MINUTES

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES COMMITTEE

2008-10-31

CANADA ROOM, MARKHAM CIVIC CENTRE

MEETING NO. 3

Members Deputy Mayor J. Heath Regional Councillor T. Wong Councillor V. Burke Councillor E. Shapero B. Mersey, Chair, Markham Environmental Advisory Committee P. Ling, Markham Environmental Advisory Committee Regrets: Councillor L. Kanapathi

Staff M. Urquhart, Manager, Environmental Leadership V. Sawler, Manager, Markham Energy Conservation Office C. Marsales, Manager, Waste Management T. Wilkinson, Provincial Offences Office Supervisor S. Hartin, Environmental Inspector L. Irvine, Manager, Parks & Open Space Development L. Miller, Senior Planner Environmental Policy C. Smith, Strategic Services Energy and Environment Assistant A. Tari, Committee Clerk

The Environmental Issues Committee convened at 2:05 PM with Councillor Erin Shapero in the Chair.

1. MINUTES OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES COMMITTEE

MEETING HELD ON OCTOBER 2, 2008

Moved by Deputy Mayor J. Heath

Seconded by Regional Councillor T. Wong

That the minutes of the Environmental Issues Committee meeting held on October 2, 2008 be adopted.

CARRIED

2. MATTERS DEFERRED FROM THE OCTOBER 2, 2008 MEETING

a) PRESENTATION ON MESF

Ms. Mavis Urquhart, Manager, Environmental Leadership, delivered a PowerPoint presentation regarding MESF, providing a program overview and highlighted the accomplishments over the past 4 years. She advised that a presentation will also be made to the General Committee in November 2008.

b) VIDEO PRESENTATION ON WASTE AUDIT AND WASTE REDUCTION

PROGRAM AT UNIONVILLE MEADOWS PUBLIC SCHOOL

Ms. Jeanette McLellan, Teacher, addressed the Committee regarding the waste reduction program that has been implemented at Unionville Meadows Public School. She advised that the program began in September 2008 and presented a brief video of a character skit that was done at the school which helped explain the program to the students. Ms. McLellan also advised that visual posters have been placed throughout the school in place of regular word posters.

Ms. Claudia Marsales, Manager, Waste Management, advised the Committee that in September 2008 CBC News was invited to the school for the launch and presented the news clip.

The Committee was delighted with the success to date at Unionville Meadows Public School with respect to the waste reduction program. The Committee suggested that Ms. Jeanette McLellan and her students be recognized at a future Council meeting.

3. MARKHAM ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY FUND (MESF)

“COMMUNITY APPLICATIONS”

a) YOUTH ENVIRONMENTAL NETWORK OF YORK REGION

REQUESTING $10,000 FOR A MARKHAM ECOFEST

Ms. Urquhart advised the Committee that staff have worked with Mr. Vino Jeyapalan, CEO and President of The Youth Environmental Network of York Region (YENYR), to revise the budget as requested by the Committee.

Mr. Vino Jeyapalan addressed the Committee and reviewed the changes made to the Ecofest budget. He advised that a tentative date has been scheduled for April 18, 2009 and the location needs to be confirmed.

Moved by Deputy Mayor J. Heath

Seconded by Councillor V. Burke

That the revised application from the Youth Environmental Network of York Region requesting $ 7,372.60 for a Markham Ecofest be approved.

CARRIED

b) YORK REGION SOLAR INITIATIVE REQUESTING $10,000 FOR

COMMUNICATIONS AND VENUES TO PROMOTE SOLAR

TECHNOLOGY IN THE COMMUNITY

Mr. Jonathan Maister, Thornhill resident, Mr. Lloyd Helferty, Thornhill resident and Mr. Ken Traynor, Our Power were in attendance to provide the Committee with a revised budget and distributed a hand-out to the Committee that included:

· Answers to questions posed by the Committee at the October 2, 2008 meeting

· Revised budget form

· Our Power newsletter

· West Toronto Initiative for Solar Energy (WISE) – summary

· Community Solar Projects: Learned Ideas for the future

· Community Solar Project Design Steps

· Community Solar Update – October 2008

· Comparative Information on SHW Systems currently on offer in Ontario

· Recent bid Prices for PV systems in Ontario

· WISE/TREC Solar Home Tour 2008

Mr. Helferty advised the Committee that a Public Meeting will be held in February 2009 to inform homeowners comprehensively about Solar Power and encouraged the Committee to attend. He also advised that any residents outside of Wards 1 & 2 are also welcome to attend the meeting.

There was brief discussion with respect to the name of the project “York Region Solar Initiative” and that consideration should be made to changing it to “Thornhill Solar Initiative”. The Committee thanked Mr. Maister, Mr. Helferty and Mr. Traynor for the update. The Committee suggested that invitations also be extended to the individuals that attended the various solar workshops that were held by MECO.

Moved by Councillor V. Burke

Seconded by Deputy Mayor J. Heath

That the revised application from York Region Solar Initiative, requesting MESF funding in the amount of $ 9,476.25 be approved; and,

That the York Region Solar Initiatives communication materials be reviewed by the Town staff; and,

That the representatives of York Region Solar Initiative and the Town of Markham enter into an indemnity.

CARRIED

4. MARKHAM ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY FUND (MESF)

“STAFF APPLICATIONS”

a) BILL WILES, MANAGER OF BY-LAW ENFORCEMENT AND LICENSING REQUESTING $22,000 FOR MARKHAM ENVIRONMENTAL KICK START PROJECT

Mr. Todd Wilkinson, Provincial Offences Office Supervisor, addressed the Committee on behalf of Mr. Wiles, regarding the proposal for Markham Environmental Kick Start project. He advised that currently the Town does not have the capacity to manage a larger program than the one being proposed. Mr. Wilkinson also advised that an additional $2, 750 is being requested to hire a student for approximately a 17 week period (May – August 2009).

Moved by Deputy Mayor J. Heath

Seconded by Regional Councillor T. Wong

That the application from Mr. Bill Wiles, Manager, Enforcement and Licensing, requesting MESF funding in the amount of $22,000, and the additional amount of $2,750, for a Markham Environmental Kick-Start Project, be approved.

CARRIED

b) NEW APPLICATION – VIIVE SAWLER, MANAGER, MARKHAM ENERGY

CONSERVATION OFFICE, REQUESTING FUNDING FOR SOLAR PANELS

ON THE CIVIC CENTRE ROOF

Ms. Urquhart advised the Committee that the above application was received after the deadline for submissions. The Committee agreed to consider the application given that it was an initiative resulting from a Markham Enterprises Corporation (MEC) meeting.

Ms. Viive Sawler, Manager, Markham Energy Conservation Office, addressed the Committee regarding the proposal to install solar panels on the Civic Centre roof. She advised that staff is proposing to install a 10 Kilowatt system that would be eligible for approximately $5,000/yr revenue. She believes this project will have an extraordinary educational value for the Markham community. Ms. Sawler also advised that the solar panels would be modular and would allow for future expansion if necessary.

The Committee requested that staff provide additional information such as other funding opportunities and statistical information. There was discussion regarding how the revenues will be used. The Committee also discussed the opportunity of installing fewer panels on the Civic Centre building and installing the balance of panels on other Town-owned building (such as Community Centres).

Moved by Deputy Mayor J. Heath

Seconded by Councillor V. Burke

That the application by Viive Sawler, Manager, Markham Energy Conservation Office, requesting MESF funding in the amount of $100,000 be approved in principle for any Town owned building including the Town of Markham Civic Centre; and,

That funding for this project come from the 2008 MESF budget; and,

That a further meeting of the Environmental Issues Committee be scheduled to discuss details of the proposal.

CARRIED

5. OTHER MATTERS

a) ONTARIO CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ADVANCEMENT (OCETA)

Ms. Urquhart provided the Committee with a brief update regarding OCETA advising that she is working together with Mr. Stephen Chait, Director of Economic Development and Dennis Flaherty, Manager, Strategic Communications and anticipate rolling out a program in about a month.

6. NEXT MEETING

Staff was requested to schedule a meeting within the next month and advise Members.

ADJOURNMENT

The Environmental Issues Committee adjourned at 4:00 PM.