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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-09-10ENVY1992-09-10 ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES SEPTEMBER 10, 1992 The Environmental Committee met this date commencing at 3:00 p.m. under the Chairmanship of Alderman C. Weylie with the following members present: Alderman M. Wagner, Alderman C. Zehr, Dr. J. Kay, Mr. J. Main, Mr. S. Cook and Mr. D. Hilker. Alderman T. Galloway and Alderman G. Leadston entered the meeting after its commencement. Others Present: Mr. S. Klapman, Mr. L. Masseo, Mr. S. Gyorffy, Mr. F. Graham, Mr. G. Nixon, Mr. C. Ford, Mr. T. Clancy, and Mr. L.W. Neil. Alderman C. Weylie advised the Committee that the purpose of the special meeting of this date was to: - consider presentation strategy of the Strategic Plan at the September 21st Council meeting - consider the Committees 1993 budget - consider the future role of the Committee Mr. J. Main referred the Committee to the minutes of its August 19th meeting and stated that he thought it had been agreed that a "Citizen Involvement Section" should be added to the Strategic Plan. Mr. L. Masseo commented that no reference to this was contained in the minutes and that many initiatives in any event require a public process that would develop in the fullness of time. Alderman M. Wagner explained how the process of an "Adopt a Program" would go forward and suggested that citizen involvement could grow out of such "Adopt a Program" initiatives. Mr. J. Main expressed concern that the name of the Plan document was misleading as to whether it related to the corporation or to the city as a whole. Dr. J. Kay pointed out that originally the document was intended to deal with just the institutional operations of the corporation but infact had become must broader. Alderman C. Zehr stated that he considered the Plan to be an institutional document containing initiatives for community participation with municipal support. Mr. S. Klapman recommended that a focus be maintained and that if the Strategic Plan was to have meaning, every effort be made to stay with the Plan and that whatever initiatives were undertaken be within the frame work of the document. Alderman C. Weylie referred to the City's 1993 budgets which are currently under preparation and noted that each department has been instructed to include in their departmental budgets priorities from the Strategic Plan that involved their department. Mr. F. Graham recommended that environmental issues within individual departmental budgets be drawn together in consolidated summary form for the information of both Environmental Committee and City Council. It was agreed that Mr. C. Ford would approach Mr. L. Ryan to discuss the flagging and budget consolidation of environmental initiatives. Related to the matter of budget was the question of the future role of the Committee. Mr. S. Klapman commented that he thought the Committee should be taking a leadership role. Alderman C. Weylie noted that sponsoring the "Environmental Fair" would show such leadership. Mr. F. Graham stated that the City could provide substantial infra-structure support for an "Environmental Fair." He recommended that the Committee ask if the original proponents of the "Environmental Fair" would agree to again conduct the event provided grant funding and infra-structure support was made available to them from the City. Alderman T. Galloway entered the meeting at this point. Mr. S. Cook informed the Committee that there are many federal and provincial sources of funding for environment related projects that are available only to community groups. It was suggested that the Committee could play a role to facilitate community groups obtaining such funding. Alderman C. Zehr stated that he supported the concept of a consolidated environmental budget that would list items without the relative dollar amount. ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES - 32 - SEPTEMBER 10, 1992 Alderman G. Leadston entered the meeting at this point. Mr. L. Masseo pointed out that a new column has been developed to identify which department has responsibility for each initiative in the Plan. Dr. J. Kay requested that a process be established to identify recommended cuts in the budget that relate to environmental issues. Alderman C. Zehr suggested that staff could be directed to send information arising from management review of the budget to Environmental Committee members. He asked that this matter be included as a separate agenda item for consideration at a future committee meeting. It was also noted that as a future agenda item matters of program identification, matching of groups to programs, and related funding sources and applications could be considered. The Committee agreed that the September 21st meeting be advertised and Alderman G. Leadston suggested that various organizations such as the School Boards, the Beautification Committee, the Horticultural Society and the K-W Naturalists be notified of the September 21st special Council Meeting to consider the Environmental Study. Also, he suggested it might be worthwhile to develop a press release. The Committee considered a preliminary draft of the 1993 budget of the Environmental Committee. The only major change was in respect to sub-object #1638 to undertake special promotions that provide support for community based environmental initiatives including the Environmental Fair and Environmental Awards Program and citizen, group, community and neighbourhood association involvement through initiatives such as the "Adopt a Program" initiatives, etc. It was agreed to submit a request for $10,000, split equally between the Environmental Fair and other initiatives to support citizen activities. The matter of the future role of the committee was briefly discussed and it was agreed that it would generally encompass: - an advisory function and coordination of overall implementation of the Strategic Plan - developing and providing initiatives -facilitating citizen involvement For the September 21st meeting, Mr. L. Masseo indicated that a lengthy explanatory presentation would be made at the 4pm special meeting and a shorter more concise presentation would be made at the 7pm regular council meeting which was being televised. It was indicated that the development of the Strategic Plan, adoption/implementation process, community involvement and a future role of the Environmental Committee would form the basis of the presentation. It was indicated that following discussion, a motion would be introduced to: 1. Adopt the Strategic Plan 2. Confirm the on-going role of the Environmental Committee Alderman C. Weylie extended appreciation to staff and committee members for their dedicated work to produce the Strategic Plan document. NEXT MEETINGS It was agreed that the next meetings of the Environmental Committee would be held on: - Wednesday October 7, 1992 at 4pm - Wednesday November 4, 1992 at 4pm - Wednesday December 2, 1992 at 4pm ADJOURNMENT On motion, the meeting adjourned at 4:52 p.m. L.W. Neil, AMCT Assistant City Clerk