Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-09-16ENVY1998-09-16 SEPTEMBER 16, 1998 ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES CITY OF KITCHENER The Environmental Committee met this date commencing at 4:00 p.m. under Councillor Jake Smola, Chair with the following members present: Ms. A. Coffey and D. Hartman and Mr. J. Kay. Councillor J. Haalboom and Mr. K. Cenerelli entered the meeting after its commencement. Officials present: Messrs. B. Stanley, J. Moore, L. Gordon, C. Ford, M. Mahaffey, D. Daly, D. Schmidt, T. Boutilier, S. Gyorffy, R. Wyatt and L. W. Neil. COMMITTEE RESIGNATION The Committee was advised that Ms. Darlene Luhowy had informed Councillor Jake Smola by letter in mid-August that it was necessary for her to resign from the Committee as she was relocating her business and residence out of Kitchener. TREE BRANCH CUTTINGS The Committee was in receipt of a memorandum dated July 17, 1998 from Messrs. S. Gyorffy and B. Musselman responding to the Committees June 3rd request to report back on the disposal of tree branch cuttings by City residents. The report notes that there are two options for disposal of this type of waste. This material can be placed out at curbside in unlimited quantities for collection as Municipal waste or taken by residents to the landfill site with the first 50 kilograms being free of charge. Mr. Gyorffy noted that this issue would be addressed as part of formulation of the new garbage contract. He commented that there was no support in having the City providing disposal by means of collection depots. The waste collection contract expires on January 31, 2000 and staff propose as an option to be considered in the new tender, the provision of a separate yard waste collection service. Councillor Jake Smola advised that the tender would be the subject of future consideration by the Public Works and Transportation Committee. CONSIDERATION OF A SMOG / AIR QUALITY PLAN Attached to the Committee agenda were various memoranda, minutes and a news article concerning the smog issue. Mr. C. Ford advised the Committee that he could not add much concerning this issue at this time. He pointed out that staff are trying to address the question of how to receive information and distribute it and have scheduled internal meetings relative to this matter. Councillor Jake Smola advised that he had attended a meeting held by the Citizens Advisory Committee on Air Quality and noted that issues regarding a smog plan for the City would be brought to the Environmental Committee for consideration and recommendation to the City's Finance and Administration Committee. Mr. C. Ford outlined a scenario relative to a smog alert involving Ministry forecast of air quality conditions for the next day and public notice procedure via fax and the Internet. Councillor Jake Smola advised that a Regional Committee was going to address this issue from a policy perspective and from a public education perspective. On the policy side of this issue, a lobby plan will be prepared to convey a municipal approach to the Ministry. He noted that work was well under way on this. On the public education side of the issue, he stated that it was hoped that the private sector would pick up on some of the ideas that had been presented in consideration of the issue. Councillor J. Haalboom and Mr. K. Cenerelli entered the meeting at this point. Mr. C. Ford recommended that staff incorporate some information on this entire matter into the City's proposed 'Environmental Handbook'. He noted that the first draft of the smog plan should be ready in late October / November for review by the Committee. ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES SEPTEMBER 16, 1998 - 34- CITY OF KITCHENER 4. FORESTRY SECTION RECOMMENDATIONS A copy of Council's August 17, 1998 minutes (Clause # 12) and a staff report dated August 5, 1998 from Messrs. M. Mahaffey and D. Daly was attached to the Committee agenda. Messrs. D. Daly, M. Mahaffey and D. Schmidt appeared before the Committee in support of the staff report and utilizing an overhead presentation provided the Committee with details on the subject of "Kitchener's Street Trees." The presentation included: introduction, mission statement, definition of the Urban Forest, benefits of the Urban Forest, the Forestry section responsibilities, examples of Kitchener's street trees, the importance of trees to neighbourhoods, a street tree inventory, a graph of a growing street tree population, identified areas where tree planting could take place, number of trees and their percentage by size, their value as a resource, an outline of the diversity of tree species, public safety issues relative to trees, a need to protect trees, a summary of recent actions taken to reduce the Forestry section's workload and allow for response to increasing numbers of customer complaints as well as dedicate resources to management of the Urban Forest and finally, the recommendations considered by the Community Services Committee were presented. Mr. M. Mahaffey referred to the recommendations with respect to the Urban Forestry Program that were approved by the Community Services Committee. On the issue of threats to the City's forestry resources, Mr. Mahaffey distributed a copy of an exotic forest pest advisory issued by Natural Resources Canada with regard to the "Asian Long- horned Beatle" which essentially attacks and kills healthy trees and is an insect that has no known natural enemies within Canada's forests. Councillor J. Haalboom questioned if staff had any information from either the City of Guelph or Puslinch Township respecting Heritage Trees. It was indicated that staff did not have any information but would make inquiries in this regard. For information, Mr. J. Kay advised that the City of Montreal has a stringent tree cutting by-law in place. He stated that he was very impressd with the systematic way that trees were being dealt with by Kitchener staff but that he was dismayed at the lack of resources being made available to staff to manage the City's tree resources. He questioned what the Committee could to do to assist in addressing the issue of inadequate resources. Mr. Kay also commented that he was aware of residents removing trees because of a general fear with respect to liability issues over trees and stated that it was his view that there should be an opportunity for residential inquiry to staff so that people have all of the facts before acting to remove a tree. A comment was made with regard to an obvious need for tree maintenance and pruning and Mr. Wyatt advised that $50,000 had been placed in the City's tree pruning budget for the next 3 years. Councillor Jake Smola commented that he was surprised that the hazards posed by not being able to manage the City's tree resources had not been brought to the attention of the City's Risk Manager and strongly suggested that such discussions should take place with a view to protecting our assets and reducing our liabilities. Mr. M. Mahaffey advised that staff were dealing with the Risk Manager on a regular basis for individual cases and agreed that staff should undertake to make the Risk Manager aware of the big picture respecting the City's forestry assets and potential liability. Councillor J. Haalboom commented on the inter-relationship between the problem of smog and the alleviating effect of trees in counter-acting the effects of smog. On Motion by Councillor J. Haalboom - it was resolved: " That City Council be advised that the Environmental Committee is in full support of Council's adoption of Clause # 12 of the August 17, 1998 Community Services Committee report concerning approval of the nine (9) recommendations contained in the report of Mr. D. Daly, dated August 5, 1998 with respect to the Urban Forestry Program for the City of Kitchener; and further, ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES SEPTEMBER 16, 1998 - 35- CITY OF KITCHENER That the Environmental Committee strongly urges Council to provide the necessary budget resources to implement this Program commencing in 1999." FORESTRY SECTION RECOMMENDATIONS (CONT'D) Councillor Jake Smola suggested that the Environmental Committee consider making a presentation in support of this request during Council's consideration of its 1999 budget. INVENTORY OF ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES IN KITCHENER SCHOOLS Mr. T. Boutilier provided the above referenced joint report of the Department of Business and Planning Services and the Department of Parks and Recreation to the Environmental Committee and members of City Council. In a covering letter it was noted that as part of the City of Kitchener's 1998 Communities In Bloom effort, the City endeavored to involve both School Boards in a project which would showcase the environmental projects completed by Kitchener school children. It was determined that preparation of an inventory of all completed environmental initiatives could serve as a useful resource document for all teachers and staff planning future student projects. It was also noted that financial assistance to complete the inventory was provided through a grant from Canada Trust's "Friends of the Environment Foundation". Mr. Boutilier advised that a copy of the inventory was being delivered to all schools that participated and that it would form a resource tool for each of the schools to communicate with each other. Councillor J. Haalboom suggested that Mr. T. Boutilier attend a regular School Principals meeting to convey the information contained in the inventory directly to these administrative personnel. Councillor Jake Smola commented that the inventory was an excellent resource document that could be utilized in connection with Earth Day. 6. CITY OF TORONTO CONFERENCE ON DEPOSIT - RETURN SYSTEM, SEPT 24, 1998 The Committee was provided with a copy of an invitation from Mayor Mel Lastman and conference details regarding the above matter. Mr. J. Kay made reference to the issue of recycling and stated that there were questions surrounding the survival of the Blue Box Program which were discussed in an issue of Readers Digest and he suggested that the Committee review the article and respond to Readers Digest over inaccuracies and/or mis-representation with regard to facts relating to the program. It was also asked that the City of Toronto be contacted to determine the outcome of the September 24th conference. 7. UP-DATE RE: 1999 EARTH DAY SUB-COMMITTEE Mr. K. Cenerelli advised that the Earth Day Sub-Committee was in preliminary stages of consideration of its mandate and would be holding a further meeting this date at the conclusion of the regular Committee meeting. 8. MAYOR'S ASIA-PACIFIC ENVIRONMENT SUMMIT - HONOLULU, JAN 31- FEB 3, 1999 The Committee was in receipt of a copy of a letter from the Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu and conference material respecting the above referenced summit. 9. ADJOURNMENT On motion the meeting adjourned at 5:40 p.m. L. W. Neil, AMCT Assistant City Clerk SEPTEMBER 16, 1998 ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES - 36- CITY OF KITCHENER