GENERAL COMMITTEE - FINANCE AND ADMINSTRATIVE COMMITTEE
	TO:	Mayor and Members of Council
	FROM:	Stuart Taylor, Director, Strategic Services
	PREPARED BY:	Mavis Urquhart, Manager, Environmental Leadership
	DATE OF MEETING:	2005-Jan-24
	SUBJECT:	Report on Developing the Anti-Idling By-law with the Greater Toronto Area Clean Air Partnership

RECOMMENDATION:

That the staff report entitled “Report on Developing Anti-Idling By-law Development with the Clean Air Partnership” dated January 24, 2005, be received;

And that the Greater Toronto Area Clean Air Partnership be requested to select the Town of Markham for participation in their Idle-Free Program 2005-2006;

And that staff be directed to bring forward an anti-idling by-law and implementation plan to Council for adoption no later than spring 2005;

And that the two anti-idling technician’s positions be extended for an additional three (3) months to assist with the delivery of this program and completion of other anti-idling initiatives that are currently underway, at a cost of $8,000;

And that an upset limit of $2,500 be set for promotional materials;

And that the funding for promotion and salaries be funded from the reserve account 086-2700083 (Clean Air Initiatives).

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this report is to identify the opportunity for the Town of Markham to work together with the Greater Toronto Area Clean Air Partnership in the development and enforcement of an anti-idling by-law.

BACKGROUND:

In May 2004, Council directed an Anti-Idling By-law be prepared and presented to Council for adoption effective January 1, 2005, and that an education program be undertaken, including the hiring of two students on a part-time basis from September 2004 to January 2005, to implement the Anti-Idling Campaign.

In September 2004, two students were hired and they have undertaken many outreach initiatives to inform municipal staff and the community of the health impacts and costs of idling, in advance of the passing of the by-law. These programs, including an outreach program and developing a fleet idling reduction program are currently underway.

In October 2004, the opportunity arose for a municipality to work with the Greater Toronto Area Clean Air Partnership in developing an anti-idling by-law and enforcement program.

The GTA Clean Air Partnership is a registered charity that manages and provides secretariat functions to the Greater Toronto Area Clean Air Council (GTA-CAC). The GTA-CAC is an intergovernmental working group that promotes reduction of air pollution emissions and increased public awareness of air quality issues in the GTA through the collective effort of its members which include municipal; regional; provincial and federal government representatives (Town of Markham has been a member since 2002). The Clean Air Partnership undertakes projects and programs consistent with commitments made each year at the Smog Summit in the Inter-governmental Declarations on Clean Air, which are signed by member jurisdictions. One of the commitments in 2004-2005 involves raising awareness with municipalities about the benefits of: not idling; conducting idle-free campaigns; and developing anti idling practises and policies. The Clean Air Partnership, with the support of the GTA-CAC decided to undertake a case study with funding from Natural Resources Canada (NRCan).

The goal of the case study is to explore the effectiveness of implementing a by-law-led approach versus implementing a public education and outreach-led approach (without a by-law). The two participating municipalities would take one route or the other. The “by-law” municipality would do the education and outreach surrounding the by-law, but the primary approach would be “by-law first”. The other would focus only on education and outreach initiatives. The effectiveness of the two approaches would later be compared.

On November 25, 2004, the Executive Director of the Clean Air Partnership (and co-moderator of the GTA-CAC) made a presentation to the Environmental Issues Committee, respecting this initiative (see Appendix 1 – Presentation and Fact Sheet for Markham Environmental Issues Committee). The Committee recommended that the Town of Markham adopt an anti-idling by-law in the spring of 2005, in conjunction with the Clean Air Partnership and utilize the partnership for the purpose of developing a comprehensive anti-idling program.

DISCUSSION:

The Clean Air Partnership (CAP) would assist the selected “by-law” municipality in working through all the stages of developing an anti-idling campaign, including by-law development and an enforcement strategy. Assistance would also be provided by Lura Consulting (public consultation consultants), with funding assistance from Natural Resources Canada (NRCan). Markham has the opportunity to participate in this study and the anticipated benefits would be:

• A ready to use, “state of the art” anti-idling by-law and enforcement plan for adoption based upon Markham’s individual needs. This by-law will reflect current research and standards developed from scientific analysis and feedback from other municipalities which have adopted by-laws;
• Assistance in the development of an implementation strategy for anti-idling by-law;
• Assistance in the development of tools and materials for implementation of anti-idling by-law;
• Workshop for by-law enforcement staff on implementation of the by-law; and,
• Evaluation of the effectiveness of the by-law.

By-law enforcement staff has been consulted on this initiative and support participating in this program. In return, the participating municipality will be expected to:

• Provide staff support for the implementation of the program; and,
• Promote the program (this could include such things as internal and external communications, printing of materials, and advertising).

The decision on selection of the pilot communities will be made by January 2005 and preparation of the municipal by-law and enforcement plan will be completed by spring 2005. Markham is an excellent candidate for this study given our intention to bring forward an anti-idling by-law in early 2005. Implementation of the program will take place from Spring 2005 to Spring 2006. This proposed timeframe will require delay of the passing of the Town of Markham anti-idling by-law which was originally to be passed in January 2005.

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS

Some financial costs may result from promotion of the program which should be funded from the reserve account that was established from the Longo’s Partnership revenue reserve account 086-2700083 (Clean Air Initiatives). Staff is recommending a $2,500 upset limit.

A 3 month extension of the Anti-Idling technician’s positions at a cost of $8,000 is also recommended to assist in the development of this program and to allow for completion of initiatives already underway, including an outreach program and developing a fleet idling reduction program. Again, Staff is recommending that this be funded from the Longo’s Partnership revenue for the Town of Markham Clean Air Initiatives.

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

By-law Enforcement and Corporate Communications staff has been consulted in the preparation of this report.

CONCLUSION

While participation in this program will result in a delay in the passing of the anti-idling by-law, it will allow Markham to benefit from the collective knowledge and expertise available through the GTA Clean Air Partnership, as well as Lura Consulting, in the preparation of the anti-idling by-law and enforcement program. It is therefore the recommendation of staff that the GTA Clean Air Partnership be requested to select the Town of Markham for participation in their Idle-Free Program 2005-2006 and that staff be directed to bring forward an anti-idling by-law to Council for adoption no later than spring 2005.

Stuart Taylor, Director, Strategic Services Department

Jim Sales, Commissioner, Community and Fire Services

Appendix 1 – Presentation and Fact Sheet Presented to Markham Environmental Issues Committee November 25, 2004

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