Burlington Sustainable Development Advisory Committee Meeting

Minutes

Meeting #:
Date:
Time:
-
Location:
Room 247, Level 2, City Hall

1.
Members Present:
 

Carolyn Barnes, Jim Feilders, Susan Mattine, Hashem Hosseini-Mousavi, Dave Bourns, Mitchell French, Dave Rokosh, Sarah Burjaw, and Councillor Paul Sharman

2.
Others Present:
 

Lynn Robichaud (staff), Susana Toma and friend (observers)

3.
Regrets:
 

Katie Rauscher, Peter Cookson, Michelina Longo, Tim Park, Mathew McCauley, and Chris Maynard

4.
Declarations of Interest:
 

None.

5.
Membership Update:
 

Carolyn advised that there have been two resignations from the Committee – Herb Lewington and Herb Sinnock. Dave Bourns has stepped into one of the fulltime positions. Herb Sinnock will become an alternate member. Interviews for new members will take place later this year. Currently there are two positions to fill on the committee as well as alternates.


Actions: Reminder to advise Lynn and Carolyn about your intentions to continue participating on the SDC in the new year (particularly if you’re thinking of leaving the committee). Lynn to contact clerks about timing of interviews and follow-up with Danielle on the status of her report.

6.
Approval of Minutes:
 

7.
Regular Items:
 

7.1
Updates from previous events
 

Climate Action Plan Public Workshops – Central Library (afternoon) and Brant Hills Community Centre (evening) – Sept 16th (more info at www.getinvolvedburlington.ca) – Lynn advised that there were engagement opportunities throughout August and September with pop-ups, including the very successful Food for Feedback event at Central Park. The two workshops on Monday went well; the afternoon was at Central Library and the evening workshop was very well attended at Brant Hills. The workshops were facilitated by LURA consulting and they will be reviewing all of the data from the surveys and workshops.

7.2
Upcoming events/news
 

7.3
Council & Staff Updates
 

a.
Councillor Sharman
 

Council recently had a workshop on growth management and population numbers. Best planning estimates influence the regional infrastructure budget and development charges. Watson and Dillon consultants have analyzed population numbers to 2041 and have provided three scenarios for growth - high, medium and low. Need to consider implications of selecting options – if the low growth scenario is selected, will we be short on infrastructure in the future? The Region has advised that sufficient infrastructure exists for growth in the downtown.


Other matters that council has considered:


- LaSalle Park Marina Association and wave break. An excellent report that compared LaSalle marina with other marinas, which concluded that the marina could not be run without volunteers.


- Skyway arena - $5 million more in budget needed due to inflation, increased planned floor/programming space and a design for a lower carbon footprint.


- Endress – Hauser business development on Sutton drive – office building will be designed to LEED gold, carbon and energy neutral. Working with McCallum Sather architects in Hamilton, who are green building specialists.


- 2085 Pine Street – want 5 more storeys to be 11 storeys.


- OP re-review is on track.

b.
Lynn Robichaud
 

provided updates that Skyway is being designed to be a low carbon operation with geothermal; City View Park Pavillion is being designed to be net carbon neutral operation with solar panels; Joseph Brant Museum just opened with geothermal and a green roof; our energy coordinator will be doing 8 energy audits this year to prepare for deep energy audits; and the community gardens program is now under the Environment and Energy section, a very successful city program. Michelle Bennett often provides tours including impromptu ones, such as a recent group of Notre Dame HS students at the Ireland Park garden. Staff are currently assessing locations for a new community garden in 2021.

7.4
Business arising from the minutes
 

a.
File Sharing Project
 

Action: Lynn to follow up with ITS staff on the One Drive project.

7.5
Awareness sub-committee update
 

Susan advised that the deadline had passed for the Appleby Street Fest but Councillor Sharman suggested that the SDC email him directly about participating. Hashem and potentially Mitchell will assist with Susan. Set up is at 12:00 and event runs from 1:00 – 5:00. The group decided not to use a tent but Hashem will bring a table.


The fall event at Central Library is on November 12th on what the City is doing to take action on climate change (background info, forestry, SW, energy and the Climate Action Plan). Fleur is working with Communications on the poster design. The library will help to promote the event.


The group is planning a fall tour of the new Joseph Brant Museum and a date is still to be confirmed. Tim is following up with the new executive director.


The group is also talking about 2020 events and would like to focus on climate change, although the spring event may be on living with wildlife.


Susan had circulated a link to high tech city trees, an alternative design to providing trees in urban areas. Tim is following up to get more information.

7.6
Policy and Development subcommittee update
 

Carolyn noted that Mary Lou Tanner, Deputy City Manager, is scheduled to attend the next P&D meeting to discuss social impact implications with the committee. Lynn provided background that the issue was raised by Councillor Sharman at the June 10th Committee of the Whole (COW) meeting when the Climate Action report and Take Action Burlington reports were presented. The COW decided that ‘Climate Implications’ should be part of the staff report template and then a discussion followed about consideration to social impacts. Mary Lou is following up on the issue.


Jim F noted that there should be a discussion about Eagle Heights and affordable housing and that they could ask Mary Lou about her thoughts on this when she attends the P&D meeting. Dave R provided an update that the Eagle Heights environmental reports are being reviewed noting
that there are several endangered bird and plant species in the area. Low impact SW design is being proposed. The OMB is deciding on what policies should apply given the amount of time since the original application was submitted for this project.


2085 Pine street – the group is compiling comments


Suzanne informed P&D members that 421 Brant St. construction details are online. Jim has asked Mark Bales to attend the November P&D meeting to speak about the mechanicals for the project. Action: Jim to advise the chair of P&D (Tim) that he has asked Mark to attend the November meeting.


Bill 108 – planning staff are reviewing how the planning process will work as the proposed legislation will compress the timeline, impacting the SDC as there would be less time to review applications.


P&D are reviewing affordable housing issues.

7.7
Reports from external groups and conferences
 

a.
Climate Action Plan
 

Lynn advised that the community engagement process is complete for the first phase. An update will be provided to the CAP stakeholder group on October 18th and a public open house is tentatively planned for the 23rd which may coincide with a citizen action lab on the OP (to be confirmed). Staff expect the Climate Action Plan to be tabled at the Committee of the Whole meeting on December 2nd and then council, the SDC and community members will have time to review the document, when it is brought back later for consideration.

b.
Bay Area Climate Change Council
 

Carolyn provided an update that three working groups have been formed on funding (still an issue); mobilization - roundtables are being planned for buildings and transportation; and advocacy – have prepared a report with recommended actions to help align the two city plans.

c.
BurlingtonGreen
 

Jim noted that BG is hosting an all candidates debate at NUVO on October 3rd. Details are being finalized. The final eco film will be on gardening.

d.
Halton Climate Collective
 

Lynn advised that youth volunteers are planning an ‘un-conference’ on climate action in November at Sheridan College. It’s on a PA day to avoid any potential strikes or work to rule. Transportation options will be provided in each local municipality. The city will be sponsoring the ‘un-conference’.

8.
Other Business:
 

8.1
Georgian Court
 

Committee members would like to hear an update from the developer on what they are planning for the re-design of this project.

Action: Carolyn will touch base with Suzanne about arranging for the Georgian Court developer to attend a COW meeting.

8.2
Climate Strike
 

A resident has organized a climate strike at City Hall on Friday, September 20th from 8:30 – 12:00 noon. Councillor Nisan will be speaking at the event. Councillor Sharman intends to attend and speak to those striking. Everyone is invited to participate.

8.3
Iroquoia Bruce Trail Club Invitation to SDC
 

The group decided to participate with a booth at the Bruce Trail October 6th event at City View Park (Kerns Road and Dundas). Dave, Carolyn and Susan have volunteered to attend and Susan will follow up with the Bruce Trail club about details. Dave will attend from 10 to 12 and Carolyn will attend from 12 to 2; Susan will attend the full four hours.

8.4
Upcoming meeting dates
 

9.
Adjournment:
 

Chair adjourned the meeting at 8:16 pm.

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