HomeMy WebLinkAboutCRPS-07-080 - Environment Comm Rec - Kitchener Contribution to the 2007 Ontario Environmental Advisory Committee Symposium1
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Corporate Services
Report To: Councillor B. Vrbanovic, Chair and Members of the Finance
and Corporate Services Committee
Date of Meeting: June 18, 2007
Submitted By: Environmental Committee
Prepared By: Colin Goodeve, Committee Administrator text. 2278)
Ward(s~ Involved: All
Date of Report: June 6, 2007
Report No.: CRPS-07-080
Subject: ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION -
KITCHENER CONTRIBUTION TO THE 2007 ONTARIO
ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE SYMPOSIUM
RECOMMENDATION:
That $1,000. be allocated from the Environmental Stewardship Capital Account to the
2007 Ontario Environmental Advisory Committee Symposium Organizing Committee,
representing the City of Kitchener's contribution to the Symposium.
BACKGROUND:
Since the late 1990s, a different municipality each year has hosted a symposium bringing
together representatives from citizen Environmental Advisory Committees EACs} from across
Ontario. On September 28 - 30 2007, the Regional Ecological and Environmental Advisory
Committee ~EEAC), in concert with the 4 local municipal EACs, will be hosting the 2007
Environmental Advisory Committee Symposium at the Doon Heritage Crossroads, Kitchener.
The symposium will provide participants with an opportunity to:
learn how networks of individuals and organizations take practical steps to improve their
local environment and in the process build sustainable and liveable communities;
explore the rapidly emerging landscape focus of environmental science and planning
and what implications this science holds for EACs;
share the achievements, challenges and opportunities of other EACs from across the
Province; and,
discuss the potential to create a more permanent Ontario Environmental Advisory
Committee structure.
REPORT:
On September 21, 2006 Kitchener's Environmental Committee was in receipt of
correspondence from Mr. G. Keith Warriner, Chair of the EEAC, proposing that the 5 EACs
operating in Waterloo Region host the 2007 Ontario Environmental Advisory Committee
Symposium. At the January 18, 2007 Environmental Committee meeting Mr. C. Schneider,
Committee Co-Chair, volunteered to act as the Committee's representative on the 2007
Symposium Organizing Committee.
At the May 17, 2007 Environmental Committee meeting, Mr. C. Schneider on behalf of the
Symposium Organizing Committee, requested that the City of Kitchener make a financial
contribution to the Symposium in the amount of $1,000. The Committee supported this request
based on the valuable opportunity to network, share accomplishments and knowledge with
other EACs at the Symposium.
Attached to this report is correspondence from Mr. Christopher Gosselin, Manager of
Environmental Planning for the Region of Waterloo, which provides further information
regarding the requested contribution.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
In 2006, $9,700. was budgeted in the Environmental Stewardship Capital Account for the
Community Environmental Improvement Grant Program (CEIGP}; however, due to the
Municipal Election allocation of these grants was deferred until February 2007. On March 19,
2007, Council resolved that only $5,500. of the budgeted $9,700. be awarded and that the
remaining $4,200. in 2006 funding be prorated for distribution in 2007.
As the requested contribution is unbudgeted and the Symposium provides an opportunity to
promote the CEIGP, Staff are recommending that the requested $1,000. contribution be
allocated from the prorated funds in the Environmental Stewardship Capital Account.
Colin Goodeve
Committee Administrator