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ENVIRONMENT
AND SOCIAL PLANNING COMMITTEE
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MINUTES
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An Open meeting of the Environment
and Social Planning Committee was held in the Clerk's Committee Room, City
Hall, 4949 Canada Way, Burnaby, B.C. on Monday, 2019 May 06 at 6:00 p.m.
followed by a Closed meeting from which the public was excluded.
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PRESENT:
ADVISORY
ORGANIZATIONS:
ABSENT:
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Councillor
Colleen Jordan, Chair
Councillor
Joe Keithley, Vice Chair
Councillor
James Wang, Member
Mr.
Joel Gibbs, Citizen Representative
Mr.
Elie Lubendo, Citizen Representative
Ms.
Mary Lumby, Citizen Representative
Ms.
Doris Mah, Citizen Representative
Mr.
Andrei Zawadzki, Citizen Representative
Ms.
Tessa Vanderkop, Burnaby Board of Trade
Trustee
Peter Cech, Burnaby School Board
Ms.
Dana Wong, FortisBC
Ms.
Deborah Harford, Simon Fraser University
Mr.
Frank Huang, Citizen Representative
Mr.
Jerry Muir, BC Hydro
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STAFF:
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Mr.
Dipak Dattani, Director Corporate Services
Ms.
Lee-Ann Garnett, Assistant Director Long Range Planning
Ms.
Simone Rousseau, Manager Environmental Services
Ms.
Lise Townsend, Ecosystem Planner
Ms.
Monica Macdonald, Administrative Officer
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The Chair called the Open
meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
The Chair acknowledged the
unceded, traditional, and ancestral lands of the
hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ and sḵwx̱wú7mesh
speaking people, and extended appreciation for the opportunity to hold a
meeting on this shared Coast Salish territory.
The Chair welcomed members
and facilitated a round of introductions.
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MOVED BY councillor keithley
SECONDED BY councillor wang
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THAT the minutes of the Environment
and Social Planning Committee Open meeting held on 2019 March 28 be adopted.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
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MOVED BY Trustee cech
SECONDED BY councillor wang
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THAT
the delegations be heard.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
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a)
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Henri Lemb
Re:
Alternative Housing Project and Poverty Reduction in BC Speaker: Henri
Lemb
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Mr. Henri Lemb appeared before the
Committee expressing concerns regarding affordable housing and people living
in poverty.
The delegation noted that, despite
government assistance, the situation of homelessness appears to be growing.
Mr. Lemb presented a series of
slides showing his ideas for an alternative housing project which would
include the use of multiple, licenced trucks or trailers stationed on one
site, each with its own separate power and water supply. The “homes” would
feature low energy use architecture.
The speaker concluded by stating the
project would have a positive impact on economy and environment, be easy to
set up and low budget, provide affordable housing relatively quickly, and in
the long term reduce poverty in BC.
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b)
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Burnaby Food First
Re:
Food Security Strategy for the City of Burnaby
Speakers: Chau Chin Yo, Intern
Kimberly Barwich, Director
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Ms. Chau Chin Yo, Intern, Burnaby Food
First (BFF) and Ms. Kimberly Barwich,
Director, BFF, appeared before the Committee seeking support for a food
security strategy for the City.
Ms. Barwich advised that Burnaby
Food First is a group of community members and local agencies working together
to bring food security to Burnaby. The organization, established for almost 20
years, provides educational workshops and advocacy services, and hosts fundraising
events to raise awareness.
Ms. Yo explained the
meaning of food security, and presented a diagram describing the three stages
within a food security continuum which ranges from supporting individual and
household insecurity (most common) to taking action on a community wide scale.
The three stages include:
·
Stage 1
(individual) - short term relief: food banks and soup kitchens;
·
Stage 2
(community) - capacity building: community kitchens, gardens, & food skills
workshops; and,
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Stage 3
(community) - system redesign: changes in policy, infrastructure & food
systems.
Ms. Yo advised that a Food
Security Strategy is an official plan which brings together actions from all
three stages of the continuum into one cohesive vision.
The delegation commended
the City on its social equity actions, such as:
·
Food
actions (fish habitat and sustainable seafood, local food production - farms,
community gardens, and beekeeping);
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Strategic
direction (Environmental and Social Sustainability Strategies), Mayor’s Task
Force on Community Housing, and Transportation Plan Update; and,
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Regional
Food Strategy (Metro Vancouver Regional Food System Strategy).
Notwithstanding the City’s
social action, Ms. Yo noted the following challenges remain:
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Lack of
formal services;
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Lack of
coordinated effort to address food insecurity amongst local agencies; and,
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Majority
of work being done is in Stage 1 & 2 of the continuum.
In conclusion, the delegation
advocated for and requested assistance from the City to:
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Create a Food
Security Council comprised of staff, Fraser Health, the School District, local
agencies, private sector, and community members;
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Lead the Food
Security Council; and,
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Lead the creation
of a food security strategy in the City.
Arising from discussion, the following
motion was introduced:
MOVED BY
councillor keithley
SECONDED
BY mr. Lubendo
THAT the delegation’s
presentation be REFERRED to staff for a report on the advisability and
feasibility of facilitating the development of a Food Security Council which
would create a food security strategy, engage with the community, and make
connections to existing frameworks and policies in the City and region.
CARRIED
UNANIMOUSLY
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c)
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Claire Preston
Re:
Tobacco Products and the Environment
Speaker: Claire Preston
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Ms. Claire Preston appeared before the
Committee regarding the impact of tobacco products on the environment. Ms.
Preston provided background information and requested that Council support
biodegradable options i.e. paper filters, 100% organic products; e-cigarettes
and vaping; and ban sale of regular commercial grade cigarettes that are not
compostable.
The Committee advised that, at its
Open meeting held on 2019 March 28, a motion was adopted directing staff to prepare a memorandum to the Committee
on the advisability and feasibility of banning the sale of tobacco products in
the City.
Further, the Committee noted a concern
around encouraging e-cigarettes and vaping (especially vis-à-vis the impact of
this message on youth), and preference for an educational approach to the
issues brought forward by the delegation.
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moved BY councillor keithley
SECONDED BY councillor wang
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THAT
the correspondence be received.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
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Correspondence was received from the
Wilderness Committee expressing concern for the decline of wildlife
populations in Canada and the growing number of species at risk, and
advocating action to protect the species that are not yet at risk and to recover
species already at risk.
The Wilderness Committee, noting
that the South Okanagan-Similkameen region is home to over 65 federally
listed species at risk, is seeking support for the creation of the South
Okanagan-Similkameen National Park Reserve.
Arising from discussion, the
following motion was introduced:
MOVED BY COUNCILLOR keithley
Seconded by
COUNCILLOR wang
THAT this item of correspondence be
now TABLED.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
The correspondence was TABLED
to the 2019 June 4 Committee meeting to allow staff time to research
information regarding any support from other BC local governments or the
Union of BC Municipalities for the creation of the South Okanagan-Similkameen
National Park Reserve.
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b)
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Correspondence from Narayan
Gopinathan
Re:
Call to Burnaby to Declare Climate Emergency
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Correspondence was received from Mr.
Narayan Gopinathan advocating for the City to join the City of Vancouver in
declaring a state of emergency over climate change, and to renew its opposition
to expansion of the Trans-Mountain Pipeline.
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Correspondence was received from Ms.
Sharon Gregson, Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC, congratulating the
City on receiving a municipal child care planning grant and providing a
number of suggestions on implementing the $10aDay Child Care Plan.
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MOVED BY councillor Keithley
SECONDED BY councillor wang
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THAT
the reports be received.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
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The Director Corporate Services
submitted a report providing information on the climate actions and corporate
emissions reported in the 2018 Climate Action Revenue Incentive Program
(CARIP) Report, and fulfilling the annual CARIP grant requirement to report
publicly.
The Director Corporate Services recommended:
1.
THAT the Committee forward this
report to Council for information.
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MOVED BY Trustee cech
SECONDED BY councillor wang
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THAT the recommendation of the Director
Corporate Services be adopted.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
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The Committee noted that
the CARIP Report will be updated with final data from Metro Vancouver expected
to be received next week for the 2019 May 27 report to Council.
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The Director Planning and Building
submitted a report presenting a process to develop a seniors’ services
planning table and strategic plan for community-based seniors’ services in
Burnaby.
The Director Planning and
Building recommended:
1.
THAT
Council approve the process to develop a seniors’ services planning table and
strategic plan for community-based seniors’ services in Burnaby, as described
in Section 4.0 of this report.
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MOVED BY mr. lubendo
SECONDED BY mr. gibbs
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THAT the recommendation of the Director
Planning and Building be adopted.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
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Arising from discussion,
the Committee inquired regarding the applicability of a grant for Burnaby Food
First under this program.
Staff undertook to
follow-up.
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The Director Planning and Building submitted
a report proposing activities for Burnaby’s participation in Local Government
Awareness Week 2019.
The Director Planning and Building recommended:
1.
THAT Council
approve the City’s involvement in Local Government Awareness Week 2019, as
outlined in Section 3.2 of this report.
2.
THAT Council approve an
expenditure of $750 from the 2019 Boards, Commissions and Committees budget
for promotional materials.
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MOVED BY ms.
lumby
SECONDED BY
ms. mah
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THAT the recommendations of the Director
Planning and Building be adopted.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
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MOVED BY mr. zawadzki
SECONDED
BY ms. vanderkop
THAT “New Business” be
added to the agenda at this time.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
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NEW
BUSINESS
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Trustee Cech – Update on School
District’s Sustainability Initiatives
Trustee Cech advised that
the Burnaby School District passed its budget last month which provided for
the creation of a new “energy foreman” position to oversee the energy use of
heat and lighting in schools and District’s facilities.
Further, the money that the
District will save in reducing energy use will off-set the cost of the
position, as well as reduce carbon footprint.
Councillor Jordan – Committee
Meeting Schedule to Year End
Councillor Jordan advised
the following Committee meeting dates to the end of the year: 2019 June 04,
2019 September 03, and 2019 November 05.
Mr. Gibbs – Climate Change Action
Mr. Gibbs provided a
resolution regarding taking action on climate change.
With unanimous consent, the
following motion was brought before the Committee for consideration:
MOVED
BY Mr. gibbs
SECONDED
BY ms. Vanderkop
WHEREAS the Intergovernmental Panel
on Climate Change (IPCC) has stated the necessity to limit global warming to
under 1.5°C in order to avoid the worst impacts of climate breakdown; and,
WHEREAS Burnaby’s existing
greenhouse gas emissions targets do not meet the IPCC’s recommendations to
limit global warming to under 1.5°C; and,
WHEREAS Burnaby has significant
resources, financial and otherwise, to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions;
and,
WHEREAS there are major adverse
impacts from further delaying action to reduce greenhouse gas emission, any
delays would likely worsen existing inequities, due to the impacts of climate
change, and limited resources of groups most affected to address those
impacts; and,
WHEREAS we are already seeing some
of the impacts of climate breakdown, to which we will need to adapt;
BE IT RESOLVED THAT:
1. Staff report back to the
Committee within 90 days on updating the Community Energy and Emissions
Plan and Environmental Sustainability Strategy, and recommend first
steps in order to:
a.
Achieve net-zero
greenhouse gas emissions by 2030;
b.
Meet
intermediate targets in 30% reduction below 2010 emissions in 2023,
and 70% below 2010 emissions in 2027; and,
c.Achieve significant negative
emissions by 2040.
2. Staff report back on the
necessity of having Council declare a climate emergency.
3. Staff work to develop
adaptation strategies to help mitigate the effects of climate change,
focused on actions strategies with the widest level of co- benefits for
adaptation, emissions reduction, human health and equity, and biodiversity
survival.
4. We need to take climate action,
with a focus on equity and justice, through a lens of reconciliation and
intersectionality, prioritizing those most vulnerable to effects
of climate breakdown and lacking resources to adequately address its impacts.
5. Burnaby works with other
governments in the region to learn from each other, and help
build cohesive, region-wide climate change mitigation and adaptation
strategies.
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amended
Staff advised that the motion
entails a significant amount of work and would take much more than 90 days to
provide a meaningful, professional comment. It was noted that the City of Vancouver
took one year to complete a similar process.
Arising from discussion, the
following motion was introduced:
MOVED BY ms. Vanderkop
SECONDED BY
councillor keithley
THAT the recommendations contained
in the resolution be AMENDED to read as follows: “THAT staff report back to the Committee
within 90 days on the advisability and feasibility of implementing the actions
outlined in the resolution and embarking on such a plan.”
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
MOVED BY ms. Vanderkop
SECONDED BY councillor keithley
THAT the recommendations be adopted,
as AMENDED.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
Mr.
Gibbs – Parking Space Requirements in Multi-Family Buildings
Mr. Gibbs provided a resolution
regarding parking space requirements in multi-family buildings.
With unanimous consent, the
following motion was brought before the Committee for consideration:
MOVED BY
Mr. gibbs
SECONDED BY
Councillor wang
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WHEREAS Metro Vancouver parking
studies have shown a significant excess of vehicle parking spaces in
multi-family buildings; and,
WHEREAS vehicle parking spaces often
cost $30,000 to $80,000 per stall, significantly increasing the cost of housing
in the midst of an affordable housing crisis; and,
WHEREAS existing regulations force the
creation of un-needed, under-utilized vehicle parking spaces in multi-family
units, especially around transit, and does not allow for flexible use; and,
WHEREAS we are in a climate crisis
with a need to reduce emissions and, according to Burnaby’s Community Energy
and Emissions Plan, “Passenger vehicles are the largest single source of the
City’s emissions, at 37%” and sustainable transportation choices are more
likely when less parking is available; and,
WHEREAS allowing flexibility around
vehicle parking allows for consumer options to reduce transportation costs;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT staff
report back with changes required to:
1.
Eliminate minimum
vehicle parking requirements for new buildings, to allow demand driven parking
spaces within 800m of a rapid transit stop, or 500m of frequent transit stops,
with the exception of car-share requirements; and,
2.
Allow and
encourage un-bundling of parking spaces from housing or retail units to
allow for more flexible, efficient use of these spaces, and reducing the
associated costs for housing units.
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amended
Arising from discussion,
the following amendment was introduced:
MOVED BY councillor
wang
SECONDED
BY mr. lubendo
THAT the motion be AMENDED
to read as follows: “THAT staff
report back to the Committee on the advisability and feasibility of
implementing changes required to:
a. Eliminate minimum vehicle parking
requirements for new buildings, to allow demand driven parking spaces within
800m of a rapid transit stop, or 500m of frequent transit stops, with the
exception of car-share requirements; and,
b. Allow and encourage un-bundling of
parking spaces from housing or retail units to allow for more flexible,
efficient use of these spaces, and reducing the associated costs for housing
units.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
MOVED BY wang
SECONDED BY
mr. lubendo
THAT the motion be adopted,
as AMENDED.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
MOVED
BY MS. LUMBY
SECONDED
BY MS. mah
THAT “Inquiries” be added
to the agenda at this time.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
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Mr. Gibbs inquired regarding public
access to showers at City facilities for persons that are homeless.
Staff undertook to provide
information to the Committee.
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MOVED BY mr. zawadzki
SECONDED
BY ms. vanderkop
THAT the Committee, in
accordance with Sections 90 and 92 of the Community Charter, do now resolve
itself into a Closed meeting from which the public is excluded to consider
matters concerning personal information about an identifiable individual who is
being considered for a municipal award or honour, or who has offered to provide
a gift to the municipality on condition of anonymity.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
MOVED
BY mr. zawadzki
SECONDED BY ms. vanderkop
THAT
the Open Committee meeting do now recess.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
The Open Committee meeting
recessed at 8:11 p.m.
The Chair requested members
of the public to leave the room, to allow the Committee to proceed with the
Closed portion of the Committee Meeting.
MOVED BY mr. lubendo
SECONDED
BY mr. gibbs
THAT the Open Committee
meeting do now reconvene.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
The Open Committee meeting
reconvened at 8:18 p.m.
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MOVED BY mr. lubendo
SECONDED BY mr. gibbs
THAT
this Open Committee meeting do now adjourn.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
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The
Open meeting adjourned at 8:18 p.m.
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________________________
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________________________
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Monica
Macdonald
ADMINISTRATIVE
OFFICER
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Councillor
Colleen Jordan
CHAIR
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