ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION COMMITTEE AGENDA November 12th, 2020 – 2:00 p.m. ORDER: PRESENT: BUSINESS: 1. Approval of Agenda and Adoption of Minutes 1.1 Approval of the November 12th, 2020 Environmental Action Committee Agenda Moved by: Seconded by: That the Environmental Action Committee hereby accept the November 12th, 2020 Agenda, as presented. CARRIED 1.2 Approval of the October 14th, 2020 Environmental Action Committee Minutes Moved by: Seconded by: That the Environmental Action Committee hereby adopt the October 14th, 2020 Minutes, as printed. CARRIED 2. The Corporation of the County of Huron Climate Change Adaptation Plan 2020-2025 Presentation 2.1 Lily Morrow, Climate Change and Energy Specialist, County of Huron, Climate Change Adaptation Plan 2020-2025 Presentation Slides 3. Unfinished Business a) Environmental Action Committee 2021 Budget 1 ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION COMMITTEE AGENDA November 12th, 2020 – 2:00 p.m. i) Work Plan and Budget Document b) Town-wide Balloon Release Ban i) MEMO from Jessica Feere, Asset Management and Environmental Services Coordinator, Town of Goderich, Information on Various Municipal Balloon Release Bans in Ontario c) Town of Goderich Household Composting Program from 2010 i) MEMO from Jessica Feere, Asset Management and Environmental Services Coordinator, Town of Goderich, Town of Goderich Previous Household Composting Program d) City of London Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG) Program i) MEMO from Jessica Feere, Asset Management and Environmental Services Coordinator, Town of Goderich, Information on the City of London’s ‘Your Turn’ Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG) Program e) Anti-Idling Sample By-Laws i) MEMO from Jessica Feere, Asset Management and Environmental Services Coordinator, Town of Goderich, Information on Various Municipal Anti- Idling By-Laws in Ontario ii) NRCan’s Idling Control Bylaws Across Canada iii) City of Cambridge By-Law 212-15 iv) City of Hamilton By-Law 07-160 v) City of Windsor By-Law 233-2001 vi) Municipality of Port Hope By-Law 39-2007 vii) Town of Perth By-Law 4091-2010 f) Green Marine Port Initiative – update from Rowland Howe g) Green Goderich – update from Beth Ross h) Maitland Valley Conservation – update from Erinn Lawrie i) FCM Partners in Climate Protection (PCP) Program– update from Jessica Feere 2 ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION COMMITTEE AGENDA November 12th, 2020 – 2:00 p.m. 4. Other Business 5. Next Meeting: December 9th 2020 at 2:00 p.m., location to be determined (in-person or virtual) 6. Adjournment Moved by: Seconded By: Being no further business, the Environmental Action Committee hereby adjourns at CARRIED 3 1.2 ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION COMMITTEE MINUTES October 14th, 2020 – 2:02 p.m. ORDER: PRESENT: Marcus Maddalena (Acting Chair), Mayor John C. Grace, Beth Ross, Rowland Howe, Janice Hallahan, Secretary Jessica Feere ABSENT: Chair Erinn Lawrie, Deb Shewfelt, Janet Wunnink, Sean Thomas BUSINESS: It is noted that Chair Lawrie is absent from the meeting. Following discussion; Moved By: Rowland Howe Seconded by: Beth Ross That Marcus Maddalena be appointed Chair of the Environmental Action Committee for the meeting scheduled for October 14, 2020 in the absence of Chair Erinn Lawrie. CARRIED 1. Approval of Agenda and Adoption of Minutes 1.1 Approval of the October 14th, 2020 Environmental Action Committee Agenda Moved by: Mayor John C. Grace Seconded by: Beth Ross That the Environmental Action Committee hereby accept the October 14th, 2020 Agenda, as presented. CARRIED 1.2 Approval of the September 9th, 2020 Environmental Action Committee Minutes Moved by: Mayor John C. Grace Seconded by: Rowland Howe That the Environmental Action Committee hereby adopt the September 9th, 2020 Minutes, as printed. CARRIED 1 ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION COMMITTEE MINUTES October 14th, 2020 – 2:02 p.m. 2. Town-wide Balloon Release Ban Marcus Maddalena informs the committee that the town-wide balloon release ban idea was first introduced during the Town of Goderich special events policy discussions. Jessica Feere has reached out to other municipalities that currently have balloon release by-laws in place, including the City of Clarington, City of London, City of Toronto, as well as the City of Kingston. Jessica Feere adds that there are various municipalities that have banned sky lanterns, including Toronto, Ottawa, Mississauga, London, Newmarket, Markham, Kingsville, Kawartha Lakes, Windsor and Chatham-Kent. Mayor Grace inquires if this can be included in the Town’s special events policy. Janice Hallahan explains that the wording around balloon releases contained within the special events policy deters events from releasing balloons and encourages other forms of remembrance (i.e., illuminated walks, bubbles, drumming, planting or making a donation). Enforcement of a town-wide balloon release ban will be challenging. Rowland Howe comments that having the balloon release ban within the special events policy limits its scope. Beth Ross states that endorsing a balloon release by-law is similar to endorsing a littering by-law. Janice Hallahan notes that littering is a provincial offence. The committee provides a recommendation to bring a report on a town-wide balloon release ban back to the committee for review. Following discussion; Moved by: Beth Ross Seconded by: Rowland Howe That Town of Goderich staff review balloon release ban by-laws from other municipalities for a report back to the Environmental Action Committee for review. CARRIED 3. 2021 Budget Discussions 3.1 Workplan and Budget Review The committee requests that Deanna Hastie, Treasurer, bring expenses-to-date back to the committee for review at the November 12, 2020 meeting. Janice Hallahan suggests prioritizing projects on the committee workplan. Marcus Maddalena informs the committee that phragmites treatment on all Town properties has now been completed. Marcus Maddalena will forward phragmites grant information to the Town’s CAO and Treasurer. Mayor John Grace suggests that a coordinated effort and approval is needed among the BIA, parks and waterfront for the purchase of cigarette receptacles and recycling bins. Mayor Grace suggests purchasing approximately thirty recycling bins to be placed at the waterfront, with the same product being purchased for a uniform, consistent appearance. Purchase of recycling bins to come from the parks and/or 2 ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION COMMITTEE MINUTES October 14th, 2020 – 2:02 p.m. waterfront budget with a recommendation from the environmental action committee. Following discussion; Moved by: Rowland Howe Seconded by: Beth Ross That a recommendation from the Environmental Action Committee regarding the recycling bin replacement initiative be identified in the parks and waterfront budget for funding. CARRIED Rowland Howe suggests adding language to the workplan regarding the household composting program. Beth Ross proposes a household composting subsidy program with an educational component. First step would be to develop promotional material and utilize social media and the second step is to gather participants. Program possibilities include subsidy or rebate program (proof of purchase), draw program and/or promotion through schools. Jessica Feere to review how the Town’s previous household composting program was developed and executed. Marcus Maddalena to research the cost of household composting receptacles. Marcus Maddalena discusses promotion of the active transportation and bike safety workplan item, which highlights bike routes throughout Town. Janice Hallahan suggests working with the OPP (Huron County detachment). Marcus Maddalena proposes developing “share the road” signs and placing the signs at major intersections and/or along roads that are also used as bike routes. Beth Ross suggests utilizing traffic consultants for assistance. Janice Hallahan advises it would be beneficial to have a discussion with Sean Thomas, Director of Operations, at a future meeting. The committee agrees to not assign a dollar amount to this workplan item at this time as the first step will likely involve an educational component. Marcus Maddalena discusses installation of more suitable bike racks (i.e., U-locks) at public locations, such as the waterfront and/or The Square. The G2G Trail is bringing new opportunities for tourists to visit Goderich. If the recycling bin replacement program is funded through the parks and/or waterfront budget, the dollar value assigned to that program could be moved to the bike rack installation program. The committee would like Town staff to continue to look into grant opportunities. Marcus Maddalena states that he has had preliminary discussions with the Director of Operations regarding the Town’s tree planting and invasive species policies. No budget dollars need to be assigned to these two workplan items. Additionally, there are no budget dollars needed to continue to support the shoreline cleanup. Marcus Maddalena explains that planning for the Earth Day event will be further discussed in 2021. Mayor John Grace supports planning and moving forward with 2021 initiatives. Mayor John Grace would like the committee to think of ideas for a larger, more visible environmental project at the waterfront. Marcus Maddalena suggests a naturalization project (i.e., planting meadow species) in front of the water treatment plant. Janice Hallahan suggests a fats, oils and grease (F.O.G.) project to divert these liquids from ending up in the Town’s sanitary sewer system. The committee agrees to 3 ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION COMMITTEE MINUTES October 14th, 2020 – 2:02 p.m. add the F.O.G. program to the workplan as an 2021/2022 project. Jessica Feere to investigate costs and how the City of London runs their F.O.G. program. The committee would like budget dollars to remain in the public outreach workplan item for t-shirts and other promotional items. In 2020, these funds were to be used for promotion of Earth Day, the yellow fish road program and other promotional youth activities. Jessica Feere suggests making a motion to move unused funds from the 2020 budget to a reserve. Following discussion; Moved by: Rowland Howe Seconded by: Mayor John C. Grace That the unused funds from the Environmental Action Committee’s 2020 budget be moved to a reserve, in the amount of $10,000.