ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MINUTES

 

Tuesday, 2016 February 09

 

An Open meeting of the Environment Committee was held in the Council Committee Room, Main Floor,  City Hall, 4949 Canada Way, Burnaby, B.C. on Tuesday, 2016 February 09 at 6:00 p.m.

 

 

1.

CALL TO ORDER

 

 

PRESENT:

Councillor Anne Kang, Chair

Councillor Sav Dhaliwal, Vice Chair

Councillor Pietro Calendino, Member

Ms. Peggy Hua, Citizen Representative

 

ABSENT:

Mr. Bill Brassington Jr., Citizen Representative

Mr. Peter Cech, Citizen Representative

Mr. Frank Zhao, Citizen Representative

 

STAFF:

Mr. Dipak Dattani, Deputy Director Engineering

Ms. Lee-Ann Garnett, Assistant Director Long Range Planning

Ms. Gisele Caron, Purchasing Manager

Ms. Lise Townsend, Ecosystem Planner

Mr. Mark Sloat, Planner 1

Ms. Melinda Yong, Environmental Technician, Parks Design

Ms. Blanka Zeinabova, Administrative Officer

 

The Chair called the meeting to order at 6:06 p.m.

 

2.

MINUTES

 

 

a)

Open meeting of the Environment Committee

held on 2015 November 10________________

 

 

MOVED BY councillor calendino 

SECONDED BY councillor dhaliwal

 

THAT the minutes of the Open meeting of the Environment Committee held on 2015 November 10 be adopted.

 

                                                                                    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

 

 

3.

DELEGATIONS

 

 

MOVED BY councillor dhaliwal

SECONDED BY councillor calendino 

 

THAT the delegations be heard.

 

                                                                                    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

a)

Janice Cole

Re: Miscellaneous Household Hazardous Waste

Speaker: Janice Cole

 

           

Ms. Janice Cole appeared before the Committee expressing concern with Burnaby’s practice for disposal of household hazardous waste. 

 

The speaker noted that miscellaneous hazardous household waste is not accepted curb site and at Still Creek Recycling Depot, unless it is in the original container.  Products not in the original container can be poured onto kitty litter or rags and put in household garbage for pick up, or taken to Terra Pure (formerly New Alta).

 

Ms. Cole noted that Township of Langley offers a once a year pick up of such waste, working with Terra Pure, which then streams to Alberta where it is incinerated.

 

The speaker further noted that the City’s website (City Services - Garbage & Recycling) should be translated to many languages to inform all Burnaby residents.  The City could be working with the School District and university students to translate these messages for free.

 

In conclusion, Ms. Cole expressed concerns with certain plastics (i.e. cereals, chips, zip log bags, etc.) that are non-recyclable, and inquired if the City could incorporate these into the recycling stream.

 

Staff provided an overview of the recycling program, and noted the Province is ultimately responsible for the regulations.  As for translation, the City’s website is translated to five languages, based on statistics, which represents approximately 60% of the City’s population.  The City also uses same colour coded scheme for single family and multi-family waste and recycling to bring uniformity.

 

Arising from discussion, the following motion was introduced:

 

 

MOVED BY COUNCILLOR CALENDINO

SECONDED BY COUNCILLOR DHALIWAL

 

THAT this matter be REFERRED to staff for review.

 

                                                                                    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

b)

Katie van der Sloot

Re: Risk Management of Triclosan

Speaker: Katie van der Sloot

 

 

Ms. Katie van der Sloot was absent due to illness.

 

c)

Burnaby Food First

Re: Food Security

Speakers: Leona Skovgaard, Chair

                  Grant Rice & Joyce Cameron

 

 

Ms. Leona Skovgaard, Chair and Mr. Grant Rice appeared before the Committee on behalf of Burnaby Food First providing information regarding food security.

 

Ms. Skovgaard noted that Burnaby Food First, a group of community members and local agencies working together in Burnaby since 1997, to bring awareness to food security. Their projects include promoting food gardening in the city and offering free community workshops on preserving food.

 

Mr. Rice noted that Burnaby Food First incorporated the City’s Social Sustainability Strategy and the Environmental Sustainability Strategy into their platform. 

 

The speaker had three recommendations to the City:

1. provide staff resources to identify city-owned properties & parkland for potential urban food growing opportunities (i.e. Richmond Foodland Asset Report – 2013);

2.  dedicate portions of parkland & municipally owned land for urban agriculture and provide space to establish community gardens on public lands (i.e. Loutet Farm on North Shore & Terra Nova Farm in Richmond);

3.  provide municipal staff resources, infrastructure, and operating guidelines to support community gardens (i.e. Surrey’s Community Garden Expansion Project, Vancouver’s 2020 Greenest City Initiatives).

 

In conclusion, Mr. Rice noted the following key elements of success:

·         collaboration among grassroots organizations;

·         municipal resources and staff time;

·         political champions.

Staff advised that final consultation on Draft Environmental Sustainability Strategy will be in March/May, after which the Strategy will be forwarded to Council for approval.  At that time, it will be clearer how and when to engage with organizations, i.e. Burnaby Food First.

 

4.

CORRESPONDENCE

 

 

MOVED BY councillor dhaliwal

SECONDED BY ms. hua

 

THAT the correspondence be received.

 

                                                                                    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

a)

Correspondence from the Ministry of Environment

Re: Land Based Spill Preparedness and Response

in British Columbia___________________________

 

 

Correspondence was received from Mr. Anthony Danks, Executive Director, Spills Response Regime Project, Environmental Protection Division advising that on 2015 June 15, the Honourable Mary Polak, Minister of Environment, announced that British Columbia will be creating a world class spill response regime to address a wide range of potential land and marine-based spills.  The Ministry is seeking comments and inputs on this project.

 

b)

Correspondence from Species at Risk Recovery Unit, Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate

Change Canada

Re: Management Plan for the Northern Rubber Boa

in Canada_____________________________________

 

 

Correspondence was received from Species at Risk Recovery Unit, Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada advising that the Management Plan for the Northern Rubber Boa (a snake found in B.C.) in Canada was posted for consultation.

 

c)

Correspondence from Species at Risk Recovery Unit, Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate

Change Canada

Re: Amending List of Species at Risk______________

 

 

Correspondence was received from Ms. Sue Milburn-Hopwood, Director General, Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada advising that public consultations are being launched on amending Schedule 1 (the List of Wildlife Species at Risk) of the Species at Risk Act (SARA).

 

d)

Correspondence from Species at Risk Recovery, Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada

Re: Recovery Planning for Species at Risk______________

 

 

Correspondence was received from Mr. Randal Lake, Head, Species at Risk Recovery, Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada seeking input on draft recovery documents for SARA listed species at risk in B.C.

 

e)

Correspondence from Don Bruchet

Re: Eliminate Non-Recyclable Coffee Cups

 

 

Correspondence was received from Mr. Don Bruchet expressing concerns regarding the use of non-recyclable coffee cups.

 

Arising from discussion, the following motion was introduced:

 

MOVED BY COUNCILLOR DHALIWAL

SECONDED BY COUNCILLOR CALENDINO

 

THAT this matter be REFERRED to staff for report.

 

                                                                                    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

f)

Memorandum from the Director Planning and Building

Re: 2016 Environment Committee Workplan_________

 

 

A memorandum was received from the Director Planning and Building outlining the Committee workplan for 2016.

 

5.

REPORTS

 

 

MOVED BY councillor calendino

SECONDED BY councillor dhaliwal

 

THAT the reports be received.

 

                                                                                    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

a)

Report from the Director Planning and Building

Re: 2016 Environment Week Program_________

 

 

The Director Planning and Building submitted a report seeking approval for the 2016 Environment Week Program and the Environmental Awards and Stars Reception.

The Director Planning and Building recommended:

1. THAT Council approve the 2016 Environment Week Program.

2. THAT Council approve the presentation of the Environmental Awards and Stars at the Regular Council meeting on May 16, 2016.

3. THAT Council approve an expenditure of up to $3,000 from the Boards, Committees and Commissions' operating budget for promoting and advertising the City sponsored Garage Sale Day Event.

4. THAT Council approve an expenditure of up to $5,800 from the Boards, Committees and Commissions' operating budget for promoting and advertising Environment Week.

 

MOVED BY councillor dhaliwal 

SECONDED BY ms. hua 

 

THAT the recommendations of the Director Planning and Building be adopted.

 

Staff provided a Power Point presentation summarizing the report.

 

                                                                                    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

b)

Report from the Director Finance

Re: Sustainable Purchasing Initiatives - City Green Team

 

 

The Director Finance submitted a report providing a summary of initiatives undertaken by the City Green Team in 2015 and seeking Council's endorsement of the proposed 2016 Work Plan.

The Director Finance recommended:

1. THAT Council authorize the City Green Team to proceed with the proposed 2016 Work Plan Initiatives.

 

MOVED BY councillor calendino 

SECONDED BY ms. hua 

 

THAT the recommendation of the Director Finance be adopted.

 

Staff provided a Power Point presentation summarizing the report.

 

                                                                                    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

 

6.

NEW BUSINESS

 

 

            There was no new business brought before the Committee at this time.

 

7.

INQUIRIES

 

 

            There were no inquiries brought before the Committee at this time.

 

8.

ADJOURNMENT

 

 

MOVED BY councillor dhaliwal 

SECONDED BY councillor calendino 

 

THAT this Open Committee meeting do now adjourn.

 

                                                                                    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

The Open Committee meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

________________________

________________________

Blanka Zeinabova

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER                  

Councillor Anne Kang

CHAIR