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EAC ACTIVITIES UPDATE                                                       Spring, 2004

From the Environmental Advisory Committee,                                             Volume III, Issue 1

City of Ottawa

 

The EAC Activities Update is published approximately every six months to provide a brief overview to members of the EAC Network of Community Experts and Volunteers of the EAC's recent activities, current topics of interest and upcoming events.  Detailed minutes and agendas of all EAC meetings can be found on the City web site (by following the links from http://www.ottawa.ca/cgi-bin/docs.pl?lang=en).

 

 

 

A NEW COUNCIL –

A NEW COUNCIL LIAISON

 

 

With a new Council elected in Ottawa in November 2003, a new Councilor was appointed as Council Liaison to the EAC. We welcome Councilor Rob Jellett, Cumberland Ward, as our newest non-voting member.

 

Thank you to former Councilors Wendy Stewart and Phil McNeely for their contributions to the EAC in our first two years.

 

 

ADDING “GREENSPACE” TO THE FORESTS ADVISORY COMMITTEE’S MANDATE

 

 

In the fall of 2003, the City undertook a Governance Review, which resulted in a few changes to its Standing and Advisory Committees, some of which affect the work of the EAC:

1.      The EAC now reports to the Planning and Environment Committee, which is responsible for environmental protection and policy issues, the Community Environmental Grants Program, piped services, water supply, solid waste management and disposal and water pollution control.

2.      The newly-expanded mandate of the “Forests and Greenspace Advisory Committee” means the protection of greenspace in Ottawa will receive the attention of two advisory committees. Discussions are underway to ensure that our committees collaborate closely to prevent overlap and maximize efficiency and effectiveness.

 

 

GETTING INVOLVED IN THE CITY’S BUDGET REVIEW

 

 

The 2004 Budget has received a great deal of attention over the past few months. Heading into Council deliberations on March 24th, the EAC prepared a report, entitled Preserving Our Environment Within Budget, based on our review of budget documents. The report outlined four recommendations for protecting the environment, human health and, thus, the quality of life of Ottawa residents:

 

  1. That Council recognize the business case benefits of a triple bottom line approach (economic prosperity, environmental stewardship and social responsibility) as essential to the development of a sustainable community and direct staff to apply to participate as one of the model communities in the Natural Step Canada’s Sustainable Communities Program.

 

  1. That Council approve a tax increase large enough to ‘buy back’ those critical services that will protect, and where possible enhance, the quality of life of the citizens of Ottawa as embodied in the seven principles and the approved plans of the Ottawa 20/20 Growth Management Strategy or find the funds through other means to achieve the same objective.

 

  1. That Council use a portion of the tax increase to ‘buy back’ both the 60% ($634K) cut to environmental policy and program development and the 50% ($922K) reduced funding for Official Plan policy implementation.

 

  1. That the remainder of the tax increase be used to “buy back” those programs and initiatives that Council judges to have the most value to the citizens of Ottawa based on balancing the economic, environmental and social priorities of the community.  In the case of cuts affecting the environment, a basic Environmental Assessment should be carried out to consider both the short and long term impacts of any cut or delay to previously existing or planned programs, and priorities should then be set accordingly.

 

While there were clearly some disappointments with the final outcomes of the budget  from an
environmental point of view, the EAC is pleased that a new  Environmental Management Division (25 FTEs), has been created within the Planning,
Environment & Infrastructure Policy Branch.  This has the advantage of consolidating environmental responsibilities in one place within the corporation which should provide a more effective focus on environmental issues as we move forward.

 

For a copy of the full report, please contact our committee coordinator.

 

 

DESIGNING OTTAWA’S COMMUNITIES

 

 

In the Official Plan, the City of Ottawa committed itself to “an approach to collaborative community building that emphasizes shared values and mutual obligation and builds trust and responsibility within the community”. As part of this process, it promised to work with “community, landowners, local businesses, school boards and other interested parties on community design plans that will be the backbone of any significant change in a community”.

 

The City is currently in the early stages of a “community design planning exercise” for the Riverside South Community, and the EAC will soon be submitting preliminary recommendations related to, among other things, green development, transit and roads, woodlots, wildlife and biodiversity, trees and other vegetation, public spaces, and the design and location of schools.

 

In addition to specific recommendations related to the community design plan (CDP) for Riverside South, the EAC is working on a primer that could be used in future CDP exercises to flag “environmental” issues for consideration.

 

More information on the EAC’s involvement in the City’s CDP exercises will be available in the future. For an update (or for copies of the EAC’s documents when they are completed), please contact our committee coordinator.

 

 

GETTING ORGANIZED AND GETTING DOWN TO WORK

 

 

At our January meeting, the EAC approved its 2004 Workplan, including a matrix of working groups, liaisons and topic experts, to define and organize our activities over the next year.

 

As Major Environmental Theme Working Groups, we have identified: (1) Human Health & Safety, (2) Air Quality, Energy & Climate Change, (3) Water and (4) Waste Management.

 

As Crosscutting Initiatives, we have set up working groups for: (1) Community Involvement / Communications, (2) Environmental Strategy & Ottawa 20/20 Plans, (3) Development Application Reviews, and (4) City Report Card / Quality of Life Indicators.

 

In order to coordinate effectively with other advisory committees, we have identified liaisons for the Forests and Greenspace Advisory Committee and the Transportation Advisory Committee.

 

Lastly, we have identified our own “experts” in the areas of (1) biodiversity & wildlife, (2) environmental futures, (3) food security, and (4) multilateral environmental initiatives.

 

As our working groups become involved in specific activities, we would like to expand their memberships to include some of the “experts” in our network. Please get in touch with our committee coordinator if you are interested in one or more of our working groups.

 

 

THE EAC’S “HOW-TO” GUIDE

FOR DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION REVIEWS

 

 

Over the first two years of our existence, we have found that EAC is called upon often to review applications for development and provide advice to City staff and councilors based on our environmental expertise.

At our recent meetings, we reviewed, revised and approved the EAC process for our review of development applications. To facilitate the implementation of this process, we have divided our own membership to match the organization of City planners, identifying reviewers for the West, East, South and Central parts of the City. We are also aware of and make use of the expertise of individual committee members (i.e., related to water quality, hazardous materials, biodiversity) in preparing comments on development proposals.

 

As part of our Development Application Review Process, we have included a step for consultation with stakeholders and experts. It is our hope that, over time, we can rely on our “network” to help us identify the environmental issues to be considered in reviews of proposed developments. If you are interested in helping with our reviews of development applications, please contact our committee coordinator. Please identify the ward(s) with which you are familiar and your particular areas of expertise or interest as they relate to development applications.

 

 

HOW CAN YOU

GET INVOLVED?

 

 

A number of you have been following the activities of the EAC and have been part of our network of community experts and volunteers for some time. We are still making adjustments to the database, but hope to be able to start making better use of it – and of you – over the next year.

 

Now that we have identified working groups and approved our Development Application Review Process, we are starting to identify opportunities for your involvement in our ongoing activities. Please get in touch with our committee coordinator if you would like to contribute to one or more of our working groups or get involved with our reviews of development applications.

 

 

To help us keep our database up-to-date, please make sure that you have filled in a Participation Form. (Contact our committee coordinator to receive a form.

 

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OCS NEEDS VOLUNTEERS

 

The Ottawa Stewardship Council (OSC) works to promote and maintain a healthy environment.  OSC volunteers - with the assistance of a full-time Coordinator - plan and implement projects to ensure a sustainable environment in the City of Ottawa.

The volunteer, community-based OSC is one of 40 Councils established and funded through the Ontario Stewardship Program.  To find out how you can participate contact the OSC at:

www.ontariostewardship.org/ottawa

Box 5524 Dickinson St., Box 599, Manotick, Ontario K4M 1A5      (613) 692-0014

 

 

WHAT’S KEEPING US BUSY?

 

 

EAC Issues

 

The EAC has become involved in numerous other environmental issues brought to our attention through presentations by City staff, Ottawa citizens or otherwise. These include:

 

§         On-site wastewater treatment initiatives

 

§         Ottawa Riverkeeper

 

§         “School grounds greening” model

 

§         Landfill gas – co-generation plan

 

§         Blue box recycling program

 

§         Fleet Emissions Reduction Strategy

 

Review of Policy, Zoning and Development Application Requests

 

One of the key tasks assigned to the EAC by Ottawa City Council is to provide expert advice and opinion on development proposals and plans presented to the City for approval.  From August 2003 to March 2004, the EAC has received 38 land development applications and/or proposals.  The EAC has submitted comments and recommendations to 19 of the related development applications, and has determined not to provide comments to nine (9) of these applications.  The remaining 10 are still under review with the EAC.

 

 

 

LOOKING FORWARD

 

 

§         Latest on Green Roof Technology

 

Tuesday, May 11th  2004

8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Canada Post Conference Centre

2701 Riverside Drive (North Tower)

 

Hear about benefits, market development, native plants, & winning designs from leading Green Roof experts.  Also, discuss with local government reps: climate change, storm water issues, greening the downtown core, air quality and urban heat island. (Fee: $160, Students $80) To register: www.greenroofs.org

 

§         School Grounds Greening Workshops

 

Sunday, May 23rd 2004

8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Fletcher Wildlife Garden

Canadian Biodiversity Institute School Grounds Transformation Programme

 

Learn how to transform barren expanses of asphalt and worn grass into nurturing, bio- diverse outdoor classrooms and healthy, enjoyable play and social spaces that connect children with Nature, improve their quality of life, enhance their learning experiences, protect them from health hazards such as over-exposure to UV radiation, and air and noise pollution, and reduce schoolyard accident levels and anti-social behaviours. 

 

For more information and or to register, contact Ann Coffey ann.coffey@schoolgrounds.ca

 

§        EAC Meetings

 

At our monthly meetings, the EAC provides an opportunity for community groups or citizens to present important environmental issues related to the City’s development and operations. The EAC meets on the second Thursday of every month.

 

 

For further information on EAC activities, contact committee coordinator, Tania Richard

(580-2424 x29081, Tania.Richard@ottawa.ca).

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§         EAC Members:

David Biggs

Christopher Braeuel

Lynne Bricker

Ann Coffey

Ronald Denault

Mary Hegan, Vice-Chair

Bruce Hollands

Paul Koch, Chair

Caroline Ladanowski

Tim Marta

Jean O’Brien

Bill Pugsley

Sophie Sommerer

Susan Springthorpe

Lori Warren

 

Councillor Rob Jellett (Non-Voting)

 

§         EAC Reserve Members:

Matthew Hough

Caroline Gélineault

John Critchley

 

§         EAC Staff Resources:

Cynthia Levesque (Staff Liaison,

Planning and Development)

Michel Chevalier (Staff Liaison, Transportation, Utilities and Public Works)

Tania Richard (Committee Coordinator)