SUSTAINABLE CITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

 

MINUTES

 

An Open meeting of the Sustainable City Advisory Committee was held in the Council Chamber, main floor, City Hall, 4949 Canada Way, Burnaby, B.C. on Wednesday, 2017 April 05 at 6:00 p.m.

 

1.

CALL TO ORDER

 

 

PRESENT:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ABSENT:

Councillor Sav Dhaliwal, Chair

Councillor Pietro Calendino, Member

Trustee Baljinder K. Narang, Burnaby School Board

Ms. Tessa Vanderkop, Burnaby Board of Trade

Ms. Noreen Boudreau, Citizens’ Representative

Mr. Bill Brassington Jr., Citizens’ Representative

Mr. Peter Cech, Citizens’ Representative

Mr. Frank Huang, Citizens’ Representative

Ms. Mary Lumby, Citizens’ Representative

Mr. Shiraz Nathwani, Citizens’ Representative

Mr. William Tsai, Citizens’ Representative

 

Councillor Anne Kang, Vice Chair

Councillor Nick Volkow, Member (due to illness)

Councillor James Wang, Member

Ms. Lubna Abdelrahman, Citizens’ Representative

Mr. Ryan Erwin, Citizens’ Representative

Ms. Peggy Hua, Citizens’ Representative

Mr. Frank Zhao, Citizens’ Representative

 

STAFF:

Mr. Dipak Dattani, Deputy Director Engineering

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

Ms. Heather Edwards, Manager Parks Planning & Design

Ms. Margaret Manifold, Senior Social Planner

Ms. Nikolina Vracar, Administrative Officer

 

 

 

The Chair welcomed the Committee members and thanked them for accepting the invitation to sit on the Committee.  The members and staff introduction followed.

 

The Chair called the Open meeting to order at 6:18 p.m.

 

 

 

 

MOVED BY MR. NATHWANI

SECONDED BY TRUSTEE NARANG

           

THAT discussion of the Committee’s Terms of Reference be added under Item 3 of the agenda and memorandum regarding the Environmental Stewardship Programs be added to the agenda as Item 4(d).

 

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

2.

MINUTES

 

 

 

a)

Minutes of the Environment Committee Open meeting held on 2017 January 17                                                                   

 

 

MOVED BY Mr. Brassington Jr.

SECONDED BY Mr. Cech

 

THAT the minutes of the Environment Committee Open meeting held on 2017 January 17 be adopted.

 

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

b)

Minutes of the Social Planning Committee Open meeting held on 2017 February 01                                                                      

 

 

MOVED BY trustee narang

SECONDED BY ms. Boudreau

 

THAT the minutes of the Social Planning Committee Open meeting held on 2017 February 01 be adopted.

 

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

3.

PRESENTATION

 

 

MOVED BY councillor calendino

SECONDED BY ms. boudreau

 

THAT the presentation be heard.

 

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

 

 

 

 

a)

Lee-Ann Garnett, Assistant Director, Long Range Planning

Re: Burnaby's Integrated Approach to Sustainability          

 

 

Ms. Lee-Ann Garnett, Assistant Director Long Range Planning, provided an overview of the City’s key plans and strategies including:

 

·         Official Community Plan (1998);

·         Economic Development Strategy (2007);

·         Social Sustainability Strategy (2011); and

·         Environmental Sustainability Strategy (2016).

 

The strategies have the following common elements:

 

·         developed through a robust process;

·         define the areas of work where opportunities for progress exist;

·         guide the work of the City’s staff; and

·         utilize a holistic approach.

 

In conclusion, Ms. Garnett provided three examples of the City’s integrated approach to sustainability:

 

·         Town centre street standards adopted in 2015;

·         Willingdon Linear Park; and

·         Willingdon Lands development proposal.

 

The Committee inquired about plans for the land located at Sprott Street and Kensington Avenue.

 

**Mr. Brassington Jr. left the meeting at 6:52 p.m.**

 

The Chair advised that the City is holding the land for the Aga Khan Foundation to create an urban park. 

 

Staff advised that they are working with a consultation team on technical details and are waiting to hear back from the foundation regarding feedback that the City has provided.

 

**Mr. Brassington Jr. returned to the meeting at 6:54 p.m.**

 

Following the presentation, the Chair reviewed the Committee’s Terms of Reference which were provided to the members at the meeting. 

 

The Committee asked for clarification on how functions outlined under Sections 2.3 and 2.5 of the Terms of Reference will be carried out. 

 

The Chair noted that staff will bring forward agenda items, provide direction to the Committee on issues, and implement actions outlined in reports. The Committee members are encouraged to share information regarding actions or programs with the community and bring back feedback.

 

**Trustee Narang left the meeting at 7:04 p.m. and did not return.**

 

4.

CORRESPONDENCE

 

 

MOVED BY councillor calendino

SECONDED BY mr. Nathwani

 

THAT the correspondence be received.

 

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

a)

Correspondence from National Zero Waste Council

Re: Update re: Food Waste Tax Incentive Proposal - FCM Letter to Minister McKenna                                                   

 

 

Correspondence was received from National Zero Waste Council (NZWC) informing the City of the release of National Food Waste Reduction Strategy. The strategy identifies the policies, innovations, and behavior change required to reduce food waste in Canada.  NZWC also notified the City that it is pursuing a meeting with the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, the Honourable Katherine McKenna, regarding an edible food donation tax incentive.

 

The Committee inquired regarding the details of the tax incentive proposal.

 

Staff advised that they do not have the details on the proposal noting that the Environment Committee has expressed support for provision of a tax incentive to address food waste.  Further, staff noted that the tax incentive would help address the challenges of transporting food donations from source location to recipients.

 

The Committee inquired if the incentive should be targeted at recipients of food donations instead of the corporations.

 

Arising from discussion, the Committee requested that staff provide more information on the tax incentive proposal and find out if any background documentation is available on the issue. 

 

Staff undertook to investigate. 

 

Staff advised that providing a tax incentive to recipients of food donations would pose a challenge for ensuring a continuity of provision of safe transport.

 

b)

Correspondence from West Coast Environmental Law

Re: Fossil Fuel Companies and Climate Change          

 

 

Correspondence was received from West Coast Environmental Law recommending that fossil fuel companies be held financially responsible for their contribution to climate change.  West Coast Environmental Law suggested that local governments may need to demand accountability through a class action lawsuit.

 

c)

Memorandum from the City Clerk

Re: British Columbia Climate Action Charter

 

 

A memorandum was received from the City Clerk advising that Council, at the

Open Council meeting held on 2017 January 30, received and adopted the above noted report recommending that the City becomes a member of the BC Climate Action Charter.  The report provides an overview of actions taken by the City to reduce its corporate greenhouse gas emissions.

 

d)

Memorandum from the Director Planning and Building

Re: 2017 Environmental Stewardship Programs – Status Update                                                                                   

 

 

A memorandum was received from the Director Planning and Building providing background information and updates regarding 2017 environmental stewardship programs including: Environmental Awards, Environment Week, and World Rivers Day.  The three programs promote awareness, protection and stewardship of the natural environment.

 

5.

REPORT

 

 

MOVED BY Ms. Boudreau

SECONDED BY Mr. Cech

 

THAT the report be received.

 

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

a)

Report from the Director Planning and Building

Re: Child Care Resources Group Update for 2017

 

 

The Director Planning and Building submitted a report providing a summary of activities of the Child Care Resources Group during 2016 and proposing a workplan for 2017.

 

 

 

The Director Planning and Building recommended:

 

1.    THAT the Committee request Council to endorse the proposed 2017 Child Care Resources Group Workplan.

 

2.    THAT the Committee request Council to approve an expenditure of up to $600 from the 2017 Boards, Committees and Commissions budget to support community engagement and resource material costs.

 

MOVED BY councillor calendino

SECONDED BY Mr. Huang

 

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

 

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

 

The Committee noted that Children’s Charter principles listed in the report do not mention access to quality affordable child care and recommended that this principle be included. 

 

Staff acknowledged that principles in the report are general in scope and noted that they are based on the United Nations’ guidelines.  Staff advised that Burnaby’s Children’s Charter will be developed through consultations with children and families in the community and will be based on a broad representation from community groups. 

 

6.

NEW BUSINESS

 

 

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

 

7.

INQUIRIES

 

 

 

Noreen Boudreau

 

Ms. Boudreau inquired about status of the Public Access to Showers report and the meeting between staff from the City, Fraser Health Authority, and the Society to End Homelessness.

 

Staff advised that the meeting has not been organized yet due to scheduling issues.

 

The Chair requested that staff provide an update on the matter at the next meeting.

 

 

 

8.

ADJOURNMENT

 

 

MOVED BY ms. Boudreau

SECONDED BY mr. nathwani

 

THAT this Open Committee meeting do now adjourn.

 

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

The Open meeting adjourned at 7:31 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

________________________

________________________

Nikolina Vracar

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER                  

Councillor Sav Dhaliwal

CHAIR