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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-02-23ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES FEBRUARY 23, 2006 CITY OF KITCHENER The Environmental Committee met this date commencing at 4:07 p. m. Present: Mr. C. Schneider - Co-Chair Councillor B. Vrbanovic, Ms. Y. Fernandes, Ms. J. Young, Ms. N. Sonders and Messrs. B. McColl and R. Dingman Staff: B. Steiner, Environmental Planner C. Goodeve, Committee Administrator 1. DTS-05-209 - NATURAL LANDS ACQUISITION FUND The Committee was in receipt of Development and Technical Services Department report DTS-05- 209, dated January 16, 2006 regarding the establishment of a Natural Lands Acquisition Fund. Ms. B. Steiner advised that in 2001, 84% of the urban residents in Southern Ontario conveyed to Environics that trees and woodlands are very important to them. She added that over the past 5 years, Kitchener's own public consultation processes have consistently identified green lands and parks as among the City's features most prized by residents. She stated that Kitchener's 2005 Environics survey revealed that residents consider environmental protection to be a priority for the community, ranking it second only to value for tax dollars. Ms. Steiner reviewed the staff recommendations, which call for the establishment of a Natural Lands Acquisition Fund as a means of enhancing the City's ability to offer environmental protection to natural lands worthy of conservation. She commented that not all significant natural lands can be protected through planning policies alone and therefore, consideration should be given to establishing a Natural Lands Acquisition Fund as part of the Capital budget. She noted that this fund would be utilized as a further tool for environmental conservation when all other efforts to acquire and secure endangered lands have failed. In response to questions, Ms. B. Steiner advised that the City's Parkland Trust Fund is overburdened with acquiring active parkland and does not have the funds in place to support the needs of the natural lands. She stated that most lands will probably still be acquired through conveyance, with the Natural Lands Acquisition Fund being employed in instances where lands located in areas of potential development have become endangered. She added that the proposed fund would allow staff to better prepare for anticipated development applications. Ms. Steiner noted that there is a firm development boundary in place between urban and rural lands. Ms. Daphne Nicholls, Friends of the Hidden Valley, questioned the feasibility of using the proposed Natural Lands Acquisition Fund to preserve the Hidden Valley Area and was advised that while no commitment can be made at this time, the City does recognize the importance of those lands. Further, staff encouraged the involvement of the Friends of the Hidden Valley and suggested other levels of government be approached in regard to preservation of the Hidden Valley area. On motion by Mr. B. McColl - itwas resolved: "That in recognizing the public's desire to protect natural lands, and whereas in some instances, natural lands worthy of conservation cannot be protected by planning policy alone, and as such the best guarantee for their conservation becomes public ownership; consideration be given to establishing a Natural Lands Acquisition Fund commencing with the 2007 Capital budget; and, That Planning staff work with Community Services staff in respect to parkland dedication policies, the Parkland Trust Fund, and resources available for natural lands management; and further, That potential budgeting for future natural lands acquisition be co-ordinated with the City's annual Staging of Development report." 2. DELEGATION PRESENTATION - NEW ICE RINK/COMMUNITY COMPLEX ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES FEBRUARY 23.2006 - 7 - CITY OF KITCHENER - GEOTHERMAL SOLUTIONS FOR ICE MAKING & SPACE CONDITIONING NEEDS The Committee was in receipt this date of compact discs containing the presentation given by Messrs. Jim Bolger and Roger Taliotis, dated February 23, 2006 and case studies of ice rinks and community centres where integrated geothermal energy systems have been installed. Messrs. Jim Bolger, Next Energy Geothermal Solutions, and Roger Taliotis, Ice Kube Systems, outlined the potential benefits of incorporating an integrated geothermal heating and cooling system into the designs of proposed community centres/ice rinks. Mr. Bolger advised that the application of an integrated geothermal energy system could reduce a community centre/ice rink's CO2 emissions by 50% and overall energy consumption by 55%. He stated that an integrated geothermal system used for heating, cooling and ice rink refrigeration could produce an additional 7 units of energy for every one unit of electrical energy purchased. In addition, the implementation of a geothermal energy system can account for 23 LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) credits, adding that basic LEED certification only requires 26 credits. He noted that on average, installation cost payback for an integrated geothermal system is 1.4 years. Mr. Bolger requested the Committee's consideration in supporting the installation of an integrated geothermal heating and cooling system at the City's proposed new Twin Pad Arena. Councillor B. Vrbanovic entered the meeting at this time. In response to questions, Mr. J. Bolger advised that due to the high cost it is difficult to justify retro- fitting an existing facility with geothermal technology. He reviewed a case study of the 92,100 sq. ft. Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre as an example of how geothermal technology reduces energy consumption and overall costs. Several members expressed support for the City's use of integrated geothermal energy technologies. On motion by Councillor B. Vrbanovic - itwas resolved: "That the use of energy efficient designs and technologies, such as an integrated geothermal heating and cooling system, be endorsed; and further, That staff be directed to present to a future meeting of the Environmental Committee information regarding the applicability of incorporating integrated geothermal heating and cooling systems for future City initiated construction projects." 3. STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT -UPDATE Ms. B. Steiner advised that staff is continuing to analyze the Strategic Plan for the Environment Survey data, noting that the findings will be presented at a future Committee meeting. 4. AIR QUALITY WORKING GROUP - UPDATE Ms. N. Sonders advised that the Air Quality Working Group is continuing to develop the Air Quality Plan and anticipated presenting it to the Committee in the near future. Councillor B. Vrbanovic inquired into the timeframe for presentation, stating that if the Committee desires to unveil the Plan at Earth Day 2006 (April 23, 2006), it would need to be tabled at the April 10, 2006 Development and Technical Services Committee meeting. He noted that if that timeframe is unreasonable then the Committee could work toward having the Plan go before Council in May or June 2006. Mr. C. Schneider advised that the Air Quality Working Group will consider those options at their next meeting and he will inform Councillor Vrbanovic as to their preference. 5. COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT GRANT PROGRAM -UPDATE Ms. B. Steiner advised in the Fall of 2005 a Community Environmental Improvement Grant (CEIG) sub-committee was formed consisting of Councillor Vrbanovic and Messrs. Wilson ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES FEBRUARY 23.2006 - 8 - CITY OF KITCHENER 5. COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT GRANT PROGRAM -UPDATE (CONT'D) and Schneider. The goal of the sub-committee was to develop more comprehensive grant criteria as a means of attracting an increase of applicants for 2006. She stated that staff will be scheduling asub-committee meeting in the near future to resume work on the grant criteria. 6. HEALTHY COMMUNITIES PLAN -UPDATE Councillor B. Vrbanovic advised that the Healthy Communities Plan is anticipated to be presented in May 2006 in conjunction with information compiled by Compass Kitchener. 7. COMMITTEE PROCESS FOR HANDLING COMPREHENSIVE AGENDA ITEMS Councillor B. Vrbanovic advised that this item was added to the agenda at the request of Mr. C. Schneider as a result of comments he received from members who expressed concerns that they are not allotted a sufficient amount of time to deal with major agenda items. Committee members proposed and considered the following options: • establish sub-committees to handle major issues; • Committee meetings twice a month: the first to receive information on issues, and the second to make recommendations; • outline each Fall what is expected of members regarding time commitments; • appoint a member as a representative of each of the 7 function areas outlined in the Strategic Plan; if a major issue comes before the Committee concerning a particular function area, that member is responsible to report back to the Committee; • attach to the agenda an up-coming business list, outlining items that the Committee anticipates dealing with over the following 12 months; • provide a summary of a delegation's issues and/or concerns; and, • provide an opportunity before the meeting to ask questions of staff. Several members expressed support for the creation of an up-coming business list and noted that most members may not have time to meet twice a month. Ms. B. Steiner advised that an up- coming business list should contain a provision stating that it is an anticipated timeframe and is subject to change at anytime. 8. ADJOURNMENT On motion, the meeting adjourned at 6:25 p. m. Colin Goodeve Committee Administrator