Environment and Climate Change Committee

Minutes

Meeting #:

15

Date:

Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Time:

9:30 A.m. - 3:30 P.m.

Location:

Champlain Room, 110 Laurier Avenue West, and by electronic participation

Present:

• Chair: Councillor Shawn Menard, 
• Vice-chair: Councillor Marty Carr, 
• Councillor David Brown, 
• Councillor Cathy Curry, 
• Councillor Sean Devine, 
• Councillor David Hill, 
• Councillor Theresa Kavanagh, 
• Councillor Rawlson King, 
• Councillor Matt Luloff, 
• Councillor Tim Tierney, 
• Councillor Laine Johnson, 
• and Councillor Wilson Lo 

---

1.

Notices and meeting information for meeting participants and the public

Notices and meeting information are attached to the agenda and minutes, including: availability of simultaneous interpretation and accessibility accommodations; in camera meeting procedures; information items not subject to discussion; personal information disclaimer for correspondents and public speakers; notices regarding minutes; and remote participation details.

Accessible formats and communication supports are available, upon request.

Except where otherwise indicated, reports requiring Council consideration will be presented to Council on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, in Environment and Climate Change Committee Report 15.

The deadline to register by phone to speak, or submit written comments or visual presentations is 4 pm on Friday, February 14, 2025, and the deadline to register to speak by email is 8:30 am on Tuesday, February 18, 2025.

2.

Declarations of Interest

No Declarations of Interest were filed.

3.

Confirmation of Minutes

3.1

ECCC Minutes 14 - Tuesday, November 19, 2025

4.

Responses to Inquiries

4.1

ECCC-2024-03 - Lighting Conversion

5.

Presentations

5.1

Public Works - New Tree Dedication Program

MOTION NO ECCC 2025-15-01

Moved by Vice-Chair M. Carr:

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Environment and Climate Change Committee approve that the Rules of Procedure be waived subject to Subsection 83(4)(a) of the Procedure By-Law (being By-Law NO 2022-410) to receive a staff presentation on the City’s New Tree Dedication Program.

Carried

Mr. Alain Gonthier, General Manager, Public Works Department (PWD), introduced Ms. Allyson Downs Director, Parks Maintenance and Forestry Services, PWD, and Ms. Tracey Schwets, Program Manager, Forest Management, PWD, who spoke to a detailed slide presentation which served as an overview of the City’s New Tree Dedication Program.  Staff then responded to questions from Committee members.  A copy of this presentation is held on file with the Office of the City Clerk.

• Motion No. ECCC 2025-15-01
  Moved by M. Carr

  BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Environment and Climate Change Committee approve that the Rules of Procedure be waived subject to Subsection 83(4)(a) of the Procedure By-Law (being By-Law NO 2022-410) to receive a staff presentation on the City’s New Tree Dedication Program.

  Carried

6.

Infrastructure and Water Services Department

6.1

Residential Protective Plumbing and Compassionate Grant Program – Review and Proposed By-law and Program Updates

File No. ACS2025-IWS-WL-0007 – City-wide

At the outset, the Committee received a slide presentation overview of the report from Ms. Marilyn Journeaux, Director, Water Services-Linear, Infrastructure and Water Services Department (IWSD) and Mr. Brian Simpson, Manager, Water Utility Customer Service, IWSD.  A copy of this presentation is held on file with the Office of the City Clerk.

Staff informed of the need to make amendments to the supporting Document 1 as follows:

MOTION NO ECCC 2025-15-02

Moved by Vice-Chair M. Carr:

WHEREAS the staff report includes proposed changes to the Residential Protective Plumbing program, and the associated by-law, substantially in the form attached as Document 1 of which a minor correction is required;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Environment and Climate Change Committee approve a technical amendment to Document 1 to replace reference to “Schedule B” with “Schedule A” in Sections 4.1(d) and 5, and;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT Document 1 be further amended to delete in 7(1)(d) the requirement for a qualified contractor to obtain a CCTV inspection or site investigation.

Carried

The Committee then heard from Ms Angela Keller-Herzog, Executive Director, Community Associations for Environmental Sustainability (CAFES), who also spoke to a slide presentation to illustrate her points.  Her presentation and written comments are also held on file with the Office of the City Clerk.

Following questions to the delegation and to staff, and at the conclusion of Committee discussion, the report recommendations were put before the Committee and were ‘CARRIED’ as amended by Motion NO ECCC 2025-15-02.

That the Environment and Climate Change Committee recommend Council:

1. Approve the proposed changes to the Residential Protective Plumbing program as outlined in this report, and the associated by-law, substantially in the form attached as Document 1 (as amended by Motion ECCC 2025-15-02), to be in effect April 1, 2025; and,
2. Approve the proposed changes to the Compassionate Grant program as outlined in this report.

Carried, as amended

• Report Recommendation(s)

  That Environment and Climate Change Committee recommend Council:

  1. Approve the proposed changes to the Residential Protective Plumbing program as outlined in this report, and the associated by-law, substantially in the form attached as Document 1, to be in effect April 1, 2025; and,
  2. Approve the proposed changes to the Compassionate Grant program as outlined in this report.
  Carried as amended
• Moved by: Vice-Chair M. Carr

  WHEREAS the staff report includes proposed changes to the Residential Protective Plumbing program, and the associated by-law, substantially in the form attached as Document 1 of which a minor correction is required.

  THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Environment and Climate Change Committee approve a technical amendment to Document 1 to replace reference to “Schedule B” with “Schedule A” in Sections 4.1(d) and 5.

  BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT Document 1 be further amended to delete in 7(1)(d) the requirement for a qualified contractor to obtain a CCTV inspection or site investigation.

  Carried

6.2

Sewer Use By-law Review

File No. ACS2025-IWS-WL-0009 – City-wide

• Report recommendation(s)

  That the Environment and Climate Change Committee recommends Council approve the updated Sewer Use By-law as described in this report, and substantially in the form attached as Document 1, to be in effect July 1, 2025.

  Carried

7.

Public Works Department

7.1

Landfill Gas Utilization Agreement Extension

File No. ACS2025-PWD-SWS-0001 – City-wide

The Committee heard from Mr. James Scott McKillop, who spoke to a slide presentation to illustrate his points.  His presentation is held on file with the Office of the City Clerk.

The report recommendation was then put before the Committee and was ‘CARRIED’, as presented.

• Report recommendation(s)

  That the Environment and Climate Change Committee recommend that Council delegate authority to the General Manager of Public Works to negotiate, amend, finalize, and implement a 5-year extension of the Landfill Gas Utilization agreement with PowerTrail Inc. for the Trail Waste Facility Landfill.

  Carried

8.

Office of the City Clerk

8.1

Status Update – Environment and Climate Change Committee – Inquiries and Motions for the Period Ending 6 February 2025

File No: ACS2025-OCC-CCS-0013 - City-wide

• Report recommendation(s)

  That the Environment and Climate Change Committee receive this report for information.

  Received

9.

In Camera Items

There were no in camera items.

10.

Information Previously Distributed

10.1

Annual Drinking Water Source Protection Status Update - 2024

File No. ACS2025-IWS-AM-0001

10.2

Solid Waste Services – 2025 Legislative Lookahead

File No. ACS2025-PWD-SWS-0002

MOTION NO ECCC 2025-15-03

Moved by Vice-Chair M. Carr:

That, pursuant to Subsection 89(3) of the Procedure By-law (being By-law NO 2022-410), the Environment and Climate Change Committee approve that the Rules of Procedure be suspended to allow for the consideration of the item(s) listed as:

INFORMATION PREVIOUSLY DISTRIBUTED

10.2 – SOLID WASTE SERVICES – 2025 LEGISLATIVE LOOKAHEAD

Carried

MOTION NO ECCC 2025-15-04

Moved by Vice-Chair M. Carr:

WHEREAS the following reference document, provided via a link within the Information Previously Distributed (IPD) document was not formatted to be  public-facing document and was therefore not accessible to members of the public with the circulation of the agenda package:

•    Document 1 – List of all Actions within their Corresponding Action Suites

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Environment and Climate Change Committee approve the addition of this document for consideration by the Committee at today’s meeting, pursuant to Section 89(3) of the Procedure By-law (being By-law no. 2022-410).

Carried

The Committee received a slide presentation overview of the Solid Waste Services 2025 Legislative Lookahead from Ms Shelley McDonald, Director, Solid Waste Service, Public Works Department (PWD).  Ms Rachel Jones, Program Manager, Long Term Planning, PWD and Ms Andrea Gay Farley, Program Manager, Program Planning, PWD, were also present to respond to questions.  A copy of the presentation is held on file with the Office of the City Clerk.

Following questions to staff and a brief Committee discussion, this item was ‘RECEIVED’ by Committee.

• Motion No. ECCC 2025-15-02
  Moved by M. Carr

  That, pursuant to Subsection 89(3) of the Procedure By-law (being By-law NO 2022-410), the Environment and Climate Change Committee approve that the Rules of Procedure be suspended to allow for the consideration of the item(s) listed as:

  INFORMATION PREVIOUSLY DISTRIBUTED

  • 10.2 – SOLID WASTE SERVICES – 2025 LEGISLATIVE LOOKAHEAD
  Carried
• Motion No. ECCC 2025-15-03
  Moved by M. Carr

  WHEREAS the following reference document, provided via a link within the IPD document was not formatted to be public-facing document and was therefore not accessible to members of the public with the circulation of the agenda package:

  • Document 1 – List of all Actions within their Corresponding Action Suites

  THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Environment and Climate Change Committee approve the addition of this document for consideration by the Committee at today’s meeting, pursuant to Section 89(3) of the Procedure By-law (being By-law no. 2022-410).

  Carried

11.

Motions of Which Notice has been Previously Given

11.1

Motion - S. Menard - Energy and GHG Reduction Program

File No. ACS2025-OCC-CCS-0014 – City-wide

Councillor Menard stepped away from the Chair to introduce and speak to his Motion (originally submitted as a Notice of Motion at the Environment and Climate Change Committee meeting of Tuesday, 19 November 2024).  Vice-Chair Carr assumed the Chair in his stead.

Ms. Tammy Rose, General Manager, Infrastructure and Water Services Department was present to respond to questions.  Following questions to staff and comments from Committee members, the report recommendations were put before the Committee and were ‘CARRIED’, as presented.

• Report recommendation(s)

  That the Environment and Climate Change Committee recommend Council approve that:

  1. The Infrastructure and Water Services Department be directed to explore opportunities for funding, collaboration, and implementation of municipal retrofits internally and with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, Hydro Ottawa / Envari, and the federal and provincial governments to ensure alignment of objectives and the best opportunities to benefit the City of Ottawa;
  2. That the Infrastructure and Water Services Department be directed to research alternative parameters, including longer term savings and GHG reductions for the municipality by modification of the payback term, to reframe the terms of the Energy and GHG Reduction Program;
  3. Staff report back to the Environment and Climate Change Committee by Q3 2025 with recommended funding sources, terms, and associated benefits.
  Carried

12.

Notices of Motions (For Consideration at Subsequent Meeting)

Councillor R. King

WHEREAS there are growing concerns about road salt overuse and the environmental impacts it has; and

WHEREAS, from washing into our rivers and creeks and absorbing into groundwater, and impacting habitat, salt also can be damaging to our city’s infrastructure; and

WHEREAS the Ottawa Riverkeeper and Ecology Ottawa have flagged that with an overconcentration of road salt and high levels of chloride found in our water systems, there will be long-term environmental consequences;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Environment and Climate Change Committee recommend that Council I would like to request that staff review the City of Ottawa’s salt use, with specific attention to its effects on local waterways.

1. Salt Management Plan: The City has a Salt Management Plan, but it is not a publicly shared document.

Can City staff provide an overview of the plan’s main components, including how salt use is managed by operators and whether more frequent updates on total salt application can be provided.  Please put specific emphasis of addressing these questions:

1. 1. How much salt does the City of Ottawa use each winter - request data for past 5 winters for comparison.
   2. How does the City decide when to switch between salt, pre-wetted salt, and grit based on temperature (above -10 or below -10), and what, if any steps do staff take to minimize environmental impact?
   3. Why is this management plan not shared on the City’s website, like it is readily available in municipalities such as Toronto and Mississauga?
   4. What steps does the City’s Public Works department take to ensure salt standards are safe and that environment and climate change is considered?
   5. What steps does the city currently take to properly educate residents on the risks associated with excessive salt use on private property?
   6. What is the city's budget for de-icing (salt, grit, alternatives)
   7. Are there any locations where salt is not used for environmental reasons?
2. Alternative de-icing solutions: In the past, the city has tried alternative methods, including the use of beet juice – this pilot project was ultimately not continued. Can staff share:
   1. What lessons have been learned from previous pilot programs or research on safer alternatives to road salt?
   2. What factors have prevented wider implementation?
   3. Are there any pilot programs or studies currently exploring the feasibility of alternatives, like brining or pickling solutions, in Ottawa?
3. OC Transpo Salt Use: OC Transpo has stated that they work with Public Works on proper salt use.
   1. How is information shared between departments, and what oversight exists to ensure coordination?
   2. Ward offices often receive reports of over-salting by OC Transpo, what factors contribute to this and how it is being addressed?
   3. How much salt does OC Transpo use each winter (request data for past 5 winters) and how much money is spent on salt, grit and de-icing (budget to be broken down for each category)
   4. Where does OC Transpo apply salt?
   5. What is the threshold for use - when is salt applied?
4. Environmental Concerns: Over-salting has significant environmental consequences, including long-term damage to waterways, soil, and vegetation.

1. 1. What assessments have been done on the environmental impact of current salt use levels, and what mitigation strategies are in place?
   2. How is the City monitoring the impact of road salt on Ottawa’s waterways, including rivers, lakes, and groundwater?
   3. What steps is the City taking to mitigate the impact of salt runoff into waterways?
   4. Is the salt-infused snow at the City's snow dumps filtered as it melts to minimize the amount of salt that goes back into the environment?
   5. The Ottawa River Action Plan focuses on reducing pollutants and improving water quality but does not currently address road salt use. Given the documented concerns about salt contamination in waterways, is there a plan to incorporate road salt management into this strategy? If not, why?

13.

Inquiries

There were no Inquiries.

14.

Other Business

There was no other business.

15.

Adjournment

Next Meeting

Tuesday, March 18, 2025.

The meeting adjourned at 11:38 am.