THIRD MEETING OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES COMMITTEE

 

TOWN OF MARKHAM

York Room, Markham Civic Centre

JUNE 24, 2004

 

MINUTES

 

 

 

Committee

 

Councillor J. Webster

Regional Councillor J. Heath (3:35pm)

Councillor E. Shapero

Donna Sardone, Chair, Markham

               Conservation Committee

 

Regrets

 

Deputy Mayor F. Scarpitti

 

Staff

 

Stan Bertoia, General Manager, Construction

            & Utilities

Bob Nicholson, Manager, Asset Management

Victoria McGrath, Manager, Environmental

            Leadership

Lilli Duoba, Project Coordinator, Environmental

            Planning & Rouge Park

Karen Boniface, Parks Planner

Blair Labelle, Committee Clerk

Judy Kee, Committee Clerk

 

 

The Environmental Issues Committee convened at the hour of 2:10 p.m. with Councillor J. Webster in the Chair, without quorum.  Quorum was reached at 3:35 p.m.

 

 

1.         MINUTES OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

            HELD ON APRIL 29, 2004

 

Moved by Councillor E. Shapero

Seconded by Councillor J. Webster

 

That the minutes of the Environmental Issues Committee meeting held on April 29, 2004, be adopted.

 

CARRIED

 

 

 

2.         ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

            (EEMS) - REGION OF YORK PRESENTATION

 

Ms. Tracey Forrest, Program Manager, Energy Management, Region of York, was in attendance and gave a presentation on the Energy & Environmental Management System (EEMS) software. The program was developed in-house by York Region and has been geared towards municipal conservation planning. Emissions tracking, site consumption comparison, and utility monitoring were identified as the major functionality of the application.

 

The base program, designated as Phase I & II, was presented as being easy to use and install, not requiring any dedicated staff for support and maintenance. It was suggested that municipalities identify required conservation areas and build on the EEMS platform to respond accordingly. Importing and exporting functionality as well as a powerful search engine and filters allow the user to develop EEMS to work for them. Energy switching was proposed as a possible direction for certain Town owned buildings in which further phases of EEMS may require development through a third party vendor. Questions were also raised surrounding departmental ownership of the project if it were purchased from the Region.

 

Moved by Councillor E. Shapero

Seconded by Councillor J. Webster

 

That the presentation by Ms. T. Forrest, Region of York regarding the EEMS program be received;

 

And that the matter be referred through the Energy Conservation Office for further consideration and evaluation with other vendor applications.

 

CARRIED

 

 

3          MARKHAM ENERGY CONSERVATION OFFICE (ECO)

            MR. BRUCE ANDER, PRESIDENT, MARKHAM

            DISTRICT ENERGY INC.

 

Ms. Victoria McGrath, Manager, Environmental Leadership provided the Committee with information on the proposal for a Markham Energy Conservation Office (MECO) and the use of MESF as a source of funding. The report had been received and endorsed by Council on June 22, 2004. (Report attached)

 

Mr. Bruce Ander, President, Markham District Energy Inc. was in attendance and advised that MECO was envisioned following the blackout in August 2003 and would be designed to measure and communicate resolutions for a broad spectrum of energy concerns, including conservation issues. It was noted that the formation of this office would also be used to educate and engage the public in an attempt to create a “conservation culture” similar to recycling programs of the past. There has been no formal structure decided upon for MECO as of yet.

Questions were raised regarding the process and allocation of funds from MESF and whether approval of MECO and similar projects should be gaining approval through commissions or channeled through the Committee at hand.

 

Moved by Councillor E. Shapero

Seconded by Councillor J. Webster

 

That the information provided by Ms. Victoria McGrath, Manage or Environmental Leadership and by Mr. Bruce Ander, President of Markham District Energy Inc. be received.

 

CARRIED

 

 

4.         MARKHAM ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

            FUND (MESF) APPLICATION DEADLINES, PROCESS

            AND CRITERIA

 

Committee discussed the proposed application deadlines for MESF funding. Originally staff proposed January 31st and June 30th as the cut off dates to accept all applications, and March 1st and Sept 1st as the decision deadlines.

 

Moved by Councillor E. Shapero

Seconded by Councillor J. Webster

 

That the deadline for applications be moved to September 1st, 2004;

 

And that the committee at hand will make a decision on the applications at the next meeting (September 2nd, 2004);

 

And that the notification of MESF funding be publicly released on September 15th, 2004.

 

                                                            CARRIED

 

 

5.         TORONTO AND REGION CONSERVATION AUTHORITY

            (TRCA) - GREEN NEIGHBOURHOODS PROGRAM

 

Ms. Victoria McGrath, Manager, Environmental Leadership and Ms. Karen Boniface, Parks Planner updated the Committee on TRCA’s Green Neighbourhoods Program. Front yard awareness initiatives, garden tours (specifically the one to be held on August 8th, 2004), and public plantings for native plants have all been endorsed and are currently being promoted.

 

Coordination efforts were discussed regarding the launch of MESF and the Green Neighbourhoods Program. Members tentatively agreed to the date of October 2nd, 2004.

 

Moved by Councillor E. Shapero

Seconded by Councillor J. Webster

 

That the update provided by Ms. Victoria McGrath, Manager, Environmental Leadership and Ms. Karen Boniface, Parks Planner about the Green Neighbourhoods Program be received.

 

CARRIED

 

 

6.         THE ENVIRONMENTAL LAND ACQUISITION FUND (ELAF)

 

Ms. Lilli Duoba, Project Coordinator, Environmental Planning & Rouge Park, indicated that mapping was underway regarding priority lands identified for purchase by the Town and a model would be presented at a forthcoming meeting for the Committee’s consideration. Confirmation of the land securement process will also be discussed at the next meeting.

 

Committee discussed signage on newly acquired properties, and the feasibility of creating a logo for the fund. 

 

Moved by Regional Councillor J. Heath

Seconded by Councillor E. Shapero

 

That consideration of the templates for a priority map and land securement process be deferred until the next Committee meeting;

 

And that the Environmental Land Acquisition Fund (ELAF) be re-named and branded the "Markham Environmental Land Acquisition Fund" (MELAF).

 

CARRIED

 

Committee also discussed strategy relating to the Toronto Region Conservation Authority, its property and easements within the town.  It was agreed that this matter would be further discussed at a forthcoming meeting.  The Real Property Manager and Finance staff would be invited to attend.

 

 

 

 

7.         PROPERTY MATTER

 

Committee was advised that a piece of property, which is currently for sale, may be of interest to the Town.  It was suggested that the Real Property Manager be requested to provide further information on this property and that this matter be brought to the attention of Council at its meeting on June 30, 2004.

 

Moved by Regional Councillor J. Heath

Seconded by Councillor J. Webster

 

That staff be requested to provide details regarding a piece of property, currently for sale within the Town;

 

And that the matter be placed on the Committee of the Whole, In-Camera agenda on

June 30, 2004 to determine Council's interest.

CARRIED

 

 

8.         THREE STREAM IMPLEMENTATION

            COMMITTEE UPDATE

 

Regional Councillor J. Heath provided an update on the status of the Three Stream Implementation Project and reported that the official launch is on July 5th. He pointed out that the details and location are still yet to be determined. It was mentioned that the Three Stream project was still in a pilot stage and would not be functioning Town wide until 2005. By the summer of 2005 plastics 1-7 would be accepted and the program would be fully operational. The intent of the program was restated as reducing the amount of waste by separating garbage from recycling materials and kitchen organics.

 

Moved by Councillor E. Shapero

Seconded by Councillor J. Webster

 

That the update by Regional Councillor J. Heath regarding the Three Stream implementation project be received.

                                                                                                           

CARRIED

 

9.         NEW BUSINESS

 

None declared.

 

 

10.       DATE OF NEXT MEETING

 

Thursday, September 2nd, 2004. 2:00 p.m.

 

           

The third meeting of the Environmental Issues Committee adjourned at 4:35 p.m.