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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-02-22ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES FEBRUARY 22, 2007 CITY OF KITCHENER The Environmental Committee met this date commencing at 4:05 p.m. Present: Councillor B. Vrbanovic -Chair Ms. Y. Fernandes, Ms. N. Sonder, Ms. J. Young and Messrs. O. Ludin, B. McColl, R. Dingman, R. Rehan, C. Schneider, and F. George Zador. Staff: A. Pinard, Manager of Long Range & Policy Planning B. Steiner, Environmental Planner S. Bassanese, Environmental Planner C. Goodeve, Committee Administrator 1. ELECTION OF CO-CHAIR Councillor B. Vrbanovic opened the floor to nominations. Mr. B. McColl nominated Mr. C. Schneider who agreed to stand for appointment. Ms. Y. Fernandes nominated Mr. B. McColl, who stated that due to other commitments he would be unable to fulfill the duties of Co-Chair and would not stand for appointment. No further nominations were forthcoming. On motion by Mr. B. McColl - it was resolved: "That Mr. Claude Schneider be appointed Co-Chair of the Environmental Committee for a term expiring November 30, 2008." 2. REGION OF WATERLOO -NON-ESSENTIAL PESTICIDE REDUCTION SOCIAL MARKETING CAMPAIGN - FUNDING REQUEST 2007-2010 The Committee was in receipt of Development and Technical Services Department report DTS- 07-028, dated February 6, 2007 regarding the Region of Waterloo Non-Essential Pesticide Reduction Social Marketing Campaign 2007 Cost Sharing Request. Mr. Tom Bird, Region of Waterloo Public Health Department, presented the Non-Essential Pesticide Reduction Social Marketing Campaign results for 2006 and requested Kitchener's continued support by financially contributing to the fourth year of the campaign. Mr. Bird advised that Regional staff evaluated the educational campaign in 2006, the results of which showed an increase in the use of the lawn care methods that were being promoted. He stated that the Region is planning to continue the campaign through to 2010, with Regional funding continuing to account for 50% of total costs and the remaining 50% to be shared by area municipalities. Mr. Bird outlined that Kitchener is being requested to contribute $14,462.78 for 2007, which was arrived at by prorating 50% of the estimated costs based on the populations of the area municipalities. In response to questions, Mr. T. Bird advised that the Pesticide Reduction By-law came into effect on January 1, 2007, noting that it is funded as a separate entity from the public education campaign; as such, he is not in a position to comment on its implementation and/or enforcement. He outlined that the amount of money being requested is approximately half of what was contributed in pervious years and accordingly, the number of radio and television advertisements undertaken as part of the educational campaign will be limited. Regarding industry feedback, He stated that a member of the lawn-care industry is on the Pesticide Campaign Taskforce. He added that having members of the Taskforce positioned in retail stores was a very effective means of informing the public as to their various lawn care choices. Ms. N. Souders suggested that the public education campaign could provide the results of the Region's water testing as a means of informing the public that what they spray on their lawns could potentially impact the water they drink. On motion by Mr. C. Schneider - it was resolved: "That the City of Kitchener recognizes the public's growing concern regarding the use of pesticides, involuntary exposure and the potential effect on the health of humans and other non-target species; and, ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES FEBRUARY 22, 2007 - 6 - CITY OF KITCHENER 2. REGION OF WATERLOO -NON-ESSENTIAL PESTICIDE REDUCTION SOCIAL MARKETING CAMPAIGN - FUNDING REQUEST 2007-2010 tCONT'D) That continuing public education must remain a key initiative in efforts to encourage the reduction of the non-essential use of pesticides in our community; and, That the City continues to participate in cost-sharing with 50% by area municipalities and 50% by the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, and approve the request of the Region for a financial contribution in the amount of $14,462.78 for 2007, Year 4 of the cost-shared community-based social marketing (CBSM) campaign; and further, That Kitchener's contribution be contingent upon cost-sharing by all area municipalities." 3. PRESENTATION - PARKLAND DEDICATION Councillor B. Vrbanovic advised that the staff person responsible for this item was unable to attend today's meeting and as such this matter would be deferred to the March 22, 2007 Environmental Committee meeting. Mr. B. McColl requested that at the March 22, 2007 Environmental Committee meeting a copy of the City Auditor's Parkland Trust Fund report, developed annually pursuant to section 42 of the Planning Act, be circulated to the members. He noted that he is curious to see the balance of that account, as the City is reportedly behind on its development of parks and trails. He stated that he was under the impression that past cash-in-lieu payments, which would have been deposited in the Parkland Trust Fund, have at times been waived as a means of encouraging development. As such, he is interested in knowing what monies have been collected in that account and how those monies have been used. Ms. B. Steiner outlined that staff should be able to provide information on the Parkland Trust Fund at the March 22, 2007 Environmental Committee meeting, but noted that parkland development is not always funded from the same account. She added that it is likely that parkland development has been accomplished through the Capital budget. She advised that the City has recognized the need for more active parklands and as such has plans to create a Natural Lands Acquisition Fund, to ensure the acquisition of natural lands is not funded from the Parkland Trust Fund, and that those monies are expended on/for active parkland. She added that she will be bringing forward a report regarding the criteria for the Natural Lands Acquisition Fund to a future Environmental Committee meeting. Ms. Steiner noted also that trail development is funded through the Community Services Department Capital budget. 4. KITCHENER'S NATURAL AREAS PROGRAM - APPOINTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVE Councillor B. Vrbanovic requested that Ms. Y. Fernandes, as the previous representative of the Environmental Committee to Kitchener's Natural Areas Program, provide a synopsis of what that role entailed. Ms. Y. Fernandes advised that the Program's function is to educate the public regarding the need for stewardship of the City's natural areas. She then expressed an interest in continuing to serve as the Environmental Committee's representative to Kitchener's Natural Areas Program. As no further nominations were forthcoming, the Committee agreed to re-appoint Ms. Fernandes as its representative to Kitchener's Natural Areas Program. 5. EARTH DAY 2007 - APPOINTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVE Councillor B. Vrbanovic provided an overview of the activities typically undertaken as a part of the City's Earth Day celebrations and opened the floor to nominations for the Committee's representative to the City's Earth Day 2007 Planning Committee. Ms. J. Young volunteered to stand for nomination and as no further nominations were forthcoming, the Committee agreed to appoint Ms. Young as its representative to the Earth Day 2007 Planning Committee. ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES FEBRUARY 22.2007 - 7 - CITY OF KITCHENER 6. AIR QUALITY IN KITCHENER PLAN - APPOINTMENTS TO AIR QUALITY WORKING GROUP Ms. B. Steiner outlined that the Air Quality Working Group is asub-committee of the Environmental Committee and advised that the purpose of the 2007 Working Group will be to short-list the remaining 45 action items contained in the Air Quality in Kitchener Plan. She added that the Working Group will be asked to bring forward a list of 10 action items to be considered by the Environmental Committee as a whole, who would then narrow the list down to the 5 Best Bets for 2007. She suggested that the Air Quality Working Group should contain no more than 4 to 5 members. Several members expressed concern with limiting the number of appointments to the Air Quality Working group, stating that any member who wishes to participate should be permitted to do so. Additionally, it was suggested that all members could review the Air Quality in Kitchener Plan and provide their 5 Best Bets to the Air Quality Working Group. The Working Group would then summarize and evaluate the preferred action items as a means of selecting the 2007 Best Bets. Mr. C. Goodeve advised that the membership of the Air Quality Working Group should not exceed the 5 member quorum set for the Environmental Committee as a whole. He stated that if this were to occur, it could present the appearance that the selection of the 2007 Best Bets was undertaken without the benefit of that decision occurring at a public meeting. As such, some might feel that they were not given a fair opportunity to voice their opinions, as a majority of the Committee members would have already made their decisions. Additionally, if the membership of the Air Quality Working Group were to exceed that of quorum this could potentially marginalize the non-Working Group members as their positions could be easily overruled by that of the Working Group. The Committee then reviewed the Air Quality in Kitchener Plan Timetable, as outlined in the Unfinished /Upcoming Business List. It was noted that the Timetable needs to be re-evaluated, as an apparent conflict exists with the timeframe set for when the Committee receives an update from staff as to the implementation of the 2006 Best Bets and the anticipated timeframe for the selection of the 2007 Best Bets. Following further discussion, members raised additional concerns regarding the format for establishing the 5 Best Bets for 2007. Ms. B. Steiner advised that the process for selecting the 2007 Best Bets should not be as intensive as the process undertaken by the Committee when it developed the overall Air Quality in Kitchener Plan. Councillor B. Vrbanovic added that he was of the opinion that while the Plan is a living document, it was not intended to be re-drafted on an annual basis. He stated that perhaps in 4 or 5 years once a majority of the action items contained in the existing Plan have been exhausted, the Committee could then undertake the creation of an Air Quality in Kitchener Plan Volume II. He noted that ideally each year the Committee would select 5 new Best Bets from the action items listed in the current Plan. However, if the Committee believes that further attention should be given to a previously selected Best Bet, it could be re-listed as a Best Bet for the following year. Councillor B. Vrbanovic then opened the floor to nominations for the 2007 Air Quality Working Group and Ms. N. Souders, Ms. Y. Fernandes, Ms. J. Young, and Messrs. C. Schneider, R. Dingman, Q. Ludin, and B. McColl volunteered to stand for nomination. Councillor Vrbanovic advised that as the number of nominations exceeds the 5 member quorum set for the Environmental Committee, the Committee would need to vote to determine the Working Group's membership, unless 2 nominees agree to withdraw their names. Mr. McColl and Ms. Fernandes agreed to withdraw their names from consideration. At the request of Mr. B. McColl, it was agreed that 2 alternate members would be appointed to the Air Quality Working Group, who would attend Working Group meetings in the absence of a regularly appointed member. Accordingly, Councillor B. Vrbanovic opened the floor to nominations for the 2007 Air Quality Working Group Alternates and Mr. B. McColl and Ms. Y. Fernandes volunteered to stand for nomination. No further nominations were forthcoming. ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES FEBRUARY 22, 2007 - $ - CITY OF KITCHENER 6. AIR QUALITY IN KITCHENER PLAN - APPOINTMENTS TO AIR QUALITY WORKING GROUP tCONT'D) On motion by Mr. B. McColl - it was resolved: "That Ms. N. Souders, Ms. J. Young, and Messrs. C. Schneider, R. Dingman and Q. Ludin, be appointed as the members of the 2007 Air Quality Working Group; and further, That Mr. B. McColl and Ms. Y. Fernandes be appointed as alternate members of the 2007 Air Quality Working Group, whose role it will be to attend Working Group meetings in the absence of one of the regularly appointed members." 7. COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT GRANT PROGRAM - EVALUATION OF 2007 APPLICATIONS The Committee was in receipt of the 2006 Community Environmental Improvement Grant Program (CEIGP) applications from the following groups: Freedom in Christ Pentecostal Assembly; Driftwood Park Public School; Monsignor Haller School; St. Daniel Catholic School; St. Anne's School; St. Bernadette Catholic Elementary School; Resurrection Catholic Secondary School; and, Evergreen Waterloo Region Partnership. In addition, the Committee was in receipt this date of the CEIGP application evaluation form. Mr. S. Bassanese advised that the purpose of the CEIGP is to encourage residents to actively participate in environmental initiatives. He outlined that to facilitate this program, $9,700. was budgeted to the Environmental Stewardship Capital Account in 2006, with a maximum grant allocation of $3,000. for any one project. He stated that typically, consideration of these grant applications is undertaken annually in the fall; however, due to the Municipal Election and staffing changes within the Planning Division consideration of the 2006 grant applications was delayed to 2007. He noted that upon further review, the application received from Evergreen Waterloo Region Partnership has been disqualified as it requested funding toward consulting fees, which is in contradiction to the CEIGP eligibility criteria. Mr. Bassanese advised that none of the remaining applications have previously received CEIGP funding. The Committee then reviewed each application and Ms. Y. Fernandes commented that in her opinion the Resurrection Catholic Secondary School application should not receive funding as their application did not include along-term strategy. Several members spoke in agreement, adding that given the ease with which secondary schools can raise funds, as compared to primary schools, the Resurrection Catholic Secondary School application should not receive any CEIGP funding. Mr. R. Dingman advised that in his opinion the Freedom in Christ Pentecostal Assembly application did not meet the last 2 CEIGP criteria, adding that he would have preferred that they not involve an outside firm as an aspect of their proposal. As such, he suggested that they only be awarded a $500. grant, which is approximately half of what they were requesting. Mr. B. McColl suggested that for 2007, CEIGP applicants be required to answer all of the questions contained in the grant criteria as a means of determining their eligibility. Following further discussion, it was agreed that given the similarities and limited nature of the activities being proposed each of the 2006 applicants, with the exception of Resurrection Catholic Secondary School and Evergreen Waterloo Region Partnership, would only receive approximately 40% of their requested funds. Further, as a means of attracting more diverse applications in the future, the Committee agreed to review the CEIGP criteria and have the remaining $4,200. in 2006 funding prorated for distribution as part of the 2007 grants. On motion by Mr. B. McColl - it was resolved: "That 2006 Community Environmental Improvement Grants, to be funded from the Environmental Stewardship Capital Account, be awarded as follows: $500. to the Freedom in Christ Pentecostal Assembly; $1,000. to Driftwood Park Public School; $1,000. to Monsignor Haller School; $1,000. to St. Daniel Catholic School; $1,000. to St. Anne's School; $1,000. to St. Bernadette Catholic Elementary School; and the remaining $4,200. be prorated for distribution as part of the 2007 Community Environmental Improvement Grants." ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES FEBRUARY 22, 2007 - 9 - CITY OF KITCHENER 8. STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT -UPDATE Ms. B. Steiner reviewed the proposed `Work Program' that will be used to update the Strategic Plan for the Environment. She stated that staff have undertaken a survey of residents and businesses to identify their level of satisfaction with Kitchener's environment, the existing Strategic Plan and their ideas on future directions for both the Strategic Plan and the City. She added that staff have been analyzing the survey results to determine the environmental issues of concern, which will be used as direction for the internal and external engagement and consultation. She stated that as an aspect of the external consultations, staff are planning several public workshops around the issues identified as priorities in the survey. Ms. Steiner then canvassed the Committee members to determine their level of participation in the facilitation of the Strategic Plan update. Due to time constraints, staff were requested to circulate a copy of the proposed `Work Program' to the members for review in anticipation of the March 22, 2007 Environmental Committee meeting. Ms. B. Steiner advised that as the document is still in its draft format, she will have the City's Communication staff review it prior to circulation. She then requested that at the March 22, 2007 meeting, members provide input as to their intended level of participation in updating the Strategic Plan. 9. OVERVIEW OF EXISTING ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE WORK PLAN AND PROPOSALS FOR MOVING FORWARD Due to time constraints this item was deferred to the March 22, 2007 Environmental Committee meeting. 10. ADJOURNMENT On motion, the meeting adjourned at 6:47 p.m. Colin Goodeve Committee Administrator