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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-01-08ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES JANUARY 87 2004 CITY OF KITCHENER The Environmental Committee met this date Chaired by Councillor B. Vrbanovic, commencing at 4:10 p.m., with the following members present: Ms. N. Sonder, Ms. Y. Fernandes and Messrs. S. Bassanese, A. Boterman, R. Dal Bello, R. Dingman, R. Nandakumar and Mr. P. O'Toole. Officials Present: Ms. B. Steiner, Ms. J. Billett and Messrs. J. Willmer, R. Mounsey and G. Meincke. Councilllor B. Vrbanovic, Co-Chair, called this meeting to order and undertook introductions. 1. APPOINTMENT - CO-CHAIR Councillor B. Vrbanovic opened the floor for nominations. Mr. Rino Dal Bello and Mr. Patrick O'Toole were nominated and agreed to stand for appointment. No other nominations were forthcoming. On motion by Ms. Y. Fernandes - it was resolved: "That Mr. Patrick O'Toole be appointed Co-Chair of the Environmental Committee for a term to expire on November 30, 2004." 2. REQUEST FOR RE-APPOINTMENT TO ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE - DEREK LIPPERT Mr. Derek Lippert, who served on the Environmental Committee in 2003, was in attendance in support of his request for appointment to the Environmental Committee for the 2004 term. It was noted that Mr. Lippert had inadvertently neglected to submit an application for re- appointment as part of the 2004 annual appointment process. On motion by Mr. R. Dingman - it was resolved: "That Mr. Derek Lippert be appointed to the Environmental Committee for a term to expire on November 30, 2004." APPOINTMENT - REPRESENTATIVE TO CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON AIR QUALITY (CACAQ) The Committee was advised that as part of the 2004 annual appointment process, City Council requested a member of the Environmental Committee be appointed as a representative to the Citizens Advisory Committee on Air Quality (CACAQ). Ms. Barbara Steiner, Environmental Planner, advised that as a result of restructuring of the organization, CACAQ is no longer asking for municipal Advisory Committee representation. She advised, however, that the organization does invite public participation and encouraged members of the Environmental Committee who have a personal interest in the initiatives of CACAQ to become involved on their own. Ms. Steiner offered to provide members of the Committee with contact information. It was generally agreed not to appointment a representative of the Environmental Committee to CACAQ. MEETING DATES - PROPOSED 2004 COMMITTEE MEETING DATE SCHEDULE The Committee considered meeting dates for the 2004 term as listed on the Committee's agenda. Councillor B. Vrbanovic requested that the proposed meeting date of April 8 be changed to April 15. ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES JANUARY 8~ 2004 - 2 - CITY OF KITCHENER 4. MEETING DATES - PROPOSED 2004 COMMITTEE MEETING DATE SCHEDULE (CONT'D) It was agreed that the Environmental Committee would hold its 2004 meetings at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday evenings on the dates listed below: February 12 April 15 June 10 October 14 March 11 May 13 September 9 November 18 DTS-03-211 - MASTER STORMWATER MANAGEMENT POLICY - 2003 ANNUAL AUDIT REPORT The Committee was in receipt of Development & Technical Services Department report DTS-03- 211 (Annual Audit Report 2003 - Master Stormwater Management Policy), dated December 15, 2003 and attached Executive Summary of the Annual Audit report, outlining an assessment of the City's approach to stormwater management (SWM) in 2003 and recommending new initiatives for 2004. Mr. Greg Meincke, Engineering Technologist and Ms. Carrie Curtis, Totten Simms Hubicki (TSH), attended to provide an overview of the audit. Mr. Meincke advised that the annual audit is a requirement, under Recommendation 10, of the Master Stormwater Management Policy (MSMP) and provides a comprehensive review to ensure continued improvement is achieved with respect to water quality. He illustrated current locations of stormwater management ponds, outfall and creek classifications, as well as existing and new works under the program. New initiatives for 2004 were highlighted, including: · implementation of a SWM charge based on a flat fee of 10% of the current SWM charge (currently $15,000.) be implemented for all sites less than 0.10 ha; · support, in principle, of the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) proposal to install a monitoring station on Schneider Creek; · use of a "Balanced Approach" in implementing priority lists for new ponds, retrofits, oil / grit separators (OGS's) and stream rehabilitation; · carry out and report on 2004 Monitoring Plan; reinstate funding of $70,000. for the monitoring program, per Recommendation 5 of the MSMP; · investigate potential of implementing a dry weather sampling program of storm sewer outfalls to identify potential sanitary sewers cross-connected to storm sewers as a result of E-Coli readings; · qualification of overall assessment of creeks through development of a ranking system; allows agencies a cursory review of improvements in watercourses · co-ordinate with the Region of Waterloo on salt management and groundwater monitoring plan; City to consider more monitoring directed at surface water chlorides and additional sampling and / or conductivity measurements. Mr. G. Meincke noted that the staff report will go forward to the January 19, 2004 Development & Technical Services Committee meeting for consideration and invited the Environmental Committee to comment. The Committee then entered into a general discussion during which concerns were raised regarding the formula proposed respecting the flat fee to be applied to all sites less than 0.10 ha. Mr. R. Dingman suggested that the fee be clarified to indicate that all sites less than 0.10 ha would pay the current stormwater management charge applied to 0.10 ha sites. Mr. Meincke advised that the flat fee is based on 10% of the current SWM charge for reasons of future increases. Mr. J. Willmer, Director of Planning, commented that the flat fee could be better described and suggested revising the staff report prior to its consideration by the Development & Technical Services Committee. Staff also responded to questions concerning water quality control relative to contaminates; data collection under the monitoring program and consideration of retrofitting / rehabilitation of concrete creek channelization to natural channel design. On motion by Mr. P. O'Toole, it was agreed that the recommendation contained in Development & Technical Services Department report DTS-03-211 be endorsed. ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES JANUARY 8~ 2004 6. - 3 - CITY OF KITCHENER DTS-03-211 - MASTER STORMWATER MANAGEMENT POLICY - 2003 ANNUAL AUDIT REPORT(CONT'D) Comments of the Environmental Committee concerning this matter will be forwarded for information to the January 19 Development & Technical Services Committee meeting. PRESENTATION - LONG RANGE PLANNING FOR MIXED USE CORRIDORS Mr. Jeff Willmer, Director of Planning, advised that following discussion concerning tougher air quality measures at the October 9, 2003 Environmental Committee meeting, staff undertook to prepare a presentation to update the Committee on the City's initiatives toward long range planning for mixed use corridors. Mr. Willmer introduced Mr. Ryan Mounsey, Senior Planner, who attended to present the update. Mr. R. Mounsey commented on the City's Commercial Policy Structure review, which is based on a progressive design approach utilizing a nodes and corridors model, and provided the following highlights regarding plans for mixed use corridors: · land use designation involving compact urban development and intensification, utilizing: inner-City corridors; Regional roads with high transit service; gateways to Downtown; mixed land uses; compact, Iow / medium rise development; redevelopment opportunities; and inconsistent massing, building design and streetscape; · design briefs (mechanism to implement design features for streets) and plans to update guidelines to provide more detailed urban guidelines and standards, establish density targets and develop a design strategy for implementation; · intensification and land use strategies to improve pedestrian environment; provide higher quality design (massing, facades); and invoke greater transit consideration (LRT); · new zoning (Mixed Use Zone) to provide the legal framework to implement land use designation and design briefs and will include a broader range of land uses; reduced regulations for certain uses and possibly parking; and a wide range of special regulations to address setbacks, height, FAR and design. Mr. R. Mounsey advised that staff are in the process of finalizing design briefs for presentation to City Council in early 2004 and will be followed by implementation of new zoning and investigation of partnership opportunities. He further advised of plans to initiate a mixed use nodes project that would be completed over a longer period of time and on a much larger scale, involving employment lands. Staff then responded to a number of questions, commenting on the following: · creation of pedestrian malls: North American examples have proven to be unsuccessful; City's long range plan encourages massing and interfacing of interior to exterior of buildings, and improved transit systems; · incentives for building facade improvements: potential to achieve building fa(;:ade improvement for new development through site plan development process; potential for incentives under the City's EDGE program (including adaptive re-use development); · stringent regulations for redevelopment: preferable to use guidelines, encourage development and reduce barriers; · creation of bicycle lanes: mixed use corridors are planned along Regional roads; Region of Waterloo has a Bicycle Master Plan with certain Regional roads designated for bicycle lanes; City's plan is geared toward trail connection improvements and partnerships for placement of bike racks in key locations to bring people into corridors; · intent of reduced parking requirements: to maximize building on site of new development and encourage alternative transportation (ie. reduced parking requirements make it more difficult to find parking); · comparison between commercial power centres and mixed use nodes: nodes are distinctly different utilizing higher density and employment lands; power centres consist of primarily retail and recreational uses; countryside line approach to Regional Growth Management will minimize potential for power centre development. ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES JANUARY 8~ 2004 - 4 - CITY OF KITCHENER ORIENTATION - ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE - TERMS OF REFERENCE - GUIDELINES FOR MEETING PROTOCOL AND DELEGATION PESENTATION - 2002-2003 ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE STRATEGIC WORK PLAN The Committee was in receipt of Council Policy 1-100 (Environmental Committee - Terms of Reference) adopted on May 27, 2002; Guidelines for Meeting Protocol and Delegation Presentation; and the 2002-2003 Environmental Committee Strategic Work Plan. Orientation respecting the Terms of Reference and Guidelines for Meeting Protocol and Delegation Presentation were deferred to the Committee's February meeting to allow all new Committee members to be present. Councillor B. Vrbanovic referred to the 2002-2003 Stategic Work Plan and questioned if the Committee wished to pursue a formalized process to update the Plan. The Committee chose to continue to work with the existing plan to complete items still outstanding. Ms. B. Steiner advised that she would assist the Committee at the February meeting to identify outstanding items in the Work Plan that may be of interest to them to pursue during the current term. ADJOURNMENT On motion, this meeting adjourned at 6:10 p.m. Janet Billett, AMCT Committee Administrator