Minutes

Environment Advisory Committee

The Corporation of the City of Brampton

Tuesday, April 01, 2025

6:00 P.m. - 8:00 P.m.

Hybrid Meeting - Virtual Option & In-Person in Council Chambers – 4th Floor – City Hall

Members Present:

• Raman Vasudev (Co-Chair)
• Sherry-Ann Ram (Co-Chair)
• Brajgeet Bhathal
• Charles Coimbra
• Shailly Prajapati

Members Absent:

• Sukran Balaban
• Pushproop Brar (regrets)
• Subhash Chander Duggal
• Sandra Roppa (regrets)
• Regional Councillor G. Toor - Wards 9 and 10

Staff Present:

• Pam Cooper, Manager, Environmental Planning, Building and Growth Management
• Karley Cianchino, Supervisor, Wetlands and Environmental Projects, Planning, Building and Growth Management
• Kristina Dokoska, Policy Planner - Environment Planning, Planning, Building and Growth Management
• Sonya Pacheco, Legislative Coordinator, City Clerk's Office

---

1.

Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 6:17 p.m. and adjourned at 7:18 p.m.

  

2.

Approval of Agenda

The following motion was considered.

• EAC005-2025

  That the agenda for the Environment Advisory Committee Meeting of April 1, 2025, be approved, as amended, as follows:

  To vary the order to deal with Item 6.2 before 5.1

  Carried

3.

Declarations of Interest under the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act

Nil

  

4.

Previous Minutes

4.1

Minutes - Environment Advisory Committee - February 4, 2025

The minutes were considered by Committee of Council on February 19, 2025 and approved by Council on February 26, 2025. The minutes were provided for Committee’s information.

  

5.

Presentations\Delegations

5.1

Presentation by Kristina Dokoska, Environmental Planner, Planning, Building and Growth Management, re: Draft Climate Ready Brampton

Kristina Dokoska, Environmental Planner, Planning, Building and Growth Management, provided a presentation entitled "Draft Climate Ready Brampton". 

Committee discussion on this matter included the following:

• Resilient Infrastructure and Buildings, and the inclusion of residential properties
• Possibility of working with Alectra and builders regarding the development of district energy plans
• Funding/payment options (e.g. loans) for residential retrofits
• Goal #6 - Measurable, clear targets guide the work of climate adaptation, and progress is transparently reported
  • Mitigation and adaptation targets, how they are measured and what are the impacts
• Review of lifecycle assessments and emissions in the plan
• Timeline for Committee member feedback on the Draft Climate Change Adaptation Plan

The following motion was considered.

• EAC006-2025

  That the presentation from Kristina Dokoska, Environmental Planner, Planning, Building and Growth Management, to the Environment Advisory Committee Meeting of April 1, 2025, re: Climate Ready Brampton, be received.

  Carried

6.

Reports/Updates

6.1

Verbal Update from Tooba Shakeel, Policy Planner - Environment, Planning, Building and Growth Management, re: Grow Green Festival

Tooba Shakeel, Policy Planner - Environment, Planning, Building and Growth Management, provided an update regarding the Grow Green Festival, scheduled to take place on Saturday, May 31, 2025 at the Paul Palleschi Recreation Centre from 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Information was provided regarding the various booths and activities planned for this event and plans to promote it through the City's website, social media, etc. Committee members were thanked for volunteering to support this event and were encouraged to promote it through their networks. 

The following motion was considered.

• EAC007-2025

  That the verbal update from Tooba Shakeel, Policy Planner - Environment, Planning, Building and Growth Management, to the Environment Advisory Committee Meeting of April 1, 2025, re: Grow Green Festival, be received.

  Carried

6.2

Verbal Update from Karley Cianchino, Supervisor, Wetlands and Environmental Projects, Planning, Building and Growth Management, re: Donnelly Ponds

Karley Cianchino, Supervisor, Wetlands and Environmental Projects, Planning, Building and Growth Management, provided an overview and update to the Committee regarding the Donnelly Ponds Restoration Project, which was created to improve wetland function, enhance wildlife habitat, and upgrade public access. Information was provided with respect to the following:

• Partnership with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA)
• Project location and site conditions
• Project phases and timelines 
• Concept examples
• Project activities
• Environmental benefits of this project

Committee members expressed support for this project.

The following motion was considered.

• EAC008-2025

  That the verbal update from Karley Cianchino, Supervisor, Wetlands and Environmental Projects, Planning, Building and Growth Management, to the Environment Advisory Committee Meeting of April 1, 2025, re: Donnelly Ponds, be received.

  Carried

6.3

Verbal Update from Pam Cooper, Manager, Environmental Planning, Planning, Building and Growth Management, re: Ground Cover Maintenance and Prohibited Plants By-law

Pam Cooper, Manager, Environmental Planning, Planning, Building and Growth Management, advised Committee that the Ground Cover Maintenance and Prohibited Plants By-law was passed by Council at the March 26, 2025 meeting, and outlined the next steps in regard to educating the public and training staff regarding the new by-law. Members Sherry-Ann Ram and Charles Coimbra were thanked for their delegation, on behalf of the Environment Advisory Committee, in support of this by-law, at the March 19, 2025 Committee of Council meeting. 

The following motion was considered.

• EAC009-2025

  That the verbal update from Pam Cooper, Manager, Environmental Planning, Planning, Building and Growth Management, to the Environment Advisory Committee Meeting of April 1, 2025, re: Ground Cover Maintenance and Prohibited Plants By-law, be received.

  Carried

7.

Sub-Committees

7.1

Sub-Committee Updates

No updates were provided at this time.

  

8.

Other New/Business

8.1

Verbal Advisory from the City Clerk's Office, re: Resignation of Committee Member Neil Fairhead

Sonya Pacheco, Legislative Coordinator, City Clerk's Office, advised Committee that the City Clerk's Office received a letter of resignation from Neil Fairhead and noted that his resignation from the Environment Advisory Committee is deemed effective as of February 27, 2025. In addition, Ms. Pacheco advised that the City Clerk's Office is currently reviewing vacancies on all citizen advisory committees for potential future appointments.

The following motion was considered.

• EAC010-2025

  That the verbal advisory from the City Clerk's Office, to the Environment Advisory Committee Meeting of April 1, 2025, re: Resignation of Committee Member Neil Fairhead, be received.

  Carried

8.2

Election of Co-Chairs

Sonya Pacheco, Legislative Coordinator, City Clerk's Office, outlined the process for the election, and opened the floor for nominations for the two positions of Co-Chair.

The following Committee members were nominated and accepted the nominations:

• Raman Vasudev
• Charles Coimbra
• Sherry-Ann Ram

There were no further nominations, and Ms. Pacheco announced the nominations were closed. Voting for the selection of Co-Chairs was taken with the results as follows:

• Raman Vasudev - 1 vote
• Charles Coimbra - 4 votes
• Sherry-Ann Ram - 4 votes

Based on the results of the vote, Ms. Pacheco declared Charles Coimbra and Sherry-Ann Ram as Co-Chairs of the Environment Advisory Committee for the term ending November 14, 2026.

The following motion was considered.

• EAC011-2025

  That Charles Coimbra and Sherry-Ann Ram be appointed as Co-Chairs of the Environment Advisory Committee for the remainder of the term of Council ending November 14, 2026, or until a successor is appointed.

  Carried

9.

Correspondence

Nil

  

10.

Question Period

Nil

  

11.

Public Question Period

Nil

  

12.

Adjournment

The following motion was considered.

• EAC012-2025

  That the Environment Advisory Committee do now adjourn to meet again for a regular meeting on Tuesday, June 3, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. or at the call of the Chair.

  Carried