HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-11-20 - Climate Change and Environment Committee Agenda
Climate Change and Environment Committee
Agenda
November 20, 2025, 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Conestoga Room
City of Kitchener
200 King Street W, Kitchener, ON N2G 407
People interested in participating in this meeting can email Committee Administrator, Eda
Islemecioglu at eda.islemecioglu@kitchener.ca. Please refer to the delegation section on the agenda
below for the registration deadline. Written comments received will be circulated to the Committee
prior to the meeting and will form part of the public record.
*Accessible formats and communication supports are available upon request. If you require
assistance to take part in a city meeting or event, please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994.*
Co-Chairs: V. Nhio-son & K. Charlesworth
Pages
1.Commencement
The meeting will begin with a Land Acknowledgement given by the Chair.
The City of Kitchener is situated on the traditional territory of the
Chonnonton, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee Peoples.
We recognize our responsibility to serve as stewards for the land and
honour the original caretakers who came before us. Our community is
enriched by the enduring knowledge and deep-rooted traditions of the
diverse First Nations, Metis and Inuit in Kitchener today.
2.Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General
Nature Thereof
Members of Council and members of the City’s local boards/committees are
required to file a written statement when they have a conflict of interest. If a
conflict is declared, please visit www.kitchener.ca/conflict to submit your written
form.
3.Delegations
Pursuant to Council’s Procedural By-law, delegations are permitted to address
the Committee for a maximum of five (5) minutes. All Delegations where
possible are encouraged to register prior to the start of the meeting. For
Delegates who are attending in-person, registration is permitted up to the start
of the meeting. Delegates who are interested in attending virtually must register
by 1:00 p.m. on November 20, 2025 in order to participate electronically.
4.Discussion Items
4.1 Integrated Stormwater Master Plan Update,
INS-2025-447, INS-2025-447, INS-2025-447
30 m 1
S. Anderson, Engagement Associate (S&S), will provide a 5-minute
presentation on this matter.
4.2 Kitchener 2051, DSD-2025-461 30 m 22
N. Goss, Manager of Policy & Research, will provide a 5-minute
presentation on this matter.
4.3 Council Report Template Discussion, DSD-
2025-457
15 m 26
Committee/Council Report Template Change(s) Sub-committee will
provide a 5-minute discussion on this matter.
4.4 Mid-Term Reflections 20 m
Co-Chair, K. Charlesworth, will facilitate a continuous improvement
exercise.
5.Information Items
5.1 Sub-Committee Year-End Updates 10 m
5.1.a Environmental Rodent Control
Impacts
A. Hohenadel, C. Corocan, Cllr. Stretch will provide a 5-minute
sub-committee year-end update.
5.1.b Sustainable Food Systems
A. Di Battista, A. Hohenadel, and P. Nojo, will provide a 5-
minute sub-committee year-end update.
5.1.c Committee/Council Report
TemplateChange(s)
K. Charlesworth, P. Boot, and P. Nojo will provide an update
under Discussion Item 4.4.
5.1.d High Performance Development
Standards
K. Charlesworth, B. Wallis, and J. Phan will provide a 5-minute
subcommittee year-end update.
6.Adjournment
Eda Islemecioglu
Committee Administrator
Staff Report
Infrastructure Services Department www.kitchener.ca
*** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. ***
Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance.
REPORT TO: Climate Change and Environment Committee
DATE OF MEETING: November 20, 2025
SUBMITTED BY: Natalie Goss, Manager, Policy & Research, 519-783-8933
PREPARED BY: Sarah Anderson, Engagement Associate, Sanitary and
Stormwater, 519-783-8824
WARD(S) INVOLVED: All Wards
DATE OF REPORT: October 19, 2025
REPORT NO.: INS-2025-447
SUBJECT: Integrated Stormwater Master Plan Update Pre-Engagement
RECOMMENDATION:
For Discussion.
REPORT HIGHLIGHTS:
This report provides information about the upcoming 2026-2027 ISWMP update. At this
early stage, we’re gathering ideas to consider as we set the project scope and engagement
process.
We are conducting pre-engagement during Fall 2025. We will keep the CCEC informed,
listen to your priorities, concerns and aspirations, and provide feedback on how your input
influenced decisions.
This report supports the delivery of core services and the strategic goal of cultivating a green
city together.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The City’s Sanitary and Stormwater Utilities (SSU) is preparing to update Kitchener’s
Integrated Stormwater Master Plan (ISWMP) in 2026 and 2027. The plan guides how
Kitchener plans to adapt our infrastructure and support the community to deal with wetter,
wilder weather. This fall, SSU will be starting early conversations to share a project overview
and gain feedback, which will be used to help shape the scope and engagement process for
the ISWMP update.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Kitchener’s first integrated stormwater master plan was approved in 2016 with the
objective of maintaining the natural hydrologic cycle to minimize flood risks and erosion and
improve water quality. Over the past eight years, the City of Kitchener has achieved significant
success:
1
80% of Kitchener’s creeks increased in water quality between 2016 and 2020
Enhanced stormwater management, expanded neighbourhood connections, and
cultivated a greener city. Between 2016-2030, we will have added:
o 8 new stormwater facilities in parks, including seating, trails and native plantings
o 7,300 meters of rehabilitated creeks
o 3,000 meters of concrete channels removed
o 48,924 meters of road reconstruction stormwater upgrades
Awarded $53.7 million for implementation
o $49.9 million Government of Canada Disaster Mitigation Adaptation Fund
o $3 million Province of Ontario Build Faster Fund
o $800,000 Federation of Canadian Municipalities Green Municipal Fund
See Appendix A for a more detailed overview of the 2016 ISWMP achievements and status.
As a planning process, the ISWMP serves as a decision-support tool for prioritizing future
capital works, provides updated guidance for stormwater management, and establishes
funding strategies and policy recommendations to sustain and enhance stormwater
management over the following ten to fifteen years.
Recommendations in the ISWMP support Kitchener’s commitments to climate adaptation.
REPORT:
2016ISWMP Status
As part of Kitchener’s climate adaptation efforts, we’re preparing to update the Integrated
Stormwater Master Plan (ISWMP) in 2026 and 2027. This update will revisit the 2016 projects
and programs while exploring new data-driven opportunities to:
Strengthen stormwater infrastructure resilience
Reduce and prepare for climate-driven flood risks
Improve water quality and ecological health
Address disproportionate stormwater impacts
Ensure regulatory compliance
Build trust through collaboration
The update will use recent innovations in stormwater modelling and software capacity to
identify areas with the highest overland flood risk and develop tailored solutions where
capacity improvements are most urgent. Overlaying social impact data onto the expanded
stormwater model strengthens our prioritization abilities, so we can look for opportunities to
reduce the disproportionate impacts of flooding on residents facing systemic barriers. By
combining demographic and lived experience data, we can better understand the needs of
groups more vulnerable to flood impacts, including low-income households, renters, and
seniors living alone.
Planning Approach & Schedule
To set an appropriate scope and increase cross-departmental and partner coordination, we
added a pre-engagement phase to the ISWMP update. The pre-engagement phase will help
set the scope and engagement design. We intend to meet or exceed Municipal Class
2
Environmental Assessment requirements for master planning under the Environmental
Assessment Act.
Phase Approximate
Timeline
Key activities
1A. Groundwork: Pre-
engagement and project
scoping
2025 Hydraulic model development; scoping
workshops with internal teams, rights holder,
agencies and key parties
1B: Framing: Defining
the challenge
2026 TBD from phase 1A
2. Discovery: Exploring
options
2026-2027 TBD from phase 1A
3. Direction: Choosing
the preferred solution
2027 TBD from phase 1A
4. Framework: Finalizing
the plan
2027-2028 Council endorsement; publication
5. Delivery:
Implementation
2028-2043
Next Steps
Timeline Action
2025
September –
December
Distribute briefing guide & survey
Pre-engagement workshops – Internal teams, rights holders,
agencies, public, organizations
Complete meeting notes
2026
January-
February
Share What We Heard report and pre-engagement report
Ongoing coordination: Establish project advisory team and
steering committee
Winter/Spring
Circulate Terms of Reference and Engagement Plan
Hire consultant for the ISWMP update
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
This report supports the delivery of core services and the strategic goal of cultivating a green
city together.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
No financial implications at this time.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
INFORM – This report has been posted to the City’s website with the agenda in advance of the
committee meeting.
3
CONSULT – The pre-engagement phase is being used to assess engagement interests and
needs through a series of workshops and meetings. For the pre-engagement phase,
communications will be conducted in person and through email. During pre-engagement, we will
define the project scope and engagement approach by considering input from internal teams,
Indigenous rights holders, and key groups such as advisory committees, school boards,
researchers, developers, real estate professionals, social service providers, climate and
environmental advocates, and youth organizations.
Lived experiences will help shape an impact-driven lens, while shared ideas and priorities will
inform stakeholder analysis and help guide project design.
PREVIOUS REPORTS/AUTHORITIES:
MUN-UTI-2003 Stormwater Management
REVIEWED BY: Bu Lam, Director of Sanitary and Stormwater Utilities, 519-783-8835
Denise McGoldrick, General Manager Infrastructure Services
ATTACHMENTS:
Appendix A: 2016 ISWMP Achievements & Status
4
Fall 2025
Achievements and status of the 2016 Master Plan
In 2016, the City of Kitchener approved an integrated stormwater master plan with the
objec�ve of maintaining the natural hydrologic cycle to minimize flood risks and erosion and
improve water quality. Over the past eight years, the City of Kitchener has achieved significant
success.
Achievement Highlights:
Area Achievement Details
Plan status 43 out of 52 ISWMP
projects and programs to
be completed by 2030
• See the Plan Status Details table below.
Water quality 80% of Kitchener’s creeks
(also called
subwatersheds)
increased in water
quality between 2016-
2020
• Six creeks saw a direct benefit in their score
or health indicators from restora�on efforts
and stormwater management projects.
• Three creeks saw significant improvement
in overall health: Idlewood, Sandrock, and
Shoemaker Creek.
Creek
restora�on
Reduced flood and
erosion risks, restored
habitat, improved water
quality, by rehabilita�ng
7,300 meters of creek.
• Removed more than 3,000 meters of
concrete channels using nature-based
engineered solu�ons.
• Accumulated 20,000 square meters of fish
habitat credits from the Department of
Fisheries and Oceans for habitat created.
• Expanded opportuni�es for nature
connec�on and community building
through integrated design.
Integrated
design of
stormwater
facili�es
Reduced flood risk,
improved water quality,
and restored habitat,
while responding to
• Collaborated with Parks staff and consulted
hundreds of community members to design
eight new ponds and wetlands that
5
Indigenous and
community priori�es.
enhance neighbourhood connec�on and
nature explora�on.
• Integrated the knowledge and priori�es of
Indigenous rights holders.
Road
reconstruc�ons
Leveraged 48,924 m of
road reconstruc�ons to
reduce flood risk and
improve water quality.
• Rehabilitated and enhanced storm sewers
to improve capacity.
• Changed streets to allow stormwater to be
managed and infiltrated at source.
Policy MUN-UTI-2003
Stormwater
Management Policy led
to the industry standard
of 12.5 mm reten�on of
runoff required for new
development and city-led
construc�on projects.
• The policy established a Stormwater
Management Fee of $118,855/hectare to
be paid if the proponent can’t achieve this
requirement for technical reasons. This
funding contributes to stormwater projects
in priority subwatersheds.
Funding Awarded over $50
million in funding for
implementa�on.
• $49.9 Million: Federal Disaster Mi�ga�on
Adapta�on Fund
• $3 Million: Provincial Build Faster Fund.
• $800,000: Federa�on of Canadian
Municipali�es Green Municipal Fund.
Plan Status Details
Program Element Status
June 2025
Notes / Next steps
Low-Impact Development Par�ally
implemented
Outcomes limited; needs revised design,
maintenance, and monitoring.
Sediment Management
Program
Completed Moved to Opera�ons & Maintenance (SSU-
O&M) budget; forebay bathymetry & VPL
hydraulic dredging required.
Drainage Improvement
Program
Completed Ongoing SSU-PP Capital Program.
Stormwater Infrastructure
Maintenance
Completed Transi�oned to SSU-O&M; Define
maintenance priori�es through this update.
Capital Infrastructure
Implementa�on
Completed Smaller miscellaneous projects completed;
1D-2D or 2D modelling to be added.
Drainage Basin Risk Studies Deferred Recommend conduc�ng a GIS analysis of
SWMF catchment characteris�cs (%
impervious, land use, etc.) to evaluate pond
performance.
Monitoring Program Completed Update to focus on water quan�ty. Consider
inflow and infiltra�on (I&). Integrate with the
asset management plan.
6
Market Incen�ve Program
(MIP)
Deferred due
to DMAF
Revisit, including the credit-trading study
scope and intermunicipal co-design.
Watercourse Improvements In progress
through
DMAF
Update to consider Shoemaker Schneider
Creek Phase 2; other reaches of Schneider
Creek near Old Carriage Dr; Filsinger Phase 3;
coordina�on with Department of Fisheries
and Oceans.
SWM Facility Retrofits 8 complete,
4 deferred
The next retrofits are pending hydraulic
analysis and drainage basin risk study results.
Park SWM Enhancements 8 complete,
4 deferred
Engage with Parks teams to consider
inclusion in the ISWMP update.
Borehole & Groundwater Data
Integra�on
Conceptual Include database & contour mapping with
the Environmental Compliance and U�lity
Performance team.
7
Integrated Stormwater
Master Plan Update Pre-
engagement Brief
Sanitary and Stormwater Utilities
(SSU) Planning and Programs
Fall 2025
8
•Share ISWMP overview
•Hear CCEC member ideas for
scope, co-benefits and
multisolving
•Understand CCEC member
priorities for participation
•Explore impact-driven lens
Pre-Engagement
Discussion
Objectives
9
Overview
Kitchener’s first Integrated
Stormwater Master Plan (ISWMP),
completed in 2016, introduced a city-
wide, integrated approach to
stormwater management. The ISWMP
guides capital planning, updates
stormwater management practices, and
outlines funding and policy strategies
for long-term sustainability. A
comprehensive update is now needed to
address remaining projects and
10
Stormwater
as catalyst
management
Enhancing Kitchener’s stormwater management through nature-based solutions delivers multiple
co-benefits, including
improved water and air quality, increased biodiversity, habitat creation, urban cooling, and
community wellbeing.
Morningstar Designs | Alanah
Jewell.@morning.star.designs
11
I S W M P a p p r o v e d
I m p l e m e n t a t i o n
p l a n
D M A F *
A g r e e m e n t
I S W M P p r e -
e n g a g e m e n t
I S W M P u p d a t e
r e a d y
D M A F F u n d i n g
e n d s
N e x t I S W M P
u p d a t e r e a d y
Timeline
2016
2017
2020 2027
2032
Key
focus:
Water
quality
Key
focus:
Water
quantity
2025
2037
*Disaster Mitigation Adaptation Fund
(DMAF)
12
Plan Achievements and
Status
80% of Kitchener’s creeks increased in water quality
43 out of 52 projects and programs
completed by 2030
•8 new stormwater facilities in parks
•7,300 m of creek rehabilitated
•3,000 m of concrete channels removed
•48,924 m of road reconstruction
stormwater upgrades
$53.7 million awarded
Enhanced stormwater management
Greener city
Expanded neighbourhood
connections
•$49.9 million: Federal Disaster Mitigation
Adaptation Fund
•$3 million: Provincial Build Faster Fund.
•$800,000: Federation of Canadian
Municipalities Green Municipal Fund.
•Created 20,000 square meters of fish
habitat
•Integrated Indigenous rights holder
priorities
•Consulted and involved hundreds of
residents
•Expanded nature connection opportunities
in parks
13
Proposed Objectives
Reduce the
disproportionate
impact of stormwater
challenges on
specific communities
Advance innovations
in stormwater
infrastructure to
respond to
vulnerabilities and
support a resilient
community
Reduce flood risks
to adapt to the
extreme weather
driven by climate
change
Improve water
quality and the
overall ecological
health of
Kitchener’s creeks
Ensure ongoing
compliance with
evolving provincial
and federal
regulations
Strengthen trust and
collaboration with
the public, partners,
rights holders, and
internal teams,
including by seeking
opportunities to
integrate co-benefits 14
Impact-driven lens:
Problem framing & solution
design
Impact-
informed
decision-
making
Expanded
modeling data
(hydraulic
simulations,
flood maps)
Service data
(maintenance
& operations
calls)
Demographic
data (income,
housing type,
race)
Lived experience
data
(interviews,
community
feedback)
Flood impacts
By modelling the storm
sewer network, we can
identify Kitchener areas
with the highest
overland flood risk and
hazard.
Using an impact-driven
lens, we can also
understand who will be
most affected –so we
can design solutions
that reduce harm for
those facing systemic
barriers. 15
Setting expectations
Stormwater planning can’t prevent floods, but it can help make Kitchener more
flood-ready.
We all have a role to play in preparing for wetter and wilder weather. The
ISWMP update is an opportunity to consider solutions for private and public
lands.
Emergency response is outside the scope of the ISWMP. To support emergency
response planning, we will communicate with Kitchener’s emergency management
committee throughout the update.
Reep Green Solutions Rain Smart Neighbourhoods
16
Opportunities for multi-solving:
What significant challenges or opportunities should Kitchener
address through stormwater management?
Shaping the ISWMP update scope
17
What does successful engagement look like for the CCEC?
Participation in planning
18
Tell us your experiences of local creeks and rivers. What do you
do when you visit them? Do you have a favourite place to go? If
you don’t or can’t visit them, why not? What do creeks or rivers
mean to you?
Building our impact-driven lens
What’s on your mind when you think of flooding and intense
rainstorms? Have you or someone you know been affected by
intense rainstorms? If your neighbourhood flooded, what
challenges would be most difficult to recover from?
19
ENGAGEMENT
MEETINGS
WHAT WE
HEARD REPORT
TERMS OF
REFERENCE
HIRE
ENGINEERING
CONSULTANT
WINTER 2026
SPRING 2026
SPRING/SUMMER
2026
FALL 2025
Internal & external pre-
engagement
Next steps
20
Thank
you!Sarah Anderson
Engagement Associate
Sanitary and Stormwater
Utilities
City of Kitchener
Sarah.Anderson@Kitchener
.ca
519-783-8824
21
Staff Report
Development Services Department www.kitchener.ca
*** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. ***
Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance.
REPORT TO: Climate Change and Environment Committee
DATE OF MEETING: November 20, 2025
SUBMITTED BY: Natalie Goss, Manager Policy & Research, 519-783-8933
PREPARED BY: Mike Balch, Planner (Policy), 519-783-8928
Natalie Goss, Manager Policy & Research, 519-783-8933
WARD(S) INVOLVED: ALL
DATE OF REPORT: October 31, 2025
REPORT NO.: DSD-2025-461
SUBJECT: Kitchener 2051: Draft Climate and Energy Policies
RECOMMENDATION:
That the Climate Change and Environment Committee’s comments be considered by
staff as input on the draft Official Plan.
REPORT HIGHLIGHTS:
The purpose of this report is to provide an overview Kitchener 2051 draft Official Plan
to CCEC, specifically the climate change and energy policies.
There are no financial implications of this report.
Community and collaborator engagement on the draft Official Plan is occurring
throughout November and December 2025. This includes engagement at Kitchener’s
advisory committees including the Climate Change and Environment Committee.
This report supports Cultivating a Green City Together: Focuses a sustainable path
to a greener, healthier city; enhancing & protecting parks & natural environment
while transitioning to a low-carbon future; supporting businesses & residents to
make climate-positive choices.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Kitchener is preparing a new Official Plan (OP) – referred to as Kitchener 2051.
An OP is a document that shapes the way a city grows and develops. Provincial legislation,
specifically the Planning Act, sets out what an OP can do, including:
Directing growth and change, mostly related to how land and buildings are used;
Guiding decisions on land use, development, transportation, physical and community
infrastructure, and more;
Implementing the City’s vision, established through the Strategic Plan; and
Providing direction for implementing tools.
To inform and shape foundational elements of a new OP, in Spring 2025 the Climate Change
and Environment Committee, hosted a “community conversation kit” on draft big ideas &
22
emerging directions. Input gathered from that discussion as well as similar discussions with
other advisory committees and the community was considered in the preparation of a first
draft. A number of technical studies were also prepared to provide staff with best practices
and recommendations for policy development. The Climate and Energy Technical
Background Study was shared with the Climate Change and Environment Committee in
June of this year for information.
REPORT:
A draft new OP has been prepared for community and collaborator engagement.
Engagement is occurring throughout November and December. Input received will be
considered, along with all technical background studies, in the preparation of a final OP for
Council’s consideration in 2026.
The draft new OP is centered on three big ideas which have shaped an approach to growth
that was considered by Council in August 2025, as well as the objectives and policies of the
draft new OP. The three big ideas represent our shared future and are the heart of the draft
new OP.
Our Neighbourhoods will be vibrant, connected, and inclusive places where people of all
ages, incomes, and abilities can live, work, learn, play, connect, and move around safely
and conveniently.
Our Economy will be as diverse as the city it supports, built on businesses of all types in
neighbourhoods across the city. People and goods will get where they need to go quickly,
efficiently and sustainably and coordinated energy and infrastructure investments will create
a more competitive, economically resilient city.
We will value, protect, and restore Our Environment, emitting almost no greenhouse gases
and building resilience to a warmer, wetter, and wilder climate. We will learn from Indigenous
land-based cultural practices and stewardship in the spirit of reconciliation to build a stronger
community where everyone can be healthy, safe, and food secure for generations to come.
The draft new OP will be available the week of November 10th at
www.engagewr.ca/kitchener2051. Key highlights of the draft new Official Plan related to
energy transition and climate change are summarized in this report.
Thriving Through the Energy Transition
The way that we get and use energy is changing, in Kitchener and across the world. In
Kitchener today, we mainly use fossil fuels to power our vehicles and heat our buildings.
Using these energy sources is responsible for the vast majority of our greenhouse gas
emissions. In order to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, we need to achieve net-
zero emissions globally by the middle of this century. The OP prioritizes compact, mixed-
use communities as a key strategy to address two primary emission sources: transportation,
and heating and cooling of our buildings. The draft OP includes a new chapter focusing on
thriving through the energy transition. It follows a reduce, switch, improve model: first we
must prioritize reducing our emissions, then we must consider how we can move away from
fossil fuels, and finally we must improve our processes, infrastructure, and generation and
storage methods.
23
Reduce: Cutting Fossil Fuels
The pathway to greenhouse gas emissions reductions must take into account how and
where we build. As such, the draft OP proposes the establishment of development
standards that include passive techniques to cut energy consumption through site layout
and building orientation in new neighbourhoods as well as ways to promote the
opportunity for energy generation. When considering the future of industry in the city,
Kitchener has considered the impacts of large energy users (e.g. data centres). The draft
OP includes requirements for study submissions for large energy users including the need
to demonstrate capacity and energy and water efficiency measures.
Switch: Clean Energy and Heat
Kitchener has access to clean heat sources such as geothermal, solar thermal, air source
heat pumps, industrial waste heat, renewable natural gas, biomass, and wastewater heat
recovery. The city, utilities, and energy providers, developers, and businesses all have a
role in the planning and deployment of infrastructure to generate and harness clean
energy and connect supply it to the buildings that need it. New developments will not
automatically be developed with fossil fuel connections as they have in the past. Where
feasible, options like full electrification or district energy/heat systems will be applied.
Energy strategies will be recommended for sites past a noted threshold and the city will
work with applicants on options to connect to future district systems or otherwise establish
stand-alone systems for energy conservation/generation.
Improve: Generate and store clean electricity locally
Generating and storing clean energy in Kitchener helps increase grid build reliability and
resilience and meet with growing energy demand and supporting peak loads. Solar energy
can be used to offset high daytime electricity demand during extreme weather and battery
storage can be used to distribute energy for use overnight. The draft OP will support the
implementation of renewable energy systems as a principal use through appropriate by-
law provisions. This will also apply to large-scale battery storage systems. While
maintaining a good public realm, small scale private renewable systems and associated
battery storage will be promoted where possible throughout the city.
Climate Change (Mitigation and Adaptation)
The way we live, where we live, and how we travel can have tremendous impacts on climate
change. It is important that climate change considerations are integrated throughout the OP
as climate change must be considered in all land use decisions. You will see in the draft
new OP that there is no climate change “chapter”, rather that the entirety of the OP has been
considered through a climate change lens. Due to the inherent interconnectedness in
climate change mitigation and adaptation methods, numerous policies serve as co-benefits;
simultaneously reducing greenhouse gas emissions and building resiliency to the impacts
of a changing climate. Some noteworthy policy approaches include:
Acknowledging that our climate will be different in the future and that we can’t just
plan for “the future” but must plan for multiple different futures
Expanding protections of our urban forest and designated wetlands, understanding
their role as carbon sinks. These features also serve as adaptation measures,
providing shade during extreme heat, and protection/buffers during severe weather
events.
24
Continuing to recognize that Kitchener’s natural heritage system plays a critical role
in adapting to a changing climate
Consideration of the connected role of natural systems, like rivers, streams,
infiltration galleries and other low impact development along with more traditional
“grey” infrastructure in handling increasingly wild weather conditions
Building in resilience into our built and natural environment, considering the impact
of stronger, and more frequent storm events. This includes expanding flood line
buffers based on updated design period storms.
Acknowledging the importance of integrated land uses that reduce single occupancy
vehicle travel demand, making communities more accessible for active transportation
and public transit.
Promoting a local food economy, that reduces carbon emissions associated with
transportation.
Establishing community spaces as emergency recovery areas, including warming
and cooling centres.
Recognizing the role that trails play as a critical component of our transportation
network. Providing shade/shelter, and rest areas along routes to reduce the impact
of severe weather and allow residents to use this network throughout the year.
Conducting a Climate Risk Vulnerability Assessment to further understand our
vulnerabilities as a community to inform future resilience policy changes.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
This report supports Cultivating a Green City Together: Focuses a sustainable path to
a greener, healthier city; enhancing & protecting parks & natural environment while
transitioning to a low-carbon future; supporting businesses & residents to make
climate-positive choices.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
Capital Budget – The recommendation has no impact on the Capital Budget.
Operating Budget – The recommendation has no impact on the Operating Budget.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
INFORM – This report has been posted to the City’s website with the agenda in advance of
the council / committee meeting.
CONSULT – The draft OP will be released for community and collaborator conversations in
November 2025. It is being presented to CCEC on November 20th for their input.
PREVIOUS REPORTS/AUTHORITIES:
DSD-2024-423 – Kitchener 2051 Official Plan project update
DSD-2025-206 – Kitchener 2051 Community Conversation Kit
DSD-2025-280 – Kitchener 2051 Official Plan Climate and Energy Technical
Background Study Update
REVIEWED BY: Janine Oosterveld, Manager, Customer Experience & Project
Management
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CCEC Subcommittee
Update
Council Report Template Subcommittee
November 20, 2025
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Background
Waterloo Region’s GHG emissions have fallen by 12% from 2010 levels
Gas usage has remained flat for the last several years (Kitchener
Utilities data)
Despite several declarations, commitments, strategies, plans and
actions, we are not close to action and real results at the pace we
need to be at
50% by 2030 (~5 years from now)
80% by 2050
Individuals and community groups actively trying to enact the changes we
need want to see evidence of this progress.
At staff’s suggestions, the sub-committee explored several options to
increase GHG reduction accountability
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Research
Barrie
Council / Committee reports include a section called ‘Environment and Climate Change Impact Matters’
Brantford
Has a report section for “Climate and Environmental Implications”Staff report it has brought focus.
Cambridge
Has a dropdown in their Council report template asking if the action or recommendation relates to one of
the City’s strategic plan actions -one of which is ‘taking action to combat climate change’.
Toronto
Does not have a required section in staff reports for a climate change lens, however, the city has
embedded a climate lens through education and other processes:
non-traditional economic measures to the budget process
creation of a climate lens “program” which consists of several parts that serve a capacity-building mandate
a set of climate lens questions to determine whether budget projects contribute to the City's goals of reducing GHGs and increasing climate resilience and to prompt staff to provide further information where available (e.g. estimated GHG reduction from the project). As of 2022, this is now a mandatory requirement for all new and existing budget projects.
Nelson, BC
Council report template includes a section that states “Impact on Sustainability Objectives and Staff
Resources”
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Proposed Motion
The Climate Change and Environment Advisory Committee
recommends that when the next regularly scheduled review process of
the Council Report Template occurs, that a climate—and specifically
GHG reductions lens—be included as a standard item. It is suggested
that the following questions be included in order to foster a culture of
developing and applying a climate action lens in all decisions, initiatives
and programs:
o How will this decision increase or decrease GHG emissions in the short
term (1-5yrs)
o How will this decision increase or decrease GHG emissions in the long
term (10-30yrs in keeping with the timeframe of the TransformWR
plan)
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Conclusion
Integrating a clear climate and GHG reduction lens into
Council’s report template is a practical way to
strengthen accountability and drive progress.
By adopting this approach, Council can ensure that
every decision supports our climate goals, reducing
emissions, and fostering a sustainable culture in our City
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Staff Report
Development Services Department www.kitchener.ca
*** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. ***
Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance.
REPORT TO: Climate Change and Environment Committee
DATE OF MEETING: November 20, 2025
SUBMITTED BY: Natalie Goss, Manager Policy & Research 519-783-8933
PREPARED BY: Natalie Goss, Manager Policy & Research on behalf of the CCEC
Report Template Subcommittee 519-783-8933
WARD(S) INVOLVED: ALL
DATE OF REPORT: October 31, 2025
REPORT NO.: DSD-2025-457
SUBJECT: CCEC Report Template Sub-Committee Update
RECOMMENDATION:
That the Climate Change and Environment Committee support the Report Template
Subcommittee’s recommendations outlined in this report being considered as part of
the City’s next corporate report template review.
REPORT HIGHLIGHTS:
The purpose of this report is to provide an update on the research conducted by the
Climate Change and Environment Committee (CCEC) Report Template Subcommittee
The key finding of this report is that some other municipalities include a climate
change/GHG lens in their Council/Committee reports.
There are no direct financial implications of this report.
Community engagement included the posting of this report with the agenda in advance
of the CCEC meeting.
BACKGROUND:
The original intent of the Report Template Subcommittee was to look at ways to ensure that
staff and Council were considering the long-term costs and benefits of each action or
inaction as it related to climate change and its consequences and costs (e.g., financial,
health, infrastructure). The rationale being that if City decisions were considered with a
climate prominent lens, different decisions may be made that would help us meet our GHG
reduction commitments.
The key concern is that Waterloo Region’s GHG emissions have reduced a bare 12% from
2010 levels (2022 figures) and Kitchener Utilities figures show gas usage has remained flat
for the last several years.
Kitchener has made the following commitments in this space:
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In 2019, a declaration that we are in a Climate Emergency,
A reduction in GHG emissions of 50% by 2030 and 80% by 2050,
Is guided by its Corporate Climate Action Plan, Strategic Plan for the Environment,
Transform WR Strategy, and Kitchener Utilities Clean Energy Transition Strategy.
Despite these commitments, Kitchener, like other municipalities, is challenged to meet its
GHG reductions, in particular its commitment for 2030. To continue to be on a path to
achieve our 2050 GHG commitment, emissions must reduce by 4% a year which will
continue to take focus and effort.
In addition to the city’s commitments, individuals and community groups are actively trying
to enact the changes that are needed. There is a desire from the CCEC to see evidence of
our collective progress on climate matters documented more deliberately.
REPORT:
The Report Template subcommittee explored several options to increase GHG
accountability and reporting including:
1. Talking with Compass Kitchener about the idea of including monitoring of Kitchener’s
Transform WR commitments,
2. Discussion about improving the efficacy of the Transform WR dashboard, and
3. Researching what other cities are doing to ensure there is a city-wide focus on
connecting decisions to reducing GHG emissions.
The preferred outcome further researched by the Report Template Subcommittee was #3.
This was preferred as it focuses on all staff on using a climate change and emissions lens
when providing information to Council and for Council’s decision making.
As part of the subcommittee’s work a municipal scan was conducted. A summary of findings
is below.
City of Barrie - The City of Barrie’s Council/Committee reports include a section called
Environment and Climate Change Impact Matters’. The intent of this section is to trigger
some analysis and consideration of GHGs in each report. It was noted that this section is
not always completed. To increase uptake in completion of this section of the report, City of
Barrie staff noted that there are plans to meet with different departments across the city to
normalize GHG considerations within their work portfolios.
City of Brantford – The City of Brantford currently has a section in their Council/Committee
reports for ‘Climate and Environmental Implications’. The sub-committee spoke to Brantford
staff who stated the need to respond to this dropdown menu has created more opportunities
for sustainability staff to get involved in projects before they get too far along. They felt that
training on climate change in all departments is important, which also creates opportunities
to consult the Climate Change Officer.
City of Cambridge – The City of Cambridge’s Council/Committee report has a dropdown
menu asking if the action or recommendation relates to one of the City’s strategic plan
actions, on of which is ‘taking action to combat climate change’.
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City of Toronto – The City of Toronto does not have a required section in
Council/Committee reports for a climate change lens, however, the city has embedded a
climate lens through education and other processes. In 2019, City Council directed staff to
develop a climate lens that evaluates and considers the climate impacts of all major City
decisions, including financial decisions. The intent is to apply non-traditional economic
measures to the budget process to ensure the city can deliver outcomes to Torontonians
that align with City’s corporate strategic priorities and commitment to reach net-zero
emissions. As part of developing process to evaluate and consider climate impacts of city
decisions, a need was identified to build capacity. The end result was the creation of a
climate lens “program” which consists of several parts that serve the capacity-building
mandate, including:
An internal website called 'Climate Hub' that includes climate-related resources and
information, and tools and data to assist staff in applying a climate lens
An internal "Climate 101" Learning Program to introduce any/all City staff to concepts
of climate change and the City's plans to combat climate change
Climate investment tracking and analysis in the City's annual budget process.
In 2020, the City of Toronto’s capital and operating budget process released a set of climate
lens questions to determine whether budget projects contribute to the City's goals of
reducing GHGs and increasing climate resilience and to prompt staff to provide further
information where available (e.g. estimated GHG reduction from the project). As of 2022,
this is now a mandatory requirement for all new and existing budget projects. Also, starting
in 2022, and as part of the Net Zero Strategy short-term implementation plan, Toronto is
developing a carbon accountability framework (carbon budget) and associated key
performance metrics that will ensure emissions impacts associated with major decisions are
estimated and factor into decision making. Activities to progress the carbon accountability
framework and the climate lens program have occurred from 2022 to 2025.
City of Nelson, British Columbia – The City of Nelson’s Council/Committee report
template includes a section that states “Impact on Sustainability Objectives and Staff
Resources”. This section is most useful when comments within it refer back to the City’s
Climate Plan. In addition, the subcommittee notes that the city has a sizable climate team
that is partially funded by grants, embedded in different departments (e.g., Transit, Facilities,
“Head of Development Services & Climate Action”, and that team helps staff to look at
GHG/climate effects.
City of Kitchener – The City of Kitchener’s Council/Committee report template includes a
drop-down menu tied to its Strategic Plan alignment which is required to be selected as part
of all reports to Council/Committee. It includes the Strategic Plan priority of “Cultivating a
Green City Together: Focuses a sustainable path to a greener, healthier city; enhancing &
protecting parks & natural environment while transitioning to a low-carbon future; supporting
businesses & residents to make climate-positive choices.”
The Sustainability Office reports to Council on the progress of the City’s Corporate Climate
Action Plan 2.0: Pivot Net-Zero yearly, on or around Earth Day. This includes updated
progress on the City’s corporate GHG inventory, 19 corporate annual progress reporting
metrics and 47 corporate action items.
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In order to continue on our path to reducing GHG’s by 80% by 2050 and provide more
measurable, deliberate, and accountable recommendations and decisions from a climate
lens, the subcommittee recommends that more emphasis and education should occur
across the corporation. It is noted that this is starting to occur in neighbouring municipalities.
Therefore, the Report Template Subcommittee recommends that the CCEC consider asking
that the following updates to the Council/Committee report template be considered as part
of the next report template update:
That a climate – and specifically GHG reduction lens – be included as a standard
item and,
That the following questions be included to foster a culture of developing and applying
a climate action lens in all decisions, initiatives and programs;
o How will this decision increase or decrease GHG emissions in the short term
(i.e., 1-5 years)?
o How will this decision increase or decrease GHG emissions in the long term
(i.e., 10-30 years in keeping with the timeframe of the Transform WR plan).
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
This report supports Cultivating a Green City Together: Focuses a sustainable path to
a greener, healthier city; enhancing & protecting parks & natural environment while
transitioning to a low-carbon future; supporting businesses & residents to make
climate-positive choices.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
Capital Budget – The recommendation has no impact on the Capital Budget.
Operating Budget – The recommendation has no impact on the Operating Budget.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
INFORM – This report has been posted to the City’s website with the agenda in advance of
the CCEC meeting.
PREVIOUS REPORTS/AUTHORITIES:
There are no previous reports/authorities related to this matter.
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