HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-05-16 - Climate Change and Environment Committee Minutes
Climate Change and Environment Committee
Committee Minutes
May 16, 2024, 4:00 p.m.
Conestoga Room
City of Kitchener
200 King Street W, Kitchener, ON N2G 407
Present: B. Wallis, Chair
Councillor S. Davey, Member
K. Bockasten, Member
J. Clary-Lemon, Member
M. Garner, Vice-Chair
G. Johannesson, Member
V. Nhio-son, Member
Councillor S. Stretch, Member
Staff: S. Lodenquai, Committee Administrator
C. Musselman, Senior Environmental Planner
N. Goss, Manager, Policy & Research
A. Cipriani, Corporate Sustainability Officer
_____________________________________________________________________
1. Commencement
The meeting began at 4:01pm with a Land Acknowledgement given by the
Chair.
2. Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof
None.
3. Delegations
None.
4. Discussion Items
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That the Climate Change and Environment Committee endorse the Plant Based
Treaty and commit to actions to transition to plant-based menus where the City of
Kitchener has jurisdiction.
4.1 KU Transition - May 2024 Update - INS-2024-198, INS-2024-198
K. Daley reviewed the 3 phases in developing a KU Clean Energy Transition
Strategy and indicated the team was in the process of collecting and grouping
ideas
- stakeholder and mgmt. team workshops
- Add business suggestions from phase 1 engagement
-Consolidate to remove duplicates
- Project team review and workshop discussions
The following themes that were identified were highlighted below:
- provide energy products and services
- plan for and report on our gas distribution system
- provide gaseous fuels of tomorrow
-provide system-scale energy services
K. Daley reviewed guiding principles and objectives, endorsed by Council at the
end of 2023. These will be used as a basis to considerate the work moving
forward.
Next steps include a council report on May 27, 2024 and convening a sub-team
of staff to investigate diff bus activities to figure if they could be part of the
integrated strategy recommended at the end of Phase 2.
The floor was opened for questions and general discussion from the committee.
For Discussion.
4.2 Hidden Valley Land Use Implementation Project Technical Studies - DSD-
2024-215, DSD-2024-215
C. Musselman and M. Rodrigues provided the committee with a presentation of
the Hidden Valley Land Use Implementation Project. A map of the Hidden Valley
Study Area was share followed by the Hidden Valley Land Use Master Plan. In
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June of 2019, a master plan was approved by Kitchener Council. The C.
Musselman and M. Rodrigues explained intent of which was to create a plan to
shape a new development as a positive addition to the community, rather than
ad-hoc reaction to new development.
C. Musselman shared and reviewed the land use considerations, including
factors like potential for transit, environmental areas and species at-risk and the
heritage corridor. The implementation of the land use study were shared:
Amendments to the City's Official Plan and Zoning By-law will be prepared to:
Update land use designations
Apply appropriate zones and provisions
Identify Hidden Valley Road as a "Cultural Heritage Landscape" and
"Heritage Corridor"
Implement the River Road Extension alignment
Identify active transportation and trails
Address other aspects of the technical studies that may assist with
implementing the Master Plan (e.g., stormwater management, source
water protection)
Additionally, to inform the proposed policies and land uses, the following studies
are close to completion or are completed:
Environmental Impact study
Health Impact Assessment
Transportation and Noise Impact Study
Heritage Impact Assessment
water management studies
o flood risk reduction, environmental assessment
o stormwater management strategy
o source water protection
Upper Hidden Valley Sanitary Pumping Station and Forcemain
Environmental Assessment
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Next steps outlined were:
Public Open House, May 30, 2024
CCEC Meeting, June 20, 2024
Standing Committee, August 12, 2024
Council Meeting, August 26, 2024
The floor was opened to questions and general discussion to the committee. One
question raised is whether bike lanes will be made available and it was confirmed
River Road will have a multi-use trail incorporated into the design. C. Musselman
and M. Rodrigues addressed clarifying questions.
4.3 CorCAP 2.0 - Part 2 - TransformWR, continued - DSD-2024-216, DSD-2024-
216
H.Irving provided an overview of TransformWR Community Climate Action Plan
as a refresher as well as the action items that were discussed at last month's
meeting which shifts focus from corporate emissions to community-based
emissions.
H. Irving led a discussion which focused on buildings and using Menti software,
asked committee members to rank their 5 top prioritizations of action items. The
following action items were identified as top 5:
3.2.3: Develop region-wide building standards to encourage and support
zero-carbon development of all new buildings in the region.
3.1.4. Investigate and plan for full replacement of natural gas with other
non-fossil fuel sources, eg. Combo of RNG and Hydrogren
3.2.4 Incorporate energy planning considerations into the development
application review process.
3.1.7. Support households on lower income with building envelope
improvements, electrifying space and water heating, and renewable
energy generation.
3.1.8. Identify opportunities to incentivize landlords to perform energy
efficiency upgrades
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The results were reviewed as a group and were chosen to reduce GHGs from
buildings which contribute nearly half of emissions in the community.
4.4 Plant Based Treaty Discussion Continued
Bockasten provided the committee with a brief overview of the discussion that
took place in the April 2024 meeting. Benefits of a vegan diet were discussed
amongst the committee including ethical and economic considerations.
Musselman shared information on the City of Kitchener's procurement ability
when purchasing food. The City does not currently procure food items directly
within its organization
Cipriani shared that there is a specific TransformWR Strategy 5.4 which
addresses adopting low GHG emission diets however, an owner of the action
has not been identified.
There was consensus amongst the committee that the Plant Based Treaty
organization return for further discussion.
On motion by B. Wallis,
That the Climate Change and Environment Committee defer the Plant Based
Treaty discussion to a future meeting where the organization is available.
Carried
4.5 Sub-Committee Updates
No sub-committee updates were shared at the meeting.
5. Information Items
6. Adjournment
On motion, this meeting adjourned at 6:00 p.m.
Shannon Lodenquai
Committee Administrator
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