M I N U T E S

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES COMMITTEE

2006-03-30

 

Members Councillor E. Shapero, Chair Regional Councillor J. Heath B. Mersey, Chair, Markham Conservation       Committee   Regrets Deputy Mayor F. Scarpitti Councillor J. Webster

Staff M. Urquhart, Manager, Environmental           Leadership V. McGrath, Manager, Environmental           Leadership B. Labelle, Committee Clerk   Others P. Ling, Markham Conservation       Committee K. Boniface, Parks Planner K. Newson, Purchasing Manager I. Ho, Purchasing Supervisor Various MESF Applicants

 

The Environmental Issues Committee convened at the hour of 2:22 p.m. with Councillor E. Shapero in the Chair. Quorum was attained at 2:30 p.m.

 

 

1.         MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL
ISSUES COMMITTEE HELD ON FEBRUARY 16, 2006

           

THE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS:

 

That the minutes of the Environmental Issues Committee meeting held on February 16, 2006 be received.

CARRIED

 

 

2.         MARKHAM ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY FUND (MESF) APPLICATIONS

 

APPLICATION ONE: MILLIKEN MILLS HIGH SCHOOL TEAM PROGRAM - BRUCE CREEK REDSIDE DACE HABITAT IMPROVEMENT AND NATURALIZATION

 

Staff introduced Ms. S. Neil, Mr. C. Williams and Milliken Mills High School TEAM Program students and highlighted their application in which they are requesting $4,000 to complete an improvement and naturalization program for Bruce Creek Roadside Dace Habitat. If approved, the TEAM Program will undertake tree and shrub planting in the Toogood Pond Park area in order to improve water quality, stream habitat, and terrestrial wildlife habitat. Staff advised that Town of Markham Engineering staff has concerns with the initiative due to the Markham Small Streams Program which may carry out erosion work on the Bruce Creek waterway. Staff is concerned that the TEAM’s proposal would complete work that may eventually have to be redeveloped by the Town. Applicants clarified that their focus would be strictly on the planting component of the application and improvement only of areas adjacent to the Bruce Creek. They presented illustrations showing that their work would not interfere with any future erosion work that may occur on the banks of Bruce Creek. The Committee noted that the Evergreen organization may be a valuable resource for this program.

 

THE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS:

 

That the application by the Milliken Mills High School TEAM Program requesting funds in the amount of $4,000 to complete a Bruce Creek Redside Dace Habitat Improvement and Naturalization Program be approved.

CARRIED

 

 

APPLICATION TWO: UNIONVILLE MEADOWS PUBLIC SCHOOL – OUTDOOR CLASSROOM / PEACE GARDEN

 

Ms. J. McLellan and students from Unionville Meadows Public School were in attendance to request funding for the development of an Outdoor Classroom / Peace Garden on the grounds of the Unionville Meadows Public School. Staff suggested that the Committee grant funding in the amount of $4,966 for option ‘B’ within the application, which would cover costs for tree planting, maintenance equipment, seating logs and flooring. Students noted that they hoped to develop an outdoor amphitheatre as a second phase for the project. The Committee commended the students for the initiative and thanked them for their presentation.

 

THE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS:

 

That the application by the Unionville Meadows Public School requesting funds in the amount of $4,966 to develop an Outdoor Classroom / Peace Garden, be approved.

CARRIED

 

 

APPLICATION THREE: FRIENDS OF THE THORNHILL HERITAGE GARDEN – REFURBISHMENT OF THORNHILL HERITAGE GARDEN

 

Mr. R. Jarrell was in attendance to request $6,589.28 to do restoration work and install educational signage at the Thornhill Heritage Garden site. Staff advised that the applicant had worked alongside staff to construct the proposal. Mr. Jarrell presented an overview of the application noting that the site was a key stop in the 2005 Communities in Bloom judge’s tour and hoped that it would be again in the 2006 National competition. He also indicated that he worked with Ms. K. Boniface to develop the interpretive signage that will be placed onsite. It was also suggested that educational materials such as brochures be made available in the library. The Committee discussed the costs and process associated with acquiring compost from the Region of York.

 

THE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS:

 

That the application by the Friends of Thornhill Heritage Garden requesting funds in the amount of $6,589.28 to do restoration work and install educational signage at the Thornhill Heritage Garden site, be approved.

CARRIED

 

 

APPLICATION FOUR: SOUTH UNIONVILLE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION – NATIVE PLANT GARDEN AND EDUCATIONAL SIGNAGE INSTALLATION AT PIERA GARDEN

 

Staff advised that they had met with the applicants from the South Unionville Community Association and are in support of their request for $6,072 to build a naturalized garden on Piera Gardens between Castan Avenue and South Unionville Avenue. Ms. K. Boniface advised that she is working closely with the applicants and has forwarded information pertaining to the native plant species for the area. It was also noted that they would be coordinating their efforts with the Adopt-A-Park program.

 

The Committee discussed the cost of interpretive signage suggesting that the Town’s sign shop may be able to assist at a better cost. Staff indicated that the sign shop is extremely busy and that although expensive, the quality of outsourced signage is very good and it comes with a ten (10) year guarantee. Members discussed the potential of using the MESF internal projects budget to fund interpretive signage. The Committee also recommended that the MESF application be amended to identify specifics with respect to the educational sign component for each program.

 

THE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS:

 

That the application by the South Unionville Community Association requesting funds in the amount of $6,072 to build a naturalized garden on Piera Gardens between Castan Avenue and South Unionville Avenue, be approved.

CARRIED

 

 

APPLICATION FIVE: POMONA MILLS PARK CONSERVATIONISTS – SPRING PLANTING INITIATIVE

 

Staff advised that they have worked with Ms. V. Burke on behalf of the Pomona Mills Park Conservationists and is in support of the request for $4,308.32 to fund their spring planting initiative which will take place in the west section of Pomona Mills Park.

The Committee discussed the potential benefits of working with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) and/or Evergreen to coordinate a bulk purchase in order to reduce the costs for applicants. Staff advised that ordering in bulk is undertaken where possible, but that there are no actual cost savings as costing is normally done on a per plant basis.

 

THE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS:

 

That the application by the Pomona Mills Park Conservationists requesting funds in the amount of $4308.32 to fund their spring planting initiative which will take place in the west section of Pomona Mills Park, be approved.

CARRIED

 

 

3.         UPDATE ON GREEN PROCUREMENT POLICY

 

Mr. K. Newson and Ms. I. Ho were in attendance to present an update on the Town of Markham’s Draft Green Procurement Policy. A memo discussing the background and Draft Policy was submitted for the Committee’s review. Mr. Newson indicated that it is his Department’s intent to prepare a supplementary purchasing guide which will assist in the implementation of the policy. It will provide staff with practical support in the form of current information and resources. The policy and manual were created by using a model developed by Richmond, British Columbia.

 

The Committee discussed potential challenges with the initiative noting user and vendor acceptance as being primary concerns. These challenges were echoed in Richmond B.C.’s experiences as they found that there was often not a great deal of tolerance with respect to the purchasing of ‘green’ products at a higher price. Staff also noted that outsourcing is necessary to qualify which products could be considered ‘green’ and it was indicated that this can often slow down the purchasing process. Members agreed that a broad based education and awareness program will be critical for the success of the program. The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and the Association of Municipal Clerks and Treasurers (AMCTO) were discussed as possible coordinators of a purchasing program and/or an awareness campaign. Members thanked staff for their efforts and commended them on their work.

 

THE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS:

 

That the Draft Green Procurement Policy for the Town of Markham, be endorsed;

 

And that a power point presentation be made at a forthcoming General Committee meeting.

  CARRIED

 

 

 

 

 

3.         MEMBER UPDATES

 

It was noted that Mr. Philip Ling will be attending future meetings of the Markham Environmental Issues Committee on behalf of the Markham Conservation Committee. It was clarified that when Mr. B. Mersey is not in attendance, Mr. Ling will be authorized to exercise voting privileges in his stead. If both Mr. Mersey and Mr. Ling are present, the voting privileges would defer to Mr. Mersey.

 

 

 

4.         ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN

 

Ms. V. McGrath advised that the Town of Markham Environmental Management Plan will be presented at a forthcoming meeting of the Environmental Issues Committee.

 

 

 

5.         CLIMATE CHANGE PRESENTATION BY ENVIRONMENT CANADA

 

Ms. V. McGrath indicated that a representative from Environment Canada will be attending a future meeting to present information regarding climate change and how it can affect infrastructure, development and other operations directed by the Town. The Committee agreed that this presentation should be made at General Committee or Committee of the Whole.

 

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

The Environmental Issues Committee adjourned at 4:02 p.m.