MINUTES - Environmental Advisory Committee - 20171005
Town of Aurora
Environmental Advisory Committee
Meeting Minutes
Date: Thursday, October 5, 2017
Time and Location: 7 p.m., Leksand Room, Aurora Town Hall
Committee Members: Councillor Paul Pirri (Chair), Irene Clement, Larry Fedec,
Melville James, Sara Varty, Nancee Webb, and Kristina
Zeromskiene
Member(s) Absent: Councillor Tom Mrakas (Vice Chair) and Jennifer Sault
Other Attendees: Christina Nagy-Oh, Program Manager, Environmental
Initiatives, and Linda Bottos, Council/Committee Secretary
The Chair called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m.
1. Approval of the Agenda
Moved by Nancee Webb
Seconded by Irene Clement
That the agenda as circulated by Legislative Services, with the following addition,
be approved:
• Item 4 – Correspondence from Toronto and Region Conservation Authority
(TRCA) dated September 29, 2017; Re: Appointments to the TRCA Regional
Watershed Alliance 2017-2021
Carried
2. Declarations of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof
There were no declarations of pecuniary interest under the Municipal Conflict of
Interest Act.
Environmental Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
Thursday, October 5, 2017 Page 2 of 5
3. Receipt of the Minutes
Environmental Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of June 15, 2017
Moved by Sara Varty
Seconded by Kristina Zeromskiene
That the Environmental Advisory Committee meeting minutes of June 15, 2017, be
received for information.
Carried
4. Delegations
None
5. Matters for Consideration
1. Memorandum from Program Manager, Environmental Initiatives
Re: Corporate Environmental Action Plan (CEAP) Update
Staff provided background and a brief overview of the memorandum and
CEAP Update, and noted that the Community Energy Plan would be
developed over the next two years.
The Committee inquired about funding and resources, discussed various
aspects of the CEAP Update, and made suggestions including the addition of
implementation timelines, departmental assignments, prioritization,
identification of recipients of outreach, outreach and education regarding
invasive species, creation of a community environment component, inclusion
of targets in addition to indicators, and more information on healthy and safe
routes to schools.
Moved by Nancee Webb
Seconded by Sara Varty
1. That the memorandum regarding Corporate Environmental Action Plan
(CEAP) Update be received; and
Environmental Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
Thursday, October 5, 2017 Page 3 of 5
2. That the comments and suggestions of the Committee be referred to staff
for consideration and action as appropriate.
Carried
6. Informational Items
2. Memorandum from Program Manager, Environmental Initiatives
Re: Corporate Environmental Action Plan (CEAP) Progress Report 2016
Staff provided background and a brief overview of the memorandum.
The Committee requested clarification on several initiatives, and staff agreed
to provide more detail to the Committee regarding the ongoing vegetation
management and protection initiatives for new subdivision development areas
and the ongoing ecological integrity monitoring of natural heritage areas within
2C development lands.
Moved by Larry Fedec
Seconded by Melville James
1. That the memorandum regarding Corporate Environmental Action Plan
(CEAP) Progress Report 2016 be received for information.
Carried
3. Extract from Council Meeting of September 12, 2017
Re: Environmental Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of June 15,
2017
Moved by Nancee Webb
Seconded by Irene Clement
1. That the Extract from Council Meeting of September 12, 2017, regarding
the Environmental Advisory Committee meeting minutes of June 15, 2017,
be received for information.
Carried
Environmental Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
Thursday, October 5, 2017 Page 4 of 5
4. Correspondence from Toronto and Region Conservation Authority
(TRCA) dated September 29, 2017
Re: Appointments to the TRCA Regional Watershed Alliance 2017-2021
The Chair noted that the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority is
seeking an Aurora municipal representative to participate on the Regional
Watershed Alliance. Staff advised that Aurora’s watershed comprises two
percent of the total watershed area, and encouraged anyone interested to
contact the Clerk’s Office by noon on October 6, 2017.
Moved by Kristina Zeromskiene
Seconded by Larry Fedec
1. That the Correspondence from Toronto and Region Conservation
Authority (TRCA) dated September 29, 2017, regarding Appointments to
the TRCA Regional Watershed Alliance 2017-2021, be received for
information.
Carried
7. New Business
The Committee inquired about available grants in relation to the eradication of
invasive plant species, and staff provided an update.
The Committee inquired about the disposition of items picked up in the Town’s
monthly textile collection, and staff provided an update.
The Committee inquired about the status of the planned nature reserve in the 2C
lands. The Chair and staff agreed to follow up on the matter and provide an
update at the next meeting.
The Committee noted that the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario has
recently released a report, Beyond the Blue Box – Ontario’s Fresh Start on Waste
Diversion and the Circular Economy, which is available on the ECO website,
eco.on.ca/our-reports/special-reports.
Environmental Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
Thursday, October 5, 2017 Page 5 of 5
8. Adjournment
Moved by Larry Fedec
Seconded by Sara Varty
That the meeting be adjourned at 8:09 p.m.
Carried
Committee recommendations are not binding on the Town unless adopted by Council.