HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-02-16 - Climate Change and Environment Committee Agenda
Climate Change and Environment Committee
Agenda
Thursday February 16, 2023
Kitchener City Hall
4:00p.m. -6:00p.m.
200 King St.W.
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Kitchener ON N2G 4G7 City Hall, 5Floor, Adams-Seymour Room A & B
Page 1 Chair –Brooklin Wallis Vice-Chair – Morgan Garner
Commencement
The meeting will begin with a Land Acknowledgement given by the Chair.
The City of Kitchener is situated on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee Peoples.
We recognize our responsibility to serve as stewards for the land and honour the original caretakers who came before us.
Our community is enriched by the enduring knowledge and deep-rooted traditions of the diverse First Nations, Metis and
Inuit in Kitchener today.
Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof
Members of Council and members of the City’s citizen advisory committees are required to file a written statement when
they have a conflict of interest. If a conflict is declared, please visit www.kitchener.ca/conflict to submit your written form.
Delegations
Pursuant to Council’s Procedural By-law, delegations are permitted to address the Committee for a maximum of 5 minutes.
Item 1 - Patrick Gilbride, Associate Director/Manager of Green Infrastructure Programs and Mary Jane
Patterson, Executive Director, Reep Green Solutions
Discussion Items
1. Presentation of Reep Green Solutions Annual Impact Report (25 min)
Link to Annual Report: https://reepgreen.ca/impact-report-2021-2022/
Mary Jane Patterson, Executive Director, Reep Green Solutions
Patrick Gilbride, Associate Director/Manager of Green Infrastructure Programs, Reep Green Solutions
2. Tree Conservation Review (30 min)
Gaurang Khandelwal, Planner (Policy), Planning Division, Development Services, City of Kitchener
Information Items
None
Committee Administrator
Shannon Lodenquai
** Accessible formats and communication supports are available upon request. If you require assistance to
take part in a city meeting or event, please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1866-969-9994 **
Date:February 2, 2023
To:Climate Change and Environment Committee
From: Gaurang Khandelwal, Planner (Policy)
Subject: Tree Conservation Processes Review
On January 10, 2022 staff presented report INS-2022-002 Tree Canopy Target for Kitchener to Council
recommending approval of a tree canopy target of 30 percent for each ward by 2050 and an overall City-
wide tree canopy target of 33 percent by 2070.
Council considered the matter approving staff’s recommendation and further directing staff to initiate a
review of existing tree conservation processes in the City with an intention to extend and strengthen tree
conservation measures, including:
a review of the existing bylaws and processes, including the Kitchener Tree Bylaw and the
Kitchener Tree Conservation Bylaw;
a review of requirements for tree planting contained within the Development Manual;
a review of the Tree Management Policy and any relevant policies as required; and,
a jurisdictional scan of other municipal tree conservation processes, policies and bylaws.
Tree Conservation Processes Review - Status Update
Staff has initiated a tree conservation processes review, as directed by Council. The scope of the project
includes:
Stage 1 – Project Initiation (completed)
Stage 2 – Data Collection (completed)
Stage 3 – Background Review (ongoing)
o Review of existing policy framework (completed)
Tree conservation on public properties
Tree conservation on private properties
Tree management and conservation through the development review process
o Review of other jurisdictions (ongoing)
Desktop research (completed)
Engagement with municipalities (ongoing)
Stage 4 – Project Update Report to Council (April 2023)
The focus currently is on review of existing relevant policies and bylaws in Kitchener as well as other
jurisdictions and reporting back to Council with findings. Updates and improvements (if any) to the current
tree conservation processes is anticipated to follow the April report to Council pending Council’s direction.
Next Steps
Engagement with municipalities is expected to continue through the end of February 2023. The committee
can expect another update upon completion of the background review with an opportunity to review the
findings and provide feedback to staff.
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