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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-05-18ENV~1995-05-18-SPE MAY 18, 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, Dr. J. Kay, Mr. M. Barker, Mr. D. Hilker and Ms. K. Kempel. Officials Present: Mr. B. Stanley, Mr. C. Ford, Mr. G. Nixon, Mr. L. Gordon, Mr. J. Cicuttin, Mr. B. Liddle, Mr. L. Masseo, Mr. K. Bowman, Mr. B. Musselman, Mr. M. Kemerer, Mr. D. Daly, Mr. B. Allen and Mr. L.W. Neil. 1. ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION Councillor T. Galloway noted that this meeting was being held as a follow-up to issues raised at the March 25th Environmental Workshop. These issues have been categorized and summarized and he suggested the Committee may wish to prioritize them. Mr. B. Stanley pointed out that at the workshop morning sessions, discussion took place in regard to what has not been done and what was not being done well, while in the afternoon sessions the focus was on what we could do in the future. He advised that the Environmental Study Group reviewed the results of the morning sessions and categorized issues that were raised as they would fall under the Main Functional Areas of the Strategic Plan. 2. REVIEW OF ISSUES RAISED AT COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL WORKSHOP A.WATER RESOURCES 1. Recycling of Rain Water - Rain Barrels - Cistern Comments: - rain barrels - possible marketing by the City, as well as by the Region - cistern - there are code problems in the plumbing bylaw limited to lawn watering - initiatives list lobbying the government to reconsider cistern regulations Decision: - retain 2. Don't trust the water - use made of bottled water. Comments: - an outside marketing company has been retained to survey water customers as to their perception of municipal water by taste, odour, etc. - in studies of bottled vs. municipal water, it was been found in general that the quality of bottled water was not up to standards of municipal water - to raise quality level, the water distribution system is being swabbed and any remaining lead pipes are being replaced - this initiative should be carried forward - what effect of Elmira water discharged into the Grand River Decision: - retain 3.Continue and expand storm sewer marking program - yellow fish. Comments: - put on the to do list Decision: - retain 2. REVIEW OF ISSUES RAISED AT COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL WORKSHOP (CONT'D) ENVIRONMENTAL COMMII-FEE MINUTES MAY 18, 1995 - 40 - CITY OF KITCI:IENER B.WASTE MANAGEMENT 1 .Collection of Waste - more frequent/convenient system for hazardous waste collection - costs of waste collection - put yours with your neighbours - switch sides of street Comments: very expensive to run a hazardous waste program, approach - the Region has approved a facility to handle hazardous waste anytime - storage of paints for recycling is increasing - include hazardous waste info in the education process - further information being sought on pick-up based on odd/even street Waterloo study found doubling up only - garbage contract is bid based on required number of stops - Kitchener Public Works report found many negative aspects to a street - to some extent the collection procedure is dictated by what people are further discussed - blue box collection on one side of the street may be practical particularly utilizing a depot numbering but a City of achieved small savings switching pick-up to each side of accustomed to and it should be Decision: - Region responsible for hazardous waste - retain 2. Litter along expressway and road side dumping. Comments: - approaches to Kitchener are littered and are not being cleaned up Decision: - retain 3.Adopt a Highway. Comments: - a number of groups are already doing litter clean-up - MTO has concern for safety of volunteer groups working along - a creative solution is required - adopt a highway is more "country" oriented relating to rural roads highways Decision: - report from Public Works Department 4. Dumping of tires on roadside and natural areas. Comments: - dumping of tires is mostly a Township problem - suspect illegal dumping is by persons from outside the Region of Waterloo Decision: - retain 5. Not enough garbage cans in City - need more convenient sites. Comments: - 375 garbage containers at bus stops - 400 garbage containers in city parks -identified a problem regarding pick-up scheduling and have reformatted the pick-up schedule - other problems are garbage at super mail boxes and wide mesh style of garbage containers Decision: - retain and consider recycle containers 2. REVIEW OF ISSUES RAISED AT COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL WORKSHOP (CONT'D) 6.Many offices do not recycle paper. Comments: - problem is education, provide a resource of information through the Region ENVIRONMENTAL COMMII-FEE MINUTES MAY 18, 1995 - 41 - CITY OF KITCHENER Decision: - delete 7.Lack of recycling depot to take material not permitted in Blue Box. Comments: - have added a number of new items and range of items will be increased Decision: - delete 8.Organic wastes could be composted at a central site or neighbourhood sites. Comments: - composting regulations have not changed - heavy costs for central depots - backyard composting much preferred Decision: - delete (regional landfill only) C.ENERGY SYSTEMS 1 .Consumption charges for hydro, water, gas should be structured to reduce consumption. Comments: - restructure of rates re: hydro, water, gas - hydro - more you use, the more you pay - water - flat rates - varying rates can be considered - gas - rates established at Energy Board Decision: - retain 2.Bills should be more readable re advising of consumption. Comments: - have been attempting to develop a new billing system - consider expansion of project utilizing bar charts to track costs - pay to be wired in - request information on percentage of water used by residential, listing of very large volume users homeowners may be willing to industrial and commercial plus a Decision: - retain 3. Reduce the number of lights and length of duration to be more in tune with activities. Comments: - have tried to use timers for lighting of tennis courts - reductions are difficult as lighting is a safety issue, particularly on park trails and at bus stops - University of Waterloo installed emergency phones in place of additional lighting Decision: - retain D.LAND RESOURCE 1 .City needs to take over historical, architectural and natural heritage - balance energy conservation with heritage conservation 2. REVIEW OF ISSUES RAISED AT COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL WORKSHOP (CONT'D) Comments: - City is moving into it - check to see if Municipal Heritage Conservation Master Plan and initiatives - also trying to consider landscape Heritage District are listed as Decision: - ensure reference to Heritage Conservation Master Plan and Heritage District 2.Alternatives to car should be considered in planning - bicycle - more promotion of transit ENVIRONMENTAL COMMII-FEE MINUTES MAY 18, 1995 - 49 - CITY OF KITCI:IENER - City and Region should spend more of its roadway budget on alternative - car pooling transportation Comments: - involved in new City Municipal Plan and Regional Official Plan, ie. nodes - marketing plan - develop strategies - reference City input into Regional Transportation Plan - Master Bicycle Plan in Capital Forecast - South Central Ontario Transportation Study and corridors Decision: - Regional Transportation Study - retain - Strategic Marketing Plan - retain - Bicycle Plan - retain 3.Subdivision Design - Incorporate Important Environmental features into subdivisions in a sustainable way - Statement of principles of good subdivision design needed - Need to address conventional design of subdivisions - community design values Comments: - Urban Design Guidelines, more emphasis on integration into the - statement of principle - getting more successful - need to address subdivision design environment Decision: - retain 4. Education and Information on benefits of organic foods. Comments: - previous presentation by Mr. G. Carmichael re organic farming is a more sustainable use of land - prepare information on what the City is doing and information on where to obtain detailed information on the subject Decision: - retain 5. Community Gardens Comments: - opportunity to expand community gardens within the City Decision: - add to the plan E.NATURAL AREAS 1.Pesticides - use by City and society - notice, permit regulation of private use - alternative lawn cover/landscapes 2. REVIEW OF ISSUES RAISED AT COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL WORKSHOP (CONT'D) Comments: - great deal of discussion - staff gave a major presentation a few years ago - large reduction of use has taken place - utilize other control methods - responsible use basis, only where required - St. Lambert, Quebec allows spraying in the spring and fall only - questions that need to be answered: - how toxic are pesticides - do they get into the water system - what are long range effects - advance notice requirements to neighbours should be required - public is still requesting spraying of municipal lands ENVIRONMENTAL COMMII-FEE MINUTES MAY 18, 1995 - 43 - CITY OF KITCHENER Decision: - retain 2. Not planting enough trees. Comments: planted over 15,000 trees in 1994, City Council very supportive of tree planting program - City has an aggressive tree saving policy - no control over tree cutting on private property (there is an initiative on this) - municipality should govern itself relative to tree cutting issues when it considers expansion of roads Decision: - retain 3.Trails and Linkages - Need more continuity of trails and bikeway systems - Regular patrols of trails and natural areas - personal safety - More emphasis on Linkages between parks and natural areas - Preserve natural corridors Comments: - trail development is an integral part of planning process - separated wood lots need to be linked by naturalization corridors Decision: - retain 4. Loosestrife and other non-native plants in wetlands and natural areas Comments: - have identified invasive plants, problems of resources to control them - will be discussed as part of woodland management topic Decision: - retain 5. Need community based stewardship or patrol of natural areas. Comments: - links to adopt environment program Decision: - retain F.RESOURCE CONSUMPTION 1. Use of salt - roads. Comments: - alternative to salt is calcium magnesium acetate that costs 10 times as much as salt - reduction of salt use is on-going 2. REVIEW OF ISSUES RAISED AT COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL WORKSHOP (CONT'D) - have again tried automatic salt spreader controls on trucks and found hope they will achieve large reductions Decision: - retain G.OTHER INITIATIVES (afternoon session) (a)What Can Be Done (summary attached) #1 - Already dealt with #2 - Already dealt with #3 - Continue to do as much as practicable #4 - Retain #5 - Retain #6 - Retain with a focus on outreach #7 - Put in outreach program them to work well this time and ENVIRONMENTAL COMMII-FEE MINUTES MAY 18, 1995 - 44- CITY OF KITCHENER #8 - Already dealt with #9 - Already dealt with #10 - Delete (Regional responsibility) #11 - Already dealt with #12 - Already dealt with #13 - Education issue #14 - Retain #15 - Delete #16 - Already dealt with (b)Actions/Programs For The Future (summary attached) #1 - Already dealt with #2 - Already dealt with #3 - Education issue #4 - Already dealt with #5 - Already dealt with #6 - Already dealt with #7 - Already dealt with #8 - Already dealt with #9 - Already dealt with #10 - Already dealt with (c)Recommended Initiatives (summary attached) #1 - Already dealt with #2 - Education issue #3 - Promote stewardship #4 - Already dealt with #5 - Already dealt with #6 - Not accepted #7 - Not accepted #8 - Not accepted #9 - Already dealt with #10 - Accepted #11 - Accepted Mr. B. Stanley noted that at a previous meeting he had raised the matter of "Environmental Management Systems". He indicated he would like to ask the Committee about it and how we might begin to orient the Strategic Plan for the Environment into an Environmental Management System. In this regard he suggested he and Dr. Kay fully address the issue of an Environmental Management System at a future meeting and also suggested it be incorporated as an initiative in the Strategic Plan. 2. REVIEW OF ISSUES RAISED AT COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL WORKSHOP (CONT'D) Councillor T. Galloway indicated that there are routine and non-traditional initiatives in the Strategic Plan. He commented that he could not see how the Committee could deal with non-traditional initiatives without designated resources. He recommended a strategy be developed for annual budget purposes that addresses required resources and that the strategy be considered soon given the 1996 budget process will be getting underway shortly at the staff level. It was directed that budget issues be included in the agenda for the Committee's July meeting, particularly as they relate to staff resources. 3.ADJOURNMENT On motion, the meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m. ENVIRONMENTAL COMMII-FEE MINUTES MAY 18, 1995 - 45- CITY OF KITCHENER L.W. Neil, AMCT Assistant City Clerk