Trees and Forests Advisory Committee

Report

Meeting #:	The 1st Meeting of the Trees and Forests Advisory Committee
Date:	Wednesday, January 22, 2020 at 12:15 P.m. - 1:15 P.m.
Location:	Committee Room #3

Attendance

• PRESENT: R. Mannella (Chair), A. Cantell, M. Demand, A. Hames, J. Kogelheide, A. Morrison, and D. Turner (Committee Clerk)
  
  NOT PRESENT:  A. Valastro
  
  ALSO PRESENT: A. Beaton, L. McNiven, M. Pease, and S. Rowland
  
  The meeting was called to order at 12:15 PM.

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1.

Call to Order

1.1

Disclosures of Pecuniary Interest

That it BE NOTED that no pecuniary interests were disclosed.

1.2

Election of Chair and Vice Chair for the term ending in November 30, 2020

• That it BE NOTED that the Trees and Forests Advisory Committee elected R. Mannella and M. Demand as Chair and Vice Chair, respectively, for the term ending November 30, 2020.

2.

Scheduled Items

2.1

Canopy Requirements in New Development Sites

• That it BE NOTED that the verbal presentation from M. Pease, Manager, Development Planning and L. McNiven, Landscape Architect, Development Services, with respect to tree planting in new subdivisions, ideal canopy coverage targets, and the challenges inherent in meeting those targets, was received.

3.

Consent

3.1

11th Report of the Trees and Forests Advisory Committee

• That it BE NOTED that the 11th Report of the Trees and Forests Advisory Committee, from its meeting held on November 27, 2019, was received.

4.

Sub-Committees and Working Groups

4.1

Education Sub-Committee Update

• That the following actions be taken with respect to the Education Sub-Committee update:
  
  a)       the Civic Administration BE REQUESTED to provide the Trees and Forests Advisory Committee with a copy of the Urban Forest Strategy Communication Plan, when said document becomes publicly available, for the committee's review and feedback; and,
  
  b)      the Civic Administration BE REQUESTED to provide the Trees and Forests Advisory Committee with a copy of the proposed changes to Chapter 12 of the Design Specifications and Requirements Manual and any standard contract documents, when said documents become publicly available, for the committee's review and feedback.

4.2

2020 Work Plan Sub-Committee Update

• That it BE NOTED that the committee held a general discussion with respect to the 2020 work plan; it being further noted that the committee aims to submit its 2020 work plan to Council with its February report.

5.

Items for Discussion

5.1

City Budget and Climate Change

• That the following actions be taken with respect to the City Budget as it relates to climate emergency initiatives:
  
  a)      in light of the global climate emergency and its expected impacts on London’s urban forest and the lives of its citizens, the Civic Administration BE REQUESTED to make initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions an absolute priority;
  
  it being noted that this should include, as part of the ongoing budget process, fully funding related business cases, including Business Case #1 (60% Waste Diversion Action Plan), Business Case #5A (Climate Emergency Declaration – Plan), and Business Case #5B (Climate Emergency Declaration – Implementation); and,
  
  b)      the Civic Administration BE ENCOURAGED to adopt, as a part of its climate change planning, an explicit principle that our community will not fail to do less than its fair share of emission reductions, and that fears that other communities or nations will fail to do their part will not be accepted as a justification for London to not do its own.

6.

Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 2:03 PM.