Advisory Committee on the Environment

Report

Meeting #:	The 5th Meeting of the Advisory Committee on the Environment
Date:	Wednesday, May 01, 2019 at 12:15 P.m. - 1:15 P.m.
Location:	Committee Room #4

Attendance

• PRESENT:   S. Ratz (Chair), K. Birchall, M. Bloxam, S. Hall, M. Hodge, J. Howell, C. Lyons, D. Szoller and A. Tipping and J. Bunn (Secretary)
    
  ABSENT:   S. Brooks and L. Langdon
   
  ALSO PRESENT:   T. Arnos, J. Stanford and B. Westlake-Power
   
  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 S. Ratz disclosed a pecuniary interest in clauses 3.4 and 5.3 of this Report, having to do with a Municipal Council resolution with respect to the Environmental Programs Annual Overview Update and Distribution of Water at Events, respectively, by indicating that her employer is involved in both of these items.

2.

Scheduled Items

None.

3.

Consent

3.1

4th Report of the Advisory Committee on the Environment

• That it BE NOTED that the 4th Report of the Advisory Committee on the Environment, from its meeting held on April 3, 2019, was received.

3.2

4th Report of the Environmental and Ecological Planning Advisory Committee

• That it BE NOTED that the 4th Report of the Environmental and Ecological Planning Advisory Committee, from its meeting held on March 21, 2019, was received.

3.3

Municipal Council Resolution - 2019 Appointments to the City of London Advisory Committees

• That it BE NOTED that the Municipal Council resolution, from its meeting held on March 26, 2019, with respect to the 2019 Appointments to the City of London Advisory Committees, was received.

3.4

Municipal Council Resolution - Environmental Programs Annual Overview Update

• That it BE NOTED that the following items were received with respect to the Environmental Programs Annual Overview Update:

  ·         a Municipal Council resolution from its meeting held on April 23, 2019; and,

  ·         a staff report, dated April 16, 2019, from J. Stanford, Director, Environment, Fleet and Solid Waste.

3.5

Notice of Planning Application - Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments - 146 Exeter Road

• That it BE NOTED that the Notice of Planning Application, dated April 2, 2019, from N. Pasato, Senior Planner, with respect to Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments for the property located at 146 Exeter Road, was received.

3.6

Draft Lambeth Area Community Improvement Plan

• That it BE NOTED that a communication from L. Davies Snyder, Planner II, Urban Regeneration and a staff report, dated March 18, 2019, from J.M. Fleming, Managing Director, Planning and City Planner, with respect to the Draft Lambeth Area Community Improvement Plan, were received.

4.

Sub-Committees and Working Groups

None.

5.

Items for Discussion

5.1

Dark Sky Community/Park

• That the Civic Administration BE REQUESTED to report back at a future meeting of the Advisory Committee on the Environment (ACE) with respect to the feasibility of adapting the Dark Sky Communities Guidelines in smaller communities within the City of London as per the International Dark Sky Communities Guildelines; it being noted that the ACE suggested the communities of Brockley-Shaver, Glanworth and/or Lambeth as pilot communities for this project.

5.2

South Street Park

• That the Civic Administration BE REQUESTED to report back at a future meeting the Advisory Committee on the Environment with respect to the feasibility of making the new park on South Street "off-grid" in terms of energy usage.

5.3

Distribution of Water at Events

• That it BE NOTED that a communication from M. Bloxam with respect to the City of London Thirstmobile and Thirstations, and their respective use, was received.

5.4

ACE Terms of Reference

• That it BE NOTED that a communication from B. Westlake-Power, Deputy City Clerk with respect to the Advisory Committee Review, as well as the current Advisory Committee on the Environment Terms of Reference, were received.

5.5

ACE 2018/2019 Work Plans

• That the following actions be taken with respect to the Advisory Committee on the Environment (ACE) Work Plans:

  a)            the revised attached 2018 ACE Work Plan BE FORWARDED to the Planning and Environment Committee for their information; and,

  b)            the 2019 ACE Work Plan BE DEFERRED to the new term of the ACE, starting on June 1, 2019.

6.

Deferred Matters/Additional Business

6.1

(ADDED) Precautionary Principle

• That Municipal Council BE REQUESTED to undertake the following with respect to the recent Declaration of a Climate Emergency:

  a)            demonstrate the commitment of the city of London to address the Climate Emergency by creating a Sustainability Office, independent of all existing departments, that reports directly to Council; it being noted that this office should be given the power to independently investigate matters of interest, make observations, issue reports, and act as a point of contact for receiving public concerns involving the environment and the City of London;

  b)            ensure that the above-noted Sustainability Office is run by an individual with a mandate that exceeds the terms for Municipal Council by no less than one year and who can only be removed from their position in exceptional circumstances which are enumerated as part of their contract of employment with the City of London;

  c)            accept the use and validity of the Precautionary Principle as it relates to the environment and its protection through by-laws, regulations and city policies; and,

  d)            request that the Civic Administration review existing policies, including but not limited to the Procurement Policy, for opportunities to apply the Precautionary Principle to strive to protect the environment through its application; it being noted that the Advisory Committee on the Environment wishes to be circulated on any reports related to this matter;

  it being noted that a communication from K. Birchall, with respect to this matter, was received.

6.2

(ADDED) Proposed Maple Leaf Food Plant – R. McNeil – Request for Delegation Status

• That the delegation request from R. McNeil, with respect to the Proposed Maple Leaf Food Plant, BE APPROVED for a future meeting of the Advisory Committee on the Environment (ACE); it being noted that Mr. McNeil will be requested to provide a submission for inclusion on the ACE agenda, when the delegation takes place.

7.

Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 2:42 PM.