Minutes

Environment Advisory Committee

The Corporation of the City of Brampton

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Council Chambers - 4th Floor, City Hall - Webex Electronic Meeting
Members Present:
  • Akeem Gardner (Co-Chair)
  • Harripaul Bridgemohan
  • Rajbalinder Ghatoura
  • Jafir Jaferi
  • David Laing
  • Tamsen Metcalfe
  • Davika Misir
  • Sherry-Ann Ram
  • Vipul Shah
  • Stacey Wilson
  • City Councillor D. Whillans
Members Absent:
  • Preethi Anbalagan (Co-Chair)
  • Amandeep Purewal
  • Malcolm Hamilton
  • Ken Lauppe
  • Kayla Wong
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
  • Peter Fay, City Clerk
  • Charlotte Gravlev, Deputy City Clerk
  • Sonya Pacheco, Legislative Coordinator

The meeting was called to order at 6:06 p.m. and adjourned at 8:47 p.m.

The following motion was considered.

  • EAC012-2020

    That the agenda for the Environment Advisory Committee Meeting of October 13, 2020 be approved as amended to add the following:

    7.1. Grow Green Network Sub-Committee Report

    Carried

The minutes were considered by Committee of Council on February 19, 2020, and were approved by Council on February 26, 2020.  The minutes are provided for Committee’s information.

The minutes were considered by Committee of Council on February 19, 2020, and approved by Council on February 26, 2020.  The minutes were provided for Committee’s information.

Stavroula Kassaris, Environmental Planner, Public Works and Engineering, provided a presentation entitled Brampton Grow Green Environmental Masterplan (EMP) Refresh Update.

Committee discussion on this matter included the following:

  • Progress and percentage of targets achieved on the approved 2014 EMP
  • Renewed focus of the EMP Action Plan, which includes refinement of the actions and input from the 2040 Vision
  • Indication from staff that the City has reached the 50% (approx.) mark of the original 10-year plan 
  • Draft Action Plan Survey
    • Prioritization of the 10 focus areas
    • Public response to the survey and a request that Committee members promote this survey
  • Indication from staff that the plan will be reviewed in five (5) years
  • Misconceptions regarding the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) 
  • Indication from staff that the EMP promotes the Community Energy and Emissions Reduction Plan (CEERP)

 The following motion was considered. 

  • EAC013-2020

    That the presentation from Stavroula Kassaris, Environmental Planner, Public Works and Engineering, to the Environment Advisory Committee Meeting of October 13, 2020 re: Brampton Grow Green Environmental Master Plan Refresh Update be received.

    Carried

Pam Cooper, Environmental Planner, Public Works and Engineering, provided a presentation entitled Community Energy and Emissions Reduction Plan (CEERP).

Committee discussion on this matter included the following:

  • Home Retrofit Programs
    • Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) was identified as the most popular program
    • A certification option and contractors list will be reviewed as part of the design of this program
  • Funding opportunity with the Federation and Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and the advantages of applying as part of a regional program
  • Sources of GHG emissions and the proportion of energy-related emissions to other sources
    • Staff advised that only sources within the City's scope and within the protocols of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy were considered
  • Role of the EAC in the CEERP to promote and participate in engagement activities, and to participate on the stakeholder committee (1-2 representatives)
  • Funding for the CEERP

The following motion was considered.

  • EAC014-2020

    That the presentation by Pam Cooper, Environmental Planner, Public Works and Engineering, to the Environment Advisory Committee Meeting of October 13, 2020, re: Community Energy and Emissions Reduction Plan (CEERP) be received.

    Carried

Michael Hoy, Supervisor, Environmental Planning, Public Works and Engineering, provided a presentation entitled Centre for Community Energy Transformation (CCET).

Committee discussion on this matter included the following:

  • Screening process for participation on the Community Task Force, and an indication that certain skills, knowledge and experience will be required to participate
  • Differences between the CCET and the Grow Green Network (GGN)
    • Staff advised that the CCET will be focusing on major infrastructure projects (transformative), whereas the GGN is focused on grass roots environmental programs (engagement and collaboration)
  • Efforts of the GGN to become an entity independent from the City, and an indication that a plan will be presented at a future meeting on how the GGN can grow and evolve, and contribute to the CCET

The following motion was considered.

  • EAC015-2020

    That the presentation by Michael Hoy, Supervisor, Environmental Planning, Public Works and Engineering, to the Environment Advisory Committee Meeting of October 13, 2020, re: Centre for Community Energy Transformation (CCET) be received.

    Carried

On behalf of Zoe Milligan, Planner, Public Works and Engineering, Michael Hoy, Supervisor, Environmental Planning, Public Works and Engineering, provided a presentation entitled Eco Park and One Million Trees Update.

Committee discussion on this matter included the following:

  • Information regarding a successful tree planting program in New York City and information on the New York City Street Tree Map web page: https://tree-map.nycgovparks.org/
  • Eco systems and the contribution of trees to natural habitats
  • Indication from staff that the City will not be re-designating parks but will be reviewing the addition of eco spaces within parks 
  • Changes to parks design and maintenance processes as a result of the Eco Park Program
  • Process for the naturalization of parks, which is done in consultation with the community

The following motion was considered.

  • EAC016-2020

    That the presentation by Zoe Milligan, Planner I, Public Works and Engineering, to the Environment Advisory Committee Meeting of October 13, 2020, re: Eco Park and One Million Trees Update be received.

    Carried

Rajbalinder Ghatoura, Committee Member, advised that, as previously directed by the EAC, he and Amandeep Purewal will be delegating at the October 21, 2020 Committee of Council meeting regarding the development of a corporate waste diversion strategy. He provided details on the focus of the presentation which will include:

  • inconsistent waste standards at all City facilities
  • the impact of contaminated recyclable materials
  • the importance of setting positive examples for residents
  • request for the City to implement a corporate waste diversion strategy

Mr. Ghatoura encouraged Committee Members to participate in this meeting to support the delegation.

Committee discussion on this matter included the following:

  • Confirmation that the matter of dog and pet waste as a concept for diversion, and its conversion into energy, has been incorporated into the presentation 
    • Information was provided on dog waste technology in the City of Mississauga, which resulted in a significant reduction of waste  

The following motion was considered.

  • EAC017-2020

    That the verbal update from Rajbalinder Ghatoura, Committee Member, to the Environment Advisory Committee Meeting of October 13, 2020, re: Delegation to Committee of Council - Development of a Waste Diversion Strategy be received.

    Carried

David Laing, Grow Green Network (GGN) Sub-Committee Chair, provided an overview of the GGN Sub-Committee Report, which included details on the following:

  • Number of GGN Sub-committee meetings held and GGN meetings organized since February 2020
  • Preparations for the launch of the GGN
  • Number of people and organizations that participated in the GGN meetings 
  • Approved GGN mission and vision 
  • Significant feedback received from participants on GGN priorities
  • GGN focus on networking, partnering and workshops, and the establishment of working groups for these focus areas
  • Review of options for the GGN to operate independently from the City and how it can collaborate with the CCET

The following motion was considered.

  • EAC018-2020

    That the Grow Green Network Sub-Committee Report, to the Environment Advisory Committee Meeting of October 21, 2020, be received.

     

    Carried

Sonya Pacheco, Legislative Coordinator, City Clerk's Office, advised Committee that Malcolm Hamilton, Kayla Wong and Ken Lauppe have resigned from the Environment Advisory Committee.  Ms. Pacheco indicated that one alternate member was appointed by Council in May 2019 and this member has confirmed their continued interest in participating on this Committee.  Ms. Pacheco added that, at this time, the City Clerk’s Office will not be advertising to fill the remaining vacancies, noting that this decision will be revisited in the future depending on the easing of COVID-19 related restrictions.

The following motion was considered.

  • EAC019-2020

    1. That the verbal advisory from the City Clerk's Office, to the Environment Advisory Committee Meeting of October 13, 2020, re: Resignation of Environment Advisory Committee Members be received; and

    2. That the resignations of Malcolm Hamilton, Kayla Wong and Ken Lauppe, from membership on the Environment Advisory Committee be accepted.

    Carried

Stavroula Kassaris, Environmental Planner, Public Works and Engineering, provided information to Committee regarding the Riverwalk project, and requested that two members be selected to participate and represent the Environment Advisory Committee on the River Walk Area Urban Design Master Plan Community Liaison Team.

Ms. Kassaris advised that additional information on this project could be found on the City's website here: https://www.brampton.ca/EN/Business/planning-development/projects-studies/riverwalk/Pages/Welcome.aspx 

The following motion was considered.

  • EAC020-2020

    That Akeem Gardner and David Laing be selected to represent the Environment Advisory Committee on the River Walk Area Urban Design Master Plan Community Liaison Team.

    Carried

Akeem Gardner, Co-Chair, and David Laing, Committee Member, provided information to Committee regarding the implications of the Provincial Government’s streamlined Environment Assessment (EA) process on environmental protection in Brampton. Concerns were raised regarding the inclusion of the proposed 400 series highway project in the Heritage Heights Planning Area in the streamlined EA process, and submissions were made that this project should be subject to the full EA process.

Committee discussion on this matter included the following:

  • Suggestion that the EAC take a position on this matter 
  • Questions as to whether the Committee has sufficient information to formulate a position
  • The City's position on this issue as it relates to the Heritage Heights Planning Area
  • Timelines for submitting comments to the Province on this issue

The following motion was considered.

  • EAC021-2020

    That it is the position of the Environment Advisory Committee, and consistent with the City position already in place with respect to the Heritage Heights Planning Area, that ERO Posting 019-2377 not include the 400 Series Highways for a streamlined Environmental Assessment, in so far as it impacts the Heritage Heights Planning Area within the City of Brampton, due to expected environmental and social impacts from the proposed 400 Series Highway Project in this part of the City, and that the Highway Project be subject to the full Environmental Assessment process.

    Carried

1. In response to a question from Akeem Gardner, Co-Chair, regarding the impact of the COVID-19 emergency on environmental targets, Michael Hoy, Supervisor, Environmental Planning, Public Works and Engineering, advised that there has been minimal disruption and staff are confident targets will be met.

2. In response to a question from Sherry-Ann Ram, Committee Member, Sonya Pacheco, Legislative Coordinator, City Clerk's Office, advised that sub-committee chairs are selected by the sub-committee membership and, in light of recent member resignations, the subcommittee membership can be reviewed at the next Environment Advisory Committee meeting.

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.

P. Fay, City Clerk, read the following question from Sylvia Roberts, Brampton resident: 

"Brampton is a rapidly growing city, expected to add hundreds of thousands of people over the coming decades, who need housing. Embodied emissions, from construction, especially cement and steel, are a significant portion of emissions, yet, the Grow Green Environmental Master Plan, the 2018 update on it, and CEERP do not meaningfully consider emissions from construction, some don't even acknowledge it exists. The City of Brampton's zoning by-laws regulate what can be built, and issue building permits that allow construction. Why isn't the City taking action on embodied emissions, the single biggest emission source that it has significant influence over?"

Michael Hoy, Supervisor, Environmental Planning, Public Works and Engineering, advised that this is a complex issue, noting that these emissions are difficult to measure. Mr. Hoy indicated that Brampton is working with other municipalities on this issue, is taking local steps with the development industry, and relies on the Province to implement industry standards. In addition, Mr. Hoy clarified the intent of CEERP, and advised that the City will work with the industry to reduce emissions.

City Councillor Whillans added that a number of development industry representatives participated in the CEERP and are reviewing opportunities to reduce their emissions.

The following motion was considered.

  • EAC022-2020

    That the Environment Advisory Committee do now adjourn to meet again on Tuesday, December 8, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. or at the call of the Chair.

    Carried