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03 - December 2, 2020 Environmental Advisory Committee Agenda Package ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING Wednesday, December 2, 2020 Table of Contents I.Agenda……………………………………………………………………………...2 II.Environmental Advisory Committee Minutes-November 3, 2020…………...3 III.Draft Environmental CommitteeAction Plan……………………………………10 IV.Correspondence –Lawn Sign Road Safety Campaign Letterfrom Warden Mennill ………………......................................................................................21 V.Correspondence –Province Begins Development of Ontario’s First Hydrogen Strategy………………………………………………………………… 22 ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORYCOMMITTEE AGENDA Wednesday,December 2, 2020 10:00 a.m. Meeting to be held electronically. Agenda 1.Approval of Agenda 2.Adoption of November 3, 2020 Minutes 3.Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest 4.Review of Proposed Environmental Advisory Committee Action Plan 5.Correspondence a.Correspondence to Environmental Advisory Committee Regarding Lawn Sign Campaign – Warden Dave Mennill b.Province Begins Development of Ontario’sFirst Hydrogen Strategy - Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks 6.Date of Next Meeting 7.Adjournment Meeting:Environmental Advisory Committee Date: November 3, 2020 Time: 10:00 a.m. Location:WebEx Attendees: Dave Mennill, Warden Grant Jones,Councillor(Chair) Sally Martyn, Councillor Robert Braam, Community Member Sarah Emons, Community Member Michaela Lenz, Community Member RayPrice, Community Member Kim Smale, Community Member(Vice Chair) Staff:Julie Gonyou, Chief Administrative Officer Katherine Thompson, Supervisor of Legislative Services and Community Relations Carolyn Krahn, Legislative Services Coordinator Megan Shannon, Legislative Services Coordinator Facilitator: Jennifer Kirkham, Mischevious Cat Productions Inc. Regrets: Primrose Kisuule, Community Member Brian Lima, Director of Engineering Services Nancy Pasato, Manager of Planning DRAFT MINUTES 1.Call to Order rd The Environmental Advisory Committee Orientation Session met this 3day of November, 2020. The meeting was called to order at 10:05 a.m. 2.Approval of Agenda Moved by: Councillor Martyn Seconded by:CouncillorJones Resolved that the agenda be approved as presented. Recorded Vote YesNo CouncillorGrantJonesYes CouncillorSallyMartynYes MichaelaLenzYes RayPriceYes RobBraamYes KimSmaleYes WardenMennillYes 70 -Motion Carried. 3.Adoption of October 7, 2020 Minutes Moved by: CouncillorMartyn Seconded by: CouncillorJones Resolved that the minutes of the previous meeting be adopted. Recorded Vote YesNo CouncillorGrantJonesYes CouncillorSallyMartynYes MichaelaLenzYes RayPriceYes RobBraamYes KimSmaleYes WardenMennillYes 70 -Motion Carried. 4.Election of Chair The Warden called for nominations for the position of Chair. CouncillorMartyn nominated CouncillorJones. Councillor Jones accepted the nomination. No further nominations were receivedand a vote was called to acclaim Councillor Jones as Chair. Resolvedthat nominations for the position of Chair be closedand that Councillor Jones be acclaimed as Chair. Recorded Vote YesNo CouncillorGrantJonesYes CouncillorSallyMartynYes MichaelaLenzYes RayPriceYes RobBraamYes KimSmaleYes WardenMennillYes 70 -Motion Carried. 5.Election of Vice Chair The Chair called for nominations for the position of Vice Chair. Warden Mennill nominated CouncillorMartyn.Councillor Jones nominated Kim Smale. Kim Smale accepted the nomination.Councillor Martyn withdrew her nomination to allow for Kim Smale to serve as Vice Chair.No further nominations were receivedand a vote was called to acclaim Kim Smale as Vice Chair. Resolved that nominations for the position of Chair be closedand Kim Smale be acclaimed as Vice Chair. Recorded Vote YesNo CouncillorGrantJonesYes CouncillorSallyMartynYes MichaelaLenzYes RayPriceYes RobBraamYes KimSmaleYes WardenMennillYes 70 -Motion Carried. 6.Developing an Action Plan – Facilitated Discussion Jennifer Kirkham facilitated the development of an action plan to develop a program that identifies ways to reduce the County’s environmental footprint. (attached). 7.Correspondence – Lawn Sign Road Safety Campaign Letter Moved by:Warden Mennill Seconded by:Michaela Lenz Resolved thatthe letter be received and filed; and, that the Chair, on behalf of the Environmental Advisory Committee, be directed to send a letter to Elgin County Council, expressing concerns about implementing a lawn sign road safety campaign. Recorded Vote YesNo CouncillorGrantJonesYes CouncillorSallyMartynYes MichaelaLenzYes RayPriceYes RobBraamYes KimSmaleYes WardenMennillYes 70 -MotionCarried. 8.Correspondence – Ontario Blue Box Program News Release The Ontario Blue Box Program News Release was received and filed for information. 9.Date of Next Meeting nd The Committee will meet again onWednesday, December 2at 10 a.m. 10.Adjournment Moved by: Councillor Martyn Seconded by: Kim Smale Resolved that the meeting adjourned at 12:05p.m. Recorded Vote YesNo WardenMennillYes CouncillorSallyMartynYes MichaelaLenzYes RayPriceYes RobBraamYes KimSmaleYes CouncillorGrantJonesYes 70 -Motion Carried. Identified Objectives 1.To reverse/decrease impacts on the environment a.To encourage the growth of infrastructure (internet) and working from home b.Promote local goods and foods/get local goods to people in the County c. Promote communities using business parks d.Explore a rural transportation program e.Encourage companies to mitigate the odour of landfills f. Create affordable housing with less impacts on the environment g.Encourage the building of roundabouts 2.County of Elgin to work in a sustainable and green way a.Moveto paperless environment b.Implement LED lighting in all County facilities c. Advocate to lower tier municipalities to implement down lighting for streets d.Look at ditches along roads as ecosystems e.Advisory Committee to participate in the 2021 County Official Plan review, including reviewingthe way the County does subdivisions(5% for parkland) – reduce the carbon footprint, sever farms with woodlots vs. agricultural fields NOTE: some items may not be possible due to compliance with the Provincial Policy Statement (PPS) f.Move to a sustainable green purchasing policy in collaboration with other municipalities 3.To raise awareness about environmentalism and concrete actions individuals can take a.Encourage and train people about how to recycle b.Awareness raising campaign (Don’t trash your environment, put your butt on the beach, not your cigarette)in collaboration with other groups c. Promote eco-friendly items for the home (i.e. smart receptacles, etc.) 4.To be a leader in environmental actions for the area…to lead by example a.Put in electric charging stationsin collaboration with local municipal partners b.Promote moving to electric vehicles c. Naturalized spaces north of the County building 5.To protect, restore, and buildecosystem resilience through nature based solutions, including intact, connected natural habitats and local species at risk a.Review the Council approved Natural Heritage Systems Study and identify potential actions b.Promote habitat preservation with landfill operators c. Develop a program to encourage use ofnative plants and rain gardens d.Promote new systems of stormwater management versus stormwater pondsfor local municipal partners e.Enhance and promote Provincially Significant Wetlands (PSWs)to land owners, promote expansion of these areas f.Work with Conservation Authorities, including advocating for a provincial park in the area g.Promote an increase in the amount of forest cover throughout the county h. Explain the significance of large seed trees being kept in logging practices i.Identify ways to increase habitats for local species (i.e. bat boxes) j.Identify an approach to invasive species (phragmitesapproach) k. Review the programs put in place by the weed inspector l.Evaluate the initiatives utilizing sprays across the county 6.To provide support and encouragement to the lower tier municipalities and the community at large for environmental projectsandinitiatives they would like to undertake a.Provide letters of support for environmental projects and initiatives b.Educate and provide information about zero carbon energy buildingsand available funding c. Advocate to the City of St. Thomasand Southwold to extend the St. Thomas elevated park trail d.Explore the use of rail line beds as a trail system e.Partner with local school boards to see if there are opportunities to promote environmental projects underway in the area 7.To increase/support the sustainability oflocal groups working in the area of environmentalism a.Encourage community efforts – match up volunteers to groups, young people b.Promote groups like ALUS (alternative land use) to local farmers Councillor Grant Jones Chair , Environmental Advisory Committee County of Elgin 450 Sunset Drive St. Thomas, ON N5R 5V1 November 27, 2020 DearCouncillor Jones, At the request of County Council, the Environmental Advisory Committee provided feedback to Council regarding the environmental impacts of implementing a lawn sign road safety campaign. Due to concerns about the sustainability and usefulness of a lawn sign campaign, the Committee did not recommend this initiative to Council. Please be advised that, in response to your correspondence dated November 18, 2020, the Council of the Corporation of the County of Elgin passed thefollowing resolution at itsmeeting on November 24, 2020: RESOLVED THAT the Correspondence from the Environmental Advisory Committee be received and filed; and THAT staff explore alternative speed calming measures for built up areas such as the increased use of mobile speed counters, signage installed on existing infrastructure and increased policing. - Motion Carried. Thank you for your feedback regarding this initiative. Sincerely, Dave Mennill, Warden