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1. The Creation of a biodiversity task force
Formation d’un groupe de travail sur la
biodiversité
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That Council:
1. Grant approval to the EAC for
initiating a Biodiversity Task Force composed of three EAC members, one member
of staff from the Environmental Sustainability Division, three members of the
community and representation from the Ottawa Forests and Greenspace Advisory
Committee, the Rural Issues Advisory Committee and the Conservation Authorities;
and
2. Approve that the Biodiversity Task
Force be set up for a period of six months to:
·
Write
the draft Terms of Reference for the Biodiversity Strategy, with community
input;
·
Submit
the draft Terms of Reference to City Council for approval;
·
Conduct
research to identify and obtain copies of biodiversity strategies and
implementation plans developed by other cities both in Canada and
internationally;
·
Work
with staff to organize a biodiversity workshop to gain input from the Ottawa
community; and,
·
Write
the draft Biodiversity Strategy and implementation Plan for the City of Ottawa.
3.
Allocate
the modest sum of $5000 to cover the Biodiversity Task Force’s operation,
research, consultation and communications costs.
Que le Conseil:
1. Autorise le Comité consultatif sur l’environnement à former
un Groupe de travail sur la biodiversité composé de trois membres du Comité
consultatif, d’un membre du personnel de la Division de la durabilité de
l’environnement et de trois membres de la collectivité, , ainsi que la
représentation du Comité consultatif sur les forêts et les espaces verts
d’Ottawa, le Comité consultatif sur les questions rurales et les Offices de
protection de la nature;
2. Accorde au Groupe de travail sur la biodiversité un délai de
six mois pour :
·
Rédiger le cadre de référence de la
stratégie sur la biodiversité, avec la participation de la collectivité;
·
Soumettre le cadre de référence à
l’approbation du Conseil municipal;
·
Mené une recherche au sujet des
stratégies sur la biodiversité et les plans de mise en œuvre connexes élaborés
par d’autres villes du Canada et de l’étranger et obtenir le texte de ces plans
et stratégies;
·
Collabore avec le personnel afin
d’organiser un atelier sur la biodiversité dans le but de recueillir le point
de vue de la population d’Ottawa;
·
Rédige le projet de stratégie sur
la biodiversité et de plan de mise en œuvre pour la Ville d’Ottawa.
3. Alloue
la modeste somme de 5 000 $ pour éponger les coûts de fonctionnement,
de recherche, de consultation et de communication du Groupe de travail sur la
biodiversité.
DOCUMENTATION
1.
Environmental Advisory Committee’s report dated
17 October 2006 (ACS2006-CCV-EAC-0005).
2.
Extract of Draft Minute, 17 October 2006.
Report to/Rapport au :
Corporate Services and Economic Development Committee
/
and Council / et au Conseil
Submitted by/Soumis par : Environmental Advisory
Committee /
Comité consultatif sur l’environnement
Contact Person/Personne ressource : Stephanie Brown
Bellefeuille, Coordinator/Coordonnatrice/Environmental Advisory Committee /
Comité consultatif sur l’environnement
(613)
580-2424 Ext / poste16760 / Stephanie.Brown@ottawa.ca
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SUBJECT: |
The
Creation of a biodiversity task force
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OBJET
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Formation d’un groupe de travail sur la biodiversité
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REPORT
RECOMMENDATIONS
The Environmental Advisory Committee recommends
that the Corporate Services and Economic Development Committee recommend City
Council:
1. Grant approval to the
EAC for initiating a Biodiversity Task Force composed of three EAC members, one
member of staff from the Environmental Sustainability Division, and three
members of the community; and
2. Approve that the
Biodiversity Task Force be set up for a period of six months to:
·
Write
the draft Terms of Reference for the Biodiversity Strategy, with community
input;
·
Submit
the draft Terms of Reference to City Council for approval;
·
Conduct
research to identify and obtain copies of biodiversity strategies and
implementation plans developed by other cities both in Canada and
internationally;
·
Work
with staff to organize a biodiversity workshop to gain input from the Ottawa
community; and,
·
Write
the draft Biodiversity Strategy and implementation Plan for the City of Ottawa.
3.
Allocate
the modest sum of $5000 to cover the Biodiversity Task Force’s operation,
research, consultation and communications costs.
RECOMMENDATIONS DU RAPPORT
Le
Comité consultatif sur l’environnement recommande au Comité des services
organisationnels et du développement économique recommande le Conseil municipal
:
1. D’autoriser le Comité consultatif sur l’environnement à
former un Groupe de travail sur la biodiversité composé de trois membres du
Comité consultatif, d’un membre du personnel de la Division de la durabilité de
l’environnement et de trois membres de la collectivité;
2. D’accorder au Groupe de travail sur la biodiversité un délai
de six mois pour :
·
Rédiger le cadre de référence de la
stratégie sur la biodiversité, avec la participation de la collectivité;
·
Soumettre le cadre de référence à
l’approbation du Conseil municipal;
·
Mener une recherche au sujet des
stratégies sur la biodiversité et les plans de mise en œuvre connexes élaborés
par d’autres villes du Canada et de l’étranger et obtenir le texte de ces plans
et stratégies;
·
Collaborer avec le personnel afin
d’organiser un atelier sur la biodiversité dans le but de recueillir le point
de vue de la population d’Ottawa;
·
Rédiger le projet de stratégie sur
la biodiversité et de plan de mise en œuvre pour la Ville d’Ottawa.
3. D’allouer la modeste
somme de 5 000 $ pour éponger les coûts de fonctionnement, de
recherche, de consultation et de communication du Groupe de travail sur la
biodiversité.
At
its’ 8 June 2006 meeting, the Environmental Advisory Committee discussed the
importance of a Biodiversity Strategy (approved by Council on 19 June
22 October 2003
as part of the Environmental Strategy) and the need for a Biodiversity Task
Force. (See
Document 1)
On 8 June 2006, the Environmental Advisory Committee
approved the following Mmotion:
Whereas Canada has ratified the 1992
Convention on Biological Diversity;
WHEREAS biological diversity, often referred to as
`biodiversity’, means “the diversity of all life on Earth including genetic
diversity, species, ecosystems, and the natural systems and processes that are
essential to life on Earth such as oxygen and soil production and water
purification;
AND WHEREAS Ottawa City Council approved
developing a Biodiversity Strategy as part of its approval of the Environmental
Strategy in October 2003, but did not approve funding for the Biodiversity
Strategy;
AND WHEREAS the lack of resources and the need
to address other work items have resulted in the Biodiversity Strategy being
placed on hold for almost three years;
AND WHEREAS human health completely depends
upon preserving and protecting biodiversity;
AND WHEREAS the City of Ottawa’s Environmental
Advisory Committee (EAC) has a Biodiversity Working Group;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Environmental
Advisory Committee recommend that the Planning and Environment Committee
recommend that City Council grant approval to the EAC for initiating a
Biodiversity Task Force composed of three EAC members, one member of staff from
the Environmental Sustainability Division, and three members of the community;
BE IT ALSO RESOLVED THAT the Biodiversity Task
Force be set up for a period of six months to:
·
Write
the draft Terms of Reference for the Biodiversity Strategy, with community
input;
·
Submit
the draft Terms of Reference to City Council for approval;
·
Conduct
research to identify and obtain copies of biodiversity strategies and implementation
plans developed by other cities both in Canada and internationally;
·
Work
with staff to organize a biodiversity workshop to gain input from the Ottawa
community; and,
·
Write
the draft Biodiversity Strategy and implementation Plan for the City of Ottawa.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT City Council
allocate the modest sum of $5000 to cover the Biodiversity Task Force’s
operation, research, consultation and communications costs.
CONSULTATION
Staff in Planning and Growth
Management state that while
the development of a Biodiversity Strategy is an identified long term
initiative in the Environmental Strategy, it is not yet identified as a first priority in the City Corporate Plan
or in Departmental Business Plans,
due to competing demands on resources.
Staff
in the City Clerk’s Branch submit the following comments:
There
is no indication as to how the recruitment of the public members of this Task
Force would be handled, who would be making the selection, etc. In addition, it should be noted that there
are no staff or financial resources available in the City Clerk’s Branch to
administratively support such a Taskforce..
FINANCIAL
IMPLICATIONS
The
$5,000 requested to cover the Biodiversity Task Force’s operating, research,
consultation and communication costs is not available in the City’s 2006
Operating Budget. Subject to Council approval, one-time funding from the
City-wide Reserve fund is requested to address this requirement.
SUPPORTING
DOCUMENTATION
Document 1 Environmental
Strategy Report (ACS2003-DEV-POL-0048) (Held on
file with the City Clerk)
The Committee Coordinator will inform the Environmental Advisory Committee of the Planning and Environment Committee’s and Council decision on the recommendations.
Should the creation of the Biodiversity Task Force be approved, the Environmental Advisory Committee shall coordinate the establishment and operation of the Task Force.
ACS2006-CCV-EAC-0005 CITY
WIDE
Ann Coffey, Member,
Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC) appeared before the Committee to speak to this
matter (a copy of her presentation is held on file with the City Clerk). Ms. Coffey noted Council first approved
development of a Biodiversity Strategy in 2003 and in the succeeding three
years, no progress has been made in this regard. For this reason, the EAC unanimously approved the motion before
Committee which asks for Council approval for the EAC to initiate a Biodiversity
Task Force, as well as $5,000 in funding to cover the Task Force’s operation,
research, consultation and communications costs.
Ms. Coffey spoke of the
United Nations Report on Global Biodiversity published in March 2006 (and she
provided a press clipping from Reuters News Service which is held on file) and
noted it urges more work be done to curb pollution and to rein in emissions of
greenhouse gases that are causing climate change and the resulting loss of
biodiversity. She noted that EAC
members and individuals and groups in the community have the ability and
expertise to start work on the development of this Strategy. Ms. Coffey urged the Committee to approve
the EAC motion, so the Task Force can be formed as soon as possible and the
groundwork laid for developing this important Strategy.
In response to questions
from Councillor Cullen, Kent Kirkpatrick, City Manager said the biodiversity
strategy was not in the three-year window of the Council approved Corporate
Plan. He went on to say, this issue was
a good example of the type of new initiative that will need to be discussed by
the Council elect during their priority setting session and it would be his
recommendation that this matter be referred to that exercise.
Councillor Cullen then asked
what the difference would be between staff undertaking this task and the
EAC. Mr. Kirkpatrick responded the
difference would be in terms of what would happen when the Task Force completed
its work. He suspected when the Task
Force completed its work, it would expect the City to begin initiating the
Strategy and implementing the recommendations contained therein. At issue are competing resources, the fact
this Council has not identified this as a priority in its environmental agenda
for the next three years and the fact the new Council will need to determine
its priorities.
Carol Christensen, Manager,
Environmental Sustainability, Planning and Growth Management, added that while
there were not enough staff to actually produce a biodiversity strategy document,
the City is implementing policies to protect natural features and habitat.
There are pieces of work
going on right now that are relevant to biodiversity, for example in the areas
of climate change and stormwater management strategy.
Responding to further
questions from Councillor Cullen, Ms. Christensen confirmed if it were the wish
of Council for staff to pursue developing the biodiversity strategy, either
additional staff would have to be hired or a consultant would have to be
retained. She stressed she did not even
have staff to support the work of the Task Force.
Councillor Bloess, noting
the City Manager had indicated his recommendation that this be referred to the
new Council’s priority setting exercise, advised he would be moving a motion in
this regard.
Responding to questions from
Councillor Stavinga, Ms. Christensen noted Council approves the City Corporate
Plan and Departmental Business Plan, so if the priorities are going to be
shifted, it would be Council making that decision. Further, given the commitment of her staff to the priorities in
the plan, she honestly did not see any possibility of work beginning on
development of the strategy, certainly within 2007, without something else
coming off the list.
Councillor Stavinga then
asked the delegation to what extent they had engaged the other Advisory
Committees in this initiative. Ms.
Coffey advised the EAC had not yet contacted the other Advisory Committees
directly but noted that EAC liaises with and exchanges meeting minutes with the
Ottawa Forests and Greenspace Advisory Committee. She felt it would be better to seek out their involvement once
Council approval is obtained. She
advised EAC members had spoken with other groups who have the required
expertise, such as Save Our Greenspace and the Greenspace Alliance
Speaking to Councillor
Bloess’ motion for referral, Ms. Coffey noted this strategy was approved by
Council three years ago and questioned how many more times it needed to be
approved by Council. She urged the
Committee not to put it off.
Donna DuBreuil, Ottawa
Carleton Wildlife Centre (a copy of Ms. DuBreuil’s letter dated 12 October 2006 is held on file
with the City Clerk). Ms. DuBreuil
noted the City has lost three valuable years since Council approved the biodiversity
strategy in 2003. She pointed out
Vancouver started work on its biodiversity strategy in 2001 and is now
finalizing a coordinated biodiversity conservation strategy and action plan to
be implemented in 2007. Two elements
have been central to Vancouver’s planning – collaboration and integration. She said combined efforts and resources can
accomplish much more in partnership than as individuals.
Ms. DuBreuil stressed that
many people in Ottawa are frustrated with the City’s lack of initiative in this
regard and she urged the Committee to approve the EAC motion today.
Iola Price, Chair, Ottawa
Forests and Greenspace Advisory Committee (OFGAC) (copy of written submission held on file
with the City Clerk) Ms. Price conveyed her committee’s agreement with the EAC
that a Biodiversity Strategy is needed in the City of Ottawa, noting biodiversity is an important
component of forest and natural greenspace health. Further,
OFGAC has discussed the timing of the development of the strategy with staff on several
occasions and named a member to sit on any staff-led committee to develop the
strategy. Ms. Price stated it was
OFGAC’s recommendation that the Biodiversity Strategy be placed as a priority
for development by staff in 2008, after the completion of the Forest Strategy
in 2007. This will ensure the two
strategies are developed in tandem to provide a more complete and coordinated
approach to the protection of Ottawa’s natural areas.
Ms. Christensen confirmed at
Councillor Stavinga’s request, that staff have begun work on the Forest
Strategy. However, given the resources
in the Natural Systems group and the workload they currently have, she stated
they did not have resources to support the EAC proposed Task Force. She noted a strategy is normally developed
with some notion of the ability to actually deliver on it in the long run and
this would require staff input.
Brian Finch, Friends of the
Jock River,
expressed his organization’s support for the EAC motion and felt work on the
strategy needed to begin immediately.
Mr. Finch spoke of the need for more work on biodiversity issues in
Ottawa. In support of this statement,
he made reference to wetlands that have been destroyed in the Goulbourn area,
that might have been saved had there been a Biodiversity Strategy in
place. He pointed out the City has
halted the designation in the Official Plan of more than 16 parcels of land
that had been identified as components of Provincially Significant Wetlands and
the designation in the Official Plan of those lands is in question.
Having heard from all public delegations, the
matter returned to Committee for debate.
Acting Chair Bellemare advised Committee of the motion from Councillor
Bloess with respect to referral of this item to the priority setting exercise
of the new Council.
Councillor Cullen expressed his opinion that
it would be best to allow this group of committed citizens to proceed with this
important work. They have the expertise
and are prepared to do this for the meager sum of $5,000. The City does not have the capacity to do
this work in-house. Council can decide
when the Task Force reports back, whether or not to move forward with their
recommendations. He urged the Committee
not to refer this matter to the new Council but rather to approve the EAC
recommendations.
Councillor Stavinga stated her belief the need
for a biodiversity strategy should be identified as a priority for the
City. However, she recognized the
limited resources available and indicated she would support referral to the new
Council priority setting exercise. She
felt the proposal had “missing links” and encouraged the EAC to connect with
the Ottawa Forests and Greenspace Advisory Committee, Rural Issues Advisory
Committee and the Conservation Authorities.
Moved by Councillor R. Bloess
That this item be
referred to the priority setting exercise to be undertaken by the new City
Council.
LOST
YEAS (2): Councillors
R. Bloess and J. Stavinga
NAYS (4): Councillors
A. Cullen, M. Bellemare, P. Hume and R. Jellett
As the motion for referral lost, Councillor Stavinga put forward the
following motion.
Moved by Councillor J. Stavinga
That Recommendation 1 be amended to add:
“and representation from the Ottawa Forests and
Greenspace Advisory Committee, the Rural Issues Advisory Committee and the
Conservation Authorities;”
CARRIED
The report, as amended was then approved.
The Environmental Advisory Committee recommends
that the Corporate Services and Economic Development Committee recommend that
City Council:
1. Grant approval to the EAC for
initiating a Biodiversity Task Force composed of three EAC members, one member
of staff from the Environmental Sustainability Division, three members of the
community and representation from the Ottawa Forests and Greenspace Advisory
Committee, the Rural Issues Advisory Committee and the Conservation Authorities;
and
2. Approve that the Biodiversity Task
Force be set up for a period of six months to:
·
Write
the draft Terms of Reference for the Biodiversity Strategy, with community
input;
·
Submit
the draft Terms of Reference to City Council for approval;
·
Conduct
research to identify and obtain copies of biodiversity strategies and
implementation plans developed by other cities both in Canada and
internationally;
·
Work
with staff to organize a biodiversity workshop to gain input from the Ottawa
community; and,
·
Write
the draft Biodiversity Strategy and implementation Plan for the City of Ottawa.
3. Allocate the modest sum of $5000 to
cover the Biodiversity Task Force’s operation, research, consultation and
communications costs.
CARRIED
as amended