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MINUTES - Environmental Advisory Committee - 20140206 TOWN OF AURORA ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES Date: Thursday, February 6, 2014 Time and Location: 7 p.m., Leksand Room, Aurora Town Hall Committee Members: Gregory Cook, Larry Fedec, Judy Gilchrist, Danielle Howell, David Taillefer, David Tomlinson, and Svetoslava Topouzova Member(s) Absent: Councillor Paul Pirri (Chair), and Councillor John Gallo (Vice Chair) Other Attendees: Christina Nagy-Oh, Program Manager, Environmental Initiatives, and Raylene Martell, Council/Committee Secretary The Program Manager, Environmental Initiatives called the meeting to order at 7:07 p.m. Moved by David Tomlinson Seconded by Gregory Cook THAT Judy Gilchrist be elected as Acting Chair for this meeting. CARRIED DECLARATION OF PECUNIARY INTEREST There were no declarations of pecuniary interest under the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Moved by Larry Fedec Seconded by David Tomlinson THAT the agenda as circulated by the Legal and Legislative Services Department be approved. CARRIED Environmental Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes Thursday, February 6, 2014 Page 2 of 5 ADOPTION OF MINUTES Environmental Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of December 5, 2013 Moved by David Tomlinson Seconded by David Taillefer THAT the Environmental Advisory Committee meeting minutes of December 5, 2013 be adopted as amended. CARRIED DELEGATIONS (a) Dave Douglas, VisionQuest Environmental Strategies Corp. Re: Item 3 – Extracts from Council Meeting of Tuesday, January 21, 2014 and Report IES14-006 – Implementation of a Clear Bag Waste Program Mr. Douglas presented information on the implementation of a Clear Bag Waste Program for the Town of Aurora. He advised that Markham currently attained an 85 percent diversion rate with their Clear Bag Waste Program and he provided clarification with regard to the use of privacy bags and retail availability of clear bags. Moved by David Tomlinson Seconded by Larry Fedec THAT the comments of the delegate be received and referred to Item 3. CARRIED (b) Kate Greavette, York Region Food Charter Working Group Re: York Region Food Charter Ms. Greavette provided information with regard to the Food Charter within York Region, highlighting the work that has been done to date including instituting community gardens and education programs. Moved by David Taillefer Seconded by Larry Fedec THAT the comments of the delegate be received; and THAT the Environmental Advisory Committee recommend to Council: THAT Council endorse the York Region Food Charter. CARRIED Environmental Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes Thursday, February 6, 2014 Page 3 of 5 MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION 1. Memorandum from the Program Manager, Environmental Initiatives Re: Green Purchasing Best Practices Part A Moved by David Tomlinson Seconded by Danielle Howell THAT the memorandum regarding Green Purchasing Best Practices Part A be received; and THAT the Environmental Advisory Committee recommend to Council: THAT Council endorse the Greening Greater Toronto Green Purchasing Guide as a basis for the development of a Town of Aurora Green Purchasing Guide. CARRIED Larry Fedec left the meeting at 8:42 p.m. 2. Extracts from Council Meeting of Tuesday, January 21, 2014 and Report IES14- 006 – Implementation of a Clear Bag Waste Program Moved by Danielle Howell Seconded by David Tomlinson THAT the Extracts from Council Meeting of Tuesday, January 21, 2014 and report IES14-006 – Implementation of a Clear Bag Waste Program be received; and THAT the Environmental Advisory Committee recommend that the Clear Bag Waste Program be approved by Council. CARRIED INFORMATIONAL ITEMS 3. Memorandum from the Program Manager, Environmental Initiatives Re: CEAP Progress Report 2013 Update Moved by David Taillefer Seconded by Svetoslava Topouzova THAT the memorandum regarding CEAP Progress Report 2013 Update be received for information. CARRIED Environmental Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes Thursday, February 6, 2014 Page 4 of 5 4. Memorandum from the Program Manager, Environmental Initiatives Re: Smart Commute Workplace Designation for 2014 Moved by David Tomlinson Seconded by Svetoslava Topouzova THAT the memorandum regarding Smart Commute Workplace Designation for 2014 be received for information. CARRIED 5. Arboretum News – Fall/Winter 2013/2014 Moved by Gregory Cook Seconded by Svetoslava Topouzova THAT the Arboretum News – Fall/Winter 2013/2014 be received for information. CARRIED 6. Pending List – Environmental Advisory Committee Moved by David Tomlinson Seconded by Gregory Cook THAT the updated Pending List be received for information. CARRIED NEW BUSINESS Gregory Cook advised that he had spoken with a member of the public who expressed an interest in the provision of water services in a location to support the Farmers’ Market. He also advised that he had noticed a Town of Aurora request for proposal regarding the engineering of culverts which may be relevant to David Tomlinson and his meeting scheduled in April. Mr. Cook provided information on an event he had attended in January entitled “Environmental Technology Verification“. Mr. Cook also advised that he had spoken with Mr. James Conrad, VP Corporate Accounts, regarding green procurement practices and provided the contact information to the Program Manager, Environmental Initiatives. Moved by David Tomlinson Seconded by Gregory Cook THAT the meeting proceed past 9 p.m. CARRIED Environmental Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes Thursday, February 6, 2014 Page 5 of 5 Svetoslava Topouzova advised that she would like to add the following three items to the Green Purchasing Plan Baseline: • Boulevard Trees; and • Alternative operations management for garbage collection in the Town; and • Installing battery recycling boxes at retail stores in Aurora. Ms. Topouzova inquired about the status of the Citizen Environmental Action Plan and requested that it be brought back to this Committee. She also advised that she attended a meeting held by York Region regarding the Oak Ridges Moraine and the Green Belt. Mr. Tomlinson advised that he had resigned as the Environmental Advisory Committee representative on the Trails and Active Transportation Committee and inquired about the process for replacement. The Program Manager, Environmental Initiatives advised the Committee that the agenda has been set for the Regional EAC Informational Forum to be held March 6, 2014. Mr. Tomlinson advised that there is a problem with invasive Phragmites in the Nature Reserve, the Wildlife Park and the Arboretum. The Program Manager, Environmental Initiatives advised that she would invite a representative from Parks and Recreation Services to attend the next meeting. ADJOURNMENT Moved by Danielle Howell Seconded by David Taillefer THAT the meeting be adjourned at 9:18 p.m. CARRIED THE REPORT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING OF FEBRUARY 6, 2014 RECEIVED APPROVAL BY GENERAL COMMITTEE ON FEBRUARY 18, 2014 AND FINAL COUNCIL ENDORSEMENT OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS ON FEBRUARY 25, 2014 WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE MOTION REGARDING DELEGATION (B), ITEM 1 AND ITEM 2 WHICH WERE ALL REFERRED BACK TO THE COMMITTEE.