HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-05-17ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES
MAY 17, 2012 CITY OF KITCHENER
The Environmental Committee met this date commencing at 4:03 p.m.
Present: Mr. S. Crossman, Chair
Councillors Y. Fernandes and D. Glenn-Graham, Ms. C. Huxted and Messrs. D.
Hoshowsky, G. Zador, R. Younis and P. Dowling.
Staff: J. Ouellette, Facilitator of Volunteer Resources
C. Musselman, Senior Environmental Planner
L. Korabo, Committee Administrator
PRESENTATION - SOLAR CITY CO-OP INITIATIVE
1.
Mr. S. Mulligan, President, Community Renewable Energy Waterloo (CREW), advised that
CREW is establishing a Solar City Co-operative (SCC), which aims to expand the use of
renewable energy by developing community-owned solar power installations under the Feed-
in-Tariff (FIT) Program. For the benefit of the Committee, Mr. Mulligan provided a brief
overview of the FIT Program and its benefits.
Once incorporated, the SCC will guide the creation of a secondary co-operative for each
proposed solar installation by joining landowners wishing to lease their rooftops or unused
lands to interested investors from the community. Assistance will be provided with marketing
and membership building, incorporation and legal documentation, financial advising and
securing of lease agreements. Membership is open to anyone living in Waterloo Region for an
initial membership fee of $100.
CREW is leading this initiative and looking for local leaders to act as founding Directors of the
SCC. Committee members were encouraged to contact CREW for additional information.
2012 EARTH DAY EVENT WRAP-UP
2.
Ms. J. Ouellette, Facilitator of Volunteer Resources and Chair of the 2012 Earth Day
Committee, provided an overview of events held to celebrate Earth Hour / Day / Week / Month.
Earth Hour was held to provide an eco-friendly family event for the community and raise
awareness about climate change. Approximately 200 people participated in the event held at
City Hall. A 20-minute makeover encouraging City staff and local businesses to take time
during the day and clean up the grounds immediately surrounding work locations was held on
April 20, 2012. Thirty-six organizations registered which was a slight drop from the 2011
numbers. Feedback received after the event suggested that it might be time for a new
approach to generate more involvement.
A Kitchener Natural Areas Program (KNAP) was held at the Huron Natural Area, and was
attended by 500-600 people. Numbers were lower than past years but this was largely
attributed to the unusually cool weather. The KNAP provides families with a variety of hands-
on learning opportunities related to the environment and brings awareness to the community of
the natural areas within the community.
Ms. Ouellette advised that Tim Horton’s held a Community Clean-up at McLennan Park on
April 21 and was successful despite inclement weather. Additionally, several school yard
clean-ups are held during the course of the year. Lastly, the Committee was advised of the
annual Bloomin’ Earth Eco-Fair held at City Hall, being a collaboration of community
organizers and held to enlighten and challenge citizens on how our environmental practices
can be improved upon and our environmental footprint lessened.
Members asked questions concerning several of the events and provided feedback to staff for
consideration in future planning.
DEBRIEFING - ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE EARTH DAY FORUM
3.
Ms. C. Musselman requested the Committee’s feedback regarding the Environmental
Showcase event held at City Hall on April 19, 2012. Members were provided with a list of
questions to guide discussions this date and to provide an accurate analysis of the showcase.
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES
MAY 17, 2012 - 18 - CITY OF KITCHENER
DEBRIEFING - ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE EARTH DAY FORUM (CONT’D)
3.
With regard to the event’s overall intent, members felt that the right amount of exhibitors were
on hand and provided information on a large variety of issues. Councillor Y. Fernandes
suggested that the event could be extended to allow for additional attendance after work hours.
With respect to those aspects of the showcase which were successful, members felt that it
provided a good cross-section of information and was well organized. The informal setting was
preferred; however, members generally felt that more public visibility was necessary to raise
attendance numbers. Suggestions were made to hold next year’s event in the Rotunda with
some flow out into the Civic Square, develop a communications plan to publicize the event,
and to leave the displays up after the forum to allow additional viewing by the public.
Members were asked to consider their individual contribution towards the execution of the
showcase and advise whether they would volunteer less or more time if the event was held
again. The consensus was that members would be agreeable to volunteer more time but that
planning for the event should begin earlier in the year.
It was generally agreed to continue hosting this type of event in future.
CSD-12-082 - THE CLIMATE COLLABORATIVE
4.
The Committee was circulated with information regarding The Climate Collaborative: A
Community Greenhouse Gas Action Plan in Waterloo Region. The Region of Waterloo has
partnered with Sustainable Waterloo (SW) and REEP Green Solutions to develop a
community-wide greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory and reduction action plan for Waterloo
Region.
The City of Kitchener along with other area municipalities and local utilities is participating in
the Collaborative and Ms. C. Musselman advised the staff report before the Committee today
is meant to provide background information only. Information specific to Kitchener will be
presented at the Committee’s June meeting.
SW is a third party who targets, oversees and confirms business and industry GHG reporting.
Members were advised REEP is already involved in the community through their programs
targeting energy savings at the residential level which in turn reduces community GHG.
The Collaborative will be producing an inventory of GHG and establishing a baseline year. As
a participating municipality and a member of the Partners for Climate Protection Program,
Kitchener will work towards completing the five program milestones, being:
Milestone 1 – Creating a greenhouse gas emissions inventory and forecast;
Milestone 2 – Setting an emissions reductions target;
Milestone 3 – Developing a local action plan;
Milestone 4 – Implementing the local action plan or a set of activities; and,
Milestone 5 – Monitoring progress and reporting results.
With respect to Milestone 1, Ms. Musselman advised that data gathered by the Region of
Waterloo concerning The City of Kitchener will be released in a few weeks. She will bring this
information to the Committee’s June meeting and provide an explanation at that time. As a
lead-in to the information’s release, it was noted that the data given will identify where the
Region is at in terms of energy consumption, transportation, etc. and will allow for the
completion of Milestone 1. Public consultations will be held regarding implementation of the
action plan.
The Committee was advised that another inventory will need to occur in approximately two –
five years’ time to determine if the municipality is on track toward its reduction targets. The
corporate inventory is currently being prepared by staff and will be presented to this Committee
upon completion.
In response to a question concerning the setting of reduction targets, Ms. Musselman noted
the City will set its targets and the Region of Waterloo will set their own.
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES
MAY 17, 2012 - 19 - CITY OF KITCHENER
CSD-12-081 - 2011 BEST BETS FOR AIR QUALITY: FINAL REPORT
5.
The Committee was in receipt of the final report on 2011 Best Bets for Air Quality. Members
were advised that once Best Bets are approved, staff is asked to investigate their feasibility
and implement them if possible. During the course of the year, Ms. C. Musselman conducts
follow-ups with those staff involved in investigating / implementing a Best Bets and notes the
status of each. Additionally, if there are budget implications, staff include the item in the capital
forecast for the next budget cycle. The report before the Committee provides an overview on
the status of each of the 2011 Best Bets.
Best Bet #1 – encourages the continuation of retrofits and/or installation of bike lanes, paths
and sidewalk connections that link trails to provide safer routes, a mix of recreational routes
and encourage more users.
Staff reported that at present there are 45 km of bike lanes with a proposal to expand to 159
km once all aspects of the Cycling Master Plan are implemented. Additionally, the Multi-Use
Pathways (MUP) and Trails Master Plan was recently presented to Council and includes
several proposals to expand primary pathways and connections to pathways over the next 10-
year period.
Best Bet #2 – promote educational opportunities that would inform citizens of the benefits of
natural areas.
Staff reported that 4,000+ people attending either an education event or participated in a
hands-on stewardship project in one of Kitchener’s publically-owned natural areas, in 2011.
During this timeframe, 94 different programs were delivered on various areas of interest.
Best Bet #3 – support a Public bike Sharing Program that provides fee or affordable access to
bicycles as alternatives to provide vehicles.
Staff reported that The Working Centre received a LEAF grant to complete a one-year pilot
bike share program wherein 37 bikes were available at seven downtown Kitchener locations.
The success of the program is currently under review. Additionally, in early 2012, the City
hired a Transportation Demand Management Coordinator who is currently evaluating the
viability of a bicycle share system. And finally, the city has partnered with the Region of
Waterloo to participate in the TravelWise Program which provides strategies that encourage
employees to use active and sustainable transportation methods.
Best Bet #4 – encourage the Region of Waterloo to open or enable permanent localized
recycling / electronic / hazardous waste drop-off depots.
The Region has established drop-off sites for electronic recycling and provide information
regarding other options via their website. Additionally, RecycleYourElectronics.ca encourages
responsible reuse and safe recycling of unwanted electronic equipment and provides
information on their website.
Best Bet #5 – encourage considerations of the implications for air quality and global climate
change during the development of long-range plans.
Ms. Musselman advised that the City is currently updating its Official Plan which includes a
new section on air quality. She reminded members that the Committee has had opportunity to
provide input in several long-range planning documents such as The City of Kitchener
Strategic Plan.
2012 BEST BETS SELECTION - SUB-COMMITTEE REPORT
6.
The Committee was advised that a sub-committee consisting of Councillor D. Glenn-Graham
and Messrs. S. Crossman and P. Dowling met to review the feedback provided by Committee
members regarding the selection of the five 2012 Best Bets. An aggregated ranking chart was
used by the sub-committee to list the choices and then each was reviewed for suitability as a
Best Bet. A listing of the five Best Bets being recommended to the Environmental Committee
was attached to the agenda.
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES
MAY 17, 2012 - 20 - CITY OF KITCHENER
2012 BEST BETS SELECTION - SUB-COMMITTEE REPORT (CONT’D)
6.
Concern was expressed that the five Best Bets being put forward this date were not the five
that received the most votes from Committee members. The sub-committee reviewed their
process and advised that each Best Bet was reviewed in order of ranking and if it was
determined that the item was already under some other jurisdiction / purview or not within the
City’s jurisdiction, it was not considered. In response to the concerns of an apparent inequity
in that not all categories in the Air Quality Report were represented, Councillor D. Glenn-
Graham noted that the sub-committee looked at the best options to put forward and did not
specifically look at picking one from each of the seven areas.
Ms. C. Musselman noted that the weighted scoring system used by the sub-committee has
been in place for several years and the selection of more than one Best Bet in a category only
provides direction to staff to investigate the feasibility of implementing same. If the
investigation determines there would be circumstances limiting implementation, then a report
would be taken to Council for further direction. If the matter can be implemented within budget
and with current resources, no further direction from Council would be required and the matter
would proceed.
Following additional questions of clarification, each Best Bet was voted on separately and the
motion was Carried.
On motion by Councillor D. Glenn-Graham –
It was resolved:
“That in accordance with the Air Quality in Kitchener (2010) Report, attached to Development
Technical Services Department DTS-10-149 approved August 2010, the following be approved
as the Five Best Bets for 2012:
Best Bet #1 - The City should continue to preserve and acquire parklands and natural
lands in existing developments [Recommended Action 1.1a from the Air
Quality in Kitchener report (2010)];
Best Bet #2 - The City and Region should provide creative measures to curb idling at
traffic lights by adjusting the timing of traffic lights during non-peak hours
[Recommended Action 3.3b from the Air Quality in Kitchener report
(2010)];
Best Bet #3 - Encourage the City to establish a Tree Planting and Partnership Program
by offering incentives to residents, community organizations, schools,
business improvement areas and volunteers to expand resources for the
planting, maintenance and care of trees [Recommended Action 1.2a from
the Air Quality in Kitchener report (2010)];
Best Bet #4 - Continue to support by way of education, signage, advertising support,
and website updates private and/or community vegetable gardens within
the City [Recommended Action 4.4c from the Air Quality in Kitchener
report (2010)]; and,
Best Bet #5 - Ecological diversity (primarily native species) should be promoted in City
parks, private, commercial and industrial properties (e.g. butterfly habitat,
wildflower sections, plants that attract and/or sustain pollinators and
removal of invasive species.) [Recommended Action 1.1c from the Air
Quality in Kitchener report (2010)]; and further,
That staff through the City’s Environmental Study Group be directed to investigate the
feasibility and, if appropriate, pursue the implementation of the Air Quality in Kitchener Five
Best Bets for 2012.”
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES
MAY 17, 2012 - 21 - CITY OF KITCHENER
ADJOURNMENT
7.
On motion, the meeting adjourned at 6:40 p.m.
Linda Korabo
Committee Administrator