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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEnv Agenda - 2017-10-19 Environmental Committee Agenda Thursday, October 19, 2017 Office of the City Clerk 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Kitchener City Hall nd 200 King St.W. - 2 Floor Conestoga Room Kitchener ON N2G 4G7 Page 1 Chair - Ms. C. Gaetani Vice-Chair - Ms. T. Driver Delegations Pursuant to Council’s Procedural By-law, delegations are permitted to address the Committee for a maximum of 5 minutes. Item 1 - Kimberley Fellows Discussion Items 1. Bee City Canada - Becoming a Bee City Affiliate (30 min) Joshua Shea, Natural Area Coordinator 2. Waste-in-a-Jar Challenge (5 min) 3. Sub-Committee Updates (5 min) Barbara Steiner, Senior Environmental Planner Information Items 2017/2018 Environmental Committee Work Plan Note: Following the adjournment of the regular agenda, Sub-Committees are encouraged to use the remaining agenda time to work on their various assignments. Jeff Bunn Manager, Council and Committee Services/Deputy Clerk ** Accessible formats and communication supports are available upon request. If you require assistance to take part in a city meeting or event, please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 ** REPORT TO: Environmental Committee DATE OF MEETING: October 19, 2017 SUBMITTED BY: Denise McGoldrick, Director, Operations – Environmental Services. 519-741-2600 ext. 4567. PREPARED BY: Joshua Shea, Natural Areas Coordinator, 519-741-2600 ext. 4177. WARD(S) INVOLVED: All DATE OF REPORT: October 5, 2017 REPORT NO.: INS – 17-081 SUBJECT: BEE CITY CANADA – BECOMING A BEE CITY AFFILIATE ___________________________________________________________________________ RECOMMENDATION: That the City of Kitchener become a Bee City affiliate. BACKGROUND: On June 16, 2016, a representative from Pollination Canada made a presentation to the Environmental Committee and requested that the City of Kitchener become a Bee City affiliate. The Environmental Committee made the following recommendation to the Planning and Strategic Initiatives Committee on August 8, 2016 “That staff investigate and report to the Environmental Committee on the benefits of becoming a Bee City affiliate and how such an affiliation coordinates with any current and planned City initiatives to support pollination and pollinators in Kitchener. REPORT: Bee City Canada, through the Bee City program, has a mission to encourage city leaders to celebrate and raise awareness of the contribution that bees and other pollinators make to our world. Bee City is part of a North American movement to support pollinator protection. Bee City communities support collaboration and establish and maintain healthy pollinator habitat within the municipality. As a Bee City, the City of Kitchener would set an example and inspire residents with the knowledge that we all have a role to play in pollinator protection and habitat conservation. Further, a Bee City improves its municipal *** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. *** Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance. 1 - 1 environment and the physical and mental health of the residents by connecting people with nature and encouraging healthy, clean food consumption. In becoming a Bee City, the City of Kitchener would be expected to commit to various initiatives as a symbol of endorsement. These initiatives include but are not limited to: Creating sustainable pollinator habitat on municipal lands; Promoting public involvement in pollinator protection and habitat creation; and Celebrating pollinators and the Bee City initiative as part of an existing or newly created event or public forum. In our ongoing efforts to ensure an environment that is ecologically sound and supportive of the health and well-being of its residents, the City of Kitchener currently engages in many initiatives which would not only be complementary to the goals of Bee City Canada but would also directly support the City of Kitchener’s requirements to being a Bee Friendly City with minimal effort. These initiatives include but are not limited to: A comprehensive horticulture program that plants thousands of flowers in gardens, parks and city-owned properties across Kitchener; The planting of specific varieties of street tree species which grow flowers and support pollinating insects and bees; The retrofit and re-naturalization of stormwater features including waterways (e.g. Filsinger Greenway), and stormwater ponds; The Neighbourhood Strategy, specifically the placemaking challenge and grant which supports and encourages resident led projects including park naturalization and pollinator habitat creation. A successful pollinator garden was built and established along the Iron Horse Trail in 2016 as part of the Neighbourhood Strategy initiative. Kitchener’s Natural Areas Program (KNAP) which provides public education and engagement opportunities to 5000+ residents annually and hosts two major public education events – Earth Day (April) and Wonders of Nature (August). KNAP also partners with local organizations (i.e. Waterloo Region Nature) to promote public education and facilitate the stewardship of nature in our city; and The City of Kitchener, through KNAP develops and implements natural area restoration and park management plans including the intentional creation of pollinator meadow habitats. Two meadow habitats have already been established in Kitchener, one at Lakeside Park in 2016 and most recently in in Gzowski Park in 2017. These KNAP projects are funded through an existing capital funding account. ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN: The Bee City initiative aligns with the Sustainable Environment and Infrastructure priority of the Strategic Plan. 1 - 2 The Bee City request was identified on the 2017 Strategic Business Plan as Item #NB41. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: Any financial implications would be addressed within the already existing capital and operating budgets as ongoing efforts supportive of environmental initiatives. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: INFORM – Through the Environmental Committee on June 16, 2016, Pollination Canada’s information material on becoming a Bee City affiliate was made available for review on the City’s website. The original request was presented June 16, 2016 and summarized in the Planning and Strategic Initiatives Committee report Aug 8, 2016. Further information will be presented Oct 19, 2017 at the Environmental Committee and again Dec 4, 2017 at the Community and Infrastructure Services Committee. CONSULT – At the June 16, 2016 Environmental Committee meeting, members of the Committee were provided a presentation by Ms. K. Fellows, Pollination Canada seeking support for the City of Kitchener in becoming an affiliate of Bee City Canada. ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Cynthia Fletcher, Executive Director, Infrastructure Services. 1 - 3 Responsibility Stacey Danckert, Erika Skopec, Edward Saxon Councillor Yvonne FernandesJohn Jackson, Erin Kelly, Cynthia GaetaniCouncillor Yvonne Fernandes, Edward Saxon, Jordan Gray, John JacksonCommittee Staff Contact Josh Shea, Natural Area Coordinator1.Nick Gollan, Manager ofStormwater Utility 2. LindaCooper, Manager ofDevelopment Engineering3.OtherBarbara Steiner, Senior Environmental Planner (initially)Sarah Brown, Senior Sustainability PlannerMike Seiling, Director of Building Timeframe Ad hoc, on-going throughout yearTo Be DeterminedTo Be DeterminedEstimated for 2018 Green Development Guidelines being considered as part of the new Urban Design Manual project in 2017-18. Consider incorporating the diversion of construction waste into these or other guidelines (i.e. 2017-18). Recurs Annually Discrete Type Project Ћ ƚŅ Њ tğŭĻ ) ) ) ) Description of Tasks ) Strategic Plan for the Environment Strategic Plan for the Environment plans for natural areas and stewardship activities for / in Kitchener's natural areas. Attend KNAP meetings and events. Act as liaison to seek input from and report back to Environmental Committee.1.Canvas Stormwater Utility staff to assessopportunities to help promote Low Impact Developmentretrofits and the stormwater credit policy inneighbourhoods. 2. Consider how erosion andsedimentation control (ESC) on construction sites mightbe improved. 3. Etc.Brainstorm ideas: "green driving" tips; former Region-wide campaigns (Regional Public Health, WPIRG, area municipalities); exisitng City of Kitchener initiatives (e.g. fleet policies and practices; signage in school zones) for strengthening message to public.Update to be considered by the whole committee during a regular meeting as an agenda item. 1.Consult with Planning and Building staff to determineif current policies and practices are supportive; 2.Determine feasibility, next steps and how theEnvironmental Committee can be involved; 3. Withrespect to diverting construction waste, meet withBuilding staff to determine current situation, andpotential future actions. Strategic Plan for the Environment Strategic Plan for the Environment Strategic Plan for the Environment Project Kitchener Natural Areas ProgramAssist with research, the development of management Water Management StewardshipAnti-Idling EducationKitchener Growth Management StrategySupport the application of a rating system such as LEED for existing and new private sector projects or in site/building redevelopments.Encourage the diversion of construction waste from landfills, and waste reduction tools for new development and redevelopment project Ѝ͵Њ No. 1.12.13.15.1 6.2) 3.2 and (formerly ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE WORK PLAN 2017 - 2018 Kitchener Natural Heritage System (Theme 1 of the Air Quality (Theme 3 of the Water Resources (Theme 2 of the Land Resource and Growth Management (Theme 4 of the Energy Systems (Theme 5 of the IF1 - 1 ƷŷĻ ŅƚƩ tƌğƓ Jordan Gray, Katarina Milicic, Tia Driver, Erin Kelly Erika Skopec, Stacey Danckert, Tina Belanger, Edward SaxonDEFERSUBCOMMITTEESELECTION UNTIL SEPT 2017 {ƷƩğƷĻŭźĭ Ћ͵ ƦğĭƉğŭźƓŭ͵ ƒźƓźƒğƌ ŅƚƩ Josh Shea, Natural Area CoordinatorTo Be Determined (dependent on type of event)Barbara Steiner, Senior Environmental PlannerJeff YoungManager, Special Events ƩĻƨǒźƩĻƒĻƓƷƭ źƓĭƌǒķźƓŭ ƭƷğƓķğƩķƭ 1.January - April each year;2.September - January eachyearAd-hoc, throughout year.October - November each yearDEFER START TO FALL 2017 ŭƩĻĻƓĻƩ Ʒƚ ĭƚƒƒźƷƷĻĻ͵ ǞŷƚƌĻ Ћ ĭŷğƓŭĻ ) ƚŅ ) Ћ ƷŷĻ ĬǤ ƦƚƌźĭǤ tğŭĻ ŅƚƩ ķźƭĭǒƭƭźƚƓ ƦƚƷĻƓƷźğƌ ŅƚƩ ğƓķ ŅƚƩǞğƩķ Ʒŷźƭ ƭźƷǒğƷźƚƓ ĬƩźƓŭ ĭǒƩƩĻƓƷ Ʒƚ Strategic Pan for the Environment Strategic Plan for the Environment {ƷğŅŅ ķĻƭĭƩźĬĻ ĭğƩķ͵ Ʒƚ ƭƷğŅŅ ƩĻƦƚƩƷ 1.Advise / assist with the planning and programming forEarth Day events and activities. Attend SteeringCommittee meetings and events. Act as liaison to seekinput from and report back to Environmental Committee;2.Plan Environmental Committee event for Earth Day.Members organize or participate in an event related to the mandate of the committee. Consider partnering with another citizen advisory committee such as KYAC and/or piggy-backing on another event such as BikeFest.Detailed application review and recommendation of successful grantees. One (tele-conference) meeting with subcommittee.Meet with the Managers of Special Events and Downtown Community Development to determine current situation, and potential future actions. ğƓƓǒğƌ tǒƩĭŷğƭźƓŭ ŅƚƩ wĻƨǒĻƭƷ ƒĻƷŷƚķƚƌƚŭǤ tƚƌźĭǤ Strategic Plan for the Environment wĻǝźĻǞ tǒƩĭŷğƭźƓŭ DƩĻĻƓ Environmental EventsCommunity Environmental Improvement Grants (CEIG)Work with City staff to develop and/or implement a Green Festival Strategy for City-managed events and examine the possibility of applying it to third party events.Provide advice or information on environmental matters referred to the committee by Council and staff as per: the Terms of Reference (Council Policy I-100) Њ͵9ƓǝźƩƚƓƒĻƓƷ Lb9w9{ hC А͵ЊА͵Ћ А͵Ќ 8.1 Resource Consumption and Waste Management (Theme 6 of the Environmental Education and Public Awareness (Theme 7 of the Multiple Themes of the L9a{ IF1 - 2