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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPD-115-95THE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON DN RESTRUC GPA REPORT Meeting. General Purpose and Administration Committee Fiie # 15 -- Date: Monday, October 23, 1995 Res. #G - �D C S Report #: PD- 115 -95 File #: PLN 17 2 By -law # - Subject- RESTRUCTURING RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN ONTARIO IMPLEMENTING - BLUEPRINT FILE: PLN 17.2 Recommendations: 1. THAT Report PD- 115 -95 be received; 2. THAT Report PD- 115 -95 be adopted as the position of the Municipality of Clarington on the report entitled, "Restructuring Resource Management in Ontario, Implementing - Blueprint "; and, 3 THAT Report PD- 115 -95 be forwarded to the Minister of Natural Resources, the Association of Conservation Authorities of Ontario (ACAO), the Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority, the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority, the Kawartha Region Conservation Authority and the Region of Durham Planning Department. 1. PURPOSE OF REPORT 1.1 In a letter dated September 18, 1995, the Kawartha Region Conservation Authority asked the Municipality to provide comments on a document entitled This document is entitled, Restructuring Resource Management In Ontario Implementing - Blueprint. It succeeds two documents reported on earlier by Staff in PD- 143 -93 and which are briefly described below. 2. BACKGROUND 2.1 On October 18, 1993 Staff presented Report PD- 143 -93 to the General Purpose and Administration Committee This report summarized two reports prepared by the Association of Conservation Authorities of Ontario (ACAO) 545 REPORT NO. PD- 115 -95 PAGE 2 • Restructuring Resource Management In Ontario - A Blueprint for Success • Restructuring Resources Management in Ontario - Documenting the Opportunity 2.2 These documents drew attention to the problems in natural resources management such as public funds being wasted and natural resources being inadequately managed Many of the problems were due to overlap and confusion between agency mandates and programs To solve these problems, the ACAO proposed the adoption of a one window approach entitled - "Blueprint for Success" Under this approach, service delivery responsibilities would be undertaken locally by Conservation Authorities and Municipalities. Provincial agencies would remove themselves from service delivery. 23 In PD- 143 -93, Staff noted that it was difficult to fully endorse the ACAO submissions, although, the Municipality did endorse the concept of a stream -lined and improved system for managing the natural environment The report further stated that the ACAO submissions should be used by the province, municipalities and conservation authorities as a first step in implementing an improved system for resource management 3. SUMMARY OF: RESTRUCTURING RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN ONTARIO IMPLEMENTING - BLUEPRINT 31 The ACAO has taken the "Blueprint" concept further and shown how it can be implemented by using a natural resource management approach called "Community Based Watershed Conservation" (CBWC). This model is practical and provides the best opportunity to achieve financial savings, improve service and ensure natural resources are well managed in the future. 3.2 With this approach the province establishes policy direction, but the policy implementation is undertaken locally. The types of conservation services to be undertaken by the local level is divided into four categories !/ A • REPORT NO.: PD- 115 -95 PAGE 3 3.2.1 Resource Planning Services Under the CBWC approach, local agencies would develop and provide the resource base required to implement resource conservation at the local level. Some activities would include the study of natural resource features, development of resource management strategies and monitoring of features. 3.2.2 Watershed Management Services CBWC is based on an enhanced level of community responsibility for resource conservation. The watershed management services provides support to the community and helps them arrive at good resource management decisions These services include education, advisory services, etc 3.2.3 Regulatory Services There are currently a wide range of regulatory approvals required for activities that have the potential to impact on natural resources While some degree of regulation is necessary, the current system is confusing and unduly onerous. Under the CBWC approach, these regulatory approvals would be streamlined and consolidated by administering them at the local level 3.2.4 Conservation Land Management Services Public ownership of conservation lands is an important tool in the overall management of natural resources Under CBWC, the local level would assume responsibility for identifying these lands and ensuring that they are protected and effectively managed The local agencies would also decide what uses are wanted and how they should be provided. 4. VARIOUS ROLES UNDER CBWC MODEL 4.1 Provincial Role The role of the Provincial Ministries in CBWC would be to provide a support structure for service delivery at the local level. Some activities would include. establishing policy direction, research and support, developing provincial strategies, monitoring, etc 547 REPORT NO.: PD- 115 -95 PAGE 4 4.2 Municipal Role Under the CBWC approach, Municipal Governments would become increasingly involved in resource conservation. The primary mechanism to be used at the municipal level is the land use planning process Through this process, municipalities would have approval control, and the watershed plans or strategies would be advisory and supportive documents to this planning process 4.3 Conservation Authorities Role The basic responsibility of conservation authorities would be to deal with issues that must be handled on a watershed basis and provide support and advice for decisions that can be made at the Municipal Level. Essentially they would become a bridge between Provincial policy and Municipal decision making, rather than a separate administrative layer 5. IMPLEMENTING COMMUNITY BASED RESOURCE CONSERVATION 5.1 Progress to Date Although the Conservation Authorities were unable to generate provincial government interest in the "Blueprint" proposals, they have been working for the past two years to put some of the proposals into effect at the local level Activities that Conservation Authorities have undertaken include • negotiated bilateral agreements with other resource management agencies to remove duplication and improve efficiency of service delivery, • revised their programs to better address emerging resource management problems; • reviewed their own structures and taken initial steps toward restructuring as will be required by the CBWC (e g,, amalgamating 5 conservation authorities), 548 REPORT NO.: PD- 115 -95 PAGE 5 • established a joint AMO (Association of Municipalities of Ontario) - ACAO Task Force on Resource Conservation to discuss restructuring 5.2 2 -4 -1 Plan Modest progress is being made at the local level, however, Provincial commitment is required to move the CBWC concept forward more aggressively and deliberately The ACAO believes that a transition to the CBWC model is complicated, but possible with the 2 -4 -1 plan. This plan proposes that, within 2 months of acceptance of this proposal by the Province, CBWC would be operational in 4 pilot watersheds. Within 1 year, Conservation Authorities would commit to being ready to implement across the Province In order to implement the 2 -4 -1 Plan, it would be necessary to follow specific steps. • agreement in principle between the Province and ACAO on CBWC, • initiation of pilot watersheds, • allowing a transition period for refining the CBWC model - conservation authority reform - provincial restructuring - long term funding - assess applicability in remainder of province 6. STAFF COMMENTS Staff supports the point made by the ACAO that the current system of managing natural resources is inadequate and in need of reform. In August 1995, Staff produced a document entitled "Public Consultation Report 7" which reviewed all of the submissions made regarding the Draft Official Plan. This report clearly indicates that the Municipality's Official Plan will contain policies which are in support of watershed planning Three relevant recommendations from this report which were later adopted by Council are 549 REPORT NO - PD- 115 -95 PAGE 6 3 -1 That the Official Plan require the preparation of subwatershed plans rather than Master Drainage Plans prior to the approval of plans of subdivision or other urban development applications. 3 -3 That the Official Plan indicate the Municipality's support for participation in multi - stakeholder watershed planning studies. 3 -4 That the Official Plan clearly identify that the Municipality will undertake subwatershed studies, in co- operation with the Region, the Conservation Authority and the Ministry of Natural Resources, for urbanizing sub - watersheds subject to satisfactory cost - sharing arrangements Respectfully submitted, Reviewed by, Franklin Wu, M C I.P., R.P.P. W.H. Stockwell Director of Planning Chief Administrative and Development Officer TH *DC *FW *df 13 October 1995 Attachment #1 Letter from Ian D Macnab (Kawartha Region Conservation Authority) �, �n J �attag;e rah 14 A iQP 4�0 � Z *0 10 IRV Kenrei Park Road R.R. #1 Lindsay, Ontario K9V 4R1 705- 328 -2271 Fax: 705-328-2286 1- 800 - 668 -KRCA Incorporated on October 31,197P bfember !Municipalities. Township of Bexley Village of Bobcaygcon Township of Brock Township of Cavan ",umcipality of Clarington Township of Eldon Township of Ernily Township of Fcnelon Village of Fenelon Falls Townships of Galway & Cavendish Township of Harvey Town of Lindsay Township of Manvcrs Tow nship of Manposa Village of omemee To a nship of Ops To »nship of Scugog Township of Sommille Village of Sturgeon Point Township of Verulam September 18, 1995 Municipality of Clarington 40 Temperance Street Bowmanville, Ontario L1C 3A6 ATTN: Ms. Patti Barrie, Clerk • Attachment t 1 J5 .✓ .titt s P�s�y'elyd,,rfaltirh,�r�,i RE: Restructuring Resource Management in Ontario Implementing - Blueprint Dear Ms. Barrie: The attached ACAO document, dated August 24, 1995, was presented to the Authority Board on September 13th. In accordance with the Board's directive it is circulated to Council for information and comment. It \wou�d be greatly appreciated if the views of Council could be reported prior to the next regular schedules Authority meeting of October 25th. To fully understand the thrust of the document, it must be read in its entirety. The document is summarized as follows; * it allows local communities to have more control over how their watershed resources are managed; * it will deliver integrated services at the local level, based on community need and priorities; * it protects Provincial interests without the need for direct Provincial involvement in service delivery; * it can be implemented without new legislation, or changes to existing legislation: * it will save money by reducing the public sector's role through consolidation of agency functions and moving resource management out to the local communities and private sector; and, * it will ensure resources are managed on a sustainable basis for present and future social and economic benefit. 2 reciclod paper ■ 551 1 - 2 - A key component of the document is the municipal role (Section 3.5). Municipalities, through the land use planning process, are a prime mechanism for resource conservation efforts. If municipalities have approval control through land use planning, then watershed plans or strategies are advisory and supportive to this planning process. It is envisioned that municipalities would participate in watershed scale decision making through direction of their conservation authority representative. Your careful consideration of the document is respectfully sought. Your comments and indication as to whether or not Council supports the document is much appreciated. Yours very truly Ian D. PIacnab General Manager/ Secretary- Treasurer IDM /pk Encl. — -- -- __ a 552