MINUTES

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES COMMITTEE

2010-05-03

YORK ROOM, MARKHAM CIVIC CENTRE

 

 

Members

Deputy Mayor Jack Heath

Councillor Valerie Burke

Councillor Logan Kanapathi

Philip Ling, Markham Environmental

      Advisory Committee

Brent Mersey, Markham Environmental

      Advisory Committee

 

Regrets

Councillor Erin Shapero

 

 

Staff

Mavis Urquhart, Manager, Environmental

         Leadership

Paul Ingham, General Manager, Operations

David Pearce, Manager, Real Property

Linda Irvine, Manager, Parks & Open Space Planning

Claudia Marsales, Manager, Waste Management

Lilli Duoba, Senior Project Coordinator (Rouge River          & Environment)

Victoria McGrath, Director, Sustainability Office

Karen Boniface, Technical Coordinator, Operations

Katie Burns, Sustainability Coordinator

Judy Kee, Committee Clerk

 

 

The Environmental Issues Committee convened at 2:00 p.m. with Deputy Mayor Jack Heath in the Chair.

 

 

1          MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL

            ISSUES COMMITTEE HELD ON MARCH 24, 2010

 

Moved by Councillor V. Burke

Seconded by Philip Ling

 

That the minutes of the Meeting of the Environmental issues Committee held on March 24, 2010 be adopted.

CARRIED

 

 

2.         MARKHAM ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

            FUND (MESF) - STAFF APPLICATION

 

Legacy Organic Garden

 

Committee, at its meeting held March 24, 2010, considered a staff application from Ms. Victoria McGrath, Sustainability Office, requesting MESF funding in the amount of $2,500 for a community garden pilot project near Markham Green Golf Course, and directed that the application be approved in principle and requested staff to report back with further information at the next meeting.

 

Ms. Victoria McGrath, Director Sustainability Office and Ms. Katie Burns, Sustainability Coordinator, were in attendance regarding this matter. Ms. Burns distributed copies of a handout providing information in response to issues and queries raised at the March 24th meeting, including:

-                      the users of the garden

-                      water supply

-                      parking options

-                      types of plants to be used

-                      pollinators

-                      members of the team

-                      plans for public consultation

-                      Town`s involvement; and

-                      Soil testing data (University of Guelph Soil Test Report).

 

Ms. Burns also reviewed the draft Community Garden Guidelines and asked Members to provide feedback.

 

Committee discussed and raised the following points:

-          feasibility of prioritizing residents in apartments in future years; such `gardens` should be open to all residents, including persons renting premises

-          the Legacy project will be very community based

-          length of commitment of residents questioned

-          importance of monitoring parking; encourage car-pooling; residents live within walking distance; walking to the Garden will also be encouraged

-          clarification that the Legacy Garden will be on public property; similar to Dog Off Leash arrangements

-          use of private property may be considered in the future

-          such community based gardens will be supported by the Town, but driven by the community

 

Ms. Burns suggested that the public consultation process could follow that of the Dog Off-Leash Guidelines, indicating that seventy percent (70%) of the residents within a 120 metre radius must agree to the garden, however, Committee agreed that this was far too strict.  It was suggested that a public information meeting be held to distribute information to the residents on the pilot project and provide contact information for the Community Garden organizers.

 

The specific location of the Garden was queried and there was some discussion relating to whether it was on tableland or flood plain, and staff was requested to clarify this with the Toronto and Conservation Authority (TRCA) and Town maps.  The matter of pest control, and compost and organics management was raised, and staff was cautioned regarding rodents being attracted to the Garden and the need to have ongoing organics removal.

 

 

 

It was also noted that the use of toxic control agents would not be allowed, however, Ms. Burns advised that this would not be an issue as an organic garden is proposed, and that the Project Lead is an organic farmer.  It was also stated that there should be clarification that the plants harvested would be for personal use only and not to be sold.

 

Members queried how water is to be supplied, and staff advised that various sources are being investigated, including rain barrels, water from the golf course, and through the residents` personal hoses.  It was noted that water would not be available from the Rouge River.  It was also suggested that staff contact the TRCA to determine if a special permit would be required to allow for the relocating of soil in the area.

 

The importance of this Pilot Project being successful was emphasized, so that it would be a prototype for future public-private partnerships for community gardens.  The Town`s role should be stated clearly and the responsibilities of all parties should be clarified in the guidelines, including whose responsibility it will be to clean up the area. An agreement or memorandum of understanding setting out responsibilities with the group and the Town was also suggested for consideration.

 

Staff from the Sustainability Office indicated that a staff report on Community Gardens guidelines would be sent to Council for approval.

 

Committee requested Sustainability Office staff to draft a letter from Councillor Logan Kanapathi to the local residents advising them of the Pilot Project, and providing contact information for the Project Leads.  The possibility of the local Councillor holding a community meeting and also holding an official opening was also suggested.

 

Sustainability Office staff was requested to report back to the Environmental Issues Committee following the completion of the Pilot Project.

 

Moved by Brent Mersey

Seconded by Councillor V. Burke

 

That MESF funding in the amount of $2,500 be awarded to Vicky McGrath, Director, Sustainability Office, for the Legacy Community Garden Pilot Project, provided that the funds not be released by the Sustainability Office to Legacy Organic Garden until all necessary licensing, approvals and guideline requirements are obtained and met.

CARRIED

 

 

3.         STATUS OF LAND ACQUISITION FUND

 

At the last meeting of Committee, held on March 24, 2010, staff was requested to report back on the status of the Town`s Environmental Land Acquisition Fund.  Mr. David Pearce, Manager, Real Property, was in attendance and presented general information relating to properties being considered for purchase or sale within the Town.

 

 

4.         ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES COMMITTEE (EIC)

            AMENDMENTS TO TERMS OF REFERENCE

 

At the meeting held on March 24, 2010, Members had received copies of the current Terms of Reference document for the Environmental Issues Committee (EIC).

 

It was noted that previous Council direction that the EIC Committee review and make recommendations regarding the Markham Trees for Tomorrow Fund had not been incorporated into the Terms of Reference and staff was requested to report back with a revised Terms of Reference document.

 

Ms. Judy Kee, Committee Clerk, presented a revised document incorporating recent Council directions relating to the mandate of the Environmental Issues Committee.  Committee also noted that the bulleted out-of-date clause relating to three-stream collection should be deleted.

 

Moved by Councillor L. Kanapathi

Seconded by Councillor V. Burke

 

That the Environmental Issues Committee Terms of Reference be updated to include the following as per Council direction:

- under `Composition`– correcting `Markham Conservation Committee` to `Markham Environmental Advisory Committee` (April 2008), and

- under `Mandate` - adding: `Managing the Trees for Tomorrow Fund and providing recommendations to the General Committee on the approval of appropriate projects` (April 2008)

 

CARRIED

 

Moved by Philip Ling

Seconded by Councillor V. Burke

 

That the following bulleted clause under `Mandate` be deleted from the Environmental Issues Committee Terms of Reference:

- `Preparing plans for a Town-wide three-stream collection including a public consultation process.`

CARRIED

 

NOTE:  The revised Terms of Reference are attached.

 

 

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

The meeting of the Environmental Issues Committee adjourned at 2:55 p.m.

 

 

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES COMMITTEE

 

 

Composition

 

The Environmental Issues Committee shall be comprised of five (5) Members of Council and Staff.  Also, the Chair or designate of the Markham Conservation Committee Markham Environmental Advisory Committee is to be appointed to provide input when matters of the Markham Environmental Sustainability Fund are considered.

 

Mandate

 

The specific duties of the Environmental Committee shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

 

§  Recommending policy and long and short term goals;

§  Administering the Environmental Land Acquisition fund and making recommendations to the General Committee on land acquisition matters;

§  Managing the Environmental Sustainability Fund and providing recommendations to the General Committee on the approval of appropriate projects;

§  Managing the Trees for Tomorrow Fund and providing recommendations to the General Committee on the approval of appropriate projects;

§  Preparing plans for a Town-wide three stream collection including a public consultation process.

 

 

Sub-Committees

 

§  Sub-committees may be created to assist and/or advise the Environmental  Issues Committee;

§  The Environmental Issues Committee may appoint, at the request of the Chair of the Sub-committee, additional members to sit on the Sub-committee. These representatives will be regarded as non-voting members.

 

 

 

 

Revised May 2010