COMMUNITY SERVICES & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE

 

 

 

 

 

TO:

Mayor and Members of Council

 

 

 

 

FROM:

Jim Sales, Commissioner of Community and Fire Services

 

 

 

 

PREPARED BY:

Mavis Urquhart, Manager, Environmental Leadership

 

 

 

 

DATE OF MEETING:

2004-Nov-15

 

 

 

 

SUBJECT:

Terms of Reference - Environmental Management Plan

 

 

 

 

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the Council recognises the importance of establishing a Town-wide Environmental Management Plan, and directs all Town departments to participate and contribute to this important strategic Corporate initiative. Participation of all departments will be directed through the recently established staff technical advisory committee comprising selected senior staff from various departments, coordinated and chaired by the Manager of Environmental Leadership;

 

THAT the proposed Terms of Reference for hiring a consultant to prepare an Environmental Management Plan study, attached as Appendix 1, be endorsed;

 

AND THAT the Manager of Environmental Leadership, in conjunction with the staff technical advisory committee, be authorized to: call for and receive proposals from interested consultants; oversee the consultant selection process, including conducting an interview of candidates.

 

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this report is twofold:

 

1.      Forward for Council’s consideration, the proposed Terms of Reference for a consultant to develop a Corporate Environmental Management Plan; and,

2.      Identify the need for strong support and cooperation across the entire corporation to ensure the successful delivery of this Environmental Management Plan.

 

BACKGROUND:

In 2003, the Engage 21st Century Markham strategy was completed. This strategy outlines a

20-year vision for the Town of Markham and has identified environmental protection as a key Corporate Goal and strategic priority.

 

To date, the Town has been working to protect, restore and enhance Markham’s natural features and green spaces to ensure the maintenance of a vital and healthy ecosystem. Environmental policies have been incorporated into the Official Plan and Secondary Plan. Programs dealing

 

with anti-idling, waste and water management, pesticide reduction, and erosion control are examples of other initiatives that the Town has undertaken and encouraged to actively protect the environment.

 

OPTIONS/DISCUSSION:

Environmental Management Plan

To define the Corporation’s future environmental vision, Markham needs a strategic document identifying short and long term municipal environmental goals and initiatives. An Environmental Management Plan (EMP) will be the Corporation’s road map to attain these goals.

 

The EMP is intended to establish an overall corporate environmental direction; provide a suitable corporate context for responding to the changing regulatory environment and encourage the reduction of environmental impacts. At the same time, this Plan will support new practices, partnerships, and initiatives to advance and encourage environmental leadership. Active participation by staff across the municipality will be needed for this Plan to succeed.

 

Proposed terms of reference for this study have been developed and are attached as Appendix 1 to this report and will be finalized with the input of Purchasing Department staff.

 

Benefits of an Environmental Management Plan

The benefits to the municipality of adopting an EMP are anticipated to include:

  • Improve corporate environmental performance, practise and operations;
  • Improve employee, resident and business environmental awareness;
  • Improve motivation for the municipality to achieve and sustain environmental improvements;
  • Identify potential cost savings and potential reductions in energy, fuel, water consumption and waste water disposal costs;
  • Encourage best practises and risk management; and,
  • Identify new opportunities, partnerships, and initiatives to achieve the Town’s environmental goals.

 

Cooperative Corporate Effort

Because this is a corporate initiative it is important that multi-departmental communication coordination take place on a regular basis for this plan to succeed. Representatives have been selected from Engineering, Planning, and Operations to form a technical advisory committee (TAC), which is coordinated and chaired by the Manager of Environmental Leadership. As well, Fire, Building, Markham Public Libraries, Finance, Recreation Cultural Services, Operations, Parks and Legal representatives have been selected to participate on an “as needed” basis over the course of the study and implementation period.

 

A list of the TAC members and contacts are attached as Appendix 2 to this report. Other staff members and departments, in addition to those identified on Appendix 2, may also be called upon from time to time to contribute to this study.

 

The reporting responsibility of the TAC would be to the Commissioner of Community and Fire Services who will report its recommendations to Council.

 

Role of the TAC

The role of the Technical Advisory Committee will entail, but not be limited to the following:

  • Conduct regular committee meetings and working sessions to completion of the study
  • Provide input towards the finalization of the Request for Proposal (RFP) Terms of Reference
  • Assist in the selection process of the study consultant
  • Participate in public consultation process
  • Provide comments and/identify issues related to the study and its direction
  • Assist in the review and preparation of the final document by the consultant
  • Liaison with the Kyoto Committee

 

CONCLUSION:

The Environmental Management Plan is the Town’s environmental road map for the future. It will set up the framework for coordinating and directing municipal actions and a reporting process to assist in achieving new and advanced municipal environmental practises in the future. To develop a successful EMP, a technical advisory committee was established comprising selected senior staff, to assist the Manager of Environmental Leadership in the preparation of the Plan. Council recognizes the importance of this cooperative approach by directing all Commissions of the Corporation to participate, be actively involved and contribute to this important strategic initiative throughout the course of the study and development of the plan through to its implementation.

 

The Technical Advisory Committee has been organized and a proposed Terms of Reference for this study has been prepared. Staff should therefore proceed to invite consultant proposals at this time.

 

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

The Town’s approved 2004 Capital Budget includes $100,000 for the Environmental Management Plan Study. The study budget will be approximately $80,000.

 

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

All Town Departments will be affected as this is a Corporate initiative. The study will be assisted by those departments and individuals identified on Appendix 2, however others  be called upon in the course of the study to participate and contribute, as well.

 

ATTACHMENTS:

Appendix 1 – Terms of Reference

Appendix 2 - Technical Advisory Team members and other Department Contacts

 

 

 

 

 

Jim Sales,

Commissioner of Community and Fire Services

 

 

 

 

 

 

TAC MEMBERS

 

 

Mavis Urquhart                        Strategic Services (Co-ordinator and Chair)

 

Lilli Duoba                                Planning

 

Bob Nicholson             Operations and Asset Management

 

Stan Bertoia                             Operations and Asset Management

 

Alan Brown or designate           Engineering

 

Stu Taylor, or Designate           Strategic Services

 

 

DEPARTMENT CONTACTS

 

Bob Henderson                        Markham Public Libraries 

 

Gareth Gibbins             Legal Services

 

Kevin Newson                         Finance

 

Barb Roth, or designate            Recreation and Culture Services

 

Victor Shum                             Building Standards

 

Don McClean, or designate      Fire and Emergency Services

 

Paul Ingham                              Operations

 

Mark Ingwersen                       Parks and Maintenance

 

Claudia Marsales                      Waste