Planning
and Environment Committee
Comité de l'urbanisme et de l'environnement
and Council / et au Conseil
Submitted
by/Soumis par : Nancy Schepers, Deputy City Manager
Directrice municipale adjointe,
Infrastructure Services and Community
Sustainability
Services d’infrastructure et
Viabilité des collectivités
Contact/Personne-ressource:
Michael Murr, Acting
Director/Directeur intérimaire, Community and Sustainability Services/Services
de viabilité et des collectivités
(613)
580-2424, 25195 michael.murr@ottawa.ca
SUBJECT:
|
PEC STRATEGIc PRIORITIES 2009 - 2010:
Alignment to departmental workplans |
|
|
|
OBJET :
|
Priorités
stratégiques 2009-2010 du CUE : harmonisation avec les plans de travail des
services |
That Planning and Environment Committee receive this report for information.
Que le Comité de l'urbanisme et de l'environnement prenne connaissance du présent rapport.
On 19 February 2009 members of the Planning and
Environment Committee (PEC) held a strategic planning session to discuss the
Committee's strategic priorities relative to its main areas of responsibility
for 2009-2010. Three departments within
Infrastructure Services and Community Sustainability, namely Planning and
Growth Management, Environmental Services (formerly Water and Wastewater
Services and Solid Waste Services) and Community Sustainability, participated
in the session highlighting their accomplishments to date and the planned
activities for 2009-2010.
A summary report was presented to PEC at its 10 March 2009
meeting. The report entitled, Results
of the Planning and Environment Committee Strategic Planning Session -
Strategic Priorities for 2009-2010 (ACS2009-ICS-DCM-0001) was discussed and
approved by Council on 11 March 2009.
The PEC priorities approved were:
Planning and Growth Management
· Build community
trust and confidence
· Development Review
· Policy (Building
Communities)
· Create a Lessons
Learned Environment.
Environmental Services (formerly Water and Wastewater Services and
Solid Waste Services)
For Water and Wastewater:
· Rebuild the brand
· Rebuild public
trust
· Source water
protection/supply
For Solid Waste:
· Increase customer
focus
· Leverage Councillor
involvement
· Encourage
industrial commercial & instituational (IC&I) waste recycling
· Extend producer
responsibilities.
Community Sustainability
· Make sustainability
a priority
· Pilot new ways of
developing policy
· Encourage energy
self-sufficiency
· Understanding true
environmental impacts.
The disposition of the staff report indicated staff would review their respective 2009-2010 work plans to ensure there is strong alignment with PEC priorities, and would identify and bring forward for committee's consideration potential pilot projects that could be undertaken to advance the priorities and opportunities listed, including recommendations regarding deferral of work as needed to accommodate.
Following approval of the report, staff undertook a
review of the work plans from Planning and Growth Management, Environmental
Services and Community Sustainability for:
·
Overall alignment to the PEC's
priorities;
·
Identification of new initiatives that
would support the priorities;
·
Identification of programs that would
have to be deferred in order to advance new initiatives; and
·
Short-term, quick opportunities
Based on this review, staff can confirm the existing departmental
workplans are strongly aligned to PEC's strategic priorities.
Document 1 illustrates the alignment of PEC priorities by Department
and identifies examples of projects, timelines and quick hits.
Only one project was identified as a potential deferral. Environmental Services is undertaking an
enhanced communications plan with many components, and the information/inquiry
service request management system may be postponed to 2010 to meet the other
requirements of this plan. There is no
anticipated service impact due to the delay of this project as there currently
is a system in place to ensure these requests are being managed. The project will provide a more robust and
comprehensive inquiry management system.
In Summary
Going forward, departmental staff will continue to look for opportunities to support PEC's priorities and will bring forward new projects and related funding requirements for PEC's consideration as the initiatives are developed.
No public consultation was undertaken as part of this report as it was a review of internal workplans to ensure alignment to PEC priorities.
There are no Legal/Risk Management implications associated with this report.
There are no financial implications as 2009 workplan initiatives will be completed within the Council approved budget.
Document 1 - 2009/2010 Workplans Aligned to PEC Priorities
Upon Committee receipt of this report, the 2009/2010 Departmental work plans will be monitored by the General Managers or Directors of their respective areas for implementation. Any new projects requiring funds for 2010 will be brought forward as part of the 2010 budget process.
2009/2010 DEPARTMENTAL WORKPLANS: EXAMPLES OF PROJECTS ALIGNED TO PEC PRIORITIES DOCUMENT 1
Planning and Growth Management Department
|
|
Priorities and Opportunities identified by Planning and Environment
Committee |
Examples of projects supporting the priorities (with 2009 budget $) |
Short term ‘quick hit’ opportunities |
Implementation timelines and cost |
1.1
|
Build Community Trust and
Confidence
·
Clearly
communicate and share the City’s development vision and design principles
with developers (applicants) to minimize compatibility issues ·
Undertake
education and engagement (e.g. CDP process) |
Develop
stakeholder engagement strategy Targeting
Councillors, the public/community associations and development industry Modeled after the Planning Primer, utilize existing
technology to communicate development vision, design principles and further
education surrounding issues such as CDP process. |
Use the review of the Downtown Urban Design Peer Review Panel as a
vehicle to set new direction for design review within the city. |
Plan developed by July 2009. Implementation and cost to be determined depending on technology
solutions. |
1.2
|
Development Review
·
Increase
transparency by reporting annually on applications which have been amended
and/or refused |
First report in September 2009 for Q1 and Q2 2009. Reporting mechanism to be developed. |
|
First report in September 2009 |
|
|
·
Strengthen Councillor
engagement by providing regular Councillor briefings on key development
applications
|
Regular
Councillor briefings to be included in stakeholder engagement strategy |
|
Development of stakeholder engagement strategy July
2009 |
|
|
·
Consider
whether there should be more design expertise within the development review
process (DRP) to inform the City’s vision and design principles |
|
·
Urban
design expertise will be included in development review teams through
implementation of One Stop Service |
Implementation of One Stop Service – summer 2009 |
Planning and Growth Management Department
|
|
Priorities and Opportunities identified by Planning and Environment Committee |
Examples of projects supporting the priorities (with 2009 budget $) |
Short term ‘quick hit’ opportunities |
Implementation timelines and cost |
|
1.3 |
Policy
(Building Communities) ·
Ensure that
community facilities (e.g. parks, libraries) are constructed in tandem with
new development (with more certain timeframes) and secure provincial funding
timed with the development |
Work with stakeholder groups to develop creative opportunities to
deliver parks in a timely manner. Liaise with other Departments responsible for the
delivery of municipal facilities. |
Explore
front-ending delivery options for parks delivery through Development Charges
Review. |
June 2009 |
|
|
·
Identify
and explore the use of new incentives to achieve new policy goals |
Continue to identify and explore new incentives. |
Explore options
through the review of the Official Plan and the Development Charges Review. |
|
1.4
|
Create a Lessons Learned
Environment
·
Evaluate
the community impact of policy and development decisions (e.g. What was the
outcome? Did it meet its original objectives?) ·
Consider
the use of pilot projects, and validation by subject matter experts |
Initial
discussions held with stakeholders on both community and development side,
with positive results. Mechanism to be developed to document/process ‘lesson learned’
environment and use of pilot projects. |
|
Develop
mechanism by December 2009 |
Community Sustainability
|
|
Priorities and Opportunities identified by Planning and Environment Committee |
Examples of projects supporting the priorities (with
2009 budget $) |
Short
term ‘quick hit’ opportunities |
Implementation
timelines and cost |
|
2.1 |
Make Sustainability a Priority: ·
Develop a set of sustainability principles
to guide City investments in infrastructure and operations |
Choosing our
Future Project initiative officially launched in May 2009. Will create a set of sustainability principles to
guide Corporate decision making. Will develop a Corporate framework to ensure
Corporation understands and integrates sustainability within the programs and
services provided. |
Capacity training for
staff and community |
Project completion is
expected in 2011 however training and education would be completed in 2009. Project budget in place
– no additional cost. |
|
|
·
Ensure that City investments are based on
full life-cycle costing, not just for the short term (e.g. the budget year) |
Developing a
Green Procurement Policy Incorporating
life cycle cost into the criteria for procurement decisions. |
Staff consultation will
be required to ensure integration into existing processes. |
No cost – staff time to
develop Anticipated completion is Q4 2009 |
|
|
·
Create incentives to reward sustainable
innovation. |
Environmental
Strategy Refresh Will be used to set
priorities for any incentives to be offered to the community. |
Enhance promotion and
recognition of the City’s Environmental Excellence Awards, which recognizes
employees who put forward innovative ideas to increase sustainability at the
corporate level through the Employee Environmental Excellence award. |
Report on approach to refresh anticipated
going to PEC in June 2009 with completion of strategy in mid 2010. |
Community Sustainability
|
|
Priorities and Opportunities identified by Planning and Environment Committee |
Examples of projects supporting the priorities (with 2009 budget $) |
Short term ‘quick hit’ opportunities |
Implementation timelines and cost |
|
2.2 |
Pilot
New ways of Developing Policy ·
Appoint PEC member(s) to
act as ‘sponsors’ for the refresh of the Environmental Strategy |
Refresh of the
Environmental Strategy |
Request PEC to appoint one or more members
to act as ‘sponsors’. |
Report on approach to refresh anticipated
going to PEC in June 2009. |
|
2.3 |
Encourage
Energy Self-Sufficiency ·
Support the development
of alternative sources of energy to increase the City’s resiliency and reduce
its dependency on traditional sources. |
Community Energy Plan
This is one of the deliverables of Choosing
Our Future, will provide a strategy and targets for the development of
alternative energy sources in the community. |
Seek
opportunities to pilot alternative energy sources in City operations,
facilities and projects |
Community Energy Plan scheduled for
completion in early 2011. |
|
2.4 |
Understand
True Environmental Impacts ·
Assess the cumulative
environmental impact on watershed, ecosystem and community basis (both above
and below ground). |
Environmental
Strategy Refresh The Strategy and
supporting logic model will include the development of targets and
indicators, which will aid in assessing cumulative impact. Currently updating forest cover and
composition database. |
|
Report on approach to refresh anticipated to
go to PEC in June, 2009. |
Environmental Services
– Drinking Water and Waste Water and Drainage
Operations
|
|
Priorities and Opportunities identified by Planning and
Environment Committee |
Examples of projects supporting the priorities (with 2009 budget $) |
Short term ‘quick hit’ opportunities |
Implementation timelines and cost |
3.1
|
Rebuild the Brand
·
Recognize that
the City’s Water and Wastewater ‘brand’ directly affects how this service is
viewed by the public. |
Comprehensive Strategic
Communications Plan for Water and Wastewater Drinking Water Week; May 3 to 9, 2009 To inform residents of the benefits of drinking
water and promote tap water. |
Proclamation from the Mayor announcing at Council, activity sheets,
library displays, PSA’s (general DWW, AMI, Water Efficiency kits), City
Briefs notice, web page, newspaper ads, radio ads, posters |
$8,200 (2009) $21,200 (2010) |
|
|
·
Develop the
branch’s capacity to undertake leading-edge research in areas that contribute
to the performance of the City’s drinking water, wastewater and storm water
services. |
Research Participation
in research initiatives that contribute to the performance of drinking water,
wastewater and storm water activities, establish partnerships with local
universities and the NRC to leverage available research expertise. |
|
2010 |
|
|
·
Establish
partnerships with local universities and the National Research Council to
leverage available research expertise. ·
Promote the
results of this research to the public and other stakeholders. |
Research See
above. |
|
2010 |
Environmental Services
–
Drinking Water and Waste Water and Drainage Operations
–
|
|
Priorities and Opportunities identified by Planning and
Environment Committee |
Examples of projects supporting the priorities (with 2009 budget $) |
Short term ‘quick hit’ opportunities |
Implementation timelines and cost |
|
|
|
Promoting City Water (PEC report
re: City water/bottled water)
To highlight the purity and quality of City water, the positive
measures the City has taken to reduce the use of single-use water bottles in
its own facilities and meetings, and the positive impact individuals can have
on the environment by drinking tap water and using refillable water bottles |
|
It is anticipated the report will be going to PEC in
June 2009 $10,000 (2009) |
Environmental Services
– Drinking Water and Waste Water and Drainage
Operations
|
|
Priorities and Opportunities identified by Planning and
Environment Committee |
Examples of projects supporting the priorities (with 2009 budget $) |
Short term ‘quick hit’ opportunities |
Implementation timelines and cost |
|
3.2 |
Rebuild Public Trust ·
Increase
communications and outreach activities to rebuild the public’s confidence in
the City’s delivery of water and wastewater services. (Specific techniques could include road shows/open
houses, good news stories, user-friendly reporting, progress reports on key
initiatives, etc.) ·
Develop
information pieces that can be used by Councillors to communicate with their
constituents. |
Doors Open:
June 6 & 7, 2009 To create materials appropriate for this
event as well as prepare for reinstating public tours of the Britannia
Purification Plant and ROPEC. Environment Week Bus Ads Bus Shelters Ads Ads on City Vehicles Home Shows To create various materials to help
promote the City’s ESD programs at home shows – to concentrate on Water
Efficiency program for 2009 and 2010. Sewer Campaign To
educate the public on sewers and
how they work. Family channel Kids Science show follows
golf ball from sewer to treatment plant. Video To educate the public on work we do,
follow the water cycle from sky to river, to be used at home shows, education
program. |
|
$23,000 (2009), $20,000 (2010) $14,000 (2009), $13,000 (2010) $20,000 (2009), $5,000 (2010) $1,000 (2009), $3,000 (2010) 2010 2010 |
Environmental Services
– Drinking Water and Waste Water and Drainage
Operations
|
|
Priorities and Opportunities identified by Planning and
Environment Committee |
Examples of projects supporting the priorities (with 2009 budget $) |
Short term ‘quick hit’ opportunities |
Implementation timelines and cost |
|
|
|
Website redesign for ESD information on Ottawa.ca To review, prioritize and update all the
ESD information on Ottawa.ca, to improve overall look/feel and currency of
data and information |
|
$50,000 (2010) 2009 No budget impact |
|
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|
Water Meter Installation (new AMI Deployment) Inform residents that the City will be
installing new water meters to improve quality of customer information and
better service delivery |
|
March 2009-2010 |
|
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|
Water & Wastewater Inquiry Management System Develop an information inquiry/service request
management system. This is a 2009 priority workplan item for ESD that will
see some technology efficiency gains.
However, it is anticipated that given the number of new initiatives to
support the PEC priorities, this project will be postponed to 2010. |
|
Postponed to
2010 due to reallocation of resources to support other PEC priorities. |
Environmental Services
– Drinking Water and Waste Water and Drainage
Operations
|
|
Priorities and Opportunities identified by Planning and
Environment Committee |
Examples of projects supporting the priorities (with 2009 budget $) |
Short term ‘quick hit’ opportunities |
Implementation timelines and cost |
|
|
|
Discharges Communication Strategy
To inform public of discharges to the
Ottawa River as appropriate Sewer Lateral Maintenance Program
To inform residents of the
eligibility requirements for the program, and report on our continued
progress in reducing the backlog.
Protective Plumbing Program
To inform residents of the
benefits of protective plumbing devices and the financial assistance
available to eligible homeowner to protect against the entry of wastewater
into basements resulting from a sewer backup.
Lead Service
Replacement Program
|
|
As required |
Environmental Services
– Drinking Water and Waste Water and Drainage
Operations
|
|
Priorities and Opportunities identified by Planning and
Environment Committee |
Examples of projects supporting the priorities (with 2009 budget $) |
Short term ‘quick hit’ opportunities |
Implementation timelines and cost |
|
3.3 |
Source Water/Protection Supply ·
Recognize
the importance of the Ottawa River and the need to provide long-term
protection of the City’s watersheds ·
Develop
cost-effective solutions to protect the rural water supply (cost-effective
solutions not driven by development) ·
Develop
better understanding of the effect of development on the rural aquifer. |
Ottawa River Water Quality Assessment Water Quality Assessment circulation and
public consultation – report tables in June, community consultation to take
place over the summer. Water Efficiency Promote responsible use of water by
residents indoors and outdoors, especially during peak lawn watering periods
– branded as the WaterWise outdoor water efficiency campaign. Funded through program capital account. Water and Wastewater Cost, Revenue and Rate Study –
2009 To determine the full cost to plan,
operate, and maintain in operating condition the existing water, wastewater
and storm water systems at current levels of service over 50 years commencing
2010. |
Council carried motion requesting Province of Ontario to set up
inter-jurisdictional committee to protect Ottawa River. |
June – August 2009
2010 |
Environmental Services
– Drinking Water and Waste Water and Drainage
Operations
|
|
Priorities and Opportunities identified by Planning and
Environment Committee |
Examples of projects supporting the priorities (with 2009 budget $) |
Short term ‘quick hit’ opportunities |
Implementation timelines and cost |
|
|
|
New initiatives, to commence in 2009 and continue if there are remaining funds. Renewal of Public Information
On an annual and on-going basis, ESD will develop
and deliver over 100 different public information notices, education
brochures, and reports that require refresh and renewal. Public Tours
To develop communications material relevant to
reinstatement of public tours at Water Purification Plants and ROPEC to
develop various tours targeting specific groups – to hire resources and
develop some tour material in 2009, will host an opening tour program in
2010. Citizen Survey
Follow up to Citizen Satisfaction Survey H20 to Go trailer
Investigate potential of using travelling water tank
that is taken to festivals in the City to provide complimentary portable
water for drinking and hand washing. |
|
$10,000(2009), $10,000 (2010) $24,000 (2009), $20,000 (2010) $20,000 (2009), $10,000 (2010) $25,000 (2009), $50,000 (2010) |
Solid Waste Operations
|
|
Priorities and Opportunities identified by Planning and
Environment Committee |
Examples of projects supporting the priorities (with 2009 budget $) |
Short term ‘quick hit’ opportunities |
Implementation timelines and cost |
|
4.1 |
Increase Customer Focus ·
Make
Recycling User-friendly, uncomplicated and accessible (convenient) |
Continue to advance the Rethink Garbage education/communication
campaign Pending Full Producer Responsibility legislation -
work towards developing a #3-7 plastics recycling/market to help alleviate
confusion regarding plastics recycling. Harmonize recycling contracts between City and
School Boards to ensure continuity from school to home. |
|
$1.45M 2009
Capital funding for communications |
|
|
·
Create
incentives that encourage recycling |
Leverage
Green Bin program and communications to increase recycling participation. |
Various outreach
initiatives currently in place
|
$1.45M 2009
Capital funding for communications 2010 Communications
budget TBD pending award of RFP for communications consultant |
Solid Waste Operations
|
|
Priorities and Opportunities identified by Planning and
Environment Committee |
Examples of projects supporting the priorities (with 2009 budget $) |
Short term ‘quick hit’ opportunities |
Implementation timelines and cost |
|
|
·
Engage Councillors to help develop
standards for recycling of new products |
As part of City
strategy for Extended Producer Responsibility hold a workshop with
Councillors and develop workplan going forward to account for full range of
post consumer packaging products. |
|
2009/2010 No budget
implication |
|
|
·
Develop
robust communication strategies when introducing new services |
Communication
contract for Green Bin Program to be awarded in May 2009. Various outreach
initiatives currently in place. |
Early summer
2009 thru' September with delivery of bins. |
$1.45M 2009
Capital funding for communications. Communications
budget TBD pending award of RFP for communications consultant |
|
4.2 |
Leverage
Councillor Involvement ·
Leverage
Councillor interest and relationships through action teams, community
connections and partnerships, and creation of pilot projects (e.g. Barrhaven
schools recycling) |
Mayor and Members of Council and their
assistants will be invited to participate in the organics pilot project prior
to full-scale launch of Green Bin Program in January 2010. Further engage Councillors in expansion
of organics program to commercial establishments. |
|
2009 TBD -
tender to be awarded shortly |
Solid Waste Operations
|
|
Priorities and Opportunities identified by Planning and
Environment Committee |
Examples of projects supporting the priorities (with 2009 budget $) |
Short term ‘quick hit’ opportunities |
Implementation timelines and cost |
|
|
·
Provide
program information and updates that can be used in Councillors' newsletters. |
Solid Waste
Division will provide regular updates on pilot projects to Committee and
Council. |
Solid Waste
outreach and education section will provide monthly bulletins to Councillors
on upcoming events, pilot projects and other useful information. |
2009 No budget
implication |
|
4.3 |
Encourage Industrial –
Commercial and Institutional (IC&I) Waste Recycling ·
Lobby the
Province to enforce its IC&I mandate or devolve the power to local
municipalities |
As part of
IC&I Strategy, develop a closer partnership with MOE local and head
office. Work towards a co-coordinated effort with respect to IC&I
recycling regulations and advocate for change at Provincial level. |
|
2009/2010 No budget
implication |
|
|
·
Help develop markets for IC&I Waste
materials |
As part of
IC&I strategy, conduct waste audits at Trail Road Landfill site to
determine the potential quantity of material available (i.e. roofing
shingles, dimension wood, etc.).
Engage processors in development of end markets for identified
materials. |
|
$330,000 (Full
IC&I Program Budget - to be allocated as required) 2009 $330,000 (Full
IC&I Program Budget - to be allocated as required) 2010 |
|
|
·
Seek out
private sector partners to pilot IC&I waste recycling programs. |
As part of City
IC&I strategy facilitate working sessions with collectors and processors
of IC&I waste (including C&D waste) to facilitate greater diversion |
|
$330,000 (Full IC&I
Program Budget - to be allocated as required) 2009 $330,000 (Full
IC&I Program Budget - to be allocated as required) 2010 |
Solid Waste Operations
|
|
Priorities and Opportunities identified by Planning and
Environment Committee |
Examples of projects supporting the priorities (with 2009 budget $) |
Short term ‘quick hit’ opportunities |
Implementation timelines and cost |
|
4.4 |
Extended Producer Responsibilities ·
Initiate a
policy debate to gain further understanding of what needs to be done to
prepare for extended producer responsibilities |
Develop a White
Paper to generate a discussion on extended producer responsibility and its
implications on community services and operations. |
|
2009 No
budget implication |