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Home My WebLink AboutCRPS-08-080 - Environment Comm Rec - Air Quality in Kitchener - Five Best Bets for 2008Report To: Councillor C. Weylie, Chair and Members of the Development and Technical Services Committee Date of Meeting: May 26, 2008 Submitted By: Environmental Committee Prepared By: Colin Goodeve, Committee Administrator - ext 2278 Ward(s~ Involved: All Date of Report: May 15, 2008 Report No.: CRPS-08-080 Subject: ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: AIR QUALITY IN KITCHENER -FIVE BEST BETS FOR 2008 RECOMMENDATION: That in accordance with the Air Quality in Kitchener ~2006~ Report the following be approved as the Five Best Bets for 2008: Best Bet #1 - Continue to support and implement energy efficiency initiatives; Best Bet #2 - Reduce reliance on automobiles and enhance non-vehicular accessibility; Best Bet #3 - Develop, promote and implement best management practices for non-manufacturing businesses; Best Bet #4 -Mobilize public opinion; and, Best Bet #5 - Establish a greenhouse gas emission reduction target and track implementation progress; and further, That staff through the Environmental Study Group be directed to investigate the feasibility and, if appropriate, pursue the implementation of the Air Quality in Kitchener Five Best Bets for 2008 and associated sub-action items, as outlined in Corporate Services Department report CRPS-08-080. BACKGROUND: In May 2006, the Environmental Committee presented a report to Council entitled Air Quality in Kitchener X2006}. The report was the culmination of a year of deliberations by members of the Environmental 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 X50+) Recommended Actions and, in 2006, five (5) of these actions (Five Best Bets} were put forward by the Environmental Committee for investigation by staff. On July 4, 2006, Council, at the request of the Environmental Committee, directed staff to commence an examination into the feasibility and potential of implementing the Five Best Bets for 2006. Similarly, on May 28, 2007 Council directed staff to investigate the feasibility of implementing the Five Best Bets for 2007. The timing for the annual Five Bests Bets (i.e. five (5) of the 50+ Recommended Actions) selection was set 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 2008, Clean Air Day is June 4. Subject to Council's approval of the annual Five Best Bets, all affected Departments, Divisions, and / or staff will be notified and requested to commence their study on each Recommended Action's feasibility for implementation. Following this, the affected staff should consider the advisability and necessary steps, including budget requirements, in implementing the Recommended Actions throughout the summer months. Accordingly, budget requests should be 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 are requested to provide an update on their 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 presentations} at the Committee meeting. Subsequent to Council finalizing its coming year's budget, staff are to provide apost-budget progress report regarding the investigation and / or implementation of the Five Bests Bets usually in January. Finally, staff are to report back formally at the April meeting of the Environmental Committee on each of the Five Best Bets from the previous year. REPORT: At the May 15, 2008 Environmental Committee meeting, the Committee reviewed the remaining 50+ Recommended Actions outlined in the Air Quality in Kitchener (2006} report. Based on that review, the Committee has selected the following Five Best Bets for 2008 and associated sub- action items: Best Bet #~ -Continue to support and implement energy efficiency initiatives In accordance with the proposed 2008 Best Bet #1 [Recommended Action 2.1 from the Air Quality in Kitchener report (2006)], the Environmental Committee recommends: 1(a) That Leaislated Services staff continue to provide support to the Waterloo Region Green Solutions' (WRGS') Residential Energy Efficiency Project CREEP); and, 1(b) That Utilities and Communications staff publish on the City's website the EnerGuide ratings and evaluations: i) providing links to Natural Resources Canada's (NRCan's) ecoEnergy website (ratings); and, 1(c) That Environmental Planning staff' investigate opportunities to support Hydro Smart Meters: Please Note: Environmental Planning staff, as the primary support to the Environmental Committee, is identified as the initial responsible party in these instances. However, through the course of investigating the feasibility of a particular sub-action item /Best Bet, it may be determined that the responsibility and / or capacity lies elsewhere in the Corporation. i) reporting to the Environmental Committee with results of Smart Meter pilot project; (i.e. how receptive have staff and consumers been? Was there time- of-day pricing /incentives offered? If not can this be offered?}; and, 1(d) That Facilities Management and Purchasing staff consider purchasing Green Energy: i) purchase Green Energy in the amount consumed by City Hall; and further, 1(e} That Environmental Planning staff1 provide citizens with information on Green Energy; the option and endorsement of purchasing Green Energy; and, encourage all local energy providers to offer Green Energy choices within their product portfolios. Best Bet #2 -Reduce reliance on automobiles and enhance non-vehicular accessibility In accordance with the proposed 2008 Best Bet #2 [Recommended Action 2.9 from the Air Quality in Kitchener report (2006)], the Environmental Committee recommends: 2(a} That Transportation Planning and Pl~q staff investigate the potential to provide incentives and education regarding the reasons why citizens should live close to work; and, 2(b} That Transportation Planning and Pl~q staff investigate enhancing non- vehicular accessibility to subdivisions /community centres to allow for small business to be located within walking distance of residential areas; and, 2(c} That Transportation Planning and Pl~q staff investigate the possibility of preventing further designs that allow drive-throughs; and further, 2(d) That Human Resources staff investigate the feasibility of providing City staff with a Grand River Transit Corporate Bus pass, as a means of reducing traffic in the downtown. Best Bet #3 -Develop, promote and implement best management practices for non- manufacturingbusinesses In accordance with the proposed 2008 Best Bet #3 [Recommended Action 1.19 from the Air Quality in Kitchener report (2006)], the Environmental Committee recommends: 3(a} That Environmental Planning staff1 develop and implement best management practices that will reduce emissions from non-manufacturing businesses by using a mix of regulatory tools, economic instruments and voluntary approaches as appropriate. The following is a link to better define `best management practices': http:/lwww.env.gov.bc.ca/wldlBMPlbmpintro.html; and further, 3(b) That Environmental Planning staff' act to end drive-through designs within this framework. Best Bet #4 -Mobilize public opinion In accordance with the proposed 2008 Best Bet #4 [Recommended Action 1.30 from the Air Quality in Kitchener report (2006)], the Environmental Committee recommends: 4(a} That staff pursue working with the community to shape land use and transportation to encourage `clean-air' lifestyles. The objective will be to create a more liveable City and sustain the better quality of life. The City could encourage clean air lifestyles via: i) Transportation Planning, Plannin and Communications staff encouraging clean air lifestyles by publishing and advertising a series of tips ~e.g. billboards or signs visible to those sitting in drive-through line-ups}; and further, ii) Operations staff encouraging people to enjoy and respect woods and trail system. Best Bet #5 - Establish a greenhouse gas emission reduction target and track implementation progress In accordance with the proposed 2008 Best Bet #5 [Recommended Action 1.33 from the Air Quality in Kitchener report (2006)], the Environmental Committee recommends: 5(a} That Environmental Planning staff' pursue the development of a regional greenhouse gas emission reduction target and inform the public about progress toward meeting this target; and further, 5(b} That a Corporate target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20% be instituted based on the findings of an investigation conducted by Environmental Planning staff1 into the established best practices implemented in other jurisdictions. Please note that attached for reference is a copy of Development and Technical Services Department report DTS-08-057, which was presented at the April 24, 2008 Environmental Committee meeting; and provides a consolidated final report on the Air Quality in Kitchener Five Best Bets for 2007. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: None at this time. Colin Goodeve Committee Administrator