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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-09-22 ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES SEPTEMBER 22 2005 CITY OF KITCHENER The Environmental Committee met this date commencing at 4:10p.m. Present: Chair - Councillor B. Vrbanovic was in attendance for part of the meeting. Ms. Y. Fernandes, Ms. A. Jucknies, Messrs. B. McColl, R. Nandakumar, J. Wilson, R. Dingman, D. Lippert and C. Schneider. Staff: K. Currier, Director of Operations 1. Boutilier, Senior Planner B. Steiner, Environmental Planner J. Nethery, Planner C. Dixon, Co-op Student, Planning C. Goodeve, Committee Administrator 1. DTS-05-154 - 2005 COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT GRANTS PROGRAM - REQUEST FOR SUB-COMMITTEE The Committee was in receipt of Development and Technical Services Department report DTS- 05-154, dated September 1, 2005 regarding the 2005 Community Environmental Improvement Grants Program (CEIG). Mr. 1. Boutilier advised that the CEIG Program, created to foster Environmental Stewardship, currently has a total of $10,000. in one-time funding available for community-based projects aimed at improving the local environment and increasing environmental awareness. After reviewing the 2005 CEIG Program schedule, he noted applications will be accepted until October 28, 2005. He added grants will be awarded at the end of November 2005, which will give the recipients time to plan their projects in detail and secure other partnerships so they may complete their projects by spring 2006. Mr. Boutilier requested the Committee approve the 2005 CEIG Program schedule and that a sub-committee be formed to prepare evaluation criteria and methods of examination for grant applications, which the Environmental Committee can review at its October 20, 2005 meeting. He noted that when he last came before this Committee, in June 2005, some members expressed an interest in increasing the Program's funding, at which time he recommended those discussions be postponed until the fall of 2005. He added that due to Council's summer break, staff have already initiated communicating the availability of this grant program to the public. Councillor B. Vrbanovic requested Council not consider awarding the 2005 grants until its televised meeting in January 2006, so the CEIG Program can receive greater public exposure. He was advised that changing the date to January 2006 would not pose a problem as most of the projects will not commence until spring of 2006. Mr. R. Nandakumar inquired if it would be possible to allow grant recipients who need landscaping materials to purchase them at the City's discounted rate. He was advised that the City does have some resources that can be loaned to grant recipients; however, further investigation would be needed to determine if purchases could be made by outside groups at the City's rates. Staff was directed to explore this possibility and report their findings to the Committee at a future meeting. The Committee agreed to defer consideration of increasing the Program's budget until staff had reported on the use of City rates. On motion by Y. Fernandes - it was resolved: "That staff be directed to communicate Kitchener's Community Environmental Improvement Grant Program (CEIG) to the community, and that the deadline for grant applications be set as Friday, October 28, 2005; and further, That a sub-committee of the Environmental Committee be formed to develop criteria and methods of examination for Community Environmental Improvement Grant applications, consisting of the following individuals: Councillor B. Vrbanovic and Messrs. J. Wilson and C. Schneider." ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES SEPTEMBER 22 2005 - 27- CITY OF KITCHENER 2. REGION OF WATERLOO PESTICIDE BY-LAW The Committee was in receipt of the Region of Waterloo report PH-05-047, dated September 14, 2005 outlining the findings of the public consultations on the Region's draft proposed Pesticide Reduction By-law. In addition, the Committee was in receipt this date of a Memorandum from Regional Councillor Jim Wideman, dated September 16, 2005, which outlines another option, Option 0, for consideration. Ms. B. Steiner advised that the Region has distributed the results of the consultation they conducted in June 2005 and a draft of their revised proposed Pesticide Reduction By-law. She reviewed the 3 Options outlined in the staff report, Options A, Band C, noting all of the Options call for the continuation of the proposed education component. She stated Option A is the draft By-law that the Committee reviewed in June 2005; Option B calls for no by-law, just the continuation of the education component; and, Option C is a modified version of the draft By-law modeled after comments received during the consultation process. Ms. Steiner noted that on June 27, 2005, City Council passed a resolution calling on the Region to grant an exemption to the proposed Pesticide By-law for the City's elite sporUields and cemeteries, in addition to the golf course exemption. She stated contrary to this, the majority of public responses received by the Region called for all lands to be treated equally, noting the revised By-law provides no exemptions for elite sportsfields or cemeteries. She also stated the results of the consultation show that enforcement of the proposed Pesticide By-law would be difficult, given the overall public response that people would be unwilling to testify against their neighbours. Ms. Steiner added technical consultants expressed concerns that the By-law does not address the issue of pesticide use near wellheads, and advised the Region is of the opinion that water concerns can be addressed at a later date. Ms. Steiner reviewed the issues surrounding the implementation of the proposed By-law, noting public feedback on this issue was mixed, with people stating that they preferred a permit system, but were unsure if permits would be effective in curbing the use of pesticides. Some members expressed concerns that enforcement of this By-law would be very difficult and could possibly result in neighbours being pitted against each other. Ms. Steiner noted both supporters and opponents agree that the biggest challenge the proposed By-law faces relates to enforcement. She stated since the sale of pesticides is regulated by the Federal Government, a Regional By-law has no jurisdiction over their availability. Some members noted by charging a fee for pesticide permits, the Region might discourage people from abiding by the By-law. Staff were directed to provide information to the Committee regarding court challenges launched in Halifax over their Pesticide By-law. Mr. B. McColl suggested there needs to be a qualifier to define a property as a golf course in order to receive an exemption to the proposed By-law. He proposed that Appendix A of the revised By-law be amended to include a sentence defining a golf course as being lands that are larger than an acre and zoned for that use. Councillor B. Vrbanovic expressed concerns that hydro corridors will be granted an exemption under the proposed By-law, adding that hydro corridors run throughout the City and they typically abut parkland. He stated this exemption would essentially allow for the use of pesticides on community parks. Ms. Steiner reviewed Councillor J. Wideman's proposed Option 0, advising it calls for a full ban on pesticide use during the months of July and August and requires all lawncare companies to be licensed by the Region, with the minimum requirement for licensing being IPM Accreditation. She stated this Option would eliminate the need for a costly permit system and would greatly reduce enforcement costs by only applying a full ban during the months of July and August. Some members noted that Option 0 would not apply a full ban, for it allows for some exemptions during the summer months. Mr. K. Currier commented that the City primarily applies pesticides in the early spring and late fall. Mr. K. Currier advised that the position of the City's Community Services Department regarding the proposed By-law has not changed since last June. He expressed concern that the revised By-law does not grant an exemption to elite sportsfields or cemeteries, noting the parallel of uses between those lands and golf courses is essentially the same. People are charged a ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES SEPTEMBER 22 2005 - 28- CITY OF KITCHENER 2. REGION OF WATERLOO PESTICIDE BY-LAW (CONT'D) fee to use those lands and have an elevated expectation of the condition of the grounds. Some members expressed that all lands should be treated equally and if exemptions are given to elite sportsfields and cemeteries, private companies could make a similar claim that they are charging a fee for their services and require an exemption for their lands as well. Further, members added that continued education and greater public awareness would be the preferred course of action, citing the successes of marketing campaigns, such as blue-box recycling, smoking, and drinking and driving. Mr. D. Lippert stated one major effect that this By-law will have is on the Corporate landscape and estimated that there is between 4,000 to 10,000 acres of corporate lawns throughout the Region. He added that a by-law would eliminate the use of pesticides on these lawns and in turn force businesses to lead by example. He noted a problem exists with the amount of experience and/or expertise that licenced lawn care company employees possess, adding any revisions to regulations governing those people would need to come from the provincial government. Mr. Lippert expressed a concern that the By-law does not address the issue of pesticides being used as an ecological management tool, and stated research needs to be conducted as to the impact a pesticide by-law will have on that application. Staff were directed to determine the total corporate lawn acreage in the Region and to report their findings back to the Committee. Councillor B. Vrbanovic suggested, and it was agreed, that this item be referred to the October 20, 2005 meeting of the Environmental Committee with any recommendations arising from that meeting to be forwarded directly to the October 24, 2005 Council meeting. He directed staff to examine the merits of the 4 Options proposed by the Region and report their findings at the October 20, 2005 Environmental Committee meeting. Councillor B. Vrbanovic left the meeting at this time and Mr. C. Schneider assumed the Chair. 3. AIR QUALITY WORKING GROUP - UPDATE Ms. Y. Fernandes advised the Air Quality Working Group met on September 14, 2005 to consider and comment on the Air Quality Working Group draft report circulated to this Committee at its June 14, 2005 meeting. She stated the Working Group chose 7 items, their 'best bets', as outlined in the draft report to examine in detail. She stressed that it is important to realize that the development of a comprehensive Air Quality Plan is an ongoing process and the other items in the draft report will be examined in the future. Mr. C. Schneider stated prior to moving forward with the examination of their 7 'best bets', the Working Group needs to know how the City currently handles these issues and what policies, if any, currently exist. Mr. Schneider reviewed the 7 'best bets', being: · a recommendation that the City pursue/obtain ISO 14001 designation; · managing greenspace re: acquisition and preservation policies; · examining how the City can support/influence school boards with air quality initiatives such as: (a) walk to school programs, (b) green school yards, (c) reduce vehicle idling on school properties; · seeking continuous improvement from ICI (Industrial, Commercial & Institutional) sources with a tiered approach that includes incentives and flexible regulatory approaches; · seeking partnerships with businesses and utilities to develop and promote clean and efficient energy sources and technologies for space heating; such as, low energy use building design and operations, community energy systems and heating alternatives to fuel combustion; · examining how the City manages its Green Fleet policy re: measuring/reducing emissions, idling and use of alternative fuels; and, · Natural Yard Care Program - what is the City's policy re: (a) developing /promoting a program for native tree plantings and (b) the creation of community gardens. Ms. B. Steiner advised she is willing to assist the Working Group in framing their recommendations regarding these issues. She suggested that their best course of action would be to frame their recommendations as achievable goals. Messrs. D. Lippert and R. Nandakumar left the meeting at this time. ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES SEPTEMBER 22 2005 - 29- CITY OF KITCHENER 4. STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT - REQUEST FOR COMMENTS - PUBLIC SURVEY The Committee was in receipt this date of the draft City of Kitchener Strategic Plan for the Environment Survey, dated September 19, 2005 developed to aid in the revision of the City's Strategic Plan for the Environment. Ms. B. Steiner advised that as part of the new Strategic Plan development, a public survey will be conducted to gage which environmental issues the public feels are most pressing, and what improvements the public feels should be included in the new Strategic Plan. She reviewed the survey for the members, noting as a part of the public information program the City will conduct a direct mail-out and web-based surveys. She requested the members to review the circulated material and e-mail her any comments or suggestions they may have. Overall, members voiced support for the survey, yet cautioned staff to be careful of the wording of questions so that the most accurate responses may be received. Mr. R. Dingman suggested that staff consider using a sliding scale so that a more precise data-set can be gathered. 5. SOUTH KITCHENER TRANSPORTATION CORRIDOR STUDY Ms. B. Steiner advised the Region of Waterloo has distributed their South Kitchener Transportation Corridor Study for review and consideration. She stated the Region is intending to address various local municipal advisory and standing committees to receive their comments on the Study. She added that it is anticipated that the Region will come before this Committee at one of its regular meetings between now and December 2005. She noted the Region does not require comments from local area Councils until February 2006. Ms. Steiner advised that members will be receiving an electronic version of the study via e-mail within the next few days in preparation of the Region's presentation. 6. ADJOURNMENT On motion, the meeting adjourned at 6:15 p.m. Colin Goodeve Committee Administrator