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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-11-01ENVY1995-11-01 NOVEMBER 1, 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: Councillor C. Weylie and Ms. W. Matchett, Dr. J. Kay, and Messrs. D. Hilker and M. Barker. Ms. K. Kempel and Councillor J. Ziegler entered the meeting shortly after its commencement. Officials Present: Messrs. B. Stanley, C. Ford, B. Gulliver, L. Masseo, G. Nixon and L.W. Neil. 1. ICLEI CONFERENCE - JAPAN Councillor T. Galloway having just returned from Japan provided the Committee with brief highlights of the ICLEI Conference. It was a two part conference with all of his costs being covered by the Japanese Government. Ms. K. Kempel and Councillor J. Ziegler entered the meeting at this point. The first part of the conference known as the Siatama Summit was devoted to the Third Local Government Conference on Climate Change. Fifty countries were represented including all major Canadian cities and some smaller cities. The purpose of the summit was primarily to address Co2 emissions and what cities were doing about the problem. He pointed out that the summit was strongly supported by the Japanese Government as reflected in their assumption of all of his conference costs as well as the full-time attendance of the Governor of Siatama. All of the conference activities lead up to the third day of the summit at which the Siatama Declaration was signed. The last two days of the conference were devoted to the Bi-annual Meeting of ICLEI members. The purpose of the meeting was to establish a five year strategic plan for the organization and consider the services and programs offered by ICLEI. Motor companies supplied exhibits of alternative fuel vehicles and there was significant excitement about hydrogen powered vehicles. Also of interest was a demonstration project on the internet called "Climatenet" and the organization is looking for cities to participate in the project. Councillor T. Galloway provided Mr. C. Ford with material and disks in this regard which Mr. Ford will review and report back to the Committee with a recommendation. 2. DRAFT #2 - STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT The Committee considered Draft #2 of the City of Kitchener revised Strategic Plan for the Environment. Mr. B. Stanley noted that at the last meeting, fundamental shifts and changes had been highlighted. Draft #2 also reflects revised renumbering and a summary of completed initiatives under each main functional area. All functional areas have been completed with only a few entries needed in some of the tables which does not alter priorities in the plan. Mr. Stanley noted that the priorities were subject to budget approval and on that basis requested Committee endorsement of the revised Strategic Plan. Mr. L. Masseo commented on a few of the changes made and the renumbering. Following comments by Councillor J. Ziegler regarding the renumbering issue, Mr. Masseo agreed to revise it in the format originally requested by Councillor J. Ziegler. Mr. B. Stanley pointed out that functional area #2, Environmental Education and Public Awareness, was newly revised and reflected a change in emphasis. Councillor T. Galloway informed the Committee that the request for additional resources will make it through the staff administrative budget review for consideration at City Council's budget session. Mr. G. Nixon referred to functional area #6, Natural and Recreational Amenity Areas, and requested that the word "rehabilitation" appear in items 1 and 3 of the Philosophy and Underlying Assumptions and the Committee agreed to the requested addition. Reference was also made to the inclusion of a Demand Side Management Program Initiative under each of the Water and Energy Systems Main Functional Areas. It was also noted that initiative 4.1.13 has been added relative to the Pioneer Tower Area. ENVIRONMENTAL MINUTES NOVEMBER 1, 1995 COMMITFEE -96- CITY OF KITCHENER The revised strategic plan was then considered. DRAFT #2 - STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT (CONT'D) On motion - it was resolved: "That the Environmental Committee approves the revised updated City of Kitchener Strategic Plan for the Environment and request Planning and Economic Development Committee endorsement and recommendation to City Council subject to budget approval." It was noted that the recommendation would be forwarded to the Planning and Economic Development Committee for consideration at its November 20th meeting and recommendation to City Council at its televised meeting to be held November 27, 1995. WEEDS/PESTICIDE SPRAYING OF KITCHENER HOUSING PROPERTY INC. A letter dated September 13, 1995 from Dr. J. Kay to Kitchener Housing Inc., was attached to the Committee's agenda as an information item. It relates to concerns he expressed at an earlier Environmental Committee meeting regarding chemical lawn spraying at Kitchener Housing's Cedarhill property and his subsequent presentation to Kitchener Housing's Property Management Committee. In his letter, Dr. Kay indicated that the amount of spraying and minimal notice/signage does not reflect both policies of the Board and the lawn care company and that there was a willingness to exceed legal signage requirements. Dr. Kay commented that there was still a gap between the policies and the actual spraying practices. He acknowledged that the Board was on side in this matter but that up to this point in time it was still an operational problem with respect to spraying practices. CITY OF KITCHENER RESPONSE TO WATERLOO REGION REVIEW (WATER & WASTEWATER) The Committee was in receipt of a memorandum from Mr. L.W. Neil advising of a comprehensive Finance and Administration Committee resolution approved by City Council as the City of Kitchener response to the Waterloo Region Review - Water & Wastewater, following the Environmental Committee's initial recommendation. Councillor T. Galloway advised that he has discussed the matter with the Regional Chairman who has confirmed that if any of the area municipalities decide they do not want to consolidate a service they would have a veto in that regard. GREEN ON THE GRAND - TOURS The Committee was reminded that a tour of the Green on the Grand project could be taken with other groups on Friday, November 3rd. Otherwise another tour could be taken on November 9th between 12:00 noon -2:00 p.m. as part of a "Hardhat Reception" preview of the C-2000 office of the future. 1996 APPOINTMENTS TO ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE The Committee was reminded that applications for appointment to the 1996 Environmental Committee were to be filed by November 3, 1995. 1996 ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MEETING SCHEDULE The Committee was advised that space should be booked now for 1996 meetings and was requested to consider if a change should be made in the monthly meeting date and time. The Committee directed that meetings continue to be held the first Wednesday of each month commencing at 4:00 p.m. ENVIRONMENTAL COMMII-FEE MINUTES NOVEMBER 1, 1995 - 97 - CITY OF KITCHENER 8. BLUE BOX RECYCLING COLLECTION Dr. J. Kay advised that he and his neighbours were still experiencing problems with consistent collection of recycled material from their blue boxes. He commented that the service has deteriorated since February and that he was getting concerned when he hears neighbours indicate that they were no longer going to bother with the program. It was noted that service complaints should be channelled to Mr. Steve Gyorffy. 9. CITY OF GUELPH - WET/DRY COLLECTION PROGRAM Councillor T. Galloway advised the Committee that the City of Guelph has abandoned the blue box program and changed over to a wet/dry collection program of compostable and non- compostable items. 10. INDUSTRY ENVIRONMENTAL GREENING PROGRAMS Mr. D. Hilker commented that he thought sometime ago the Committee supported development of a brochure to promote industrial environmental consciousness and questioned if anything had ever proceeded. Dr. J. Kay indicated that it was intended to put something on this subject into the City's "Homepage" when it was available. While on the Homepage topic, he suggested the revised Strategic Plan could also be placed on the Homepage. Councillor T. Galloway questioned how the City could encourage local industries to green themselves. Mr. C. Ford noted that if a brochure was developed it could form the basis of a document to go on the web. Mr. Ford stated that one purpose of the "Green Communities Initiative" was to aid in information respecting the environment and he suggested that Dr. Kay and Mr. E. Kovacs raise the matter at the next meeting of members of the GCI. Mr. Hilker pointed out that the City still has not communicated its environmental concerns to industry and questioned if the Economic Development Division could assist. Mr. B. Stanley commented that at this point, only the industrial area around the Huron Natural Area had been identified and Councillor T. Galloway pointed out that this was an issue relating to the need for additional resources. Dr. J. Kay stated that the new ISO 14,000 standard had a substantial component that would promote greening of the industrial environment and the City could promote the standard by asking that industry meet the ISO 14,000 standard. In conclusion, it was agreed that Messrs. Kay and Kovacs raise the issue at the Green Communities Initiative. 11. COMMITTEE APPRECIATION Councillor T. Galloway thanked all members of the 1995 Committee for their contribution and extended an invitation to them to attend the November 27, 1995 Council meeting relative to consideration of the revised City of Kitchener Strategic Plan for the Environment. 12. ADJOURNMENT On motion, the meeting adjourned at 5:30 p.m. L.W. Neil, AMCT Assistant City Clerk