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2. ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
- 2007 ANNUAL REPORT AND 2008 WORK PLAN COMITÉ CONSULTATIF SUR
L’ENVIRONNEMENT - RAPPORT ANNUEL DE 2007 ET PLAN DE TRAVAIL 2008 |
That Council:
1. Receive
the 2007 Annual Report of the Environmental Advisory Committee as detailed in
Document 1; and
2. Approve
the objectives contained in the 2008 Workplan, as detailed in Document 2.
RECOMMANDATIONS
DU COMITÉ
Que le Conseil :
1.
reçoive le Rapport annuel de 2007 du
Comité consultatif sur l’environnement, tel que décrit à la pièce jointe no 1;
et
2.
approuve les objectifs qui sont
présentés dans le plan de travail 2008, tel que décrit à la pièce jointe no 2.
Documentation
1. Deputy City Manager's report Planning, Transit and the Environment
dated 14 March 2008 (ACS2008-CCV-EAC-0002).
2.
Extract
of Draft Minutes, 25 March 2008.
Report
to/Rapport au:
Planning
and Environment Committee/
Comité de l’urbanisme et de l’environnement
and Council/et au Conseil
14 March 2008 / le 14 mars 2008
Submitted by/Soumis par: Serge Morin, Chair/président
Environmental Advisory Committee/Comité
consultatif sur l’environnement
Contact/Personne-ressource: Stephanie Brown Bellefeuille,
Committee Coordinator/coordonnatrice du comité
consultatif
|
|
Ref N°: ACS2008-CCV-EAC-0002 |
SUBJECT: ENVIRONMENTAL
ADVISORY COMMITTEE - 2007 ANNUAL REPORT AND 2008 WORK PLAN
OBJET: COMITÉ
CONSULTATIF SUR L’ENVIRONNEMENT - RAPPORT ANNUEL DE 2007 ET PLAN DE TRAVAIL
2008
REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS
That the Environmental Advisory Committee recommend that the Planning and Environment Committee recommend Council:
1.
Receive the 2007 Annual Report
of the Environmental Advisory Committee as detailed in Document 1; and
2.
Approve the objectives
contained in the 2008 Workplan, as detailed in Document 2.
Que le Comité consultatif sur l’environnement
recommande que le Comité de
l’urbanisme et de l’environnement recommande que le Conseil :
1.
reçoive le Rapport annuel de 2007 du
Comité consultatif sur l’environnement, tel que décrit à la pièce jointe no 1;
et
2.
approuve les objectifs qui sont
présentés dans le plan de travail 2008, tel que décrit à la pièce jointe no 2.
City Council, on 6 December 2006, reconfirmed its governance structure. This included the advisory committees, and the requirement for each to complete a workplan outlining proposed projects and activities for the upcoming year. The workplan is to identify each and every activity the Committee plans to undertake in the upcoming year, whether they have a budgetary impact or not. Each item should be identified with a brief description of the project or activity.
The Lead Department Representatives are to provide the Committee with information on the departmental workplan and priorities, where the workplans of the Committees tie into that workplan, and where the Committee can assist the Department. The Lead Department Representative will also advise on what staff and/or financial resources are available as part of departmental priorities.
There was no funding approved for the advisory committee 2008 workplans.
DISCUSSION
The attached 2007
Annual Report, prepared by the EAC Chair, reviews the Committee’s 2007 activities
and accomplishments. It was approved by the Committee at their February 14,
2008 meeting.
The attached 2008
Workplan, also prepared by the Chair, was prepared in consultation with staff,
and is based on the Committee’s priorities for 2008. It was approved at their
January 10 meeting.
The mandate of the
Environmental Advisory Committee is to promote the
protection, maintenance and enhancement of the environment, in the City of
Ottawa, to safeguard and improve the quality of life of those who live and work
in the City of Ottawa, both now and in the future.
The complete Terms of Reference can be found at Attachment 3 of this
report.
Planning, Transit and the Environment
Branch (Lead Department)
PTE staff will continue to work with the
Environmental Advisory Committee on achieving the goal of making Ottawa a
sustainable community. Staff supports
the goals of the work plan and appreciates the major contribution of time and
expertise that EAC members make as volunteers.
In particular, staff has asked EAC to focus its efforts in 2008 on the
review of the Official Plan and related plans (e.g., Transportation Master
Plan) and of the Environmental Strategy.
Staff has advised EAC that the 2008 work programs and budgets are fully
committed so resource requirements must be considered as the work plan evolves
through 2008.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
There are no funds available in the City’s 2008 Operating
Budget for EAC’s 2008 Work Plan items.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
Document 1 – 2007 Annual Report of the Environmental Advisory Committee
Document 2 – Proposed 2008 Workplan of the Environmental Advisory Committee
Document 3 – Terms of Reference for the Environmental Advisory Committee (on file with City Clerk)
Document 4 – Letter from Mary Hegan Re: Development Application Review Process
The Advisory Committee will work to complete the workplan tasks
approved by City Council.
Document
1
2007
ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY
COMMITTEE (EAC)
ANNUAL REPORT
CITY OF OTTAWA
Objective
The 2007 Annual Report of the Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC)
summarizes the activities completed in the previous year. It is only intended
to provide a general overview of the Committee’s activities with a focus on the
significant achievements since the Minutes of Meetings provide additional
information.
The key role of the EAC is to provide advice to Council on “the
protection, maintenance and enhancements of all aspects of the environment in the
City of Ottawa, to safeguard and improve the quality of life for its citizens
both for now and in the future”.
Membership
The EAC is composed
of 15 members in total plus 10 active reserve members. With no recruitment of
members in 2007, the Committee saw its membership down to 14 members with no
reserve members at the end of 2007. Mary Hegan and Serge Morin were re-elected
as Chair and Vice-Chair respectively, for 2007. The list of members as 31
December 2007 was as follows:
Mary Hegan Chair Serge Morin Vice-Chair
Charles Caccia Ann
Coffey
Bruce Collier Ric
Dagenais
Paul Koch Micheal
Lascelles
Megan McGarrity Heather
Parker
William Pugsley Patrick
Quealey
Peter Croal Manuel
Costa
The Committee co-ordinator is Stephanie Brown Bellefeuille.
The EAC had 11 meetings during the year with an informal session in
August that looked at Ottawa as a sustainable City, future role of EAC and
priority setting.
Major Activities
Water
Air Quality
Official Plan
Development Applications
Waste
Special Projects
Reports
Liaisons with other Advisory
Committees
Received briefings on the
following topics from the community and staff
Discussions
The EAC had a very active and productive year. Members, reserve members
and network of community experts should be commended for the time and energy
that they invested in working on Council’s agenda, pro-active environmental
themes, working with City staff and various groups or organizations. The
monthly agenda is always full with a great deal of lead up work done in between
meetings.
At the EAC informal
session in Aug, members identified future priorities that should guide its
business in 2008 and continue in future years.
Those priorities
are:
a. Transportation
b. Environmental health
c. Air Quality
These priorities are not in any specific ranking. In addition, EAC
members recognized the criticality of participating in the Official Plan review
and the environmental strategy update.
One of the roles of the EAC is to provide advice to Planning and
Environment Committee and to Council. This advice is provided through motions
that are sent via PEC and other Standing Committees or by interfacing directly
with Councillors.
The EAC remains
committed to leadership in environmental stewardship, public health and
community sustainability. Unfortunately, the EAC will lose three key members in
May 2008 that have served their full period as members. These members have
provided strong leadership and dedicated a significant amount of time in moving
forward the City’s environmental agenda. Paul Koch has been the Chair of the
committee from its inception to 2006. Mary Hegan has been the Vice-Chair for
many years and the Chair since 2006. Bill Pugsley has been promoting the air
quality agenda and the installation of air quality monitoring stations across
the city, and leading the transportation file. These members have been and
continued to be very active and their departures will impact the committee’s
outputs until new members have time to understand the City’s environmental
agenda and become fully engaged in the Committee’s work.
Conclusion
The annual report is submitted for consideration of and approval by the
Planning and Environment Committee and Council.
Serge Morin
EAC Chair
DOCUMENT
2
2008
ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
(EAC)
WORK PLAN
Introduction
The 2008 Work Plan provides broad topics to be addressed by the EAC
during the year. The Committee is committed to provide environmental leadership
and in working with city staff, groups and communities to make Ottawa a sustainable
city.
The EAC will use the Council Strategic Priorities as a framework and
continue to act as Council’s advisor on environmental matters. The EAC will
monitor environmental policies, initiatives and Council’s decisions throughout
the year to ensure the City is moving forward in the right direction towards
sustainability. As the EAC tracks the environmental impact of City’s
initiatives, it will challenge staff and Councillors to seek more
environmentally friendly options or choices.
Overview
The EAC vision is:
“That Ottawa becomes a recognized leader within Canada and among the
world capitals as a sustainable community by ensuring the integration of
economic prosperity, social well-being, and environmental and ecological
integrity.”
The mandate approved by Council is:
“To promote the protection, maintenance and enhancement of all aspects
of the environment in the City of Ottawa, to safeguard and improve the quality
of life of those who live and work in the City of Ottawa, both now and in the future.”
The terms of reference approved by Council are:
·
Assisting
in the development of policies, programs, and by-laws which could have an
impact upon the environment,
· Reviewing existing policies, programs, by-laws and development proposals and making recommendations upon environmental implications of same,
· Identifying, researching, consulting and bringing forward to Committee and Council local and global issues which may affect the environment,
· Soliciting and facilitating public input on matters of environmental significance to Council,
· Consulting with and receiving submissions for local environmental and other groups and reporting with recommendations,
· Aiding Council by increasing awareness of the City of Ottawa Environmental policy, programs and by-laws, and issues which have an environmental impact, by means of education campaigns, public meetings, articles in local newspapers and other appropriate means as determined by the Committee,
· Advising on the design, maintenance and frequent updating of a City database on the natural, built and socio-economic aspects of the City’s environment, and environmental health,
· Liaise with other City of Ottawa Advisory Committees as appropriate.
Operations
The EAC plans to have 11 meetings during 2008 with an informal meeting during the summer to take stock of its direction and challenges ahead. Meetings are normally held on the 2nd Thursday of the month. The informal meeting may take a greater importance since a significant number of new members are expected in May 2008, and they will have to understand the Committee’s process in order to become active participants. The EAC must leverage members’ interests and expertise to deliver on its plan. Members also play an instrumental role in serving as links between the City and its staff, Councilors, communities and public interest groups.
The EAC works in an environment of collaborative discussion. All members should feel free to express his/her views. While consensus is the desired outcome of the committee’s process, it is recognized that not all members are likely to reach full agreement on every issue. The meeting format and agendas will be in accordance with the City by-law 2007-104, proceedings of its Advisory Committees.
The EAC currently has 15 members with no reserve members left on its membership list. Of the 15 members, 3 members are no longer eligible to re-apply, having served the maximum 5 year term. Six (6) members are eligible to continue on the Committee, but must re-apply for re-appointment on the Committee.
The EAC is organized under Working Groups (WGs), Special Projects and Task Groups. Members will be fully engaged in moving forward the environmental agenda. In addition, the EAC will seek additional capacity and/or expertise from interested citizens, geographically represented from across the City’s Wards. Such an approach is a very effective way for the EAC to reach out to communities.
The EAC overall approach will be structured in a way to address certain elements in all its activities. Those elements are broken down in the following areas:
Policy Development – Activities related to providing input and advice on the formulation, update and implementation of policies related to the environment, Official Plan review and land use to the Planning and Environment Committee (PEC), and the Deputy City Manager, Planning, Transit and Environment. In some cases the EAC makes presentations to other Standing Committees of Council such as Transportation Committee, Corporate Services and Economic Development Committee and Community and Protective Services Committee.
Monitoring of Issues – Activities related to the monitoring of issues that EAC deems important that require future consideration.
Community Education & Outreach – Activities that support education and outreach will be integrated under all activities undertaken for the identified environmental themes below.
Public Health – Activities supporting this topic and environmental health issues in particular will be integrated in all the work done by the EAC under environmental themes.
Environmental
Themes
The selection of broad environmental themes is a challenge as a result of the interaction of all elements and processes in the environment. The City of Ottawa must become an environmentally sustainable community and the EAC will work with city staff, the Environment Working Group of the City, and Councilors by providing the leadership to conserve, protect, and improve the environment for the benefit of all of its citizens. The EAC will assist the City to improve its system of monitoring and reporting on the City’s environmental performance.
Urban sprawl is consuming land at a much faster rate than population growth. The City must consider the direct cost of urban growth and its environmental impacts. To be a sustainable city, means living within the natural limits of our City and the planet. The ultimate environmental goal is for the city to become carbon neutral, and the EAC will work towards moving forward in that direction through its environmental themes and action plan. It will leverage the Official Plan Review by providing inputs to manage urban sprawl.
EAC
WORK PLAN 2008
ENVIRONMENTAL
THEMES
|
Theme |
Activity |
Lead |
Status |
|
Official Plan and Land Development |
Development Applications Official Plan review Disposal of city surplus lands |
Megan McGarrity Megan McGarrity Serge Morin |
|
|
Air Quality - Health |
Air Pollution and Vehicle Emissions Monitoring and their Health impacts |
TBD |
|
|
Climate Change – Energy Efficiency |
LEED |
Patrick Quealey |
|
|
Protection of Water/Wetlands |
Protection of beaches Lead Water Pipes Watershed and subwatershed |
Charles Caccia Charles Caccia
Bruce Collier |
|
|
Waste |
ICI E-Waste Plasma Waste Conversion Composting |
Mike Lascelles Manuel Costa Heather Parker Mike Lascelles |
|
|
Special Projects |
Biodiversity Transportation - - Transit - Roads and bridges |
Ann Coffey Serge Morin Mike Lascelles |
|
The EAC will also liaise with the following Advisory Committees:
(OFGAC) Ottawa Forests and Greenspace Advisory Committee
(RIAC) Rural Initiatives Advisory Committee
(PTAC) Pedestrian & Transportation Advisory Committee
(RCAC) Roads and Cycling Advisory Committee
(HSSAC) Health and Social Services Advisory Committee
With the completion of the recruitment process in May 2008, the above list of activities will be updated to reflect the interests of new members and the capacity to take on additional work. The EAC will also adjust its Work Plan to respond to issues or questions raised by the Planning and Environment Committee (PEC) and other Standing Committees or of Council itself.
Conclusion
The EAC will continue to work to make Ottawa a sustainable city. The City of Ottawa recognizes the importance that the principles of “sustainability” be applied in all its decisions, but reality is that it has no great influence in the decision making process to date. Sustainability requires that decisions take social, economic and environmental factors into consideration, i.e. the triple-bottom line.
In 2007, the Committee vetted well over 200 zoning proposals, site plan control proposals, development application reviews, land disposals, etc., as part of the official internal ‘DARs’ (development application reviews) review/proposal process. These varied requests consume a large portion of the members’ time (initial screening done by one or two members; liaising with planner and staff; site visits; motion development; meeting discussion and consideration). Additionally, there is also a limited capacity to make the internal deadlines, as comments/motions on behalf of EAC must be approved at an official meeting, happening once monthly.
In 2002, the inclusion began of the Environmental Advisory Committee, and other key advisory committees, on the distribution list of the ‘DAR’ documentation. As such, there is also a reference in the EAC terms of reference to “Reviewing…..development proposals”. However, in the past 6 years, a growing sense of disconnect between the process, and the worth of the committee’s input into it, has been expressed amongst the members. It has been expressed at many meetings that the Committee enjoys providing environmental input into issues as they come forward by staff, the public, media, etc., but that as part of the City’s specific and internal DAR review processes, time would be better spent on other workplan and terms of reference activities. This culminated in the following two motions, approved at the EAC’s January 2008 meeting:
Motion 1
That
the EAC will discontinue participating in the development application review
process as currently carried out.
Motion 2
Whereas the Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC) has been asked to
have input into the Official Plan process, and
Whereas the EAC has concerns in the processes for several
development and related Municipal procedures,
Therefore be it resolved that the EAC recommends that, with respect
to the rural discussion white paper from the process working group, that
That EAC supports the white paper;
Request that Council direct City staff to incorporate all ideas from
the white paper into the upcoming 2008 OP document.
Additionally,
previous Chair Mary Hegan prepared a letter, detailing the decision of the
advisory committee to withdraw temporarily from the internal DAR vetting
processes (while still contributing to development issues as brought forward by
staff, media, the public, etc). The letter also requests Council’s guidance as
to how and where they see EAC fitting into the process. The letter is attached
as Document 4.
DOCUMENT
4
At its January 10 meeting, the Environmental Advisory Committee approved the following motion:
That the EAC will
discontinue participating in the development application review process as
currently carried out.
On behalf of the Environmental Advisory Committee, I write to inform you that the EAC has decided, for the time being, not to review and advise you on specific land development applications. The reasons are several:
a)
Our reduced
number of members and reserve members limits our people power to do the
extensive research and analysis.
Fortunately this will change in May 2008 following appointments of new
members by Council.
b)
Our members
feel that the value-added provided to the City is not justified by the required
time and effort needed to review development applications.
c)
Present
timelines to complete a review in a through and professional fashion is too
short. From the time we are informed of
an application and obtaining all relevant documentation and studies, conducting
a professional review, consulting staff and community groups, and approving at
our monthly meeting a set of recommendations to Council, a staff report re an
application has gone to Council. We
appreciate the pressures on Council by land owners/developers for a quicker
approval process but making the best decision with full and balanced
information does take time and deliberations.
Putting all application information on- line before the clock starts
ticking could partly address the too short time for thoughtful review.
d)
EAC is
focusing more of its attention to the Official Plan Review and review of Master
Plans and the Environmental Strategy in 2008 so that intent and language is
clear for Council, staff, the Province, and public when approving new land uses and development applications with
long-term sustainability as overarching goal (Council’s Strategic Direction).
I attach a motion prepared by Dr. Bruce Collier, a distinguished EAC member. He recommends changes to processes at City Hall related to decision-making, with respect to changing land uses and land development. EAC asks that these recommendations be integrated into City policies in working with the public and businesses, into the 2008 Official Plan, and when Council implements its 2007 Strategic Plan. EAC has recommended in the past and still believes that more action is required to look at the cumulative effects of newly approved development applications on natural features, watersheds (Plans approved by Council), on biodiversity, on energy consumption and production of carbon emissions, City infrastructure costs, and quality of life throughout the City.
The EAC will revisit this decision to review development applications later in 2008 once our membership has been renewed. Guidance from Councillors on the value of EAC in reviewing development applications would be appreciated.
Mary Hegan
EAC Chair
Motion approved at the 10 January 2008 EAC meeting:
Whereas the Environmental
Advisory Committee (EAC) has been asked to have input into the Offical Plan
process, and
Whereas the EAC has
concerns in the processes for several development and related Municipal
procedures,
The Environmental Advisory
Committee recommends that with respect to the Rural Discussion White Paper from
the Process Working Group, that:
1. The EAC supports the White paper
2. Request that Council recommend City staff incorporate ideas from the White paper into the upcoming 2008 Official Plan document.
ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE - 2007 ANNUAL
REPORT AND 2008 WORKPLAN
COMITÉ CONSULTATIF SUR L’ENVIRONNEMENT -
RAPPORT ANNUEL DE 2007 ET PLAN DE TRAVAIL 2008
ACS2008-CCV-EAC-0002 City-wide / À l’échelle de la ville
Serge Morin, Chair of the Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC), discussed the EAC’s mandate, membership, working relationships, 2008 priorities, development applications, challenges and role. A copy of Mr. Morin’s presentation is held on file with the City Clerk.
Councillor Doucet noted that transit was going to be one of the Advisory Committee’s priorities for 2008 and he asked the Chair to expand on this. Mr. Morin indicated the EAC was getting ready to provide input into the Transportation Master Plan and its various components. He also referenced the Committee’s involvement with the light rail transit, the Inter-provincial bridge studies and Transportation Demand Management.
Councillor Hunter referenced the EAC’s Terms of Reference and the responsibility for “reviewing existing policies, programs, by-laws and development proposals and making recommendations upon environmental implications for same”. He noted that the EAC had indicated it would no longer participate in the development application review process and he wondered about the implications of an advisory committee deciding that it would no longer fulfill one of the tasks mandated to them by Council.
Tim Marc, Senior Legal Counsel, suggested there would be an opportunity, at the mid-term governance review, for Council to take such comments into account.
Nancy Schepers, Deputy City Manager of Planning, Transit and the Environment, indicated she had understood, through discussions with the EAC Chair, that the advisory committee wanted to focus more on developing checklists that staff could use in screening applications, and on Official Plan policies, as opposed to individual applications. She felt this was consistent with the committee’s Terms of Reference.
Mr. Morin added that although the advisory committee had made that statement, members would continue to review individual applications when there were public delegations on same or when asked to look at a specific application; whether by a public delegation, a community group or staff. He then confirmed the intentions, as explained by Ms. Schepers, to focus on a smart growth checklist and on policies rather than individual applications.
That the Environmental Advisory Committee recommend that the
Planning and Environment Committee recommend Council:
1. Receive
the 2007 Annual Report of the Environmental Advisory Committee as detailed in
Document 1; and
2. Approve
the objectives contained in the 2008 Workplan, as detailed in Document 2.
CARRIED