MINUTES

Environmental Issues Committee

April 29, 2004

In Attendance: Deputy Mayor Frank Scarpitti, Regional Councillor Jack Heath, Councillor Erin Shapero, Councillor John Webster, Donna Sardone, Chair, Markham Conservation Committee, Lilli Duoba, Planning, Brian Varner, Legal Services, Victoria McGrath, Strategic Services

Minutes: V. McGrath

1	Election of Chair	· Erin Shapero was elected Chair of the Committee
2	Markham Environmental Sustainability Fund (MESF)	· Victoria provided an update on the status of the MESF: · The criteria and application process were approved by Council on April 13, 2004 · Victoria is working with Finance to develop a process to expeditiously deliver cheques to approved applicants · Victoria has submitted the Part A (community) application form for the MESF to the webmaster for posting on the Town’s website. In addition, Victoria will speak with the Manager, Corporate Communications to see about advertising the MESF on the Town’s community page in the Economist and Sun · Victoria will bring the criteria and application process to the next committee meeting in order for committee members to review the application forms and criteria for applications · Victoria is to email the committee members recommended dates around deadlines for applications for the MESF. In the approved report, an annual deadline was established as Sept.15 to ensure sufficient time within the budget process to request replenishment of the MESF · At that same meeting, Council approved the request for funding from the TRCA Backyard Naturalization Program for $10,000 plus a $5000 in-kind contribution comprised of advertising, printing, signage, meeting space and staff time. The TRCA is waiting for funding from EcoAction to proceed with the program. · The committee established that the Chair of the Environmental Issues Committee, Erin Shapero and the Chair of the Markham Conservation Committee, Donna Sardone, will sign the letters of acknowledgement to applicants and that, for approved applicant’s, a cheque presentation be made at Council (official cheque) or on the day of the event (unofficial cheque) to promote the MESF and the event/applicant · At the time of the cheque presentation, the committee suggested that approved applicants make a brief presentation, such as a powerpoint presentation, to Council describing the project, including any photos of the proposed project · The committee would like to have signage and perhaps a banner at each project or event to identify that the MESF is funding the event/project. Victoria to speak with the Manager, Corporate Communications on recommended branding options for the MESF · Victoria to request Clerk’s support for the Environmental Issues Committee	Victoria Victoria Victoria Victoria Victoria
3	Environmental Land Acquisition Fund (ELAF)	· Brian Varner provided an update of recent activities within the ELAF · Lilli’s report to Council on the ELAF included criteria for priority properties and this criteria has been used to make recent purchases · A process around purchasing properties proactively (in emergency or unforeseen circumstances) as well as reactively (through the development application process) still needs to be established · At the next meeting, Brian is to bring forward a list of properties currently identified as priorities in order to test the criteria established in Lilli’s report · Lilli will work with the Rouge Park Alliance on mapping within the Rouge Park and will work to assemble properties for the committee’s consideration at the next meeting · Committee members expressed interest in a tour of properties purchased and considered priorities for purchase through the ELAF	Brian Lilli
4	Three Stream Implementation	· The Three Stream Implementation project will meet as part of the next Environmental Issues Committee · Currently the Implementation project is working on education with assistance of the Markham Conservation Committee · The project is moving forward in two stages; parts of three wards will come online in September 2004 with the rest of the wards coming online in September 2005
5	Next Meeting and Frequency of Meetings	· Future meetings will be held the fourth Thursday of each month from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. except for the month of July when no meeting will be held. The exception to this schedule is the May meeting which will be held on May 20 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. · Agendas will be structured so that staff/MCC member associated with each committee can come and go as the agenda shifts from one committee to the next