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PLANNING & STRATEGIC INITIATIVES COMMITTEE MINUTES
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<br />JUNE 14, 2021 CITY OF KITCHENER
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<br />The Planning and Strategic Initiatives Committee held an electronic meeting this date, commencing
<br />electronically at 2:40 p.m. with all members present.
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<br />Present: Councillor P. Singh - Chair
<br />Mayor B. Vrbanovic and Councillors D. Chapman, K. Galloway-Sealock, J. Gazzola, B.
<br />Ioannidis, M. Johnston, C. Michaud, D. Schnider, S. Davey and S. Marsh.
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<br />Staff: D. Chapman, Chief Administrative Officer
<br /> J. Readman, General Manager, Development Services
<br /> D. McGoldrick, General Manager, Infrastructure Services
<br /> R. Bustamante, Director, Planning
<br /> J. Oosterveld, Manager, Site Development and Customer Service
<br />S. Tavenor, Sustainability Office Associate
<br />G. St. Louis, Director of Utilities
<br /> T. Malone-Wright, Senior Planner, Policy
<br /> D. Edwards, Senior Planner, Urban Design
<br />C. Dumart, Planner
<br /> R. Kelly-Ruetz, Project Manager
<br /> A. Pinnell, Senior Planner
<br />H. Fylactou, Acting Deputy Clerk and Manager of Licensing
<br />D. Saunderson, Committee Administrator
<br /> S. Goldrup, Committee Administrator
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<br />1. DSD-2021-94 - COMMUNITY CLIMATE ACTION PLAN TRANSFORMWR STRATEGY
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<br />The Committee considered Development Services Department report DSD-2021-94, dated May
<br />10, 2021, recommending endorsement of the TransformWR Strategy. The Committee was also
<br />in receipt of written submissions from Schlegel Urban Developments and Alex Latta.
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<br />Mary Jane Patterson, Reep Green Solutions, and Tova Davidson, Sustainable Waterloo Region,
<br />spoke on behalf of the ClimateActionWR Collaborative to present the TransformWR Strategy,
<br />including community and technical engagement, sustainable development goals, the need for
<br />transformative change, and the goal of 50% emission reduction by 2030. They further discussed
<br />changes to active transportation, electric vehicle, clean energy sources, waste reduction, and
<br />advocacy.
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<br />S. Travenor and G. St. Louis presented previous corporate and community sustainability
<br />initiatives, the TransformWR Strategy, the action items for the City of Kitchener and Kitchener
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<br />The Committee heard delegations from Gordon Nicholls, Friends of Hidden Valley; Devon
<br />Fernandes; Scott Morton Ninomiya; Meg Ruttan Walker; Lesley Johnston, Fossil Free
<br />UWaterloo; Mike Morrice; Kai Reimer-Watts; Eric Hunsberger and Ron Hill, Faith Climate
<br />Justice; Carol Burrows; Tanya Schmah; Alisa McClurg, KW Urban Harvester; and, Bruce Taylor
<br />Enviro-Stewards Inc., in support of the report. Delegates spoke to the need to reduce carbon
<br />emissions, protect green spaces, encourage waste reduction and clean energy solutions,
<br />advocate for the target of 50% emission reduction by 2030, and recognize the economic
<br />development benefits of sustainability. Delegations further noted climate action as social justice,
<br />food sustainability and local production, density and limiting urban sprawl, community
<br />partnerships and citizen engagement, and potential cost savings created by sustainability efforts.
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<br />In response to questions from the Committee, staff spoke to implications to Kitchener Utilities,
<br />implementation of the TransformWR Strategy, considerations for future strategic planning,
<br />funding, and advocacy.
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<br />Mayor B. Vrbanovic brought forward a motion to approve the staff recommendation as outlined
<br />in report DSD-2021-94.
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<br />Councillor D. Chapman brought forward an amendment to Mayor B. Vrbanovic motion to add
<br />the endorsement in principle of an emissions reduction target of 50% by 2030 and a call for
<br />action to the provincial and federal government for support in reaching such targets.
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