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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDTS-08-060 - Strategic Plan for the Environment1 KITC~~R Development & Technical Services REPORT Report To: Councillor C. Weylie, Chair, and Members of the Development and Technical Services Committee Date of Meeting: April 21, 2008 Submitted By: JeffVllillmer, Director of Planning Prepared By: Barbara Steiner, Senior Environmental Planner Ward(sy Involved: ALL Date of Report: April 1l, 2008 Report No.: DTS - O8- 060 Subject: Strategic Plan for the Environment RECOMMENDATION: 1. THAT the updated S#ra#egr'c Plan for the Environmen# as appended to report DTS -- 08 - 060 be adopted; 2. THAT staff develop an Implementation Plan which identifies all current environmental initiatives for ongoing coordination through the S#ra#egic Plan for the Fnvironmen# and which includes a mechanism for budgeting, coordinating, monitoring and reporting on these, and all future, environmental initiatives; and further 3. THAT the S#ra#egic Plan for the Envrronmen# be reviewed on a regular basis in order to provide timely guidance to related City policies and plans. BACKGROUND: The Strategic Plan for the Environment is the primary document guiding the development of environmental initiatives within the City of Kitchener's administration. Kitchener Council requested the preparation of such a plan in 1991. In order to facilitate the creation and implementation of the plan, the Environmental Committee was farmed in October 1991 with Councillor Weylie as its first chair, The plan was drafted with the input of the interested public, as well as delegations with interest in particular environmental areas through 1991 and 1992 with the plan ultimately being adopted by Kitchener Council on September 21,1992. The plan is intended as a living document, to be periodically updated for use by Council, Kitchener's administration, and the Environmental Committee in identifying, prioritizing, budgeting for, and monitoring various environmental initiatives across all City Departments. In addition to the public consultation prior to the plan's initial adoption in 1992, further public input through workshops was received in 1995 resulting in a substantial revision completed in December 1995. The 2008 Strategic Pfan for the Environment has been updated through public and staff consultations from November 2005 to date. The updated Strategic Pfan for the Environment is appended to this report. REPORT: This update seeks to move the Strategic Pfan for the Environment from a document which primarily guides the activities of the City administration through its different departments to a document that can refocus environmental awareness and commitment to include Kitchener's community-at-large as we11 as the municipal administration. Concern for the local environment has been reinforced throughout the life of the existing plan by policy documents such as Kitchener's Municipal Pfan (1994), the original City vision entitled Compass Kitchener (2000) and, currently, through Kitchener policy statements such as A Pfan for a Healthy Kitchener (2006). In addition, since this plan was originally adopted by Council in 1992, a number of policy initiatives and amended legislation at all levels of government has resulted in a changed context in which Kitchener's environment is managed. The updated plan integrates these changes. Different areas of environmental concern have also arisen in recent years for the citizens of Kitchener, most notably those connected with deteriorating air quality and related issues involving the closer integration of our natural and built environment with public health. Public consultation has guided the updates to the plan. Public Input .-- -~ 1. Survey As a preliminary step in the plan update, a public survey was conducted in November 2005 to better understand the environmental concerns of Kitchener residents, and to help focus the public consultation for the plan's update, Of the 2,000 surveys mailed out (1,500 to residents and 500 to businesses}, approximately 200 were completed and re#urned, giving a quite satisfactory 10% return rate. The results of this survey gave us input on the Mission Statement, Guiding Principles, Functional Areas, Qbjectives, and Assumptr'ons of the plan. In addition, and importantly, this initial survey identified the environmental issues of greatest concern to citizens and so helped us select the themes of the workshops to be held as the second part of the public consultation process. - The survey asked about general environmental conditions in Kitchener. quality of Kitchener's environment. - Respondents were generally satisfied Principles. attitudes towards environmental issues and Respondents gave a "neutral" assessment of the with the plan's Mission Statement and Guiding 2 - The perceived performance in each Functional Area (Water Resources, Environmental Awareness, Waste Management, Land Resource and Growth Management, Energy Systems, Natural Areas, Resource Consumption} was assessed by respondents with the poorest performance identified in Land Resource and Growth Management and the best performance in Waste Management. - In responding to questions regarding which environmental issues were most important and which new environmental issues to include in an updated plan, Air Quality was overwhelmingly identified. 2. Workshops In December 2001, the City of Kitchener held public workshops to engage citizens in the update of its Strategic Plan for the Environment. The goal in choosing the workshop format was that the workshop was not onl to consult the public, but also to engage the community in a discussion about environmental issues. Approximately 60 citizens participated in the theme-based workshops on Saturday, December 1, 2007. Four ~4} issues of significant concern, as identified in the November 2005 survey, were discussed: Air Qualr'ty, Greenhouse Gases and Fossil Fuels; Water Resources; How We Use Energy; and Environmental Educafion and Public Awareness. Approximately 40 people attended the workshop held on the evening of December 11, 2007 to discuss the Local Environmental Action Fund (or, LEAF) approved by Kitchener Council earlier in the year. The results of this workshop were discussed in report DTS-08-033. Good discussion occurred at all sessions and input was received from a very engaged group of citizens. Twenty X20} written responses were received via the Internet or by mail; citizens were asked to provide answers to the same questions asked at the workshops. Highlights of the public input received in each of the four workshops held on December 1, 2007 are: AIR QUALITY, GREENHOUSE GASES & FOSSIL FUELS - People felt their health was affected - Barriers to behaviour change-lifestyle, time constraints. Admitted insignificant changes made to their own behaviour - City should pursue Transportation Demand Management, complete communities, intensification, green transportation infrastructure - Overall Project Priorities: must include INFORMING the public; shauld consider PROVIDING INCENTIVES; REGULATION not emphasized WATER RESOURCES - Identified many actions that City is already doing watershed studies, stormwater management, pesticide reduction and awareness etc.}. This may mean we should continue these actions and 1 or that the City is not communicating the positive things we do well enough 3 - City should educate, provide expertise to citizens, encourage (including the provision of incentives}, lobby for Building Code changes - City must create AWARENESS (Education etc.}, be ACCOUNTABLE and TRANSPARENT about what we are already doing (e.g. publicize monitoring results, interpret, celebrate successes etc.} HOW WE USE ENERGY - Similar comments to Air Qualify sessions - Overall Program Priorities: INFORM, PROVIDE INCENTIVES, CREATE REGULATIONS I POLICY to require behaviour change ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION & PUBLIC AWARENESS - Request by citizens throughout all discussions that this is KEY - People NEED INFORMATION to help them change behaviours - If there was ONE MESSAGE we received from the public it was to improve on GETTING THE MESSAGE OUT, EDUCATING, HELPING PEOPLE OVERCOME BARRIERS - Suggestions made to focus on HEALTH AND COMMUNITY PRIDE arising from environmentally friendly practices Environmental Committee In ut The Environmental Committee considered a final draft of the Strategic Plan for the Environment at their meeting of March 20, 2008, and were requested to provide comments on the text of the policy by March 26, 2008. Several members provided such comments, and these have been reflected in the final text of the policy. Staff Input: The Environmental Studv Grou The Environmental Study Group is the City's permanent interdepartmental staff committee responsible for the administrative tasks related to implementing the Strategic Plan for the Environment. At this stage of updating the plan, members of this group have facilitated internal engagement, have reviewed public consultation results, and have reviewed and commented on the draft updated policy. They are mandated to collectively maintain the updated plan as a living document. This involves the identification of all environmental initiatives for management through the plan, and the coordination of ongoing and future environmental projects across all divisions 1 departments. The Environmental Study Group will be key to the development of an Implementation Plan for the updated policy (see below}, The Environmental Study Group's Terms of Reference are outlined in Council Policy I - 230. A number of years have passed since these Terms of Reference have been reviewed, and it is now timely that such a review occurs to reflect Corporate reorganization and to reflect the new directions of the updated policy. 4 Next Steps: An lmplementatlon Plan An Implementation Plan must be developed by the Environmental Study Group to: - Identify all current environmental initiatives for ongoing coordination through the plan; - Develop a mechanism for budgeting and coordinating environmental initiatives. Explore the feasibility of linking to the Departmental business plan process; - Develop monitoring {e.g. environmenta! indicators) methodologies; and - Develop a clear and understandable way of reporting environmental progress to ensure accountability internally and to the public. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: The Implementation Plan will identify the costs, budgeting and resourcing concerns of executing the plan. C4MMUNIGATIONS: As noted in the report, public consultation has guided the updates to the plan. Once Council adopts the Sfrafegic Plan for ffie Environmenf, Communications staff will prepare two separate communications tools: 1. A brief, visually interesting and inspiring publication for the public which will also become an attractive addition to the City's website; and 2. A useable, visually interesting full version for use by Council, staff and the Environmental Committee. This document should seek to incorporate links, and alignments in text 1 style l format, to other Corporate plans particularly the Sfrafegic Plan for fhe City. .~ arbara Steiner, .Sc. Senior Environ ental Planner ilimer, MCI P, RPP it torof Planning AttarhmPnt~ Strategic Plan for the Environment (2008} Alain Pinard, M.A., M IP, RPP Manager of Long Range and Policy Planning 5 City of Kitchener STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT MISSION In recognition that a healthy environment is critical to sustain the present and future population of the city, the environmental mission for the City of Kitchener is To ensure an environment that is ecologically sound and supportive of the health, safety and well-being of its residents by identifying and implementing policies and practices which reflect community values and impact positively on the environment. Definitions The environment is all encompassing and includes air, land, landscapes, water, plant and animal life, and anything made by human beings. An ecologically sound environment implies an environment that is healthy and capable of sustaining all forms of life in a natural state. Guiding Principles 1. PARTNER: While the City accepts a leading role, it must work in partnership with both public and private interests within the community in order to achieve broad participation by the community and, thus, the maximum benefit to the environment. 2. SUPPORT: The City will encourage and support citizens and groups who wish to become involved in taking direct action toward the betterment of the environment. 3. COLLABORATE; The City of Kitchener will work towards the mission together with all levels of government, and within the framework of federal and provincial legislation and regional government. 4. ADVOCATE: The City will speak on behalf of achieving the best possible environment for Kitchener to all who have a role in reaching that goal. 5. NET GAIN: A primary objective of the mission is to achieve a net gain in the quality of the environment. The guiding principle is to function in such a way as to ensure no net decrease in the quality of the environment. 6. CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT: Since the environment encompasses or touches upon all facets of urban life, all City departments must be involved in using products and implementing practices which are environmentally positive. In this regard, the City of Kitchener is committed to implementing the best management practices available and will strive to achieve an excellent standard of environmental management throughout the organization. 7. BALANCE: The City will work with all stakeholders to meet our environmental goals within a responsible fiscal and social framework. 1. NATURAL HERITAGE SYSTEM AND RECREATIONAL AMENITY AREAS Over the last three decades, natural lands have come to be regarded by society not so much as "waste places" or "underutilized areas" waiting to be developed but, rather, as important components of the community's natural heritage. Our natural areas include the Grand River, streams, fish habitat, wetlands, and terrestrial resources such as woodlands and open space systems. The City of Kitchener's natural lands and urban forest are rich in aesthetic beauty and biological diversity. They provide a wide range of public health, recreational, environmental and economic benefits to the City and its citizens. These benefits include: • Prevents flooding and erosion; • Enhances water and air quality; • Mitigates urban "heat island" effects; • Improves community aesthetics and provides recreational opportunities; • Permits citizens to connect to their natural heritage where they live and work; • Provides habitat for plants and animals, conserving biodiversity; • Creates civic pride in a community that values nature; and • Increases the quality of life for all of the reasons noted above. We know citizens value natural lands. Kitchener's own public consultation processes-including the original Compass Kitchener consultations through the 2004 Neighbourhood Design survey to the 2005 Kitchener Environics and Strategic Plan for the Environment surveys-have consistently identified our natural heritage system and our parks as among the features of the city that are most prized by our citizens. Primary Objective To develop and maintain an ecologically diverse open space network which incorporates typical naturally occurring landscapes, significant natural features, and the urban forest, all of which embody our valued natural heritage. Philosophy and Underlying Assumptions 1. That the City administration will continue to place a high priority on the establishment, preservation, maintenance and rehabilitation of naturally occurring and ecologically sound landscapes in the city, and that such natural lands are a significant portion of the open space controlled and maintained by the City administration. 2. Trees, including the planted ones comprising the urban forest, are valued by and valuable to our citizens, and their proper management represents an opportunity to integrate the natural environment into the urban area. 3. That the City will interact closely with the public, neighbouring municipalities, the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, the Grand River Conservation Authority and the provincial government to conserve and enhance Kitchener's natural heritage. 4. That the City administration will continue to recognize the importance of the Grand River corridor as a significant natural resource and a major recreational amenity. 5. That the natural heritage system along with a linked open space network offering recreational opportunities should be considered the main components of a city-wide green infrastructure just as valuable as other City-owned assets such as roads and sewers, critical to a high quality of life, and deserving of careful planning, management and adequate resourcing. Overall Program Priorities 1. To develop and implement an effective natural area conservation program within the municipality. 2. To reintroduce, enhance and maintain the natural environment in the urban area. 3. To promote a culture of stewardship throughout the community and with all of our partners. 2. WATER RESOURCES Water is one of our most precious resources Ensuring the quality and quantity of water in Kitchener is integral to an ecologically sound natural environment and to the public's understanding of a healthy and livable urban environment. While Ontario is generally considered awater-rich area, we must safeguard our water systems. In managing water resources, we must also remember that water exists in a variety of forms and performs numerous functions which must all be considered to ensure ecological integrity. The city of Kitchener itself gets much of its drinking water from groundwater sources. Also, the city of Kitchener has numerous creeks that feed into the Grand River which receives and must assimilate our treated wastewater, and provides a drinking water resource for this region as well as downstream communities. Both ground- and surface water sources must be protected for human consumption. Water is also found in creeks, wetlands and ponds. These waters provide habitat for many species, provide recreational opportunities and provide ecological services such as the filtering of pollutants. Primary Objective To ensure the integrity and long-term sustainability of the city's surface watercourses and municipal water supply through the protection and enhancement of essential hydrological, hydrogeological, and ecological functions using best management practices, conservation strategies and public education. Philosophy and Underlying Assumptions 1. That the quality of the city's surface watercourses and the municipal water supply are vitally linked and are integral to the concept of an ecologically sound environment and to the public perception of a healthy community. 2. That in cooperation with the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, the City of Kitchener will continue to be a leader in the area of water conservation. 3. That the City administration will maintain an open dialogue with the Grand River Conservation Authority and the Regional Municipality of Waterloo for the exchange of information regarding the management of the water resource. 4. That the City administration will work cooperatively with neighbouring municipalities, the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, and the Province of Ontario to arrive at an acceptable plan for the long-term protection of the ground- and surface water supply. 5. That the City administration will continue to place a great emphasis on the proper and sustainable management of its wastewater collection system, stormwater management facilities and water distribution system. Overall Program Priorities 1. To contribute to an interdisciplinary and inter-agency approach to the sound management of the city's surface watercourses and associated hydrological and ecological functions. 2. To protect and conserve the natural hydrological and hydrogeological functions within the city so as to ensure the quality and continued replenishment of the groundwater supply. 3. To improve the quantity and quality of the city's potable water supply while maintaining an efficient distribution network. 4. To monitor and publicize City initiatives to conserve and enhance water resources. 5. To build public awareness, educate and provide expertise to the community on conserving and enhancing water resources. 3. AIR QUALITY Air quality remains one of the pressing problems of modern cities, and Kitchener is no exception. Emissions produced through the combustion of fossil fuels for industry, transportation, space heating and power generation degrade air quality, contribute to climate change, and can adversely affect human health. To effectively improve air quality in Kitchener, emissions reduction will need to come from all sectors. Maintaining good air quality is a society-wide responsibility, and all levels of government have important roles to play in protecting the public from the dangers of poor air quality. Provincial and federal efforts to improve air quality are vital, but the role of our local government is also important. Local communities are vulnerable to the impacts of air quality and thus have a stake in efforts to reduce emissions. The City of Kitchener's administration and citizens can help address trans-boundary air quality issues and help solve global problems such as climate change by acting locally. Downloading of responsibility by the provincial government since the mid-1990s has meant that the associated costs are often the responsibility of lower levels of government (i.e. Regional and area municipalities}. Primary Objective To improve air quality and, thus, to minimize the associated risk to public health. Philosophy and Underlying Assumptions 1. That poor air quality results in increased hospital admissions, heart attacks and strokes, respiratory illnesses and premature deaths particularly in urban areas. 2. That improved air quality will result in Kitchener being, and being perceived as, a healthier community. 3. That a plan to address Kitchener's air quality challenges will provide a vision of a responsible, innovative, healthy and energy-efficient community towards which we can all strive. 4. That air quality initiatives should strike a balance to enable our local economy to flourish even as we reduce our polluting emissions. 5. That we endeavour to make the successful transition to a less polluting, healthy community without placing an unreasonable burden on the City of Kitchener. 6. That the City administration will work cooperatively with neighbouring municipalities, the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, the Province of Ontario, and the federal government to implement policies and projects to improve air quality in Kitchener, and beyond. Overall Program Priorities 1. To lead by example, and build public awareness, educate and encourage the community to implement measures to reduce polluting emissions in cooperation with all levels of government and all appropriate partner organizations. 2. To contribute to reduced emissions from major Kitchener sources within the regional area including motor vehicles, non-residential (industrial, commercial, institutional) sources, and emissions from whole urban communities. 3. To develop and implement air quality management programs at a very local (e.g. site- specific} level. 4. To monitor and publicize City initiatives to improve air quality-i.e. lead by example. 4. LAND RESOURCE AND GROWTH MANAGEMENT Today, we are seeing much more rapid growth in our community than ever before. We are now at a point where the population forecasts for Kitchener indicate that we could grow by about 30,000 people over the next 10 years. The City needs to be strategic about how to best accommodate that growth. Growth management is a method of ensuring proper and orderly development when accommodating future growth. This typically involves a strategy or plan that sets out the challenges facing a certain area, how those challenges may be overcome, and techniques to implement the solutions-all with a greater community vision in mind. In terms of what growth management means more specifically for Kitchener, it includes an analysis of our capacity for residential and employment growth, and a determination of our best course of action to strategically grow in the right locations, at the right pace, and with the best coordination, prioritization and monitoring that is aligned with the Provincial and Regional growth plans. It is about maximizing the use of our resources. Growth management in Kitchener involves emphasis on conserving our natural environment, strategic infrastructure planning, provision of parks and leisure facilities, meeting our social and cultural goals, and contributing towards a safe, healthy and complete community. Primary Objective To develop and maintain a land use planning process which allows the City to coordinate and implement its growth related projects and policies in a cost effective and sustainable manner. Philosophy and Underlying Assumptions 1. That managed growth will continue to be achieved by balancing new growth areas with intensification and re-urbanisation within the existing city fabric. 2. That the City administration will support and implement the Provincial and Regional growth management policy framework. 3. That planning for the city's physical development will involve a high degree ofinter-agency cooperation based on sound resource management principles and the employment of leading edge environmental planning techniques. 4. That the City administration will interact closely with neighbouring municipalities, the Regional Municipality of Waterloo and the Grand River Conservation Authority in order to promote a coordinated, long-term vision for the management of the land resource. 5. That the City administration will continue to place a great emphasis on the provision of services and facilities in a cost effective, equitable and efficient manner. Overall Program Priorities 1. To improve the quality of city life by informing community development, the provision of services, and the development of infrastructure with the principles of environmental conservation and sustainability. 2. To chart out new corporate directions with respect to growth, change, urban structure and overall City vision including the promotion of intensification opportunities for accommodating growth and the creation of complete communities that are walkable and transit-supportive. 3. To work closely with the Region and other stakeholders to promote intensification and to finding solutions to intensification challenges. 5. ENERGY SYSTEMS As Kitchener grows and concerns increase regarding the effect of poor air quality, greenhouse gases, climate change and shortages of fuel, citizens have identified a need to look into how we use energy. A growing population requires us to explore alternative options for transporting people and goods, heating the spaces in which we live and work, and generating electricity to run the ever increasing array of household appliances and the machinery used in commercial, industrial and institutional settings. In this, Kitchener is no different than any other jurisdiction across Ontario, Canada and around the world. Very much related to concerns with respect to Air Quality, Kitchener's citizens have identified a desire for action with respect to energy use. For example, the Who Are You Kitchener? survey in A Plan for a Healthy Kitchener (2007 to 2027) demonstrated that 70% of citizens in Kitchener want the City to invest in innovative transit systems and bike trails, whereas only 28% are looking for an innovative network of roads. Primary Objective To achieve continual reductions in per capita energy consumption and to promote a sustainable energy use lifestyle through public education and the increased use of renewable energy sources and new technologies. Philosophy and Underlying Assumptions 1. That all uses of energy cause some form of pollution either within or beyond Kitchener and that the City administration will support measures to reduce such pollution. 2. That a "sustainable energy use lifestyle" implies the use of energy so that it is not consumed at a rate greater than that of its production. 3. That the basic necessities of life need not be sacrificed to achieve reductions in energy consumption and that lifestyles may be maintained and even enhanced through the wise use of energy. Overall Program Priorities 1. To lead by example, build public awareness, educate and encourage the community to reduce energy use and / or switch to alternative energy sources. 2. To achieve reductions in the amount of energy used within the city of Kitchener. 3. To maximize the use of alternative energy sources which have less of an environmental impact. 4. To continually reduce the use of non-renewable energy sources. 5. To introduce a complete demand side management program within the City's gas and water utility. 6. To monitor and publicize City initiatives to reduce energy consumption. 6. RESOURCE CONSUMPTION & WASTE MANAGEMENT Reducing both the resources we use and the waste we generate can be easily accomplished by making changes to everyday activities. The principles embodied in The 3 R's hierarchy demonstrates this. First, Reduce resource consumption, then Reuse. And when the first two actions cannot happen, Recycle. Several more R's can also be added to this list. Initially, prior to even reducing resource consumption, we should Rethink the use of all resources-i.e. Is there a more environmentally friendly way of doing things, or do we really need to do it? And similar to Reuse, we should Repair wherever feasible-this might mean attempting to preferentially purchase repairable equipment so we do not end up unnecessarily sending items into the waste stream. Just as the wider Kitchener community is attempting to reduce resource consumption and decrease the amount of material going to landfill through rethinking, reusing, repairing and recycling, the City administration's own approach to resource consumption and waste management must strive to achieve the same objectives at our own facilities and properties. Primary Objective To reduce resource consumption and pollution at City facilities and properties through the use of renewable resources, the implementation of effective monitoring programs, and the employment of efficient operating practices including state-of-the- artwaste management. Philosophy and Underlying Assumptions 1. That environmentally friendlier products will continually be developed and marketed at increasingly competitive prices. 2. That the implementation of an environmentally conscious resource consumption program will result in increased savings to the City administration and reduce the impact of the City's operations on the urban environment. 3. That waste management issues will continue to be a priority for residents, business and industry, and the City administration. 4. That the City administration will seek to meet, and where possible exceed, mandatory waste reduction objectives through cooperative efforts with private contractors and/or the Regional Municipality of Waterloo recycling program. 5. That the City administration will strive to remain on the leading edge in the development of innovative plans for reduction, re-use and recycling. Overall Program Priorities 1. To reduce resource consumption within the City administration through rethinking and/or reducing use, repairing and reusing, and through recycling practices. 2. To implement a system of ordering, purchasing and resource consumption which results in the least environmental impact including the purchasing of recycled and recyclable products and the purchasing of products which are produced through the use of recycled renewable resources. 3. To continually achieve further reductions in the amount of waste destined for landfill. 7. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND PUBLIC AWARENESS Kitchener's citizens should be as well prepared as possible to participate in informed dialogue and meaningful actions to contribute to an ecologically sound and healthy local environment. To move towards environmental sustainability in the city of Kitchener, we all need to develop deeper awareness and understanding of environmental issues which will promote effective communication among all who live and work here. Humans are part of the ecosystem in which they live, and we are dependent on the healthy functioning of our natural surroundings which give us clean air, water, soil and all of the other resources we sometimes take for granted. Everything is connected to everything else- including us. If we have a deep understanding of the inter-connectedness of all life and the environment on which all life depends, we become literate in how we must conserve the natural environment so that we meet our needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. On an international level, the United Nations had determined environmental literacy important enough to make 2005-20014 the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development. In Kitchener, City Council has identified the environment as a priority. In order to encourage environmental literacy, it is important that we share information about the initiatives the City has undertaken while encouraging residents to look at their own relationship with the environment around them Primary Objective To promote an environmentally healthy lifestyle through the development of strategies to increase environmental literacy, the implementation of effective monitoring programs and the introduction of cooperative public outreach initiatives. Philosophy and Underlying Assumptions 1. That City administration will continually seek to educate all its employees regarding environmentally positive and safe work and management practices. 2. That the City administration, through implementation of a public education and outreach program, will act on opportunities to work cooperatively with schools, businesses, community organizations, and other levels of government to foster environmental stewardship and promote lifestyle practices conducive to individual and community health. 3. That the City administration will continue to expand its systems for monitoring the long-term cumulative environmental impacts of urban development and pollution, and for monitoring the effectiveness of measures to avoid, mitigate andlor compensate for those impacts. Overall Program Priorities 1. To commit to an on-going and effective employee awareness and education program respecting environmentally friendly work practices. 2. To have the City administration lead by example with respect to environmentally friendly initiatives. 3. To promote, and where possible introduce, cooperative education and public awareness programs aimed at the development of an environmentally healthy lifestyle. 4. To continue to expand coordinated programs for monitoring the long-term cumulative impact of various human activities on air, land and water resources within Kitchener. 5. To continue to investigate the feasibility of implementing a comprehensive Environmental Management System within the City administration. 6. To publicly celebrate environmental success stories.