Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-07-05ENVY1995-07-05 J U LY 5, 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: Councillors J. Ziegler and Jake Smola and Dr. J. Kay and Mr. M. Barker. Ms. W. Matchett and Mr. D. Hilker entered the meeting after its commencement. Officials Present: Mr. B. Stanley, Mr. L. Masseo, Mr. L. Gordon, Mr. R. Wyatt and Mr. L.W. Neil. Councillor T. Galloway advised that he had been unable to attend the Committee's June meeting as he was at a meeting concerning the Huron Natural Park. He did point out that the minutes indicated that Councillor J. Ziegler acted as Chair, when in fact Councillor C. Weylie acted as Chair and requested that the minutes be corrected in this regard. 1.REVIEW OF RESOURCE CONSUMPTION MAIN FUNCTIONAL AREA OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT The Committee was in receipt of a copy of Main Functional Area #7 - Resource Consumption of the existing Strategic Plan. Mr. L. Gordon attended the meeting in this regard and distributed a memorandum dated July 5, 1995 reviewing the Level 1 and Level 2 priorities. In regards to Priority 2.2 concerning the use of aerosol cans, he advised that the practice has been greatly reduced but that there was some difficulty getting further reductions with respect to some maintenance applications and in furniture polishes. It was agreed this would be an ongoing priority. Mr. R. Wyatt questioned if there was any way of determining what reductions have been achieved. Mr. L. Gordon advised that Ms. D. Williams has been asked if she could develop some information in this regard. He did point out that staff would make sure that outlying areas are aware of the goal to reduce usage and it would be appropriate for the Purchasing Division to communicate the reduction initiative to these work areas. Priority 1.2 concerning requests for environmentally friendly alternatives on all quotations and tenders when possible was addressed in his memorandum. It was pointed out that a statement in this regard is included on tenders and quotations where appropriate and that the priority is ongoing. An additional priority also numbered 1.2 dealing with the promotion of use where possible of environmentally friendly substitutes for cleaning products was also considered and it was noted some progress was being made on this. It was agreed that this initiative would be ongoing. Priority 3.1 to force suppliers to take away packaging material has been implemented on all large purchases such as furniture. It was noted that the move to the new City Hall was completed with very little use of cardboard boxes as the movers shipped material in reusable plastic containers. It was agreed that this initiative would be ongoing. A further priority 1.2 to develop policies and criteria for the purchase of recyclable or environmentally sensitive products was considered. It was noted that a draft statement has been prepared for consideration by the Purchasing Division and the Clerks Department and a final draft would be presented to the Environmental Committee for the September meeting. Mr. Gordon stated that the intent was that it will become part of Purchasing Policy. Level 2 priorities were then considered. Priority 4.1 required an investigation of publications produced by the City which cannot be recycled and subsequent modification of formats so all publications can be recycled. This priority has been completed. Priority 2.1 to review the use of "throw away" products with the intention of eliminating there use has been ongoing. Mr. Gordon advised that he would like to prepare a list that would allow for consideration of alternate items. For example, he pointed out that re-refined oil and re-refined automatic transmission fluid were now being used in fleet vehicles. 1.REVIEW OF RESOURCE CONSUMPTION MAIN FUNCTIONAL AREA OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN ENVIRONMENTAL COMMII-FEE MINUTES JULY 5, 1995 - 56- CITY OF KITCHENER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT (CONT'D) Mr. B. Stanley advised that the Committee still had to consider the Natural Area topic as part of its program to revise the Strategic Plan. He indicated that he and Mr. L. Masseo would compile all of the information presented to date with regard to the Plan revision during the summer months and pick-up the Natural Area material presented by the Parks & Recreation Department plus a couple of other issues relating to other sections following the September meeting. Subsequently, a revised draft of the Strategic Plan would be presented to the Committee. Ms. W. Matchett entered the meeting at this point. 2.1996 OPERATING BUDGET Councillor T. Galloway stated at the Committee's round table meetings it had been made clear that there was an obvious need for the Corporation to address the lack of resources relative to some Strategic Plan Initiatives. It was his hope the Committee would be able to identify initiatives that require resources that are not available at present. Mr. B. Stanley advised that action must be taken in this regard if the Committee wished to move into its outreach objectives and this in fact might require the addition of staff to take responsibility for these initiatives. Councillor Galloway commented that another possibility would be to reallocate resources to address these initiatives. Mr. B. Stanley advised that the Finance Department has asked that staff provide them as soon as possible with any new information relating to staff requirements for purposes of the 1996 Pro Forma budget. He stated that such information merely had to refer to the number of staff required and the approximate salary range including benefits. Councillor T. Galloway suggested the Committee consider if it wants to direct staff to insert such information into the budget process. In this regard he questioned if the Committee was comfortable that it has identified a number of issues in its review exercise and whether or not such action was even necessary. Dr. Kay stated that it was his view there were a substantial number of things that were not being done as they relate to the Environmental Strategic Plan. Councillor Jake Smola questioned if the projects that have not been completed could be listed. Dr. J. Kay advised that when the Committee went through the areas that Mr. C. Ford had responsibility for, substantial matters had not been initiated and/or completed. For example, he referred to in-house training issues, the adopt-a-program and outreach programs. Mr. D. Hilker entered the meeting at this point. Mr. B. Stanley pointed out that the Finance Department simply wants a very general response at this time for purposes of its Pro Forma budget. Councillor J. Ziegler stated that he did not disagree with putting a request in the Pro Forma budget for an additional staff member but if this was done, there must be an agreement to withdraw the request if the Committee had difficulty fully justifying it at a later date. He indicated that he did have a concern if one person would actually be capable of handling the wide variety of issues being proposed and emphasized that the additional staff request should be dropped if such job description could not be fully developed. Councillor T. Galloway questioned if the consensus was to put in a request with the hope that staff would develop a list of initiatives that require resources outside of the current budgeted level. It was agreed to provide a preliminary budget request to the Finance Department and to request staff to prepare a budget request for an additional staff position for consideration at the Committee's October meeting. The position request should outline initiatives that the position would address and additional resources that would be utilized. 3.CHANGE OF NAME OF GREEN COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE TO R.E.A.C.H. Dr. J. Kay reported that the name of the Green Communities Initiative has now been changed to R.E.A.C.H. He advised that start up funding has been received and a hiring was taking place to do a Regional Strategic Plan. He noted that the organization was focused on forming 3.CHANGE OF NAME OF GREEN COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE TO R.E.A.C.H. (CONT'D) partnerships to provide services to the public to help them do things in a more environmental friendly way and that the Committee had received a presentation in this regard last year. ENVIRONMENTAL COMMII-FEE MINUTES JULY 5, 1995 - 57- CITY OF KITCHENER 4. REGIONAL REVIEW - WASTE WATER The Committee was advised that Mr. John Sweeney has completed a second report as part of a Regional Review with the topic being that of waste water. It was noted that the recommendations being advanced in the report were aggressive initiatives and that a copy would be provided to the Committee for consideration as a future agenda item. 5. MULTICULTURAL FESTIVAL Dr. J. Kay advised that at the Multi Cultural Festival held recently in Victoria Park there was a serious problem in that many persons attending the event rode bicycles and there was no where to lock and secure the bicycles. He asked that this issue be brought to the attention of the organizers so that for next year they could plan to have fixtures in place to which bicycles could be locked in an orderly way. 6.STAFF REPORT PD 95~29 - HURON ENVIRONMENTAL AREA COOPERATIVE PROJECT - INTERIM CONTROL BY-LAW AND ADJACENT LAND USE IMPACT STUDY Planning and Development Staff Report PD 95/29 dealing with the Huron Environmental Area Cooperative Project - Interim Control Bylaw and Huron Park Adjacent Land Use Study was tabled at the Committee's June 7th meeting for consideration this date. Mr. B. Stanley provided the Committee with background and comment respecting the report. In this regard he noted that the Geomatics International Study Report took note of an existing asphalt and other industrial uses adjacent to the Huron Natural Area that could locate around the Area and detrimentally impact on it. In 1993 City Council then passed an Interim Control By-law which removed a list of industrial uses from locating adjacent to the park. It was then realized that more detailed study was required and Geomatics produced another report with the assistance of an Adhoc Committee. Geomatics considered all impacts on the Environment and the report also identified a number of present and future uses that could impact on the Area. Impacts from people, impacts on the ground water and impacts generally from residential and industrial uses were identified and it was found that such impacts had very broad scope. Subsequently, it was recommended that additional uses be prohibited which includes asphalt paving plants. It was understood no one could eliminate all chemicals from being used in certain of the manufacturing processes adjacent to the Natural Area. It was felt that the main threat of chemicals would occur as they were transported into storage at the adjacent businesses and consequently it has been required that pavement and a grid to catch any seepage (spill containment areas) be required. Mr. Stanley noted that recommendations will be advanced with regard to consideration of exotic plants as part of the site plan approval process. He noted that more research was required respecting ground water recharge as to a number of issues and it has been recommended that Council ask staff to develop additional information. In this regard Conestoga Rovers have offered there consulting services. He noted that other areas of concern have been identified particularly in the area of impact of residential use where the pets and landscaping practices of homeowners may impact on the natural area. He stated that there was concern that when a homeowner moves in, the City has no control over the plant species that would be planted and there was a strong feeling the City must undertake an outreach program with direct contact to both the residential and industrial sectors through an educational program. Finally, he pointed out that revisions were proposed to the Strasburg Creek and in this regard K-W Homebuilders would be subject to cost implications. In general, he pointed out that the Report has both immediate and long term implications. Mr. D. Hilker expressed concern that at sometime in the future, residential uses would encroach on the park boundary and he questioned if there was any possibility of creating a buffer between the park and built-up areas. Mr. B. Stanley advised that firstly, with an outreach program it was hoped to educate future residents relative to the impact that they could have on the park and 6.STAFF REPORT PD 95~29 - HURON ENVIRONMENTAL AREA COOPERATIVE PROJECT - INTERIM CONTROL BY-LAW AND ADJACENT LAND USE IMPACT STUDY (CONT'D) secondly, residential development was approximately seven years away and that provincial wetland guidelines and requirements respecting woodlots would both require the establishment of a buffer ENVIRONMENTAL COMMII-FEE MINUTES JULY 5, 1995 - 58- CITY OF KITCHENER area mentioned by Mr. Hilker. He stated that hopefully those requirements will have some mitigating result as to the impacts of future development around the park. Further, he noted that the edge of the southwest sector has been identified with regard to ground water recharge. Also, the Huron Community Plan refers to the City undertaking an environmental impact statement that would deal with the boundary edge of the natural area and would focus on wetland and woodlot guidelines. Councillor T. Galloway stressed that the issue of environmental stewardship has to be dealt with before subdivision development takes place and that a lot of these issues would likely be included as part of subdivision development agreement. Mr. D. Hilker questioned what enforcement authorities were involved in any of the conceptual meetings relative to the future development around the park. Councillor T. Galloway advised that municipal by-law enforcement staff will have the opportunity to participate in the planning of development around the park given they will be the authorities called upon to enforce any violations. Mr. M. Barker pointed out that there was potential to market stewardship of the natural area as a marketing advantage relative to the development of lands in the immediate area of the park border. It was agreed such stewardship would be a very definite marketing advantage. Councillor Jake Smola questioned if a golf course use had ever been considered as a buffer along the border of the natural area and Councillor T. Galloway commented that a golf course use was really not desirable given its need for lawn and green maintenance. Mr. B. Stanley advised that a motion endorsing the recommendation in the report was requested. Further, he pointed out to the Committee that recommendations nine and ten of the staff report place a significant future work commitment onto the Environmental Committee. On motion by Mr. D. Hilker it was resolved: "That the Environmental Committee endorses the recommendations contained in Planning and Development Staff Report PD 95/29 dated May 18, 1995 dealing with the Huron Environmental Area Cooperative Project - Interim Control By-law and Huron Park Adjacent Land Use Study." 7.CITY HALL REFLECTING POOL/POND Councillor Jake Smola advised that he had a concern with regard to water management relating to the draining of the reflecting pool/pond in front of City Hall for maintenance purposes. He questioned if the water was being drained into the City sewers or drained into a containment area and recycled back to the pond when maintenance to the fountains and pond lighting were undertaken. Mr. L. Gordon advised that he would provide a response to Councillor Smola. 8.ADJOURNMENT On motion, the meeting adjourned at 5:15 p.m. L.W. Neil, AMCT Assistant City Clerk