GREATER VANCOUVER REGIONAL DISTRICT ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY COMMITTEE

Transcription

1 GREATER VANCOUVER REGIONAL DISTRICT ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY COMMITTEE Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD) Environment and Energy Committee held at 9:05 a.m. on Tuesday, July 14, 2009 in the 2 nd Floor Boardroom, 4330 Kingsway, Burnaby, British Columbia. PRESENT: Chair, Director Joe Trasolini, Port Moody Councillor Linda Barnes, Richmond Director Heather Deal, Vancouver (arrived at 9:10 a.m.) Director Sav Dhaliwal, Burnaby Director Ralph Drew, Belcarra Director Gayle Martin, Langley City Councillor Lorrie Williams, New Westminster ABSENT: Vice Chair, Director Linda Hepner, Surrey Director Peter Frinton, Bowen Island Director Richard Walton, North Vancouver District Director Hal Weinberg, Anmore STAFF: Johnny Carline, Commissioner/Chief Administrative Officer Hugh Kellas, Manager, Policy and Planning Department Klara Kutakova, Assistant to Regional Committees, Corporate Secretary s Department 1. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA 1.1 July 14, 2009 Regular Meeting Agenda That the Environment and Energy Committee: a) amend the agenda for its regular meeting scheduled for July 14, 2009 by adding item 4.1 Bryn Davidson, Dynamic Cities Project; and b) adopt the agenda as amended. 2. ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES 2.1 June 9, 2009 Regular Meeting Minutes That the Environment and Energy Committee adopt the minutes of its regular meeting held June 9, 2009 as circulated. held on Tuesday, July 14, 2009 Page 1 of 6

2 3. DELEGATIONS 3.1 Overview of the BCEIA Jeff Eltom, Executive Director, British Columbia Environment Industry Association (BCEIA), introduced the BCEIA, a non-profit business association, comprising engineering and environmental service companies, technology providers, research organizations, environmental analysts and consultants, disaster response companies, government agencies and environmental law firms. The BCEIA offers its members a diverse range of expert knowledge on how human and environmental impact of their operations could be minimized and mitigated. The Committee was provided details of the Hazardous Waste Compliance Improvement Project, a recent BCEIA initiative. The following components of the project were highlighted: on-line information concerning the management of hazardous waste hazardous waste regulations fact sheets dealing with waste generated by various industries, such as construction, mechanical and automotive, marine, and mining industry audit program for the Lower Mainland hazardous waste storage facilities 9:10 a.m. Director Deal arrived at the meeting. The delegate concluded his presentation with an outline of educational programs offered by the BCEIA and upcoming events organized or participated by the BCEIA. 3.2 Amendments to the Greater Vancouver Regional District Agricultural Boilers Emissions Regulation Bylaw No. 1098, 2008 Bruce Bakker, BC Agriculture Council, was present to speak in support of the staff recommendation outlined in item 5.2 of the July 14, 2009 Environment and Energy Committee agenda. The delegate highlighted the following: the agriculture industry support of the proposed amendment of the Greater Vancouver Regional District Agricultural Boilers Emissions Regulation Bylaw Number 1098, 2008 progress made in the working relationship between the industry and Metro Vancouver staff the need to take into consideration (when voting on the amending bylaw) the challenges presented by the economic downturn 4. INVITED PRESENTATIONS 4.1 Bryn Davidson, Dynamic Cities Project Bryn Davidson, Director, Dynamic Cities Project, provided the Committee with a presentation on peak oil and climate change. The presenter highlighted the following: addressing climate change does not necessarily mean that peak oil will be addressed as well, many potential responses to peak oil could lead to an acceleration of climate change and many strategies for addressing held on Tuesday, July 14, 2009 Page 2 of 6

3 climate change may not reduce oil dependencies. Strategies, addressing both peak oil and climate change while increasing the resilience of communities and economy, need to be prioritized. concern that only 18% of actions outlined in the provincial Climate Action Plan address both (peak oil and climate change) issues The Committee was also informed about the production profiles of global oil fields, predicted oil depletion annual rates, and the impact of peak oil on transportation modes, goods movement and land use, economic development and core services. To address peak oil and climate change, the presenter requested the Committee to consider the following actions: acknowledge oil depletion as a central factor influencing current planning for the period 2010 to 2040 request a staff review of potential peak oil impacts for the organization and the community, including likely impacts of energy price increases, fuel shortages, and secondary impacts on food, housing and emergency services convene a regional Resilient Vancouver Task Force with regional stakeholders mandated to adopt an oil consumption target, update the forecasting methods used for planning long-term infrastructure investments, update climate change and adaptation and community resiliency plans, and convene a regional business forum on post-carbon economic development and competitiveness Presentation material is retained with the July 14, 2009 Environment and Energy Committee agenda. Members spoke in support of the proposed recommendation. The following comments were provided: the need for the region to adapt to peak oil and climate change and to proactively move towards a sustainable, post-carbon economy the need for goods movement shift from road to rail mode The Committee requested staff to: provide an outline of Metro Vancouver current policies addressing peak oil and climate change request the Province to provide an outline of provincial actions addressing peak oil report on best practices, policies and/or resolutions adopted by other jurisdictions in response to peak oil and climate change provide the Committee with a set of actions in terms of further actions addressing peak oil and climate change, such as through a Task Force or a conference, and outline how these fit within the existing Committee s workplan held on Tuesday, July 14, 2009 Page 3 of 6

4 That the Environment and Energy Committee direct staff to: a) prepare a brief analysis of how Metro Vancouver s current policies address peak oil and climate change; b) seek comments from the Province on how the provincial Climate Action Plan addresses peak oil; and c) based on current initiatives and the best practices implemented by other jurisdictions, such as Metro Portland, prepare a recommendation for the Committee s consideration in terms of further actions that could be recommended to the Board to promote a resilient region and how these actions might be incorporated in the Committee s 2009 work program. 5. REPORTS FROM COMMITTEE OR STAFF 5.1 Report on the 2009 ICLEI World Congress Report dated June 30, 2009 from Ralph Drew, Mayor, Village of Belcarra, summarizing the key messages from the 2009 ICLEI World Congress in Edmonton, Alberta, and identifying short-term actions that Metro Vancouver could take to incorporate the complementary concepts of resiliency and adaptive response strategies into the Sustainable Region Initiative. That the Environment and Energy Committee: a) invite Bob Black to meet with the Environment and Energy Committee to speak on work underway to develop a climate change adaptation risk management guide for British Columbia, b) direct staff to report on how the concept of resiliency is incorporated in the Sustainable Region Initiative, management plans and sustainability reporting, and how it might be further developed, and c) refer Report on the 2009 ICLEI World Congress, dated June 30, 2009, to the Board for information. 5.2 Greater Vancouver Regional District Bylaw No. 1109, 2009 Report dated June 17, 2009 from Ray Robb, Regulation and Enforcement Division Manager, Policy and Planning Department, seeking authorization of amendments to the Greater Vancouver Regional District Agricultural Boilers Emission Regulation Bylaw No. 1098, That the Board: a) introduce and give first, second and third reading to Greater Vancouver Regional District Agricultural Boilers Emission Regulation Amending Bylaw No. 1109, 2009 ; b) reconsider, pass and finally adopt Greater Vancouver Regional District Agricultural Boilers Emission Regulation Amending Bylaw No. 1109, held on Tuesday, July 14, 2009 Page 4 of 6

5 5.3 Non-Road Diesel Engine Emissions Regulatory Consultation Report dated June 24, 2009 from Ray Robb, Regulation and Enforcement Division Manager, Policy and Planning Department, informing the Committee that staff have initiated consultation regarding potential non-road diesel engine emission regulations for Metro Vancouver. Members highlighted the importance of obtaining wide support of the initiative. The Committee proposed that staff work with the following stakeholders and/or forward the information to the following organizations: health boards Chamber of Commerce Regional Administrative Advisory Committee and the Regional Engineers Advisory Committee municipal fleet managers WorkSafe BC adjacent regional districts Lower Mainland Local Government Association municipal environmental protection committees The Committee requested that the report be forwarded to the Board for information. That the Environment and Energy Committee: a) receive for information the report dated June 24, 2009, titled Non-Road Diesel Engine Emissions Regulatory Consultation ; and b) refer the report to the Board for information. 5.4 Manager s Report Report dated June 24, 2009 from Hugh Kellas, Manager, Policy and Planning Department, informing about the following: 2009 Environment and Energy Committee work program invited presentation from regional cement industry representatives fire retardants (Polybrominated Diphenyl Enters or PBDEs) in the environment That the Environment and Energy Committee receive for information the report dated June 24, 2009, titled Manager s Report. 6. INFORMATION ITEMS 6.1 Metro Vancouver Air Quality Management Plan Correspondence dated May 26, 2009 from Mike Beale, Acting Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Environmental Stewardship Branch addressed to Lois Jackson, Chair, Metro Vancouver Board. held on Tuesday, July 14, 2009 Page 5 of 6

6 7. OTHER BUSINESS No items presented. 8. RESOLUTION TO CLOSE MEETING No items presented. 9. ADJOURNMENT That the Environment and Energy Committee conclude its regular meeting of July 14, (Time: 10:20 a.m.) Klara Kutakova, Assistant to Regional Committees Joe Trasolini, Chair FINAL held on Tuesday, July 14, 2009 Page 6 of 6