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MINUTES - Environmental Advisory Committee - 20140505 TOWN OF AURORA ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES Date: Monday, May 5, 2014 Time and Location: 7 p.m., Leksand Room, Aurora Town Hall Committee Members: Councillor Paul Pirri (Chair), Councillor John Gallo (Vice Chair), Larry Fedec, Judy Gilchrist, Danielle Howell, David Taillefer, David Tomlinson, and Svetoslava Topouzova Member(s) Absent: Gregory Cook Other Attendees: Christina Nagy-Oh, Program Manager, Environmental Initiatives, Anca Mihail, Manager of Engineering and Capital Delivery, Glen McArthur, Municipal Engineer, and Raylene Martell, Council/Committee Secretary The Chair called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. DECLARATION OF PECUNIARY INTEREST There were no declarations of pecuniary interest under the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Moved by Judy Gilchrist Seconded by Svetoslava Topouzova THAT the agenda as circulated by Legal and Legislative Services, with the following addition, be approved:  Delegation – Klaus Wehrenberg Re: Neighbourhood Garden CARRIED Environmental Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes Monday, May 5, 2014 Page 2 of 5 ADOPTION OF MINUTES Environmental Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of April 3, 2014 Moved by David Taillefer Seconded by Larry Fedec THAT the Environmental Advisory Committee meeting minutes of April 3, 2014 be adopted. CARRIED DELEGATIONS (a) Klaus Wehrenberg Re: Neighbourhood Garden Klaus Wehrenberg provided an overview on the benefits of neighbourhood gardening and requested that the committee support the establishment of neighbourhood gardens in Aurora parks. Moved by David Tomlinson Seconded by Svetoslava Topouzova THAT the comments of the delegate be received for information. CARRIED MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION 1. Memorandum from Municipal Engineer Re: Town of Aurora Comprehensive Stormwater Management Master Plan (CSWM-MP) Moved by Larry Fedec Seconded by David Taillefer THAT the memorandum regarding Town of Aurora Comprehensive Stormwater Management Master Plan (CSWM-MP) be received; and THAT the Environmental Advisory Committee recommend to Council: THAT Council consider adopting the Town of Aurora Comprehensive Stormwater Management Master Plan when it is presented to Council. CARRIED Environmental Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes Monday, May 5, 2014 Page 3 of 5 INFORMATIONAL ITEMS 2. Memorandum from the Supervisor of Parks Re: Self-Watering Planters and Hanging Baskets Moved by David Taillefer Seconded by Councillor Gallo THAT the memorandum regarding Self-Watering Planters and Hanging Baskets be received for information. CARRIED 3. Memorandum from the Program Manager, Environmental Initiatives Re: Invasive Species Removal Moved by Judy Gilchrist Seconded by David Tomlinson THAT the memorandum regarding Invasive Species Removal be received; and THAT the Environmental Advisory Committee recommend to Council: THAT staff be directed to develop a long-term plan for dealing with Invasive Phragmites. CARRIED 4. Meeting Extract regarding EAC14-04 – Environmental Advisory Committee Report of April 3, 2014 Moved by David Tomlinson Seconded by Councillor Gallo THAT the meeting extract regarding EAC14-04 – Environmental Advisory Committee Report of April 3, 2014 be received for information. CARRIED Environmental Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes Monday, May 5, 2014 Page 4 of 5 5. Pending List Moved by David Taillefer Seconded by Judy Gilchrist THAT the Pending List be received for information as amended to include a requested response date of February 2015 to item 6 and to change the Action Department to PRS in item 5. CARRIED NEW BUSINESS Ms. Gilchrist inquired whether a motion was required to direct staff to prepare a report on community gardens. Councillor Pirri advised that Council had previously endorsed this as a primary focus of the Committee and that he would provide information to the Director of Parks and Recreation to facilitate moving forward on this initiative. Mr. Tomlinson requested that other types of invasive species be included in the long- term plan that was requested with respect to item 3. Moved by David Tomlinson Seconded by Judy Gilchrist THAT the Environmental Advisory Committee recommend to Council: THAT staff be directed to develop a long term-plan for dealing with dog- strangling vine. CARRIED The Program Manager, Environmental Initiatives requested that the Committee provide further clarification regarding item 2 in relation to supplementing the purchase of self- watering planters and hanging baskets from the Environmental Reserve Fund. Moved by David Taillefer Seconded by Judy Gilchrist THAT the Environmental Advisory Committee recommend to Council: THAT the Environmental Reserve Fund be used to cover the cost difference for initiating the first phase of the self-watering container project in the amount of $8000. CARRIED Environmental Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes Monday, May 5, 2014 Page 5 of 5 Ms. Topouzova advised that the Town had requested options from the community on uses for the Petch house. She noted that she would provide information on her proposal to use the Petch House as an environmentally friendly community greenhouse, and requested its inclusion on the next Environmental Advisory Committee meeting agenda. She also noted that she would be hosting a Defend our Climate walk on May 10 at 1 p.m. in support of the local environment, and would forward the invitation to Committee members. Mr. Tomlinson provided an update to the committee on the meeting with Infrastructure and Environmental Services regarding swallow nesting platforms and advised that three culverts were chosen as sites for installation for the pilot project. He also advised that there is still nearly a mile of silt fencing on the west side of the Nature Reserve that should be removed by the developer. The Program Manager, Environmental Initiatives advised that she would speak to staff about the issue. Mr. Tomlinson notified the Committee that there is a cracked dam on the North Pond in the Nature Reserve that is breached and requested that staff have a look at it before it becomes a more serious issue. ADJOURNMENT Moved by Judy Gilchrist Seconded by Larry Fedec THAT the meeting be adjourned at 8:23 p.m. CARRIED THE REPORT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING OF MAY 5, 2014 RECEIVED APPROVAL BY GENERAL COMMITTEE ON MAY 20, 2014 AND FINAL COUNCIL ENDORSEMENT OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS ON MAY 27, 2014.