Environment and Climate Change Committee

Minutes

Meeting #:

3

Date:

Tuesday, April 18, 2023

Time:

9:30 A.m. - 10:30 A.m.

Location:

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

Present:

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

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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 April 26, 2023 in Environment and Climate Change Committee Report 3.

The deadline to register by phone to speak, or submit written comments or visual presentations was 4 pm on Monday, April 17, and the deadline to register to speak by email was 8:30 am on Tuesday, April 18.

2.

Declarations of Interest

No Declarations of Interest were filed.

3.

Confirmation of Minutes

3.1

ECCC Minutes 2 - Tuesday, March 21, 2023

• Carried

4.

Responses to Inquiries

4.1

OCC 2023-03 - R. Brockington - Tree damage from 2022 Derecho

5.

Presentations

5.1

Ottawa Climate Action Fund - Annual Update

The Committee received an oral presentation from Mr. Steve Winkelman, Executive Director, Ottawa Climate Action Fund (OCAF), which served as an annual update on OCAF's undertakings.  A copy of this presentation is held on file with the Office of the City Clerk.  Following questions to the delegation, and with Committee discussions having concluded, the report recommendation was put before Committee and the presentation was 'RECEIVED' for information.

• That the Environment and Climate Change Committee receive an oral presentation from the Ottawa Climate Action Fund, for information.

  Received

6.

Infrastructure and Water Services Department

6.1

Protecting Ottawa’s Water; Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act

File No. ACS2023-IWS-WF-0003 - City-wide

The Committee received a detailed slide presentation overview from Ms Sue Johns, Director, Asset Management Services, Infrastructure and Water Services Department (IWSD), and Ms Gen Nielsen, Director, Water Facilities and Treatment Services, IWSD.  Ms Tammy Rose, GM, Infrastructure & Water Services • Infrastructure & Water Services Dept. was also present to respond to questions.  At the conclusion of questions to staff and Committee discussions, the report recommendation was put before the Committee and the report was 'RECEIVED' for information.

• Report recommendation

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

  Received

7.

Planning, Real Estate and Economic Development Department

7.1

High Performance Development Standard Update 2023

File No. ACS2023-PRE-EDP-0016 - City-wide

This report will be presented to Council on May 10, 2023 in Environment and Climate Change Committee Report 3A.

At the outset, the Committee received a few words of introduction on this item from Ms Rebecca Hagen, Section Manager, Climate Change and Resiliency Branch, Planing, Real Estate and Economic Development (PRED) Department.  Also present to respond to the Committee’s questions were Ms Andrea Flowers, Manager, Strategic Projects, PRED, Mr. David Wise, Director, Economic Development and Long Range Planning, PRED, and Mr. Don Herweyer, General Manager, PRED.

The Committee then heard from the following delegations:

1. Barbara Long+, Community Associations for Environmental Sustainability (CAFES)
2. Mr. Jason Burggraaf*+, Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association (GOHBA)
3. Mr. Ryan Koolwine, Project 1 Studio
4. Ms Ursula Melinz+, Soloway, Wright LLP

[ + Slide presentations / visuals / #videos held on file with the Office of the City Clerk.]

[    * Individuals / groups marked with an asterisk above either provided comments in writing or by e-mail; all submissions and presentations are held on file with the Office of the City Clerk. ]

Following questions to the delegations and to staff, and in response to questions as to whether Hydro Ottawa had been consulted and was in support of the report recommendations, staff suggested that this could be confirmed by the time this matter was to be considered by Council.  Mr. Wise noted that as a stakeholder, Hydro Ottawa had been consulted but he suggested that indicating its approval might be outside of the scope of the report.

• Report recommendations

  That the Environment and Climate Change Committee :

  1. Approve the updated High Performance Development Standard phasing timeline as outlined in this report;
  2. Approve the revised work plan timeline and next steps for High Performance Development Standard as outlined in this report;
  3. Direct staff to report back to Environment and Climate Change Committee with:
     
     1. An update to the Corporate Green Building Policy to align with Tier 2 of the High Performance Development Standard 2024;
     2. Key performance indicators relating to the implementation and results of the High Performance Development Standard as part of the Climate Change Master Plan Annual Status Update;
     3. Proposed incentive program, and funding options to support higher tier performance (Tier 2) in 2024; and
     4. Review and update of the High Performance Development Standard every four years with first recommended update for approval in 2025.
  4. Direct staff to respond to changes to the Ontario Building Code and Ontario Building Code Act, and report back to Environment and Climate Change Committee as required.
  5. Approve the revised Site Plan Control by-law provisions within Site Plan Control By-law 2014-256 as amended, in order to:
     1. Apply the High Performance Development Standard to all Site Plan Control applications in the urban area;
     2. Apply the High Performance Development Standard to Site Plan Control applications that meet the definition of “HPDS Development Threshold” in the rural area;
     3. Require drawings sufficient to display matters of exterior design and their sustainable design as outlined in the High Performance Development Standard, as adopted by City Council on April 13, 2022; and
     4. Add a definition for “HPDS Development Threshold” (formerly referred to as Complex Site Plan)

  For (10)	M. Luloff, T. Kavanagh, T. Tierney, R. King, R. Brockington, S. Menard, C. Curry, D. Hill, S. Devine, and M. Carr
  Against (1)	D. Brown

  Carried (10 to 1)

  With dissent from Councilor D. Brown

  
  
• Amendment:
  Motion No. ECCC 2023-03-01
  Moved by D. Brown

  WHEREAS concerns have been raised with respect to the High Performance Development Standards as outlined in Report ACS2023-PRE-EDP-0016; and

  WHEREAS concerns have been raised regarding cost escalations in regards to pending Council approval of the High Performance Development Standards that could add thousands of dollars to the cost of construction of each new home in Ottawa; and

  WHEREAS the province of Ontario has announced an interim Ontario Building Code amendment expected to be released in summer of 2023 which could impact the recommendations outlined in the subject report, 

  THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Environment and Climate Change Committee defer the subject report pending the release of the interim Ontario Building Code amendements; and

  BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that staff be directed to review any amendments contained in the interim Ontario Building Code amendement expected in summer 2023 and amend the staff report ACS2023-PRE-EDP-0016 to ensure compliance with the amended Ontario Building Code and appear before the ECCC at an appropriate time.

  For (5)	M. Luloff, T. Tierney, C. Curry, D. Hill, and D. Brown
  Against (6)	T. Kavanagh, R. King, R. Brockington, S. Menard, S. Devine, and M. Carr

  Lost (5 to 6)

7.2

Climate Change Master Plan – Annual Status Update

File No. ACS2023-PRE-EDP-0017 - City-wide

Ms Andrea Flowers, Manager, Strategic Projects, Planning, Real Estate and Economic Development (PRED) Department introduced Ms Ms Jennifer Brown, Project Manger, Environmental Programs, Planning, PRED, who spoke to a detailed slide presentation overview of the report.  A copy of this presentation is held on file with the Office of the City Clerk.

Ms Flowers noted that Ms Julia Robinson, Section Manager, Climate Change and Resiliency, PRED, Ms Rebecca Hagen, Section Manager, Climate Change and Resiliency, PRED, and Ms Janice Ashworth, Section Manager, Climate Change and Resiliency, PRED, would also be present to respond to questions.

The Committee then heard from the following delegations.

1. Mr. Tom Harris, Executive Director, International Climate Science Coalition – Canada
2. Ms Angela Keller-Herzog+, Executive Director, Community Associations for Environmental Sustainability (CAFES)
3. Mr. Bob Lyman+
4. Ms Mary Sarumi+, Climate Save Ottawa
5. Mr. Nigel Ellis* 
6. Ms Cheryl Randall, Climate Change Campaign Organizer, Ecology Ottawa
7. Ms Karen Bourdeau
8. Mr. Ken Johnson
9. Ms Danielle Mailhot
10. Mr. Brian Tansey

Correspondence was also received from the following, as noted:

1. Ms Sandra Milton, Vice-President, Lowertown Community Association
2. Ms D’Andrea Edelweiss* Ϯ
3. Mr. Rod Packwood+ (had registered as a delegation, but left meeting without speaking)

[ + Slide presentations / visuals / #videos held on file with the Office of the City Clerk.]

[    * Individuals / groups marked with an asterisk above either provided comments in writing or by e-mail; all submissions and presentations are held on file with the Office of the City Clerk. ]

[  Ϯ Received post-meeting ]

Referring to Point 4 of the recommendations, Councillor Brockington asked if staff could identify examples of areas where the City might like to see a greater focus, to share with senior levels of government.  Councillor Hill suggested that staff consider leveraging technologies and innovative solutions towards building greater climate resiliency.  Staff confirmed that these proposals were either already a part of their workplan, or that they would be taken as direction.

At the conclusion of the receipt of public delegations, and with Committee’s questions to the delegations and to staff, along with Committee discussions also having been concluded, the report recommendations were put before the Committee and were ‘CARRIED’, as presented, with Coucillor D. Brown dissenting on report recommendation No. 5.

• Report recommendations

  That the Environment and Climate Change Committee recommend Council:

  1. Receive the annual status update on the Climate Change Master Plan and the Climate Change Master Plan progress report attached as Document 1;
  2. Direct the Climate Change and Resiliency team with support from departmental senior management teams to develop a Climate Change Resource Plan for consideration in future budgets;
  3. Approve that the Mayor, on behalf of Council, advocate to senior levels of government, for accelerated action and ambition to meet the urgency of climate change and provide additional resources for municipalities and the public to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and build climate resiliency;
  4. Approve that Council’s respective representatives, on behalf of Council, advocate to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, Hydro Ottawa, Conservation Authorities, and the Ottawa Climate Action Fund for accelerated action and ambition to meet the urgency of climate change and provide additional resources for municipalities and the public to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and build climate resiliency;
  5. Approve revising the scope of Priority #5 “Explore the feasibility of setting corporate carbon budgets, including piloting them in a small portion of the organization” of the Climate Change Master Plan to “Establish a carbon budget and accounting framework and explore the feasibility of including embodied carbon”.
  6. Re-establish the Climate Change Council Sponsors Group as described in this report; and
  7. Confirm Councillor King’s participation on the Ottawa Climate Action Fund (OCAF) Advisory Board for the 2022-2026 Term of Council.

  For (11)	M. Luloff, T. Kavanagh, T. Tierney, R. King, R. Brockington, S. Menard, C. Curry, D. Hill, S. Devine, M. Carr, and M. Sutcliffe
  Against (1)	D. Brown

  Carried (11 to 1)

  With dissent from Councilor D. Brown on Point 5.

  
  

8.

In Camera Items

There were no in camera items.

9.

Information Previously Distributed

9.1

Municipal Drinking Water Systems - 2022 Summary Report

File No. ACS2023-IWS-WF-0001

10.

Motions of Which Notice has been Previously Given

10.1

Vice-chair M. Carr - City of Ottawa becoming signatory to the Montreal Pledge on Biodiversity

File No. ACS2023-OCC-CCS-0048 - City-wide

• WHEREAS Levels of nature loss and species extinction globally are occurring at rates unprecedented in known human history; and 

  WHEREAS There is an urgent need for a municipal role in halting and reversing the alarming loss of biodiversity; and 

  WHEREAS the City of Ottawa through its Urban Forest Management Plan and Official Plan specifically recognizes the crucial role that cities and local governments play in the pursuit of a sustainable future through mainstreaming biodiversity and nature-based solutions into planning at the local level; and 

  WHEREAS City Councillors Carr and Councillor Plante were declared delegates by City Council from the City of Ottawa and attended the 7th Summit for Subnational Governments & Cities at the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the United Nations Convention on Biological diversity in Montréal; and 

  WHEREAS staff advise that many of the City’s existing and planned policies and programs already support many of the actions in the biodiversity pledge, so becoming a signatory is consistent with the City’s strategic directions; and

  WHEREAS the Montréal pledge on biodiversity is a commitment for cities to take 15 tangible actions towards pursuing their efforts to preserve ecosystems: and 

  WHEAREAS 47 cities internationally have signed the Montreal pledge including Toronto, Montréal, Gatineau, Québec, Boston, Toyko, Berlin, Buenos Aires, Los Angeles, and Melbourne 

  THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City move forward with signing the Montréal Pledge on biodiversity; and 

  BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that staff continue their efforts to implement policies and programs supporting the 15 commitments in the Montréal Pledge on biodiversity and report back as further resources be deemed necessary. 

  Carried

11.

Notices of Motions (For Consideration at Subsequent Meeting)

There were no Notices of Motion.

12.

Inquiries

12.1

Councillor S. Devine - Supplemental Inquiry Regarding Tree clearing near Tewin

Further to my inquiry to Council on April 12, I am submitting a supplemental inquiry regarding the ongoing management of this file.

In a memo sent to Council on March 6, G-M Herweyer made the following statement regarding the responsibilities of the landowner:

“The onus of maintaining an exemption under the By-law rests with the ownership group. That said, the City will continue to monitor activities at the property should circumstances change that may affect the exemption status.”

My questions for staff are:

1. What are the reasonable terms and conditions of “maintaining an [farming] exemption under the By-Law”. In other words, how soon should we expect that farming will commence, and how will we define what that farming is to meet the exemption?
2. In what manner (how and when) will staff “monitor the activities at the property”?
3. What would trigger an action under the by-law (i.e., what would the landowner have to do/not do to be seen as being in contravention?
4. What possible actions will ensue from the city “should circumstances change that may affect the exemption status”?

13.

Other Business

There was no other business.

14.

Adjournment

Next Meeting

May 16, 2023.

The meeting was adjourned at 2:19 pm.