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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-03-05ENVY1997-03-05 MARCH 5, 1997 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, Ms. A. Coffey, Mrs. J. Haalboom, Mr. B. Harper, and Mr. P. Kay. Councillor C. Weylie was absent to attend to other municipal business and Mr. James Kay had advised that he would be absent this date due to illness and that he had missed the February 5th meeting due to a very lengthy Huron Natural Area meeting that took place that day. Officials Present: Messrs. B. Stanley, L. Masseo, T. Clancy, W. Sleeth, C. Ford and L.W. Neil. KITCHENER PESTICIDE ACTION GROUP RE PESTICIDE USE Councillor T. Galloway advised that Ms. Susan Koswan, on behalf of the Kitchener Pesticide Action Group, had sent a letter dated January 30, 1997 to the Mayor and Councillors. The letter deals with pesticide use in Kitchener and points out that the goal of the Action Group is a ban on the broadcast application of lawn and tree chemicals on all property, both city and private and ultimately a total ban on the use of pesticides. Ms. S. Koswan appeared as a delegation in support of the request in her January 30th letter. She advised that she had met last week with a Pesticide Group in the City of Waterloo at which time certain ideas had been developed. She commented on how the City of Kitchener has demonstrated a commitment to reduce its spraying program and referred to the city policy containing its long-term objective. Ms. Koswan noted that Kitchener was spraying 5.8 percent of its public lands whereas only .07 percent of 3ublic lands were being sprayed by the City of Waterloo. Ms. Koswan stated that the City of Kitchener ~s committed to instituting an educational program and questioned what the action group could do to assist in educating the public, noting it was her belief that achieving voluntary compliance by property owners was the best route to achieve reduced pesticide use. She also stated that she believes that lawn care companies need to be more carefully monitored. Accordingly, she asked that the City provide a commitment and staff to explore an ongoing educational program. In reference to this, she illustrated a City of Cambridge poster and a City of Waterloo publication regarding alternatives to pesticides and suggested a single or joint Municipal Pesticide Action Committee Group be formed. She noted that the next meeting of the City of Waterloo Pesticide Group would be held on March 19th. In addition, Ms. Koswan advised that she was hoping for some financial assistance to develop a poster similar to Cambridge's. Councillor Jake Smola commented that it would be helpful to attend the City of Waterloo meeting and bring back information to the Committee as to Waterloo's initiatives. Mr. T. Clancy advised that he was familiar with the City of Waterloo's spraying program and commented that they were doing much the same as Kitchener. On the issue of percentage of public lands being sprayed, Mr. Clancy pointed out that the City of Kitchener has two golf courses and a bowling green which requires specific treatment as an exception to a spraying ban in the public land category. Mr. Clancy agreed that education was an essential next step as it was staff's view that home owner purchase and application of chemicals represented the largest misuse in Ontario and that they do not understand the directions and dangers of the products. Committee members commented on the value of information brochures, demonstration projects and other forms of publicity through inserts with utility billings and regular publications such as Leisure Magazine. Following further discussion it was agreed that Councillor Jake Smola would attend the March 19th meeting in Waterloo along with Mr. Dan Daly and other staff if appropriate on an exploratory basis and that following an assessment of issues the Environmental Committee could decide if it wished to undertake something similar on a joint basis and also consider if it wished to develop some form of informational pamphlet on the subject of pesticides. 1. KITCHENER PESTICIDE ACTION GROUP RE PESTICIDE USE (CONT'D) ENVIRONMENTAL MINUTES MARCH 5, 1997 COMMITFEE -10- CITY OF KITCHENER It was pointed out to the Committee that approximately $900.00 in design costs and $2,500.00 in printing costs had been incurred in producing the Cambridge pamphlet and that Cambridge requests a $300.00 - $500.00 contribution toward the design and alteration costs for a pamphlet specific to the City of Kitchener. DOON SOUTH COMMUNITY PLAN (INCLUDES SCENIC ROADS STUDY AND GREENSPACE MANAGEMENT PLAN) The draft dated January 1997 of the "Doon South Community Plan (including Scenic Road Study and Greenspace Management Plan)" was circulated to the Environmental Committee at its January meeting. Mr. L. Masseo provided a history of planning in the Doon South Area and an explanation of why the current process was being undertaken. He illustrated the boundaries of the subject area and pointed out that there was an existing Community Plan in place. He made reference to a revised Planning Act and new official plans of both the City and the Region of Waterloo. Mr. Masseo noted that a number of background studies such as Watershed and Transportation Studies led to the formation of the new draft Community plan and the proposed land uses contained in the plan. He made detailed remarks concerning scenic roads and new road corridors that had been proposed in consideration of the vegetation cover. On the issue of scenic roads, he advised that it was planned to incorporate existing scenic roads into the community trail system and staged closures of these scenic roads would take place as permanent road alignments were constructed. He also commented that the Scenic Road Study and the Greenspace Management Plan formed the spine to provide for detailed land use proposals. Councillor J. Ziegler questioned location of the Neighbourhood Commercial Area within the centre of the Open Space Area and Mr. Masseo replied that a more neo-traditional commercial approach was proposed with the intent being a mixed commercial/residential development. Mrs. J. Haalboom raised the matter of a diversion around Doon Village Road which the City previously committed to and Mr. L. Masseo stated that the proposed road alignments addressed that issue. In response to Mrs. Haalboom's concern over a sixth storey development height limit in the Neighbourhood Centre, Mr. Masseo pointed out that the area was in a basin and that the actual effect would be four stories or less when viewed from the surrounding lands. In reply to Mr. B. Harper, Mr. Masseo advised that the development was no more than 25 units per hectare and that overall the Doon South Area contained fairly Iow density. Other issues were raised including the final state of existing tar and chip roads, vistas, historical features and the effect of removal of a beaver dam on the natural area which was commented on by Mr. W. Sleeth. Mr. Masseo pointed out that attention was given to existing view scapes but constraints were faced as to locations to cross wetlands. It was noted that a monitoring system would be established by the developer to monitor effects of the development process. Mrs. J. Haalboom advised that she had two issues which she asked be included in the appropriate section of the Community Plan; firstly, that part of policy 3.6.14 and all of policy 3.6.15 of the existing Doon South Community Plan be included in the proposed plan which was agreed to by the Committee, and secondly, that the introduction section of the proposed plan be modified in respect to the description of rolling topography which was agreed to by the Committee. On motion by Councillor J. Ziegler - it was resolved: "That the Planning and Economic Development Committee be advised that the Environmental Committee endorses the general approach respecting environmental issues contained in the 'Doon South Community Plan' document (Staff Report PD 97/16) save and except the Committee's recommended revisions listed below: DOON SOUTH COMMUNITY PLAN (INCLUDES SCENIC ROADS STUDY AND GREENSPACE MANAGEMENT PLAN) (CONT'D) ENVIRONMENTAL COMMII-FEE MINUTES MARCH 5, 1997 -11 - CITY OF KITCHENER i) inclusion of part of Policy 3.6.14 and all of Policy 3.6.15 of the existing Doon South Community Plan as follows: - Policy 3.6.14 'THAT the natural topography, vegetation, scenic vistas and historical features of Doon South be retained in their natural state to the greatest degree possible, and incorporated into subdivision design and development.' - Policy 3.6.15 'THAT, vegetation links, natural drainage courses and water bodies and, where feasible, visual skylines identified on Map 5 of this report, be protected, preserved and strengthened.' ii) within the INTRODUCTION section of the Plan, reference in the first sentence of the 2nd paragraph to 'rolling topography' be changed to 'ice stagnation topography related to the retreat of the last ice sheet' so that the sentence read: 'In addition to the array of significant natural features, the Doon South Community is characterized by ice stagnation topography related to the retreat of the last ice sheet and the presence of many cultural and heritage features associated with early settlement of the Kitchener (Doon) area'." 3. SOFT DRINK CONTAINERS-DEPOSIT/RETURN SYSTEM VS. RECYCABLE APPROACH The Committee considered a letter dated October 10, 1996 from the Toronto Environmental Alliance requesting Council support for a workable deposit / return system for soft drink containers. In addition, the Committee was also in receipt of a letter dated December 17, 1996 from the Canadian Soft Drink Association respecting their support for Municipal Blue Box Recycling of Soft Drink Containers. On motion by Councillor J. Ziegler - it was resolved: "That the City of Kitchener requests the Province of Ontario to enact legislation respecting a workable deposit / return system for soft drink and other beverage containers that promotes refillables or is 100% refillable, and further, That a copy of this resolution be sent to the Honourable Norm Sterling, Minister of Environment and Energy, Wayne Wettlaufer, MPP - Kitchener-Wilmot, Gary Leadston, MPP - Kitchener, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and the Toronto Environmental Alliance." 4. LETTER - RESPONSE OF FCM 20% CLUB RE GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION The Committee was in receipt of a letter dated February 4, 1997 from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities welcoming the City as a member of the FCM 20% Club. Mr. B. Stanley advised that the letter refers to various information packages to facilitate development of an action plan to reduce municipal emissions. In this regard he noted that the Committee was still waiting to receive a document dealing with a monitoring system that would establish the City's baseline and track progress with respect to reduction of emissions. Mr. Stanley commented that it was necessary to establish a tentative work plan and gain an understanding of the staff resources required to deal with this initiative. He commented that it was his expectation a lot of staff time would be necessary as well as dedication of a lot of resources that would be directed outward to the Community. In summary he stressed that it would not be an easy project. 4. LETTER - RESPONSE OF FCM 20% CLUB RE GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION (CONT'D) In response to Councillor J. Ziegler, Mr. C. Ford advised that it was necessary under the program ENVIRONMENTAL COMMII-FEE MINUTES MARCH 5, 1997 - 12 - CITY OF KITCHENER to establish emission levels that existed in 1990 on a city wide basis. He noted that the City of London has signed on to the Club and that 1990 was established as the international base year for club members. He advised that he would like to place the Air Study that was done for the City of London on the Committee's next agenda to facilitate discussion with regard to resources and budget money required to develop a plan for Kitchener. Accordingly, it was agreed that the London "Air Emission Study" would be placed on the Committee's next agenda as a basis to commence consideration of a Kitchener program. 5. ADJOURNMENT On motion, the meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m. L. W. Neil, AMCT Assistant City Clerk