The Corporation of the City of Kawartha Lakes

Minutes

Environmental Advisory Committee Meeting

CKLEAC2025-001

Thursday, January 16, 2025

2:30 P.m. - 4:30 P.m.

Electronic Participation Meeting

Members:

• Councillor Pat Warren
• Virginia Colling
• Josh Feltham
• Jamie Morris
• Santosh Patel
• Danielle Marcoux-Hunter
• Doug Paterson
• Deborah Pearson
• David Ryrie
• Barry Snider
• Christine Szabados

Accessible formats and communication supports are available upon request. The City of Kawartha Lakes is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. Please contact [email protected] if you have an accessible accommodation request.

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1.

Call to Order

In attendance:  Virginia Colling, Jamie Morris, Santosh Patel, Doug Paterson, Deborah Peterson, David Ryrie, Christine Szabados, Barry Snider, Pat Warren, Councillor, Josh Feltham, Fleming College

Absent:  Logan MacInnis, Danielle Marcoux-Hunter, KRCA

Staff:  Mark Jull (Supervisor, Policy Planning), Jenna Stephens (Planning Officer – Environmental Policy), Nancy Ord (Administrative Assistant)

 

Chair Pearson called the meeting to order at 2:32 pm.      

1.1

Appointment of Chair

J. Stephens welcomed the members, introduced staff and indicated CKLEAC’s Terms of Reference required, at the first meeting of the year, the first order of business to be to appoint a chairperson to conduct this and future meetings for the year. Once the chairperson was appointed, the Chair would conduct the appointment of the Vice Chair who would serve as chairperson in the absence of the chair.

J. Stephens called for nominations for the position of Chair and Councillor Warren nominated Deborah Peterson who then indicated her wish to let her name stand for Chair. Nominations from members of the committee were called a second and third time for nominations for chair with no responses seen or heard. Nominations for the position of Chair were then closed.

J. Stephens declared Deborah Pearson as appointed by acclamation to be Chair of the Environmental Advisory Committee.

The Chair was invited to assume the position and conduct the meeting.

1.2

Appointment of Vice Chair

Chair Pearson called for nominations for the position of Vice Chair.  J. Morris nominated G. Colling who then indicated her wish to let her name stand for the position of Vice Chair.  Members of the committee were called a second and third time for nominations for Vice Chair with no responses seen or heard.  Nominations for the position of Vice Chair were then closed. 

D. Pearson declared that Ginny Colling be appointed by acclamation as Vice Chair of the Environmental Advisory Committee for 2025 and indicated the Vice Chair would assume the role of Chair in the absence of the Chair.

2.

Administrative Business

2.1

Adoption of Agenda

• EAC2025.001
  Moved By V. Colling
  Seconded By B. Snider

  That the Agenda be amended to add Item 6.2 Coboconk Park Naturalization Project.

  Carried
• EAC2025.002
  Moved By Councillor Warren
  Seconded By C. Szabados

  That the Agenda be amended to add Item 6.3 Shoreline Task Force.

  Carried
• EAC2025.003
  Moved By D. Paterson
  Seconded By S. Patel

  That the Agenda be amended to add Item 6.4 New CKLEAC Candidate.

  Carried
• EAC2025.004
  Moved By V. Colling
  Seconded By S. Patel

  That the Agenda for the Environmental Advisory Committee meeting of January 16, 2025 be adopted as amended.

  Carried

2.2

Declaration of Pecuniary Interest

There were no declarations of pecuniary interest disclosed.

2.3

Adoption of Minutes of November 21, 2024

 

• EAC2025.005
  Moved By C. Szabados
  Seconded By D. Ryrie

  That the minutes of the Environmental Advisory Committee meeting of November 21, 2024 be adopted as presented.

  Carried

3.

Deputations/Presentations

There were no deputations or presentations.  S. Patel indicated future attendance by a representative of “Dan the Weed Man” would be clarified and be reported back to the Committee.

 

M. Jull left the meeting at 3:00 p.m.

4.

Correspondence

No correspondence was presented.

5.

Action Item Updates

5.1

CKLEAC Work Plan Updates by Project Team Leaders (Pollinator Action, Bird Friendly, Healthy Environment, Transportation Subcommittees)

Pollinator Action Sub-Committee

C. Szabados reported that the Bee City student volunteer R. Wood had returned from her trip to Dubai and placed 2^nd in a bee keeping competition.

It was reported that the annual fee for Bee City Canada membership renewal had been received.

Discussion followed on Motion EAC2024.056 approved by CKLEAC’s at its November 21, 2024 meeting, which supported the purchase of envelopes for the Seed Library and Seed Give Away programme with specific costs to be provided in January 2025.  The Chair indicated the item would be dealt with at its next meeting.

 

Bird Friendly Subcommittee

J. Morris reported on the following updates:

• News releases for the Council approval of the Osprey as the official city bird.

• The Osprey has been adopted as the mascot for the Waste Collection program and named “Obbie the Osprey”.

• A campaign to encourage cat-owners to keep cats indoors has included printing and distribution of brochures with an April 2025 online initiative to encourage cat owners to pledge to keep cats indoors.

• A C.H.E.S.T. fund application for treatment of bus shelters to prevent bird strikes was unsuccessful and comments received for application in 2026.

When questioned why the C.H.E.S.T. fund application was unsuccessful, J. Morris referred to requirement for explicit commitment from the Transit Division and lack of required payments by the sponsor.

• Clear Your Gear fishing line disposal stations are working well with suggestions for relocating and adding new location.

• Application is underway for NSERC grant to support Fleming College to carry out research on urban bird health, which was supported by Council after EAC resolution.

• Three Christmas Bird Counts have been undertaken.

• Road improvements have been undertaken to improve birder access for Wylie and Alvar Roads in Carden and resulted from deputation to Council in July 2024.

Upcoming projects were reported including:

• May 10, 2025 is World Migratory Bird Day with significant planning underway involving Fleming College, fourteen library branches and the Communications Division as Kawartha Lakes is a newly designated bird friendly city. Chair Pearson and J. Morris will coordinate plans.

• Anticipated at CKLEAC’s next meeting will be a request for $2,500 to support World Migratory Bird Day with an itemized list of expenses to be provided to CKLEAC.

D. Paterson questioned the projected $53,000 cost for the bus shelter remediation program for Lindsay. J. Morris clarified the extent of the work required and referred to Fleming College campus for members to view an example of completed projects.

Discussion followed on the location of fishing line disposal boxes with suggestion that additional locations near the landfill site, or any location where fishing is occurring, be considered.

Transportation Subcommittee

J. Morris presented no new details but requested an update on the Active Transportation Master Plan.

J. Stephens indicated further update would be provided at CKLEAC’s next meeting but indicated ATMP would be integrated into the City’s 2025 budget as many projects are undertaken by Public Works. She reported that work is underway to ensure the ATMP is on Public Works and Engineering Division’s radar.

Councillor Warren reported that Council has passed resolution at a recent budget meeting to request staff to report back to Council by the end of Q1, 2025 with a proposed terms of reference for an Active Transportation Advisory Committee.

Healthy Environment Subcommittee

J. Stephens reported that a report calling for Request for Proposals (RFP) is before the Director for approval and will be posted before CKLEAC’s next meeting. The funding application report was in front of Council and was to be approved by the end of January.

A funding application submitted in December 2024 will provide $105,000 funding and, if successful, will ease the funding required from the City’s budget.

• EAC2025.006
  Moved By C. Szabados
  Seconded By V. Colling

  That the Bee City Canada 2025 membership renewal of $400.00 be paid.

  Carried

5.2

Notice to prepare 2025 Work Plan and action on 2024 Work Plan

J. Stephens alerted the Committee to the deadline for CKLEAC preparation of its 2025 Work Plan and 2024 summary of Work Plan accomplishments required before February 14, 2025.

To assist, J. Stephens offered to provide a copy of the 2023 and 2024 Work Plans.

5.3

Climate Change Strategy update.

No report was provided at this time.

6.

New or Other Business

6.1

Home heating in new subdivision plans.

The Chair questioned how CKLEAC could take the first steps in encouraging low carbon heating/cooling in the significant number of new subdivisions that are developing in Lindsay or are waiting on approvals.  The Chair questioned if a clause or policy could be added requiring new subdivisions to offer alternative heating/cooling devices.

Councillor Warren referred to past efforts to encourage the LEED standards (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) that many municipalities have.  She reported on speaking to local developers with varying responses on encouraging alternatives to installation of gas lines.  The Councillor indicated there is still time to make suggestions, as developments such as those created by Minister’s Zoning Orders will be entering the public input stage. 

J. Stephens indicated further review would be required for clearer information on timing of developments.

J. Morris suggested the issue would be raised as part of the Climate Change Strategy and J. Stephens added the RFP for the Climate Change Strategy includes a requirement for monitoring.

Discussion followed on providing CKLEAC members with links to comment on a provincial survey on gas related issues with comment added by D. Paterson that financial institutions support projects that are considered “greenwashing”.

• EAC2025.007
  Moved By B. Snider
  Seconded By J. Feltham

  That Staff follow up with Planning Development Staff to determine the approval status of subdivisions in the development process and at what stage decisions are made on heating and cooling options.

  Carried

6.2

Coboconk Park Naturalization Project

The Chair referred to Kawartha Region Conservation Authority letter indicating the City’s Park Division had no immediate plans for a Coboconk Park naturalization project and that it was unable to proceed without a formal municipal request.  Reference was made to past waterfront naturalization projects that had been removed or destroyed and difficulties the Park Division experienced with park maintenance and access for mowing equipment in naturalized areas.

D. Paterson volunteered to contact Parks Division staff and clarify its concerns as first steps in CKLEAC being an advocate for the project. Councillor Warren requested the Parks Division respond to KRCA and CKLEAC on the issue.

D. Paterson indicated a report would be made to CKLEAC at its next meeting and requested that the Item be added to CKLEAC’s February 2025 meeting Agenda.

6.3

Shoreline Task Force

Councillor Warren reported that meetings were occurring on the topic including discussion with the CAO and further report is anticipated for CKLEAC’s next meeting.

6.4

New CKLEAC Candidate

The Chair reported that interviews had been held and a new CKLEAC member anticipated to be approved at an upcoming Council meeting and will attend CKLEAC’s next regular meeting.

7.

Next Meeting

The next meeting of CKLEAC is scheduled for February 20, 2025.

8.

Adjournment

• EAC2025.008
  Moved By J. Morris
  Seconded By J. Feltham

  That the meeting be adjourned at 4:00 p.m.

  Carried