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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPD-7-94THE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON Subject: REQUESTS BY S . A. G. A. FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee recommend to Council the following: 1. THAT Report PD -7 -94 be received for information and for direction if necessary; and 2. THAT all interested parties listed in this report be advised of Council's direction. REPORT: 1. ORIGIN 1.1 In late 1990, Mrs. Helen MacDonald approached the, then Mayor, suggesting the need to establish an Environment Advisory Committee to deal with various environmental issues facing the Municipality. No specific direction was provided to the staff for any follow -up. 1.2 On January 6, 1992, Ms. Katherine Guselle on behalf of Save the Ganaraska Again (S.A.G.A.) made a submission to Committee regarding the Clarington Official Plan Review. Ms. Guselle requested the Official Plan Review address the issues of watershed planning and the formation of a Municipal Environmental Advisory Committee. This matter was referred to staff for review and report. ...2 1 _ 2"0 fl EPEL TVIS IS PRIMED ON IIEGYGIED PAPER REPORT • • .... PAGE 2 1.3 On June 9, 1993, Mr. Mark Williamson on behalf of the Durham Region Field Naturalists (D.R.F.N.) made a written submission on the Official Plan Review's Phase One Background Paper No. 2 - "Natural Environment ". Of the Submission's 7 comments, one recommended the establishment of a standing Ecological and Environmental Advisory Committee to be "consulted in any matters which may have an impact on the local environment." Furthermore, D.R.F.N. has recommended to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs that approval of the 1991 Durham Regional Official Plan be withheld until a Durham Region EEAC is in place. 1.4 On June 14, 1993, Mr. John Veldhuis on behalf of the Port Granby - Newcastle Environment Committee (P.G.- N.E.C.) distributed to Council a synopsis of the Committee's 1992 activities and then asked of Council what would be the future of the Committee (including the Committee name)? Council adopted a resolution calling for the referral of Mr. Veldhuis' comments to staff for the preparation of a report on the ongoing mandate of the Port Granby - Newcastle Environment Committee. 2. CURRENTLY ACTIVE ENVIRONMENTALLY - CONCERNED ORGANIZATIONS 2.1 There are a large number of organizations dealing with environmental issues in Clarington. Some of these organizations are based outside Clarington, eg. organizations which are regional in scope such as the Durham Region Field Naturalists (D.R.F.N.) but, most are based in Clarington. Environmentally - concerned organizations working in Clarington generally fall within two groupings which are listed below. ...3 2.2 Environmental Organizations: PAGE 3 • Committee of Concerned Citizens (Regarding Hwy. 407) • Courtice for Clean Air • Durham Nuclear Awareness • Garbage Of Ontario Diminished or G.O.O.D. • No Ganaraska Dump Committee • Save the Ganaraska Again or S.A.G.A. • Committee of the Clarke Constituents or C.C.C. and, central to this report - • Port Granby - Newcastle Environment Committee (P.G.- N.E.C.) 2.3 Community /Ratepayer Organizations: • Bond Head Community Association • Courtice and Area Community Association • Pebblestone Area Residents Association • Port Darlington Community Association • Tyrone Ratepayers Association • Wilmot Creek Homeowners Association These community /ratepayers organizations are generally focussed on issues related to their communities but their issues could touch on environmental matters. 2.4 These environmental organizations and community groups have from time to time brought certain issues to the attention of Council as well as provided comments or made presentations to Council on various matters. Council should be cognizant of the fact that any new environmental advisory committee would not duplicate the efforts of these existing organizations. Therefore, the purpose of setting up such a committee must be clearly understood and the mandate clearly spelled out. These issues will be discussed in detail in the latter part of this report. 3. THE PORT GRANBY - NEWCASTLE ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE Of all the organizations cited previously, this is the only ...4 �.) 4 L REPORT NO.: PD- 7 -94 PAGE 4 organization created by a resolution of Council with an annual operating budget as well as an annual grant by Council. The Committee was given a two -fold mandate with the priority being: to monitor the Federal Site Selection Task Force regarding the location of a permanent low level radioactive waste site and then to monitor the decommissioning of the existing Port Granby facility. The second task being: to monitor environmental issues affecting the municipality and increase public awareness of these issues among residents. All of the municipality's residents were eligible to join the Committee. The work of the Siting Task Force is now in its final stage which will soon render the Port Granby component of the Committee's mandate irrelevant. The second part of the mandate is broad and requires evaluation within the context of a new Environmental Advisory Committee. In 1993, Municipal Council set aside for the Port Granby - Newcastle Environment Committee a budget amount of $6,450.00. The intent of this budgeted amount was to offset the costs of environmental projects as well as miscellaneous operating costs. All expenditure claims were processed and approved through the Mayor's office. As of the writing of this report, the Committee had made expenditure claims of approximately $600.00. In addition to the above budget allocation, the Committee received a $1,000.00 grant from Council to be spend on offsetting the costs of the Annual Environmental Fair. ...5 REPORT NO.: PD- 7 -94 PAGE 5 4. PROPOSED DURHAM REGION ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE 4.1 The 1991 Durham Regional Official Plan, states in Policy 2.2.3: "Regional Council shall investigate the establishment of an advisory body on the environment to assist with environmental planning matters." Regional Planning staff have been conducting the above investigation and a related report to Regional Planning Committee will be forwarded soon. 4.2 A Regional Environmental Advisory Committee will in some ways duplicate the efforts of a Clarington Environmental Advisory Committee. However, a committee at the Regional level may not be adequate to deal with local needs, particularly in those areas where environmental projects are initiated at the local level, eg. waste reduction efforts, the Environmental Fair and other local projects related to environmental education. 4.3 From the perspective of providing inputs and technical expertise on major environmental issues, a Regional Environmental Advisory Committee has definite merits in that the Region can draw on the entire Region's population to seek out qualified volunteers to sit on such a committee to provide qualified and sound advice to the Region. For example, areas of expertise represented on the Niagara Region EAC include: hydrogeology, botany, aquatic biology, chemistry and environmental impact assessment. Clarington could, like other municipalities in the Region, benefit from the advice of such a Regional Committee without the need to establish a committee of its own just for the purpose of seeking advice on environmental issues. 5. CONSULTATION PROCESS 5.1 In summary, staff having reviewed the subject matter up to this point, decided that meetings with the various ...6 REPORT NO.: PD- 7 -94 PAGE 6 stakeholders were necessary in order to obtain their viewpoints with respect to the various details of such an Environmental Advisory Committee. In this regard, meetings were held with the following individuals during November and December of 1993: • Mr. John Veldhuis - Port Granby- Newcastle Environment Committee • Ms. Katherine Guselle - S.A.G.A. • Mrs. Helen MacDonald - Port Granby- Newcastle Environment Committee • Mrs. Esther Allin - Durham Region Field Naturalists • Mr. Normunds Berzins - Committee of Clarke Constituents • Mrs. Mavis Carlton - Port Darlington Community Association 5.2 At the above meetings the following major issues were discussed: • Membership • Purpose and Mandate • Operating Budget • Role of the Existing Organization The viewpoints of the above individuals were summarized as follows: 5.2.1 Membership There seemed to be a general consensus among the individuals that: • membership for the Committee should be advertised in local newspapers with the initial selection process screened by Planning staff who will make a recommendation to Council for appointment; • all appointees should be volunteers; REPORT NO.: PD- 7 -94 PAGE 7 • Committee size should be between 11 -13 including two (2) Members of Council; • appointments would be staggered through time to maintain continuity. The suggested formula calls for one -third members be appointed for one year, one third for 2 years, and one third for a 3 year term. After the first two years of inception of the Committee, all members will be appointed on a 3 year term; • Council representatives could neither chair the Committee nor vote on the Committee's decisions; • the Committee chair would be appointed by its members with the chair rotating on an annual basis; • membership should be selected from citizens or property owners from all parts of the municipality. 5.2.2 Mandate There seemed to be a general consensus among the individuals that: • the existing Port Granby Environment Committee should be dissolved by Council; • a new Environment Committee would act in an advisory capacity and provide Council with comments or recommendations touching on environmental issues including major development applications or applications that may impact on the environment; • the Committee would provide comments on environmental issues either referred to it by Council or by the Planning Department or to provide unsolicited comments; • the Committee would undertake environmental projects such as environmental fair, waste reduction etc.; • the Committee would perform a public education role regarding environmental issues; • the Committee would report directly to Council on a regular basis including submission of minutes of meeting to Council for information; and • every Department should identify a contact /liaison person who will attend the Committee's meeting upon request. ...8 REPORT NO.: PD- 7 -94 PAGE 8 5.2.3 Operating Budget The general consensus was that the Committee should be given sufficient funding to operate, particularly to cover out of pocket expenses. However, there were diverging viewpoints as to what should be paid for by the Municipality such as clerical support, stationary, phone charges, mileage reimbursement, conference/ seminar etc. Atithe meeting held in December, staff requested the individuals to summarize their budget request and have yet to receive this information as of writing of this report. 5.2.4 Role of Existing Organizations Consensus of the individuals indicate that a Council appointed Environmental Committee should not supersede or replace any functions or mandates of any existing citizen organization. They believe that each organization has an important role to play in the Municipality particularly due to their "grass- roots" nature. They view the Environmental Committee being a central forum for the purpose of information exchange and sharing of environmental issue discussions. They do not believe that a Council appointed Environmental Committee would duplicate the efforts of the existing "grass- roots" organizations. 6. STAFF COMMENTS: The information provided in this report is intended to assist Council to determine whether or not an Environmental Advisory Committee or a Committee similar to it should be formed. There are pros and cons to the issue. The viewpoints of the individuals have been detailed for Council's deliberation. If Council is in agreement to establish an Environmental Committee, staff suggest that Council should review each and ...9 Z -10 9 REPORT NO.: PD -7 -94 PAGE 9 every item contained in Section 5.2 of this Report and provide specific direction and /or terms of reference to such a Committee. In the event that Council supports establishing this Committee, Staff will assist and /or provide direction as required to the Committee. Alternatively, Council could form such an environmental committee on a trial basis for a couple of years to evaluate its effectiveness. In the event Council does not wish to set up an Environmental Committee at this time, Council still needs to address the question of the continuous existence of the Port - Granby Environmental Committee. It is staff's view that this Committee should be dissolved regardless. In accordance with Council's direction, staff researched the subject matter, met with the individuals on several occasions, summarized their viewpoints, all of which are presented in this Report for the information and consideration of Council. Respectfully submitted, Franklin Wu, M.C.I.P. Director of Planning and Development BR* FW *jip 12 January 1994 Recommended for presentation to the Committee ...10 IN . INTERESTED PARTIES TO BE NOTIFIED OF COMMITTEE AND COUNCILS DECISION: John Veldhuis Box 16, 3 Division St. Hampton, Ontario LOB 1J0 Katherine Guselle 45 Connaught St. Oshawa, Ontario L1G 2H1 Hugh Peacock 499 Stone St. Oshawa, Ontario L1J 1A4 Helen MacDonald R.R. #1 Newtonville, Ontario LOA 1J0 Mr. Normunds Berzins Box 20028 Newcastle, Ontario L1B 1M3 Mrs. Mavis Carlton R.R. #2 Group 2, Box 14 Bowmanville, Ontario L1C 3K3