Environment Committee DISPOSITION 18 Tuesday, 19 June 2012 9:30 a.m. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES Minutes 17 of the Regular meeting on 3 May 2012 CONFIRMED DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST PRESENTATION 1. ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE AWARDS CITY WIDE RECEIVED CITY MANAGER CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE 2. QUARTERLY PERFORMANCE REPORT TO COUNCIL, Q1: JANUARY 1 – MARCH 31, 2012 ACS2012-CMR- ENV-0005 CITY WIDE That the Environment Committee receive this report for further review and discussion of the service areas’ performance results, as outlined in Document 1. RECEIVED CITY OPERATIONS ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES 3. OTTAWA’S WASTE PLAN – PHASE 2: ACHIEVING OUR GOALS ACS2012-COS-ESD-0008 CITY WIDE That the Environment Committee, at its meeting of 19 June 2012, table Ottawa’s 30-Year Waste Plan Discussion Paper and refer it for public consultation in accordance with the consultation process outlined in this report. TABLED AND REFERRED 4. DRINKING WATER TRANSMISSION MAIN CONDITION ASSESSMENT PROGRAM ACS2012-COS-ESD-0014 CITY WIDE That the Environment Committee receive this report for information. RECEIVED 5 2011 WASTEWATER ANNUAL COMPLIANCE REPORT ACS2012-COS-ESD-0011 CITY WIDE That the Environment Committee receive this report for information. RECEIVED Direction to Staff: Staff to provide, by the Council meeting on 27 June 2012, a list of the industries which the City has discharge agreements with. 6. ADVANCED METER INFRASTRUCTURE (AMI) PROJECT ACS2012-COS-ESD-0009 CITY WIDE That the Environment Committee receive this report for information. RECEIVED 7. 2004 AND 2008 GREENHOUSE GAS INVENTORIES, REDUCTION MEASURES AND APPROACH TO FUTURE TARGETS ACS2012-CMR-ENV-0004 CITY WIDE Previously listed as an Information Previously Distributed report on 3 May 2012 That the Environment Committee receive this report for information. RECEIVED as amended WHEREAS The City of Ottawa’s Official Plan states “Climate change is one of the critical environmental challenges facing the world and measures to both reduce GHG [greenhouse gas] emissions (mitigation) and prepare for the impacts of climate change (adaptation) need to be incorporated into all levels of City decision-making… The City has made a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in both corporate operations and at the community level”; and WHEREAS On July 13, 2011, Council approved its Term of Council priorities which include the priority of “Environmental Stewardship: Promote long-term sustainability, reduce the City’s environmental footprint…”; and WHEREAS based on the recently completed 2004 and 2008 Corporate and Community Greenhouse Gas Inventories for the City of Ottawa, corporate GHG emissions generated by the City of Ottawa’s own operations were found to have been reduced by 12.5% over the four year period; and WHEREAS based on that same Corporate and Community Greenhouse Gas Inventories study, community GHG emissions represent approximately 95% of total emissions caused by activities within Ottawa’s boundaries; and WHEREAS in January 2005 Council approved GHG reduction targets of 20% in community emissions by 2012 from 1990 levels; and WHEREAS based on that same Corporate and Community Greenhouse Gas Inventories study, plus other earlier inventory studies, community GHG emission reductions are shown to be very unlikely to achieve Council approved reduction targets – in fact in all cases were calculated to have increased over time, not reduced; and WHEREAS in 2011 the Federation of Canadian Municipalities indicated that “local governments have direct or indirect control over 45% of GHG emissions”; WHEAREAS staff should be congratulated for the important GHG reductions from corporate sources as documented for the four year period of the GHG inventory; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the city host a stakeholders’ Round Table, including members representing business groups such as the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce Environment Committee, Invest Ottawa, as well as community groups and organizations, etc. to engage the community on the matter of GHG reductions by examining the following questions and promoting solutions: 1) What strategies according to cost/benefit analysis result in the greatest reduction of GHG; 2) What solutions offer the fastest payback in terms of GHG reductions; 3) What solutions have the lowest barriers to success; 4) What utilities and companies can provide synergies through energy reduction & efficiency programs; 5) How can efficient appliances and/or building features be promoted to a greater degree (e.g., low flush toilets); and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Environment Committee select 2 Councillors to sponsor the Round Table; and that the roundtable be chaired by the Chair of the Environment Committee; and, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Ottawa maintain or exceed its current level under the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Partners for Climate Protection program. CARRIED With Councillor Hubley dissenting. DIRECTION TO STAFF: Staff to provide the cost to date of identifying and verifying the GHG inventories as well as the estimated cost to host the oncoming roundtable and to develop the responses identified in the motion for discussion at the round table.   Given that the motion was interpreted to include all 23 Councillors and Mayor if they wish to attend, the estimates should be based on full attendance.  This information is to be provided by the Council meeting on 27 June 2012. NOTICES OF MOTION (FOR CONSIDERATION AT SUBSEQUENT MEETING) Moved by Councillor McRae: WHEREAS the Community Environmental Projects Grant Program (CEPGP) was established in May, 1995 by the Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton (RMOC); and WHEREAS the CEPGP supported not-for-profit organizations, including community associations, service clubs and schools, who undertook initiatives to enhance the RMOC’s broad-based environmental objectives in the areas of solid waste diversion, water efficiency, wastewater and the water environment; and WHEREAS aside from the inclusion of sustainable development, the project criteria identified by the environmental objectives has not changed since the program’s inception; and WHEREAS Ottawa City Council has adopted Term of Council priorities to focus the work of Council and budgets on specific achievable goals; and WHEREAS it is appropriate to review the City’s Community Environmental Projects Grants Program in light of each Term of Council’s priorities; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT staff be directed to ensure that the project criteria for the Community Environmental Projects Grant Program reflect the current Term of Council Priorities and include items such as: * Increasing the City’s urban forest cover; * Addressing the Emerald Ash Borer issue; * Initiatives related to the move to bi-weekly residual waste collection. INQUIRIES Submitted by Councillor Egli, There are a significant number of non-rural communities that are privately serviced across the City of Ottawa. The City currently provides grants to rural property owners for privately serviced lots. In the past these non-rural communities were eligible, however an evaluation of the program completed in 2009 concluded that the focus of the grant program should be on projects that benefit the public at large (e.g. buffer strips, grassed waterways, stream bank stabilization, livestock restrictions etc.) rather than projects that primarily benefit the private property owner (e.g. private well and septic replacements). Council approved this to the program in early 2010. Currently the Ottawa Rural Clean Water Grants Program is available to both rural farm operators/rural property owners and farm operators within the urban boundary. Non-rural residents with private wells are also eligible to apply for well decommissioning only. 1) Why does the City of Ottawa provide grants to privately serviced rural property owners and excludes privately serviced non-rural property owners? 2) When do we expect to have a review of this grant program? 3) How many privately serviced communities do we have in Ottawa? 4) How many privately serviced homes are there in non-rural Ottawa that are not covered by the grant program? Submitted by Councillor Hubley, Staff to provide a listing of all grant and contribution programs that fall under this Committee. Listing should include the amount of tax dollars associated to each including staff costs to administer. Submitted by Councillor Hubley, Staff to provide details of projects awarded grants under the Community Environmental Grant Program.  Details should include any post project review comments that relate to the value to taxpayers of these grants. ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE DISPOSITION 18 19 JUNE 2012 ii