Minutes

Environment Advisory Committee

The Corporation of the City of Brampton

Tuesday, August 09, 2022

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

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

Members Present:

• Rajbalinder Ghatoura (Co-Chair)
• David Laing (Co-Chair)
• Alexandra Belen
• Harripaul Bridgemohan
• Akeem Gardner
• Jafir Jaferi
• Davika Misir
• Sherry-Ann Ram

Members Absent:

• Tamsen Metcalfe
• Charry Rakhara
• Stacey Wilson
• City Councillor D. Whillans (personal)

Staff Present:

• Michael Hoy, Supervisor, Environmental Planning, Public Works and Engineering
• Kristina Dokoska, Policy Planner, Environment, Public Works and Engineering
• Sonya Pacheco, Legislative Coordinator, City Clerk's Office

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1.

Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 6:03 p.m. and adjourned at 7:31 p.m.

 

2.

Approval of Agenda

The following motion was considered.

• EAC026-2022

  That the agenda for the Environment Advisory Committee Meeting of August 9, 2022, be approved, as published and circulated.

  Carried

3.

Declarations of Interest under the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act

Nil

 

4.

Previous Minutes

4.1

Minutes - Environment Advisory Committee - June 14, 2022

The recommendations were approved by Committee of Council on June 22, 2022 and pending approval by Council on August 10, 2022. The minutes will be considered by the Committee of Council on September 7, 2022 and were provided for Committee’s information.

 

5.

Presentations\Delegations

5.1

Staff Presentation re: Bird Friendly City Application

Jennifer Khuu, Environmental Planning Student, Public Works and Engineering, provided a presentation entitled "Bird Friendly City Application".

Committee discussion on this matter included the following:

• Decreasing bird population
• Process to obtain Council support and pursue a Bird Friendly City Designation
• Potential role of the Environment Advisory Committee in this initiative, in the new term of Council
• Information regarding the City of Toronto's "High" certification level achievement 
• Bird Friendly City Application process

The following motion was considered.

• EAC027-2022

  1. That the staff presentation titled: Bird Friendly City Application, to the Environment Advisory Committee Meeting of August 9, 2022, be received; 

  2. That the Environment Advisory Committee endorse the City of Brampton pursuing the Bird Friendly Status with Nature Canada; and

  3. That, it is the position of the Environment Advisory Committee, that City Council direct staff to submit the Bird Friendly City application to designate Brampton as a Bird City.

  Carried

5.2

Staff Presentation re: Climate Change Adaptation Plan

Kristina Dokoska, Policy Planner - Environment, Public Works and Engineering, provided a presentation entitled "Climate Change Adaptation Plan".

Staff responded to questions from Committee regarding the Environment Advisory Committee's involvement in the Climate Change Adaptation Plan, and the possibility of participating outside of the Committee process as an interested resident volunteer.  

The following motion was considered.

• EAC028-2022

  That the staff presentation titled: Climate Change Adaptation Plan, to the Environment Advisory Committee Meeting of August 9, 2022, be received.

  Carried

6.

Reports/Updates

6.1

Verbal Update from Zoe Milligan, Environmental Project Specialist, Public Works and Engineering, re: Grass and Weed By-law Review

Michael Hoy, Supervisor, Environmental Planning, Public Works and Engineering, on behalf of Zoe Milligan, Environmental Project Specialist, Public Works and Engineering, provided an update regarding the Grass and Weed By-law review, which included proposed amendments to the by-law to permit naturalized gardens in front yards, and to provide a prohibited plants list and definition for "garden". 

In addition, Mr. Hoy provided information on public engagement for the proposed by-law amendments, and the status of the by-law review, noting that a report is anticipated to proceed to Council in September 2022. 

The following motion was considered.

• EAC029-2022

  That the verbal update from Zoe Milligan, Environmental Project Specialist, Public Works and Engineering, re: Grass and Weed By-law Review, to the Environment Advisory Committee Meeting of August 9, 2022, be received.

  Carried

6.2

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

Michael Hoy, Supervisor, Environmental Planning, Public Works and Engineering, provided an update regarding the Centre for Community Energy Transformation (CCET), which included information on grant funding and the recruitment for CCET board directors and executive director.

The following motion was considered.

• EAC030-2022

  That the verbal update from Michael Hoy, Supervisor, Environmental Planning, Public Works and Engineering, re: Centre for Community Energy Transformation (CCET), to the Environment Advisory Committee Meeting of August 9, 2022, be received.

  Carried

6.3

Verbal Update from David Laing, Co-Chair, Environment Advisory Committee, re: Grow Green Network Sub-committee and Brampton Environmental Alliance

David Laing, Co-Chair, Environment Advisory Committee (EAC), provided an update regarding the Brampton Environmental Alliance (BEA), which included the following:

• Increasing membership and board volunteers
• Time commitment for members
• Student intern program
• Grant funding proposals and programs
• Information regarding the "Your the Solution to Less Pollution" project
• Opportunity for the BEA to engage with the City on environmental activities and community outreach efforts, including communications through the BEA newsletter 

Mr. Laing encouraged EAC members to get involved and participate on the BEA and to visit their website at www.bramptonea.org for more information.

The following motion was considered.

• EAC031-2022

  That the verbal update from David Laing, Co-Chair, Environment Advisory Committee, re: Grow Green Network Sub-committee and Brampton Environmental Alliance, to the Environment Advisory Committee Meeting of August 9, 2022, be received.

  Carried

7.

Sub-Committees

Nil

8.

Other New/Business

8.1

Discussion Item at the request of Stacey Wilson, Committee Member, re: Request for an Update from Staff on Care for Trees Planted in 2021

On behalf of Stacey Wilson, Committee Member, David Laing, Co-Chair, outlined concerns relating to the mortality rate of new trees, tree maintenance by contractors, and the need for more action by City staff to support additional tree plantings.

In response to the concerns raised, Edward Hunwicks, Supervisor, Urban Forestry, and Werner Kuemmling, Manager, Open Space Development, Community Services, advised that the Urban Forest Management Plan is anticipated to be approved by Council on August 10, 2022, and provided information on the following:

• Warranty for new trees and service contracts for tree planting and maintenance
• Contractor obligations and performance (e.g. maintenance and replacement of trees)
• Tree inspections by Forestry staff
• The City's tree maintenance program
• Staff resources

Committee discussion on this matter included the following:

• The need to improve Brampton's tree canopy growth
• Potential damage to young trees caused by line-trimmers 
• Contractor performance and responsiveness to City requests
• Mortality rate of trees planted in the area of Strathdale Road, and an indication that staff would investigate this issue

8.2

Discussion Item at the request of Rajbalinder Ghatoura, Co-Chair, Environment Advisory Committee, re: Request for an Update from Staff on the Corporate Waste Diversion Strategy (RM 67/2020)

Rajbalinder Ghatoura, Co-Chair, Environment Advisory Committee, provided background information on the Environment Advisory Committee's delegation to the October 21, 2020 Committee of Council meeting regarding a Corporate Waste Diversion Strategy, and requested an update from staff on the progress made towards developing this strategy. 

Michael Hoy, Supervisor, Environmental Planning, Public Works and Engineering, advised that discussions have taken place with various departments on this matter, however, minimal progress has been made due to other competing priorities (e.g. Home Retrofit Program, Centre for Community Energy Transformation (CCET), Climate Change Adaptation Plan). Mr. Hoy added that in 2023, staff will develop a plan to build the strategy to address waste in City facilities.

In response to questions from Committee, Mr. Hoy confirmed that public engagement and municipal benchmarking will be undertaken as part of the process to develop the strategy.

8.3

Discussion Item at the request of Rajbalinder Ghatoura and David Laing, Co-Chairs, Environment Advisory Committee, re: Re-cap of the Environment Advisory Committee's Achievements in the 2018-2022 Term of Council

Rajbalinder Ghatoura, Co-Chair, Environment Advisory Committee (EAC), and Michael Hoy, Supervisor, Environmental Planning, Public Works and Engineering, provided an overview of the Environment Advisory Committee's achievements in the 2018-2022 Term of Council, which included the following:

• Establishment of the Grow Green Network, which has evolved into the Brampton Environmental Alliance (BEA)
• Grow Green Environmental Awards event
• Support and/or input for the following:
  • Centre for Community Energy Transformation (CCET)
  • Bee City Designation
  • Environmental Master Plan Update
  • Urban Forest Management Plan
  • Proclamation of September as Brampton Tree Month
  • Community Energy and Emissions Reduction Plan (CEERP) 
  • Sustainable Neighbourhood Action Plan (SNAP) 

Committee discussion on this matter included the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Committee's ability to fulfill its mandate in relation to events and public outreach activities, and varying opinions regarding the Committee's contributions and involvement in the City's environmental initiatives.

Michael Hoy, Supervisor, Environmental Planning, Public Works and Engineering, clarified that the main purpose of the EAC is to educate and engage the community to advance the goals and actions of the City’s Grow Green Environmental Master Plan, and outlined the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Committee's ability to undertake public engagement activities. Mr. Hoy added that the EAC was invited to participate and provide input on a number of plans and programs with environmental impacts, and delegations to Council were effective.

Further Committee discussion on this matter included:

• the need for more active members on the Committee to participate in various environmental initiatives, and a suggestion that requirements relating to participation and time commitment for future members be implemented
• suggestion that staff liaise with the Brampton Environmental Alliance to assist in disseminating information regarding the City's environmental initiatives

9.

Correspondence

Nil

 

10.

Question Period

Nil

 

11.

Public Question Period

The public was given the opportunity to submit questions via e-mail to the City Clerk’s Office regarding any decisions made under this section of the agenda. Sonya Pacheco, Legislative Coordinator, read the following question from Brampton resident, Sylvia Menezes Roberts:

"Question for BEAC, will the climate adaptation plan include requiring older apartment buildings to be retrofitted with air conditioning? Many older buildings already get extremely hot in the summer, especially on the upper floors."

Kristina Dokoska, Policy Planner - Environment, Public Works and Engineering, acknowledged the impacts of climate change on the City's most vulnerable residents, which often reside in older buildings, and advised that as part of the City's Climate Change Adaptation Plan staff will explore options to address this issue and reduce vulnerability for these residents. In addition, Ms. Dokoska advised that staff are also working on a Peel Home Energy Retrofit Program and will explore opportunities to address mitigation and adaptation issues for all existing buildings/housing.

 

12.

Adjournment

The following motion was considered.

• EAC032-2022

  That the Environment Advisory Committee do now adjourn.

  Carried