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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-01-27ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES JANUARY 27, 2011 CITY OF KITCHENER The Environmental Committee met this date commencing at 4:05 p.m. Present: Ms. S. Smith - Chair Councillors Y. Fernandes, D. Glenn-Graham, Ms. L. Matthews, Ms. S. Danckert and Messrs. M. Peterson, G. Lehman, S. Crossman, M. El-Hakim, R. Younis and D. Hoshowsky. Staff: B. Sloan, Interim Manager of Long Range Planning C. Musselman, Senior Environmental Planner C. Goodeve, Committee Administrator D. Saunderson, Committee Administrator Prior to commencement a Committee resource guide was circulated to all members containing information on: staff resources; Committee structure, mandate and reporting; Terms of Reference; meeting and delegation guidelines; Code of Conduct for Members of Council, Local Boards & Advisory Committees; and, Advisory Committee Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). In addition, it included the Air Quality in Kitchener Plan 2010 and the City’s Strategic Plan for the Environment. Members were requested to bring their binders to all future meetings as it contains important reference material. WELCOME AND COMMITTEE MEMBER INTRODUCTIONS 1. Ms. C. Musselman welcomed members to the Environmental Committee’s inaugural meeting of the 2011 / 2012 term. Each member was requested to introduce themselves and state their interest in applying to the Committee. PRESENTATION - CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN 2. - ADVISORY COMMITTEE ROLES, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND RELATIONSHIPS Ms. J. Grein gave a presentation highlighting the key aspects of the City of Kitchener’s Strategic Plan. She advised that the Strategic Plan is a road map to lead the organization from where it is now to where it could be in 5-10 years. She added that it contains six strategic areas of focus, being: Quality of Life, Leadership & Community Engagement, Diversity, Dynamic Downtown, Development, and Environment. She noted that each strategic area of focus contains both a strategic vision and strategic directions that map out a desired future and provide meaningful guidelines as to the approach to be taken to address these key issues. She indicated that a Council Strategy Session will be held in early 2011 to confirm the strategic directions for 2011-2014 and discuss priority areas for action. She noted that business planning will be conducted based on the priorities for action, with draft business plans anticipated to be brought forward for Council’s consideration in September 2011. Mr. C. Goodeve gave a presentation entitled “Advisory Committee Roles, Responsibilities, and Relationships” outlining how advisory committees fit within the overall corporate context of the City of Kitchener. He pointed out that as an Advisory Committee of Council, the Environmental Committee is responsible for promoting the protection, maintenance and enhancement of the environment in a manner consistent with the City of Kitchener’s Strategic Plan for the Environment. Members interested in bringing forward items for the Committee’s consideration should ensure it falls within the mandate of the Committee as set out in its Terms of Reference and is within the jurisdiction of the City. COMMITTEE ORIENTATION 3. Ms. C. Musselman and Mr. C. Goodeve gave a presentation entitled “2011 Environmental Committee Orientation”, and led the Committee in a review of the materials contained in the circulated binders, highlighting the following: Green Kitchener document City’s Strategic Plan for the Environment; Air Quality in Kitchener Plan 2010; Kitchener Growth Management Strategy; Environmental By-Laws; ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES JANUARY 27, 2011 - 2 - CITY OF KITCHENER COMMITTEE ORIENTATION (CONT’D) 3. Environmental Grants; committee structure; member responsibilities; Advisory Committee Members Code of Conduct; process for adding items to the Committee’s agenda; meeting protocol; and, Advisory Committee Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). Members were requested to review all of the reference materials provided, noting that some of the larger policy documents not included in the circulated resource guides can be referenced on-line at www.kitchener.ca. ELECTION OF COMMITTEE CHAIR AND VICE-CHAIR 4. Mr. C. Goodeve opened the floor to nominations for the position of Committee Chair. Mr. S. Crossman and Ms. S. Smith were nominated and agreed to stand for appointment. As no further nominations were forthcoming, a vote was conducted with Ms. S. Smith being elected as Chair. On motion by Ms. L. Matthews - it was resolved: “That Ms. S. Smith, be appointed Chair of the Environmental Committee for a term expiring November 30, 2012.” Ms. S. Smith then opened the floor to nominations for the position of Committee Vice-Chair. Councillor Y. Fernandes and Councillor D. Glenn-Graham were nominated and agreed to stand for appointment. As no further nominations were forthcoming, a vote was conducted with Councillor Y. Fernandes being elected as Vice-Chair. On motion by Councillor D. Glenn-Graham - it was resolved: “That Councillor Y. Fernandes, be appointed Vice-Chair of the Environmental Committee for a term expiring November 30, 2012.” APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEE LIAISONS 5. The Committee was in receipt of job descriptions for the following Committee Liaison positions: Earth Day 2011 Organizing Committee, the Community Environmental Improvement Grant (CEIG) Sub-Committee, the Air Quality in Kitchener Sub-Committee, and the Kitchener Natural Areas Program (KNAP). Ms. S. Smith opened the floor to nominations and it was agreed that the following members would be appointed as Committee Liaisons: Councillor B. Vrbanovic and Mr. M. El-Hakim, be appointed to act as the Environmental Committee’s representatives to the Earth Day 2011 Organizing Committee; Ms. S. Danckert and Messrs. R. Younis, G. Lehman, S. Crossman and G. Zador, be appointed to the Community Environmental Improvement Grant (CEIG) Sub-Committee; Ms. L. Matthews, Ms. S. Smith and Councillor D. Glenn-Graham, be appointed to the Air Quality in Kitchener Sub-Committee; and, Mr. M. Peterson would continue to serve as the Environmental Committee’s representative to the Kitchener Natural Areas Program. ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES JANUARY 27, 2011 - 3 - CITY OF KITCHENER COMMITTEE LIAISON - ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (EA) WORKING GROUP 6. The Committee was in receipt of a job description for the Environmental Committee - Environmental Assessment (EA) Liaison. Ms. C. Musselman reviewed the requirements of this position and advised that an EA is a decision-making process used to promote good environmental planning by assessing the potential effects and benefits of certain activities on the environment. She stated that the purpose of the EA Liaison is to act as the Committee’s link/representative to a specific EA public advisory committee. She noted that unlike the other Committee Liaison positions, EA Liaisons would be appointed on an as needed basis. ADJOURNMENT 7. On motion, this meeting adjourned at 6:15 p.m. D. Saunderson Committee Administrator