HomeMy WebLinkAboutEnv Agenda - 2019-03-21
Environmental Committee
Agenda
Thursday, March 21, 2019
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 Tia Driver Vice-Chair Alison Gingrich Regehr
Delegations
-law, delegations are permitted to address the Committee for a maximum of 5
minutes.
Item 1 Sarah Andrew, Water Resources Engineer, GHD
Item 2 Laura Hamilton, Divest Waterloo - Resiliency and Regeneration Climate Conversations for Faith
Communities
Item 2 Tracey Rayner, Transition KW - Neighbourhood Climate Change Adaptation/Mitigation Workshops
Discussion Items
1. 2018 Stormwater Management Water Quality Monitoring Program (30 min)
Bryan Bishop, Design & Construction Project Manager, Stormwater Utility
2. Community Environmental Improvement Grant (CEIG) Applicant Presentations (20 min)
3. Corporate Climate Action Plan (50 min)
Claire Bennett, Corporate Sustainability Officer
4. New 2019-2020 Environmental Committee Work Plan & Appointment of Committee (20 min)
Liaisons or Subcommittees
\[Material to be provided under separate cover\]
Information Items
None
Cody Boomer
Committee Administrator
** 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 1866-969-9994 **
Date:
March 8, 2019
To:
Environmental Committee Members
From:
Bryan Bishop, C.E.T., Design & Construction Project Manager
cc:
Nick Gollan, C.E.T., Manager of Stormwater Utility,
Hans Gross, P.Eng., Director of Engineering
Subject:2018SWM Monitoring Program
Purpose:
In 2017, the City of Kitchener retained professional services to completethe 2yr Stormwater
Management(SWM) Monitoring Programas required by the 2016 Stormwater Management
Policy. The presentation will focus on the results from the 2018SWM Monitoring Program.
The recommendations and feedback provided by the Environmental Committee will be used to
improve the Annual Monitoring Program.
Background:
In 2001, the City of Kitchener prepared the firstKitchener Stormwater Policy, which assessed
the existing SWMinfrastructure. As a component of infrastructure assessment, a monitoring
program was established to track water quality results and seekacorrelation between capital
improvements to infrastructure and water quality.
In 2016,the City completedand implemented the Integrated Stormwater Management Master
Plan (ISWM-MP) which replacedthe 2001 Policy. In order to ensure the goals and objectives of
the ISWMMP are accomplished over time, a refocused stormwater monitoring program has
also been established as part of the Implementation Plan. The stormwater monitoring program
includes previous monitoring obligations as part of construction permitting processes such as
the required monitoring of Filsinger Creek per the DFO requirements.
The stormwater monitoring program has two (2) distinct phases:
Phase 1Continuation of a refined SWM Audit monitoring (20172018)to establish
baseline monitoring results (existing conditions) for previously established historical monitoring
onitoring efforts
are focused on previously identified core stations with the addition of Priority 1 and Priority 4
subwatershed.
Priority 1 subwatershed have been included in Phase 1 monitoring efforts as these areashave
been prioritized for immediate implementation of the ISWMMP recommended approaches.
Priority 4 subwatershed have been included in Phase 1 monitoring efforts in the recognition that
the monitoring and data collection within these watersheds, which currently have the highest
health score, will be critical to maintaining the systems in their current state.
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Phase 2Updated Water Quality and Flow Monitoring (2019ongoing)refined
monitoring locations and protocols to align with the implementation approach of prioritizing
works based on the watersheds in the most need and where there are opportunities to improve
conditions but also recognizes the need to protect existing watershed health. Phase 2
monitoring also focuses on the collection of data within subwatershed that were determined to
have insufficient data during the subwatershed prioritization analysis and establishes longterm
monitoring sites for the collection of water quality data within Priority 1 subwatersheds.
Subwatershed based monitoring will be undertaken at regular intervals to confirm and/or
evaluate the effects of the recommended approaches and refine the Implementation Plan to
ensure project and programs are delivering the greatest value-fordollar for the residents of
Kitchener. Following the completion of the Phase 2 monitoring in 2022, it is recommended that
watershed health is reassessed following the protocol outlined within the ISWMMP and that
monitoring priorities be reprioritize based ontheimplementation status of the recommended
approaches and revised watershed health scores.
Other Monitoring Obligations
In addition, the stormwater monitoring program is recommended to include previous monitoring
obligations including but not limited to
As part of construction permitting processes such as the required monitoring of Filsinger
Creek, Balzer Creek and Idlewood Creekper the DFO requirements.
ECA compliance monitoring for stormwater management facilities.
Other permit compliance monitoring as directed by the GRCA, MNRF, DFO or MECP.
To be identified on a casebycase basis.
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2018 Monitoring Program
Integrated Stormwater Management
Master Plan
City of Kitchener
Draft for Review
This document is in draft form. A final version of
this document may differ from this draft. As such,
the contents of this draft document shall not be
relied upon. GHD disclaims any responsibility or
liability arising from decisions made based on this
draft document.
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GHD | 455 Phillip Street Waterloo Ontario N2L 3X2 Canada | 11139676 | Report No 9 | December 242018
Executive Summary
In 2001, the City of Kitchener completed the Kitchener Stormwater Policy Development program.
This program resulted in a report detailing the existing stormwater management (SWM)
infrastructure including SWM Ponds (wet ponds, wetlands and dry ponds), Oil-Grit Separators
(OGS) and streams. This program assisted the City with outlining new policies to manage, monitor
and improve SWM within the City. As a result of the SWM plan, a city wide monitoring plan was
developed and initiated in 2002 as part of a process to evaluate the effectiveness of the SWM
approach.
The overall health of watersheds in Kitchener was recently evaluated in the Integrated Stormwater
Management Master Plan (ISWM-MP) Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (EA) completed
2016. This document replaced the 2001 SWM Policy Study (#I-1135) in 2016 as over time, the
policy no longer aligned with changing industry practices and changes in federal, provincial,
regional, and local policies. The purpose of the ISWM-MP is to address existing urban areas of the
City and recommend measures to improve overall environmental performance, increase efficiencies,
and reduce costs. A few of the environmental issues identified in the ISWM-MP specific to surface
water included:
Degradation of surface water quality
Increased sediment loads to surface water
Thermal enrichment of surface water
Loss and degradation of fish and wildlife habitat
Increased erosion
In the ISWM-MP, watersheds within the City were evaluated and prioritized with Priority 1
watersheds were identified as having the greatest need of environment improvement while Priority 4
watersheds were identified as closest to natural conditions and therefore had the lowest need for
environmental improvement.
Under the original 2001 SWM Policy and continued under the 2016 ISWM-MP, an annual
stormwater monitoring program was mandated to monitor the performance of SWM works within
Kitchener. This report includes a review of monitoring activities undertaken in 2018. In addition, a
summary of monitoring efforts at the newly constructed permeable paver parking lot at the Huron
Natural Area is included. This report once again, includes a summary of the monitoring work
completed at the DFO Habitat Bank sites located on Henry Sturm Greenway within Filsinger Park,
Idlewood Creek and Balzer Creek, as part of habitat banking efforts within the City of Kitchener in
coordination with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO); this is the last of the three year
post-construction monitoring in Filsinger Park, pre-construction habitat bank monitoring along
Idlewood Creek, and the first year of post-construction monitoring along Balzer Creek.
Physical and Chemical Analyses
Water quality samples were collected by grab sample methodology at the SWM Monitoring Program
stations. Three dry samples were collected at core stations including: Montgomery Creek (MG1),
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GHD | 2018 Monitoring Program | 11139676 (9) | Page i
Lower Schneider Creek (SC1), Sandrock Greenway (SR2), Shoemaker Creek (SM1), Upper
Schneider Creek (SC9), Henry Sturm Creek (HS1), Voisin Creek (VS1), Middle Strasburg Creek
(SB7), Strasburg Creek (SB1). Five dry grab samples were collected at Henry Sturm Greenway
(HS4) as part of the DFO Habitat Bank monitoring efforts. One dry weather grab sample was
collected at the remaining DFO Habitat Bank locations: Balzer Creek Upstream (BZ2), Balzer Creek
Downstream (BZ3), Idlewood Creek Downstream (IW2), Idlewood Creek Upstream (IW3).
Dry-weather sampling was conducted seasonally, with one event in each season (spring, summer,
and fall) at the core stations. Dry-weather sampling consists of grab samples which are analyzed to
provide an indication of failing infrastructure or contamination due to spills upstream. ISCO
automated sampling devices were installed at Henry Sturm Creek (HS1), Voisin Creek (VS1), Middle
Strasburg Creek (SB7) and Strasburg Creek (SB1), which included continuous stage and
temperature measurements. Also included in the analysis was available information for Blair Creek
sampled by the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA).
Table ES-1 summarizes the water quality results of the 2018 SWM Monitoring Program. Similar to
previous years, the average concentration of Chloride at all locations exceeds the Long Term
Exposure Limit of 120 mg/L. Blair Creek did not have any exceedances; however, only the Dissolved
Chloride was analyzed by GRCA, not Total Chloride. Five locations’ minimum concentrations
exceeded the Long Term Exposure Limit (red) for Chloride, identifying a significant negative water
quality impact. The average concentration for Total Phosphorus exceeded the PWQO limit of 0.03
mg/L at nine locations in 2018. During the 2018 monitoring there were several average exceedances
for Lead, Copper and Zinc, unlike zero exceedances during 2017. However, there were no
maximum concentration exceedances for Lead, Copper or Zinc. Similar to 2016 and 2017, Nitrate
concentrations experienced no exceedances at any of the locations during the 2018 monitoring
program.
Water Temperature
Stream temperature classification for the 2018 results have been broken down into biological
temperature monitoring and physical temperature monitoring. For biological purposes, temperature
categories are listed as: warmwater, coolwater and coldwater. Thermal stability graphs were created
for stations where physical continuous temperature monitoring occurred during the 2018 monitoring
period. At these four stations (SB1, SB&, HS1 and VS1) two additional thermal categories have
been included: warm-coolwater and cool-coldwater.
As a result, Middle Strasburg Creek (SB7), Voisin Creek (VS1) and Henry Sturm (HS1) have been
classified as cool-warmwater based on the thermal stability graphs developed through continuous
water temperature monitoring. Strasburg Creek (SB1) was however classified as a coolwater creek
based on the 2018 thermal stability graph. Water temperature and thermal enrichment of the City’s
creek systems was identified as a key environmental issue in the 2016 ISWM-MP, and will continue
to form a component of the City’s annual SWM Monitoring Program into the future.
Flow Measurement
Discrete flow measurements and flow depths were recorded at the flow-proportionate automated
sampling locations (HS1, VS1, SB7 and SB1) on a minimum of five separate occasions. The
continuous level data collected at the automated sampling locations was converted to flow rates
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GHD | 2018 Monitoring Program | 11139676 (9) | Page ii
using a rating curve which relates flow to depth. Continuous flow monitoring data was normalized
using barometric pressure.
During the 2018 monitoring season, additional discrete flow measurements were conducted at North
Strasburg Creek (SB2), Montgomery Creek (MG1), Henry Sturm (HS1) and Westmount Creek
(WD1) to allow for the creation of rating curves in advance of the 2019 automated sampler
installation.
Trends
Water quality trends have been identified by comparing sites monitored in 2018 that had six or more
years of historical water quality data. Sites with six or more years of data included: Henry Sturm
Greenway (HS1), Montgomery (MG1), Sandrock Greenway (SR2), Shoemaker Creek (SM1) and
Lower Schneider Creek (SC1). Historical data for Blair Creek at New Dundee Road and Dickie
Settlement has been provided by the GRCA and is included in the 2018 monitoring report.
General seasonal trends that remain consistent across all monitoring locations include Chloride
concentrations being higher during dry-weather grab samples collected throughout the summer
period. This is likely caused by the concentrated effect in the waterbody due to low water levels.
TSS values reveal that wet-weather samples have higher TSS concentrations than dry-weather
sample events. The maximum seasonal concentration is generally seen during the summer
monitoring period when water levels are at their lowest and intense precipitation events and create
flashy, turbid conditions. In some monitoring years, the maximum seasonal concentration is seen
during the spring melt when debris is flushed through the waterbodies; however, this trend is
dependent on the annual precipitation regime.
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Results Summary
SWM Monitoring Program Water Quality
Final Version May Differ From Draft
–
-1 – 2018
ES
For Discussion Only
–
Table
Draft Document
An analysis summary is presented below for eachmonitoring location during 2018:
Henry Sturm Greenway (HS1): The majority of wet EMC results fell below the CCME Chloride
guidelines. Chloride concentrations were higher during dry sample events, with the maximum
Chloride concentration observed in 2010 with a value of 372 mg/L. The maximum TSS value at this
location was observed in 2018 with a value of 3590 mg/L. The 2018 TSS dry grab concentrations
ranged from “Non-Detect” which was assigned a value of 0 mg/L to 6.2 mg/L, similar to the
dry-weather grab results collected in 2015-2017.
Montgomery Creek (MG1): A general trend at Montgomery Creek reveals Chloride concentrations
hovering around 400 mg/L during both wet and dry-weather events. About half of the wet-weather
monitoring results fell below the CCME guideline of 120 mg/L for long term concentration; however,
the majority of dry-weather samples exceeded this guideline. The maximum recorded dry-weather
value of 2300 mg/L was measured on January 23, 2012. Historical trends show that dry-weather
concentrations of TSS have generally been below 20 mg/L. Historical wet-weather samples at MG1
ranged from concentrations of “Non-Detect” which was assigned a value of 0 mg/L to 143 mg/L. The
2018 TSS dry grab concentrations ranged from 5.5 mg/L to 26.1 mg/L.
Sandrock Greenway (SR2): Wet-weather Chloride samples have for the majority been below the
CCME Long Term Concentration guideline of 120 mg/L. The maximum recorded wet-weather
Chloride concentration was observed in 2015 with a value of 646 mg/L. Dry-weather Chloride
concentrations have generally hovered around the 300-400 mg/L range, with the majority of samples
exceeding the long term concentration limit. The maximum recorded dry-weather Chloride
concentration at SR2 was collected in January 2012 with a value of 2090 mg/L. Historical data has
revealed that dry-weather concentrations of TSS have generally been below 25 mg/L. Historical
wet-weather grab samples at SR2 ranged from 0 mg/L to 290 mg/L. The 2018 TSS dry grab
concentrations ranged from “Non-Detect” which was assigned a value of 0 mg/L to 3.8 mg/L.
Shoemaker Creek (SM1): Wet-weather Chloride samples have for the majority been below the
CCME Long Term Concentration guideline of 120 mg/L. The dry-weather sample results all
exceeded the CCME Long Term Concentration guideline, except for one sample collected in 2010.
The maximum Chloride concentration was reached in 2015 with a value of 504 mg/L. Historical data
has revealed that dry-weather concentrations of TSS have been below 10 mg/L. Historical
wet-weather grab samples ranged from 21.4 mg/L to 726 mg/L. The 2018 TSS dry grab
concentrations ranged from 2.7 mg/L to 7.4 mg/L, once again similar to previous years.
Lower Schneider Creek (SC1): Approximately half of the wet-weather Chloride samples have been
below the CCME Long Term Concentration guideline of 120 mg/L. The majority of dry-weather
sample results exceeded the CCME Long Term Concentration guideline. The maximum Chloride
concentration was reached in 2014 with a value of 1050 mg/L. Historical data has revealed that
dry-weather concentrations of TSS have been below 100 mg/L. Historical wet-weather grab samples
ranged from “Non-Detect” which was assigned a value of 0 mg/L to 980 mg/L. The 2018 TSS dry
grab concentrations ranged from “Non-Detect” which was assigned a value of 0 mg/L to 2.6 mg/L.
Biological Sampling
Fish community and benthic invertebrate sampling was conducted as part of the 2018 SWM
Monitoring Program, as well as under the Blair Creek monitoring program implemented by the
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GHD | 2018 Stormwater Management Monitoring Program | 11139676 (9) | Page 2
GRCA. The results of both programs are discussed below, with the Blair Creek results following the
core station SWM Monitoring Program results.
Fish community surveys were conducted at five core stations on Henry Sturm Creek (HS1), Voisin
Creek (VS1), Strasburg Creek (SB1 and SB7) and Sandrock Greenway (SR2). Benthic invertebrate
sampling was conducted at the fish community survey stations, as well as along Montgomery Creek
(MG1), Schneider Creek (SC1 & SC9), and Shoemaker Creek (SM1).
Samples collected were compared between streams. Results for Montgomery Creek (MG1) and
Sandrock Greenway (SR2) were compared against annual data collection dating back to 2013. It
should be noted that in previous annual reports historical trends have been reported for Strasburg
Creek (SB2). Biological monitoring along Strasburg Creek (SB2) was not included in the 2018 SWM
Monitoring program, thus no historical trends for this station will be included in this year’s report.
Benthic Invertebrate Sampling
Overall, benthic invertebrate samples collected during the 2018 Kitchener SWM monitoring program
returned similar results as previous monitoring years. Taxa Richness returned similar results both
between watercourses and between previous monitoring years. Number of EPT families was low
across all sites indicating a moderately impacted systems. Percent Shredder was also very low
across all watercourses, falling well below expected values. This may indicate a lack of detritus or
leaf litter available for this feeding group.
Of the creeks sampled in 2018 no one creek is clearly the best water quality when considering all
metrics. They all show signs of impaired water quality with those scoring well in Shannon-Weiner
Diversity Index scoring poorly in HBI and vice versa.
The past five years (2013 – 2017 data) of benthic invertebrate results for Montgomery Creek (MG1)
were compared to the 2018 data. The overall trend shows an improvement in water quality over the
five (5) year monitoring period. Four years of data (2013-2015 and 2017) were compared to the
2018 data for Sandrock Greenway (SR2). Though no data exists for 2016, the site shows neither an
improvement nor a decline in water quality overall.
In addition to the biological monitoring work undertaken under the core 2018 SWM Monitoring
Program, the GRCA collected fish community and benthic invertebrate data for several sites along
Blair Creek, as part of the ongoing monitoring program in that subwatershed to assess impacts of
development. The biological results for one of these monitoring locations (Blair Creek at Reichert
Drive, noted as BL1) are included in this report.
Fish Community Sampling
The 2018 fish community sampling revealed similar results as previous monitoring years. Strasburg
Creek (SB2) has previously scored the highest in water quality, however was not monitored as part
of the 2018 program. Sandrock Greenway (SR2) scored highest on total number of fish caught,
unlike during 2017 when total number of fish caught was second lowest of all stations. Once again,
this watercourse consisted of tolerant and intermediate tolerant species, with a mix of species that
prefer coolwater and warmwater thermal regimes. Of all stations monitored, Sandrock Greenway
had the highest percentage of tolerant species (54%), indicating community lacking diversity and
dominated almost solely by tolerant species. Henry Sturm (HS1) scored second highest for number
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of fish collected with a total of 89 fish. Henry Sturm (HS1) scored the highest for species richness of
all stations with a value of seven. This watercourse was still dominated by tolerant species with a
total of 36%. The two stations along Strasburg Creek (SB1 & SB7) shared similar species
richnesses of six, however SB7 had a higher total fish count of 72, compared to 26 at SB1. Both
stations had low percentages of tolerant species and were comprised of a mixture of intermediate
and tolerant warmwater and coolwater species as well as an abundant number of young of the year.
Voisin Creek (VS1) scored the lowest for all categories as zero fish were caught at this station
during 2018. The Voisin Creek results could have been influenced by the seasonally low water
levels present during the summer when the field surveys were conducted.
Annual fish community trends were identified between stations that had a minimum of four
consecutive years of data available. In 2018 only one station, SR2 along Sandrock Greenway
warranted historical trend analysis. Unlike previous annual reports, no historical trends were made
along Strasburg Creek, as SB2 was not included in the 2018 monitoring stations. Fish community
surveys were not conducted at SR2 during the 2013 or 2016 monitoring program. During the 2018
monitoring, species richness remained similar to previous monitoring years with a total value of five
species. Overall, the 2018 fish community results compared closely to those of previous years,
producing high percentages of tolerant species and identified zero intolerant species. The 2018 fish
survey was composed of the following species: white sucker (Catostomus commersonii),
pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus), creek chub (Semotilus atromaculatus) and fathead minnow
(Pimephales promelas). All species caught in 2018 were also noted in the 2017 surveys. The total
number of fish caught in 2018 was the highest of any year to-date, and significantly higher than
during 2017.
Blair Creek Sampling
Benthic invertebrate metrics scored consistently between 2018 and 2017. Taxa richness falls above
the range of expected values for unimpaired creeks; percent Oligochaeta decreased to 5 percent,
the lowest it has been since 2014 monitoring; and percent Chironomidae still falls outside the
expected range within unimpaired creeks of 10-30 percent (Griffiths, 1999). Percent EPT and
number of EPT taxa both increased to the highest reported since 2014, with an increase of over 10
percent for Percent EPT in 2018 from 2017. While percent EPT is still low for a healthy system, the
number of EPT families is consistent with expected values for a slightly impacted creek system and
overall indicates an increase in the diversity and abundance of these sensitive species (Mackie,
2004).
The Shannon-Weiner Diversity Index for Blair Creek remains greater than 3, at 3.3 in 2018, a value
consistent with an unimpaired system and 2017 results. The Hilsenhoff biotic index (HBI) decreased
in 2018 and indicates good water quality with slight pollution (Griffiths, 1999). Overall, the metrics for
Blair Creek from 2018 continue to indicate an improvement from previously reported community
structure and composition.
Inconsistencies in the reported 2014 and 2015 results are noted in the reporting of the
Shannon-Weiner Diversity Index and HBI values. Irrespective of these inconsistencies, the 2018 and
2017 Blair Creek results still indicate a distinct improvement over the period of survey.
The fish community data set recorded in 2018 displayed similar results to those of 2017. The total
number of fish collected increased, more than doubling the total number of fish caught in 2017.
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Overall, the species richness remained comparable from 2014-2018, with a value of six for the last
two monitoring years. Previous monitoring suggested that the Blair Creek fish community consisted
of a mix of tolerant, intermediately tolerant and intolerant species. In 2018, the percentage of tolerant
species captured remained low, identifying that the system is able to support intolerant and
intermediately tolerant fish communities. Compared to 2017, the number of intolerant species
identified increased and included 7 brown trout (Salmo trutta) and 15 brook trout (Salvelinus
fontinalis). The total number of brook trout and mottled sculpin (Cottus bairdii) are on the increase
after a slight decrease throughout 2015-2017.
Results from the benthic invertebrate monitoring conducted at Blair Creek indicate an improvement
in water quality consistent with 2017; the 2018 fish community results suggest a consistent fish
community within Blair Creek, with an overall higher abundance compared to 2017 monitoring
results.
DFO Habitat Bank Monitoring
In addition to the annual Monitoring Program, the City also monitors DFO Habitat Bank sites on
Henry Sturm Greenway in Filsinger Park, Idlewood and Balzer Creeks. The intention of establishing
a Habitat Bank in the City is to bank the fish habitat credits created through projects like the Henry
Sturm Greenway, Idlewood Creek and Balzer Creek restoration projects and apply them as
compensation for other works within the City of Kitchener where serious harm to fish or fish habitat
may be unavoidable. The intent of the DFO Habitat Bank monitoring is to calculate the amount of
habitat credits that are available for release based on the credit release schedule in the Habitat Bank
Agreement between DFO and the City.
Five stations were monitored as part of the 2018 DFO Habitat Bank monitoring program including:
Henry Sturm Greenway (HS4) in Filsinger Park, Idlewood Creek (IW2 and IW3), and Balzer Creek
(BZ2 and BZ3). The DFO Habitat Bank monitoring at these sites follow a site-specific monitoring
protocol outlined in their respective Annex B reports, as per the City’s Habitat Bank Agreements with
DFO. Monitoring protocols outlined in all the Annex B reports address water chemistry, benthic
invertebrate, fish community, vegetation and physical/geomorphic monitoring. The results of the
DFO Habitat Banking sites will be detailed in separate site-specific reports and a summary of results
(except for water quality) were incorporated into this annual SWM monitoring report.
Henry Sturm Greenway
Benthic invertebrate values are consistent with an urban creek system in southern Ontario and
together indicate minimally impacted water quality. The surber sample reflects values similar to the
kick and sweep which are reflective of an urban creek system in southern Ontario.
The summer fish community surveys were the most diverse with eight species collected, and also
had the highest abundance collected between the seasons. The spring and fall surveys consisted of
similar total number of fish caught and similar species richness.
Herbaceous vegetation is well established and the dominant form of cover throughout. Shrub growth
is abundant, with a substantial amount of natural regeneration observed and little evidence of
mortality among the plantings. Overall, riparian plantings are healthy, robust and abundant, and
when all plantings are considered (i.e., not solely trees), riparian success is estimated to be
significantly higher than 80%.
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Based on the geomorphic survey results, the three reaches appeared generally stable and no
erosion concerns have been identified at this time. Beneficial fish habitat is provided through a
diversity of depths, cover opportunities, and small amounts of instream rooted vegetation.
The 2018 monitoring was the third and final year of post-construction monitoring along Henry Sturm
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Greenway and documents an overall improvement to fish habitat; as a result 1,309.4 m of habitat
credits are now available for release.
Idlewood Creek
The benthic invertebrate metrics calculated for IW2 and IW3 are very similar, and indicate a system
with slightly impaired water quality. Overall, the results are typical of an urban creek system.
A mixture of tolerant and intermediate coolwater and warmwater species were identified along both
reaches of Idlewood Creek. The summer fish community surveys showed great abundance at both
IW2 and IW3. Species richness increased during the summer survey along the downstream reach
(IW2), however species richness remained the same between both seasons along the upstream
reach (IW3).
Streambank vegetation ranged between 40 to 85 percent cover, while the floodplain vegetation
stems per hectare counts indicate the upstream reach was vegetated with more woody vegetation.
Based on the geomorphic survey results, the upstream reach (IW3) has better channel structure and
typically has deeper pools, which is beneficial fish habitat as it is provides a diversity of depths and
cover opportunities.
The 2018 the pre-construction monitoring along Idlewood Creek will provide a benchmark for the
post-construction monitoring results to determine the number of habitat credits the restoration
project will generate, and therefore can be added to the City’s Habitat Bank.
Balzer Creek
The benthic invertebrate results imply water quality impairment. The 2018 post-construction
monitoring results for the upstream reach (BZ2) are consistent with pre-construction conditions. As
for the downstream reach (BZ3), the percent EPT and taxa richness indicate an improvement from
pre-restoration conditions. It is anticipated water quality will improve in future years as the
restoration works on Balzer Creek establishes.
A mixture of tolerant and intermediate coolwater and warmwater species were identified along both
reaches of Balzer Creek. The summer fish community surveys showed good abundance at both BZ2
and BZ3. Species richness increased marginally during the summer survey along the upstream
reach (BZ2), however species richness remained the same between both seasons along the
downstream reach (BZ3).
Streambank vegetation ranged between 40 to 70 percent cover, while the floodplain vegetation
stems per hectare counts indicate the downstream reach was vegetated with more woody
vegetation.
Based on the geomorphic survey results, both reaches have better channel structure and deeper
pools than pre-construction conditions, which is beneficial fish habitat as it is provides a diversity of
depths and cover opportunities.
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The 2018 monitoring was the first year of post-construction monitoring along Balzer Creek and
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documents an overall improvement to fish habitat; as a result 493 mof habitat credits are now
available for release.
Filsinger Park Groundwater Study
As part of the 2018 SWM Monitoring Program, GHD conducted a shallow groundwater study in
Filsinger Park. The study was driven by the results of the 2017 SWM Monitoring Program, where it
was observed that the water quality at Henry Sturm Greenway (HS4) was significantly better than
the upstream monitoring location of Sandrock Greenway (SR2) and downstream monitoring location
of Henry Sturm Creek (HS1). The study was conducted to confirm groundwater interaction with
surface water in the restored reaches of Filsinger Park.
To characterize the shallow groundwater conditions at Filsinger Park, three mini-piezometers were
installed with continuous water level loggers (i.e., pressure transducers) installed outside and within
the mini-piezometers to evaluate the gradient change. The continuous and manual water levels
indicate that the general regime at Henry Sturm Greenway and Sandrock Greenway, are “losing”,
with potential for surface water to flow into the groundwater table, whereas measurements at the
upstream Henry Sturm Creek Tributary indicated a “gaining” circumstance where there would be
potential for groundwater to discharge into the creek. Therefore, groundwater contribution from
Henry Sturm Creek Tributary is likely the source of dilution that was seen downstream at the
confluence with Sandrock Greenway at Henry Sturm Greenway (HS4) in 2017.
Huron Natural Area Permeable Paver Parking Lot Monitoring
As part of the 2018 SWM Monitoring Program, GHD conducted monitoring at the HNA permeable
paver parking lot, which was installed in November 2015. The monitoring consisted of infiltration
testing of the permeable paver surface, to determine an effective infiltration rate, as well as
continuous subsurface water level monitoring.
Through six infiltration tests, the mean infiltration rate in 2018 was calculated to be 1,800 mm/h,
compared to 1,900 mm/h in 2017 and 2,700 mm/hr measured in 2016.
As part of the continuous water level monitoring study, all rain events in 2018 were infiltrated into the
underlying soils with little ponding in the aggregate reservoir under the parking lot. The highest peak
water level measured during 2018 was 0.396 m, compared to a peak of 0.342 m in 2017 and a peak
of 0.757 m in 2016, during a large rain storm event.
The continuous levelogger and barologger were left in the monitoring well over the winter of
2018-2019 in order to catch any spring melt events that may occur. In addition, another round of
infiltration testing should be completed in 2019 to identify any capacity decreases that will likely
occur due to regular sedimentation and aging of the infrastructure.
Recommendations for the 2019 Monitoring Program
Based on the recommendations for an annual SWM monitoring program as described in the City of
Kitchener Integrated SWM-MP – Implementation Plan, the results of the 2016-2018 SWM Monitoring
Draft Document – For Discussion Only – Final Version May Differ From Draft
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GHD | 2018 Stormwater Management Monitoring Program | 11139676 (9) | Page 7
Program, as well as feedback from the Steering Committee members, the following
recommendations have been developed for the 2019 SWM Monitoring Program.
1.Establish five (5) flow proportionate monitoring sites in 2019 at the locations below listed, using
a combination of City-owned and rented ISCO autosamplers:
a.2019 SWM Monitoring Program: WD1, MG1 (long-term), SB2 (long-term), SR2 (long-term),
VS1 (long-term)
2.At each flow proportionate monitoring location, water quality monitoring will be conducted to
produce EMCs for selected constituents to enable calculation of pollutant mass loadings into
receiving watercourses. Monitoring activities at the flow proportionate monitoring sites would
include the following:
a.Installation of an automated sampling device at the selected sites. A flow meter compatible
with the selected automated sampling device would be utilized to trigger sampling as flow
rates change. Flow meters would record continuous flow data in order to develop the EMC.
Marine batteries should be purchased and replaced annually to ensure optimal operation
conditions. Associated components (i.e., tubing and sensors) should be routinely inspected
and maintained as required.
b.A minimum of eight sampling events per year should be undertaken, with two events per
season (i.e., Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter) to ensure the full range of seasonal variation is
captured.
c.Undertake a minimum of five (5) discrete flow measurements and install a staff gauge at
each site in order to develop a rating curve (i.e., depth versus flow relationship).
Continuously recorded depth values are translated to flow rates per the relationship
developed by the rating curve. Additional discrete flow measurements may be required to
improve the accuracy of associated rating curves.
d.Undertake continuous temperature monitoring at the flow proportionate sampling locations
to establish baseline thermal regimes, with data recorded every 15-minutes.
e.Undertake a minimum of three (3) dry-weather sampling events at each flow proportionate
monitoring location with one (1) event in each of Spring, Summer, and Fall. Dry-weather
sampling is undertaken through grab samples to provide an indication of failing
infrastructure or contamination due to spills upstream. One dry weather sample is to be
timed to coincide with the benthic invertebrate sampling (see f below). Discrete field water
quality measurements should be collected coinciding with all grab sampling events. At
minimum, the following parameters should be collected: pH, Temperature, Dissolved
Oxygen and Conductivity.
f.Undertake benthic invertebrate monitoring at all flow proportionate monitoring locations. This
will allow for comparison of habitat quality over time. This type of biological data can assist
in identifying early stages of habitat change and fluctuations in watershed conditions. One
sampling event per year is recommended, to be timed to coincide with previous year’s
monitoring. GHD recommends establishing a reference benthic station to be used in
conjunction with both the annual SWM Monitoring Program as well as the Battler Road
Snow Storage and Disposal Facility (SSDF) Monitoring Program.
Draft Document – For Discussion Only – Final Version May Differ From Draft
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GHD | 2018 Stormwater Management Monitoring Program | 11139676 (9) | Page 8
g.Undertake fish community surveys at all flow proportionate monitoring locations. This will
allow for comparison of habitat quality over time. This type of biological data can assist in
identifying early stages of habitat change and fluctuations in watershed conditions. One
sampling event per year is recommended, to be timed to coincide with previous year’s
monitoring.
3.Establish non-flow proportionate monitoring sites at the below listed locations, where EMCs
have been established through previous monitoring efforts:
a.2019 SWM Monitoring Program (four sites): SC1, SM1, SB13a, SC-9
4.At each non-flow proportionate monitoring location, water quality monitoring is recommended to
consist of the following:
a.Undertake a minimum of three dry-weather sampling events at each monitoring location with
one event in each of Spring, Summer, and Fall. Dry-weather sampling is undertaken through
grab samples to provide an indication of failing infrastructure or contamination due to spills
upstream. One dry weather sample is to be timed to coincide with the benthic invertebrate
sampling (see b below).
b.Undertake benthic invertebrate monitoring at each monitoring location. This will allow for
comparison of habitat quality over time. This type of biological data can assist in identifying
early stages of habitat change and fluctuations in watershed conditions. One sampling event
per year is recommended, to be timed to coincide with previous year’s monitoring.
5.All dry-weather sampling events should be conducted on days when no rain has been received
during the previous 48 hours (minimum).
6.Discrete field water quality measurements should be collected coinciding with all grab sampling
events. At a minimum, the following parameters should be collected: pH, Temperature,
Dissolved Oxygen and Conductivity.
7.All analytical samples should be sent to an accredited laboratory to maintain consistency
between historical analysis and lab detection limits. Sampling parameters should remain the
same and consist of: Chloride, Nitrate, Metals (Copper, Lead and Zinc), Total and Dissolved
Phosphorus, TSS and hardness.
8.Water quality results should be evaluated on an ordinal scale (days 1-365). Wet vs. dry results
may have less impact than seasonal trends; otherwise seasonal trends are not obvious.
9.Locations of autosamplers should be identified at minimum two years prior to installation. This
would allow for flow monitoring to be conducted and rating curves to be created one year in
advance of installation. Having a completed rating curve equation will simplify the installation
process and allow for greater autosampler accuracy across all sampling seasons. Additional
maintenance flow measurements could be included during the monitoring program to further
ensure rating curve accuracy. Prior to the commencement of the 2019 SWM monitoring
program, the 2020 EMC stations should be confirmed to permit rating curve development during
the 2019 season.
10.Strasburg Creek (SB2) should be surveyed for fish and benthic invertebrate community annually
in order to act as a coldwater station for historical trend comparison. The fish and benthic
Draft Document – For Discussion Only – Final Version May Differ From Draft
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GHD | 2018 Stormwater Management Monitoring Program | 11139676 (9) | Page 9
invertebrate community trends at SB2 have been analyzed in all annual reports since 2009, with
the exception of 2018 when SB2 was not included as a monitoring station.
11.Sandrock Greenway (SR2) should continue to be surveyed for fish and benthic invertebrate
community annual in order to act as a warmwater station for historical trend comparison. The
fish and benthic invertebrate community trends at SR2 have been analyzed in all annual reports
since 2014, with the exception of 2016 when SR2 was not included as a monitoring station.
12.Standardized biological sampling protocols (Ontario Benthos Biomonitoring Network Protocol
and Ontario Stream Assessment Protocol) should continue to be used to assess benthic
invertebrates as well as fish community surveys. Consideration for the adoption of the BioMAP
Water Quality Index for benthic invertebrate analysis is recommended, which would involve the
collection of quantitative Surber samples in place of two of the qualitative kick-and-sweep
samples currently collected (i.e., two Surber samples and one kick-and-sweep sample for
BioMAP, versus three kick-and-sweep samples collected currently). BioMAP would allow the
objective characterization of watercourse health using a metric developed specifically for Ontario
watercourses.
a.Fish samples should continue to be analyzed by watercourse to produce a comprehensive
fish species inventory within the site, characterize the fish community and provide a
qualitative assessment of species abundance to compare to historical monitoring efforts.
The following indices should be analyzed:
# Fish Collected
Species Richness
% Tolerant Species
% Intolerant Species
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# Fish Collected / 100 m
b.Benthic samples should continue to be analyzed by watercourse using a multimetric
approach including the following indices:
Taxa Richness% Collector-Filterer
% EPT% Collector-Gatherer
Number of EPT Families% Scraper
% Oligochaeta% Shredder
% Diptera% Clinger
% ChironomidaeShannon-Weiner Diversity Index
% DominantsHilsenhoff Biotic Index (HBI)
% Predators
13.DFO Habitat Bank monitoring should continue to follow site-specific monitoring protocols that
are detailed in the site-specific Annex B reports, as per the City’s Habitat Bank Agreements with
DFO. The monitoring results will allow for the calculation of available habitat credits for release
based on the credit release schedule in the Habitat Bank Agreement between DFO and the City.
a.The third and final year of post-construction monitoring on Henry Sturm Greenway
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determined the final amount of habitat credits (1,309.4 m) are now available for release.
Draft Document – For Discussion Only – Final Version May Differ From Draft
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GHD | 2018 Stormwater Management Monitoring Program | 11139676 (9) | Page 10
The City should request the release of the remaining habitat credits from DFO and
document the release in the City’s banking ledger. Monitoring HS4 in 2019 is only
recommended if DFO does not grant the full amount of habitat credits available. Due to the
established dataset for biological information, the City should consider adopting HS4 as a
core SWM Monitoring station.
b.Conduct the first year of post-construction monitoring on Idlewood Creek. To receive habitat
credits for the restoration of Idlewood Creek, the first year of post-construction monitoring
should be conducted in 2019.
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c.The first year of post-construction monitoring on Balzer Creek determined that 493 mare
now available for release. The City should request the release of these habitat credits from
DFO and document the release in the City’s banking ledger. To continue to receive habitat
credits for the restoration of Balzer Creek, the second year of post-construction monitoring
should be conducted in 2019.
14.The City is currently monitoring locations along Strasburg Creek as part of the Battler Road
SSDF Post-Construction Monitoring Program. The monitoring site SW8 as part of this program
is located approximately 30 m downstream of North Strasburg Creek (SB2), part of the SWM
Monitoring Program. In future annual reports, it is recommended that water quality results from
the Battler Road SSDF Monitoring Program at SW8 be included in the North Strasburg Creek
(SB2) dataset. The Batter Road SSDF Monitoring Program occurs year-round with increased
monitoring frequency during the winter months. These results would provide a complete dataset
for North Strasburg Creek by filling the winter month data gaps for Chloride and TSS.
Draft Document – For Discussion Only – Final Version May Differ From Draft
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GHD | 2018 Stormwater Management Monitoring Program | 11139676 (9) | Page 11
Robyn Leppington
Robyn.Leppington@ghd.com
519.340.3883
Sarah Andrew
Sarah Andrew@ghd.com
519.340.3902
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Date:February 27, 2019
To:Environmental Committee Members
From:Carrie Musselman, Senior Environmental Planner
Subject:2019Community Environmental Improvement Grant (CEIG) Applications Received
The City has received the following 2019 CEIG applications(in no particular order):
Kitchener Master Gardenersfor a Community Gardening Educationprogram/project requesting
$2,800.00.
Divest Waterloofor a Resiliency and Regeneration ClimateConversations for Faith Communities
program/project requesting $1,800.00.
Sunshine Montessori School (SMS)for a Sustainability Projectrequesting $400.00.
Transition Kitchener-Waterloofor a Neighbourhood Climate ChangeAdaptation/Mitigation
Workshopsprogram/project requesting $975.00.
If they like,applicants havetheopportunity to present their application at the March 21, 2019
Environmental Committee Meeting(subject to registering with the committee administrator).
The 2019 CEIG Sub Committee will teleconference on March 25 or March 26 to develop the draft 2019
CEIG Recommendation. They will present the draft recommendation at theApril 18, 2019
Environmental Committee Meeting.
Reviewed by: Brandon Sloan, Manager of Long Range and Policy Planning
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wĻƭźƌźĻƓĭǤ ğƓķ wĻŭĻƓĻƩğƷźƚƓ /ƌźƒğƷĻ /ƚƓǝĻƩƭğƷźƚƓƭ ŅƚƩ CğźƷŷ /ƚƒƒǒƓźƷźĻƭ
Divest Waterloo will lead this project with the support of Faith and the Common Good
Partners/Collaborators
Organizing partners (will be invited to participate in planning the agenda, identifying speakers
and develop a promotion plan)
Interfaith Grand River
REEP Green Solutions
Architectural Conservancy of Ontario (North Waterloo Region Branch)
Participating Partners: (will be invited to participate in the event by setting up and staffing
information/resource tables and joining in workshop small group conversations)
RISE WR,
Blue Dot,
Citizens' Climate Lobby,
Climate Save,
Transition KW,
Grand River Environmental Network,
People's Climate Foundation,
Climate Action Waterloo Region
We anticipate that 150 participants representing 25 faith communities will attend. When we
follow-up, we expect that 15 faith communities will have taken a 'next step' in response to their
learnings at the event. We further estimate extended reach of this event (# of people in their
congregations with whom resources will be shared or who will participate in follow-up
activities) is estimated at 500.
The event will be advertised to and open to the public.
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Transition KW Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Workshop
The following partners and collaborators will work with TKW on this project:
Four Kitchener Neighbourhood Associations (to be determined) (note that both Central
Frederick and the Auditorium NAs have expressed preliminary interest)
The following organizations will be invited to attend and or share their resources:
Climate Action Waterloo Region
REEP Green Solutions
Blue Dot KW
RISE WR
Divest Waterloo
Climate Save
We do not anticipate any permits or licenses will be required.
We estimate that each workshop will be delivered to approximatively 30 participants (although
we could accommodate up to 60 and will encourage NAs to fill their venues)
We estimate that 80% of participants will engage in some king of adaptation or mitigation
activity as a result of their participation.
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2018 Kitchener Master Gardeners Membership
Updated: January 2019
Last Name, First NameKMG RoleMonth/Year JoinedResigned/Emeritus
Current MG/MGiT
Gilhuly, Mary AnnCoordinator1989Active
Grein, RhondaVolunteerJanuary 2009Active
Kelly, HeatherMGiT, VolunteerMarch 2017Active
Hort Therapist,
MacNeil, BrucePhotographerJune 1996Active
Pearson,KathyMGiT, SecretaryMarch 2017Active
Seip, MichelleMGiT, VolunteerMarch 2018Active
Sciuk, KarenVolunteerNovember 2009Active
MGiT, Children's
van der Stam, SarahProgramsJanuary 2017Active
Weiler, MaryanneVolunteerJanuary 1986Active
Gilhuly, ChristineTreasurer2007Active
Emeritus/Emerita
Gordon, Helen1998Active
Meinzinger, Huguette1990stays in touch
Morgan, Anne1992Active
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Sustainability Challenge Ideas
Snack wrapper recycling TerraCycle
Art supply recycling TerraCycle
Marker recycling - Crayola
Reduce paper generation or increase paper reuse (full sheets or shredded)
Vermicomposting
Paper towel collection in class rooms and staff washroom (can go into the compost bin)
Turn lights off when leaving the classroom
Funky sweater day turn heat down 2 degrees and everyone wears a funky sweater. Measure
energy savings that day.
Project to switch the school to LED bulbs (upfront costs, current energy usage, potential
energy/cost savings, potential emissions reduction)
Monitor water fountain usage (take a baseline inventory at end of December and then start tally
in January). Announce to students and parents monthly. Project to quantify the oil savings from
people bringing their own reusable bottles. (Note
increase the count).
Lost and found reduce what is being donated/thrown out by looking for reuse opportunities or if
labeled have it go back to that child.
Project to increase participation in the annual uniform sale (extended hours, more than once a
year)
Bike/walk challenge at home (ie: bike to the library 3 times instead of drive)
Review cleaning supplies is there a more environmentally friendly option available
Reduce idling at Kiss and Drop and parking lot. Quantify emissions from parents idling?
Light bulb recycling
Turn off machines at end of the day (ie: computers, photocopier)
Install power options on computers to go into sleep mode when not in use.
Yard waste compost program
Vehicle maintenance on school buses to ensure are efficient
Conduct class or school wide waste audit
Staff reduce amount of takeout containers - (click on BYOC registry).
Focus on playground wildlife (build bat boxes, maintain milkweeds)
Garbage art
Buy local challenge at home
Yard/boulevard/cul-de-sac regular clean-up
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Sustainability Contract
We in room ________________ promise to live more gently, peacefully
and sustainably on the earth. Our goal is to:
____________________________________________________________
We plan to do this by:
____________________________________________________________
This is how we will record and share our progress:
We will report to the Green Team each month and help to plan the
At the assembly we will share our progress with the SMS community.
SIGNED:
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We learned a lot about how all of us can be more aware and more active in protecting the earth.
We should always be thinking about the connections between the environment and humans.
We need to understand how the human world and the natural environment are connected. Most
important of all, we need to understand that we can do something about improving the quality of
When we say sustainability, it simply means improving the quality of life for allnow and for
future generations. We are all interconnected and depend on each other; and we have the
ability to make meaningful contributions and change.
An annual celebration of Earth Day should not be the only timeduring the school year when we
devote time to exploring issues of environmental awareness and stewardship.
Each class is tasked with
choosing a Green Goal; one that will somehow make a difference, no matter how small, in how
we treat the earth.
Once you have chosen your Green Goal, please complete the Sustainability Contract and
Then, your class will begin to brainstorm. How you can work
towards this goal together?For example, you may want to reduce wastingenergy by ensuring
that you turn off your classroom lights each and every time your classroom is empty. Make a list
of all of these times during the day and make sure that you record each time you remember to
turn off the lights. Calculate how many minutes of light energy you saved in one month.
Or you could even have a challenge that involveswhat you do at home like buying local foods
or walking or biking somewhere instead of driving. Each student could record on a chart in the
classroom counting how many times they made a more sustainable choice at home.
Each class mustchoose one representativeeach month. Those class reps will meet together as
a Green Team. They will report on how the challenge is going in the classroom and plan next
efforts in living more gently on the earth.
up for a challenge?
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REPORT TO:Environment Committee
st
DATE OF MEETING:March 21, 2019
SUBMITTED BY:Claire Bennett, Corporate Sustainability Officer, ext. 7322
PREPARED BY:Claire Bennett, Corporate Sustainability Officer, 7322
WARD (S) INVOLVED:NA
DATE OF REPORT:March 11, 2019
REPORT NO.:
SUBJECT:Corporate Climate Action Plan Draft -Consultation
___________________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT the Corporate Climate Action Plan (draft) be endorsed in principle
THAT theAction item to update the corporate green building design policy(from LEED Silver)to
an energy intensity-based target of Net Zero Ready or Net Zero energy for applicablenewbuilds
(site dependent) and minimum 25% improvement above Ontario Building Code for all othersbe
endorsed in principle
BACKGROUND:
OnApril23, 2014, Councildirectedstafftopreparetermsofreferenceforanintegratedclimateaction
planfortheCityofKitchenerthatwouldaddressbothcorporatemitigationandadaptationstrategies,
andreportbacktoCouncil.
OnNovember16, 2015, CouncilapprovedthetermsofreferencefortheCorporateClimateActionPlan
tobeincludedonthe2016-2019businessplan, includingthefollowingprinciples:Continuetousethe
PCPframeworktoplanandmanagetheprogressionGHGreductions; adopttheICLEIclimate
changeadaptationmethodologytoplanandmanagetheprogressonclimatechangeadaptation
strategiesexploringactionsthatmeetbothmitigationandadaptationobjectives.
1.AvisionfortheCityofcorporateclimateactionplan
2.Mitigationandadaptationgoalsforthenext10years, includingacorporategreenhouseas
reductiontargetfortheCityofKitchener;
3.AlistofprioritymitigationandadaptationactionsthatwillcontributetotheclimateAction
goals, includingexistingandnewmeasurestobeimplemented;
4.Adetailedimplementationplanthatincludes: estimatedcosts, fundingsources,responsibilities,
andtimelines; and
5.Aplanformonitoringtheimplementationstatusofmitigationandadaptationactionsand
Progresstowardsthecorporateemissionsreductiontarget.
REPORT:
For a comprehensive approach toclimate action, the City of Kitchener will investigate and undertake a
variety of initiatives to mitigateclimate change and adaptto its impacts,demonstratedthrough the
Corporate Climate Action Plan., the City is following industry frameworks from
***This information is available in accessible formats upon request. ***
Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994for assistance.
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the Federation of Canadian MunicipalitiesPartners for Climate ProtectionandLocalGovernments for
SustainabilityBuilding Adaptive and Resilient Communitiesprograms.Milestone 1
(inventory/assessment)and Milestone 2 (target setting) have been achieved; this plan achieves
MilestoneThree (plan)and sets the stage for achieving Milestones 4(implementation) as well as5
(Monitoring).
Corporate Climate Action Plan (CorCAP)presents a comprehensive and integrated process to achieve
climate action goals of:
1.Maximizingfacility-level efficiency and resilience
2.Optimizing and innovatingCity fleet through technology, alternative fuels and electrification
3.Upgradingand standardizingoutdoor lighting to LED technology; where applicable, with controls
for further efficiencies, analytics and functionality
4.Completinga comprehensive review of theexisting waste program to improve and expand service
areas
5.Planningand implementingclimate adaptation initiatives through engagement, policy and projects
that improve resiliency to impacts that pose risk to the corporation
6.Generatingand managingrobust climate change data to analyze, forecast, and report on findings
and trends to inform strategic planning, business operations andproject level performance
7.Guidingdecision making to support greenhouse gas emission reduction and resiliency to climate
change
8.Improvingengagement and two-way communication between corporate stakeholders by
optimizing existing channels and creating new ones
The CorCAP begins with an overview of purpose andscope anda background on key drivers related to
policy and climate projectionsfollowed by asummary of the inventorying and assessment work that
was completed to baseline corporate greenhouse gas emissions and risk and vulnerability to climate
change.Then the plan presents the goalsand actions that will both form the climate program as well as
theimplementation and monitoring plan. Actionshave been selected based on the followingcriteria:
planned capital projectsand equipment replacement schedules,core infrastructure availability,cost per
carbon reduction and return on investment.
*Note: This is still in draft form, with final graphics, editsand some detailed data work remaining
Regardingthe city of Kitchenergreen design standard, a resolution was passed (CRPS-08-014) in
2008 for buildings over 500m2 to be LEED Silver, which was later upgraded to LEED Gold in alater
motion the same month. Both resolutions are attached. The resolutions were never formally written into
policy.
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN:
Strategic Priority:Sustainable Environment & Infrastructure
Strategy:#4.3 Reduce greenhouse gas emissions and consumption in all areas of city operations
Strategic Action:#SE4 Corporate Climate Action Plan
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FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
Estimated costs and funding sources are included in the attached Corporate Climate Action Plan
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Justin Readman, GM: Development Services
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Page | 1
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Message from Mayor Vrbanovic
Page | 2
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Contents
Message from Mayor Vrbanovic .................................................................................................................................... 2
Tables & Figures: See Appendix 1 .................................................................................................................................. 3
Key Terms and Acronyms ............................................................................................................................................... 3
Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................................................ 4
Executive summary ......................................................................................................................................................... 5
1.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................... 6
1.1 Vision ................................................................................................................................................................. 6
1.2 Corporate profile ............................................................................................................................................... 7
1.3 Policy Context ................................................................................................................................................. 10
1.4 Climate Primer ................................................................................................................................................ 11
2.0 Corporate Climate Action Plan Framework ......................................................................................................... 13
2.1 Engagement Process ....................................................................................................................................... 13
2.2 Program Focus ................................................................................................................................................ 13
2.3 Corporate Inventory & Assessment ................................................................................................................ 16
3.0 Corporate Climate Action Plan ............................................................................................................................ 26
3. 1 Part One: Climate Plan .......................................................................................................................................... 26
Buildings ....................................................................................................................................................................... 27
Pumping Stations ......................................................................................................................................................... 27
Fleet .............................................................................................................................................................................. 30
Outdoor Lighting .......................................................................................................................................................... 33
Waste ........................................................................................................................................................................... 35
3.2 Adaptation .............................................................................................................................................................. 39
4.0 Part Two: Program Development & Implementation ............................................................................................ 44
5 Part Three: Program Review ................................................................................................................................ 51
6 Recap ................................................................................................................................................................... 52
Short term corporate climate action priorities, 2019-2021 ......................................................................................... 52
Appendix 1: Figures & Tables ....................................................................................................................................... 53
Appendix 2: Climate Change Primer ............................................................................................................................. 54
Appendix 3: 2018 Greenhouse Gas Inventory .............................................................................................................. 59
References .................................................................................................................................................................... 60
Tables & Figures: See Appendix 1
Key Terms and Acronyms
IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
BARC Building Adaptive and Resilient
Communities (framework)
Kwh Kilowatt hour
BAU Business as usual
LEED Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design
CH 4 Methane
L - Litre
CO2 Carbon Dioxide
NO Nitrous oxide
CO2e Carbon Dioxide equivalent
m3 cubic meters
FCM Federation of Canadian Municipalities
PCP Partners for Climate Protection (framework)
GHG Greenhouse Gas
SDGs Sustainable Development Goals
GJ Gigajoule
SWM Stormwater Management
GMF Green Municipal Funds
UNFCC United Nations Framework Convention on
GRCA Grand River Conservation Authority
Climate Change
ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability
Page | 3
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Acknowledgements
CorCAP Steering Committee
Justin Readman, GM: Development Services Roslyn Lusk, Director: Roads & Traffic
Denise McGoldrick, GM: Infrastructure Services Lynda Stewart, Manager: Projects & Energy
Management
Don Miller, Director: Fleet
Nick Gollan, Manager: Stormwater Utility
Jason Winter, Director: Asset Management
Steve LaRochelle, Manager: Emergency Management
Kim Kugler, Director: Sport
& Business Continuity
Niall Lobley, Director: Parks & Cemeteries
Claire Bennett, Corporate Sustainability Officer
Key Data Contributors & Mobilizers
Paul Christner, Building Operator
Mike Wigzell, Supervisor: Facilities Management
Dianne Adams, Manager: GIS
Mike Elliot, GIS Technologists
Courtney Zinn, Digital Transformation Associate
Rushby Energy Solutions
The principle author of the document is Claire Bennett, Corporate Sustainability Officer.
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Executive summary
The increase of carbon poses considerable environmental, economic and social risk to cities; as temperatures
continue to rise, the momentum on climate change is hastening, with cities leading the way with commitment
and action. The City of Kitchener understands and acknowledges its role as a vital participant in the global action
to combat the dominant contemporary challenge of climate change.
As
operation to evolve in a way that will achieve carbon reductions and better prepare for current and projected
climate change impacts in the Region. Given the span of City operations and associated infrastructure, corporate
planning must involve the community realm to be successful; similarly, our corporate progress contributes to
community targets. Through these collective efforts, the City will strengthen its resiliency to continue providing
valued services to its core stakeholder: residents.
For a comprehensive approach to climate action, the City of Kitchener will investigate and undertake a variety of
initiatives to mitigate climate change and adapt to its impacts. , the City is following
industry frameworks from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Partners for Climate Protection
(PCP) and Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI) Building Adaptive and Resilient Communities(BARC)
programs. Milestone 1 (inventory/assessment) and Milestone 2 (target setting) have been achieved; this plan
achieves Milestone 3 (plan), and sets the stage for achieving Milestones 4 (implementation) as well as 5
(Monitoring).
Corporate Climate Action Plan (CorCAP) presents a comprehensive and integrated process to achieve climate
action goals of:
1.Maximizing facility-level efficiency and resilience
2.Optimizing and innovating City fleet through technology, alternative fuels and electrification
3.Upgrading and standardizing outdoor lighting to LED technology; where applicable, with controls for
further efficiencies, analytics and functionality
4.Completing a comprehensive review of the existing waste program to improve and expand service areas
5.Planning and implementing climate adaptation initiatives through engagement, policy and projects that
improve resiliency to impacts that pose risk to the corporation
6.Generating and managing robust climate change data to analyze, forecast, and report on findings and
trends to inform strategic planning, business operations and project level performance
7.Guiding decision making to support greenhouse gas emission reduction and resiliency to climate
change
8.Improving engagement and two-way communication between corporate stakeholders by optimizing
existing channels and creating new ones
The CorCAP begins with an overview of purpose and scope and a background on key drivers related to policy and
climate projections. The next portion of the plan includes a summary of the inventorying and assessment work
that was completed to baseline corporate greenhouse gas emissions and risk and vulnerability to climate
change, both of which followed industry frameworks. Then the plan presents the goals and actions that will both
form the climate program as well as the associated program development and implementation plan. Actions
have been selected based on the following criteria: planned capital projects and equipment replacement
schedules, core infrastructure availability, cost per carbon reduction and return on investment. Lastly, the plan
outlines the process for ongoing review and updating of the CorCAP.
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1.0 Introduction
carbon reductions throughout its operation, while also adapting to impacts resulting from climate change.
An absolute greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction target of 8% by 2026 has been selected through inventorying
and forecasts, approved by council in 2015. An absolute GHG reduction refers to the total quantity of
greenhouse gas emissions being emitted, whereas an intensity target compares the amount of emissions to
a unit of economic output; accordingly, as a growing city, growth must consider climate change holistically.
The City of Kitchener corporate carbon baseline inventory and reduction target:
2016 Corporate GHG Emissions (baseline) 10,397 CO2e
2026 Corporate GHG Emissions Target 9,395 CO2e
priorities, CorCAP demonstrates how we will mitigate and adapt to our carbon impacts. In addition to
carbon reductions, the CorCAP benefits other key strategic goals of the City through reductions to
operating costs, improved capacity of planned capital expenditures, process efficiencies and improving
operational functionalities, partnerships and engagement, compliance with internal and external
mandates, leveraging funding, and demonstrating corporate and civic leadership.
adaptation:
Climate mitigation: Actions to reduce corporate greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate
change
Benefits of mitigating greenhouse gas emissions including reduced air pollutants, reduction of operating
expenses, energy security and technological innovation and particularly important to this plan, reducing the
risks associated with carbon emissions in the atmosphere.
Climate adaptation: Actions to manage the corporate risk related to the impacts of human-driven climate
change
Benefits of adaptation planning include ensuring against future risk, reducing vulnerability, creating
opportunities, lower long-term costs and reduced risk.
1.1Vision
The vision of the CorCAP and corresponding program is to lead by example in taking action on climate
change at
services for our , by working to ensure we can
safeguard assets and stakeholders; thus focusing efforts to serve the community. The ultimate
vision is to make decisions with the consciousness of creating a sustainable world for future generations,
embodied through the Iroquois Seventh Generation Principle that the decisions we make today should
result in a sustainable world seven generations into the future.
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1.2Corporate profile
The City of Kitchener is located in the Region of Waterloo, in the heart of southwestern Ontario. The city covers
an area of 136.86 square kilometers and has a population is 246,700 (2016); it is the largest city within the Grand
River watershed. The City of Kitchener has been designated a growth area through the Provincial growth plan:
Places to Grow and has seen significant population growth at an average of 1.51 % per year, which will continue
through the next decade. (Waterloo Region, 2017)
1.2.1Structure
The corporation is made up of five departments as well as the Office of the CAO:
Community services plans, builds and supports safe and thriving neighbourhoods and includes: By-law
Enforcement, Corporate Customer Service, Fire, Neighbourhood Programs and Services, and Sport.
Corporate Services supports public services and programs and includes: Corporate Communications &
Marketing, Human Resources, Legal, Legislated Services, Technology & Innovation Services, and Office of Mayor
& Council.
Development Services drives effective city building and includes: Building, Economic Development, Engineering,
Planning, and Transportation Services.
Financial Services develops and del
includes: Accounting, Asset Management & Business Solutions, Financial Planning, Revenue and Supply Services.
Infrastructure Services leads delivery of services such as city facilities, roads, trails, parks, water mains, sewers,
natural gas distribution systems, and vehicles and includes: Facilities Management, Fleet, Kitchener Utilities,
Parks & cemeteries, and Roads & Traffic.
1.2.2Operations
purpose is to deliver services to the community, from managing
sanitary sewers, roads and trails, to recreational areas such as parks and arenas. As of 2016, energy represents
approximately 6% of operating costs, making the City of Kitchener an energy intensive operation. In 2018, the
city spent $9,360,175 in energy consumption costs on electricity, natural gas, diesel, gasoline, propane, water
and storm water. Procurement of natural gas and electricity commodities is through City owned utilities.
City of Kitchener corporate operations provides services to the community via a total building square footage of
1,832,788 and more than 1,400 fleet vehicles and equipment. Municipal buildings provide functional space for
administration and operations, arenas, cemetery and park facilities, and community and recreation centres,
including pools. The City has both traditional and innovative heating, venting and cooling (HVAC) and water
systems, including geothermal, solar, and rainwater harvesting. All facilities have a central waste program, many
include organics diversion.
The City is unique to most municipalities in that our operations are housed out of one centralized, LEED Silver
facility (Kitchener Operations Facility KOF). KOF hosts multiple reuse and recycling functions, for example, tress
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and aggregate is broken down for playgrounds and road infill and there are bins to divert pipe, metals, wood,
etc. from landfill.
-stationary assets, both vehicles and equipment that perform operational
functions across the city and includes heavy and light duty vehicles, mowers and hand-held equipment, golf
carts, off-road and sidewalk and sweeper vehicles. Vehicles use electricity, regular gas, natural gas, propane, and
diesel (including biodiesel).
The scale of operations presents significant opportunity to reduce municipal operating expenses and carbon
emissions through conservation, efficiency and innovation. For example, the streetlight retrofit in 2016/17
resulted in lower operating costs (including maintenance requirements), improved functionality and analytics
because Kitchener went the extra step of sourcing smart technology that provides dimming and maintenance
alerts.
ation and to help implement CorCAP, key ones
include:
o GIS: Corporate database maps, asset inventory and platforms
o Building automation system (BAS) displaying and controlling energy use
o CityWorks: work management activities and asset condition repository
o InfoSWMM: stormwater and sanitary modelling software
o Rainbird: smart irrigation system
o Streetlight Vision: Streetlight controls, dimming and maintenance
o Control-Link: controls recreation facility outdoor lighting
o FLINT: in-house developed fleet management system to track and optimize equipment maintenance
and driving behavior
o ISO 140001 Energy Management Certification (Fleet)
o
1.2.3Environmental sustainability at the City of Kitchener
Kitchener has a long history of implementing environmental sustainability measures throughout the corporation.
Strategic Plan for the Environment (1992) included Energy Systems as a main areas of focus.
Kitchener has implemented many initiatives since then both large and smallto achieve reductions in the
production of greenhouse gases (GHG). Notable examples include:
Facilities
o Three LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified buildings: KOF (Silver), Activa
Sportsplex (Gold), Kingsdale Community Centre (Gold)
o A 500 kWh solar roof at the Kitchener Operations Facility, the largest in Canada at the time.
o Solar heating for the Breithaupt Community Centre pool.
o Rainwater harvesting at several locations, with the largest at City Hall and KOF, the latter being
225,000L and used for all washroom graywater as well as the wash bay which washes all fleet vehicles.
In a one year period, the cistern has saved 5 million litres of potable water.
o Conservation and efficiency program, ie. LED lighting retrofits; insulation; controls: variable speed
drives, etc.
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Fleet
th
o GFX - Leading Fleets Award best mid-sized fleet award and 5 overall (2017); ISO 14001 Environmental
Management system achieved in 2018; in-house developed fleet management system FLINT
o Electric fleet vehicles and equipment
o Alternative fuels: Biofuels, natural gas, propane
o Anti-idling technology and policy
Lighting
o Smart LED streetlights with controls for dimming and analytics
Waste
o Central waste program throughout facilities
o Diversion of road pipe, wood, metals, florescence lighting
o Repurpose fallen trees into mulch and playground footing and aggregate into road infill
Other
o Integrated Stormwater Master Plan (ISWM-MP) and related initiatives including quality, quantity and
retention controls
o Air quality initiatives strategic plan for the environment
One of the most notable sustainability attributes at the City of Kitchener is staff culture. Staff truly recognize and
embrace sustainability autonomously through their projects, within workshops and strategic planning as well as
collective efforts. Considering this, the City is very well positioned to showcase the invaluable benefits of
leadership in climate health and resiliency.
Sustainability Program
A formal sustainability program is new to the City; in addition to a corporate environmental sustainability
focus, the vision of the sustainability office is to include the social pillar of sustainability as well as increase
participation in community climate action efforts for a comprehensive, complimentary and accessible
approach to improve success.
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1.3Policy Context
Global agreements set the stage for federal level response. In Canada, Provincial plans and legislation
respond to the federal direction and locally, governance must reflect and comply with both mandates and
trends. Locally, community climate planning both mitigation and adaptation are being coordinated
through regional initiatives and corporate climate plan is an important part of
achieving the overall community and larger goals.
Figure 1: Policy context of climate action, global to local
1.3.1Global, federal and provincial
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Paris agreement is the most
agreement was ratified in 2016, with 195 countries pledging to take action to keep emissions well below a
2°C rise above pre-industrial levels and to limit the increase to 1.5°C to substantially reduce the associated
risks with such a temperature rise.
(SDGs) to help frame efforts, which is broadly used across the globe.
Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and
Climate ChangeFederal actions for a clean growth economy (2016) putting the
framework into action. The later outlines actions to reduce carbon impact through a variety of areas and
means as well as a plan to adapt to the impacts of climate change.
-in-o.
Associated legislation includes the Electricity Act, which outlines energy consumption and GHG reporting
and conservation management planning as well as the Strategy for a Waste Free Ontario, which sets the
stage for moving towards a circular economy.
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1.3.2Local Climate Action
Similarly, local governments are leading climate action at a community level. A regional initiative, Climate
Action Waterloo Region (CAWR) is coordinating regional and community efforts of climate mitigation to
reduce GHGs 80% below 2010 levels by 2050 and the Region of Waterloo is leading community climate
adaptation, in partnership with local government stakeholders. The community lens is focused on key
sectors including: Residential; Businesses; Transportation; Waste; Agriculture as well as risk and
vulnerability to climate change, respectively.
Another key strategic document for local climate action is the Community Energy Investment Strategy
(CEIS), which integrates energy management into municipal and land-use planning.
The City of Kitchener is actively participating in all of these community climate planning initiatives as a key
stakeholder and funder as well as corporate initiatives, demonstrated in this plan.
1.4Climate Primer
See Appendix 2 for primer on climate change: background, weather trends and forecasts and impacts
Ontario
average annual temperature in
Ontario could increase by 3.3°C above its 1986-2005 average by mid-century, with more significant
warming expected in Northern Ontario. (Ontario.ca, 2018)
Projections for Waterloo Region Λ{ĻĻ Ņǒƌƌ ƩĻƦƚƩƷ ŅƚƩ ƒƚƩĻ źƓŅƚƩƒğƷźƚƓΜ
Table 1: Components of the modelling process for Waterloo Region (RCP: Representative Concentration Pathways)
-as-
Scenarios
-
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1990s (1981 2010)
Baseline Period
2020s (2011 2040)
Projection
2050 (2041 2070)
Periods
2080 (2071 2100)
Environment Canada weather data from the Waterloo Region Airport weather station,
Input Data
supplemented with data from Roseville weather station as needed
The following table shows the change in average annual mean temperature from 1990s baseline of 7°C in
Waterloo Region under the three scenarios shown in Table 1 over the projection periods.
2020s 2050s 2080s
+1.4 +3.2 +5.2
Business-as-usual
+1.2 +2.4 +2.9
Aggressive mitigation
+1.2 +1.8 +1.7
Net-zero carbon
The following table shows the percentage change in total annual precipitation from baseline of 918.5mm
under the three scenarios in Table 1 over the projection periods
2020s 2050s 2080s
+3.8% +10.4% +12.0%
Business-as-usual
+6.2% +8.5% +10.0%
Aggressive mitigation
+4.3% +11.7% +7.3%
Net-zero carbon
Local climate projections summary
o
Annual average temperature projection to increase by about 2-
o
-5
degrees Celsius higher than it is today, meaning it will hover around 0 degrees Celsius.
o
More extreme summer heat: Currently, the region experiences around 10 days per year with
extreme heat (daily maximum temperature exceeding 30 degrees Celsius). The number of days
with extreme heat is projected to mo
o
More intense rain storms: Large-scale rainfalls and wind storms are projected to happen more
frequently.
o
40% more freezing rain events by the 2050s in December, January and February.
o
Total annual precipitation is projected to increase by approximately 4--12%
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2.0 Corporate Climate Action Plan Framework
2.1Engagement Process
Corporate engagement
2.2Program Focus
2.2.1Guiding Framework
The City has assessed carbon emissions from five key areas of the organization: ĬǒźƌķźƓŭƭͲ ƦǒƒƦźƓŭ
ƭƷğƷźƚƓƭͲ ŅƌĻĻƷͲ ƚǒƷķƚƚƩ ƌźŭŷƷźƓŭ ğƓķ ǞğƭƷĻ. The assessment took into account energy and GHG emissions
that are a result of our operations; it does not include emissions from sources not controlled or owned by
the City, such as third-parties, construction activities, business or air travel. Additionally, the City undertook
a risk and vulnerability assessment to understand current and future impacts from climate change.
Milestone Frameworks
for Climate Protection (PCP) program for climate mitigation; for climate adaptation, Local Governments for
Sustainability (ICLEI) provides the Building Adaptive and Resilient Communities (BARC) milestone
framework to understand vulnerability and risk to climate change. For our corporate planning, the City of
Kitchener is on milestone 3 in both frameworks.
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The purpose of milestone 3 is to establish short and long term actions with financial implications. Each
milestone builds off the next but includes a specific set of criteria to consider:
Climate mitigation:
within buildings, pumping stations, fleet, outdoor lighting and waste
o Rationale, goals and objectives
o Energy and emissions inventory, forecast, and targets
o Actions with time frame, areas of responsibility and financial resources
Climate adaptation: Building Adaptive and Resilient Communitieshe focus of study is on
risk and vulnerability of a corporation and community
o Vision and guiding principles
o Adaptation options
o Specific actions (where applicable)
o Financial implications of your plan
o Draft and Final Adaptation Plan
2.2.2 Plan Scope
Target: Overall goal is to reduce absolute C02 by 8% from 2016 levels by 2026 (Supplementary goal:
business case (those with strong financial case and the social benefits) through a series of strategies and
corresponding action items
Focus: Corporate-wide through these focus areas - Buildings & pumping stations (and grounds parking,
parks & trails/fields), fleet (and transportation), lighting, waste as well as climate adaptation
GHG reduction; financial savings - revenue, cost and energy
reductions; process and quality efficiencies; asset renewal; engagement; strategic alignment
Climate Data:
Performance Indicator Measurement
Energy GJ
Emissions GHG (tonnes CO2)
Fuel consumption L
Waste consumption m3
Electricity consumption kwh
Gas consumption m3
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Climate Impacts - main Temperature (°C)
Precipitation (mm)
Cost (dollars)
Table 2: Key corporate performance indicators
Climate Action Team:
Involvement of all staff is paramount to the success of our goals in how the City interacts with the focus
areas; several corporate departments have a direct role to play in the success of these goals.
Area Key Parties Requirements
Facilities Management Planning, design, construction; operations
Buildings, pumping
(FM); Engineering
stations and grounds
Sport, Neighbourhood Building operation and use
Programs & Services,
all internal employees
Turf crew Water management
Fleet Planning; analytics
Fleet
By-law, Roads & Operation and use
Traffic, Parks &
Cemeteries, Building,
Transportation
FM Project management, payment (for non-road outdoor
Outdoor lighting
lighting)
Transportation Project management, analytics, dimming schedules,
payment (for road outdoor lighting)
FM Planning, operations
Waste
Stormwater, Planning Planning, design, construction gray and green
Adaptation
infrastructure
Asset management Lifecycle planning; business continuity (all areas)
Roads & Traffic, Parks Weather data, particularly severe events
& Cemeteries
Milestones:
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2.3Corporate Inventory & Assessment
To understand the organization in terms of climate change, both a greenhouse gas inventory and risk and
vulnerability assessment was completed. The greenhouse gas inventory quantifies the amount and type of
emissions in a particular year, which becomes the baseline year to track forecasts, goals and progress
against the plan. The risk and vulnerability assessment considers potential risk and vulnerability of the
organization to climate change impacts, based on current and projected weather events in the Region.
2.3.1Corporate energy and greenhouse gas inventory
data for planning purposes, an inventory was performed to determine consumption of energy in the
following key focus areas - buildings, pumping stations, fleet, outdoor lighting and waste
Focus Area 2016 GHG 2026 GHG BAU Forecast Reduction % Reduction Reduction
t CO2e t CO2e t CO2e From 2016 Share
Buildings 5838 5,360 6940 478 8% 38%
Pumping 134 130 153 4 3% > 1%
Stations
Fleet 3,584 3,300 4358 284 8% 18%
Lighting 505 375 581 130 26% 30%
Waste 336 210 396 126 38% 13%
TOTAL 10,397 9,375 12428 1,022 8% 100%
Table 3: Summary of corporate greenhouse gas emissions inventory and target
The City is using annual percentage increase of its population (1.51%) to forecast a business-as-usual (BAU)
GHG increase. Population increase drives the need to grow City assets; key ones over the next seven years
are: three new facilities (two as partnerships) and two expansions.
2016 Energy Profile
Greenhouse gas emissions (tCO2e) and energy use (GJ) by sector
Sector Emissions (tCO2e) Energy (GJ)
Buildings 5838 188459
Streetlights 505 42336
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Fleet 3584 54619
Waste 336
Water & Sewage 134 7109
Buildings make up the largest portion of corporate greenhouse gas emissions, followed by fleet emissions.
Figure 2: Greenhouse gas emissions (tCO2e) by sector
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS (TCO2E) BY SECTOR
BuildingsStreetlightsFleetWasteWater & Sewage
1%
3%
35%
56%
5%
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Figure 3: Energy use (GJ) by source
ENERGY (GJ) BY SOURCE EMISSIONS (TCO2E)
ElectricityNatural gasDieselPropaneEthanol (E10)Biodiesel (B5)Biodiesel (B20)Gasoline
5%
5%
17%
11%
9%
1%
6%
46%
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Corporate baseline emissions of 10,397 tCO2e, business-as-usual forecast of 12,428 tCO2 by 2026, and
target scenario of 8% absolute GHG reduction resulting in 9,395 tCO2e
Figure 4 Corporate emissions target vs business-as-usual projection
2.3.2GHG Inventory to date (2016 2018)
Total emissions in 2018 are 10256 tC02e
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Figure 5: Corporate greenhouse gas emissions and forecast
See Appendix 3 for more information on the inventory
2.3.3Corporate Vulnerability and Risk Assessment
To best understand the scenario of climate change impacts and plan accordingly, the organization must
identify gaps and priority areas to inform adaptive, resilient strategies. ICLEI Canada provides the
framework the corporation followed for completing a Vulnerability and Risk Assessment.
Vulnerability and risk are the dimensions of assessing potential impacts on a particular system.
Vulnerability is the extent to which a natural or social system is susceptible to sustaining damage from
climate change, which ultimately translates to the sensitivity of a system to changes in climate and the
ability to adapt.
Risk is the chance of injury or loss defined as a product of the frequency of occurrence and the severity of
the consequence. Consequences are the known or estimated ramifications (economic, ecological, social
and legal) of a particular climate change impact; likelihood measures the probability of the projected
impact occurring.
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City of Kitchener Climate Data Summary
Cost of extreme weather events
Extreme weather events in the City of Kitchener led to increased costs, which are demonstrated below in
Figure 12 *Note: projects are tracked by tagging which has not included salt before 2017; just winter data is included;
does not include claims
Severe Weather 'Projects', 2010-2019 Cost
1800000
1600000
1400000
1200000
1000000
800000
600000
400000
200000
0
2010/112012/132013/142015201620172018/19
Figure 6: Cost of extreme weather events in the City of Kitchener
City of Kitchener Flood & Heat Map
Kitchener is not immune to the risks posed by extreme weather, both in terms of flooding and heat. Figure
14 shows a map outlining key critical infrastructure locations at high risk to flooding in City and Kitchener.
75% of the City of Kitchener has no stormwater controls and more than half is on private property. Figure
15 shows a heat map of the city using surface temperature compared against tree canopy, with clear
distinction in the more built up areas.
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Figure 7: City of Kitchener Flood map showing buildings and infrastructure
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Figure 8: Heat map of City of Kitchener showing a range of surface temperature - Sustainable Urban
Forestry Strategy, 2017
3 - 41
Risk and Vulnerability Findings
Based on climate projections undertaken by ICLEI Canada and the University of Waterloo Intact Centre for
Climate Adaptation as well as internal corporate research and engagement, the following risks were
identified:
Impact
Risk Score
020406080100
Infrastructure Degradation
Freezing Rain and Wind Storms
Urban Forestry Diminution
Urban Forestry Diminution
HF/LM Flooding
Freezing Rain and Wind Storms
High
Infrastructure Degradation
Severe Flooding
Severe Flooding
Facility Damage
Parks Damage
Public
Heat and Vector Health Risks
Natural Heritage Systems
Staff
Impairment
Facility Damage
Electrical Demand
Asset
Heat & Vector Health Risks
Recreation Area Damage
Built Environment
Vulnerability
Natural Heritage System
Environment
Impairment
HF/LM Flooding
--------
Increased Electrical Demand
Forest and Grass Fires
Low
Build Environment
Forest and Grass Fires
Figure 9: Hierarchy of City of Kitchener risk areas, likelihood and associated impacts
Priority Areas for Action
The assessment resulted in the following prioritization of climate impacts for the City of Kitchener to
address:
Table 4: Action area priorities to mitigate climate impacts
Increased tree mortality rates and change in the urban forest composition due to increase in
High Priorities for
hot weather and decreased summer precipitation.
Action
Extensive tree damage, power outages, property damage and disruption to transportation
networks due to more frequent extreme wind storms and more freezing rain events.
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Severe flooding causing significant damage to public infrastructure and private property,
potentially forcing residents to evacuate their homes, businesses to shut down and the City
to declare a state of emergency
surfaces, as it becomes increasingly unsuited to the changing climate and more frequent
hazards, resulting in costly repairs, loss of functionality and reduced lifecycle.
Physical damage to city buildings, and facilities as they become increasingly unsuited to the
Medium Priorities
changing climate and more frequent climate hazards, resulting in costly repairs, loss of
functionality and reduced lifecycle.
for Action
Health and safety risks to city staff that work outdoors and participants in outdoor city
programs services due to extreme heat and changing disease vectors.
Increased surface water flooding from ponding of rainfall in low lying areas or heavy rainfall
overcoming the capacity of the drainage system.
Damage to parks, trails, and natural areas due to longer, drier and hotter heat waves and/or
Low Priorities for
severe weather
Action
increased water temperatures, increased evaporation, more extreme heat waves, and/or
flooding.
Increased demand on cooling systems in city buildings which may be used as a refuge by
citizens due to more extreme heat events resulting in higher energy use, increased costs and
Areas for Future
potential energy brown-outs in peak demand periods.
Consideration
The built environment is not well adapted to changing climate conditions within its lifespan
Threats of forest fires and grass fires may increase with longer, drier and hotter heat waves.
Table 5: Action area priorities to mitigate climate impacts
See City of Kitchener Risk & Vulnerability Assessment, for more information on process and impacts
Summary of Risks and Vulnerability
o Increased extreme precipitation events leading to more infrastructure failures, accidents,
emergencies, or displacement
o Increased freezing rain and winter storm events, leading to infrastructure damage, increasing
operating costs and salt use;
o More extreme rainfall events may lead to erosion of riverbanks and hills;
o Increased periods of hot and dry weather, particularly in summer months;
o A decrease in precipitation may affect groundwater reserves.
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3.0Corporate Climate Action Plan
Part 1 outlines the tangible actions and corresponding implementation plan; it includes items accomplished
from 2016 to 2018 and the plan for the next 7 years
Part 2
ultimately, it comprises the structure of the operational program for the Sustainability Office
Part 3 outlines a formal iterative process of reporting and review, which includes stakeholder engagement
and communication activities. Given the challenges and opportunities of climate action, it is important that
action plans be a long term, living document.
3. 1 Part One: Climate Plan
Corporate focus areas: Buildings, Pumping Stations, Fleet, Outdoor Lighting, Waste
For the most part, the actions align with planned capital and operational programs and projects to best
leverage and provide capacity to corporate resources with the goal of achieving the key performance goals.
implementation tables focus on carbon reductions, financial and energy savings but also,
for the most part, include improvements to functionality, resilience and leadership.
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2016 Baseline Emissions: 5838 tonnes
Buildings
2026 Emissions Goal: 5,360 tonnes
Pumping
2016 Baseline Emissions: 134 tonnes
2026 Emissions Goal: 130 tonnes
Stations
Summary of initiatives undertaken: 2016-2018
In City Facilities, GHGs have risen by 4.5% between 2016 and 2018
The following actions saved 1,357,191 kWh & 28,578 m3, and 134 tC02e
Action Area Resource Cost KPI (per yr)
LED lighting Multiple locations Facilities $1,386,469 66 tCO2e reduction
upgrades Management (FM) ($126,617
ROI 6 years
Operations funding, incentives)
$268,284; 1,316,851 kWh
incentives
1 tCO2e
Parking lot: Duke & Parking Enterprise $88,000
Ontario capital, operating
ROI 3.3 year payback:
$21,435; 164,883 KWH
Rainwater KOF FM; incentive $99,400 0.12 tCO2e reduction
harvesting ($2,500
ROI 6.3 years
incentive)
$17,778; 5,000,000L
Soffit retrofit Victoria Hill CC FM operations $ 8,990.00 0.31 tCO2e reduction
funding, incentives ($565
ROI 5 years
incentive)
$1,620; 6213 kWh
Airco saver Multiple locations (38 FM operations $20,727 3.3 tCO2e reduction
units) funding, incentives ($10,608
ROI 1 year
incentive)
$970; 59,789 kWh
Dehumidifier Lions Arena, Grand FM operations $56,880 2.34 tCO2e reduction
River funding, incentives ($4,060
ROI 8.7 years
incentive)
$6,090; 40,594 kWh
Insulation KOF FM operations $20,000 10 tCO2e reduction
funding, incentives Functionality
ROI 23 years
$850; 3864 m3
51 tCO2e reduction
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Heat City Hall, Forest FM operations $14,930 ($750 ROI 2.6 years
reclaim/recovery Heights & Breithaupt funding, incentives incentive) $5,731; 24,714 m3
Pool
Table 6: Summary of Building initiatives undertaken (2016 - 2018)
2019-2026 Actions
Goal: Maximize facility-level efficiency and resilience
Actions:
Replacements, retrofits and controls for inefficient and/or end of life equipment
Automation: sensors, dimmers
Optimize operations and maintenance program: scheduling, recommissioning, preventative
maintenance
During new capital construction process, go above building code energy efficiency by a minimum of
25% and investigate possibility of Net Zero Ready and Net Zero energy
During major renovations, complete deep energy retrofits
Implementation tools:
Measurement: Corporate database energy platform, BAS, GHG & energy management database, leak
detection sensors, billing, City Works
Policy alignment: O. Reg. 390/18 -Electricity Act; City of Kitchener Strategic Plan, Conservation Demand
Management Plan (2014-2019) and GHG reporting; UN SDG #7
Implementation Plan
Table 7: Building actions and implementation plan
The following actions will reduce approximately 93,000m3 and 979,616 kWh of energy and 694 GHGs
Action Area Timing Resource Cost KPI
(per yr)
Sportsworld, Lyle Hallman; 2019-2020 FM operating; Corporate $208,225 1.17 tCO2e reductions
LED lighting
Activa parking lot Sustainability - Reserve fund,, ($5,800
upgrades
ROI 5.8 years; $35,827 +
incentives incentive)
$3,500; 23,346 kWh
Breithaupt, KOF 2021-2023 FM operating; Corporate $200,000 2 tCO2e reductions
Sustainability - Reserve fund, ($5,000)
ROI 5 years; $38,000;
incentives
280,00kWh
Fire Hall Head Quarters 2021+ FM operating; Corporate $27,000 4.5 tCO2e reductions
(HQ); Lyle Hallman Pool Sustainability - Reserve fund, ($2,900)
ROI 5 years; $11,000,
incentives
55,000 kWh
Parking lots: Charles & 2019 Parking Enterprise capital, $55,600 3 tC02e/ per location
Benton; operating budget, incentives ($7,500
incentive)/
City Hall Garage; Civic 2021-2023 ROI - 2.4; $17,000;
location
District Garage 121,472 kWh
Functionality, public
satisfaction
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Other Ongoing FM operating; Corporate
Sustainability - Reserve fund,
incentives
City Hall, Freeport and 2019-2021 Reserve fund, Operations $92,250 24 tCO2e reductions
Variable
Carson pumping station fund, incentives ($31,140
frequency
ROI 1 year
incentive)
drives (VFDs)
$36,841; 469,372 kWh
Breithaupt (condensing 2020 FM operating; Corporate $250,000 38 tCO2e reductions
HVAC
boiler) Sustainability - Reserve fund
ROI 9 years; $28,000;
upgrades
15,330 m3
KOF geothermal loop 2020 FM operating $225,000 400 tCO2e reductions
optimization
Fire Hall HQ Approx. FM operating $29,000 2.1 tCO2e reductions
2021
ROI 10 years; $2,900,
10,000 m3
Lyle Hallman Pool Approx. FM operating $29,000 2.1 tCO2e reductions
2021
ROI 10 years; $2,900,
10,000 m3
Budd Park 2019-2020 Reserve fund, operations $17,071 tCO2e reductions
Fan upgrade
fund (FM) ($1400
ROI 8 years; $2,134;
incentive)
2,115 m3
Kitchener Aud; Fire Hall TBD FM & Sport operating $106,000 43 tCO2e reductions
Building
HQ, Lyle Hallman Pool
ROI 3.5 years; $14,200;
envelope
8700 m3, 16,400 kWh
Kitchener Aud, Fire Hall HQ TBD FM & Sport operating, $80,000 100 tCO2e reductions
Demand
incentives
control
ROI 4 years; $6,500;
ventilation
21,500 m3, 5500 kWh
Kitchener Aud TBD FM & Sport operating, $10,000+ 9 tCO2e reductions
Kitchen plug
incentives
ROI 1.5 years; $25,000,
loads
180,000 kWh
Kitchener Aud TBD FM & Sport operating, $300,000 - 6 tCO2e reductions
On-site
incentives, $450,000
ROI 15 years; $16,000,
generation
grants/partnerships
105 000 kWh
Mill-Courtland CC 2021 FM & Community Centre $230,000 29 tCO2e reductions
Renovation
(lighting, envelope,
Capital fund, incentives ($4,300)
Deep energy
ROI 7.5 years; $12,500;
mechanical including
retrofit
10,800 m3; 86,000 kWh
baseboard heat retrofit,
demand control ventilation
& on-site generation)
Chicopee-Centerville CC Ongoing FM & Community Centre $69,000 30 tCO2e reductions
(lighting, envelope,
Capital fund, incentives ($2,000
ROI 4 years; $11,500;
mechanical including
incentive)
15,500 m3; 39,000 kWh
baseboard heat retrofit,
demand control ventilation)
th
City Hall 5 floor - Building 2019 Operating, incentives $130,000 N/A
Schlegel Indoor - Net Zero 2022-2026 Capital fund, incentives Incremental ROI 13 years; $62,000;
Green New
Ready (extra $8m for Net cost of 39% energy savings above
Builds
Zero, with close to no $850,000 building code
*unless net zero
emissions)
carbon, new
Huron-Brigadoon Park & Approx. Community Services Capital TBD
build will add
tCO2e
Rosenberg - min. 25% 2020; & DC fund, incentives
above OBC 2023
Mill-Courtland & Forest 2021; TBD
Heights CC expansion
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2016 Baseline Emissions: 3,584 tonnes
Fleet
2026 Emissions Goal: 3,300 tonnes
Summary of initiatives undertaken: 2016-2018
The following actions improved/saved 53,200 L energy, and reduced 200 GHGs
Action Type Resource Cost KPI (per yr)
Electric fleet Vehicles (4), motorcycle (1), trail bike (2), Operations $141,000 15 tC02e
golf cart (1), zero-turn mower (1), push funding,
Savings - $8,000;
mower (2); line trimmers (4), blowers (3), incentives
3,200 litres
pole pruner (1), chainsaw (1)
Alternative Biodiesel use (B-5 & B20) Operations $76,000 174 tC02e
fuels funding
Savings - none
Fuel switch Conversion to propane (9) Operations $60,000 11 tC02e
funding,
Savings - $40,444;
incentives
50,000L
Table 8: Summary of fleet initiatives undertaken (2016-2018)
2019-2026 Actions
Goal: Optimize and innovate fleet through technology, alternative fuels and electrification
Actions:
Right-sizing, downsizing, vehicle sharing/scheduling; driver behavior, anti-idling;
Alternative fuels; electrification
Equipment replacement requirement - new criteria/category in justification section for downsizing,
electrification, alternate fuel; review idling during equipment review and how the vehicle should be
performing vs how it actually operates
Implementation tools:
Measurement: FLINT, E3 assessment, ISO 14001, Delphi Trident GHG & energy management database
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Policy alignment: Green Fleet Plan; ISO 14001; Anti-idling, Driver Behavior and Fuel Efficiency policy; fleet
equipment review process; SDG #7
Implementation Plan:
The following actions will reduce approximately 136,182 L of fuel as well as fuel-switching and 649 GHGs
Goal Action Timing Resource Cost KPI
(per yr)
2019-2020 2020-2022-2026
2022
Natural gas 1 Capital $200,000 Will allow for future
Alternative
Infrastructure fast carbon reductions
fuels
station
Other: O&M
functionality
Biofuels increase b-50 Existing Additional vehicles as Operating $72,000 271 tC02e
diesel added units
242,988 L
vehicles
Propane 60 vehicles in 6 years Operating $360,000 60 tC02e
units
Savings - $202,200,
250,000 L
Electric vehicles Electric ice Ongoing Operating $250,000 2 tC02e
EV/hybrid
(Charging station needed) resurfacer units
Savings - $855.09;
(2020)
813 L;
Hybrid Fire Ford 150 (2); 70k Operating $84,000 8 tC02e
Officer, 46k units
25% MPG, fuel
saving 3,319 L +
Mower 4 Operating $40,000 6 tC02e
units
1,300L
Handhelds 5 4 4 Operating $48,000
units
Stop/start system when Any new applicable vehicles - Front Operating 9 tC02e
Anti-Idling
(paired with LEAux end/heavy loaders; back hoes units
Technolog
BatterD strobe lights) for
y
4,000 L
high-idlers
Coolant recirculator/ 28 on big trucks (4 per year) $6,000 7 tC02e
Auto-therm
3,000L
Auxiliary heater 35 (5 per year) $17,500 21 tC02e
9,000 L
Auxiliary battery 35 (5 per year) Operating Fuel 11 tC02e
savings
4,750 L
pays for kit
Route optimization Create vehicle use policy
Fleet
253 tC02e
utilization
AVL reports on idling
110,000L
Programming rewards,
accountability, feedback process
Right sizing Fleet reviews and engagement Fleet
Equipment
review
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In the yard to eliminate 4 $1,500 1 tC02e
Bikes
utility vehicles (2)
600L
Table 9: Fleet actions and implementation plan
An idling vehicle emits nearly 20 times more air pollution than when travelling at 50 km/hr.
Reducing idling time by 10 minutes a day translates into approximately 60.8 hours a year and fuel savings
of more than 100L.
Turning off and starting an engine uses less fuel than letting the engine run for 30 seconds.
Modern vehicles need a maximum of 30 seconds of idle at start up - the best way to warm up a vehicle is
by driving it.
Engine wear is greater at prolonged idle than during normal operation.
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Outdoor
2016 Baseline Emissions: 505 tonnes
Lighting
2026 Emissions Goal: 375 tonnes
Summary of initiatives undertaken: 2016-2018
, GHGs have decreased by 60 % between 2016 and 2018
The following actions reduced 5,764,883 kWh of energy, and 160 GHGs
Action Area Resource Cost KPI (per yr)
Streetlights Operating budget, $6.6 m 160 tCO2e Functionality
LED/smart light
incentives
(with dimming
ROI 5 year payback: $1,200,000;
capability)
5,600,000 kWh
Table 10: Summary of lighting initiatives undertaken (2016-2018)
2019-2026 Actions
Goal: Upgrade and standardize outdoor lighting to LED technology; where applicable, with controls for
further efficiencies, analytics and functionality
Actions:
Continue LED retrofits, with controls where possible
Identify additional ways to conserve energy through actions such as reducing excess lighting
Implementation tools:
Measurement: SLV platform: trouble shooting, billing, energy software, Delphi Trident GHG & energy
management database
Policy alignment: Lighting standards; SDG #7
Implementation Plan
Table 11: Lighting actions and implementation plan
The following actions will reduce approximately 500,000 kWh of energy, and 13 GHGs
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Action Area Timing Resource Cost KPI (per yr)
LED upgrades, with Parks: Victoria Park (existing TBD Parks $90,000 0.25 tC02e
controls (daylight poles globe Fixtures) capital/operating ($6,100 functionality
harvesting, budget, incentives incentive)
Savings - $7,000;
dimming, sensors)
4,444 kWh; ROI - 12
year
Underpass lights (56) 2021-2022 Transportation $22,484 1 tC02e
HWY 85 at Guelph St., Krug St., operating, incentives ($1,500)
ROI 5 years:
Courtland Ave., and Eckert St.
Savings - $4,421;
Each underpass has
29,468 kWh
approximately 14 wall packs
Recent subdivisions Transportation
operating, incentives
Remaining LED Decorative (2800), parks During Transportation, Parks 3.5 million tC02e
(decorative) replace as reconstructions occur road (non-road) operating,
reconstructincentives (TBD) ROI -
ions; TBD
Recent subdivisions Transportation
on full
operating, incentives
conversion
LED Standard New developments Developer installed
DC charges
3 - 52
2016 Baseline Emissions: 336 tonnes
Waste
2026 Emissions Goal: 210 tonnes
Summary of initiatives undertaken: 2016-2018
With corporate waste, GHGs have decreased by 25 % between 2016 and 2018
The following actions saved L or GJ of energy, and associated GHGs
Action Area Resource Cost KPI (per yr)
Recycling of pipe Gas, water, sewer utility Operating (staff time) tC02e (not
available)
Disposal fee saved;
kg
Recycled carpet All new projects Operations funding tC02e
program
Disposal fee saved;
kg
Organics Stanley Park CC Operations funds $528 tC02e
expansion
Other: New Service
Construction Guelph St Storage Operating funds $4910 tC02e
waste
Disposal fee saved
Table 12: Summary of Waste initiatives undertaken (2016-2018)
2019 2026 Actions
Goal: Complete a comprehensive review of the existing waste program to improve and expand service areas
Actions:
Undertake a sanitation review to understand stakeholders, procedures, challenges and
opportunities within procurement, design and operations, with key goals of:
o Expanding organics - Expand program to smaller facilities indoor and outdoor
infrastructure, standardize process; Yard waste, metal, wood, e-waste, plastic; Sport &
Arenas
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o Explore expanded services/streams downtown; parks & trails
o Downtown program
o Process improvements and stakeholder engagement
Events: Vendor engagement; Waste contract services sorting; Central waste sorting station; Aud
Road construction materials: Underground piping recycling
Develop Sustainable Procurement Program:
o Green office program, ie. Paper reduction (double sided, softcopy storage; RFP specifying
1 hardcopy not in hard binder and softcopy etc.)
Implementation tools:
Measurement: Annual waste audit: annual consumption and GHG reporting; billing; energy software,
Delphi Trident GHG & energy management database
Policy alignment: ; 2018 Business Plan INS; SDG #12
Implementation Plan
Table 13: Waste action items and implementation plan
Action Area 2019-2021 2021-2024 Cost KPI
(per yr)
Organics: Introduce to higher needs Medium priority areas $10 a bin a Carbon
Expand program areas, ie. With food month reductions
Sanitation
Community Centres; production Financial
Review
smaller facilities savings
indoor and outdoor Identify solutions to unit
infrastructure, space constraints
Breithaupt
Diversion Yard - Road Engineering projects; outdoor waste/dumping Free Carbon
construction materials, reductions
waste metal, wood, Financial
hazardous, plastic savings
Recycling Single Stream Introduce into contract Expand Single stream Carbon
outdoor areas premium reductions
Process
improvements
Improve diversion and Assess best location and integrate recycling BIA Carbon
Downtown
illegal dumping and organics units - Standardization of bins and signage partnership reductions
Process
Engage businesses in outreach improvements
Public
Assess alternative waste disposal means, both technology
recognition
and partnerships
Vendor engagement Include sustainability Vendor waste reduction Sustainability Carbon
Events
items in application phase 1, ie. Can get a premium for reductions
discount for using better vendors/ Process
Create phase in plan to packaging, incentivize grants improvements
reduce packaging/waste through grants Financial
savings
Green guide for vendors
Include waste items in tender process program Financial
requirements; Materials we are using during operation, savings
ie. packaging
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Carbon
reductions
Process
improvement
Outdoor events Central waste station at At City run events $10,000 per Carbon
(downtown, parks) City run events downtown and Victoria Park waste centre; reductions
downtown (2 central stations, each single stream Process
Single stream recycling location) recycling improvements
Consistent bin colour and premium
Public
branding
recognition
Aud & Arenas Assess opportunities to Reward and encourage Programming Carbon
reduce waste and reusable containers to costs, ie. bins reductions
improve diversion with regulars and Process
food vendor and Hockey games leverage promotion improvements
operating branding and rangers to materials
Public
show program, info at food
recognition
counter
All facilities Paper, supplies waste Carbon
Office
reductions
program
Electronic agenda and records program
Process
improvements
Meetings, ie. Styrofoam, water bottles
Public
recognition
Figure 10: Wedge diagram to be updated once more project energy data is gathered
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Greenhouse Gas Reduction Potential of CorCAP Mitigation Actions
Considering the above actions, the City of Kitchener can will reduce tC02s by approximately 1,673
Energy Wedge Diagram with GHG Reduction
Potential of Projects
Streetlight LED
300,000300,000
Conversion
KOF + Breithaupt
250,000250,000
Upgrades
Fire Hall #3 Lighting
200,000200,000
Upgrades
City Hall VFDs
150,000150,000
Energy (GJ)
Auditorium Lighting
100,000100,000
Upgrade
BAU
50,00050,000
With Projects
00
20162017201820192020202120222023202420252026
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3.2 Adaptation
Summary of key risk and vulnerability to City of Kitchener assets
Higher risk
More extreme precipitation events that result in severe flooding
Increased extreme precipitation events leading to more accidents, emergencies, or displacement
More frequent extreme wind storms and freezing rain events
Increased freezing rain and winter storm events, leading to infrastructure damage, operating costs;
More extreme rainfall events may lead to erosion of riverbanks and hills;
Gradual increase in average temperature, extreme heat events and extended periods of low summer
precipitation leading to drought-like conditions
Increased periods of hot and dry weather
A decrease in precipitation may affect groundwater reserves
Medium risk
More frequent and intense rainstorms that exceed the capacity of the drainage system and result in
localized flooding and ponding in low lying areas; Extreme heat and diseases vectors that may cause health
acilities and infrastructure as they become increasingly unsuited to
the changing climate and more frequent climate hazards; Habitat degradation.
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Summary of initiatives undertaken: 2016-2018
Action Primary Risk
Developing a Regional Flood Plan in collaboration with GRCA, WRPS, and local Emergency management
municipalities, with communication and public education to support community
preparedness. Wireless communication notification system Health and Safety
Alert Waterloo Region (AlertWR) service that allows residents to receive important Large scale emergencies
public safety messages. Residents and businesses near an emergency can be such as floods, severe
informed using geo-mapping technology. Notifications can be delivered to home weather, or significant
phones, mobile phones, text and email power outages.
Integrated Stormwater Management Plan and associated projects Flooding
Stormwater Network Model (Infoworks ICM) expands existing model to
Infrastructure damage
include all pipe sections, all watercourses and improved surface elevations to
determine high risk flooding locations and overland flow routes during
Habitat degradation
extreme precipitation events
LID was incorporated into 5 road reconstruction projects to meet water
retention target in Council Policy MUN-UTI-2003 and mitigate increased
precipitation due to climate change
Idlewood Creek Restoration project completed construction works on the
watercourse to include improved aquatic habitat and increase number of
credits in the Habitat Bank as per existing arrangement between the
Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the City of Kitchener
Corporate Asset Management Program updating asset management policy to Flooding
reflect impact of climate change into account in our asset management plans
Infrastructure damage
Sustainable Urban Forestry Strategy proposed strategies to improve the resiliency Heat, flooding
of the urban forest
Table 14: Summary of climate adaptation actions undertaken (2016-2018)
Given the biggest climate change risk to the City of Kitchener is extreme precipitation and resultant flooding, the
Integrated Stormwater Management Plan (ISWM) is a considerable asset to climate adaptation planning. ISWIM
focuses on effects of infrastructure in built up urban areas, which are at higher risk, with solutions to mitigate negative
effects on human and animal health from increased flooding and creek erosion and overwhelming of the municipal
storm sewer system resulting in flooding. High and medium risk areas are prioritized accordingly. Key areas of
integration include municipal pollution prevention, operations & maintenance; stormwater for the capital roads
program (conveyance controls); stormwater infrastructure, and stormwater management facilities.
support of this program will become increasingly important, which will result in significant return on investment
through avoided costs from damage.
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2019 2026 Actions
Goal: Plan and implement climate adaptation initiatives through engagement, policy and projects that
improve resiliency to impacts that pose risk to the corporation
Actions:
Risk planning
o Update and develop emergency management plans and procedures to include extreme
weather protocol
Flood coordinators; disaster planning
o Create actionable data sets through better information from modeling and sensors to measure
weather
o Using ISWM-MP in addition to flood modeling and sensors, respond to high risk facilities and
critical infrastructure, including impacts on source water
o Assess impact of existing and coming trends, ie freeze/thaw cycles, invasive species
Including impacts of damage and service disruption on enterprises and services
o Plans for wastewater pumping stations located in low risk areas to ensure they are fully-
operational and accessible during extreme rain events and riverine flood events; backup power
to allow a minimum amount of uninterrupted service and overflow in case of failure
Capital planning, design and construction
o Complete risk assessment and associated modeling to:
Further stormwater controls by supporting gray and green infrastructure, natural
ecosystems that promote cooling, infiltration, etc.
Cool and permeable paving in high risk areas including parking lots, walkways,
driveways, patios, road and trail sections
Safeguard critical infrastructure (bury, above grade)
Achieve Structural integrity to withstand high winds, snow loads, etc.
Support tree canopy on private and public lands
Increase tree shade in urban areas and positioned to help mitigate flooding, wind and
heat in open spaces and grounds of facilities
Develop plans to mitigate impacts around the Grand River and other flood plains
Operations
o
through appropriate operations practices
o Include climate related risk items as a part of surveillance programs: condition inspections,
maintenance checklists and program, etc.
Include invasive species, infectious disease trends
o Embed extreme weather protocols, resources into operating procedures
o Tree protection program
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-Orientation training, planting and maintenance procedures; service level updates on
trimming; peer-to-peer programming; work procedure for line trimmer/new trees
Engagement
o In addition to corporately owned areas, private landowner engagement in Stormwater
management, tree planting, etc. to best minimize risk through comprehensive approach
o Work with the Lovemyhood greening stream to improve stormwater management on both
public and private lands
Implementation tools:
Measurement: Water loggers: weather sensors; City Works tagging, mapping and modeling systems,
Industry Risk and ROI Toolkit
Policy alignment: tegrated Stormwater Master Plan, Sustainable Urban Forestry
Strategy and Plan, community adaptation plan, Invasive Species Act, SDG #6, 3
Implementation Plan
reliance in: Health & safety; business continuity (energy security) and infrastructure damage
Table 15: Climate adaptation actions and implementation plan
Risk Action 2019-2020 2020-2022 2023-2026 Resource
Flooding Public Private landowner engagement Launch market Expand market incentive SWM capital and
programs in SWM /LID: incentive program program scope and reach operating budget
Develop market incentive
program with suite of options Drainage risk Credit trading program Kitchener Utilities
Benchmark evaluation
Lovemyhood
Stakeholder engagement
(REEP, contractors, private
External funding
landowners) - create
relationships and program
Participate in Lovemyhood
Update
emergency and business
continuity plans; Sediment
management program
Capital ISWM projects: Monitoring; creek rehabilitation; Assess ROI and propose SWM capital and
projects watercourse program; facility retrofits; drainage funding of additional operating budget
improvements; SWM infrastructure; LID road items: Laneway,
External funding
reconstruction; park/SWM enhancements permeable paving;
Vegetated LID techniques
Corporate Model risk areas to build case Weather, soil Water loggers in SWM capital and
LID for LID solutions in higher risk sensors (currently permeated pipes operating budget
areas; operations plan have rain-gauge at (monitoring wells) - link to
Integrate LID ROI assessment City Hall and KOF), smart lights to see
set up via open data stormwater systems
response to rainfall events
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Health & Heat stress, Use studies and work Implement procedures for extreme weather Human Resources
Safety reduction of procedures for extreme weather events and high risk areas/situations into
air quality events and high risk operating practices, orientation, training, ongoing Operating cost
areas/situations to identify monitoring and review
Damaged
further opportunities, ie.
assets
Reduced hours, supply of water
Infectious
and emergency kits, cool off
disease, ie.
stations, etc.
ticks
Infrastructure, Operational Drought resistant trees; Forest, Assess invasive Program for invasive Operations and
Building and programs grasslands and soil management species species management enterprise operating
natural area avoided costs
damage Study service levels Implement, communicate
Cooling stations buildings, and enterprise corporate climate impacts,
parks impacts using new responses to public
climate data being
Procedures for areas of risk: Kill gathered
Study to support
Operations program and natural ecosystems,
training ie. naturalize
Update green urban design Strengthen design guidelines via efficiency, GHG Corporate design
Capital guidelines and capital planning and resiliency standards in addition to waste and standard
design process (see Green Design alternative transit
Urban, engineering,
Standard in Part Two)
complete streets!
Separate standard for environmentally
design manuals
sensitive/at risk areas
By-laws
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4.0 Part Two: Program Development &
Implementation
As with any program, it is essential to establish ways of gathering information in order to improve data
availability and quality. Then, this information can be used to inform the processes that take place to
manage operations, which are communicated both internally and externally to corporate stakeholders.
Ultimately, the goal is to create a program where sustainable choices resonate and align to personal and
professional mandates through straightforward, accessible and affordable solutions.
The areas of program management include: Measurement Systems, Process Mechanisms, and
Communication.
4.1Measurement Systems
Measurement systems are the tools and methods we use to gather and make use of data for decision-
making
Goal: Create and utilize robust data to gather, analyze, forecast, and report on findings and trends to
inform strategic planning, business operations and project level performance
Actions
Manual data gathering
Require new capital projects to include data gathering as part of scope; connection to existing
measurement technology and/or process and systems
Tag and link all project information to specific weather events (where appropriate) in City
Works, work management app
o Train staff and validate information; include description of impact of event
Audits & assessments
o Energy efficiency audits/feasibility studies
o Asset management condition information and cause and effect of activities related to
service level
o Gather energy data during building condition and other asset assessments, ie.
inventorying (both on project and operational basis); add energy related fields in
CityWorks
o Identify high risk areas of the city through stormwater network model for high priority to
address
o Investigate how the City can streamline gathering of data on insured and uninsured claims
in relation to to weather events
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Energy and greenhouse gas tracking, using:
o BAS data point additions (water); corporate database energy platform; GHG accounting
software; billing; leak detection software
Organize base utility consumption reports, ie. labeling, parameters
Assess the value of corporate-wide assessment frameworks such as ISO 37120 World Council on
City Data and other supporting sustainability frameworks, such as the United Nations
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), STAR Community Framework, and ISO 37123
Sustainable Development in Communities
The SDGs serve as an analytical framework for assessing different sustainable development
dimensions; climate action is one of these. Most areas of sustainability are interrelated and require
action in several to be successful. In general, the SDGs provide a robust blueprint for cities to
consider their own strategic growth and so provide a fitting model to frame contributing programs.
Figure 11: CorCAP's relation to the UN SDGs
Main area of contribution from the CorCAP
Supporting area of contribution from the CorCAP
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Automated data gathering
Made in Kitchener approach to energy data gathering via corporate database:
o Work with GIS and Digital Kitchener Innovation Lab to capture energy data via existing data
points into platform
o Create climate adaptation platform with weather, water and precipitation sensors
Inform staff and public area users of energy use through online platform
Track, aggregate, trend, forecast adaptation data (heat, precipitation flooding,
freezing rain, naturalized areas)
o Link systems to have data informed operations
Integrate smart controls into projects as applicable
Integrate complementary management systems/data points to improve level of service and
efficiency in operations
4.1.2Process Mechanisms
Process mechanisms are the ways in which goals become embedded. In the corporation, these provide
the capital means to do projects and the procurement principles that guide transactions; the budgeting
process establishes parameters of what will get funded, the project management process identifies
those parameters and the resulting asset is operated and maintained until end of life.
The largest impact of these actions is on administrative processes, with often lower operating cost from
less energy consumption and necessary maintenance.
Goal: Guide decision making to support greenhouse gas emission reduction and resiliency to climate
change
Actions
Finance
Establish a reserve fund to implement energy savings projects, with the financial savings being
reinvested into the fund
o$400,000 for first 2 years and reassess for growth potential
Consider including environmental sustainability section and ongoing operating impacts within
staff reports that consider impact to GHG emissions, applicable opportunity and cost to reduce
GHG emissions or improve resiliency to climate change
Integrate sustainability elements into accounting metrics and associated reporting, ie. Global
Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards
Pursue external funding opportunities at the local, provincial and federal level, such as
Infrastructure Canada funding and Low Carbon Economy funding
o Gather applicable project data and studies to facilitate application
Investigate alternative financing schemes: (Internal offset, investment, revenue program)
o Stormwater utility, private landowner low impact design (LID) incentive
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o Energy: contract/load management; renewables (net metering)
o Apply to applicable funding and grant opportunities
o Third party financing of green projects, where applicable
o Internal and external partnerships to complete projects
Budgeting
Business planning process
o For new capital construction projects and major renovations, include energy efficiency and
resilience as a standard (see Integrated Project Management Green design standards
below); Total cost of ownership and lifecycle costing in project costing
budget minimum 10% of project cost for energy efficiency to consider lifecycle cost
and up to 13% for net zero construction
Procurement
Include climate lens requirements in tendering/requests for proposals, ie sustainability
statement; carbon impact - energy and risk modeling, applicable sensors, link to measurement
systems, etc.
Include valuation criteria that includes climate mitigation and resiliency principles within vendor
criteria
Request less/minimal packaging of sourced goods and/or circular waste streams for packaging
Develop a City of Kitchener sustainable purchasing policy and guide
Integrated Project Management
Project management Develop checklist that includes ongoing involvement with staff
throughout the planning, design and construction, commissioning/handoff, operations
processes
Green design standard
Existing Design standards Update facility and equipment standards to include energy
modeling/studies, ie. Pumping stations
D
o Complete, whole-building approach that includes building envelope upgrades as well as
interior fixtures and systems that are high efficiency, ie windows, supplementary
insulation, lighting upgrades, weather-stripping, programmable controls, efficient
appliances, etc.
Develop low-carbon standard for new buildings to be 25% above building code in energy
efficiency at minimum, Net Zero Ready or Net Zero where possible (depending on site); to
promote substantial energy efficiency, resilience to extreme weather, improvements to air
quality and natural systems
o Energy efficiency, GHGs & Resiliency (including water and transit)
Perform energy and risk models; consider whole site with green and grey stormwater
management; achieve minimum efficiency target; alternative transportation
infrastructure
Co-locate complimentary uses where possible (ie. senior residence with a community
centre)
Weather resistant materials and design, passive design and placement of critical
infrastructure
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Thermal energy use (maintains heat even in power shut off for energy security
and protection of building assets)
ISWM-MP including low impact design (LID) through gray and green
infrastructure, including tree canopy for shading and slowing run-off
Minimize asset damage via site location, buried hydro lines, durable cladding and
windows, placement of critical systems, etc.
Shading, cool pavement
o Air quality and ecosystem health
Protection of natural spaces: Bee and bird friendly design in built form and
landscaping
o Solid Waste
Construction waste diverted, where possible
Central waste system that includes organics diversion; florescence, battery disposal
Operations
Asset management
o Integrate climate (energy and risk) indicators into condition assessments and modeling
o Correlate climate change indicators to activity levels and overall asset condition trend
o Business continuity plans to include climate risks (energy resilience and emergency plans
for extreme weather)
o Asses and integrate climate change indicators/considerations within levels and type of
service during reviews, e.g. More expensive winter (freeze, thaw) and summer (dry) season
Operations and maintenance program (O&M)
Energy management
o Regular energy expenditure and consumption analysis for O&M program and continuous
improvement
o Optimize drive routes to support deceased energy use between job sites
o Sharing energy (utilities, waste) information monthly with staff for awareness and behavior
change related to consumption
o Efficiency training and front-line staff engagement on lessons learned and efficiency
feedback
o Work plans, standards, procedures; scheduling to reflect energy intensity measures:
Conservation (Use less)
-Program: Corporate conservation policy - reducing temperature, lighting, equipment run
time in off hours/unoccupied space; IT plug loads; grounds water conservation program;
improve adoption of existing conservation policy (ie. fuel efficiency)
-Operations and maintenance: Preventative maintenance program; weather stripping;
insulation, daylighting
Efficiency (Use better)
-Program: Operations design standard for equipment and materials, ie. LED lighting, high
efficiency chillers, preventative/deferred maintenance
-Controls:
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Building Automation System optimization and ongoing calibration, ie. commissioning,
recommissioning, IT data centres
Applicable sensors; submeters (measure project or department level information)
Innovate (Use different)
-Progressive green capital and operations design standard for new buildings and major
renovations meet advanced standards, where possible (site-specific)
Conversion of HVAC to renewable solutions; biofuels in fleet
4.1.3Communication
Communication channels are the mechanisms to collect and disseminate information for purposes of
awareness and transparency, engagement and reporting.
Goal: Improve engagement and two-way communication between stakeholders by optimizing existing
channels and creating new ones
Actions:
Policy
Update corporate strategies, plans and policies to include and advance related climate goals
o Respond to Environmental Leadership goals in City of Kitchener Strategic Plan,
applicable strategies in CorCAP
Programs
Focus Areas -
Energy dashboard engagement divisional energy competitions; displaying each
energy usage
Office waste: reduce paper, supplies, energy use
Front line communications: Community/recreation centre and operations crew feedback forums
and peer-to-peer learning and program design, use of existing survey and app tools
Develop a volunteer sustainability program stream in collaboration with Volunteer Engagement
to build capacity and internal and external partnerships
Waste reduction (see Waste actions)
o Events
Outdoor events: Program for organics and recycling diversion, awareness
campaigns, vendor engagement
Arenas: Awareness campaigns, vendor engagement, reusable ware options
o Downtown; Parks & Trails: Assess ideal locations to expand diversion programming
Work with existing programs and develop new one to engage the public in climate action on
both public and private lands (i.e. see Adaptation actions)
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Resources
Management and information systems; web-based (polls, surveys, etc.)
Toolkit/resources/guide for key practices, ie. Waste reduction (batteries, e-waste, paper use,
sharing, event kit/catering-food best practices, use less packaging/single use materials, etc.)
Promote learning events and opportunities, i.e. through Sustainable Waterloo Region
Outreach
Internal: Annual formal updates and regular informal updates to stakeholders through online
forums, such as KHub and development of interactive website for internal and external viewers
External: Report to mandated and voluntary bodies; improve quality and quantity of information
reported
________________________________________________________________
Implementation
Many of the above actions relate to administrative updates and will be initiated via new programs and
policy reviews in the short term between 2019 and 2020. These have significant potential to reduce
energy and associated carbon emissions at now or low cost. Items with a financial impact are
demonstrated below:
Action Timeline Resource Cost KPI
2019 Staff time, operating $20,000 Data availability and
Energy dashboard & energy
funds quality
accounting, project tracker
tool
2020 Staff time Data availability and
Resiliency dashboard
quality
extreme weather data
2019 Capital funds $400,000 Mobilize carbon
Energy Reserve fund
reductions, financial
savings, functionality
2019 Capital, DC funds Approxima
Corporate New builds
tely 10%-
green 25% above
12% of
building building code
project
standards minimum
cost
2019+ Capital, DC funds
Major
renovations
Pumping
stations
2019 + Staff time, operating
Waste program/ engagement
budget;
(energy, fleet, waste, water)
Communication Plan
Table 16: Program management implementation plan
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5Part Three: Program Review
Given the nature and scope, CorCAP must be a living document projects will emerge to provide
opportunity for further carbon reductions and resiliency and there will also be potential for challenges in
implementation of some.
Ongoing measurement and review is essential for the success of such an extensive program, in terms of
its o
program. The City of Kitchener is also reporting to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), Sustainable
(Implementation) and Five (Monitoring).
This section outlines a plan for monitoring and reporting on the progress towards the overall corporate
climate change program, including the following elements:
Track
Plan
Progress
UpdateReport
5.1Track Progress
Update information, evaluate effectiveness of actions against baseline data and indicators using
internal process and industry standards
o Green design standard and applicable frameworks outline measurement protocols
Whether reduction measures are producing anticipated results and whether emissions
reduction target will be met, via:
o Updating the inventory
5.2Reporting
Formal reporting for transparency of plan status, via Communication Channels outlined in Phase 1:
Program Management in terms of annual GHG reporting in each focus area
Internal
o Corporate Leadership Team o Environment Committee
o Council o Staff
External
FCM & ICLEI
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o Report on milestone progress and apply for recognition; report on next stage success:
escription of the degree to which measures in
have been implemented (include implementation partners, financing mechanisms, and
variations from the original plan) as well as the implementation schedule
funding
5.3Forecast & Revise
Consider future options and items; revise plan based on:
o Energy trends
o Available funding and partnerships
o Project success, including additional initiatives
o Assess, model
5.4Plan
Create new strategic plans, policy, procedures, standards, etc. to include climate change
Align with local initiatives, partners and pursue applicable funding opportunities
6 Recap
Short term corporate climate action priorities, 2019-2021
Focus Area Action Primary KPIs
Building energy Controls and upgrades lighting, pumps, HVAC Energy efficiency, GHG
efficiency
Stormwater Gray and green infrastructure capital program Flooding resilience
management
Fleet optimization Technology, electric handhelds, biodiesel GHG: diversion;
stakeholder engagement
Programming Energy, GHG, Resiliency: Planning, design, GHG: energy reduction;
construction, operations standards and procedure stakeholder engagement
Waste: Sanitation review; events and downtown GHG: diversion;
diversion program stakeholder engagement
Stormwater: Private landowner market-based Flooding resilience,
incentive program; lovemyhood; emergency stakeholder engagement
planning
Fleet: Driver engagement GHG: Fuel reduction;
stakeholder engagement
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Appendix 1: Figures & Tables
Figure 1: Policy context of climate action, global to local
Figure 2: Greenhouse gas emissions (tCO2e) by sector
Figure 3: Energy use (GJ) by source
Figure 4 Corporate emissions target vs business-as-usual projection
Figure 5: Corporate greenhouse gas emissions and forecast
Figure 6: Cost of extreme weather events in the City of Kitchener
Figure 7: City of Kitchener Flood map showing buildings and infrastructure
Figure 8: Heat map of City of Kitchener showing a range of surface temperature - Sustainable Urban
Forestry Strategy, 2017
Figure 9: Hierarchy of City of Kitchener risk areas, likelihood and associated impacts
Figure 10: CorCAP's relation to the UN SDGs
Figure 11: Wedge diagram to be updated once more project energy data is gathered
Figure 12: Overview of the greenhouse gases effect in the atmosphere (climatecentral.org)
Figure 13: Source and composition of emissions stemming from an organization (Greenhouse Gas
Protocol)
Figure 14: Change in temperature over time in Canada (Canada.ca)
Figure 15: Canadian's energy use per capita, as compared to the rest of the world
Figure 16: Global ecosystem impacts of climate change (planetsave.com)
Figure 17: Catastrophic insured losses in Canada (1980-2016): Overall and Insured, US$
Table 1: Components of the modelling process for Waterloo Region
Table 2: Key corporate performance indicators
Table 3: Summary of corporate greenhouse gas emissions inventory and target
Table 4: Action area priorities to mitigate climate impacts
Table 5: Action area priorities to mitigate climate impacts
Table 6: Program management implementation plan
Table 7: Summary of Building initiatives undertaken (2016 - 2018)
Table 8: Building actions and implementation plan
Table 9: Summary of fleet initiatives undertaken (2016-2018)
Table 10: Fleet actions and implementation plan
Table 11: Summary of lighting initiatives undertaken (2016-2018)
Table 12: Lighting actions and implementation plan
Table 13: Summary of Waste initiatives undertaken (2016-2018)
Table 14: Waste action items and implementation plan
Table 15: Summary of climate adaptation actions undertaken (2016-2018)
Table 16: Climate adaptation actions and implementation plan
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Appendix 2: Climate Change Primer
Weather and climate change
Weather and climate are differentiated by a measure of time: weather is the conditions of the
atmosphere over a short period of time and climate is the long-term trends of the atmosphere. Weather
can change abruptly and differ from season to season year over another year; climate is the average of
weather over time and space. A standard endorsed by the World Meteorological Organization, the
period over which climate change is analyzed is through average monthly quantities over minimum 30-
year periods (WMO, 2017).
Greenhouse gases
Greenhouse Gas Global Warming Potential
(GWP) 100 year time
horizon
1
Carbon dioxide (CO
Methane (CH 4) 25
298
Nitrus oxide (NO)
Figure 12: Overview of the greenhouse gases effect in the atmosphere (climatecentral.org)
It can take hundreds to thousands of years for CO to leave the atmosphere (depending on the level of
2
reductions that take place), about a decade for methane (CH), which it converts into CO, and about a
42
century for nitrous oxide (NO). These gases become mixed so the amount measured in the atmosphere
2
is roughly the same all over the world, regardless of the source of the emissions.
Emissions are a result of burning of fossil fuels, which make up the vast majority of our energy sources.
Figure 2 shows that in an organization, energy is defined into three scopes to consider: direct (burned on
site) and 2 types of indirect (purchased, disposed, wasted energy):
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Figure 13: Source and composition of emissions stemming from an organization (Greenhouse Gas Protocol)
As of 2017, Human activities have caused approximately 1.0°C (between 0.8°C and 1.2°C) of global
warming above pre-industrial levels, increasing at 0.2°C (between 0.1°C and 0.3°C) per decade. Global
warming is projected to increase by 1.5°C between 2030 and 2052 if it continues to increase at the
current rate. The rate of global warming over the last 50 years is almost double the rate of warming over
the last 100; worldwide, 17 of the 18 hottest years on record have occurred since 2000. (IPCC, 2018)
Climate Change in Canada
Our local climate is getting, warmer, wetter and more extreme. This means more intense rainstorms,
windstorms and freezing rainstorms.
Canada is warming at double the rate of the rest of the world with an average annual temperature
increase of 1.7 °C over the period 1948 to 2016. The strongest trends are found in the far north, which is
consistent with the projected future characteristics of climate change. With 8 of 10 of Canadian
provinces and all three territories bordering on ocean water, many regions will be impacted by changing
ocean environments.
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Figure 14: Change in temperature over time in Canada (Canada.ca)
Did you know? Canadians use more energy per capita any other nation in the world largely because of living
standards, abundance of inexpensive energy, heavy industry and a large, cold climate (Pollution Probe, 2016)
Figure 15: Canadian's energy use per capita, as compared to the rest of the world
Summary of Climate Change Impacts
See Appendix 1 for high level information on global trends and impacts
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released a Special Report in the fall of 2018 on limiting
-
consequences from rising carbon emissions and subsequent climate change. (IPCC, 2018).
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Global Risks Report
(2019) both listed climate change and its affects as top risks to the world, based on likelihood of the risk
against impact. Top risks in the Report include:
Failure of climate change mitigation and adaptation,
Extreme weather events,
Water crises,
Natural disasters and,
Biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse.
In purely economic terms, Canadian cities are facing billions of dollars in costs due to accelerating
climate change.
Climate-related risks for natural and human systems are higher for global warming of 1.5°C than at
present, but lower than at 2°C. These risks depend on the magnitude and rate of warming, geographic
location, levels of development and vulnerability, and on implementation of adaptation and mitigation
options. The impacts and costs of 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 degrees Celsius) of global warming will
be will be extensive; felt across ecosystems and human communities and economies. (IPCC, 2018)
Health:
World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 9 out of 10 people breathe air containing high levels of
pollutants. Recent updated estimations show that 7 million people die every year from by ambient
(outdoor) and household air pollution made up of fine particles that penetrate deep into the lungs and
cardiovascular system. Exposure causes diseases including stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, chronic
obstructive pulmonary diseases and respiratory infections, including pneumonia. Vulnerable populations
are at particular risk to climate chance, such as the elderly, people with existing health conditions and
those unable to afford resources such as cooling in summer months.
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Ecosystems:
Figure 16: Global ecosystem impacts of climate change (planetsave.com)
Economic:
The financial cost of extreme weather is substantial, of both insured and uninsured damages as well as
increased operating costs to individuals and businesses.
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Figure 17: Catastrophic insured losses in Canada (1980-2016): Overall and Insured, US$
Appendix 3: 2018 Greenhouse Gas Inventory
Total emissions in 2018 are 10256 tC02e
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References
ICLEI Canada (2010) Changing climate, changing communities. Guide and workbook for Canadian municipalities. ICLEI Canada,
Toronto
IPCC Fifth Assessment Report, Summary for Policymakers
FCM (2012) Reaching Milestone 3: How to Create a Local Action Plan to Manage Energy and Emissions. Federation of Canadian
Municipalities, Toronto
Primer on Energy Systems in Canada, Second Edition, Pollution Probe 2016.
https://www.ontario.ca/page/why-we-need-address-climate-change
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Dustin Carey (2017).
Climate Change Impacts
https://uwaterloo.ca/climate-centre/sites/ca.climate-
centre/files/uploads/files/waterloo_region_climate_projections_final_full_report_dec2015.pdf
http://nrt-trn.ca/climate/climate-prosperity/the-economic-impacts-of-climate-change-for-canada/paying-the-price-canada-
wide-costs-of-climate-change
http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Global_Risks_Report_2019.pdf
https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/climatechange/overview
https://datacatalog.worldbank.org/dataset/world-development-indicators
https://planetsave.com/2015/06/02/global-warming-or-climate-change-whats-the-difference/10-other-climate-effects-epa/
https://www.climatecentral.org/go/wmo-greenhouse-gas-bulletin-2015
https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/climate-change/canadian-centre-climate-
services/basics/trends-projections/changes-temperature.html
Greenhouse Gas Protocol
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