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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-07-18 Minutes SUSTAINABLE CLARINGTON COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE Minutes of Meeting of July 18, 2013, 7:00 P.M. BOARDROOM 1A Present: Neil Allin Mike Dymarski Suzanne Elston Councillor Hooper Lorraine Jones Kerry Meydam Kira Nowick Absent: Michael Patrick Mayor Foster Allan Hewitt Also Present: Curry Clifford, Corporate Initiatives Officer 1. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION Committee Vice Chair Suzanne Elston chaired the meeting. The Committee welcomed the new youth member of the Committee, Kira Nowick who introduced herself. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JUNE 20, 2013 MEETING Moved by Mike Dymarski and seconded by Lorraine Jones that the minutes of the June 20, 2013 meeting be approved. Carried. 3. BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES There were no items raised on this section of the agenda. 4. COMMITTEE TASK #2: 4.c. On the request of invited guest Rob Groen, Building Services Supervisor, Operations Department, the Committee determined that it would first discuss item 4c on the agenda: Priority item # 7: Reducing or eliminating in municipal facilities the use of products, chemicals and compounds that negatively affect human health. The Committee had before them a report to Clarington's General Purpose and Administration Committee dated April 19, 2010 (Report # CSD-003-10), and approved by Council April 26, 2010 regarding Fragrance Free Recreation Facilities. That report indicated that "The Community Services Department will be adopting a voluntary Sustainable Clarington -2- July 18, 2013 Community Advisory Committee compliance- scent free status and undertaking an education campaign within the facility to encourage the use of scent free products. While the specific request referenced the change rooms of the fitness centre, staff believes in this case that future situations could occur in pool change rooms, arena dressing rooms as well as within the general facility." Suzanne Elston noted that consideration should be given to expanding the scope of such a policy as the City of Oshawa has done by applying the policy to City Hall. Specifically, City staff have been asked to eliminate or reduce the scented products they use while at work. She distributed a City of Oshawa bulletin about this. She also noted a concern with any other products, chemicals and compounds that negatively affect human health such as cleaning chemicals and that consideration be given to adopting a "green clean" policy. Mr. Goern explained that the Clarington's policy distributed to the Committee applies to facilities managed by the Community Services Department. He noted that the Operations Department, responsible for other municipal facilities, similarly responds on a customer complaint basis to address any concerns raised and the only complaint received in recent years was about sensitivity to a lemon scent in a cleaning product used in the Municipal Administration Centre and its use was immediately discontinued. Mr. Clifford was asked what action the Committee needed take on this matter. He advised that no specific action was required as the Committee had identified that "Reducing or eliminating in municipal facilities the use of products, chemicals and compounds that negatively affect human health" was one of its eight priorities to present to Council November 4 th Moved by Kerry Meydam, and there was no seconder, that the Committee recommend to Council that Clarington develop a policy restricting in municipal facilities the use of products, chemicals and compounds that negatively affect human health. Carried. 4.a. Discussion with guests on priority item #3: fostering establishment of community gardens, orchards and edible landscaping. The Committee met with: Bob Genosko, Parks Supervisor, Operations Department, Clarington Brian Kelly, Manager of Sustainability, Region of Durham Marry Drummond, Volunteer and Co-ordinator, Durham Integrated Growers William Heathcote, Treasurer and Volunteer, Bowmanville Allotment Garden Vincent Powers, Treasurer and Volunteer, Bowmanville Ecology Garden The Committee had before them responses to their 10 questions from the latter 4 guests. They also had before them a report to Clarington's General Purpose and Administration Committee dated June 27, 2011 (Report # OPD-006-11), and accepted by Council July 11, 2011 regarding community gardens. The report recommended that 1150 Haines Street be developed as a community garden, accommodating up to 500 plot holders. The report also identified two other potential sites: 181 Liberty Street South adjacent to the Tourism Information Bureau (100 plots) and 285 West Beach Road at the Bowmanville Sustainable Clarington -3- July 18, 2013 Community Advisory Committee Boat Launch (175 plots). (The former has since been developed as a community garden.) Key items in the Report and reflected in an attached agreement document between the Municipality and community gardening groups included: • "the garden is expected to be developed and maintained at no direct costs to the Municipality" • "the Collective (garden group) will provide proof and maintain at least $5,000,000 liability insurance..." • "produce grown shall be for personal consumption/use and not for private profit." Mr Heathcote noted that he is satisfied with the Municipality's involvement in the Bowmanville Allotment Garden, that the site was chosen by the community, there have been no problems with vandalism or signage and 40 of the 500 garden plots are under cultivation. He noted that the lack of piped water does not completely meet the group's needs but the group has benefitted from a donation by a water supply company and this is one of several donations it has received, including for ploughing, compost, hay and wood chips. Mr. Kelly explained that the "Urban Agriculture Program" is one of five priority programs of 18 potential programs of the Region of Durham Climate Change Local Action Plan. The objective of this program is to develop a region-wide program to promote community gardens and urban agriculture activities. The work on this program is just beginning and includes the Durham Food Policy Council gathering information on existing policies and programs in Durham area municipalities and examining similar programs in other municipalities. The review is to identify barriers to action which are expected to include: availability of public and private land, costs born by garden groups and land use zoning restrictions. A report is expected from this council in September. The Committee noted appreciation for the program examining practices in other jurisdictions. Ms. Drummond explained the work of Durham Integrated Growers (DIG), which is currently awaiting not-for-profit designation and has over the course of the last 14 years worked to "create an environment in Durham Region where urban agriculture in the broad sense can flourish." DIG describes its work as including: "community garden mentoring, encouraging urban entrepreneurs, workshops/education, community garden tours (Coordinator's tour in 2013), establishing the "You Grow Durham Fund", liaison with municipalities, mentoring, Sharing Backyards program; Table Talks; urban farms; advocacy; connecting individuals and groups (projects, plot availability), advising on policy development; identifying gaps and helping promote urban agriculture initiatives in Durham Region." DIG reports that its vision and mission have recently been endorsed by the Region of Durham and that it is working with the Durham Region Roundtable on Climate Change regarding the latter's objectives on urban agriculture. Ms. Drummond indicated she had comments on items in the Municipality's community gardens agreement that were reflective of DIG's experience with community gardens and would like the opportunity to share this in greater detail, but noted concern with the three Sustainable Clarington -4- July 18, 2013 Community Advisory Committee key features of the Municipality's approach (described above), including: • that the garden is expected to be developed and maintained at no direct costs to the Municipality, noting that the municipality has to come alongside these projects for them to be successful, including paying for such features as fencing where it is necessary. • that the garden group will provide proof and maintain at least $5,000,000 liability insurance, noting that in other Durham municipalities, the municipality pays for the cost of the insurance • that produce grown shall be for personal consumption/use and not for private profit, noting that such a policy can remove an incentive for skill development as some people can potentially use the gardens to grow produce to generate income. Moved by Kerry Meydam, and there was no seconder, that the Committee recommend to Council that the Municipality of Clarington investigate the community gardening policies of other Durham Region area municipalities. Carried. Mr. Heathcote noted that water for their community garden is an issue, but an issue that that the group can manage, that if the Municipality could extend its insurance that would permit the group to use its resources for other purposes, that it currently is paying for portable toilets and that it is grateful for the Municipality's and the donors' assistance. Ms. Drummond noted that DIG gardeners have donated some 7,000 pounds of produce each year in the last three years that they have grown in the community gardens. Mr. Heathcote noted that his group is interested in sponsoring a community group, donating produce and have approached some churches about this but no arrangements have been made to date. Mr. Powers noted that Bowmanville Ecology Garden was started in 1989 but needed to relocate from the Bowmanville High School recently. Access to piped water and high public visibility were key criteria for the group in re-locating to its new site at 181 Liberty Street South adjacent to the Tourism Information Bureau. 12 plots are in use of the 65 available. He expressed appreciation for the Municipality's assistance, indicated he had gone on a tour of community gardens with DIG, that it is important for the community gardening groups themselves to grow based on local needs and preferences rather than "top-down" direction and that he would be supportive of municipal assistance with insurance and Ms. Drummond's point about the gardens providing opportunities for skills development. The Committee raised with the guests how to make residents more aware of the community gardens given the seemingly low participation rate relative to the number of garden plots available. Ms. Drummond noted that one way to build interest would be for the Municipality to note it on its website. She also noted though that Pickering has some 75 gardeners and Ajax some 65 so Clarington's participation rate is about on average and larger numbers of gardeners creates greater overall garden maintenance and co- ordination burdens for the volunteers. Sustainable Clarington -5- July 18, 2013 Community Advisory Committee 4.a Discussion with guests on priority item #4: expanding planning and care of native species of plants on public lands and educating the community about native plants and urban ecosystems. The Committee met with: Patricia Lowe, Director, Watershed Stewardship, Education & Communications, Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority (CLOCA) Pam Lancaster, Stewardship Technician, Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority Brian Kelly, Manager of Sustainability, Region of Durham Kevin Anyan, Volunteer, Bowmanville Valleys 2000 Bob Genosko, Parks Supervisor, Operations Department, Clarington The Committee had before them responses to their 10 questions from the first 4 guests. They also had before them public communications material from the Conservation Authorities, including descriptions of their programs, maps of watersheds and budget summaries as well as material from Peter Windolf, Park Development Manager, Engineering Department, Clarington concerning the Municipality's policies and practices about planting on road allowances, natural areas and parks. Ms. Lowe explained the work of CLOCA on this priority item in Clarington, which includes: acquiring land in support of the Natural Heritage System model with Long Sault and Enniskillen Valley especially a focus to enhance Stephen's Gulch Conservation Area, bringing to 1,574.77 the number of hectares of public land owned by CLOCA in Clarington; planting, with the help of community volunteers, approximately 20,000 native trees and shrubs on these lands as well as restoring tall grass prairie, wetland habitat, reforestation, conversion of marginal agricultural land, creating naturalized wildlife linkages and actively managing invasive species of plants; planning the management of watersheds to ensure future generations benefit from a healthy and sustainable natural environment, a watershed curriculum education program for Grades 1 to 12 at each of the Conservation Areas and an indoor/outdoor classroom at Enniskillen Education Centre; monitoring the state of vegetation, wildlife and fish to determine risks and effective stewardship practices; work with the Municipality and local community groups to restore natural areas, including Hampton Pond, Black Creek and Farewell Creek. Ms.Lowe noted that to advance this Committee priority, in addition to the actions above, the key actions include: protecting the Oak Ridges Moraine and the Geenbelt; providing incentives for private landowners; providing education and training for private landowners, including through demonstration sites. When asked about the effects of climate change she noted that one of the larger impacts is the spread of invasive species of vegetation and that current ecology does not effectively control these. Ms. Lancaster explained the work of the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority on this priority item in Clarington, which includes: managing the Ganaraska Forest; providing over 900 trees under the Trees for Rural Roads program in 2012 to private landowners to plant along rural roads on their property with the assistance of CLOCA and the Municipality; planting 330 trees and shrubs in Orono Park in 2013; managing the planning and restoration of lands associated with the Port Granby Waste Management site; planting approximately 13,200 native trees across the whole of the Authority's area; Sustainable Clarington -6- July 18, 2013 Community Advisory Committee providing financial and technical assistance under the Clean Water-Healthy Land Financial Assistance Program to allow landowners to better steward their lands that touch the watersheds of Wilmot Creek, Graham Creek, North Ganaraska River and the smaller watersheds of Lake Ontario (31 stewardship projects were undertaken in 2012 across the whole of the Authority's area); the planning, policy development and education programs like CLOCA's described earlier as well as a water conservation garden in Cobourg that demonstrates water conservation techniques (mulch), products (hydomedia, eco-grid, rain barrels) and native drought tolerant and pollinator plants. The Committee raised with Ms. Lancaster if there are strategies to prevent the spread of invasive species of plants and was advised that there are no prevention strategies to date beyond good stewardship practices. Committee members also asked how success is measured in this Committee priority and were advised that factors like the number of trees planted and acres of wetlands restored are some measures, and effectiveness of education programs is more difficult to measure. Mr. Kelly explained that the "Durham Five Million Trees Program" is also another one of the five priority programs of 18 potential programs of the Region of Durham Climate Change Local Action Plan. A program strategy is scheduled to go before Regional Council in September and then to be developed into a full program proposal for subsequent approval by Regional Council and potentially by area municipal councils. Trees Ontario has been confirmed as the Program Delivery Agent. Land Survey work is about to be initiated. The objective of this program is to plant 5 million trees, averaging 500,000 trees per year starting in 2014 (this is in addition to existing tree planting programs in Durham) at a cost of $3 per tree for a total of $15 million. Benefits include: sequestering carbon dioxide (about 450 kg of CO2 net per mature tree), shade, temperature moderation, improved air quality, water retention, land stabilization and wildlife habitat. If achieved, this would require about 1% of the land in Durham and increase the tree cover from 26% to 27%. The Official Plan target is 30%. Clarington's share of the number of trees is to be determined. A funding strategy is being developed with sources intended to include: corporate sponsorships, a "Family Trees" (individual donation), the Regional Government and the area municipalities with area municipalities also asked to provide land for tree planting. Mr. Anyan explained the work of Bowmanville Valleys 2000 started just before the year 2000 with the goal of developing pathways along the Bowmanville Valley whose lands are owned by the Municipality and private landowners (CLOCA is not a landowner in this area). Work was lead by volunteers Al Strike (recently deceased) and Frank Lockhart who continues to provide significant volunteer time leading the work as well as undertaking tree planting. The group's work has grown into ecological and watershed management, reforestation and major infrastructure projects like the fish ladder. Mr. Anyan indicated concern with the absence of more significant Municipal involvement in the planning and governance of the area, noting that the Municipality discontinued its representation on the Valleys 2000 Board. The Municipality has provided funding in the past and Valleys 2000 did not request funding in the 2013 municipal budget. He noted that absence of involvement Sustainable Clarington -7- July 18, 2013 Community Advisory Committee means a lost opportunity to promote the tourism potential, including the ability to attract cyclists, hikers or people who just would travel to a destination to walk through a natural environment. He raised concerns both with long term planning (no connectivity of trails) and ongoing maintenance, e.g., garbage collection repair of paths. The Committee discussed the importance of the issues raised and asked Mr. Clifford about scheduling a separate discussion on trails and paths and inviting Valleys 2000 to meet with them. Mr Clifford indicated, and the Committee accepted, that the item be discussed at its September 19th meeting when it is to discuss its priority 1- planning and implementing pedestrian and bicycle transportation links within and between communities. Valleys 2000, he suggested, and the Committee accepted, could be invited to that meeting. 5. COMMITTEE TASK # 3: ANY ITEMS COMMITTEE MEMBERS WISH TO RAISE There were no items raised on this section of the agenda. 6. OTHER BUSINESS: Mr. Kelly presented a slide presentation about the Region of Durham Climate Change Local Action Plan. As noted earlier, there are 18 potential programs. These were developed by the Durham Region Roundtable on Climate Change (DRRCC). The Roundtable includes Regional Councillors, Staff and citizens. It reports to Joint Committee of Regional Council which in turn reports to Durham Regional Council. He noted that included in that Plan are the following eight potential programs relating to the Committee's priorities, including • Active Transportation and Transit (Committee Priority (CP)1) • Durham Green Building Guidelines (CP2 and 5) • Urban Agriculture Program (CP3) • Durham Five Million Trees (CP4) • Durham Partners in Project Green (CP5 and 6) • Comprehensive Residential Retrofit (CP5) • Local Food Hub (CP6) • Climate Education Program (CP8) The other 10 potential programs that are included in the Region's Local Action Plan include: • Green Affordable Housing • Smart Grid Initiative • Off Shore Wind Power Generation • Durham Mini-Deep Lake Water Cooling • Durham Biofuels Program Sustainable Clarington -8- July 18, 2013 Community Advisory Committee • Bio-Methane Production and Use • Farm Friendly Regulations • Durham Freecycle Program • Durham Green Procurement Guideline • Community Climate Fund Mr. Kelly provided tables indicating the estimated environmental, economic and social impacts of each of the 18 potential programs. He indicated that there will be further consultation with municipal partners and community institutions. Mr. Clifford indicated that included in the Committee's agenda package was a note of July 8th from him to the Committee for their information summarizing and attaching documents on sustainability from the Planning Services Department that illustrate how sustainability is integrated into the Municipality's planning policies. Kira Nowick raised with the Conservation Authority representatives what opportunities may be available for the Authorities to bring their programming to the schools as opposed to students coming to the Authorities' facilities, especially in light of the ecology garden that her High School group has helped develop in her high school. Ms. Lancaster indicated an interest in further discussion about this and it was noted that Eco schools program may also offer a means to advance this and that at the September 19th meeting this is to be discussed as part of Priority 8 concerning communicating about programs available to help residents and businesses live and do business in more sustainable ways 7. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.