City of Burlington Burlington Sustainable Development Committee (SDC) Meeting 7-15

Transcription

1 City of Burlington Burlington Sustainable Development Committee (SDC) Meeting 7-15 Date of Meeting: Wednesday, September 16 th, 2015 Time of Meeting: 7:00 p.m. Place of Meeting: Room 247, Burlington City Hall Members Present: Gareth Williams (chair), Jim Feilders (vice-chair), Herb Sinnock, Guy Sheppard, Om Bhargava, Carolyn Barnes, Tim Park, John Thompson, Henry Onah, Julian Riano, & Councillor Sharman, Others Present: Albert Faccenda (alt), Anthony Zhou (alt), and Lynn Robichaud (staff) Regrets: Annie Szczygielski, Neeraj Bhalla, Emma DeFields, Michael Leone (alt), Sumit Kumar Tangri, & Katherine Miller Minutes Agenda Item Presenter Description Results/Actions 1. Welcome Gareth 2. Approval of Minutes Gareth 2 minutes For meeting 6-15 held June 17 th, 2015 Approved 3. Items of Interest Updates from previous events - All 5 minutes City unveiled its first EV charging station (on city property) at the parking garage about 3 weeks ago. Herb provided an update on the BEDC s consultation with the SDC on their visioning exercise. Current issues: how to attract youth to the city; preservation of the rural area; and connectivity to Hamilton. Guy attended a session on the development of employment lands. Should we aim high for future growth targets? How should intensification happen? Another group looked at infrastructure. BEDC developing an action plan and will provide more information. 1

2 Upcoming events - All 5 minutes Sept. 15 Oct 30 th Think Outside the Car social media campaign challenge 3 people to take a trip using a sustainable transportation option. Sept 17 th Movie Screening Bike City, Great City; 7:30 Burlington Performing Arts Centre Sept 18 th Net Zero Home tour for SDC members; 2:00 p.m. in Guelph, Reid s Heritage Homes Sept 20 th Burlington Bike Festival; 1:00 3:00 Spencer Smith Park by the gazebo September 23 rd BurlingtonGreen Eco film Dirt; 7:00 Central Library September 29 th Burlington Hydro Co gen 11:30, BH Office on Brant Street September 30 th SDC Library Event Could your next car be electric?; 7:00 Central Library October 10 th Kerncliff Park Tree Planting by Cootes to Escarpment; 10:00 12:00 with BBQ lunch October 22 nd City of Burlington Open House for Advisory Committees; 6:30 8:00 City Hall October 23 rd Clean Air Council Summit; 9:00 Toronto City Hall, Council Chambers November 3 rd Inspire Burlington Take Action Burlington Climate Change event with David Miller; 6:00 9:00 p.m., RBG 4. Staff/Council Updates Cllr. Sharman - 5 mins Coyotes are an issue in SE Burlington. City looking at options to deal with them. There was a discussion about climate change and the 2014 flood event, with funding Invite Frank McKeown to next meeting to present on the economic visioning exercise. 2

3 approved for mitigation and adaptation. City can become more resilient through sustainability actions. Need a BHAG (big hairy audacious goal) City could become carbon neutral in 35 years. Based on a University of Arizona goal. Actions could include neighbourhood composting facilities; electric transit; sustainable transportation, etc. Need to get out of cars - requires local jobs, affordable housing and entertainment (vibrancy) to attract 25 to 35 year olds. Affordable housing is a big issue. Build at higher density to ensure affordable housing. Lots of discussion on this issue and relationship to economic development. City is doing its due diligence with strategic planning & economic vision. Lynn Robichaud 5mins Staff hosted a Transportation MP workshop in June with council. Needs more innovation. Old ideas presented. Lynn provided an update on membership. Only one position confirmed open for Provided information about the Hamilton Burlington Trails Council which Burlington participates with other agencies and groups to share information about local trails and work collectively to promote them. City is working at improving neighbourhood engagement. Programs such as Love your Hood have been successful. Target was 5 Members asked to Lynn & Gareth if they are considering stepping down from the committee at the end of this year. 3

4 participating neighbourhood events and 11 took place this year. City considering decentralizing services, creating neighbourhood committees and presenting a matching fund to council for approval to support local initiatives. 5. Business Arising from the Minutes 6. Awareness Sub- Committee Update Fleur is back from maternity leave and will be providing support to the Awareness subcommittee. All SDC member profiles. Remind members to submit profiles before next meeting. Carolyn 10 minutes September 18 th Net Zero Home tour. Reid Heritage homes has developed a LEED neighbourhood in Cambridge. September 30 th Library Event EV information session. Plug n Drive speaking; test drive EVs; panel of EV owners. Well publicized. 10 confirmed for net zero home tour in Guelph Reid Heritage Homes. Invite him to speak to committee. Members are encouraged to bring 1 or 2 people. October 22 nd Everyone is invited to the Advisory Committee Open House at City Hall. SDC will have a table and display to promote the committee. 7. P&D Sub- Committee Update Guy 10 minutes Have developed some questions for Maranatha like: Explain the building design? Why are they on board with green? What barriers did they face? How did they make decisions regarding sustainable issues? Waiting for a response from Maranatha homes. Some discussion regarding sharing Burlington s process and green principles with other advisory committees (in other municipalities). Work together to advocate to the province. Some questions need to answer: How to get 4

5 other builders to build green? How to get public interest? Should work with Awareness on this issue. Developed a new template with planning staff so SDC comments on development applications will be consistent. Using 2085 Pine Street development to test it. Council looking for more feedback on projects from a broader group of agencies, not necessarily on regulatory issues. 8. Other Business Carolyn Jim 5 minutes Reviewed OPR Policy Brief - Parkland Dedication and comments will be summarized for review at next P&D meeting. Review of SDC Principles & Objectives New brochure template. Missing info on climate change and adaptation; transportation and energy; stormwater management, etc. Info is dated and needs to be revised. Need to decide whether to revise and update the brochure vs starting from scratch. Burlington Post article Hyundai Sonata. Jim has prepared a response to the Burlington Post article that is positive about the benefits of electric vehicles. Carolyn & Herb to lead at team to review and update; will review it at the end of Awareness meetings. Lynn to share with City s Communications staff for comment prior to it being submitted to the Post. 9. Reports from External Sub- Committees & Conferences Gareth -2 minutes Herb & Lynn -2 minutes Halton Environmental Network still looking for a new Executive Director Community Energy Plan Lynn advised that the feasibility study to consider community energy systems in Burlington such as district 5

6 Jim - 2 minutes 10. Adjournment Gareth 8:55 p.m. energy is underway. BurlingtonGreen hold their meetings at the Hive office. Space is owned by Dr. Shih. Great location for meeting. BG has a new website. Membership fees are increasing. Ont Trillium fund working on sustainable development initiative. Upcoming meeting dates: Policy & Development Sub-committee Wednesday, October 7 th, Room 307 7:00 p.m. Awareness Sub-committee Wednesday, October 14 th, Room 305 7:00 p.m. Committee of the Whole Wednesday, October 21 st Room 247 6