MARKHAM ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

MINUTES

October 15, 2009

ATTENDANCE

Members Philip Ling, Chair Mylene Bezerra Batista Gary Diamond Lloyd Helferty Erika Lontoc Brent Mersey Zahra Parhizgari Louis Priftakis Tom Rado Carrie Sally Christopher Sauer Deputy Mayor Jack Heath Staff Bev Shugg Barbeito, Committee Secretary

Regrets Justin Chin Serena Chin Joyce Chau Helen Mack

1. CALL TO ORDER

The Markham Environmental Advisory Committee was called to order at 7:11 PM with Mr. Tom Rado presiding as Chair.

2. CHANGES OR ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA

The agenda was accepted with the following additions:

a) Accessible Customer Service

b) Solar Power Initiative update

c) Street Trees Symposium

3. ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES OF THE MARKHAM ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETINGS HELD ON SEPTEMBER 17, 2009

It was

Moved by Louis Priftakis
Seconded by Gary Diamond

That the minutes of the Markham Environmental Advisory Committee (MEAC) held on

September 17, 2009 be adopted as distributed.

Carried

4. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

A. MILNE DAM CONSERVATION AREA

Chair Philip Ling reported that the Milne Park Working Group is now seriously considering a five year plan to create a park stretching from Toogood Park to Bob Hunter Park. A consultant will be hired to identify issues that need to be resolved before implementation. It is hoped that the proposal would be ready to present to Town of Markham Council early in the new year. Chair Philip Ling advised MEAC members that there would be opportunities to be involved with the working group on this project.

B. ROUGE PARK IMPLEMENTATION TASK FORCE

Town of Markham Deputy Mayor Jack Heath reported that there have been discussions for years to create a national park to protect the Rouge River Valley System. The Town of Markham is now interested in creating a "super-municipal" park. The Town of Markham is working with TRCA (Toronto and Region Conservation Authority), the City of Toronto, Pickering and the Regional Municipality of Durham to do so and it is hoped that negotiations will start soon. Expected discussion points include existing homes and agricultural lands in the park area, ownership of Toogood and Milne Parks, and needed infrastructure. Town of Markham Deputy Mayor Jack Heath will bring the super-municipal park proposal to the next MEAC meeting.

C. COMMITTEE INITIATIVES FOR 2009/10

Chair Philip Ling supported the Solar Energy Initiative and recommended the Committee consider analyzing the Town of Markham’s Green purchasing policy. He reported that the Town of Markham has hired a student to develop a guide for how to use the Green Purchasing Policy. He felt that MEAC members could review the policy and provide input on the policy itself relative to other municipalities, and provide feedback on the guide, MEAC members could also research other projects, add input and then present the findings to Town of Markham Council.

5. NEW BUSINESS

A. TANKLESS HOT WATER RESEARCH PROJECT

Erika Lontoc had emailed to MEAC members information relating to a research project by Enbridge Gas Distribution and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) to determine energy savings attributable to tankless water heaters. These companies are still recruiting to attract 40 participants for the project. Results of the research project will be made public through CMHC.

B. UPDATE ON MESF PROJECTS

This item was deferred to the next meeting.

C. MARKHAM SUSTAINABILITY FAIR

MEAC will host a booth at this event on October 24, 2009; set up will be from 12 Noon to 1:30 PM. Tom Rado encouraged as many MEAC members as possible to take part. Ideas for outreach include:

- distributing information on trees native to Markham

- distributing the survey the Committee had used previously at an Earth Day event to gauge attendees' opinions about environmental matters; Mylene Bezerra Batista will email the survey to MEAC members for comment

D. MARKHAM ACCESSIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE

Copies of "Accessible Customer Service", a guide for Markham Board and Advisory Committee members on how best to interact with persons who have disabilities, were distributed. MEAC members present at the meeting signed a document committing themselves to review the guide and implement the suggested practices in order to provide excellent customer service to all Markham residents.

E. SOLAR POWER INITIATIVE

Christopher Sauer reported that the Province of Ontario had released the final version of the Feed-in-Tariff for renewable Energy on September 24, 2009. The Town of Markham had issued an RFP for a solar installation on the roof of the Civic Centre with a capacity of 10kW. He also reported that Markham is thought to be considering creating a solar power company, so solar energy may well be of interest to the Town of Markham.

At the last meeting, Christopher Sauer had presented an initiative that would involve renting the flat roof surfaces of Town of Markham buildings to groups or companies who wished to set up their own solar power installations to sell power. It was felt that such an initiative could position the Town of Markham as a leader in green energy and provide a new source of revenue for the Town. Christopher Sauer is now working with his community association and a local developer about the possibility of creating a solar installation on the roof of the apartment building the developer is erecting. Regional Councillor Joe Virgilio and the developer are interested in the proposal; if it were to be implemented, it would give additional credibility for the proposal involving solar power installations on the roof surfaces of Town of Markham buildings. It was felt that MEAC can align is efforts with these projects.

F. STREET TREES SYMPOSIUM

Past Chair Brent Mersey attended this event and will brief the Committee more fully at the next meeting. Trees in an urban setting usually only live 5 - 8 years and this symposium presented new considerations for planting to ensure trees live longer.

G. ANNUAL REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MEETING

The 2009 Regional EAC meeting will be hosted by the Newmarket EAC on Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at 6:30 PM in the Newmarket Town Hall. MEAC members are welcome to attend; Chair Philip Ling and one or two members will represent the committee. Philip Ling, Tom Rado, Brent Mersey, Lloyd Helferty, Christopher Sauer and Zahra Parhizgari indicated an interest in attending the meeting.

6. ADJOURNMENT

It was

Moved by Brent Mersey

Seconded by Erica Lontoc

That the Markham Environmental Advisory Committee adjourn at 9:15 PM.