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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-02-17ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES FEBRUARY 17~ 2005 CITY OF KITCHENER The Environmental Committee met this date commencing at 4:02 p.m. Present: Co-Chair- Mr. C. Schneider Ms. J. Young, Ms. N. Sonders and Messrs. B. McColl, R. Dingman and R. Nandakumar Ms. C. Sahula and Mr. A. Boterman - in attendance for part of the meeting. Staff: R. Shamess, Director of Engineering Services J. Hutchison, District Facilitator B. Steiner, Environmental Planner C. Goodeve, Committee Administrator DTS-05-024 FAIRWAY ROAD EXTENSION ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT STUDY ZELLER DRIVE IN KITCHENER TO FOUNTAIN STREET IN CAMBRIDGE The Committee was in receipt of Development and Technical Services Department report DTS- 05-024, dated February 2, 2005 concerning a Class Environmental Assessment study (EA) for the Fairway Road extension from Zeller Drive in Kitchener to Fountain Street in Cambridge. Mr. R. Shamess advised that the recommendation contained in the staff report was passed by Council on February 14, 2005. The recommendation was concerning staff's continued participation on the Region of Waterloo's Steering Committee, which is undertaking the EA to address the impacts of possible routes and new road alignments of the Fairway Road extension. The extension will involve a bridge crossing the Grand River. He further advised that 2 public consultation sessions have been held and from that, 3 routes have been short-listed for a more detailed evaluation. Mr. Shamess reviewed details of the 3 proposed routes and advised that the EA is still in the evaluation stage. Once the Regional Steering Committee has selected a preferred route a report will be presented to Council with a recommendation. In response to questions, Mr. R. Shamess advised that both the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Natural Resources participate on the Regional Steering Committee to ensure all environmentally related Acts are complied with as a part of the EA process. Mr. Shamess also noted that the Region is providing the funding for the EA. Committee members expressed concerns regarding the issue of need and Mr. R. Shamess advised that this project will provide access to future employment lands, as well as a second high-speed connection to Highway 401. Mr. Shamess added that the bridge crossing the Grand River will reduce commute times and provide much needed infrastructure to the area. KITCHENER'S EARTH DAY CELEBRATIONS Ms. J. Hutchison advised that she will be co-ordinating Kitchener's 2005 Earth Day celebrations for the week of April 22, 2005, and outlined proposed events. She advised that on April 23, 2005 there will be a public tree planting at RIM Park in Waterloo, which members of the Committee are invited to take part in. She added that annually, Sunoco donates trees for a public planting and the location rotates between Kitchener and Waterloo. She commented on a proposal for a community clean-up whereby the City will supply and collect garbage bags for interested community groups to engage in a litter pick-up activity. She stated that in the past, schools have been invited to participate in Earth Day celebrations, and typically the City will hold a tree planting event on Earth Day at one of the participating schools. She noted that all events will correspond with the guidelines outlined by Earth Day Canada. Ms. Hutchison then invited suggestions from the Committee. In response to questions, Ms. J. Hutchison advised that the corporate sponsors for the City's Earth Day events are Tim Horton's and Sunoco. Further, participation in Earth Day events can count towards a student's community services hours, which are required for High School graduation. Mr. R. Nandakumar suggested that staff contact local companies that are ISO certified, which means that the company has established standards for awareness and public communication regarding their environmental systems. He stated that those companies would most likely be willing to donate money or participate in the City's Earth Day activities. He suggested further that ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES FEBRUARY 17~ 2005 -5- CITY OF KITCHENER 2. KITCHENER'S EARTH DAY CELEBRATIONS (CONT'D) if the City is going to have a pamphlet for Earth Day, they may wish to partner with groups, such as, the One-Ton Challenge, to increase public awareness about various environmental issues. In addition, Ms. C. Sahula proposed that the City also contact REEP and the Car Co-op to solicit their participation in Earth Day events. Ms. C. Sahula left the meeting at this time. 3. PROCESS FOR UPDATING THE STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT - UPDATE Ms. B. Steiner advised that this is a separate process from the City's Healthy Community Plan, which the Committee discussed at the January 20, 2005 meeting. She stated that the process for updating the Strategic Plan will be separated into 2 parts. The first part will be centred around discussions of environmental matters between the City's Departments and Divisions and the second part will consist of soliciting input from the community at large. She added that staff is planning to utilize the City's Earth Day celebrations as a venue to conduct a broad-based public survey. In response to questions, Ms. B. Steiner advised that by conducting the survey in conjunction with Earth Day celebrations, staff hope to attract a broader array of participants. Mr. A. Boterman entered the meeting at this time. 4. REVIEW OF WORK PLAN FOR 2005 - 2006 Ms. B. Steiner advised that the Committee's Work Plan was composed in 2002 - 2003 as a means of outlining future Committee initiatives and to generate greater member involvement. Ms. Steiner inquired if any members had a particular item of interest, either on the plan or to add, that the Committee could examine in the upcoming year. In response to questions, Ms. B. Steiner advised that the goal of the Work Plan was to have members bring forward items of interest so that they could be added to the Committee's agenda as a discussion item or a sub-committee could be formed to examine the issue in greater detail. Mr. C. Schneider proposed that members review the current Work Plan and that this item be revisited at a future meeting. Several members of the Committee voiced concerns that the annual review of the Work Plan produces minimal results and that they were of the understanding that staff and / or the co-chairs would establish sub-committees to examine items on the plan. Mr. R. Dingman stated that recently the Committee has gravitated towards air quality issues and proposed that air quality be one of the Committee's main focus for the upcoming year. 5. COMPREHENSIVE AIR QUALITY PLAN - ESTABLISHMENT OF A WORKING GROUP The Committee was in receipt of excerpts from the October 18 and November 14, 2004 and January 20, 2005 Environmental Committee minutes, distributed as background information to aid in the development of a Comprehensive Air Quality Plan. Ms. B. Steiner advised that earlier this date she attended a start-up meeting for an air quality working group established by the Region of Waterloo's Public Health Department. She stated that the purpose of the working group is to provide an opportunity to facilitate information sharing; examine and modify the Region's Clean Air Plan; provide a framework to track the effectiveness of air quality programs; and track how operational concerns relating to air quality are being addressed throughout the Region. She added that the working group will allow for consistency across the Region on air quality issues and would provide a forum to share ideas. Ms. Steiner noted that the working group's composition has not been finalized, and she is unaware if local Advisory Committees would be permitted to appoint members to the group. Some members voiced concerns with the Committee moving forward with development of a Comprehensive Air Quality Plan without knowing specifically how the Region's working group FEBRUARY 17~ 2005 ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES '6- CITY OF KITCHENER 5. COMPREHENSIVE AIR QUALITY PLAN - ESTABLISHMENT OF A WORKING GROUP (CONT'D) may facilitate the development of the plan. Members also questioned if the City would still need to develop a plan given the Region's new pro-active approach to air quality. Further, concerns were expressed regarding what would be involved in the development of a Comprehensive Air Quality Plan and it was suggested that the Committee postpone this project until the Region completes the updates to the Clean Air Plan. In response to questions, Ms. B. Steiner advised that the Region's working group is a consultative forum to share ideas and that the Committee has an opportunity to lead by example through the development of its Comprehensive Air Quality Plan. She added that Council has requested that the Committee expand its examination of air quality issues beyond educational advisory signs and drive-thru's, and develop a comprehensive plan that encompasses broader air quality concerns. Mr. R. Nandakumar advised that he supports the development of a comprehensive air quality plan, commenting that the plan should identify what is impacting local air quality; present a means to deal with those components that impact air quality; and propose corrective measures that could be put in place by the City. Mr. C. Schneider put forward that a sub-committee be formed to brainstorm ideas and proceed with the development of a Comprehensive Air Quality Plan. Staff were requested to investigate what City facilities would be available to accommodate the sub-committee meetings. On motion by Mr. A. Boterman - it was resolved: "That a sub-committee be formed to develop a Comprehensive Air Quality Plan, consisting of the following members of the Environmental Committee: Ms. J. Young, Ms. N. Sonders and Messrs. A. Boterman, B. McColl, R. Dingman, R. Nandakumar and C. Schneider." ADJOURNMENT On motion, the meeting adjourned at 6:05 p.m. Colin Goodeve Committee Administrator