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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-02-08ENV~1995-02-08-SPE FEBRUARY 8, 1995 ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES CITY OF KITCHENER The Environmental Committee held an informal round table style discussion meeting this date commencing at 5:30 p.m. under Councillor T. Galloway, Chair, with the following members present: Councillor C. Weylie, Ms. K. Kemple, Ms. W. Matchett, Mr. D. Hilker, Mr. K. Meinzinger, Dr. J. Kay and Mr. M. Barker. Councillor Jake Smola entered the meeting after its commencement as he was at an earlier scheduled meeting. Officials Present: Mr. B. Stanley, Mr. T. Clancy, Mr. G. Nixon, Mr. T. Boutilier, Mr. D. Daly, Mr. B. Liddle, Mr. B. Allen, Mr. L. Masseo, Mr. C. Ford, Mr. P. Wetherup and Mr. L.W. Neil. 1. ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION Councillor T. Galloway introduced those attending this meeting the purpose of which was to brainstorm as a prelude to the Environmental Workshop on Saturday, March 25th. He commented on how the environment has taken on greater and greater importance and the forces that are driving this greater awareness. Mr. B. Stanley briefly reviewed the agenda for the meeting this date as highlighted below: point out accomplishments and review effectiveness of the Committee review current role and explore new directions and opportunities focus on what the Committee wishes to accomplish over the next three years and any other issues raised. He referred to Council's approval of the Strategic Plan for the Environment on September 21, 1992 and the role of the Environmental Committee and the wide scope of its involvement. The mandate of the Environmental Committee allows it to report to the appropriate Standing Committee or directly to City Council. He reviewed the Mission Statement noting how broad it was and pointed out that after adoption of the Strategic Plan, the Environmental Committee role was firstly, administration and guidance of the Strategic Plan and secondly, providing advice to City Council on the Strategic Plan and other matters. He pointed out that in the two years 1993-94 of working with the Strategic Plan, the Committee has dealt with the following specific issues and has affected policies issues developed by the City, as listed below: MATTERS CONSIDERED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE 1993 AN D 1994 Corporate Printing and Photocopy Policy CFC Vented from Waste Refrigerators Municipal Plan Review Vision Principles for Regional Plan Review Public Presentations - Environmental Strategic Plan Scenic Roads Policy Doon South Transportation Network and Alignment Study Adopt-a-Program Lower Water Use Plumbing Fixtures Environmental Logo ENVIRONMENTAL COMMII-FEE MINUTES FEBRUARY 8, 1995 - 19- CITY OF KITCI:IENER Envirofund ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION (CONT'D) Air Conditioning Option - New Buses Kitchener Housing Inc. Lawn Spraying Regional Waste Reduction Master Plan - 2000 Woodland Evaluation Incentives for City Staff to Lessen Automobile Use (July, 1993, Sept., 1993, June, 1994) Bylaw for Composters and Digesters Tree Management Policy Regional Cycling Policy Master Plan Review Environmental Committee and Environmental Study Group Terms of Reference Mr. T. Clancy pointed out that the Strategic Plan brought together and identified some environmental initiatives that were already being done. Mr. B. Stanley stated that overall the Environmental Committee has been effective but there were some areas that the Committee did not address. He advised that after reviewing the 1993 and 1994 Committee agendas he had found matters within the Committee's mandate which for one reason or another had not been considered by the Committee which he listed as follows: MATTERS WITHIN ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE TERMS OF REFERENCE AND MANDATE NOT CONSIDERED 1993 AN D 1994 Transit Accessibility Implementation Plan Kolb Drain Realignment and Improvement Project Voisin Greenway Study Alignment Study for Middle and South Strasburg Creek Trunk Sanitary Sewer Laurentian West Environmental Review Doon South Creek Watershed Study Huron Community Plan Review Compressed Natural Gas - Kitchener Transit Buses Councillor Jake Smola entered the meeting at this point. Mr. B. Stanley advised that in a presentation he made to Management Committee, the question of involvement of the Environmental Committee had been brought up with a view to finding a mechanism for the Environmental Committee to have an opportunity to comment on issues before consideration by the appropriate Standing Committee. Mr. B. Liddle commented that he has had a problem understanding what items should be put to the Environmental Committee and ENVIRONMENTAL COMMII-FEE MINUTES FEBRUARY 8, 1995 CITY OF KITCI:IENER ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION (CONT'D) why and at what stage it should happen. He noted that most studies go through a Class Environmental Assessment Process involving open houses and another approval level is not desired nor required. He suggested that it would be a good idea to extend open house invitations to Environmental Committee members. It was requested at some future Environmental Committee meeting, a presentation be made on the Environmental Class Assessment Process. Councillor C. Weylie questioned when it would be appropriate to update the Environmental Committee on a study which normally involves two open houses. Mr. B. Liddle advised that such presentation would be beneficial if made on a date between the two open houses. Dr. J. Kay referred to the list of matters not considered in 1993 and 1994 and noted that in a few cases the Environmental Committee had raised issues but then was left out of the loop. Mr. B. Stanley suggested that the staff Environmental Group could have a role to play ensuring that reports on studies reach the Environmental Committee. Dr. J. Kay suggested that if the Environmental Study Group met regularly, it could flag important issues. Councillor C. Weylie noted that the Committee should also consider what role it wishes to play in respect to environmental issues affected by City by-laws. Dr. J. Kay commented that the Environmental Committee, with its original in-house focus, by and large has been successful and the next step was to look outward to the City as a whole and provide leadership and response to environmental issues through other organizations such as the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the Green Communities Initiative (GCI). Mr. C. Ford commented that the GCI may be the mechanism to address needs that are beyond the City's resources and he provided an update on the status of the GCI, noting that he expects representatives of the three Cities will be invited to join the GCI Board. Following discussion of greening in relation to industry, it was requested that Ms. V. Gibaut, Director of Economic Development, be invited to a future meeting to consider the possibility of Environmental Committee members accompanying her (staff) on business visits to analyze environmental issues at the industry level. Councillor Jake Smola noted that the Fire Department also does business visits and suggested the Fire staff could drop off environmental informational packages as part of their regular visitation. Dr. J. Kay stated that he saw the City in co-operative joint ventures with others rather than in a lead role. It was agreed that information needed to be made available and Councillor C. Weylie suggested that a Homepage be developed for the City that would provide a directory of who to talk to so as to facilitate information gathering. It was agreed that this suggestion should be placed on a future Committee agenda for discussion. Mr. L. Masseo focused on new directions and opportunities that should be explored for future consideration. In this regard he referred to the comprehensive set of Provincial policy statements in the Planning Act which municipalities are required to implement. He pointed out that the Department has restructured to focus on environmental issues/community design and noted there was a role for the Committee to discuss and comment on issues before they were finalized for consideration by a Standing Committee. Mr. B. Stanley provided the following list of matters the Committee could consider in the next few years: MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE AT FUTURE MEETINGS 1995 - 1997 Urban Design Guidelines Blair, Bechtel, Bauman Creek Sub-Watershed Study ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION (CONT'D) ENVIRONMENTAL COMMII-FEE MINUTES FEBRUARY 8, 1995 CITY OF KITCI:IENER Alder Creek Sub-Watershed Study Doon South Scenic Road Study Doon South Community Plan Review Huron Natural Area Adjacent Land Use Study Middle Strasburg Creek Trunk Sanitary Sewer Class Environmental Assessment Environmental Impact Statement - Huron Natural Area/Business Park Interface City Bikeway Study Tree Protection Provisions Bill 163 Site Alteration Provisions Bill 163 Bill 163 - Natural Environment Policy Statement and Implementation Guidelines - Municipal Plan Policy Revisions Sub-Watershed Monitoring, Maintenance and Mitigation Program - Post Development Community Outreach Education Program - Residents and Property Owners Adjacent to Natural Areas, ESPA's, Fish Habitat and within Sub-Watersheds Energy Management Program Transportation Dr. J. Kay suggested that the matter of a Community Outreach Program should be raised at the March 25th Environmental Workshop and questions should be posed to the residents as how they see their role in such a program. The issue of transportation was added to the preceding list matters for future consideration. Mr. Blair Allen noted that the Region Wide Master Transportation Plan was just commencing and in this regard it was questioned if we were in the loop for involvement. Following all of the discussion with respect to committee procedure, Mr. B. Stanley suggested the following in that regard: GUIDELINES FOR CONSIDERATION OF CITY STUDIES AND POLICY 1. Report through the appropriate Standing Committee. 2. Endeavour to review the matter within the time frame of one meeting. 3. Focus on the key environmental policy matters. 4. Have City Staff identify: a) Key environmental issues; ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION {CONT'D) ENVIRONMENTAL COMMII-FEE MINUTES FEBRUARY 8, 1995 CITY OF KITCI:IENER b) Areas that conform to and implement City environmental policy or best practice; c) Areas that conflict with or do not implement City environmental policy or best practice; and d) Areas of conflict between environmental objectives and tradeoffs. It was agreed the above guidelines for consideration of City studies and policy were generally acceptable. Comments were made on various issues as follows: develop a newsletter consider the noise pollution emanating from small residential equipment such as leaf blowers consider the link between transportation and air quality. As a wrap-up, it was generally agreed that it would be worthwhile to hold a free flow discussion meeting after the March 25th Environmental Workshop that would be similar to this meeting in its format. It was noted that five facilitators from within the Environmental Committee were required for the March 25th Environmental Workshop. ADJOURNMENT On motion, the meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m. L.W. Neil, AMCT Assistant City Clerk