Whitby Sustainability Advisory Committee Minutes

Wednesday, April 05, 2023 at 7:00 P.m. - 8:00 P.m.

Hybrid Meeting

Whitby Town Hall

Present:

• Wenda Abel
• Andrea Cecchetto
• Janet Dignem
• Robynne Dunn
• Brian Kelly
• Patti Mavins
• Catherine Philogene
• Alytta Teuber
• Bryan Widner, Chair

Regrets:

• Sara Best, Vice-Chair
• Anahita Jami
• Judy Rivers

Also Present:

• Councillor Lundquist, Mayor's Designate
• Kristin Palilionis, Staff Liaison, Climate Change Coordinator
• Sarah Shields, Staff Liaison, Project Manager, Sustainability and Climate Change
• Suprajha Vaithianathan, Staff Liaison, Energy and Sustainability Program Coordinator
• Heather Ellis, Council and Committee Coordinator

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1.

Call to Order

2.

Declarations of Conflict of Interest

There were no declarations of conflict of interest.

3.

Approval of Previous Minutes

Brian Kelly requested the following additions to the March 1, 2023 minutes under Item 4.1, last paragraph:

“At the request of the Committee, Brian Kelly provided an overview of updates”; and,

Add the following final statement, “He mentioned that he was a participant in the Durham Greener Homes Program and found it seamless.”

Wenda Abel requested her question regarding ‘how the areas of the Town or the groups participating in the Community Greening Program were selected’ be added to the final paragraph under Item 6.2 of the March 1, 2023 minutes.

• Recommendation:

  Moved by Wenda Abel

  That the Whitby Sustainability Advisory Committee minutes of March 1, 2023, as amended, be approved.

  Carried

4.

Presentations

4.1

Sarah Shields, Project Manager, Sustainability and Climate Change, Town of Whitby

Re: Whitby Green Standard

Sarah Shields provided a presentation regarding the Whitby Green Standard. Highlights of the presentation included:

• the goal and purpose of the Green Standard to encourage sustainability measures for new development, and increase community resiliency and mitigate effects of climate change;
• statistical information on the environmental impacts of new construction and operating emissions;
• benefits of the Whitby Green Standard such as improving energy efficiencies and lowering greenhouse gas emissions;
• the Whitby Green Standard checklist and four step approach;
• projects to support the implementation of the Whitby Green Standard including digitization of the application process, developing an incentive program, and conducting a demonstration project; and,
• updating the mandatory standards to Tier 2 in 2024.

A question and answer period ensued regarding:

• whether Bill 23 would impact the Whitby Green Standard;
• whether any developers had altered their design to meet the Whitby Green Standard requirements;
• whether site plan applications approved prior to 2020 were exempt from the Whitby Green Standard;
• whether staff may share the checklist and reference guide;
• when it would become mandatory for new development to achieve Tier 4 of the standard;
• the number of site plan applications currently subject to the Whitby Green Standard;
• whether the Tier 2 requirements were applicable to development commencing in 2024;
• a status update for the ‘demonstration project’ and the four phases of the overall program;
• classification of a low-rise building; and,
• whether a demonstration project was planned for high-rise buildings.

5.

Delegations

There were no delegations.

6.

General Business and Reports

6.1

Sustainability Initiatives

Heat Pump Symposium

Suprajha Vaithianathan provided an update regarding the Heat Pump Symposium and advised that there were over 600 attendees, including over 30 heat pump manufacturers and installers.

Bee City

Suprajha Vaithianathan stated that Whitby was designated as the 10^th Bee City in Canada and first in Durham. Ms. Vaithianathan advised that Bee City initiatives included a rooftop beehive at Town Hall and educational seminars.

Tree Cities of the World

Suprajha Vaithianathan stated that Whitby’s designation as a Tree City of the World was launched in 2019. Ms. Vaithianathan advised that Whitby was one of the 59 cities worldwide to initially receive this designation. She stated that the Community Greening Program and increasing the urban tree canopy were initiatives of this designation.

Seeds to Bees

Suprajha Vaithianathan advised that the Seeds to Bees initiative included developing a native plant nursery.

Sarah Shields advised that there were approximately 800 flats of plants from native seeds being grown by the Operations Division.

District Energy System Project

Suprajha Vaithianathan advised that Elexicon Group has partnered with the Town to provide geothermal heating and cooling for the Whitby Sports Complex. Ms. Vaithianathan stated that construction should be complete in 2025.

6.2

2023 Sustainability Events

Suprajha Vaithianathan provided an update regarding 2023 Sustainability Events. Ms. Vaithianathan advised that there were several events planned to celebrate Earth Week, April 17 to 23, 2023. She provided an overview of events which included:

• a movie screening of Kiss the Ground on April 18, 2023;
• Meet the Beekeeper on April 22, 2023;
• Community Planting Event on April 22, 2023;
• Community Clean-up at D'Hillier Park on April 22, 2023;
• Repair Café on April 29, 2023; and,
• Adopt a Trail/Park/Road Program.

Suprajha Vaithianathan requested volunteers to attend the movie screening as panel speakers.

A question and answer period ensued regarding:

• inviting a guest speaker from the Community Greening Program to present at a future Whitby Sustainability Advisory Committee meeting;
• the Community Greening Program location selection process;
• whether neighbourhoods can apply to be part of the Community Greening Program; and,
• parks available for clean-up including Windsor Bay Park and Shirley Scott Park.

Provincial Day of Action on Litter - May 9, 2023

Suprajha Vaithianathan advised that the Provincial Day of Action on Litter was May 9, 2023 and that the Town was promoting the Anti-Litter App and litter clean up.

World Environment Day - June 5, 2023

Suprajha Vaithianathan advised that activities for World Environment Day included social media messaging highlighting the Town’s contributions to fighting climate change and protecting the environment.

Pollinator Week - June 19 to 25, 2023

Suprajha Vaithianathan stated that Pollinator Week events included social media events, partnering with Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests (LEAF), and weeding invasive species.

National Forest Week - September 17 to 23, 2023

Suprajha Vaithianathan stated that National Tree Day would be celebrated on September 21, 2023, during National Forest Week. Ms. Vaithianathan advised that National Forest Week events were being planned and that another LEAF education event or planting event was being considered.

A brief question and answer period ensued regarding considering additional planting events due to popularity.

Energy Efficiency Day - October 4, 2023

Suprajha Vaithianathan requested feedback from the Committee regarding ideas to celebrate Energy Efficiency Day. Ms. Vaithianathan advised that the purpose of Energy Efficiency Day was to raise community awareness of the benefits of energy efficiency.

Waste Reduction Week - October 16 to 22, 2023

Suprajha Vaithianathan requested feedback from the Committee regarding ideas for Waste Reduction Week. Ms. Vaithianathan advised that this would be a good opportunity to host another Repair Café.

A brief question and answer period ensued regarding the Committee's budget.

6.3

Protecting Whitby's Urban Forest Canopy

Suprajha Vaithianathan advised that Council introduced a motion to Protect Whitby’s Urban Forest Canopy during the February 27, 2023 Committee of the Whole meeting.

A question and answer period ensued regarding:

• whether the motion referred to future planting or protecting the existing tree canopy;
• whether diverse planting versus monoculture planting could be considered in order to preserve diversity within the ecosystem and select trees that could withstand climate conditions;
• incorporating requirements in the Whitby Green Standard for planting diverse vegetation;
• including a Tree Diversity Discussion on the May 2023 meeting agenda; and,
• promoting gardening opportunities for people living in multi-residential buildings.

6.4

2023 Roebuck Street Road Mural Jury Panel

Suprajha Vaithianathan advised that the Town's Creative Communities Division was seeking jury members for the 2023 Roebuck Street Road Mural Jury Panel. Ms. Vaithianathan requested a volunteer from the Committee to sit on the jury.

7.

Correspondence

7.1

Office of the Town Clerk, Correspondence: Regular Council Meeting, March 20, 2023

Re: Durham Meadoway - Green Energy Projects

Heather Ellis advised that Councillor Lundquist introduced a motion regarding exploring the possibility of green energy projects on the Gatineau Hydro Corridor during the February 27, 2023 Committee of the Whole meeting.

8.

Council Update

There was no Council update.

9.

Other Business

9.1

Durham Meadoway Project

Brian Kelly stated that he received correspondence from the Region of Durham advising that the Region met with Hydro One regarding the Durham Meadoway Project and incorporating green energy projects on the corridor.

9.2

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Report

Brian Kelly advised that the IPCC released it’s sixth assessment report on global climate change. Mr. Kelly recommended that this item be included on the Committee’s May meeting agenda and a summary of the report be presented.

9.3

Animal Feeding By-law

Janet Dignem requested that the Committee discuss restricting animal feeding in residential neighbourhoods through a by-law at a future meeting.

9.4

Work Plan Development

Patti Mavins suggested that the Committee prioritize establishing a project plan and objectives.

Discussion ensued regarding:

• developing a Committee Work Plan for the 2022-2026 term;
• prioritizing short and long term goals and establishing action items to achieve these goals;
• inviting organizations and individuals to participate in consultation of the mitigation plan; and,
• establishing a subcommittee or working group to create a draft Work Plan.

10.

Next Meeting

Wednesday, May 3, 2023 - 7:00 p.m.

11.

Adjournment

• Recommendation:

  Moved by Catherine Philogene

  That the meeting adjourn.

  Carried

  The meeting adjourned at 8:59 p.m.

  Note: These minutes were approved by the Whitby Sustainability Advisory Committee on May 3, 2023