HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-02-12ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES
FEBRUARY 127 2004
The Environmental Committee met this date commencing at 4:15 p.m.
Present:
Staff:
Co-Chair- Mr. P. O'Toole
C. Schneider, D. Lippert, R. Nandakumar, R. Dingman and N. Sonder
Y. Fernandes - in attendace for part of the meeting.
CITY OF KITCHENER
B. Steiner, Environmental Planner
J. Billett, Committee Administrator
1. ORIENTATION -
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE - TERMS OF REFERENCE
GUIDELINES FOR MEETING PROTOCOL AND DELEGATION
PRESENTATIONS
The Terms of Reference for the Committee as well as Guidelines for Meeting Protocol and
Delegations Presentations were reviewed for benefit of new members.
PRESENTATION - PESTICIDE REDUCTION PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAM - 2004
FUNDING
REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY OF WATERLOO
The Committee was in receipt this date of the Development & Technical Services Department
report DTS-04-025 (B. Steiner) dated February 11, 2004 regarding survey and focus group
results conducted by the Regional Pesticide Use Reduction Working Group (RPURWG) and a
cost sharing proposal for implementation of a Pesticide Reduction Public Education Program in
2004.
Ms. B. Steiner advised that a formal presentation would be made by the Regional Municipality of
Waterloo to the Development & Technical Services Committee on February 16, 2004 with the
purpose of discussion this date to receive comments from the Environmental Committee for
inclusion in a subsequent staff report for review by the Development & Technical Services
Committee. Ms. Steiner noted that both educational and regulatory approaches are being
considered by the Working Group, with initial focus directed toward public education initiatives.
A by-law framework will also be drafted and presented in future to area Councils for
consideration. She reviewed details of the proposed budget noting that the Region will fund
50% and the remaining 50% will be split among the three municipalities and four Townships on a
pro rata basis. The City of Kitchener is being requested to contribute $50,640. in 2004. The
Working Group prefers a Community Based Social Marketing approach for the education
campaign, which identifies and overcomes barriers to long term changes in public behaviour. A
survey and focus groups were conducted in 2003 to obtain data to guide activities of the
education campaign and Ms. Steiner provided an overview of the results. It was noted that the
sample size of the survey was 642 of which 220 were from Kitchener and the overall response
rate was 67%. There were 7 focus groups broken down to 3 self-applicators; 3 lawn care
service providers; and 1 property manager of a multi-residential site.
The Committee then offered the following comments / suggestions:
· consider community / municipal partnerships to create pesticide / maintenance free crescents
and boulevards;
· consider municipal and / or private sector example sites of lawns using organic methods;
· consider financial incentives to encourage reduced use of pesticides;
· Nurseries be encouraged to have alternative landscaping experts on site (seminars /
demonstrations);
· create and promote demonstration plots re: healthy turf with no or reduced pesticide use in
comparison to alternative landscapes;
· use statistics from the survey results to guide education program.
Ms. Steiner thanked the Committee for their comments and extended an invitation to attend the
February 16 Development & Technical Services Committee meeting to hear the Region's
presentation respecting this matter.
FEBRUARY 12, 2004
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES
'6-
CITY OF KITCHENER
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE 2002-2003 STRATEGIC WORK PLAN
The Committee was re-circulated this date with Development & Technical Services Department
report DTS-03-036 (B. Steiner) dated April 9, 2003 outlining several approaches that could be
undertaken to initiate specific priority activities as identified in Table 1 attached to the staff report.
Ms. B. Steiner commented on the suggested approach to deal with priority activities listed on
Table 1. She stated that formation of sub-committees was identified as a preferred method;
however, she pointed out that this will require additional time commitment by members of the
Committee to meet outside regular monthly Committee meetings and may require facilitation
with other City staff in particular areas of expertise.
Members of the Committee were requested to review Table 1 and determine areas of special
interest to which they would be willing to commit additional time, to facilitate further discussion at
the March 11,2004 Committee meeting.
REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY OF WATERLOO - PRELIMINARY DESIGN STUDY - IRA
NEEDLES BOULEVARD FROM HIGHWAY 7 / 8 TO ERBSVILLE ROAD
The Committee was in receipt of correspondence dated January 19, 2004 from the Regional
Municipality of Waterloo concerning the status of the Ira Needles Boulevard project and
upcoming consultation with respect to the preliminary design stage.
Ms. B. Steiner reviewed the history of the project dating back to route selection approval in the
late 1970's and more recently, completion of an Environmental Review Study in 2002 which
confirmed the need for the road and updated environmental aspects of the project. She advised
that the project is now entering the preliminary design phase and suggested that members of the
Committee could contact Regional staff to relay any comments they may have. Ms. N. Sonders
stated that she would prefer an opportunity for the Committee as whole to provide comment on
this project. Accordingly, it was agreed that staff would contact the Region to determine if a
presentation could be made at the March meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
On motion, this meeting adjourned at 6:10 p.m.
Janet Billett, AMCT
Committee Administrator