Environmental Action Committee

Meeting #:
Date:
Time:
-
Location:
Online Video Conference
Members
  • Councillor Matt Mahoney, Ward 8 (Chair)
  • Councillor Stephen Dasko, Ward 1 (Vice-Chair)
  • Councillor George Carlson, Ward 11
  • Brad Bass, Citizen Member
  • Chelsea Dalton, Citizen Member
  • Lea Ann Mallett, Citizen Member
  • Pujita Verma, Citizen Member
  • Nandini Menon, PEYA (Peel Environmental Youth Alliance) Student
  • Alice Casselman, Association for Canadian Educational Resources
  • Melanie Kramer, Credit Valley Conservation
  • Britt McKee, Ecosource
  • Jeff Robertson , Partners in Project Green
  • Andrea Rowe, Greening Sacred Spaces (Non-Voting Member)
Members Absent
  • Carina Suleiman, UTM (University of Toronto Mississauga) Student

Staff Present
Dianne Zimmerman, Manager, Environment
Lisa Urbani, Supervisor, Environment Initiatives
Diana Suzuki-Bracewell, Supervisor, Environmental Outreach
Teresa Chan, Climate Change Specialist,
Jim Doran, Project Leader, Planning & Building
Heliya Babazadeh-Oleghi, Environmental Outreach Coordinator
Catherine Nguyen-Pham, Communications Coordinator
Samantha DiIorio, Environmental Assistant


Councillor Mahoney, Chair called the meeting to order at 9:32am.


Councillor Mahoney, Chair introduced Jeff Robertson as the new community representative for Partners in Project Green as well as introduced Nandini Menon as the new Peel Environmental Youth Alliance student representative as Shazerah Qureshi has now graduated from the program.

That the order of the September 15, 2020 Environmental Action Committee Agenda be amended to have Public Question Period follow Item 5.1 on the agenda.

Approved as amended (B. Bass)

Note: The meeting order was amended. Item 5.1 was followed by Item 6: Public Question Period and then back to Item 5.2. The minutes below reflect the order in which items were considered.

Ms. Chan and Mr. Doran presented on District Energy at the City of the Mississauga. They highlighted the benefits associated with District Energy including the reduction in greenhouse gases, which is in line with the City's Climate Change Action Plan. They also spoke to the major considerations associated with district energy, such as the upfront capital costs, retrofits and the surrounding governance. Mr. Doran and Ms. Chan noted that The City has a unique opportunity to utilize and operate District Energy in the Lakeview area from the nearby Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant (GE Booth).

Members of the Committee spoke to the matter and raised the following questions and comments;

  • Inquired if deep water cooling would be utilized as district energy to cool the corresponding buildings;
  • Noted that the interest rates are currently low as an advantage when borrowing for capital funding; and
  • Inquired about infrastructure cost.

Mr. Doran and Ms. Chan responded to the questions from the Members of the Committee;

  • Noted that the water near GE Booth Lakeview Waste Water Treatment Plant is shallow, which would require longer piping and infrastructure to capture the colder water. The waste water will be utilized for both heating and cooling.
  • A significant cost would be designated to piping infrastructure.

 

  • RECOMMENDATIONEAC-0011-2020
    Moved ByC. Dalton

    That the deputation and associated presentation by Teresa Chan, Climate Change Specialist and Jim Doran, Project Leader with respect to the City's District Energy Update be received for information.

    Received

Ms. Suzuki-Bracewell presented on Environmental Outreach with regards to Climate Change Online Public Education and Engagement Tools. She spoke to the Climate Change Vision for 2020, the focus on digital engagement, and the statistics pertaining to 2020 environmental outreach as well as the upcoming plans for the remainder of 2020 into 2021.

Members of the Committee spoke to the matter and raised the following questions and comments;

  • Inquired about the coolkit deliverable methods;
  • Inquired how the messaging is being delivered to the residents; and
  • Noted the public’s COVID-19 health and safety concerns riding public transportation and the uptake in cycling.

Ms. Suzuki-Bracewell Chan responded to the questions from the Members of the Committee;

  • The coolkit will be an online engagement tool with a number of interactive features with a few downloadable PDFs.
  • The main forms of public messaging surrounding the engagement opportunities have been through social media, targeted emails and working with internal and external partnerships.
  • Addressing the pandemic concerns, during Phase 1 and 2 the engagement opportunities were solely based online, however as we currently in Phase 3 and any further phases will be more active in the community adhering to the health and safety guidelines.
  • RECOMMENDATIONEAC-0012-2020
    Moved ByCouncillor Carlson

    That the deputation and associated presentation by Diana Suzuki-Bracewell, Supervisor, Environmental Outreach with respect to Online Public Education and Engagement Tools for Climate Change be received for information. 

    Received

Public Comments: Any member of the public interested in speaking to an item listed on the agenda may register at dayna.obaseki@mississauga.ca or call 905-3615-3200 ext. 5425 by Friday, September 11, 2020 before 4:00 PM. 

Pursuant to Section 42 of the Council Procedure By-law 0139-2013, as amended:

Environmental Action Committee may grant permission to a member of the public to ask a question of Environmental Action Committee, with the following provisions:

  1. The question must pertain to a specific item on the current agenda and the speaker will state which item the question is related to.
  2. A person asking a question shall limit any background explanation to two (2) statements, followed by the question.
  3. The total speaking time shall be five (5) minutes maximum, per speaker.

Rosemary Martin, Resident/Lakeview Ratepayer’s Association Member inquired about the proposed Lakeview District Energy plan. She further inquired if the Lakeview Ratepayer’s Association has been advised and/or been involved with the future district energy plans for the Lakeview area. Ms. Martin also provided a brief verbal deputation surrounding her knowledge on sustainability and suggested an upstream solution based on conservation and energy performance as well as the benefits of Passive House.


Teresa Chan, Climate Change Specialist responded by noting that webinars have taken place and emails have been sent regarding the Lakeview District Energy Project.


DIRECTION to staff to connect with Rosemary Martin offline to reaffirm the inclusion of the Lakeview residents and Lakeview Ratepayer’s Association.

Ms. Zimmerman provided an update regarding Volunteer Engagement noting that COVID-19 protocols have been drafted and were tested in August with approximately nine (9) staff members that participated in litter clean up at R.K. McMillian Park. Ms. Zimmerman further noted that beautification volunteer opportunities, such as litter clean ups and tree planting have resumed with lower capacity limits.


Members of EAC discussed potential dates in October to participate in an Adopt-A-Park Clean Up. Legislative Coordinator will email the EAC Members to poll their availability to partake in an Adopt-A-Park Clean-Up for a weekend date in October. Melanie Kramer, Community Group Representative inquired if Members could include friends and/or family members in the Clean-up. Ms. Zimmerman advised against this request due to the current pandemic and to ensure COVID-19 protocols are adhered to.


DIRECTION to staff was given for Clerk’s staff to poll the committee’s availability to partake in an Adopt-A-Park Clean-Up.

  • RECOMMENDATIONEAC-0013-2020
    Moved ByB. McKee

    That the verbal update by Dianne Zimmerman, Manager, Environment on Volunteer Engagement be received for information. 

    Received

Lisa Urbani, Supervisor, Environmental Initiatives provided a brief verbal update by noting that the Carina Suleiman, Student Representative and Shazerah Qureshi, previous Student Representative did a great job presenting to Council in July 2020 on the Committee’s background and the Committee’s accomplishments outlined in the EAC Work Plan.

  • RECOMMENDATIONEAC-0014-2020
    Moved ByB. Bass

    That the Environmental Action Committee Work Plan be approved as discussed at the September 15, 2020 EAC meeting.

    Approved

Alice Casselman, Community Group Representative provided a verbal update on Project Crossroads. Ms. Casselman invited the Members of EAC to come out and observe the tree planting in the Bramelea area from September 26 through to October 2020 by registration through Association for Canadian Educational Resources (ACER).

Melanie Kramer, Community Group Representative inquired about the status on the Bird-Friendly City update. Dianne Zimmerman, Manager, Environment responded by noting that the conversation were initially placed on pause due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, however will schedule to have staff return to provide an update at an upcoming EAC meeting.


DIRECTION to staff was given to provide an update on the Bird-Friendly City feasibility at subsequent Environmental Action Committee meeting.

Tuesday, October 6, 2020 at 9:30am

Online Video Conference 

Tuesday, October 6, 2020 at 9:30am

Online Video Conference 

10:38AM (M. Kramer)

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