Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutDTS-07-060 - Process for Establishment of New 5 Bets for Air Quality Improvement in 20071 h~TC~NER . , . Development & Technical Services Report To: Councillor Berry Vrbanovic and Members of the Environmental Committee Date of Meeting: April 19, 2007 Submitted By: Jeff Willmer, Director of Planning Prepared By: Sandro Bassanese, Environmental Planner Ward(s) Involved: City-wide Date of Report: April 5, 2007 Report No.: DTS 07-060 Subject: PROCESS FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW 5 BEST BETS FOR AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT IN 2007 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 is to be read in conjunction with the attached DTS Report number 07-044 (Air Quality in Kitchener -Addressing the Recommended Actions) and further formalize and streamline the procedure for determining the Five Best Bets for 2007 and on a yearly basis thereafter. REPORT The intent of this report is to establish a procedure for establishing the Five Best Bets for 2007 and using this as the basis for the determination of future Five Best Bets on a yearly basis. The attached Best Bets Selection Table (BBST) is to be used by Environmental Committee members to allow the Best Bets to be established for the year 2007. The BBST will allow committee members to rank the remaining action points related to Objective Areas 1.0 thru 3.0 of the Air Quality in Kitchener Report of 2006. The intent of this process is to standardize the process for picking the Five Best Bets through the use of the BBST and adopting the timetable noted in the attached report (DTS Report number 07-044) to streamline and simplify the Best Bet selection process. BEST BET SELECTION TABLE: The attached BBST allows committee members to pick their top 20 choices among the remaining recommended action within the Air Quality in Kitchener report, with the top five effectively representing the committee member's choice for the 2007 Five Best Bets. All twenty choices will be assigned a numerical score ranging from 100 points for the first choice to 5 points for the twentieth choice. Results will then be tallied by staff to determine the Environmental Committee's preferences for the 2007 Five Best Bets PROCESS: The attached BBST will be forwarded to all committee members prior to the May 2007 Environmental Committee meeting as per the timetable noted in the attached report. The BBST would be completed by all environmental committee members and returned prior to the May 2007 Environmental Committee meeting. All BBST's submitted by committee members would be summarized and the results would be presented at the May meeting reviewed, discussed and finalized by vote resulting in the selection of the new Five New Best Bets for 2007. The Five Best Bets for 2007 would then be considered by Development and Technical Services committee and Council. Upon resolution by Council, the time table noted below from the attached DTS Report (DTS-07-044) would apply: 1. During June and September staff will begin consideration of the new Five Best Bets for 2007 including budget requirements, 2. At the September Environmental Committee meeting an interim update will be presented by staff as to the status of the Five Best Bets for 2007, 3. At the January Environmental Committee meeting another interim update will be provided by staff upon finalization of City budgets, 4. At the April meeting staff would report back formally on the 2007 Five Best Bets, and previous years Best Bets as applicable and where work by staff is still underway. In spring 2008, another BSST would again be circulated to the Environmental Committee members for their consideration at the May 2008 Environmental Committee meeting, and the 2008 Five Best Bets would be selected at the May 2008 meeting. CONCLUSION: Having a formalized Best Bets selection process further streamlines the process of picking the Five Best Bets and builds upon the timetables noted in the attached report. This framework simplifies the selection process for committee members and reviews and builds upon the previous Best Bets. Sandro Bassanese Alain Pinard Environmental Planner Manager of Long Range and Policy Planning Jeff Willmer Director of Planning