HomeMy WebLinkAboutEnv Minutes - 2019-03-21
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES
MARCH 21, 2019 CITY OF KITCHENER
The Environmental Committee met this date commencing at 4:00 p.m.
Present: Ms. T. Driver - Chair
Messrs. D. Bailey, J. Jackson, R. Paul, and Ms. T. Belanger, Ms. C. Gaetini, Ms. K.
Fellows, Ms. T. Davidson, Ms. A. Gingrich Regehr and Ms. E. Waslander.
Staff: B. Sloan, Manager, Long Range & Policy Planning
B. Steiner, Senior Environmental Planner
B. Bishop, Design and Construction Project Manager
N. Gollan, Manager Stormwater Utility
C. Bennett, Corporate Sustainability Officer
C. Musselman, Senior Environmental Planner
C. Boomer, Committee Administrator
1. 2018 STORMWATER MANAGEMENT WATER QUALITY MONITORING PROGRAM
March 8, 2019 summarizing the 2018 Stormwater Management Monitoring Program and seeking
recommendations and feedback from the Committee. Mr. B. Bishop was in attendance to
respond to questions from the Committee.
Ms. S. Andrew from GHD Group, presented an overview of the 2018 Stormwater Management
Water Quality Monitoring Program. She reviewed the types of monitoring performed on sub
watersheds within the City of Kitchener. She then continued in providing a summary of all the
creeks/areas that we currently monitor. The sub watersheds have been assessed and ranked
based from the healthiest to poorest condition.
Ms. R. Leppington from GHD group and outlined the Habitat Bank monitoring program
throughout 2018. The purpose of the program is to establish a Habitat Bank such that work
completed through restoration projects could be applied as compensation for other works where
serious harm to fish or fish habitat may be unavoidable. She outlined the monitoring activities
were conducted along the following three creeks, Henry Sturm Greenway in Filsinger Park,
Idlewood, and Balzer. Ms. provided an overview of the current state of the creeks that have
been restored.
The Committee engaged in a discussion surrounding the use and sale of credits. Mr. N. Gollan
Manager Stormwater Utility advised there is no criteria for the sale of credits as it is not currently
permitted.
In response to questions, Mr. Gollan advised that they were prioritized in the Stormwater
Management Master Plan. The implementation plan focuses on restoring the lowest quality
locations first. He also noted that the City is currently able to rehabilitate one creek a year.
2. COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT GRANT (CEIG) APPLICANT
PRESENTATIONS
Ms. L. Hamilton from Divest advised the goal of their project, Resiliency and Regeneration
Climate Conversations for Faith Communities, is to bring all faith communities within the city
together to perform a series of workshops. The three workshops will be related to repurposing
space, energy audits and benchmarking. She continued that the project would include outreach
to local climate change groups and activists. Invite all climate action folks/groups. Mr. R. Paul
advised there is opportunity to further utilize faith-based spaces, especially for the extreme
weather events.
Ms. T. Rayner from Transition Kitchener-Waterloo provided an overview of their project
Neighbourhood Climate Change Adaptation/Mitigation Workshops. Ms. Rayner advised the
need to bring down barriers and encourage reducing climate change impacts. Workshops
participants will be more aware of the causes and impacts of climate change and will positively
engage in adaptation activities personally and collectively. She continued actions will help our
city to become more resilient in the face of increasing extreme weather events. Engaging people
positively in mitigation activities and connecting them with local resources, will build community
and garner interest in and support for municipal sustainability initiatives.
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES
MARCH 21, 2019 - 6 - CITY OF KITCHENER
3. CORPORATE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN
The Committee was in receipt this date of a staff report entitled Corporate Climate Action Plan
Draft - Consultation as well as a draft of the Corporate Climate Action Plan for the City of
Kitchener. Ms. Bennett, Corporate Sustainability Officer at the City of Kitchener advised she is
requesting a motion of support.
Ms. Bennett provided an overview of the plan framework. Currently in the middle stages,
ensuring that we capture new opportunities and challenges that arise. Ms. Bennett further
indicated the environment is now the second highest priority for Kitchener residents. The total
plan spans from 2019 2026. She advised the Committee on the eight main goals of the
Corporate Climate Action Plan, which include:
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
Several members of the committee engaged in a discussion regarding the 8% total greenhouse
gas (GHG) reduction target by 2026. It was suggested that the target could be higher to display
a bold commitment to reducing GHG emissions. Ms. Bennett advised this target is a balance as
we need to reduce our GHG emissions while simultaneously incorporating growth. She
continued to outline the City will need to achieve a 20% reduction to attain an overall GHG
reduction of 8% that incorporates growth. Several members suggested to revisit this target three
years after Council adoption.
On motion by Ms. C. Gaetini
It was resolved:
That the Corporate Climate Action Plan be endorsed in principle, and;
That City of Kitchener aspire to reduce corporate GHG emissions more than the
recommended 8% and to revisit the Corporate Climate
time after Council adoption, and further;
That the Action 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 applicable new
builds (site dependent) and minimum 25% improvement above Ontario Building Code for all
others and does not preclude LEED certification, be endorsed in principle.
4. NEW 2019-2020 ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE WORK PLAN & APPOINTMENT OF
COMMITTEE
The Committee suggested the following topics be explored in the draft work plan:
Water stewardship
Environmental Education
Engagement
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES
MARCH 21, 2019 - 7 - CITY OF KITCHENER
Source water protection
Habitat creation
ADJOURNMENT
On motion, this meeting adjourned at 5:43 p.m.
Cody Boomer
Committee Administrator