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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-03-23ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES MARCH 23, 2006 CITY OF KITCHENER The Environmental Committee met this date commencing at 4:10 p.m. Present: Councillor B. Vrbanovic -Chair Ms. Y. Fernandes, Ms. N. Sonders and Messrs. B. McColl, C. Schneider, D. Lippert and R. Dingman Staff: K. Baulk, Director of Enterprise G. Hastings, Manager of Golf Courses T. Boutilier, Senior Planner B. Steiner, Environmental Planner S. Ritchie, Student Planner C. Goodeve, Committee Administrator 1. COMMITTEE RESIGNATION - C. SAHULA Ms. C. Sahula tendered her resignation from the Environmental Committee by email dated March 23, 2006, which was accepted with regret by the Committee. 2. REGION OF WATERLOO PESTICIDE REDUCTION EDUCATION TASK FORCE - APPOINTMENT The Committee was in receipt this date of correspondence from Ms. Brenda Miller, Region of Waterloo Public Health, dated March 6, 2006 requesting the appointment of a staff representative from the City of Kitchener to the Region of Waterloo Pesticide Reduction Education Task Force. Councillor B. Vrbanovic advised that any recommendation arising from this Committee will be considered at the April 3, 2006 Council meeting. On motion by Mr. C. Schneider - itwas resolved: "That Ms. B. Steiner, City of Kitchener Environmental Planner, be appointed as the City of Kitchener staff representative on the Region of Waterloo Pesticide Reduction Education Task Force." 3. DOON VALLEY GOLF COURSE EXPANSION -CONSIDERATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN RELATION TO PROPOSED FUTURE OPTIONS The Committee was in receipt of Community Services Department report CSD-05-025, dated November 23, 2005 regarding the proposed expansion options for the Doon Valley Golf Course. In addition, the Committee was in receipt this date of a Media Release, dated March 23, 2006 regarding a public information session to be held on April 5, 2006 to discuss the proposed future options for the Doon Valley Golf Course. Mr. K. Baulk advised that the Asset Management Committee directed the Doon Valley Golf Course Development Project Team to review a number of options relative to the future of the golf course and 14.5 acres of developable table lands. He reviewed the 5 options that were originally considered for the golf course lands, noting that based on public input and analysis by the Project Team, the preferred options have been identified thus far as being: Option 1 -status quo -continue operating the golf course as is; or, Option 4 -expand the golf course by 9 holes to a 27 hole facility. Mr. Baulk advised that creation of a golf skills development area, which would include a practice range with target greens, multiple teaching and hitting tees, and anine-hole pitch'n'putt golf course, has been identified as the preliminary preferred option for the 14.5 acres of developable table lands. He noted that an additional public meeting will be held on April 5, 2006 to discuss the preferred options for the future of the Doon Valley Golf Course. He added that the Project Team anticipates presenting the preferred option business case to Council by the end of June 2006. ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES MARCH 23, 2006 -10 - CITY OF KITCHENER 3. DOON VALLEY GOLF COURSE EXPANSION -CONSIDERATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN RELATION TO PROPOSED FUTURE OPTIONS (CONT'D) Ms. B. Steiner advised that the golf course lands contain both floodplain and fill regulated areas. She stated that the table lands are currently zoned as P-4 (Golf Courses) and noted that both the residential and institutional development options would require a Municipal Plan amendment and a zone change. She stated that such a process would trigger relevant City, Regional and Provincial polices that would require the preparation of reports to describe and identify any possible environmental impacts to these lands. She noted that the subject property also contains an unevaluated wetland and a remnant upland forest, which is located on the west end of the table lands. Ms. Steiner advised that the most significant environmental issue affecting the expansion of the Doon Valley Golf Course is that the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) has identified a majority of those lands as a High Risk Zone for the wintering bald eagle. She stated that the bald eagle winters in this area annually from approximately November 15 to March 31, noting that any expansion options, other than golfing (as this is its off-season), would require an assessment of potential impacts to the High Risk Zone. She added that surface drainage issues would also need to be examined for any option that allows for year round use of this site. Mr. C. Schneider advised that, in his opinion, he does not believe that the City should own any private enterprises. He noted that as he does not foresee the sale of the Doon Valley Golf Course as plausible at this time, his preference is Option 1, as that would prevent any further allocation of the people's capital into this golf course. Mr. K. Baulk advised that both City owned golf courses produce a $300,000. annual dividend, noting that this is comparable to private sector. He added that as a result of this dividend, tax dollars are not allocated for operation of the golf courses. Mr. Baulk agreed to investigate the possibility that the City of Kitchener may have to pay the City of Cambridge property taxes if the lands located south of Highway 401 are developed. Mr. G. Hastings advised that the Project Team undertook a review of the anticipated future demographic trends for this area in consideration of each option. He stated that during peek periods 400 people a week are turned away from the Doon Valley Golf Course, due to a lack of available tee times. Mr. Hastings added that given the age of the City owned golf courses, both are due for improvements and remediation. He noted that both courses are seeking Audubon Certification, and accordingly, any modifications to the golf courses would be pursued using green construction practises. A motion by Mr. C. Schneider to endorse Option 1 (continue with the golf operation as is) as the preferred option for the future of the Doon Valley Golf Course was brought forward for consideration. At the request of Mr. B. McColl, it was agreed to amend the motion to include a provision to oppose the sale of any City owned green space lands for the purpose of development. Mr. D. Lippert advised that he would not support the motion as the expansion of the golf course to 27 holes could serve as a remediation project for those lands. He stated that particularly with the golf course seeking Audubon Certification, the expansion of the course would be undertaken using green construction practices. He noted that due to a lack of funding contributions, environmental restoration is rarely conducted as a stand-alone project and when environmental remediation opportunities arise, they should be pursued. Mr. R. Dingman questioned the potential environmental impacts from the intensification of vehicles and people on this site if expansion is approved and was advised that those issues would be addressed in the preferred option business case. Mr. C. Schneider's motion, as amended, was then voted on and Lost. ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES MARCH 23, 2006 -11 - CITY OF KITCHENER 3. DOON VALLEY GOLF COURSE EXPANSION -CONSIDERATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN RELATION TO PROPOSED FUTURE OPTIONS (CONT'D) On motion by Mr. B. McColl - itwas resolved: "That either Option 1 (continuation with the golf operation as is) or Option 4 (expand the golf course to 27 holes), as outlined in Appendix 2 of Community Services Department report CSD-05-025, be selected as the preferred golf course lands option for the future of the Doon Valley Golf Course; and further, That all developable table land options, which call for the sale of the 14.5 acres of Doon Valley Golf Course Table Lands for the purposes of development, be rejected." 4. COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT GRANT PROGRAM (CEIGP) -CEIGP CRITERIA DEVELOPMENT SUB-COMMITTEE SCHEDULING Mr. T. Boutilier introduced Mr. S. Ritchie, who will be assisting with the development of criteria for the Community Environmental Improvement Grant Program (CEIGP). He added that Mr. Ritchie will also be reviewing the projects undertaken by last year's grant recipients and will present his findings at the June 22, 2006 Environmental Committee meeting. 5. CSD-06-026 -EARTH DAY 2006 -UPDATE The Committee was in receipt of Community Services Department report CSD-06-026, dated February 16, 2006 regarding the events scheduled for Earth Day/Week 2006. Staff were requested to circulate to all members, via e-mail, a detailed list of the dates and times of the scheduled Earth Day/Week activities. 6. HEALTHY COMMUNITIES PLAN -UPDATE Councillor B. Vrbanovic advised that the Healthy Communities Plan Working Group is currently determining the perspective they will ask each of the City's Advisory Committees to take when considering the Healthy Communities Plan. He added that it has been agreed that the Healthy Communities Plan would be presented to Council in May 2006 as a separate document from the "Who Are You Kitchener" project. 7. CSD-06-024 - FRIENDS OF KITCHENER'S NATURAL AREAS - COLLABORATIVE STEWARDSHIP AND EDUCATION REPORT The Committee was in receipt of Community Services Department report CSD-06-024, dated February 20, 2006 regarding the "Friends of Kitchener's Natural Areas" collaborative stewardship and education program. Ms. Y. Fernandes provided an overview of the activities outlined in the staff report. 8. AIR QUALITY WORKING GROUP -UPDATE The Committee was in receipt this date of the draft Comprehensive Air Quality report 2005-2006, dated March 20, 2006 regarding initiatives the City of Kitchener can implement to improve local air quality. Ms. N. Sonders advised that she has completed the draft Air Quality Plan and requested that the members provide her with comments. Mr. B. McColl suggested that a bar chart be included in the Plan to outline the annual number of `Smog Days' this Region experiences. Ms. B. Steiner advised that she would provide the Working Group with a Regional contact at the Region of Waterloo Public Health Department who could provide them with `Smog Day' information. She also offered to review the Plan and provide the Working Group with suggestions for making it a more succinct and concise document. ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES MARCH 23, 2006 -12 - CITY OF KITCHENER 8. AIR QUALITY WORKING GROUP -UPDATE (CONT'D) Mr. C. Schneider expressed concerns with the order in which the information has been presented in the Plan and suggested that the Working Group should meet before the next Environmental Committee meeting to finalize the Plan. Councillor B. Vrbanovic offered to speak to staff from the City's Communications Department regarding possible aesthetic improvements that could be made to the layout of the Plan. He congratulated the Working Group on all of their hard work and suggested that a finalized version of the Plan could be tabled at the May 29, 2006 televised Council meeting. Staff were directed to circulate the draft Air Quality Plan to all members electronically and the Working Group agreed to provide a deadline to staff as to when they would require non-Working Group members to submit comments 9. STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT -UPDATE Ms. B. Steiner advised that staff is continuing to analyze survey data regarding the Strategic Plan for the Environment, noting that the findings will be presented at a future Committee meeting. 10. ADJOURNMENT On motion, the meeting adjourned at 5:53 p.m. Colin Goodeve Committee Administrator