The Corporation of the City of Kawartha Lakes

Minutes

Environmental Advisory Committee Meeting

CKLEAC2021-001
-
Lindsay Service Centre - 2nd Floor
180 Kent Street West
Lindsay, ON K9V 2Y6
Members:
  • Councillor Tracy Richardson
  • Virginia Colling
  • Josh Feltham
  • Robyn James
  • Douglas Lowles
  • Ryan Megraw
  • Jamie Morris
  • Deborah Pearson
  • Karen Quinn
  • Barry Snider
  • Kristie Virgoe
  • Pat Warren
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.

1.
Call to Order
 

P. Warren called the meeting to order at 2:35 p.m.  V. Colling, J. Feltham, D. Lowles, R. Megraw, J. Morris, D. Pearson, B. Snider were in attendance.

Staff present were Manager of Planning R. Holy and Recording Secretary E. Hallett.

Absent: Councillor T. Richardson, R. James, K. Quinn and K. Virgoe

  • Moved ByD. Lowles
    Seconded ByJ. Morris

    That P. Warren be nominated as the Chair for the City of Kawartha Lakes Environmental Advisory Committee for 2021.

    Carried

2.
Administrative Business
 

2.1
Adoption of Agenda
 

  • Moved ByV. Colling
    Seconded ByB. Snider

    That the agenda be adopted as circulated.

    Carried

2.2
Declaration of Pecuniary Interest
 

There were no declarations of pecuniary interest disclosed.

2.3
Adoption of Minutes
 

  • Moved ByJ. Morris
    Seconded ByV. Colling

    That the minutes of the Environmental Advisory Committee meeting held on December 10, 2020, be adopted as circulated.

    Carried

3.
Deputations/Presentations
 

4.
Correspondence
 

5.
Action Item Updates
 

5.1
CKLEAC Work Plan Updates by Project Team Leaders
 

 

Plastics Reduction

D. Pearson reported that the Plastics Reduction initiative will remain on the Agenda, but it remains on hold for the time being due to the Covid 19 Pandemic.

Pollinator Action Committee

P. Warren reported that the Pollinator Action Committee will focus on three initiatives for 2021:

- Bee a Hero

- Seed Bombs on the trails via bicycles

- Demonstration Site at Pickseed

Active Transportation

J. Morris suggested the option of including canoeing/kayaking/rowing under Active Transportation. He discussed the importance of looking at the strengths and weaknesses of the Active Transportation Plan when considering next steps. J. Morris also brought forward the idea of walk-ability and bike-ability audits for the communities of Lindsay, Fenelon Falls and Bobcaygeon as next steps moving forward, as well as looking into the challenges faced by pedestrians. J. Morris recommended the formation of a Pedestrian Advocacy Group that could meet via Zoom to discuss matters further and arrive at some goals/ideas. The Pedestrian Advocacy Group could then attend a Committee of the Whole meeting to introduce the members, bring forth some ideas and give Council the opportunity to ask questions.

6.
New or Other Business
 

6.1
Wetland Loss Due to Conversion to Wetlands - B. Snider
 

 

B. Snider has been conducting a great deal of research in the local area regarding the conversion of wetlands to farmland and drafted a report which was circulated to P. Warren, V. Collings and D. Pearson.

Members questioned if such practices would be considered in the updating of the Official Plan. R. Holy commented that Planning Division is working on both the Tree Preservation By-Law and the Rural Zoning By-Law, both of which would have positive effects.

Members discussed the potential of having CKLEAC representatives meet with both the Conservation Authority and the Agricultural Development Advisory Board to gain more insight on the issues at hand, and gather information to bring back to CKLEAC. J. Feltham, B. Snider, and R. Megraw agreed to attend the meetings. P.Warren will arrange a meeting with Mark Majchrowski of KRCA to discuss the Conservation Authority’s experiences in dealing with Agricultural Groups. The CKLEAC representatives will then arrange to meet with ADAB to discuss the conversion of wetlands to agricultural lands. The information gathered at the meetings will be reviewed by CKLEAC as a whole, and next steps can be formulated based on the findings.

6.2
Off-Road Vehicle Use of City Roads - D. Pearson
 

 

D. Pearson received a call from a Lindsay Resident (a member of the Green Trails Alliance) inquiring about CKLEAC’s involvement with the off road vehicle policies. D. Pearson questioned whether CKLEAC could make any recommendations based on the Healthy Environment Plan and the Active Transportation Plan.

D. Pearson noted that Councillor Richardson provided an email stating that the City has formed a Task Force to review Off Road Vehicle use on municipal roads and will be soliciting public input. Council has chosen not to make any current changes to the By-law at this time, and will review the options related to regulations once the recommendations are received from the Task Force.

CKLEAC members look forward to hearing what the Task Force recommends.

6.3
Environmental Summit - J. Morris
 

J. Morris proposed the idea of CKLEAC arranging a Zoom meeting to bring together various City of Kawartha Lakes organizations that have environmental goals. Some of groups that could be included would be:

- Green Trails Alliance

- Kawartha TransCanada Trail

- Kawartha Climate Club

- Urban Canopy Project

- Environmental Action Bobcaygeon

- Kawartha Field Naturalists

J. Morris suggested a representative from each group could attend the Zoom meeting and outline their mission statement and goals, challenges, and perhaps have a set of 4 or 5 questions each representative could answer. The groups could work together to achieve common goals, and offer support for one another.

P. Warren, D. Pearson, and V. Collings agreed to work together with J. Morris on this project.

 

6.4
Tree Preservation By-Law - P. Warren
 

P. Warren reported that the Tree Preservation By-law was presented at the Committee of the Whole meeting on January 12, 2021. Next steps include a formal public consultation strategy and education plan. A. Kalnina and L. Barrie of the Planning Division continue to work on the Tree Preservation By-law.

6.5
Environmental Hero Awards - P. Warren
 

 

For 2021, the Environmental Hero Awards will not focus on specific groups, but rather be open to all “Environmental Heroes”. P. Warren will reach out to R. Cowieson in the Communications Division to begin advertising as soon as possible.  Winners will be announced early in 2022.

7.
Next Meeting
 

The next CKLEAC meeting will be held on March 25, 2021 at 2:30 p.m. via Zoom.

8.
Adjournment
 

  • Moved ByV. Colling
    Seconded ByD. Pearson

    That the Environmental Advisory Committee Meeting adjourn at 3:57 p.m.

    Carried
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