HomeMy WebLinkAboutDTS-07-044 - Air Quality in Kitchener1
h~TC~NER . , .
Development &
Technical Services
Report To: Environmental Committee
Date of Meeting: March 22, 2007
Submitted By: Jeff Willmer, Director of Planning
Prepared By: Barbara Steiner, Environmental Planner (741-2293)
Ward(s) Involved: All
Date of Report: March 9. 2007
Report No.: DTS-07-044
Subject: Air Quality in Kitchener -Addressing the Recommended
Actions
RECOMMENDATION:
For information.
BACKGROUND:
In May 2006, the Environmental Committee presented a report entitled Air Quality in Kitchener
to Kitchener Council. The report was the culmination of a year of deliberations by members of
the Committee responding to direction from Council in November of 2004 to develop a long-
term, "comprehensive plan" on the air quality in the city of Kitchener. The report included a
series of (50+) Recommended Actions which constituted the plan and, in 2006, five (5) of these
actions (Five Best Bets) were put forward by the Committee for investigation by staff into their
feasibility. Kitchener Council ratified this committee recommendation on July 4, 2006 and, in so
doing, staff was directed to commence a consideration of the feasibility, and ways and means of
implementing the Five Best Bets.
The intention is for Environmental and Development and Technical Services Committees and,
ultimately, Council, to recommend Five Bets Bets chosen from the 50+ Recommended Actions
of the Air Quality in Kitchener Report (2006) each year for investigation by staff and potential
implementation.
This report recommends a procedure to set timelines for, and monitor staff's progress in,
investigating each year's Five Best Bets.
REPORT:
It is recommended that the selection of each year's Five Bets Bets (i.e. five (5) of the 50+
Recommended Actions) be completed by Committees and Council to permit their public
announcement on Clean Air Day, a day proclaimed by the government of Canada, and
occurring on the first or second Wednesday of June each year as part of Canadian Environment
Week. In 2007, Clean Air Day is June 6.
Following Council's resolution on the yearly Five Best Bets, affected departments, divisions,
and/or staff will be notified by the Clerk in late May or early June for their study on each
Recommended Action's feasibility and implementability.
Staff will have until April of the following year to investigate the feasibility of the Recommended
Action, and/or present a plan for implementing the Recommended Action and/or actually
implement the Recommended Action, and report back to Environmental Committee.
Staff should begin consideration of the advisability and necessary steps, including budget
requirements, in implementing the Recommended Actions in June and through the summer
months. Budget requests should be accordingly made in the early autumn (leading to the
administrative review process of budget).
In September, at the regularly scheduled meeting of the Environmental Committee, staff is
requested to provide an update on the investigation into each of the Five Best Bets. This does
not have to be as formal as a staff report but may be accomplished through internal memoranda
/ emails to Environmental Committee support staff (Environmental Planner and/or Committee
Administrator) who will attach the information to the agenda and/or personal presentation(s) at
the committee meeting. Subsequent to Council finalizing its coming year's budget (typically
January), staff are to provide apost-budget progress report (as above) regarding the
investigation and/or implementation of the Five Bets Bets referred to staff by Council in late May
or early June of the previous year.
Finally, staff will report back formally at the April meeting of the Environmental Committee on
each of the Five Best Bets from the previous year.
Timeframe Action
May Environmental Committee Meeting Committee selects new Five Best Bets from
50+ Recommended Actions
May /Early June (Before Clean Air Day) DTS and Council recommend Five Best
Bets
June-September Staff begins consideration of Five Best Bets,
including any budget requirements
September Environmental Committee Meeting Interim update by staff
January Environmental Committee Meeting Interim update by staff after budget finalized
April Environmental Committee Meeting Staff report back formally on all previous
year's Five Best Bets
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
COMMUNICATIONS:
None required.
CONCLUSION:
Having a timetable and reporting procedure(s) for staff, Environmental and DTS Committees
and Council to follow in exploring and/or implementing each year's Five Best Bets will ensure an
orderly consideration of the 50+ Recommended Actions in the report, Air Quality in Kitchener
tabled at Council in May of 2006. It provides a framework and timelines for staff in relation to
budgeting that may be associated with any of the Recommended Actions while allowing for
communication back to Environmental and DTS Committees and Council throughout the year.
Barbara Steiner, B.Sc. Alain Pinard, M.A., MCIP, RPP
Environmental Planner Manager of Long Range and Policy Planning
Jeff Willmer, MCIP, RPP
Director of Planning