Minutes - Environmental Advisory Committee - 20240415
Town of Aurora
Environmental Advisory Committee
Meeting Minutes
Date:
Time:
Location:
Monday, April 15, 2024
7:00 p.m.
Holland Room, Aurora Town Hall
Committee Members: Councillor Rachel Gilliland (Chair)
Councillor Wendy Gaertner (Vice Chair)
Nicole Arsenault
Shun Chen
Pippette Eibel
Alain Godin
Denis Heng
Kristen Martens
Ken Turriff
Other Attendees: Natalie Kehle, Analyst, Energy and Climate Change
Linda Bottos, Council/Committee Coordinator
_____________________________________________________________________
1. Call to Order
The Chair called the meeting to order at 7 p.m.
2. Land Acknowledgement
The Committee acknowledged that the meeting took place on Anishinaabe lands,
the traditional and treaty territory of the Chippewas of Georgina Island,
recognizing the many other Nations whose presence here continues to this day,
the special relationship the Chippewas have with the lands and waters of this
territory, and that Aurora has shared responsibility for the stewardship of these
lands and waters. It was noted that Aurora is part of the treaty lands of the
Mississaugas and Chippewas, recognized through Treaty #13 and the Williams
Treaties of 1923.
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Monday, April 15, 2024
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3. Approval of the Agenda
Moved by Alain Godin
Seconded by Nicole Arsenault
That the agenda as circulated by Legislative Services be approved.
Carried
4. Declarations of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof
There were no declarations of pecuniary interest under the Municipal Conflict of
Interest Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. M.50.
5. Receipt of the Minutes
5.1 Environmental Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of February 26, 2024
Moved by Ken Turriff
Seconded by Denis Heng
1. That the Environmental Advisory Committee meeting minutes of
February 26, 2024, be received for information.
Carried
6. Delegations
None.
7. Matters for Consideration
7.1 Memorandum from Energy and Climate Change Analyst; Re: 2024 Energy
Conservation and Demand Management Plan Draft Report Presentation
Patrick Darby, Energy & Carbon Team Manager, and Kayden Toffolo,
Energy Engineering Intern, of WalterFedy presented the Energy
Conservation and Demand Management Plan (ECDMP), highlighting key
topics including: the project targets and milestones, the addition of PCP
Environmental Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
Monday, April 15, 2024
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Milestone 1-3 to the plan, the corporate assets including town-owned
facilities and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from solid waste, new
targets implemented into the plan including 20% reduction in GHG
emissions from 2018 and a net zero goal by 2050, and the change in GHG
emissions since the 2019 ECDMP targets were established. They further
discussed the breakdown of the Town's corporate emission profile,
including utility use trends such as natural gas and electricity, the
percentage of corporate GHG emissions from town facilities, and planned
projects included in the ECDMP, including short term, medium term, and
long term. They concluded with additional recommendations, highlighting
energy performance monitoring, investigating low-carbon electricity
generation opportunities, and purchasing carbon offsets to meet GHG
reduction targets, then identified the progress towards goals.
Staff commented on the progress made from the previous ECDMP,
highlighting the focus on GHG reduction practices, collecting and tracking
significant data including from fleet, waste and public lighting, the shift
towards decarbonization, and the acquisition of new properties and their
contributions towards the emission profile and assets.
The Committee discussed the newly designed Aurora Town Square and its
environmental design features, the improvement of targets set in the
ECDMP, possibility of alternative energy methods such as hydrogen and
microgrids, sustainability building standards to reduce GHG emissions
and reach net zero, how carbon offsets can be successful as an
alternative recommendation. They further discussed how the Town pays a
carbon charge based on emissions in the natural gas bills, the introduction
of a waste audit and where corporate waste is being disposed, and how
the short term plans will be incorporated in the budget process.
The Committee also sought clarification on the electricity consumption
reductions from the wastewater pumping stations since 2018 and how pet
waste diversion is included in the plan, and expressed concerns regarding
the Ontario grid electricity security with the electrification of Town fleet
and buildings system, the need for more alternative energy sources such
as waste-heat recovery, Town employee shift in habits to conserve energy
Environmental Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
Monday, April 15, 2024
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and need for employee buy-in, and investments needed at Town Hall to
address occupancy comfort and improved lighting controls.
Moved by Kristen Martens
Seconded by Pippette Eibel
1. That the memorandum regarding the 2024 Energy Conservation and
Demand Management Plan Draft Report Presentation be received; and
2. That the Environmental Advisory Committee comments regarding the
2024 Energy Conservation and Demand Management Plan Draft
Report Presentation be received and referred to staff for consideration
and further action as appropriate.
Carried
8. Informational Items
None.
9. New Business
The Committee announced that the Town's Annual Spring Community Clean Up
will be taking place on Saturday, April 20, 2024.
Staff announced that the Electric Vehicle Showcase will be taking place at
Stronach Aurora Recreation Complex on Sunday, April 28, 2024.
10. Adjournment
Moved by Alain Godin
Seconded by Nicole Arsenault
That the meeting be adjourned at 8:54 p.m.
Carried