Whitby Sustainability Advisory Committee Minutes

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Hybrid Meeting
Whitby Town Hall
Present:
  • Wenda Abel
  • Sara Best, Vice-Chair
  • Janet Dignem
  • Brian Kelly
  • Patti Mavins
  • Catherine Philogene
  • Bryan Widner, Chair
  • Bob Willard
  • Zartasha Zainab
Regrets:
  • Andrea Cecchetto
Also Present:
  • Councillor Leahy, Mayor's Designate
  • Junaid Khan, Staff Liaison, Project Manager, Sustainability and Climate Change
  • Kristin Palilionis, Staff Liaison, Climate Change Coordinator
  • Heather Ellis, Council and Committee Coordinator

1.
Call to Order

 

2.
Declarations of Conflict of Interest

 

There were no declarations of conflict of interest.

3.
Approval of Previous Minutes

 

  • Recommendation:

    Moved bySara Best

    That the Whitby Sustainability Advisory Committee minutes of May 1, 2024 be approved.

    Carried

4.
Presentations

 

4.1
Kim Evans, Manager, 55+ Recreation, Accessibility and Diversity, and Sean Malby, Sr. Manager, Parks, Parks Planning and Culture, Town of Whitby

 

Re: Town of Whitby’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan

Kim Evans and Sean Malby provided a presentation regarding the Town of Whitby’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan. Highlights of the presentation included:

  • an overview of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan;
  • a summary of the process for developing the Parks and Recreation Master Plan;
  • details of parkland, facility, and service delivery recommendations;
  • phasing in and implementing the recommendations;
  • investigating funding opportunities; and,
  • next steps of the Whitby Parks and Recreation Master Plan.

A question and answer period ensued regarding:

  • how legislative changes have impacted development charges and funding for parkland;
  • determining parkland requirements in high density areas;
  • development of a micromobility device policy;
  • whether the Parks and Recreation Master Plan included strategies for preserving waterfront vegetation;
  • whether consideration was given to naturalizing entrance ways, edges, and corners of parks as a strategy to reduce maintenance costs; and,
  • opportunities for public and Committee feedback regarding park furniture.

It was the consensus of the Committee to hear Item 6.1, Question and Answer Period with Ian McVey, Manager of Sustainability, Regional Municipality of Durham, at this time.

4.2
Bob Willard, Whitby Sustainability Advisory Committee Member

 

Re: Sustainable Procurement

Bob Willard advised that his presentation on Sustainable Procurement would be emailed to Members and requested that comments and suggestions be provided no later than June 21, 2024.

5.
Delegations

 

There were no delegations.

6.
General Business and Reports

 

6.1
Question and Answer Period with Ian McVey, Manager of Sustainability, Regional Municipality of Durham

 

A question and answer period ensued between Ian McVey, Manager of Sustainability, Regional Municipality of Durham and Members of the Committee regarding the Durham Community Energy Plan, including;

  • barriers to achieving the carbon emission targets outlined in the Durham Community Energy Plan;
  • whether embodied carbon, carbon emissions that occur during the construction phase of buildings, was accounted for in the carbon budgets;
  • the importance of municipal-level efforts to reduce carbon emissions and achieve the Region's carbon emission goals; and,
  • the top three initiatives that could be implemented to help achieve carbon emission goals.

It was the consensus of the Committee to hear Item 8, Council Update, at this time.

6.2
Whitby Green Standard Update

 

Kristin Palilionis provided an update regarding the Whitby Green Standard which included:

  • the Whitby Green Standard Revised Checklist and requested feedback from industry partners;
  • a Public Engagement Session on June 13, 2024 at the Centennial Building; and,
  • details about correspondence received from the Durham Region Home Builder’s Association.

6.3
Sustainability Events Recap

 

Kristin Palilionis provided an update regarding the social media post for World Bee Day and the Bee the Movement Workshop.

6.4
Upcoming Sustainability Events

 

Kristin Palilionis provided an update regarding recent and upcoming sustainability events which included:

  • World Environment Day on June 5, 2024;
  • Pollinator Week from June 17 to June 23, 2024;
  • a Plant Repotting Staff Workshop; and,
  • the Community Stewardship Event in Rosedale Park hosted by the Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests (LEAF) on June 22, 2024.

A brief question and answer period ensued regarding the Invasive Phragmites Control Fund.

7.
Correspondence

 

There was no correspondence.

8.
Council Update

 

Councillor Leahy provided an update regarding:

  • an increase in development applications;
  • grass cutting and maintenance standards for parks and boulevards; and,
  • the proposed multi-year budget process to be considered by Members of Council at the June 10, 2024 Committee of the Whole meeting.

A question and answer period ensued regarding:

  • the Council representative for Elexicon Energy; and,
  • concerns about public transit routes travelling from north to south Whitby and plans to improve services.

It was the consensus of the Committee to hear Item 4.2, a presentation from Bob Willard, Whitby Sustainability Advisory Committee Member, at this time.

9.
Other Business

 

There was no other business.

10.
Next Meeting

 

Wednesday, September 4, 2024 - 7:00 p.m.

11.
Adjournment

 

  • Recommendation:

    Moved byBrian Kelly

    That the meeting adjourn.

    Carried

    The meeting adjourned at 9:07 p.m.


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