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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-09-17ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES SEPTEMBER 17, 2009 CITY OF KITCHENER The Environmental Committee met this date commencing at 4:05 p. m. Present: Mr. B. McColl -Chair Councillor B. Vrbanovic, Ms. J. Young and Messrs. C. Schneider, D. Erb, G. Lehman, M. Peterson and D. Ryrie. Staff: L. Bensason, Interim Manager of Long Range and Policy Planning B. Korah, Manager of Development Engineering C. Musselman, Senior Environmental Planner J. Prince, Design and Construction Engineer S. Daniel, Engineering Technologist D. Saunderson, Administrative Clerk C. Goodeve, Committee Administrator 1. RESIDENTIAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROJECT (REEP) ANNUAL FUNDING REQUEST The Committee considered a request from Waterloo Region Green Solutions (WRGS), Residential Energy Efficiency Project (REEP), dated September 2009, for a grant in the amount of $25,000., which would represent the City of Kitchener's contribution to their 2010 budget. Mr. Julian van Mossel-Forrester, REEP, gave a presentation reviewing their achievements in 2008/2009 and their goals for 2010. He outlined that continuing with their increased participation in the ecoENERGY home energy evaluations, as of August 1, 2009 Kitchener residents who have followed REEP's energy-saving recommendations have collectively: reduced over 816 tonnes of CO2 emissions last year; saved $250,000. in home energy costs; received over $500,000. in government grants; and, helped to stimulate the local economy through their home energy retrofits. Mr. Ben Barkley, REEP House Project Manager, advised they continue to move forward with the REEP House, which is astate-of-the-art, Net-Zero-ready, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum sustainable living showroom for homeowners and renters. Located in downtown Kitchener at 20 Mill Street, REEP House will showcase to homeowners multiple approaches to reducing their energy and carbon footprint, while beautifying, and increasing the value and sale-ability of their homes. Mr. van Mossel-Forester informed that Committee that commencing in 2010, REEP will also be undertaking a public education and awareness program on urban water runoff prevention in Waterloo Region, called Riversides. He noted that public interest in sustainable living has increased significantly over the past few years, especially with the federal government's incentives for home energy retrofits. He outlined that Kitchener's support is vital to their continued operation and serves to leverage funding from other municipalities, as well as the provincial and federal governments. On motion by Mr. C. Schneider - itwas resolved: "That subject to consideration during the 2010 budget deliberations, $25,000. be allocated to the Waterloo Region Green Solutions, Residential Energy Efficiency Project (REEP), as part of the Environmental Committee's 2010 operating budget." 2. PRESENTATION - DOON SOUTH PUMPING STATION CLASS ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT The Committee considered the Doon South Pumping Station Class Environmental Assessment (EA) Executive Summary, prepared by Aecom Canada Ltd. In addition, the Committee was in receipt this date of a copy of the Doon South Sanity Pumping Station and forcemain presentation, dated September 14, 2009. Mr. Duncaun McLeod, Aecom Canada Ltd. presented the report and advised that the 2004 and 2009 development charges background studies identify a need to establish new sanitary sewer pumping station, trunk sewermains and forcemains to provide wastewater servicing for the Doon South Community plan area. He reviewed the various alternatives that were considered, ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES SEPTEMBER 17, 2009 - 24 - CITY OF KITCHENER 2. PRESENTATION - DOON SOUTH PUMPING STATION CLASS ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (CONT'D) recommending alternative 4-1 Option B, as shown in the presentation circulated to the Committee. He outlined that a phased approach would be used to implement the preferred alternative, with installation and timing of the intermediate and long-term solutions being dependant on the rate of development. It was noted that included as part of the upgrades planned for the Homer Watson Pumping Station was the addition of a one hour emergency storage tank. He pointed out that meetings have been held with the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) to discuss the location of storage tank and means of mitigating its impact on the flood plain. He estimated the total cost of this project at $21.7M. Questions were raised regarding the possibility of implementing additional regulations to reduce water consumption in the Doon South Community Plan area. It was suggested that reducing the area's water consumption could mitigate the need to implement the proposed long-term solutions, thereby reducing the overall cost of the project. Ms. C. Musselman advised that in accordance with the Ontario Building Code Act, a municipality is not permitted to enact regulations which go beyond the minimum legislative standards. She noted that at most, the City could undertake an education campaign, similar to the one currently provided by the Region of Waterloo, encouraging people to conserve water. Mr. B. Korah added that the City is required to design the wastewater servicing system based on the Ontario Ministry of the Environment (MOE) standards to accommodate the estimated future servicing demands of this area. He commented that it is difficult to regulate a person's behaviour, noting that even if the City could mandate the installation of low-flow toilets, it could not regulated the number of times a toilet is used in per day. Accordingly, the system must be capable of supporting the targeted development within this area. In response to questions regarding the project's potential impact on the natural environment, Mr. Korah advised that once the EA is filed with the MOE for the mandatory 30 day review period, the City has to then appoint another consultant to oversee the detailed design phase. This consultant would be responsible for conducting inspections and ensuring that the standards set out in the EA are being met. He noted that the GRCA would also be monitoring the project to ensure that it has a minimal impact on Blair Creek and the surrounding environment. 3. PRESENTATION - CONESTOGA COLLEGE SOUTH CAMPUS, BLAIR BUSINESS PARK ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Mr. G. Lehman declared pecuniary interests as he is employed by MTE Consultants Inc. and accordingly, he did not participate in any voting or deliberations regarding this matter. The Committee was in receipt this date of a copy of a presentation entitled "Conestoga College South Campus and Blair Business Park, Sanitary Sewer Servicing Class Environmental Assessment (EA)", prepared by MTE Consultants Inc. Mr. Dave Wilhelm, MTE Consultants Inc. reviewed the presentation advising that the City of Cambridge has completed a Class Environmental Assessment study to identify the preferred means of providing sanitary service for Conestoga College's South Campus and the Blair Business Park to the Kitchener Wastewater Treatment Plant. He stated that the preferred alternative includes the location of a gravity sewer system from the Blair Business Park to a new Blair Sanitary Pumping Station, located at the northwest corner of Fountain Street and Morningside Drive in the City of Cambridge. From there the flows would travel through a sanitary forcemain routing down Morningside Drive crossing Highway 401, then crossing the Conestoga North Campus, continuing along Doon Valley Drive and Old Mill Road to the trail along the Grand River and ultimately outletting to the Kitchener Wastewater Treatment Facility. He noted that pending endorsement by the City of Kitchener, the City of Cambridge will complete its final review and approval. Following this, the EA Document will be filed with the Ontario Ministry of the Environment (MOE) for the mandatory 30 day review period. Questions were raised regarding whether the design for the new Blair Sanitary Sewage Pumping Station includes a provision for an additional one hour emergency storage tank; as required for new pumping stations constructed in the City of Kitchener. Mr. Wilhelm advised ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES SEPTEMBER 17, 2009 - 25 - CITY OF KITCHENER 3. PRESENTATION - CONESTOGA COLLEGE SOUTH CAMPUS, BLAIR BUSINESS PARK ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (CONT'D) that the existing project parameters call for this pumping station to be constructed based on City of Cambridge and MOE guidelines. He noted that while these guidelines provide for the incorporation of several safeguards into the design of the pumping station, they do not require the construction of an additional one hour emergency storage tank. Mr. B. Korah advised that the purpose of the one hour emergency storage tank is to provide additional response time to Operations staff to resolve an issue and reduce the potential for any spill or environmental impact. He pointed out that the City of Kitchener standard for the provision of a one hour additional storage is beyond the minimum MOE requirements. Members commented that Council should be requested to encourage the City of Cambridge to implement this standard as part of the design for the new Blair Sanitary Sewage Pumping Station. On motion by Mr. M. Peterson - itwas resolved: "That the City of Cambridge be encouraged to incorporate a one (1) hour emergency storage tank into the design of the proposed new Blair Sanitary Sewage Pumping Station to be located at the northwest corner of Morningside Drive and Fountain Street in the City of Cambridge." 4. 2009 COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT GRANT APPLICATIONS Mr. B. McColl declared a conflict of interest as he is affiliated with one of the organizations applying fora 2009 Community Environmental Improvement Grant (CEIG) and accordingly, he did not participate in any deliberations or voting regarding this matter. Councillor B. Vrbanovic assumed the Chair. The Committee was in receipt of seven CEIG applications from the following groups: Courtland Shelley Community Centre -Recycle Project; Kitchener-Waterloo Collegiate and Vocational School -Park Restoration; the Green Rocket -Local: Kitchener; Queen Elizabeth Public School -Outdoor Learning Environment; Our Place Family Resource and Early Years Centre - Outdoor Learning Environment; and, Community Renewable Energy Waterloo (CREW) -Solar Initiative for Distributed Energy (SIDE) 2009. Ms. C. Musselman advised that Queen Elizabeth Public School's application was received shortly after the submission deadline, noting that it was the Committee's discretion as to whether this application should be considered. She outlined that following the process set out last year, members are being asked to complete scoring sheets for each application, which will be used to develop an aggregate ranking of all the 2009 CEIG applications based on the results of the members' individual evaluations. She added that the CEIG Sub-Committee would use the average score a group received in the ranking as a percentage of its overall funding request to determine a baseline of funding that could be allocated to that group. Using this methodology, the Sub-Committee would deliberate as to whether the grant allocation for a particular group should be increased or decreased from its identified baseline. She noted that the Sub-Committee's recommendations would be considered at the October 15, 2009 Environmental Committee meeting. The Committee undertook a preliminary review of the 2009 CEIG applications and agreed to consider the application submitted by Queen Elizabeth Public School. In addition, it was determined that Our Place Family Resource and Early Years Centre's application did not conform with CEIG Criteria 8, as it was seen as a continuation of their project which received CEIG funding in 2008. Accordingly, it was agreed that as this application does not meet the prescribed criteria it would not be evaluated. Several members inquired into the eligibility of the applications received from the various schools. The Committee resolved that those applications would be eligible for consideration and members could rate each application on its own merit. ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES SEPTEMBER 17, 2009 - 26 - CITY OF KITCHENER 4. 2009 COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT GRANT APPLICATIONS (CONT'D) Members were reminded to have their completed scoring sheets to staff by no later than September 24, 2009. Mr. B. McColl assumed the Chair. 2008 COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT GRANTS UPDATE The Committee was in receipt of a summary outlining the status of the projects that received 2008 Community Environmental Improvement Grants (CEIG), dated September 1, 2009. Ms. C. Musselman reviewed the summary advising that out of the eight groups that received funding there were only two projects which had not yet been completed. She noted that of those, the Olde Berlin Towne Neighbourhood Association's Boulevards in Bloom project is anticipated to be finished by the end of September 2009. Regarding the Forest Heights Community Association's tree planting project, she stated that Community Services staff identified that they were in the process of redeveloping the community centre site and that planting trees at the rear of the facility would not be recommended at this time. Accordingly, the Forest Heights Community Association has decided to forgo their project and return their 2008 CEIG funding back to the City. Questions were raised regarding the process employed to follow-up with grant recipients to audit how the grant funding has been used. The Committee agreed that the CEIG Sub- committee should meet to develop a simplified reporting mechanism to ensure that grant funding is being used for the purposes identified in a group's application. It was also suggested that were applicable, grant recipients should be requested to provide comment cards to their participants, which would allow for additional feedback on the success of their projects. 6. EARTH DAY CANADA -COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT FUND The Committee was in receipt of the application guidelines for the Earth Day Canada (EDC) Community Environmental Fund. Ms. C. Musselman reviewed the guidelines advising that while the City of Kitchener does meet this grant criteria, members are encouraged to pass on this information to groups or organizations that could benefit from it. 7. STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT -IDENTIFICATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS The Committee was in receipt this date of the Strategic Plan for the Environment - Implementation Plan, requesting the members of the Environmental Committee to consider the possible environmental indicators that could be used as part of the monitoring and reporting piece of the Strategic Plan for the Environment. Ms. C. Musselman reviewed the circulated materials advising that members are asked to bring forward their potential indicators at the October 15, 2009 Environmental Committee meeting. 8. ADJOURNMENT On motion, this meeting adjourned at 6:38 p.m Colin Goodeve Committee Administrator