Minutes - Environmental Advisory Committee - 20240513
Town of Aurora
Environmental Advisory Committee
Meeting Minutes
Date:
Time:
Location:
Monday, May 13, 2024
7:00 p.m.
Holland Room, Aurora Town Hall
Committee Members: Councillor Wendy Gaertner (Vice Chair)
Nicole Arsenault
Shun Chen
Pippette Eibel
Denis Heng
Kristen Martens
Ken Turriff
Members Absent: Councillor Rachel Gilliland (Chair)
Alain Godin
Other Attendees: Natalie Kehle, Analyst, Energy and Climate Change
Emily Freitas, Council/Committee Coordinator
_____________________________________________________________________
1. Call to Order
The Chair called the meeting to order at 7:06 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
Environmental Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
Monday, May 13, 2024 2
Mississaugas and Chippewas, recognized through Treaty #13 and the Williams
Treaties of 1923.
3. Approval of the Agenda
Moved by Pippette Eibel
Seconded by Kristen Martens
That the agenda as circulated by Legislative Services be approved with the
addition of Jason Cheng as delegation 6.2.
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 April 15, 2024
Moved by Shun Chen
Seconded by Nicole Arsenault
1. That the Environmental Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of April
15, 2024, be received for information.
Carried
6. Delegations
6.1 Jason Cheng, Climate Action; Re: Invitation to Climate Action Townhall
Hosted by Climate Action Newmarket Aurora
Jason Cheng announced that Climate Action Newmarket Aurora will be
hosting the Climate Action Townhall will be taking place at the Newmarket
Legion on Wednesday May 29, 2024, at 7 p.m. Attendees will be able to
participate in a roundtable discussion on topics such as conscious
consumerism, smart energy choices, and activism.
Environmental Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
Monday, May 13, 2024 3
Moved by Kristen Martens
Seconded by Shun Chen
That the comments of the delegation be received for information.
Carried
7. Matters for Consideration
7.1 Memorandum from Energy and Climate Change Analyst; Re: 2024 Energy
Conservation and Demand Management Plan Draft Report
Staff discussed the Energy Conservation and Demand Management Plan
Draft Report and introduced Patrick Darby, Energy & Carbon Team
Manager, and Kayden Toffolo, Energy Engineering Intern, of WalterFedy,
who highlighted the accomplishments, data acquisitions, sustainable
building standards, and long-term goals to achieve net zero.
Staff highlighted their findings, including: the difficulty to collect waste
management data, how most emissions come from waste, using
information from fleet to pilot new projects, and how some recreational
buildings having greater emissions such as the Stronach Aurora
Recreation Complex having a 30% GHG impact, possibilities for external
funding for climate action projects, and feasibility studies accompanied by
the asset renewal strategy.
The Committee discussed the role of data to calculate how much waste
has been diverted such as dog waste, how the recommendations will be
used to stay on track of long-term goals, the use of space heaters,
alternative energy options, and if the report will be shared back to the
buildings that participated in the report. Staff noted that facilities play a
crucial role in the implementation process.
Moved by Ken Turriff
Seconded by Pippette Eibel
1. That the memorandum regarding the 2024 Energy Conservation and
Demand Management Plan Draft Report be received; and
2. That the Environmental Advisory Committee comments regarding the
2024 Energy Conservation and Demand Management Plan Draft
Environmental Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
Monday, May 13, 2024 4
Report be received and referred to staff for consideration and further
action as appropriate.
Carried
8. Informational Items
None.
9. New Business
None.
10. Adjournment
Moved by Nicole Arsenault
Seconded by Kristen Martens
That the meeting be adjourned at 8:02 p.m.
Carried