Minutes

Environment Advisory Committee

The Corporation of the City of Brampton

Tuesday, June 08, 2021

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

Council Chambers - 4th Floor, City Hall - Webex Electronic Meeting

Members Present:

• Preethi Anbalagan (Co-Chair)
• Akeem Gardner (Co-Chair)
• Harripaul Bridgemohan
• Rajbalinder Ghatoura
• Jafir Jaferi
• David Laing
• Davika Misir
• Sherry-Ann Ram
• Stacey Wilson

Members Absent:

• Sanjay Mathur
• Tamsen Metcalfe
• Amandeep Purewal
• Vipul Shah
• City Councillor D. Whillans

Staff Present:

• Michael Hoy, Supervisor, Environmental Planning, Public Works and Engineering
• Pam Cooper, Environmental Planner, Public Works and Engineering
• Stavroula Kassaris, Environmental Planner, Public Works and Engineering
• Zoe Milligan, Environmental Project Specialist, Pubic Works and Engineering
• Anand Balram, Policy Planner, Planning, Building and Economic Development
• Sonya Pacheco, Legislative Coordinator

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1.

Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 6:02 p.m. and adjourned at 7:45 p.m.

2.

Approval of Agenda

Committee discussion took place with respect to proposed amendments to the agenda.

The following motion was considered.

• EAC016-2021

  That the agenda for the Environment Advisory Committee Meeting of June 8, 2021, be approved as amended to add the following item:

  7.1. Verbal Update from David Laing, Committee Member, re: Brampton Grow Green Network Sub-committee and Status of the Brampton Environmental Alliance

  Carried

3.

Declarations of Interest under the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act

Nil

4.

Previous Minutes

4.1

Minutes - Environment Advisory Committee - April 13, 2021

The minutes were considered by Committee of Council on April 28, 2021, and were approved by Council on May 5, 2021.  The minutes were provided for Committee’s information.

5.

Presentations\Delegations

5.1

Presentation from Jessica Yadav, Environmental Planning Student, Public Works and Engineering, re: Natural Heritage Systems Communication Plan

Jessica Yadav, Environmental Planning Student, Public Works and Engineering, provided a presentation entitled "Natural Heritage System Communication Plan".

Committee discussion on this matter included the following:

• Outreach with community groups
• Development and distribution of targeted toolkits for community groups
• Raising awareness of the toolkits in the broader community
• Importance of educating the public on the use of the natural heritage system and raising awareness of sensitive features, and how this will be incorporated in the communications and action plans

The following motion was considered.

• EAC017-2021

  That the presentation from Jessica Yadav, Environmental Planning Student, Public Works and Engineering, to the Environment Advisory Committee Meeting of June 8, 2021, re: Natural Heritage System Communication Plan, be received.

  Carried

5.2

Presentation from Zoe Milligan, Environmental Project Specialist, Public Works and Engineering, re: 2021 Brampton One Million Trees and Naturalization Projects

Zoe Milligan, Environmental Project Specialist, Public Works and Engineering, provided a presentation entitled "Brampton One Million Trees & Valley and Parks Naturalization 2021".

Committee discussion took place with respect to the following:

• Supply of watering trucks in Brampton and watering frequency
• Encouraging and educating residents on how to maintain trees in front of their property 
• Informing residents on the types of trees suitable for their property
• Information from staff regarding the development of an urban forest management plan
• Public engagement opportunity during Brampton Tree Month in September
• Reporting, tracking and replacement of new trees that don't survive, and how this impacts the City's one million trees objective 
• Progress on the One Million Trees program and the need to catch up on tree plantings due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
• Annual average of trees planted in Brampton, 2021 goals and efforts to increase capacity
• Process for selecting neighbourhoods for tree plantings through a social equity lens

The following motion was considered.

• EAC018-2021

  That the presentation from Zoe Milligan, Environmental Project Specialist, Public Works and Engineering, to the Environment Advisory Committee Meeting of June 8, 2021, re: 2021 Brampton One Million Trees and Naturalization Projects, be received.

   

  Carried

5.3

Presentation from Stavroula Kassaris, Environmental Planner, Public Works and Engineering, re: Brampton Grow Green Webpage Renovation

Stavroula Kassaris, Environmental Planner, Public Works and Engineering, provided a presentation entitled "Brampton Grow Green Webpage Renovation". Ms. Kassaris requested that Committee members review the webpage and provide any further feedback to staff for consideration.

The following motion was considered.

• EAC019-2021

  That the presentation from Stavroula Kassaris, Environmental Planner, Public Works and Engineering, to the Environment Advisory Committee Meeting of June 8, 2021, re: Brampton Grow Green Webpage Renovation, be received.

  Carried

5.4

Presentation from Andrew McNeil, Manager, Official Plan and Growth Management, and Tristan Costa, Planner, Planning, Building and Economic Development, re: Brampton Plan Update

Anand Balram, Policy Planner, Planning, Building and Economic Development, provided a presentation on behalf of Andrew McNeil, Manager, Official Plan and Growth Management, and Tristan Costa, Planner, Planning, Building and Economic Development, entitled "Brampton Plan". Mr. Balram encouraged Committee members to review the discussion papers available on the City's website.

Committee discussion on this matter included the following:

• Region of Peel Planning and Growth Management Committee meeting on June 17, 2021 and potential impact of these discussions on land use planning in Brampton, including settlement expansion areas and intensification planning
  • Mr. Anand provided information to Committee on this matter, noting that all Regional municipalities are undergoing an Official Plan review, and work collaboratively so as not to unduly impact the other. In addition, Mr. Anand outlined the opportunity for the public to participate in these processes.
• Suggestion that infographics related to infrastructure include elements other than roads

The following motion was considered.

• EAC020-2021

  That the presentation by Anand Balram, Policy Planner, Planning, Building and Economic Development, on behalf of Andrew McNeil, Manager, Official Plan and Growth Management, and Tristan Costa, Planner, to the Environment Advisory Committee Meeting of June 8, 2021, re: Brampton Plan Update, be received.

  Carried

6.

Reports/Updates

6.1

Verbal Update from Stavroula Kassaris, Environmental Planner, Public Works and Engineering, re: Clarification of GHG Reduction Targets in the Updated Brampton Grow Green Environmental Master Plan 

Stavroula Kassaris, Environmental Planner, Public Works and Engineering, provided clarification regarding the GHG reduction targets outlined in the Brampton Grow Green Environmental Master Plan (EMP).  She advised that GHG reduction targets were changed from "per capita" to "absolute" in the updated EMP, and the wording in the plan has been corrected to reflect this change. 

Committee discussion took place regarding the purpose for revising the GHG reduction targets from "per capita" to "absolute", and the possibility of presenting both values.  Staff advised that use of absolute reduction targets is deemed to be a best practice.

The following motion was considered.

• EAC021-2021

  That the verbal update from Stavroula Kassaris, Environmental Planner, Public Works and Engineering, to the Environment Advisory Committee Meeting of June 8, 2021, re: Clarification of GHG Reduction Targets in the Updated Brampton Grow Green Environmental Master Plan, be received.

  Carried

6.2

Verbal Update from Michael Hoy, Supervisor, Environmental Planning, Public Works and Engineering, re: Centre for Community Energy Transformation

Michael Hoy, Supervisor, Environmental Planning, Public Works and Engineering, provided an update on the Centre for Community Energy Transformation. He advised that David Laing, Committee member, is chair of the task force and  provided information on task force meetings, efforts to establish the non-profit organization and future recommendations to Council regarding a funding strategy, governance model and communications program. Mr. Hoy added that meetings are open to the public to attend and further updates will be provided at future committee meetings.

The following motion was considered.

• EAC022-2021

  That the verbal update from Michael Hoy, Supervisor, Environmental Planning, Public Works and Engineering, to the Environment Advisory Committee Meeting of June 8, 2021, re: Centre for Community Energy Transformation, be received.

  Carried

6.3

Verbal Update from Zoe Milligan, Environmental Project Specialist, Public Works and Engineering, re: Bee City Designation and Pollinator Week

Zoe Milligan, Environmental Project Specialist, Public Works and Engineering, advised Committee that the City of Brampton was successful in receiving the Bee City Designation, and provided information on Pollinator Week activities taking place from June 21 to 27, 2021, in consideration of COVID-19 restrictions. Ms. Milligan advised that further details are available on the City's website.

The following motion was considered.

• EAC023-2021

  That the verbal update from Zoe Milligan, Environmental Project Specialist, Public Works and Engineering, to the Environment Advisory Committee Meeting of June 8, 2021, re: Bee City Designation and Pollinator Week, be received.

  Carried

7.

Sub-Committees

7.1

Verbal Update from David Laing, Committee Member, re: Brampton Grow Green Network Sub-committee and Status of the Brampton Environmental Alliance

David Laing, Committee Member, provided the following updates regarding the Brampton Grow Green Network (GGN) Sub-committee and status of the Brampton Environmental Alliance (BEA):

• BEA received letters patent from the Government of Ontario and is now an official not-for-profit organization
• Development of operating procedures is underway
• Next meeting is scheduled to take place on June 23, 2021 at 6:00 p.m., and Committee members were encouraged to attend
• BEA directorship opportunities and positions are available for anyone interested in participating 
• Information was provided on Committee member participation on the BEA 
• BEA's first Annual General Meeting is scheduled to take place on December 3, 2021

The following motion was considered.

• EAC024-2021

  That the verbal update from David Laing, Committee Member, to the Environment Advisory Committee Meeting of June 8, 2021, re: Brampton Grow Green Network Sub-committee and Status of the Brampton Environmental Alliance, be received.

  Carried

8.

Other New/Business

Nil

9.

Correspondence

Nil

10.

Question Period

Nil

11.

Public Question Period

Nil

12.

Adjournment

The following motion was considered.

• EAC025-2021

  That the Environment Advisory Committee do now adjourn to meet again on Tuesday, August 10, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. or at the call of the Chair.

  Carried