HomeMy WebLinkAboutMarch 20, 2007
City o¢~ Minutes / Meeting Summary
Sustainable Pickering Committee
March 20, 2007
PICKERING Main Committee Room
2:30 pm
Attendees: Councillor Doug Dickerson,
Councillor Bonnie Littley
Councillor O'Connell left the meeting at 4:00 pm
N. Carroll - Director, Planning & Development
T. Melymuk - Director, Office of Sustainability
D. Bentley -City Clerk
S. Mutton - Coordinator, Community Sustainability
J. McGinnis - Durham Sustain Ability
A. Wheeler - Durham Sustain Ability
Absent: Mayor Ryan
Councillor David Pickles
Item / Details & Discussion & Conclusion Action Items/ Status
Ref # (summary of discussion) ; (include deadline as
appropriate)
1. Appointment of Committee Chair and Vice-Chair
The City Clerk called the meeting to order for the purpose of
electing a Chair and Vice-Chair of the Committee
Moved by Councillor O'Connell
That Councillor Dickerson be nominated for the position of
Chair of the Sustainable Pickering Committee
Councillor Dickerson accepted the nomination and the decision
was CARRIED
Moved by Councillor Dickerson
That Councillor O'Connell be nominated for the position of Vice-
Chair of the Sustainable Pickering Committee
Councillor O'Connell accepted the nomination and the decision
was CARRIED
The City Clerk then turned over the meeting to Councillor
Dickerson, Chair
Page 1
CORP0228-2/02
Item / Details & Discussion & Conclusion Action Items / Status
Ref # (summary of discussion) (include deadline as
appropriate)
2. Committee Terms of Reference
The Committee was provided with a copy of a document
entitled 'Sustainable Pickering - 2007 Work Plan', which was
prepared on March 1, 2007
J. McGinnis outlined in detail the background and role of the
Committee. Councillor Dickerson provided an overview of the
past accomplishments and noted that the City was looking
through all three lenses of sustainability.
The Director,. Office of Sustainability outlined the work plan and
indicated that in 2006 a solid foundation was established, and it
was evident that people were now starting to understand the
issue of sustainability
A detailed discussion ensued with respect to the 2007 work
plan. The following comments were noted:
• All city staff reports now have the sustainable component
within the body of the template
• Good to see staff involved through initiatives/objectives
for sustainability
• Staff.are now calling Shawna and being engaged in the
sustainability component
• City now has the focus with the five objectives
• Key is to want to highlight responsive development
• Milton was a test area for Mattamy Homes, and now
Mattamy is working on the financial argument/justification
for purchasers
• Anticipated that Duffin Heights will come on stream
before Seaton
• Planning & Development is trying to get developers
involved with Energuide 80, but reluctant until the land is
owned
• Indopak is a willing participant at this time
• Seaton land matters briefly outlined and they will be
encouraged to develop as it relates to sustainability
• Would like to see Mattamy Home participation as an
active home builder of sustainability
• Staff will report back as we develop the Sustainable
Pickering day further
• Benchmarking and sustainability are major initiatives and
should be started at the same time
• Benchmarking measurement system questioned,
specifically where will the starting point be
Page 2
CORP0228-2/02
Item / Details & Discussion & Conclusion Action Items /Status
Ref # (summary of discussion) (include deadline as
appropriate)
• Starting point is determined to be the current situation
• Huge initiative but don't try to do too much too fast as it
will have a large impact
• Focus on where we can have goals met first
• Like to get involvement from area municipalities
• Need to determine where we want to focus with our
initiatives and once priorities decided, then the focus on
area municipal involvement can be pursued
• The word is getting out that the City of Pickering is a
leader
• Need to come up with serious action in this regard
• For Planning & Development staff, the crucial aspect is
the environment
• The food aspect of sustainability has not been touched
or discussed
• Core function will be sustainable development
• Ability to score on achievement index on LEED principles
• Could eventually evolve to have the score into policies
within the Official Plan, but need incentives
• Pesticide ban as part of Sustainable Pickering day is
great
• City does have a head start on a number of initiatives,
most notably community awareness
3. Other Business
The Chief Building Official informed the committee about the
new Building Code, which introduces higher energy efficiency Director, Planning &
standards in three stages. The first stage comes into effect on Development along
April 1, 2007; the second stage in January 2009; and the third with the Chief Building
stage in January 2012 Official to action.
A recommendation was made that Council encourage the
Minister to accelerate implementation of the higher standards
by bringing forward the 2012 changes to coincide with the 2009
changes. A few other municipalities in the GTA are considering
this approach
Councillor Dickerson noted that our letter should be submitted
to the Minister at the same time as other municipalities.
Meeting Adjourned: 4:30 pm. Next meeting date to be determined.
Copy: Mayor
Members of Council
Chief Administrative Officer
Department Heads
Division Heads
Page 3
CORP0228-2/02