Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-10-15 ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES OCTOBER 15 2015 CITY OF KITCHENER The Environmental Committee met this date commencing at 4:00 p.m. Present: Ms. S. Danckert, Chair Ms. T. Belanger, Ms. A. Bumbacco, Ms. T. Driver, Ms. K. Milicic and Ms. E. Skopec. Staff: C. Musselman, Senior Environmental Planner D. Saunderson, Committee Administrator 2014 COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT GRANTS: FINAL 1. REPORT PRESENTATIONS The Committee considered a newpaper article from the Kitchener Citzen entitled “J.F. Carmichael Greening Club helps feed community”, dated September 17, 2015, correspondence from the Full Circle Program, Kitchener-Waterloo Newcomer Environmental Group, dated September 30, 2015, and a newspaper article from The Record entitled “Planting the seeds to a greener world”, dated May 1, 2015. Ms. C. Musselman advised that as part of the Community Environmental Improvement Grant (CEIG) Program, grant recipients are required to report back to the Committee on the status of their project and what they were able to accomplish with the grant funding. She noted that Mr. Eduardo Cejudo, Full Circle Project KW-NEG, had an unforeseen circumstance and was no longer able to attend this date, indicating that he would attend the November 19, 2015 Committee meeting. Ms. Melissa Yarascavitch, J.F. Carmichael Greening, advised that the Greening Club, with the assistance of the CEIG funding, grew a variety of vegetables including spinach, squash, radishes, carrots, potatoes and herbs. She indicated that the garden project was so successful that they were able to feed over 40 families, which included families that participated in the Greening Club as well as those families who received deliveries through Mill Courtland Community Centre and Paulander Community Centre. She further advised that they were able to grow enough potatoes to supply an event that was held at the school in Fall 2015. CITY OF KITCHENER CLIMATE ACTION PLAN – TERMS OF REFERENCE 2. The Committee was in receipt this date of an Addendum Agenda to consider Chief Administrator’s Office report CAO-15-024, dated October 5, 2015 regarding the draft Terms of Reference for an Integrated Climate Action Plan for the City of Kitchener. Ms. L. Majcher presented the report, advising on November 18, 2013 Council unanimously approved a resolution to endorse in principle the community-wide Green House Gas (GHG) reduction target of 6% below 2010 emission levels by 2020. She indicated that Council also endorsed in principle a ‘Climate Action Plan for Waterloo Region – Living Smarter in 2020’ in order to achieve the proposed GHG reduction target, which was subject to Budget deliberations and other business planning approvals. She further advised on April 23, 2014, Council endorsed direction for staff to prepare a Terms of Reference for an Integrated Climate Action Plan for the City of Kitchener that would address both corporate mitigation and adaptation strategies, and to report back to Council. Ms. Majcher advised that staff will be bringing forward a report at the Planning & Strategic Initiatives Committee on November 2, 2015 recommending approval of a Terms of Reference, which would includethe following key principles: 1. continued use of the Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) framework to plan and manage the City’s progress on GHG reductions; 2. adopting the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) climate change adaptation methodology to plan and manage the City’s progress on climate change adaptation strategies exploring actions that meet both mitigation and adaptation objectives; 3. exploring opportunities to work collaboratively with the Region of Waterloo, City of Waterloo, City of Cambridge and other community stakeholders on the Building Adaptive and Resilient Communities (BARC) program using the ICLEI BARC Program. ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES OCTOBER 15, 2015 - 32 - CITY OF KITCHENER CITY OF KITCHENER CLIMATE ACTION PLAN – TERMS OF REFERENCE (CONT’D) 2. Ms. Majcher provided an overview of the BARC program including a summary of the milestones and actions required within those milestones. She further advised that the City intends to enter into a partnership with the Region of Waterloo, City of Waterloo and City of Cambridge in a joint agreement to participate in ICLEI’s BARC program, noting that by participating in a joint effort it would save in the subscription fee. The Committee expressed support for a comprehensive plan for climate change for the City of Kitchener. Ms. S. Danckert expressed interest in this matter and would like to be kept informed and suggested that an Environmental Committee member participates in the steering committee while the proposed plan is being developed. APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEE LIAISONS 3. The Committee was in receipt of a job description for the Community Environmental Improvement Grant (CEIG). Ms. C. Musselman advised that there were still three initiatives outstanding on the Committee’s Work Plan that were in need of volunteers, and provided an overview on the initiatives. Ms. S. Danckert opened the floor to nominations and it was agreed that the following members would be appointed as Sub-Committee members: Ms. K. Milicic, be appointed to act as the Environmental Committee’s representative to the Green Purchasing Policy; Ms. E. Skopec, Ms. T. Driver and Ms. A. Bumbacco, be appointed to the Other Environmental Committee Event(s); Ms. T. Driver and Ms. S. Danckert be appointed to the Community Environmental Improvement Grant (CEIG). ADJOURNMENT 4. On motion, this meeting adjourned at 5:15 p.m. Dianna Saunderson Committee Administrator