Environmental Advisory Committee Comité consultatif sur l’environnement MINUTES 37 / PROCÈS-VERBAL 37 Thursday, 8 April 2010, 6:30 p.m. le jeudi, 8 avril 2010, 18 h 30 Colonel By Room, 110 Laurier Avenue West Salle Colonel-By, 110, avenue Laurier Ouest Present / Présents: P. Quealey (Chair/Président), J. Pearman (Vice-Chair/Vice-président), S. Bowman, M. Canning, B. Collier, M. Costa, B. Eggertson, E. Girgis, L. McCormick, H. Parker, B. Pugsley, B. Toms, B. Velderman, K. Vlasman Absent / Absents: M. Lascelles Others/Autres : J. Allan, reserve member P. Dollin, reserve member Renee Gratton, RGIntegration H. Hamilton, OFGAC Vice-Chair Richard Holder, Manager, Design and Construction N. McRae, reserve member David Miller, Manager, Environmental Sustainability J. Piper, reserve member K. St. Denis, reserve member Steve Stoddard, Senior Project Engineer Shawn Taylor, Dillon Consulting Laurie McRae, Dillon Consulting Councillor Marianne Wilkinson DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST DÉCLARATIONS D’INTÉRÊT No declarations of interest were received. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES RATIFICATION DU PROCÈS-VERBAL Minutes 36 of the Environmental Advisory Committee meeting of 11 March 2010 were confirmed. REVIEW OF CORRESPONDENCE EXAMEN DE LA CORRESPONDENCE No correspondence was received. ACTION ITEMS POINTS D’EXÉCUTION 1. TERRY FOX DRIVE EXTENSION ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS – DISCUSSION/PRESENTATION DISCUSSION – INCIDENCES ENVIRONNEMENTALES DU PROLONGEMENT DE LA PROMENADE TERRY-FOX Shawn Taylor, Dillon Consulting, provided a presentation held on file with the City Clerk's office pursuant to the City of Ottawa Records Retention and Disposition By-law. Designated Natural Features, documented Species at Risk (SARs), designated significant areas to be affected by the construction, and details of the proposed experimental mitigation measures were the main topics of discussion. Questions on SARs were fielded from members of the public Cheryl Doran and Ottawa Wildlife Centre’s Donna Dubreil. Councillor Marianne Wilkinson provided a brief history on the project predating her seat on City Council in 2006 and refuted the suggestion that municipal taxes are financing the project, explaining that development charges fund infrastructure such as new road construction projects like the Terry Fox Drive extension. Following a brief wrap-up discussion after a proposed motion had been in circulation amongst EAC members, the committee endorsed the following motion. Moved by Member McCormick Whereas the Terry Fox Drive extension plan: * Will impact species at risk * Will alter provincially-significant wetlands * Will further fragment an area of natural significance Whereas the proposed mitigation measures have not been scientifically tested; Be It Therefore Resolved that the EAC recommends that Council direct staff to report at regular intervals on the impact of the Terry Fox Extension on flora and fauna, the effectiveness of the mitigation measures and to recommend changes to the mitigation measures if they prove to be ineffective; Be It Resolved that the EAC recommends that Council direct staff to review the mitigation strategies proposed for the urban development approved within the inside area of the Terry Fox Extension .    Be It Further Resolved that the EAC recommends that Council direct the Auditor General to review this project (and report by September 1, 2010 ) to ascertain how the current location of the Terry Fox Extension  that has the most detrimental impact on the natural environment  and represents the most expensive  option proposed based on its  length,  construction requirements  and the mitigation measures was selected.  CARRIED 2. DRYWALL RECYCLING PRESENTATION PRÉSENTATION SUR LE RECYCLAGE DES CLOISONS SÈCHES Renee Gratton, RGIntegration, provided a presentation on construction recycling initiatives, based on an in-house gypsum recycling study that shows gypsum as 100% recyclable when processed properly (risk of leachate leak and odor issues when landfilled), an important point to underscore when one considers that gypsum is a non-renewable mineral, said Ms. Gratton, noting that study research also revealed that the Canadian construction industry consumes roughly 9.3 million tonnes of the material annually. Following a brief question and answer period, the following motion was discussed amongst the members and then approved. Moved by Member Toms Whereas a sustainable waste management strategy can extend the lifespan of landfills, and we have recognized a necessity to reduce our reliance on landfills not just in Ottawa, but beyond our city as well; Whereas the Industrial Commercial and Institutional (IC&I) waste disposal issue is a province-wide policy concern and Ontario is considering an extended producer responsibility regime in its about-to-be amended Waste Diversion Act to place the responsibility for waste reduction at the point of origin and thereby reduce IC&I waste and other excessive waste in the province; Whereas Ottawa’s Integrated Waste Management Master Plan (IWMMP) committed the City to reduce significantly IC&I waste generated and disposed of in Ottawa; Whereas in 2006, City Council directed staff to develop a comprehensive ICI Strategy building on the updated IWMMP and to provide Council with this strategy forthwith, and Council approved the resulting Diversion 2015: Industrial, Commercial & Institutional (IC&I) Waste 3R Strategy in April 2009; Whereas gypsum board generally represents a range of 5% to 15% of construction and demolition (C&D) waste; Whereas drywall is estimated to be 11% of Ottawa Construction and Demolition waste, Whereas in 2005, 28,000 tonnes of drywall waste was generated in the city of Ottawa, according to Diversion 2015; and Whereas the recycling of gypsum board is currently technologically and economically feasible; Be it resolved that the Environmental Advisory Committee recommends that Council direct staff to take the following steps to help divert gypsum board waste generated by activities within the City of Ottawa from local landfill sites by: * devising and implementing a recycling communication campaign in concert with the Ontario Ministry of the Environment for the Construction and Demolition sector, providing information on city web site on drywall recycling, * amending the IC&I Strategy (Diversion 2015), advancing the drywall differential tipping fees for gypsum board to July 2011, and an outright ban at Trail Road waste facility by January 2012 * immediately seeking an amendment for Trail Road waste facility’s Certificate of Approval in order for the gypsum to be temporarily stored at the Trail Road facility as a new gypsum transfer station, * opening the Trail Road landfill site as a trans-shipment point for gypsum board as a 1 year pilot program. Be it further resolved that the City, working in partnership with the Construction Recycling Initiative and industry partners, undertake to ensure that this pilot program can be made a more permanent feature at either Trail Road landfill site or at another privately owned local site after the one year gypsum pilot program. CARRIED 3. HYBRID PERFORMANCE DISCUSSION DISCUSSION SUR LE RENDEMENT DES VÉHICULES HYBRIDES Richard Gunn, Transit Vehicles Engineer, provided a detailed technical overview of various performance outputs of the hybrid bus fleet. Questions pertained to cost of lifecycle management, GHG emissions differences between hybrids and the diesel fleet, noting that driver habits significantly impact results (such as maintaining speed limits and brake lifecycle regeneration). The Chair noted that another review in a year’s time of the data would be beneficial, and voiced concerns that the current hybrid busses, despite the initial expectations, do not appear to yield any significant reductions in pollution or greenhouse gasses relative to similar non-hybrid busses. RECEIVED 4. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT GUIDELINES MOTION MOTION SUR LES LIGNES DIRECTRICES DE L’ÉTUDE D’IMPACT SUR L’ENVIRONNEMENT Following discussion from previous months and in developing the motion, the members passed the following motion. Moved by Member Bowman Whereas, consistent with Ontario’s Provincial Policy Statement, an Emvironmental Impact Statement (EIS) is required when a proponent plans a development or site alternation within a certain distance of environmentally designated lands or other non-designated features of the City’s natural heritage system, as defined in Section 4.7.8 of the City of Ottawa’s Official Plan; Whereas the City is creating guidelines for Environmental Impact Statements for development or site alternation proponents; Whereas these guidelines will guide proponents in avoiding doing harm to the environment when carrying out their project; Be it resolved that the EAC supports the City of Ottawa’s implementation of guidelines for an environmental impact statement process for development projects;   Be it further resolved that the EAC recommends council accept EAC input attached on the EIS guidelines to bolster the current draft and consult relevant experts to ensure the EIS guidelines fulfill their stated purpose in an effective way;  Be it further resolved that that the EAC recommends at the next annual review that a further elaboration of the guidelines is required as the current draft is insufficient to meet the desired results. CARRIED 5. BOTTLED WATER CAMPAIGN MOTION MOTION SUR LA CAMPAGNE DE L’EAU EN BOUTEILLE After a brief discussion and friendly amendments, the members approved the following motion: Moved by Member Costa Whereas Ottawa's public tap water is safe, healthy, reliable, and significantly more accessible and environmentally sustainable than bottled water; Whereas the manufacture, transportation and disposal of plastic bottles releases dangerous toxic chemicals and contaminants into the air and water, contributing to environmental degradation; Whereas bottled water distribution requires fossil-fuel based transportation and contributes to climate change while tap water is energy efficient in its delivery; Whereas there is a contradiction in providing and selling bottled water in public institutions while trying to cultivate trust in public water services; Whereas the use of personal refillable bottles is becoming common; Whereas there are educational benefits in a new attitude towards 'one-use' products; Whereas the City of Ottawa has policies designed to move it towards a sustainable City; Whereas consumption of bottled water makes sense where the public health benefits (not the individual health or convenience) from water consumption outweigh the large ecological footprint resulting from pollution, contamination, transportation, disposal, and other direct and indirect costs; Whereas the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (in March 2009) have asked Canadian cities and towns to phase out the sale and purchase of bottled water on municipal property; Whereas in Canada, there are over 70 municipalities, including Toronto, 6 school boards and 3 campuses that have successfully phased out the provision and sale of bottled water in their sectors; Be it resolved that the EAC : Supports the City’s Public Water Strategy, educating Ottawa's citizens about the benefits of drinking public water; Supports actions to increase the supply of municipal tap water at events through mobile water trucks; Recommends that, in areas where the City of Ottawa has jurisdiction, the sale / distribution of individual one-use bottled water be limited. CARRIED 6. UPDATES MISES À JOUR A) ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGY REFRESH MISE À JOUR SUR LA STRATÉGIE ENVIRONNEMENTALE David Miller, Manager, Environmental Sustainability, firmed plans with the members to hold a pan-advisory committee consultation on the Environmental Strategy Refresh May 4, 2010. RECEIVED B) STAFF UPDATE MISE À JOUR DE LA PART DU PERSONNEL RECEIVED C) NATURALIZED GARDENS WORKING GROUP GROUPE DE TRAVAIL SUR LES JARDINS NATURELS It was noted that the working group would continue to work on standard operating procedure process with By-law and Regulatory Services. RECEIVED D) LANSDOWNE WORKING GROUP GROUPE DE TRAVAIL SUR LANSDOWNE A brief update was provided by the Vice-Chair, and it was noted that efforts were still being made to meet with George Dark. Another pan-advisory committee meeting was noted as having to take place soon (May 3) as the competition designs would be unveiled in May 2010. Member Canning expressed his concern with the sense of disconnect and lack of commitment between the project’s key players, the City and the EAC. RECEIVED ADDITIONAL ITEMS POINTS SUPPLÉMENTAIRES Moved by J. Pearman That the EAC approve the addition of the following items for consideration by the Committee at tonight’s meeting, pursuant to Section 20(3) of the Procedure By-law (being By-Law No. 2007-104). CARRIED 7. BUILDING PERMIT FEES AND SUSTAINABLE DESIGN FRAIS DE PERMIS DE CONSTRUIRE ET CONCEPTION DURABLE Pursuant to an upcoming Planning and Environment Committee agenda item the following motion was discussed and approved by the Committee. Moved by Member Pearman Whereas the EAC provided specific recommendations on the amendment of building permit fees during the 2010 budget process; Whereas the building permit fee could be used to spur more sustainable and smarter growth in the City and encourage investments in more environmentally sound, energy efficient and cost effective buildings; Therefore be it resolved that the EAC recommends that Council link a reduction of the building permit fee to building construction that results in more advanced energy efficiency; Be it further resolved that the EAC recommends that the sustainable design checklist implemented as part of the Ottawa 20/20 Official Plan amendments be used as a guideline to trigger the reduced fees, as could LEED certification, the Toronto Green Standard, an EnerGuide rating of 80+, or meeting any other appropriate energy efficiency/green building standard; Be it further resolved that the EAC recommends that Council institute a building permit and planning application fee regime that remains revenue neutral, but maintains or increases the fees for status-quo projects in order to offer lower fees for best in class new buildings and existing building renovations. CARRIED INQUIRIES DEMANDES DE RENSEIGNEMENTS OTHER BUSINESS AUTRES QUESTIONS ADJOURNMENT LEVÉE DE LA SÉANCE The meeting adjourned at 11:10 p.m. Originals Signed By Committee Coordinator Chair ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES 37 8 APRIL 2010 8 COMITÉ CONSULTATIF SUR L’ENVIRONNEMENT PROCÈS-VERBAL 37 LE 8 AVRIL 2010