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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-05-16 Minutes SUSTAINABLE CLARINGTON COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE Minutes of Meeting of May 16, 2013, 7:00 P.M. MEZZANINE ROOM Present: Michael Patrick, Committee Chair Neil Allin Mike Dymarski Suzanne Elston Councillor Hooper Allan Hewitt Lorraine Jones Kerry Meydam Absent: Mayor Foster Also Present: Curry Clifford, Corporate Initiatives Officer Allan Hewitt attended the meeting until 8:20 p.m. 1. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION Committee Chair Michael Patrick welcomed members. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF APRIL 18, 2013 MEETING Moved by Moved by Suzanne Elston and seconded by Kerry Meydam that the minutes of the April 18, 2013 meeting be approved. CARRIED 3. BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES The Committee had before them letters from Municipal Clerk Patti Barrie to the Directors of the Catholic and the Public school boards serving Clarington asking that they advise her if a student at one of their schools is interested in joining the Committee. This request arose from direction from the Council at its April 29, 2013 meeting following the request by the Committee arising from its April 18, 2013 meeting. The Committee discussed the matter and asked that Curry Clifford request Patti Barrie to ask the Directors to in turn direct the request to co-ordinators of environment and or sustainability education programs. Sustainable Clarington -2- May 16, 2013 Community Advisory Committee 4. COMMITTEE TASK #1: PRIORITIZE THE SUGGESTIONS FROM THE 2010 GREEN COMMITTEE STRATEGY The Committee had before them a report from Curry Clifford summarizing the results of the members' prioritization of the 2010 suggestions. After discussion of the report, the Committee determined that it would seek to meet with representatives of organizations that could assist it to better understand the key next steps being undertaken to advance the following priorities: 1. Promoting active and healthy modes of transportation, including planning and implementing pedestrian and bicycle transportation links within and between communities and the ancillary services to make this feasible including creating a local map of trails, bike repair shops, etc. and requiring bicycle parking as part of new commercial and multi residential developments. 2. Encouraging energy efficiency in the design of new buildings and neighbourhoods, including accelerating the planning and building permit process for these types of developments (that require fewer public and private resources to build and maintain) and for re-development of Brownfield and Greyfield sites (especially for reasons of protecting farmland). 3. Fostering the establishment of community gardens, orchards and edible landscaping. 4. Expanding the planning, maintenance and care of native species of plants on public lands and educating the community about native species and urban ecosystems. 5. Encouraging water saving in new as well as existing developments. 6. Educating the business community on sustainability, including education about how to: take full advantage of recycling programs; select products with reduced packaging; "go green" in business operations and the energy conservation audits, sustainability programs and incentives available for this purpose; attract green businesses and green jobs to the community and inventory this; encourage residents to shop locally; encourage farmers markets success. 7. Reducing or eliminating in municipal facilities the use of products, chemicals or compounds that negatively affect human health. 8. Communicating strategically to residents and businesses the range of existing programs available to Clarington residents and businesses that help them live and do business in more sustainable ways. Sustainable Clarington -3- May 16, 2013 Community Advisory Committee 5. COMMITTEE TASK # 2: DESCRIPTION OF CURRENT ACTION TO IMPLEMENT PRIORITIES AND SUGGESTED FURTHER STEPS TO BEST IMPLEMENT PRIORITIES. DISCUSSION OF KEY PEOPLE THE COMMITTEE NEEDS TO MEET WITH, CRITICAL INFORMATION TO GATHER TO COMPLETE TASK #2 The Committee identified the following parties that could assist in addressing each of the eight priorities as follows. For: • Item 1: Municipality of Clarington park development, transportation planning, land-use planning policy and communications staff and Durham Region Health staff. • Item 2: Municipality of Clarington land use planning policy and engineering staff • Item 3: Municipality of Clarington operations staff, Durham Integrated Gardens (DIG), Horticulture Societies, Landscape Ontario • Item 4: Municipality of Clarington operations, land-use planning and park development staff, Conservation Authorities, Bowmanville Valleys 2000, Wilmot Nature Area Advisory Committee • Item 5: Municipality of Clarington land use planning policy staff, Durham Region Works Department staff • Item 6: Clarington Board of Trade, BIAs, Durham Sustain Ability (Partners in Project Green), Region of Durham Sustainability Unit; Durham Farm Fresh; Clarington Agriculture Advisory Committee • Item 7: Municipality of Clarington operations, community services and purchasing staff • Item 8: Municipality of Clarington communications staff, Region of Durham Works Department, Sustainability Unit and communications staff; Ontario Eco Schools program. 6. COMMITTEE TASK #3: RECOMMEND OTHER ACTIONS TO FOSTER A COMMUNITY-WIDE CULTURE OF SUSTAINABILITY IN CLARINGTON — PRELIMINARY DISCUSSION AND CONSOLIDATION OF "PARKING LOT" ITEMS Members noted items to consider here include: • Establishing measureable expected results of actions proposed • Recommending climate adaption measures, aside from any climate mitigation measures, e.g., ability to feed ourselves, build resilience • Developing a strong communications strategy so Clarington residents and businesses are well aware of information, tools and resources that will assist them to fully partake in and contribute to the desired culture • Enhancing community engagement through building awareness, planning communicating and, like with successful municipal change management, e.g., New York City, direct community involvement in implementing specific initiatives that contribute to a culture of sustainability, including among school aged children Sustainable Clarington -4- May 16, 2013 Community Advisory Committee • Encouraging critical thinking within the community to assess opportunities and threats • Enhanced responsibility for individual behaviour that is a threat to sustainability, e.g., throwing empty beer bottles and garbage into farm fields. 7. DISCUSSION OF MECHANISMS FOR SHARING DOCUMENTS ON SUSTAINABILITY The Committee determined that it would share documents through "Google Docs" and members were asked to send materials and links to Curry Clifford who would notify members how to access materials. 8. DISCUSSION OF SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS: The Committee had before it a schedule of meetings the third Thursday of each month up to September 18, 2014 and agreed to meet on those dates with the exception of the third Thursday in December, when it would seek to meet on the second Thursday (Dec 12th) instead subject to availability of the Mezzanine room which Curry Clifford was asked to confirm. Committee members agreed that the purposes of the meetings set out in that schedule would guide its work and that in particular it would seek to present its recommendations on Task#1 and #2 at the November 4th Council meeting. 9. OTHER BUSINESS Committee members discussed the need to have information on the various provincial legislation affecting sustainability in Clarington and asked that Curry Clifford research this matter and provide this information to members. Committee members had before them an eight page submission, provided at the meeting, from John Stephenson titled "The `Exportland' Model and `Export Capacity Index"'. Mr. Stephenson briefly discussed it with the Committee, noting that the very near future could see a significant shortage in liquid fuel. The Committee thanked Mr Stephenson for his submission and advised him that they would review it and consider what action to take. 9. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:49 p.m.