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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-09-06ENVY1995-09-06 SEPTEMBER 6, 1995 ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES CITY OF KITCHENER The Environmental Committee met this date commencing at 4:00 p.m. under Councillor T. Galloway, Chair, with the following members present: Mayor R. Christy, Mr. D. Hilker, Mr. M. Barker and Ms. K. Kempel. Councillor J. Ziegler, Dr. J. Kay and Ms. W. Matchett entered the meeting after its commencement. Officials Present: Mr. T. Clancy, Mr. B. Stanley, Mr. B. Arnot, Mr. C. Ford, Mr. G. Nixon, Mr. R. Wyatt, Mr. P. Wetherup, Mr. E. Kovacs, Mr. D. Daly, Mr. L. Masseo, Mr. K. Bowman and Mr. L.W. Neil. REVIEW OF "NATURAL AREAS" MAIN FUNCTIONAL AREA OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT Mr. T. Clancy provided the Committee with an introduction to the "Natural Areas" Main Functional Area of the Strategic Plan for the Environment prior to commencement of an overhead presentation by various staff of the Parks & Recreation Department reviewing priorities of the plan. He specifically made note of the fact that he was particularly proud of the achievements that have been made by the Department's spray reduction program. Various staff provided commentary tied to an overhead presentation of priorities in the document "Strategic Plan Update, September 1995", which is appended to these minutes as follows: Mr. P. Wetherup - Level 1 Priorities: 1.1 Develop an Acquisition Strategy for wooded and natural areas 2.1 Woodland Analysis 4.2, 2.3, 1.5, 3.2, 2.2 Dealing with Official Plan Policies and an explanation was provided as to what each priority refers to. 1.3 Open Space Planning Model and Guidelines Mr. D. Daly - Level 1 Priority: 1.2 Implement a management and monitoring program for all natural resources under the jurisdiction of Parks and Recreation Department Mr. P. Wetherup - Level 1 Priority: 5.1 Fencing Requirements for Storm Water Management Areas Councillor J. Ziegler entered the meeting at this point. Mr. G. Nixon- Level 1 Priority: 4.2 Implement Naturalization Strategy throughout the City Ms. W. Matchett and Dr. J. Kay entered the meeting at this point. Mr. D. Daly- 6.1 4.2 Level 1 Priority: Continue to implement Integrated Pest Management through responsible use (It was noted that under the pest/weed management program in 1982, 609 hectares of a total 883 hectares were subject to treatment; whereas in 1994, only 87 hectares of a total 1,505 hectares were subject to treatment under the program, all of which represented a reduction from 68% to 5.8% of property subject to treatment) Continue to implement planting practices throughout the City which contribute to self-sustaining landscapes Mr. R. Wyatt 1.6 - Level 2 Priority: Develop an Acquisition Strategy for lands along the Grand River corridor to allow community trail access and land stewardship agreements Mr. D. Daly - Level 2 Priorities: 7.1, 3.5 Complete a comprehensive woodland management strategy 3.1 Develop a data base for natural areas 3.3 Construct trails through natural areas to encourage recreational use ENVIRONMENTAL COMMII-FEE MINUTES SEPTEMBER 6, 1995 - 60 - CITY OF KITCHENER REVIEW OF "NATURAL AREAS" MAIN FUNCTIONAL AREA OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT (CONT'D) Mr. R. Wyatt - Level 2 Priorities: 1.4, 4.1 Develop the Huron Natural Area Cooperative Project, Environmental Centre Mr. P. Wetherup - Level 2 Priority: 5.1 Implement planting strategies for older storm water management areas and fence removal Mr. G. Nixon spoke to the Adopt Your Environment Program which has achieved successes with regard to numerous clean ups and planting programs throughout the City with the involvement of various participating groups as listed in the document. Mr. T. Clancy commented on five studies that are available to staff. Also he noted that within a few years it was expected that Kitchener (with 125,000+ trees) would have more trees than London (159,000) based on Kitchener's annual planting rate of 16,000-20,000 trees per year. He advised that more community response in this regard was needed. Councillor T. Galloway questioned Priority 5.2 as to inclusion of McClennan Park. Mr. T. Clancy responded that the process of legally turning over the park to the City has not been completed. Mr. D. Hilker questioned the status of initiatives relative to rail line acquisition. Mr. T. Clancy replied that the City has only recently purchased the portion of the line within Kitchener running from Kent Avenue to the Kitchener boundary. He noted that the trail was being planned to accommodate walkers and all other users separately and budget monies will be allocated in 1996. Mr. E. Kovacs commented that activity was in the very early stages and that the Public Works Department was doing a legal survey as part of preparatory work to actual trail development. Mayor R. Christy commented on the emphasis that tree planting has received in parks and natural areas and questioned the issue of a street tree planting program. Mr. T. Clancy advised that the department has a residential tree program that breaks the subject into three categories administratively. Mr. D. Daly pointed out that a street tree inventory has been completed. At the suggestion of Councillor T. Galloway it was agreed that a priority regarding development of former rail lines be included in the strategic plan. It was also agreed that "street trees" be included specifically in the Strategic Plan as a priority and reviewed as to funding levels. Dr. J. Kay advised that he is a member of various University Committees and as a result of this experience it was his opinion Kitchener's Environmental Strategic Plan was incredibly far ahead of environmental efforts of other municipalities. He commented that doing things in compliance with the environmental plan often costs a little more in the beginning but will actually save vast amounts of money later, for example the cost savings from dramatically reduced levels of weed/pesticide spraying. Mayor R. Christy questioned if savings had been calculated and Mr. T. Clancy advised that the cost per acre of spray savings could be calculated. In response to Mr. D. Hilker, Mr. Clancy advised that the same spray program is followed in the city's municipal cemeteries. REVIEW OF WATER RESOURCE AREAS OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT - UTILITIES DIVISION Mr. Ed Kovacs advised that there were 3 major areas to be addressed. (a) Priority 6.1 (Level 1) - Undertake a city-wide infrastructure study to address future utility needs REVIEW OF WATER RESOURCE AREAS OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT - UTILITIES DIVISION (CONT'D) Mr. Kovacs stated that currently the product of that system was being implemented. He advised that he would like to provide a detailed presentation at a later date and that the ENVIRONMENTAL COMMII-FEE MINUTES SEPTEMBER 6, 1995 -61 - CITY OF KITCHENER priority should be considered complete. (b) Priority 6.2 (Level 1) - Implement routine preventative maintenance swabbing of watermain systems to reduce accumulated deposits of material affectinq water quality Mr. Kovacs advised that a 1st city wide cycle was just being completed. Results indicate that the 5 year cycle term may not be adequate. The priority should be considered complete subject fine tuning. (c) Priority 3.3 (Level 1) - Participate with Region and other Cities in the Implementation of Tri- City water rates Mr. Kovacs advised that this priority has died. The Region took on the subject and did some surveying and nothing more. The Waterloo Region Review made reference to it. He explained the savings/awareness of benefits of automatic meter reading and the fact that technology could create tailored water rate structures. He indicated that he was not sure if the matter was totally dead, but noted that during budget review it had been axed. Dr. J. Kay stated that he would like to see the priority kept in the Strategic Plan on the basis that costs be monitored from time to time so as to be alerted when it might become cost effective. Mr. D. Hilker questioned if the toilet subsidy program was cost effective. Mr. Kevin Bowman replied that savings were in the 20-30% range. He noted it has been concluded that retro-fit devices did not save as much. Mr. Kovacs pointed out that an important feature of the program was that it shrinks peak period water use. Councillor T. Galloway commented that it was in the Region's interest to have an efficient water consumption reduction program. It was agreed that priority 3.3 was redundant as there was nothing to participate in. Mr. Kovacs suggested that staff could formalize a strategy on automatic meter reading. Dr. J. Kay requested that the concept of "appropriate water rate structure" not be lost. It was agreed that a notation in this regard appear in the Strategic Plan. In reference to the Regional Review Reports completed to date, Dr. J. Kay stated that he was very concerned with the direction of conclusions that were being drawn by the authors. He questioned if there was anything the City could do to stop the potential trend of things becoming a Regional responsibility which in his view would result in service levels based on a lowest common denominator approach. In response, Mr. E. Kovacs confirmed that staff are working on a response to the Region on the water/waste water issues. Mr. B. Stanley commented with regard to the following: Priority 3.1 (Level 2) - Review the use of cisterns in new developments in order to reduce the amount of municipal water required Nothing has been done on 3.1 as it is in the Ontario Building Code. Priority 3.2 (Level 2) - Determine potential to maximize use of "grey" water within city operations both currently and in the future Mr. B. Stanley advised that nothing has been done and there were complications relating to the Plumbing Code. Mr. T. Clancy commented on the provincial legislative requirements to turn over vast quantities of swimming pool water. In this regard, he advised staff were investigating how the water could be re-used. REVIEW OF WATER RESOURCE AREAS OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT - UTILITIES DIVISION (CONT'D) It was suggested and agreed that the grey water issue also be addressed in the Strategic Plan in terms of the swabbing program and re-use of swimming pool water, Mr. K. Bowman pointed out that there was a substantial financial benefit of cost avoidance by the Region if it undertook serious water savings. ENVIRONMENTAL COMMII-FEE MINUTES SEPTEMBER 6, 1995 - 62 - CITY OF KITCHENER On the matter of water savings, it was requested that issue of rainbarrels be placed on the next agenda for discussion. Mr. K. Bowman provided comment on the following issues: - a program was being implemented to investigate areas with lead piping along with a systematic replacement program - intend to be more aggressive promoting automatic meter reading with the commercial sector based on a cost recovery approach - approval has been obtained to create a "Demand Side Management Program" It was agreed that lead pipe investigation program and systematic replacement program be addressed in the Strategic Plan. Dr. J. Kay commented that it makes sense for it do be done as part of the Green Communities Initiative. Mr. K. Bowman pointed out that additional staff would be required to assist with a Demand Side Management Program. It was agreed that under Energy Systems - Priority 4.6 dealing with utilities, a reference be included to the Demand Side Management Program. 3. GREEN ON THE GRAND Councillor T. Galloway inquired if the Committee would be interested in viewing the "Green on the Grand" when an Open House was held. Also, he suggested inviting lan Cooke to a meeting to describe the building features in detail. 4. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Waste Water - Sweeney Report - October 4, 1995 (a) Report (b) Staff Response 2) Rainbarrels (Water Savings) - October 4, 1995 3) Weed/Pesticide Spraying of Kitchener Housing Inc. Property - November 1, 1995 5. ENERGY SYSTEMS UPDATE RE STRATEGIC PLAN Mr. C. Ford distributed a memo dated September 6, 1995 to Councillor T. Galloway which addresses an item within Energy Systems that was not progressing previously due to staffing levels. It was noted that an Energy Management Workshop is nearing completion (Priority 1.11 Energy Systems). The first workshop will be held in October and an invitation was extended to Committee members to attend. 6. ICLEI CONFERENCE - JAPAN Councillor T. Galloway advised the Committee that he has accepted an invitation to attend the ICLEI Conference being held in Japan in October with all expenses paid by the Japanese government. 7. ADJOURNMENT ENVIRONMENTAL COMMII-FEE MINUTES SEPTEMBER 6, 1995 - 63 - CITY OF KITCHENER On motion, the meeting adjourned at 6:40 p.m. L.W. Neil, AMCT Assistant City Clerk