City of Port Moody Minutes Environmental Protection Committee

Transcription

1 City of Port Moody Minutes Environmental Protection Committee Minutes of the meeting of the Environmental Protection Committee held on Monday, November 20, 2017 in the Brovold Room. Present Absent Councillor Meghan Lahti, Chair Councillor Hunter Madsen, Vice-Chair Yolanda Broderick Maya Chorobik Karen Devitt Elaine Golds Bryan Fitzpatrick Amy Lubik Judy Taylor-Atkinson Cathy Morton (Regrets) Damian Regan (Regrets) In Attendance Donna Bucsis Solid Waste Coordinator (re: item 4.1) Angela Crampton Sustainability and Energy Specialist (re: item 4.2) Lesley Douglas General Manager of Environment and Parks Kurt Frei Environmental Technician Todd Hunter Conservation Officer Services, Province of BC (re: item 4.1) Patrik Kolby Senior Bylaw Officer (re: item 4.1) Jeff Moi General Manager of Engineering and Operations Will Ying-udomrat Committee Coordinator 1. Call to Order Call to Order 1.1 Councillor Lahti called the meeting to order at 7:02pm. 2. Adoption of Minutes Minutes 2.1 EPC17/021 THAT the minutes of the Environmental Protection Committee meeting held on Monday, October 16, 2017 be adopted. 3. Unfinished Business Environmental Protection Committee November 20, 2017

2 4. New Business Staff Update 4.1a The General Manager of Environment and Parks and the General Manager of Engineering and Operations noted that beavers have been found in stormwater infrastructure in the Klahanie area; a risk assessment has been conducted, and it was decided that the beavers should be moved out of the infrastructure; staff are looking into the best location to relocate the beavers; and Klahanie residents will be kept informed. Cool It Program 4.2 This agenda items were rearranged at this point to address item 4.2. Angela Crampton, Sustainability and Energy Specialist, gave a presentation on the Cool It! Climate Leadership Training program led by the BC Sustainable Energy Association and the Keep Cool! Program led by Dreamriders, noting the descriptions of the two programs. The Sustainability and Energy Specialist outlined the proposed outreach program funding for 2018 as follows: Cool It! classroom sessions; o Five schools, one class per school; o $3,250 budget; o The Environmental Protection Committee to request funding from Council; Keep Cool! assembly performances; o Six schools, one assembly per school; o $6,000 budget; and o Environment, Engineering, and Solid Waste Divisions to share costs, using existing outreach budgets. EPC17/022 THAT $3,250 be allocated to fund Cool It! classroom sessions for five schools, at one class per school. Action: Staff to help recognize the achievements of Cool It! Classroom program winners (e.g. by using social media or newsletters). The Sustainability and Energy Specialist left the meeting at this point and did not return. Bear Panel Discussion 4.1 Todd Hunter Conservation Officer Services, Province of BC Patrik Kolby Senior Bylaw Officer, City of Port Moody Donna Bucsis Solid Waste and Recycling Coordinator, City of Port Moody Kurt Frei Environmental Technician, City of Port Moody Lesley Douglas General Manager of Environment and Parks, City of Port Moody The agenda order resumed at this point. Environmental Protection Committee November 20, 2017

3 Todd Hunter, Conservation Officer Services, Province of BC, gave a presentation on the Human Wildlife Conflict Reduction Strategy, noting: The number of human-wildlife conflicts in Port Moody during the fiscal year; The number of calls relating to humans-wildlife conflicts received by his office in 2017; The various actions taken in recent years to address the conflicts; and Strategies for preventing and addressing conflicts in the future, which include identifying hot spots, managing human-wildlife conflicts early, working with bylaw enforcement, and working with municipalities on education initiatives. Mr. Hunter answered questions on the lack of Conservation Officer Services staff resources, hazing, and the definition of a conflict. Mr. Hunter suggested that the City send a letter to the BC Government in support of conservation officers work on wildlife conservation management and advising the BC Government of the lack of staff resources to manage and prevent conflicts. Kurt Frei, Environmental Technician, City of Port Moody, gave a presentation on the City s approaches to prevent human-bear conflicts, which includes community education, bear-smart solid waste, communication strategies, and enforcement. Donna Bucsis, Solid Waste and Recycling Coordinator, City of Port Moody, provided an overview of solid waste initiatives, including a pilot project of green bins with locking bear bar and the City s pack-out service program. Ms. Bucsis answered questions on the repairs and replacement of solid waste carts. Patrik Kolby, Senior Bylaw Officer, City of Port Moody, gave a presentation on enforcement of City bylaws as pertained to human-bear conflicts. Committee members provided a number of suggestions, including: Residents who want to use the pack-out service program could be charged for the cost for staff to operate the program; Outreach initiatives should align with those of nearby municipalities; and Efforts should be made to do more education outreach rather than increasing fines. Environmental Protection Committee November 20, 2017

4 EPC17/023 Moved and seconded THAT staff explore the placement of bear-proof communal all-waste-streams collection bins, as a pilot project funded in part by bear-related fine revenues, in a residential and/or commercial neighbourhood where bears have frequently accessed curb side pick-up bins. EPC17/024 THAT the foregoing motion be amended by adding: a number of solutions, including community-based social marketing and after explore. The question on the main motion (EPC17/023) as amended by (EPC17/024) was put to a vote; the following motion was CARRIED: THAT staff explore a number of solutions, including community-based social marketing and the placement of bear-proof communal all-waste-streams collection bins, as a pilot project funded in part by bear-related fine revenues, in a residential and/or commercial neighbourhood where bears have frequently accessed curb side pick-up bins. EPC17/025 THAT the meeting be extended up to an additional 30 minutes. EPC17/026 THAT the City develop a comprehensive Bear Management Strategy to address the root causes of human-bear conflicts, reducing the risks to human safety and private property, and reducing the number of bears that have to be destroyed each year. AND THAT the Strategy include updating the Bear Essentials website, tracking and reporting statistics related to bearrelated fines, bear sightings and bear deaths, and planning an application to the Province to become a Bear Smart Community. Ms. Bucsis, Mr. Hunter, Mr. Kolby, and Mr. Moi left the meeting at this point and did not return. Environmental Protection Committee November 20, 2017

5 Review Environment Award Nominations 4.3 Amy Lubik and Judy Taylor-Atkinson left the meeting at this point due to potential conflict of interests and did not return. EPC17/027 THAT, pursuant to section 90 of the Community Charter, this portion of the Regular Meeting of the Environmental Protection Committee be closed to the public as the subject matter being considered relates to the following: 90(1)(b) personal information about an identifiable individual who is being considered for a municipal award or honour, or who has offered to provide a gift to the municipality on condition of anonymity. The regular meeting was resumed at 9:36pm. 5. Information 6. Adjournment Councillor Lahti adjourned the meeting at 9:36pm. Councillor Meghan Lahti, Chair Will Ying-udomrat Committee Coordinator Environmental Protection Committee November 20, 2017