross.

© PEC Council (YouTube)

View the entire PEC Council Meeting; or view our recap>

Introduction of a new Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte representative

Kate MacNaughton formally introduced Megan Murphy, Environmental Services Supervisor with the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte, as a new voting technical member of the committee. Megan confirmed her role and stated she would participate regularly going forward. This addition was noted as strengthening Indigenous participation in environmental discussions affecting the county.

Deputation discussion and member comments on the tree project

Judith Berkowitz and Delaine Cooper presented the Public Art Tree Project, focusing on trees located on municipal land in the County.

Councillor John Hirsch spoke in support and suggested using online platforms such as Facebook to encourage public engagement with specific trees.

Ben Thornton asked about how email addresses would be managed and confirmed that All Welcome Here would oversee upkeep and funding.

Councillor Kate MacNaughton suggested expanding the idea to include tree planting and seasonal events, and highlighted how the project could increase tree cover in the county.

During public comments, Lise from Tree the County spoke in support, offering expertise on tree planting and referencing existing initiatives such as the Awesome Trees of PEC page.

Amy, representing the Prince Edward County Field Naturalists, suggested adding educational information to each tree, including species details and biodiversity connections. This was acknowledged by the presenters as a valuable idea.

The motion to receive the deputation was moved by Jane Lesslie and seconded by Angus Ross, and it carried.

Climate lens motion and voting outcome

Kate MacNaughton and John Hirsch both spoke about the need for a climate lens that applies beyond individual projects and includes procurement and policy decisions.

John Hirsch noted that council has already adopted a strategic plan with a climate component and said a formal climate lens could help align reports and funding eligibility.

A motion was brought forward to direct the Climate Action Working Group to research climate lens models used by other municipalities and report back with recommendations. The motion was moved by John Hirsch and seconded by Kate MacNaughton. The vote carried.

This decision was described as affecting all municipal departments by potentially shaping how future reports, purchases, and policies are reviewed for climate impacts.

Key biodiversity areas consultation

The committee discussed a consultation on Key Biodiversity Areas, including Sandbanks and Massassauga Point.

John Hirsch explained the significance of these areas, noting species such as the long tailed duck near Sandbanks and the pale bellied frost lichen at Massassauga Point.

Staff clarified that the municipality was not required to submit comments but had been invited to do so. After discussion, the committee agreed that John Hirsch would contact the Prince Edward County Field Naturalists to see if they wished to provide expert input.

A motion reflecting this approach was moved by Kate MacNaughton and seconded by Angus Ross, and it carried. Any potential comments would be forwarded to council for review before submission.

Working group updates and planning related impacts

John Hirsch provided updates from the Natural Cover Working Group, including work related to a proposed tree protection bylaw and comments on tree impacts tied to the St. Gregory School site plan near the County Farm Centre.

The committee agreed that planning related environmental comments should continue to be forwarded to staff when appropriate.

The committee confirmed December 12th as the next meeting date, noting some member availability challenges. The meeting was adjourned at five fifty five p.m. following a motion moved by John Hirsch and seconded by Jane Lesslie.

What this means for residents

These discussions show how the County is slowly putting more focus on climate, conservation, and community input. Projects like the tree initiative could lead to more local involvement and visible efforts to add tree cover and share information.

The climate lens idea is more long term, but it could start shaping how decisions are made across departments, from planning to spending. At the same time, places like Sandbanks and Massassauga Point are being recognized as important natural areas, which could affect how they are protected in the future.

Overall, nothing changes right away, but it points to more consistent environmental planning and more chances for residents to get involved.

---

Disclaimer: This article is based on a meeting with an approximate duration of 1:47:00. Due to the length of the meeting, our team was not able to independently review the full recording in its entirety. As a result, we relied on software-generated transcription, automated summarization, and automated recognition of speakers and participants, which may not be entirely accurate. All transcriptions, summaries, and related content are prepared by our team in good faith and on a reasonable best-efforts basis. The content is provided for general informational purposes only and is intended to support public understanding of the topics discussed. While reasonable efforts have been made to present the information accurately, automated processes may result in errors, omissions, or unintended misinterpretations. This article does not constitute an official, certified, or verbatim record of the meeting, and it should not be relied upon as such. Readers are encouraged to consult original source materials, official minutes, or recordings where available for confirmation or clarification. Questions, requests for clarification, or suggested corrections may be submitted to hello@pecconnect.ca for review and consideration.