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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-10-14ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES OCTOBER 147 2004 CITY OF KITCHENER The Environmental Committee met this date commencing at 4:05 p.m. Present: Chair - Councillor B. Vrbanovic Ms. Y. Fernandes, and Messrs. A. Boterman, R. Dingman, D. Lippert, C. Schneider, P. O'Toole, R. Atabakhsh and R. Nandakumar Ms. N. Sonders - in attendance for part of the meeting. Staff: J. Willmer, Director of Planning S. Turner, Director of Enforcement K. Carmichael, Supervisor, Traffic and Parking D. Schmitt, Urban Forest Technologist T. Boutilier, Senior Planner B. Steiner, Environmental Planner J. Billett, Committee Administrator C. Goodeve, Committee Administrator COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT GRANT PROGRAM - GRANT APPLICATIONS The Committee was in receipt of 10 applications for the Community Environmental Improvement Grant Program (CEIGP). Mr. T. Boutilier reviewed the Terms of Reference for the CEIGP and advised that all the applications before the Committee were eligible for consideration. He requested a member act as a liaison between grant recipients and the Committee and Mr. C. Schneider volunteered to fulfill that role. Mr. A. Boterman declared a pecuniary interest and abstained from all discussion and voting with respect to the application submitted by Planting Trees For Students, as he organized the group's submission. Subsequently, Mr. Boterman advised the Committee that he wished to withdraw the Planting Trees For Students submission. The Committee entered into a general discussion regarding the remaining applications. Members agreed that the application submitted by the Grand River Envirothon, to clean up the Kolb Creek Waterway would benefit the City as a whole and allocated $2,000 in grant funds to the project. The application submitted by the MacKenzie King School, requesting funding to plant 3 cedar shrubs on school grounds, was allocated $200. After reviewing the remaining 7 applications, the Committee was of the opinion that all were of equal merit and agreed that the remaining $7,800 in grant funds be distributed equally among them. Ms. N. Sonders entered the meeting at this time. During discussion, the Committee concluded that a more definitive criteria and selection process should be developed for use in subsequent years to determine CEIGP recipients. Accordingly, it was agreed to form a sub-committee composed of Messrs. C. Schneider, D. Lippert, and R. Nandakumar, who will work with Mr. T. Boutilier to develop draft criteria for consideration of the Committee. On motion by Mr. P. O'Toole - it was resolved: "That Community Environmental Improvement Grants, to be funded from the Environmental Stewardship Capital Account, be awarded in 2004 as follows: $2,000 to the Grand River Envirothon Group; $200 to the MacKenzie King School; and the remaining $7,800 to be equally divided between St. John School; Crestview Public School; Laurentian Senior Public School; Waterloo Region District School Board and Evergreen Associates (School Ground Greening Support); Blessed Sacrament School (Playground Renewal Committee); Grand River Collegiate Institute; and Glencairn Public School." OCTOBER 147 2004 ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES - 23 - CITY OF KITCHENER PRESENTATION - REGIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICER - CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON AIR QUALITY (CACAQ) - AIR QUALITY ISSUES The Committee was in receipt of Region of Waterloo report CH-02-070, dated November 5, 2002, and attached Waterloo Region Idling Control Protocol. Mr. David Roewade, Region of Waterloo Public Health Officer, presented an overview of the Region's programs and initiatives dealing with air quality issues. He advised that the Region has both internal and external air quality initiatives with long and short term strategies. The Region is involved in a number of lateral initiatives with the Ontario Public Health Agency, Greater Toronto Area Clean Air Council, the University of Waterloo and various community groups. Mr. Roewade stated that the Region would be willing to work with the City of Kitchener's Environmental Committee to raise public awareness of air quality issues. Mr. J. Willmer inquired as to the success of the 6 emission reduction strategies budgeted for 2003, as outlined in the Region's report. Mr. Roewade advised that the strategies have no financial payback value; however, they do have health payback values attributed to them. Further, a number of these strategies will only show results over a long period of time. The Committee was in receipt this date of a handout from Ms. Lori Strothard, representative of the Citizens Advisory Committee on Air Quality (CACAQ) summarizing the history and current air quality initiatives of CACAQ. Ms. Strothard advised that CACAQ is currently working on drafting a Pedestrian's Charter and invited members of the Environmental Committee to a planning meeting to be held on October 27, 2004, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Victoria School Centre. Responding to questions, Ms. Strothard advised that the best way for members of the Environment Committee to assist CACAQ would be to lend support to CACAQ's initiatives as they are brought forward for consideration. DTS-04-145 -"NO IDLING" ZONES - CITY'S PARKING BY-LAWS The Committee was in receipt of Development and Technical Services Department report DTS- 04-145, dated October 1,2004, which proposes the development and placement of 'Stop Idling' advisory signs; continued support of an existing 'No Idling' education campaign in partnership with the Citizens Advisory Committee on Air Quality (CACAQ); and that a 'No Idling' by-law not be established at this time. Mr. K. Carmichael advised that in November 2003 staff were directed to investigate the feasibility of incorporating into the City's Parking By-laws designated 'No Idling' zones within specific public areas. Staff determined that enforcement of this type of by-law is very difficult and it lacks consistency and uniformity in its application. Mr. Carmichael advised that such a by-law may not be fully supported by the Courts. He stated that, at this time, staff are requesting $21,500 to cover the one time costs of manufacturing and installing 'Stop Idling' advisory signs at City facilities and school zones. Ms. S. Sonders expressed the opinion that the only way to truly address the issue of idling was to pass a by-law prohibiting the practice. Mr. S. Turner advised that idling is considered a "person" offence as opposed to a "vehicle" offence and tickets would thereby be issued to the driver. He pointed out that By-law Enforcement Officers do not have authority to stop vehicles and ask for personal identification and accordingly, they are limited in their ability to enforce a 'No Idling' by-law. On motion by Mr. A. Boterman - it was resolved: "That an over-expenditure of $21,500 to cover the one time cost of manufacturing and installing 'Stop Idling' advisory signs at approximately 60 City facilities and 50 School zones be approved; and, OCTOBER 147 2004 ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES - 24 - CITY OF KITCHENER DTS-04-145 -"NO IDLING" ZONES - CITY'S PARKING BY-LAWS That the City continue to support the (CONT'D) existing formal education campaign, in partnership with the Citizens Advisory Committee on Air Quality (CACAQ), to increase awareness of the negative impacts of idling vehicles; and, That the City not establish a 'No Idling' by-law at this time; and further, That staff report to the Environmental Committee in one years time as to any changes in legislation that may present an opportunity in the future to formulate a 'No Idling' by-law." PRESENTATION - RESIDENTIAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROJECT (REEP) - ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2004 - REQUEST FOR 2005 GRANT FUNDING The Committee was in receipt of a report from the Residential Energy Efficiency Project (REEP), dated September 24, 2004, requesting a grant of $20,000, representing the City of Kitchener's contribution to their 2005 budget. Ms. Mary Jane Patterson, Program Manager - REEP, reviewed results achieved by REEP in 2004 and their goals for 2005. REEP estimates 1,050 home evaluations will be conducted in the City of Kitchener in 2005. The City's contribution leverages grants directly to homeowners that are now available through the Federal Energuide for Houses Retrofit Incentive Program. REEP is working to equalize contributions by requesting funding from the electric utilities in Cambridge, Waterloo and Union Gas and is asking the Cities of Waterloo and Cambridge to increase their contributions to $30,000 in 2005 to help off-set the imbalance in contributions. In response to questions, Ms. Patterson advised that to maintain quality control all REEP home evaluators must successfully complete a training / certification program. On motion by Mr. A. Boterman - it was resolved: "That subject to consideration during the 2005 budget deliberations, $20,000 be allocated to the Residential Energy Efficiency Project (REEP), Waterloo Region, as part of the Environmental Committee's 2005 operating budget." PRESENTATION - REGION OF WATERLOO REPORT P-04-089 - GREENLANDS STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION AND DISCUSSION PAPER The Committee was in receipt of Region of Waterloo report P-04-089, dated October 5, 2004 and a discussion paper entitled "Fostering a Culture of Stewardship, a Greenlands Strategy for the Region of Waterloo". Mr. Chris Gosselin, Manager of Environmental Planning for the Region, advised that the discussion paper is the first in a series of 5, and sets out the overall scope and structure on implementation of the Greenland Strategy. Mr. Gosselin advised that the strategy consists of two major categories being: a Greenlands Network comprising the 'green infrastructure' (ie. natural areas / corridors), and Greenlands Institutional Arrangements (ie. policies, programs and activities to maintain the Greenlands Network). The goals of the strategy is to ensure that lands having environmental or ecological significance are protected from inappropriate development, and to forge a dynamic partnership consisting of government, the private sector, and the voluntary sector to develop creative means of implementing the Greenlands Strategy. Mr. Gosselin asked that the Environmental Committee undertake a review of the documentation and provide their comments to the Region by November 30, 2004. OCTOBER 147 2004 ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES - 25 - CITY OF KITCHENER PRESENTATION - REGION OF WATERLOO REPORT P-04-089 GREENLANDS STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION AND DISCUSSION PAPER (CONT'D) A sub-committee of Ms. Y. Fernandes and Messrs. D. Lippert, A. Boterman and C. Schneider was formed to review the Region's discussion paper and prepare comments for consideration of the Committee at its November meeting. URBAN WOODLAND STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM - UPDATE Mr. Dave Schmitt presented a review of the Urban Woodland Stewardship Program, and the progress of the Technical Working Committee. The program is designed to involve the public and other partners in managing woodlands and to provide a forum for the community to learn and experience nature within the City. He advised that the Kitchener-Waterloo Field Naturalists are acting as the lead agency in a grant application to the Ontario Trillium Foundation. Mr. Schmitt advised that staff would like to have representation from the Environmental Committee on the Technical Working Committee and proposed three options for participation, as follows: · the Environmental Committee member would participate in discussion as a non-voting member; · the Environmental Committee member would participate as a voting member and be empowered by the Committee to speak on its behalf; · the Environmental Committee could choose not to have a member sit on the Technical Working Committee, but receive periodic updates. The Committee was of the opinion that a representative of the Environmental Committee should be appointed as a voting member of the Technical Working Committee, and agreed to consider an appointment at such time as staff advise that the Trillium grant has been approved. CORPORATE SHARED AGENDA INITIATIVE - UPDATE OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT Due to time constraints this item was deferred and referred to the November 18, 2004 meeting of the Environmental Committee. ADJOURNMENT On motion, the meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m. Colin Goodeve Committee Ad mi nistrator