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Home My WebLink About2010-03-18ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES MARCH 18, 2010 CITY OF KITCHENER The Environmental Committee met this date commencing at 4:05 p. m. Present: Mr. B. McColl -Chair Ms. L. Matthews, Ms. J. Young, Ms. M. Thomson Howell and Messrs. G. Lehman, M. Peterson and G. Zador. Staff: C. Musselman, Senior Environmental Planner J. Ouellette, Facilitator/Volunteer Resource D. Saunderson, Administrative Clerk C. Goodeve, Committee Administrator PRESENTATION -REGION OF WATERLOO ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES The Committee was in receipt of a report drafted by the Region of Waterloo entitled "Past and Present Environmental Initiatives -Towards Regional Environmental Excellence", dated May 2008, concerning the development of an Integrated Environmental Sustainability Strategy. Mr. David Roewade, Regional Environmental Sustainability Planner presented the Region's Environmental Sustainability Strategy, advising that it provides a pragmatic and integrated approach to enhance existing environmental initiatives while focusing on areas requiring improvement within the Region's influence. He stated that implementing the Strategy over time would result in an improved overall environmental performance for the Region, clearer reporting of progress on environmental targets and greater accountability of the Region's commitment to environmental sustainability. He then reviewed the five 'Priority Outcome Areas' and their goal statements, being: 1. Air & Energy -effectively use and manage energy resources and reduce greenhouse gases and other air emissions from Regional activities; 2. Water -protect the quality and quantity of our water resources; 3. Waste & Material Resources -reduce the amount of waste requiring landfill and the demand and impact on natural resources; 4. Rural & Urban Land -manage and shape land use to ensure a liveable, healthy and sustainable Waterloo Region; and, 5. Sustainability Culture -foster stewardship of the natural environment and encourage behaviours to reduce environmental impact. Mr. Roewade further advised that within the Strategy two independent but related target areas for engaging a sustainability culture were identified. The first being 'Corporate', which relates to staff education and training enabling the integration of environmental considerations in day- to-day decision making and activities to improve the sustainability of the Region's operations, programs and services. He stated that the second is 'Community', which involves stimulating an increased level of awareness, participation and commitment to the environment amongst residents and organizational stakeholders to facilitate collective action towards achieving the vision of a sustainable community. He stated that the framework for the Sustainability Strategy commits the Region to monitor and report on its progress in meeting its environmental goals in the five 'Priority Outcome Areas'. He added that to do this, approximately two dozen progress indicators were developed to highlight the Region's ongoing efforts. These indicators focus on the environmental performance of the Region's corporate operations as well as improvements to Regional programs and services that have a community environmental impact. He commented that people could view the Strategy's progress at http://regionofwaterloo.visible strategies.com. In response to questions, Mr. Roewade advised that with respect to the Region's Green Purchasing Policy, contractors are required to obtain third party certification that they are adhering to the terms of Policy. He noted that through the implementation of this Strategy, the Region has reduced the amount of paper it produces as a Corporation. 2. EARTH DAY 2010 COMMITTEE LIAISONS UPDATE Ms. J. Ouellette gave an overview of the following City of Kitchener 2010 Earth Day events including a brief summary of their overall goals and objectives: ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES MARCH 18, 2010 - 8 - CITY OF KITCHENER 2. EARTH DAY 2010 COMMITTEE LIAISONS UPDATE (CONT'D) • Earth Hour; • 20 Minute Makeover; • Tim Hortons Community Litter Pick-up; • Community Organized Litter Pick-ups; • Laurentian Wetland Walk; • The Living Earth Festival; • Kitchener Natural Areas Program (KNAP) Wetland Walk; and, • The Cube showcasing images of our planet and promoting Earth Day events. In response to questions, Ms. Ouellette advised that anyone interested in taking part in Kitchener's Earth Day events can register to be a participant on the City's website at htt :// www.kitchener.ca/earthday. She encouraged all members of the Committee to volunteer or plan their own Earth Day event. 3. UPDATE -COMPASS KITCHENERWHQ-ARE-YOU-KITCHENER 2? CAMPAIGN - ALL ADVISORY COMMITTEE WORLD-CAFE STYLE COMMUNITY WORKSHOP Mr. B. McColl advised that he, along with Ms. M. Thomson Howell and Mr. C. Schneider attended the Compass Kitchener 2010 Who-Are-You-Kitchener 2 World Cafe held on March 6, 2010. He stated that the Cafe was well attended, with participants being asked to take part in structured discussions on the six priority areas identified by the Environics Survey, being: Quality of Life; Leadership and Engagement; Diversity; Downtown; Development; and, the Environment. He indicated that Compass Kitchener would be collecting feedback through additional cafes and different community events scheduled to occur until May 2010, noting that the results would be used to help prioritize the strategic direction of the next Council. He encouraged each member to participate in the cafes or complete the survey online at htt :// www.who-are-you. kitchener.ca/. 4. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION BY-LAWS Ms. C. Musselman advised that on March 8, 2010, Council approved two new environmental protection by-laws. The first being a Site Alteration By-law, which prevents the alteration of properties through activities such as grading, filling, levelling and compacting. She added that the new By-law provides the City with the means to formally control site alterations, noting that violations carry a fine of between $10,000. and $100,000. She advised that the second was a Tree Conservation By-law, which prohibits or restricts the destruction or injury of trees on private property of one acre or greater. She commented that this enables the City to consider conservation opportunities before trees are destroyed, noting that anyone found to have violated this By-law could be subject to a fine between $25,000. to $100,000. In response to questions, Ms. Musselman advised that in the past, the City had no mechanisms in place to regulate site alteration activities and staff had minimal ability to respond to any complaints or issues that arose from such activities. She added that in some instances, site alteration and tree removal that took place in Kitchener resulted in irreversible changes to the landscape and the destruction of the ecological integrity of the site. She commented that these new by-laws would help ensure that this does not happen again. She noted that the new by-laws do not affect the installation of a swimming pool, provided a pool permit is obtained; minor gardening or landscaping projects; normal farm practices; and, development that is undertaken with the appropriate planning approvals and building permits. Several members expressed concerns regarding public notification of the new by-laws and it was suggested that staff could undertake a direct mailing to all affected property owners. 5. GENERAL DISCUSSION -PROPOSED REVISIONS TO THE AIR QUALITY IN KITCHENER REPORT - SUGGESTED NEW RECOMMENDED ACTIONS (BEST BETS) The Committee was in receipt of correspondence from Ms. C. Musselman, dated March 3, 2010, outlining the process for revising the Air Quality in Kitchener report. Ms. Musselman indicated that the chart entitled "2010 Proposed Best Bets", attached to the agenda, gives an ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES MARCH 18, 2010 - 9 - CITY OF KITCHENER 5. GENERAL DISCUSSION -PROPOSED REVISIONS TO THE AIR QUALITY IN KITCHENER REPORT - SUGGESTED NEW RECOMMENDED ACTIONS (CONT'D) overview of the items put forward by the Committee as potential recommended actions. She requested that members review this chart as well as the remaining items from the 2006 Air Quality in Kitchener report and select their top four or five action items for each of the seven functional areas. She stated that the deadline for submissions is March 26, 2010, and asked members to forward all selections via e-mail to carrie.musselman (c~kitchener.ca. She noted that how members decided to convey their selections is at their discretion and suggested that they could change the font colour, highlight their selected item, bold the text, or cut and paste their selections into the body of their e-mail. Ms. Musselman agreed to send an e-mail with these instructions to all members who were unable to attend this meeting. 6. SOLAR INDUSTRY NETWORK MEETING The Committee was in receipt this date of an invitation to the Solar Industry Networking Group Session, being held on April 6, 2010 at the Lang Tannery. Mr. B. McColl reviewed the invitation and encouraged all members to attend. 7. ADJOURNMENT On motion, this meeting adjourned at 6:02 p. m. Dianna Saunderson Colin Goodeve Administrative Clerk Committee Administrator