Minutes

Environment Advisory Committee

The Corporation of the City of Brampton

Tuesday, December 05, 2023

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)
• Sukran Balaban
• Charles Coimbra
• Subhash Chander Duggal
• Neil Fairhead
• Regional Councillor G. Toor - Wards 9 and 10

Members Absent:

• Brajgeet Bhathal
• Pushproop Brar
• Hardik Mankad
• Shailly Prajapati
• Sandra Roppa

Staff Present:

• Pam Cooper, Policy Planner, Environment, Planning, Building and Growth Management
• Kristina Dokoska, Policy Planner, Environment, Public Works and Engineering
• Karley Cianchino, Environmental Project Specialist, Planning, Building and Growth Management
• Tammi Jackson, Legislative Coordinator

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1.

Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 6:04 p.m. and adjourned at 7:17 p.m.

2.

Approval of Agenda

The following motion was considered. 

• EAC017-2023

  That the agenda for the Environment Advisory Committee Meeting of December 5, 2023, be approved, as amended to add the following item:

  6.3 Verbal Update from Raman Vasudev, Chair, re: Requirement of Green Bins in Public Parks.

  6.4 Verbal Update from Raman Vasudev, Chair, re: Maintenance of Green Grass in All Plazas.

  Carried

3.

Declarations of Interest under the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act

Nil

4.

Previous Minutes

4.1

Minutes - Environment Advisory Committee - October 3, 2023

The minutes were considered by Committee of Council on October 25, 2023 and approved by Council on November 1, 2023.  The minutes were provided for Committee’s information.

5.

Presentations\Delegations

5.1

Delegation from Rajbalinder Ghatoura and Stacey Wilson, Brampton Environmental Alliance, re: Introduction of the Brampton Environmental Alliance (BEA)

The delegation was withdrawn at the request of the delegate.

6.

Reports/Updates

6.1

Verbal Update from Karley Cianchino, Environmental Project Specialist, Planning, Building and Growth Management, re: Don’t Mow, Let It Grow Initiative

Karley Cianchino, Environmental Project Specialist, Planning, Building and Growth Management, provided information regarding the Don’t Mow, Let It Grow Initiative, and responded to questions of clarification from Committee.

Committee discussion included the following: 

• Question regarding whether there is any intension to extend the program to residential areas.
• Clarification that the program is strategic, geared toward city-owned land. 
• Questions regarding the total area of city-owned property. 
• Increased engagement to encourage residents to consider this approach in a way that works for their specific property. 
• Staff advised Committee that information can be found by accessing the City of Brampton's dashboard on GeoHub. 
• The process of planning pollinator events is currently underway for next year. Staff are currently working on a new strategic and streamlined approach, therefore, no new locations are proposed for 2024. Staff will be looking at establishing new locations in 2025 in collaboration with the Committee.

The following motion was considered.

• EAC018-2023

  That the verbal update from Karley Cianchino, Environmental Project Specialist, Planning, Building and Growth Management, to the Environment Advisory Committee Meeting of December 5, 2023, re: Don't Mow, Let It Grow Initiative, be received.

  Carried

6.2

Verbal Update from Kristina Dokoska, Environmental Planner, Planning, Building and Growth Management, re: Grow Green Awards 

Kristina Dokoska, Environmental Planner, Planning, Building and Growth Management, provided information regarding the Grow Green Awards, and and responded to questions of clarification from Committee.

Committee discussion included the following: 

• Nomination forms will be release January 2, 2024 and will be available from January 2, 2024 to March 31, 2024. 
• The forms will be available on the Grow Green website. 
• The City will be promoting the event through various social media channels and other avenues such as radio. 
• Staff encouraged members to promote the Grow Green Awards and encourage others to nominate. 
• Social media tool kit will be shared with members to assist with promoting the event.
• Grow Green Awards is scheduled for April 2024 

The following motion was considered.

• EAC019-2023

  That the verbal update from Kristina Dokoska, Environmental Planner, Planning, Building and Growth Management, to the Environment Advisory Committee Meeting of December 5, 2023, re: Grow Green Awards, be received.

  Carried

6.3

Verbal Update from Raman Vasudev, Chair, re: Requirement of Green Bins In Public Parks.

Raman Vasudev, Chair, provided information regarding the requirement of Green Bins in public parks that resulted in Committee discussion that included the following:

• Concerns there are no green waste bins are not installed at public parks. 
• Staff clarified that a recycling pilot project was undertaken with the Region of Peel that resulted in failure due to contamination of materials in the bins which were outside the tolerable level of contamination that the Region of Peel would accept. 
• Green bins attract additional animals to the parks. 
• The Committee could support environmental planning with the Anti-Litter Campaign that will be initiated 2024 that will assist with the appearance of litter in the parks. 

The following motion was considered.

• EAC020-2023

  That the verbal update from Raman Vasudev, Chair, to the Environment Advisory Committee Meeting of December 5, 2023, re: Requirement of Green Bins In Public Parks, be received.

  Carried

6.4

Verbal Update from Raman Vasudev, Chair, re: Maintenance of Green Grass In All Plazas.

Raman Vasudev, Chair, provided information regarding a request from members of the public regarding the maintenance of green grass in all plazas that resulted in Committee discussion that included the following:

• Suggestion to look into what enforcement can do pertaining to property standards concerns. 
• Advised there was previous discussion at Council regarding artificial turf at private locations. 
• The City's By-law Enforcement division ensures adherence to property standards by-laws which includes property maintenance. 

The following motion was considered.

• EAC021-2023

  That the verbal update from Raman Vasudev, Chair, to the Environment Advisory Committee Meeting of December 5, 2023, re: Maintenance of Green Grass In All Plazas, be received.

  Carried

7.

Sub-Committees

7.1

Discussion Item at the request of Neil Fairhead, Committee Member, re: Establishment of an Ad-Hoc Pollinator Sub-Committee

Neil Fairhead, Citizen Member, provided detailed information regarding the establishment of an Ad-Hoc Pollinator Sub-Committee, and responded to questions of clarification from Committee.

Committee discussion included the following:

• Question regarding where the City of Brampton position is in comparison to the City of Toronto with by-laws surrounding traditional gardens and landscaping. 
• Clarification that Environmental Planning is reviewing  the weed and grass by-law. the proposed changes will permit naturalized gardens. Under the changes being proposed when naturalized gardens are exempt  (pollinator gardens, rain gardens, food gardens, fusion gardens) all would be permitted, with the exception of invasive species gardens, such as garlic mustard.
• Advised that sub-committees are supported by departmental staff rather then the Clerk's Office. 

The following motion was placed on the floor for Committee's consideration. 

That an Ad-Hoc Pollinator Sub-Committee be established for the term of Council ending November 14, 2026, and the following members be appointed thereto:

1. Charles Coimbra
2. Neil Fairhead
3. Sherry-Ann Ram
4. Sukran Balaban
5. Subhash Chander Duggal
6. Hardik Mankad
7. Sandra Roppa

The following motion was considered.

• EAC022-2023

  That an Ad-Hoc Pollinator Sub-Committee be established for the term of Council ending November 14, 2026, and the following members be appointed thereto:
  1.    Charles Coimbra
  2.    Neil Fairhead
  3.    Sherry-Ann Ram
  4.    Sukran Balaban
  5.    Subhash Chander Duggal
  6.    Hardik Mankad
  7.    Sandra Roppa

  Carried

8.

Other New/Business

Nil

9.

Correspondence

Nil

10.

Question Period

Nil

11.

Public Question Period

The public was given the opportunity to submit questions in person or via e-mail to the City Clerk’s Office regarding any decisions made at this meeting. T. Jackson, Legislative Coordinator, confirmed there were no questions from the public. 

12.

Adjournment

• EAC023-2023

  That the Environment Advisory Committee do now adjourn.

  Carried