THANK YOU. SO I WILL CALL OUR COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION ROUNDTABLE TO ORDER, AND I'D LIKE
[00:00:07]
TO BEGIN BY ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE IS LOCATED IN CHIEF DRYGEESE TERRITORY. FROM TIME IMMEMORIAL, IT'S BEEN THE LAND OF THE TRADITIONAL LAND, SORRY, OF THE YELLOWKNIVES DENE FIRST NATION.WE RESPECT THE HISTORIES, LANGUAGES AND CULTURES OF ALL OTHER INDIGENOUS PEOPLES, INCLUDING THE NORTH SLAVE METIS AND ALL FIRST NATIONS MÉTIS AND INUIT, WHOSE PRESENCE CONTINUES TO ENRICH OUR VIBRANT COMMUNITY.
NEXT, WE HAVE DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST IN THE GENERAL NATURE THEREOF.
IT IS A GENERAL PRESENTATION, SO I IMAGINE NOBODY HAS.
UH, PECUNIARY INTERESTS, SEEING NONE.
[2. A presentation regarding Ongoing Commitment to Climate Action.]
NEXT, WE HAVE A PRESENTATION REGARDING OUR ONGOING COMMITMENT TO CLIMATE CHANGE, AND BECAUSE THIS ONE IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT AND BIG DISCUSSION, WE WANTED TO REALLY MAKE SURE THAT WE FOCUSED ON ALL OF THE VARIOUS DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AND THE WORK THAT'S DOING AND NOT JUST FOCUSED ON OUR TRADITIONAL SUSTAINABLE COORDINATORS AND THEIR WORK.THE CARTS, AS PER THE TERMS OF REFERENCE, IS GENERALLY JUST AN HOUR, BUT WE'VE EXTENDED IT TO BE AN HOUR AND A HALF, SO AGAIN, HOPING TO KEEP IT IN THAT TIME LIMIT.
BUT WITH THAT MS. BASSI-KELLETT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU TO INTRODUCE THE ITEM, AND I'M NOT SURE.
AND OF COURSE, THE CART IS A LOT MORE LAID BACK.
IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION TO BE ABLE TO HAVE COMMENTS BACK AND FORTH. BUT I'LL KICK THINGS OFF BEFORE I HAND THINGS OVER TO CHRIS VAUGHAN, WHO IS OUR RINGLEADER TODAY WITH A NUMBER OF STAFF PRESENTING.
SO, I MEAN, IT'S NOTHING NEW TO ANYBODY TO SAY THE CONCURRENT TO COVID CLIMATE CHANGE CONTINUES TO BE THE OTHER MASSIVE ISSUE FACING OUR PLANET, AND CERTAINLY WITH THE RELEASE OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL PANEL ON CLIMATE CHANGE REPORT BACK IN EARLY AUGUST.
THAT WAS A REAFFIRMATION THAT MANY OF US SAT UP AND TOOK A LOT OF NOTICE OF.
THAT SHOWS HOW TENUOUS THE POSITION THE PLANET IS IN AND THE ACTIONS NEEDED TO MAKE MEANINGFUL CHANGE.
AND SO TODAY, THE ADMINISTRATION IS PLEASED TO USE THE TIME THAT WE HAVE WITH CART TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE ACTIONS THAT THE CITY IS TAKING TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE AND TO MAKE THAT MEANINGFUL CHANGE THAT WE NEED TO MAKE WITHIN OUR CONTEXT.
SO, YES, AS MAYOR ALTY POINTED OUT, WHILE WE DO HAVE A SUSTAINABILITY SECTION WITHIN THE PUBLIC WORKS AND ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT.
WHAT YOU'LL SEE TODAY IS THAT THE ACTIONS TO SUPPORT CLIMATE CHANGE.
PERMEATE THE CITY ADMINISTRATION AND ARE IN FACT WE HAVE ACTIVITIES AND ACTIONS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THIS THAT ARE GOING ON ACROSS ALL DEPARTMENTS AND DIVISIONS.
IT'S REALLY INFUSED THROUGH THE ORGANIZATION, YOU KNOW, AS A NORTHERN MUNICIPALITY.
OUR REALITY IS THE TRANSPORTATION AND THE SUPPLY CHAIN ARE BIG FACTORS WHEN IT COMES TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.
BUT WE'RE WORKING AND MEETING BEST PRACTICES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION WHILE FOLLOWING THE DIRECTION THAT WAS SET OUT BY COUNCIL AROUND OUR COMMUNITY AND CORPORATE ENERGY PLAN LAST OCTOBER, WHERE WE REALLY APPRECIATED THE REAFFIRMATION FROM COUNCIL TO FOCUS ON THE BIG THINGS, FOCUS ON THE ACTIONS THAT HAVE THE MOST IMPACT.
AND THAT'S GOING TO BE WHAT IS DRIVING THE PRIORITY SETTING THAT WE HAVE IN ALL OF THIS WORK. DOESN'T MEAN TO SAY WE DON'T DO THE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE VERY IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF CORPORATE MESSAGING AND MAKING PEOPLE ACROSS THE COMMUNITY, HELPING PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE IMPACTS THAT CAN HAPPEN FROM THINGS LIKE OUR ELECTRIC CAR SHARE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE'RE A FOUNDING MEMBER IN.
NOT A BIG, NOT A BIG IMPACT WHEN IT COMES TO GHG EMISSION CHANGE, BUT IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THE MESSAGING FROM THAT ALL THE WAY UP TO OUR DISTRICT ENERGY POLICY AND ALL THE BIOMASS WORK WE'RE DOING, WE'RE DOING A WHOLE SUITE OF THINGS.
SO IT'S MY PLEASURE NOW TO TURN THINGS OVER TO CHRIS, WHO WILL LEAD THE DISCUSSION WITH PARTICIPATION AND ENGAGEMENT FROM A LOT OF STUFF, FROM A LOT OF DIFFERENT DIVISIONS AND DEPARTMENTS. THANKS.
OVER TO YOU, CHRIS. OH, SORRY, CHRIS.
LET'S TRY THAT AGAIN. PERFECT.
WELL, THANK YOU, SHEILA. THANK YOU, EVERYONE FOR TAKING TIME OUT TO TALK ABOUT THIS VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC.
I AM CHRIS VAUGHN, AND SHE WAS MENTIONED.
I AM THE MANAGER OF SUSTAINABILITY AND SOLID WASTE UNDER THE PUBLIC WORKS OF ENGINEERING.
AND I'M GOING TO BE GUIDING THIS CONVERSATION.
I HAVE A SLEW OF PEOPLE WITH ME WHO ALL WORK ON CLIMATE IN THEIR OWN DIFFERENT WAY, AND HOPEFULLY THIS WILL ALLOW COUNCIL TO HAVE A BETTER, A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF HOW CLIMATE, HOW CLIMATE CHANGE WORK IS IMPACTED THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION.
ALL RIGHT. SO THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL PANEL ON CLIMATE CHANGE PUBLISHED THEIR SIXTH
[00:05:03]
ASSESSMENT REPORT THIS AUGUST, WHICH OUTLINED THE [INAUDIBLE] REALITY THAT GLOBAL WARMING CONTINUES TO HAVE SERIOUS EFFECTS ON COMMUNITIES AND THAT IT IS BEING AMPLIFIED BY HUMAN ACTIVITIES. AS CIVIL SERVANTS, OUR PRIMARY JOB IS TO ENSURE THAT WE MEET THE LEVEL OF SERVICES NEEDED TO ENSURE HEALTH AND COMMUNITIES.IT IS BECOMING MORE APPARENT ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT CITIES ARE ESSENTIAL IN ADDRESSING CLIMATE MITIGATION, CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND SUSTAINABLE SERVICE DELIVERY, SUCH AS WATER ROADS, GARBAGE COLLECTION, PARKS AND TRAILS FOR NOT JUST THE CURRENT RESIDENTS, BUT FUTURE RESIDENTS AS WELL.
THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE CONTINUES TO COOPERATE TO INCORPORATE CLIMATE ACTION PRINCIPLES, BOTH IN POLICY AND IN OPERATIONS ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION.
LIKE SHEILA MENTIONED, OF COURSE, THERE ARE THE MORE NOTICEABLE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING, SUCH AS THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CAR SHARE OR THE CONFERENCE PROGRAM, BUT HOPEFULLY BY THE END OF THE PRESENTATION, COUNCIL HAS A GREAT UNDERSTANDING OF THE FOUNDATIONAL WORK THAT IS DONE BEHIND THE SCENES IN THE PAST YEAR AND THAT WILL SPUR US ON TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE YELLOWKNIFE.
SO FOCUSING ON ON YELLOWKNIFE, THE PRESSURES OF A WARMING PLANET AND HOW THEY RELATE TO OUR ABILITY TO DELIVER SERVICES ARE ON THE MINDS OF MANY [INAUDIBLE].
PROJECTIONS PAINT A PICTURE OF A WEATHER GUILLEMETTE WITH MUCH WARMER WINTERS AND FEWER VERY COLD DAYS.
WE FIRST HEARD THAT IT'S EASY TO SAY THAT THAT'S NOT SO BAD OF A SCENARIO.
I'M SURE, THERE MAY BE WAYS THAT THE COMMUNITY CAN ADAPT TO THE HIGHER TEMPERATURES, BUT FROM THE ADMINISTRATION POINT AND SPECIFICALLY FROM THE INFRASTRUCTURE POINT, HOW WE PERFORM OUR DUTIES AND WHERE WE INVEST OUR PEOPLE AND ENERGY NEEDS TO REFLECT THESE CLIMATIC CHANGES.
I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE [INAUDIBLE] LITTLE BIT TO CONTEXTUALIZE FOR LANDFILL OPERATIONS, INCREASED PRECIPITATION MEANS MORE RESOURCES NEEDED TO PUMP OUT RETENTION PONDS.
IT MEANS THE ACCESS ROADS FOR CONTRACTORS AND THE PUBLIC REQUIRE MORE MAINTENANCE.
IT MEANS THAT MORE INFRASTRUCTURE IS NEEDED TO PROTECT OUR RECYCLED MATERIAL AND TO ENSURE THAT THEY STILL HOLD VALUE IN THE GLOBAL RECYCLING MARKETS.
BEHIND THE SCENES, STAFF ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION ARE INTERNALIZING THE REALITIES OF CLIMATE CHANGE INTO THEIR PRACTICE AS A GOAL OF MAINTAINING STRONG, RESILIENT COMMUNITIES. FOR TODAY'S ROUNDTABLE, WE'RE GOING TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE CLIMATE RELATED ACTIVITIES HAPPENING ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION.
LAST YEAR'S [INAUDIBLE] PRESENTATION ON CLIMATE ACTION FOCUSED PRIMARILY ON PROJECTS BEING LED BY THE SMALL BUT MIGHTY SUSTAINABILITY TEAM.
IN FACT, SUSTAINABILITY IS A CROSS-DEPARTMENTAL EFFORT.
AND MANY OF THE ACTIONS PUSHING THE ENVELOPE FORWARD ARE NOT SILOED INTO ONE DIVISION BUT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE GAMUT OF WORK HAPPENING ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION.
OKAY, SO WE UNDERSTAND THAT GLOBAL WARMING HAS MULTIPLE EFFECTS ON OPERATIONS AND CITY PLANNING. WE RECOGNIZE AN ARRAY OF GOALS AND PLANS THAT MUNICIPAL CLIMATE ACTION CANNOT BE THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF ONE TO.
WE'RE KEEPING TABS ON ENERGY USE, WE'RE KEEPING TABS ON CORPORATE [INAUDIBLE] EMISSIONS, AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO REDUCE OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT AND PROVIDE LEADERSHIP WHEN IT COMES TO ADAPTATION. A RECENT ARTICLE IN MUNICIPAL WORLD HAS BEEN CIRCULATED CIRCULATING AROUND THE ORGANIZATION. THE REPUTABLE MAGAZINE OFFERS 10 TOP ACTIONS, 10 TOP PRIORITIES THAT MUNICIPALITIES CAN TAKE TO CONTINUE ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE, USING THEIR LIST AS A COMPASS. I'D LIKE TO GO THROUGH THE CLIMATE ACTIONS TAKEN ON BY THE ORGANIZATION.
I'LL BE HANDING THE VIRTUAL MIC OVER TO DIFFERENT PROJECT LEADS, AND THEY WILL IN TURN GIVE YOU INSIGHT ON HOW THEIR WORK PUSHES FOR CLIMATE ACTION.
OK, SO ACTION NUMBER ONE IS TARGET THE MISSING MIDDLE INFILL HOUSING THE 2020 COMMUNITY PLAN EMPHASIZES USING EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE TO REDUCE COSTS AND MITIGATE CLIMATE CHANGE. I HAVE ROBERT LOCKWOOD, WHO'S MANAGER OF PLANNING AND LANDS, TO SPEAK A LITTLE BIT MORE ON INSULIN AS A WAY TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE.
YEAH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHRIS.
FOR A MOMENT, I WANTED TO FOCUS ON THE FACT THAT AND YOU STARTED REFERENCING THE WORD SUSTAINABILITY AND AND FROM SORT OF THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT'S PERSPECTIVE AND THE WORK THAT PLANNING DOES IS IS WE'RE CLOSELY FOCUSED ON ON THAT SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY.
AND THAT'S GOT THREE KEY PILLARS TO IT ECONOMIC, ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL.
AND WE OFTEN FIND OURSELVES PUSHING ON THE WHEEL FOR ALL THREE AT THE SAME TIME.
WITHIN ENVIRONMENTAL, OF COURSE, IS CLIMATE CHANGE [INAUDIBLE] PUSHING ON ALL THREE AT THE SAME TIME? SOME OF THE EXAMPLES I'M GOING TO BE GIVING HERE WILL BE SPEAKING TO A SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY AND BY EXTENSION IS UNDERSTOOD TO BE CONTRIBUTING TOWARDS CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION WITH RESPECT TO INFILL HOUSING.
[00:10:05]
OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, OF COURSE, WE'VE PREPARED AND ADOPTED A COMMUNITY PLAN THAT FOCUSES ON DENSIFICATION IN A SUSTAINABLE FASHION.WITH INFILL AND DENSIFICATION, OF COURSE, COMES GREATER VIABILITY FOR OUR PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM, AS WELL AS SORT OF ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORTATION CORRIDORS AND USES.
CURRENTLY, ONE OF THE KEY PROJECTS THAT THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS WORKING ON IS, OF COURSE, THE REWRITE OF THE ZONING BYLAW, AND NO DOUBT THAT'S OCCUPYING ALL OF YOUR MINDS. YOU'RE WELL AWARE OF THIS WORK.
SOME OF THE EXAMPLES THAT PROMOTE INFILL, INFILL AND DENSIFICATION WITHIN THE ZONING BYLAW INCLUDE THE FACT THAT WE'VE INCREASED HEIGHT LIMITS WITHIN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS FROM 12 METERS, FROM 10 METERS TO 12 METERS.
WE'VE INCREASED SITE COVERAGE TO PROMOTE DEVELOPMENT OF SECONDARY SUITES, AND BY THAT WE MEAN LANEWAY HOUSING, CARRIAGE HOUSES AS WELL AS SUITES WITHIN YOUR BUILDING.
IF A BUILDING ADDITIONS REQUIRE.
WE'VE PROVIDED A SOLUTION FOR HOW SHORT TERM WE WE'VE EMBEDDED A SOLUTION WITHIN THE ZONING BYLAW TO DETERMINE HOW SHORT TERM HOUSING SHOULD BE MANAGED.
WE PROMOTED EQUITY WITHIN THE BYLAW BY REMOVING REFERENCES TO FAMILY.
WE'VE REMOVED A PREVIOUS SEPARATION BETWEEN TOWNHOUSES AND STACKED HOUSING BECAUSE WE DON'T FEEL THAT THAT TOWNHOUSE VERSUS STACKED HOUSING SUCH AS A SMALL APARTMENT.
HAS ANY INFLUENCE ON YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD? AND WE'VE INTRODUCED SPECIAL CARE RESIDENTS INTO RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IT FIRMLY BELONGS.
AND THEN A SECOND KEY PIECE UNRELATED TO THE ZONING BYLAW THAT STAFF HAS BEEN WORKING ON OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAS BEEN TRYING TO GET MULTIFAMILY HOUSING APPROVED, AND WE CAN POINT TO THREE EXAMPLES HERE WHERE THAT'S BEEN HOTLY DEBATED THROUGH THE APPEAL PROCESS. THE BARDON DEVELOPMENT, THE DEVELOPMENT AT THE TOP OF SCHOOL DRAW AND OF COURSE, AVEN SENIORS FAMILY HOUSING.
AND WE SPENT EXTENSIVE AMOUNT OF TIME TRYING TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN PROMOTE THOSE DEVELOPMENTS AND THAT THEY GO FORWARD BECAUSE IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE HOUSING WITHIN INFILL SCENARIO.
AND ALL THREE OF THOSE PROJECTS QUALIFY AS FULL INFILL THEY'RE ON EXISTING ROADS WITH EXISTING SERVICES.
THAT'S MINE ON THIS SLIDE, CHRIS.
RETROFIT MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CLIMATE RESILIENCY.
WHEN IT COMES TO CLIMATE ACTION, THE CITY HAS THE MOST JURISDICTION OVER ITS OWN FACILITIES, PUBLIC WORKS STAFF HAVE A SOLID UNDERSTANDING OF ENERGY NEEDS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR GREATER EFFICIENCY.
WITH THE [INAUDIBLE] AS A ROADMAP, THE CITY IS MAKING PROGRESS TOWARDS MEETING ITS CORPORATE TARGETS OF AN INCREASE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY USE FROM 50 TO 70 PERCENT BY 2025 AND A 50 PERCENT REDUCTION IN GHG OR CORPORATE EMISSIONS.
THE PELLET BOILER INSTALLATION AT THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT IS OUR NEXT BIG MUNICIPAL FACILITY RETROFIT PROJECT.
THE DESIGN AND ENGINEERING ALREADY AWARDED AND CONSTRUCTION PLAN FOR 2023.
AS WE SPEAK, CONTRACTORS ARE INSULATING THE BAILEY FACILITY A PROJECT THAT WAS PRIVATIZED IN THE CITY [INAUDIBLE] PLAN SHOULD BRING ABOUT SERIOUS IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FACILITIES WHEN IT COMES TO ENERGY USE.
ACTION THREE REPLACE LAWNS WITH NATIVE PLANTS OR FRUIT GARDENS.
BUT THEN I'M GOING TO LET [INAUBLE] ROBLOX SPEAK TO THIS, AND FOLLOWING THAT, KERRY THISTLE WHO WILL BE SPEAKING TO THE GROWTH STRATEGY.
[INAUDIBLE] THANKS FOR THAT, CHRIS.
SO WITH THE ZONING [INAUDIBLE] WORK, WE REALLY BENEFITED FROM HAVING THE GROWTH STRATEGY BECAUSE THE GROWTH STRATEGY GAVE US SOME MARCHING ORDERS ON SORT OF HOW TO INCORPORATE THAT IN THE ZONING BYLAW.
AND IN A MOMENT, [INAUDIBLE] TO WHAT THE GROWTH STRATEGY IS, BUT WHAT WE'VE INCORPORATED INTO THE ZONING BYLAW, WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO INCORPORATE ZONING IS TWO KEY DEFINITIONS WHICH WE CALL URBAN AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY AND URBAN AGRICULTURAL COMMERCIAL GOALS, LARGER SCALE PRODUCTIONS.
WE'VE ADDED THESE USES IN ALMOST EVERY ZONE WITHIN THE ZONING BYLAW IN ORDER TO AGAIN PROMOTE OPPORTUNITIES FOR AGRICULTURE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD ON THESE UNUSED PORTIONS OF LAND, FOR EXAMPLE, SMALL BOULEVARDS, OR PERHAPS SOME OF THAT NATURAL SPACE TO THE REAR OF YOUR PROPERTY. OTHER KEY THINGS THAT WE'VE EMBEDDED IN THE BYLAW INCLUDE CLARIFICATION ON ON GARDEN BEDS, IN FRONT YARDS AND THE FACT THAT THAT'S FULLY PERMITTED NO PERMITTING
[00:15:03]
REQUIRED NOR ANY PERCENTAGES REQUIRED.IF YOU WANT GARDEN BEDS IN YOUR FRONT YARD, FEEL FREE TO FILL THEM UP, AND WE'VE PROVIDED CLARIFICATION ON THAT BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN CONFUSION IN THE PAST.
WE'VE ALSO PROVIDED [INAUDIBLE] WHAT WE CALL FARM GATE OR TAILGATE SALES, SALES OF YOUR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT PRODUCTS ARE PERMITTED AT THE EDGE OF YOUR DRIVEWAY AS PART OF HOME BASED BUSINESS. AND THEN OVER TO YOU [INAUDIBLE] ABOUT THE GROWTH STRATEGY.
THANKS, ROB. I DON'T HAVE TOO MUCH TO ADD TO WHAT [INAUDIBLE] JUST DISCUSSED, BUT ITS COUNCIL IS AWARE.
WE EMBARKED ON AN AGRICULTURE STRATEGY A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, AND MOST RECENTLY, COUNCIL ADOPTED FOR INFORMATION THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.
SO GRO IS THE SHORTHAND FOR OUR YELLOWKNIFE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE STRATEGY.
I KNOW IT'S NOT AN ACRONYM, BUT IT WAS THE EASY WAY FOR US TO REFER TO IT AND OBJECTIVE.
ONE POINT ONE OF THE STRATEGY AND THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN WAS REALLY TO DEFINE AND INTEGRATE URBAN AGRICULTURE INTO YELLOWKNIFE LAND USE POLICIES AND BYLAWS.
BECAUSE, AS ROB JUST DISCUSSED, IT WAS LACKING IN CLARITY AND CERTAINTY OF WHEN PERMITS WERE REQUIRED OR NOT AND WHAT WAS PERMITTED OR NOT.
AND SO AS PART OF THE ZONING BYLAW REWRITE, THEY'VE REALLY INCORPORATED THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT CAME OUT OF THE URBAN AGRICULTURE STRATEGY AND THE SUBSEQUENT IMPLEMENTATION PLAN TO PERMIT URBAN AGRICULTURE TO HAPPEN IN PLACES THAT IT WASN'T SPECIFICALLY PERMITTED PREVIOUSLY.
SO AS PART OF THE ENGAGEMENT ON THE ZONING BYLAW REWRITE, WE HAVE INCORPORATED THE GROWTH STRATEGY AND LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM THE PUBLIC ON THAT AND HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. BUT THAT'S REALLY HOW GROVE FEEDS INTO SUSTAINABILITY, HOW IT ENCOURAGES OR ALLOWS PEOPLE TO GROW PERHAPS THEIR OWN FOOD AND VEGETABLES, AND HOW THAT INTO RELATES TO THE WORK THAT PLANNING AND LANDS IS CURRENTLY UNDERGOING.
THANK YOU AGAIN IN THE SPIRIT OF ACTION.
NUMBER THREE, I WANT TO PLUG THE SOLAR WASTE FACILITY AGAIN, JUST AN EXAMPLE OF HOW WE'RE PUTTING DISCARDED MATERIAL TO USE WORKING WITH LOCAL CONTRACTORS TO USE.
PALLETS AND WOOD WASTE AND CONVERTING IT TO A MATERIAL THAT WE CAN USE AS PART OF OUR COMPOST PROJECT, AS WELL AS MULCH FOR PARKS IN TOWN.
ACTION FOUR SUPPORT, PRIVATE BUILDING RETROFITS.
FOR THIS, I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THE PROJECT DESIGN STUDY FOR HOME ENERGY FINANCING.
THIS HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR A WHILE.
IT'S PRETTY MUCH THE NEXT STEP AFTER THE LINK CHANGES THAT HAPPENED IN RECENT YEARS WHEN WE RECEIVED FUNDING FROM FCM TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE FEASIBILITY STUDY AND PROJECT DESIGN STUDY. SO WE'RE DEFINITELY LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT WITH THE EXPECTATION OR THE ANTICIPATED GOAL OF REACHING 100 HOMES.
IT'S GOING TO BE ONE OF OUR, I GUESS, STELLAR COMMUNITY POINTS WHEN IT COMES TO ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE.
ALSO, WE HAVE A 2019 REVISIONS TO THE BUILDING BYLAW AND I HAVE [INAUDIBLE] THE BUILDING INSPECTOR, HERE TO GIVE US A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL ON THAT.
ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHRIS.
WE ALL KNOW THAT THE NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT CAN BE SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCED BY INCREASING THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF THE BUILDING, AND THE FACT THAT WE HAVE THIS CONVERSATION TODAY INDICATES THAT WE RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE REDUCTION OF THAT IMPACT. BUILDINGS, ENERGY EFFICIENCY IS SUCH A BROAD AND COMPLICATED TOPIC, AND CONSIDERING THEIR LIMITED TIME, THE INFORMATION I'M GOING TO PRESENT IS EXTREMELY CONDENSED. SO FEEL FREE TO EMAIL ME ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE AFTER THIS PRESENTATION.
WE CONTINUOUSLY MONITOR THE NATIONAL TRENDS AND TAKE REQUIRED ACTION TO IMPLEMENT THE NEW ENERGY EFFICIENCY REQUIREMENTS.
BY AMENDING SECTION SIX OF THE CITY'S BUILDING BYLAW IN 2019, WE SUBSTANTIALLY RAISE THE BAR FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF THE NEW SMALL RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS.
BUILDINGS BUILDERS HAVE BEEN OFFERED TWO PARTS OF COMPLIANCE WITH SCRIPTED AND PERFORMANCE, BOTH THESE PARTS EXCEEDING THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS OF THE 2015 NATIONAL BUILDING CODE BY AT LEAST 20 PERCENT PERCENT FOR SMALL RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS.
LARGE AND NONRESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS SHALL COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE 2017 NATIONAL BUILDING CODE. AT THIS TIME, BUILDING SERVICES DIVISION IS WORKING ON A NEW BUILDING
[00:20:06]
BYLAW SECTION RELATED TO AN ENERGY EFFICIENCY REQUIREMENT WILL BE COMPLETED ONCE 2020 NBC. IS RELEASED.ENERGY EFFICIENCY REQUIREMENTS OF THE CURRENT NBC WILL BE SUBSTANTIALLY UPGRADED IN 2020 VERSION OF THIS DOCUMENT.
2020 NBC WILL OFFER FIVE TIERS OF ENERGY PERFORMANCE APPLICABLE TO SMALL RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS, AND EVERY MUNICIPALITY WILL SELECT THE TIER BASED ON THEIR ENERGY EFFICIENCY GOALS. TIER ONE REQUIREMENTS ARE SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR TO THE CURRENT REQUIREMENT OF SECTION NINE 36 OF THE NATIONAL BUILDING CODE TIERS TWO TWO FIVE APPROXIMATE.
THE ENERGY SAVINGS TARGETS OF ENERGY STAR ARE 2000 NET NET ZERO ENERGY AND PASSIVE HOUSE PROGRAMS. IF WE CONVERT OUR CURRENT ENERGY EFFICIENCY STANDARDS FOR NEW SMALL RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS, IT WILL PLACE US SOMEWHERE BETWEEN TIER THREE AND FOUR.
AND THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENT CONSIDERING THAT SOME OF OUR MUNICIPALITIES LOCATED IN DIFFERENT PROVINCES WITH THE SIMILAR TO OUR CLIMATE ZONE ARE ONLY TARGETING TIER ONE AT THIS POINT.
THERE IS AN OPINION THAT CONSTRUCTION OF THE ENERGY EFFICIENT BUILDING.
MEETING TIER FOUR COMPARED TO TIER ONE IS MORE EXPENSIVE AS A MATTER OF FACT, THAT ISN'T CORRECT. CONSTRUCTION OF THE ENERGY EFFICIENT BUILDING DEPENDS HEAVILY ON PROPER DESIGN OF THE BUILDING ENVELOPE, INCLUDING SELECTION OF APPROPRIATE CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGIES AND THE QUALIFICATION OF A CONSTRUCTION CREW.
WE HAVE EXAMPLES IN THE CITY WHEN THE HOMEOWNERS WHO ARE NOT PROFESSIONAL BUILDERS BY FAR EXCEEDED THE REQUIRED STANDARDS.
ON THE OTHER HAND, WE HAD SOME PROFESSIONAL CONTRACTORS.
WE HAVE SOME PROFESSIONAL CONTRACTORS WHO CONTINUOUSLY FAIL TO MEET THE ESTABLISHED REQUIREMENTS TO CONCLUDE IF WE WANT TO SEE THE REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS FROM NEW RESIDENTIAL AND NONRESIDENTIAL BUILDING IMPLEMENTATIONS OF HIGH ENERGY EFFICIENCY STANDARDS ALONE ISN'T ENOUGH.
CITY SHOULD CREATE AN INCENTIVE PROGRAM FOR MOTIVATION OF COMPLIANCE BUILDERS AND HAVE A SET OF PENALTIES FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT BUILD TO STANDARDS.
THANK YOU, AND DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT ME IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
AGAIN, I'M GOING TO BRING ROB UP TO THE MIC TO SPEAK TO THIS.
THANK YOU, CHRIS. SO AGAIN, BACK TO BACK TO THE ZONING BYLAW PROJECT, WHICH AGAIN WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF OR SO.
AND WE'RE VERY HOPEFUL THAT WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS, WE'LL ALL BE DONE WITH IT.
ONE OF THE KEY PIECES THAT WE WE SOUGHT TO MAKE SOME REVISIONS TO WAS WAS PARKING, AND IT HAD BECOME VERY APPARENT THAT PARKING IN THE DOWNTOWN CORE.
WHEN WE DID SOME CALCULATIONS, PARKING OCCUPIES 40 PERCENT OF THE LAND MASS IN THE DOWNTOWN, AND OUR DOWNTOWN IS VERY MUCH PLANNED FOR THE CAR AND FOR COMMUTING, AND THAT CAN BE DIRECTLY ATTRIBUTED OR LINKED TO CLIMATE CHANGE.
IN THE NEW ZONING BYLAW, WE DECIDED TO TAKE AN ALTERNATIVE TRACK TO THAT, AND THAT WASN'T. OF COURSE, THIS IS IS MOTIVATED BY CLIMATE CHANGE, BUT IT'S ALSO MOTIVATED BY DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION AND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CITY OF EDMONTON BECAUSE THE CITY OF EDMONTON HAS BEEN VERY MUCH A LEADER ON THIS.
AND THE CITY OF EDMONTON, AND AS A LITTLE BIT OF A SIDE NOTE HERE, THE CITY OF EDMONTON IS ANTICIPATING TO REACH A POPULATION OF TWO MILLION PEOPLE WITHIN THE NEXT DECADE OR SO.
AND THEY'RE PLANNING DEPARTMENT HAS THE MARCHING ORDERS TO ACCOMMODATE THAT MANY PEOPLE WHILE TRYING TO ACHIEVE VERY MUCH SUSTAINABILITY PRINCIPLES.
AND SO THEY'VE BECOME AS ONE OF THOSE TOOLS.
THEY BECOME VERY MUCH EXPERTS IN PARKING OR VERY MUCH KNOWLEDGEABLE ON ON SUSTAINABLE METHODS OF PARKING.
AND SO WHEN WE MET WITH THEM, THEIR RECOMMENDATION WAS TO CONSIDER WHAT'S CALLED OPEN OPTION PARKING, WHICH IS TO ALLOW THE DEVELOPER TO DETERMINE THE NUMBER OF PARKING SPOTS THAT THEY NEED FOR THEIR BUSINESS OR THEIR BUSINESS MODEL.
WHATEVER IT IS, THEY'RE BUILDING TO BE VIABLE AS OPPOSED TO THE ZONING BYLAW ON THE REGULATIONS THAT SAYS, WELL, IF YOU'RE BUILDING THIS, YOU HAVE TO HAVE THAT MANY PARKING SPOTS YOU CAN SEE ON THE GROUND WHAT THAT EFFECT LOOKS LIKE.
THAT EFFECT LOOKS LIKE ALL THE PARKING LOTS THAT WE NOW HAVE THAT DON'T NECESSARILY GET USED FOR THAT MUCH.
AND WE WANTED TO SEE THAT CHANGE.
SO WE WE'RE PROPOSING IN THE BYLAW WHAT'S CALLED OPEN OPTION PARKING SO FAR FAR LESS OF A
[00:25:05]
CAR CENTRIC DESIGN FOR DOWNTOWN.WE'VE ALSO LOOKED AT REDUCING THE PARKING DEMANDS IN THE OLD TOWN ZONE, JUST THE COMMERCIAL ZONE ALONG ALONG THE FRANKLIN 50TH CORRIDOR, AS WELL AS THE CENTRAL RESIDENTIAL AREA.
SO REDUCING THEM FROM WHERE THEY'RE AT NOW, BUT CERTAINLY NOT ALL THE WAY TO OPEN OPTION.
WELL, THERE'S THOSE TWO THINGS.
AND THEN THE SECOND TACTIC THAT WE'VE TAKEN TO TRY AND ADDRESS SOME OF THIS PARKING IS WITHIN THE BYLAW.
WE'VE TRIED VERY HARD TO CONSTRUCT WHAT WE CALL NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE YOU HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO WORK FROM HOME.
YOU CAN WALK TWO BLOCKS OVER FOR ACCESS TO DAYCARE, NOT A DAY HOME, BUT A DAYCARE.
AND YOU HAVE AND YOU TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED AT A COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER THAT AFTERNOON WHEN YOUR KIDS OUT OF SCHOOL.
ALL OF THIS IS DONE WITHOUT A CAR.
AND SO THOSE ARE TWO TACTICS THAT WE'VE TAKEN WITHIN THE ZONING BYLAW ON HOW TO TO SORT OF STOP PLANNING FOR THE CAR SO MUCH AND START PLANNING FOR THE LAND USE IN THE PEOPLE.
THANK YOU, CHRIS. THANK YOU, ROB.
I THINK IT'S BECOMING VERY OBVIOUS WHAT AN IMPORTANT ROLE PLANNING PLAYS IN SUSTAINABILITY ASPECTS OF OUR CITY.
SO WE HAVE TWO ACTIONS HERE, ACTION SIX ENCOURAGE MIXED USE, HIGHER DENSITY ZONING WITH ZONING AND REDUCED TAXES AND THEN ACTION SEVEN BUILD MORE AND BETTER CYCLING INFRASTRUCTURE. ROB, AGAIN, WE'LL SPEAK TO ACTION SIX AND JOANNA ELLIOTT, MANAGER SERVICES, WILL SPEAK TO ACTION SEVEN WITH REGARDS TO OUR TRAILS AND SOME OF THE CHANGES WE'VE SEEN IN THAT ASPECT.
SO ROB, PLEASE AND THEN JOANNA.
OH, ROB, I THINK YOU'RE ON MUTE.
I'M GLAD IT DIDN'T GO LONGER THAN THAT.
SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MIXED USE, LINK IT BACK TO WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT, THE LAST SLIDE, WHICH IS AGAIN CREATING COMPLETE COMMUNITIES OR COMPLETE NEIGHBORHOODS.
BUT IT'S ALSO VERY MUCH ABOUT MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY WITHIN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. MIXED USE ENCOURAGES VIBRANCY THAT PROMOTES WALKABILITY AND AGAIN, IS NOT NECESSARILY SO CAR CENTRIC OR AUTOMOBILE CENTRIC.
AND THE OTHER THING TO KEEP IN MIND WITH MIXED USE IS THAT IT DOESN'T DETRACT FROM THE RESIDENCES THAT ARE ALREADY ESTABLISHED.
SO AS WE LOOK AT ESTABLISHING THIS NEW ZONING BYLAWS, SOME OF THE EXAMPLES THAT WE'VE EMBEDDED IN FOR AS NEW EXAMPLES OF MIXED USE THAT WE'VE EMBEDDED IN THIS BYLAW FOR OLD TOWN, THE COMMUNITY, THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF OLD TOWN, NOT JUST THE ZONE, BUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF OLD TOWN.
WE'VE INTRODUCED ARTISAN STUDIOS.
OF COURSE, THAT MAKES SENSE. THERE'S LOTS OF THAT GOING DOWN THERE, BUT NOW WE'VE GOT A PROPER DEFINITION THAT ALIGNS WITH THAT.
WE'VE ALSO INTRODUCED BREWING AND DISTILLING ESTABLISHMENTS.
IT'S A FANTASTIC USE FOR THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
FOR SOME OF OUR RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS, THE R1 R2 OR R3 ZONES.
WE'VE INTRODUCED COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER, A PLACE TO GO AFTER SCHOOL TO GET RESOURCES, PERHAPS SOME HELP WITH LEARNING OR FOR ACTIVITIES OR FOR SOME SORT OF LENDING LIBRARY.
WE'VE INTRODUCED DAYCARE INTO THE RESIDENCES, AND BY DAYCARE WE MEAN SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT MORE ESTABLISHED THAN A DAY HOME.
A DAYCARE HAS GOT MUCH MORE STRUCTURE.
AND WE'VE ALSO INTRODUCED SPECIAL CARE RESIDENTS INTO OUR RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS OR INTO THE ZONES.
MEANING ASPECIAL CARE RESIDENT IS A FACILITY FOR SENIORS TO LIVE IN WITHIN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, THAT SOUNDS FANTASTIC.
AND IN ANOTHER NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE WE HAD TO CONSIDER MIXED USE IS, CAN WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT IT ALIGNS WITH THE BUSINESSES.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE'VE GOT NEW CONTEMPORARY USES ON THE HORIZON, SO WE'VE INTRODUCED CANNABIS PRODUCTION, BREWING AND DISTILLING FROM AN INDUSTRIAL PERSPECTIVE.
WE'VE INTRODUCED AND WE'VE INTRODUCED COMMERCIAL, AGRICULTURAL AND GREENHOUSES [INAUDIBLE] BECAUSE BOTH THOSE ARE NEEDED.
SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE EXAMPLES OF MIXED USE.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THAT USE THE MIXED USE DOESN'T DETRACT FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THANK YOU. CHRIS, OVER TO YOU, JOANNA.
THANKS, ROB. SO FOR CYCLING INFRASTRUCTURE, THE WHEN FRANKLIN WAS REDONE, THEY MADE THE SIDEWALKS WIDER.
WE ALSO INSTALLED BIKE RACKS DOWNTOWN.
THERE ARE BIKE RACKS AT ALL THE PARKS AND AT DOCKS, INCLUDING [INAUDIBLE] DOCKS, SO THAT
[00:30:03]
PEOPLE HAVE A WAY OF KEEPING THEIR BIKES SAFE WHILE ENJOYING OUR PARKS.TWO POINT FIVE KILOMETERS OF PAVED TRAIL THAT PEOPLE USE FREQUENTLY.
NIVEN TRAIL NOW GOES ALL THE WAY AROUND THE SUBDIVISION AND IT IS 16 KILOMETERS IN TOTAL AND THERE ARE A COUPLE CONNECT TO TRAILS, ONE THAT GOES FROM NIVEN BEHIND THE EXPLORER AND ANOTHER THAT CONNECTS ALONG THE HIGHWAY.
THE NIVEN TRAIL ALL THE WAY TO THE CEREMONIAL CIRCLE AND AND THEY THEY WILL CONNECT THE NIVEN TRAIL, WHICH IS HARD PACKED, GRAVEL AND QUITE ACCESSIBLE, EASILY RIDDEN ON BICYCLE TO THE PAVED TRAIL THAT WE HAVE.
ALSO IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, OUR TRAILS HAVE BEEN MADE WIDER SO THAT MIXED USE LIKE BICYCLES AND WALKING CAN HAPPEN AT THE SAME TIME.
THOSE TRAILS THAT I JUST MENTIONED ARE ALL MAINTAINED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, SO YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO WALK OR USE YOUR BICYCLE ON THEM ALL YEAR LONG AND THEY GET TWICE A DAY CARE DURING SPRING WHEN IT'S ICY, JUST BECAUSE BECAUSE THAT'S A SHOULDER SEASON THAT CAUSES TROUBLE ON OUR TRAILS AND IN THE SUMMER, THE TRAILS ARE [INAUDIBLE] TWICE A WEEK.
THE WEB PAGE ALSO HAS INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRAILS SO SO THAT PEOPLE KNOW WHERE THEY ARE.
AND WE'RE INVOLVED WITH KERRY'S GROUP, WITH THE WAYFINDING STRATEGY TO IMPROVE SIGNAGE SO THAT PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO USE THE TRAILS MORE EFFICIENTLY.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, AGAIN, HAPPY TO ANSWER.
YEAH, SO A LOT OF THESE A LOT OF THESE ACTIVITIES ARE ANSWERING SOME OF THE QUESTIONS WE'VE ALWAYS HAD WHEN IT COMES TO BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE COMPLETE NEIGHBORHOOD, AS ROB WAS MENTIONING. AND SO THROUGH ALL OF THESE THINGS AND ALL THESE DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES, WE'RE TRYING OUR BEST TO ADDRESS A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS THAT ARE STATED HERE.
ACTION NUMBER EIGHT, ELECTRIFY MUNICIPAL FLEETS.
WE DON'T HAVE FULLY ELECTRIC VEHICLES ON OUR FLEET, BUT WE HAVE WORKED WITH THE PARTNERSHIP WITH WITH THE CO-OP, THE CO-OP AND CITY STAFF HAS BEEN USING IT.
IT'S DEFINITELY BEEN A WAY TO PROMOTE THE IDEALS AROUND ENVIRONMENTALISM, AROUND CLIMATE CHANGE, AND I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THERE ARE QUITE A FEW PEOPLE WHO ARE USING IT IN TOWN AND THERE ARE SOME ELECTRIC VEHICLES IN TOWN.
SO THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE JUMPING ONTO THIS BANDWAGON AND THE CITIES HAVE TO BE A PARTNER WITH CAR SHARE.
ACTION NUMBER NINE. SHOW LEADERSHIP IN MUNICIPAL PROJECTS.
THERE'S A LOT TO TALK ABOUT HERE.
WE HAVE [INAUDIBLE] WHO IS THE MANAGER OF ASSET MANAGEMENT, AND GUESS WHO'S GOING TO TALK A BIT ABOUT HOW HIS ROLE AS MANAGER AND HOW HIS TEAM IS WORKING TOWARDS.
ADDRESSING CLIMATE MITIGATION AND CLIMATE ADAPTATION, SO [INAUDIBLE] IT'S YOUR TURN.
THANKS, CHRIS. THE GOAL OF ASSET MANAGEMENT IS TO MANAGE EXISTING AND NEW ASSETS TO SAFELY AND COST EFFECTIVELY DELIVER SERVICES IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE CURRENT NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY ARE MET WITHOUT COMPROMISING THE ABILITY OF FUTURE GENERATIONS TO MEET THEIR OWN NEEDS. THAT'S THE PURPOSE STATEMENT FROM THE CITY'S ASSET MANAGEMENT POLICY, AND THE POLICY IS CONTENT SPECIFICALLY THE PRINCIPLES OF MINIMUM SUSTAINABLE COST AND RISK MANAGEMENT REQUIRE ADMINISTRATION TO BECOME LEADERS BY TAKING A MULTI-GENERATIONAL VIEW AND INCORPORATING THE RISKS THAT A CHANGING CLIMATE PRESENTS INTO OUR DECISION MAKING EVERY DAY. SIMILAR TO THE VIEW OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DIVISION, THE SUSTAINABLE IN MINIMUM SUSTAINABLE COST REFERS TO MORE THAN JUST FINANCIAL COSTS.
IT ALSO INCLUDES ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY.
TAKING THE LONG VIEW REQUIRES ADMINISTRATION TO EXAMINE THE COST OF THE ENTIRE LIFE OF AN ASSET AND OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE, MAKE UP A LARGE MAJORITY OF AN ASSETS, LIFECYCLE COSTS AND WITHIN THAT THE COST OF ENERGY IS A KEY CONTRIBUTOR TO IT.
HEATING OIL IS THE SECOND MOST COSTLY FORM OF ENERGY FOR THE CITY AND ACCOUNTS FOR 60
[00:35:04]
PERCENT OF OUR GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.REDUCING EMISSIONS COSTS MONEY MAKING DECISIONS BASED ON THE LIFE CYCLE COSTING HELPS JUSTIFY SPENDING THE NECESSARY MONEY NOW TO REDUCE LIFETIME HEATING COSTS, WHICH ALSO REDUCES OUR GREENHOUSE GAS FOOTPRINT.
BEING ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE ALSO MEANS LOOKING FORWARD TO THE RISKS THAT CLIMATE CHANGE WILL BRING AND ADAPTING TO THOSE CHANGES AS BEST WE CAN BEFORE THEY ARRIVE TO MINIMIZE THEIR IMPACT ON OUR SERVICES.
MANAGING DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS WHILE BALANCING THE NEED TO CHANGE IS NOT AN EASY TASK, BUT BY LAYING OUT THE PRINCIPLES THAT GUIDE OUR DECISION MAKING IN THE ASSET MANAGEMENT POLICY ADMINISTRATION IS IN A MUCH BETTER POSITION TO TACKLE THAT CHALLENGE.
THANKS, CHRIS. THANKS, [INAUDIBLE].
I'LL ADD TO THAT JUST TO NOTE ON THE DISTRICT ENERGY POLICY, THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR THIS PROJECT CLOSE, I THINK THE LAST WEEK OR THE WEEK BEFORE.
THIS IS A SOLID STEP TOWARDS PROVIDING DEVELOPERS, PROPERTY MANAGERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC A GUIDELINE ON HOW BEST IMPLEMENT DISTRICT ENERGY SYSTEMS IN YELLOWKNIFE.
SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
A PARTNER AND LEADER WHEN IT COMES TO CLIMATE CHANGE OR CLIMATE ACTIONS IN THE CITY.
WE'RE VERY MUCH INVOLVED WITH NATIONAL GROUPS AND INTERNATIONAL GROUPS, QUITE FRANKLY, WHO ARE ALL TRYING TO MOVE THINGS FORWARD WHEN IT COMES TO CLIMATE ACTION.
SO THIS INCLUDES THE WCCDD WHERE WE'RE INVOLVED IN PROVIDING DATA SO THAT WE CAN ESSENTIALLY SEE HOW WE FARE WITH OTHER COMMUNITIES WHEN IT COMES TO A VARIETY OF THINGS, FROM ENERGY TO SOLID WASTE TO FINANCES.
WE'RE ALSO INVOLVED WITH QUEST CANADA SMART ENERGY COMMUNITIES JUST ENSURE THAT THERE'S A BROADER PERSPECTIVE TO A LOT OF THE NATIONAL WORK THAT'S HAPPENING AROUND PUSHING CLIMATE ACTION FOR IT. SO IT TAKES TIME OUT OF OUR SCHEDULE, BUT WE DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.
ACTION TEN, PROTECT AND RESTORE FORESTS LANDS.
WHAT IF IT'S OK WITH YOU'LL HAVE YOU SPEAK TO NATURAL? SO NATURAL ASSETS, INVENTORY, AND THEN WE WILL MOVE TO WILDFIRE MITIGATION PLAN FOR CRITICAL STEP IN AND HAVE A LITTLE [INAUDIBLE] ON THAT.
OK, THANKS, CHRIS. SO WITH ASSET MANAGEMENT, A NEW CONCEPT IS THE IDEA OF NATURAL ASSETS AND THAT MUNICIPALITIES SHOULD BE PAYING ATTENTION TO THEM.
SO WHAT NATURAL ASSETS ARE? ARE THAT THEY'RE ELEMENTS OF OUR ENVIRONMENT THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE SERVICES THAT THE CITY DELIVERS? THEY'RE PART OF THE EXPERIENCE OF LIVING IN YELLOWKNIFE, BOTH FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF RECREATION, WHICH I THINK MOST OF US ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE OUTDOORS, BUT ALSO IN TERMS OF OTHER SERVICES.
FOR EXAMPLE, WETLANDS ACTING AS DRAINAGE SURGE CAPACITY WHEN WE HAVE A LARGE RAINFALLS [INAUDIBLE]. SO IF WE START LOOKING AT NATURAL ASSETS IN TERMS OF HOW THEY SUPPORT THE SERVICES, WE CAN ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT THEY HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL VALUE THAT WOULD OTHERWISE REQUIRE ENGINEERED ASSETS TO ACCOMPLISH.
THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE IS PARTICIPATING IN A NATURAL ASSET INVENTORY, AND THIS IS CONDUCTED BY A GROUP CALLED THE MUNICIPAL NATURAL ASSET INITIATIVE, AND WE'RE DOING THIS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE MAKEUP AND THE CONDITION OF YELLOWKNIFE NATURAL AREAS, AS WELL AS UNDERSTAND HOW THEY CONTRIBUTE TO THE CITY'S LEVELS AND SERVICE AND WHAT A CHANGING CLIMATE COULD MEAN FOR THESE ASSETS AND HOW WE'LL HAVE TO ADAPT TO THEM CHANGING.
IT'S GERDA ON THE LINE, IS GERDA ON THE CALL.
SO, YEAH, MAYBE AND I'LL SEE IF JANICE THERE, BUT CERTAINLY I'M HAPPY TO SPEAK TO THE THE WILDLAND FIRE MITIGATION THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING SO CERTAINLY OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PARTNER WITH [INAUDIBLE] ON THIS WORK, CERTAINLY WHERE WE'VE GOT SHARED INTERESTS, BUT WE ALSO CONTINUE TO DO WORK TO LOOK AT FIRE LAND MITIGATION SO THAT WE CAN WILDFIRE MITIGATION SO THAT WE CAN PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT AROUND THE CITY WITHIN CITY BOUNDARIES ITSELF, SO THAT IF WE THIN THINGS OUT AND TAKE THAT PROACTIVE APPROACH, THEN WE'RE IN A POSITION WHERE WE'RE ABLE TO MUCH MORE MEANINGFULLY LOOK AT PROTECTING THOSE LANDS AND INSURING THEM AND THE PROTECTION OF THEM FROM FIRE GOING FORWARD. SO DOING THAT PREEMPTIVE STRIKE IS VERY IMPORTANT.
THE PRESENTATIONS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED PREVIOUSLY TO GPC ON THE WORK THAT WE DO.
I BELIEVE IT WAS IN APRIL 2019 WAS REALLY LOOKING AT WHERE'S OUR AREA OF RISK.
[00:40:02]
AND SO, OF COURSE, THE MAJOR AREA THAT WE HAVE FOR THIS IS IN THE SOUTHWEST PART OF OUR COMMUNITY, WHERE WE HAVE FIRE RISK THAT IS POTENTIALLY THERE.WE DO SEE THAT THERE'S OTHER AREAS, OF COURSE, THERE'S POCKETS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY WHERE IF THERE WAS A FIRE, IT COULD BE DAMAGING TO PROPERTY AND TO INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO WE DO WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE EVERY ACTION THAT WE CAN.
BUT THE CONCENTRATED EFFORT THAT WE'VE DONE HAS BEEN IN THE SOUTHWEST CORNER, WHERE THERE IS THE HIGHEST RISK OF FOREST FIRE SPREADING FROM AREAS OUTSIDE OF OUR COMMUNITY INTO THE COMMUNITY ITSELF.
SO TYING IT ALL TOGETHER, THIS IS A SNIPPET OF SOME OF THE MANY THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION TO PUSH THE CLIMATE ENVELOPE FORWARD.
WE'VE SEEN SOLID PROGRESS AND CONTINUE TO MAKE SOLID PROGRESS ON CORPORATE TARGETS.
THERE'S A LOT OF COLLABORATIVE WORK TO MEET CORPORATE ENERGY CLIMATE COMMITMENTS AS WELL.
WE'RE COMMITTED TO GIVE REGULAR UPDATES, THE COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC.
AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO A ROUNDTABLE TO PLAN FOR THE Q4 WHERE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE, I GUESS, MORE CONVERSATIONS AROUND WHAT WE'RE DOING TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE AND TO ADAPT TO CLIMATE CHANGE. SO THANK YOU FOR LISTENING AND IT'S NOW WHERE THE DISCUSSION PHASE.
THANKS, CHRIS, AND YES, THANKS TO ALL STAFF FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION AND ALL THE WORK YOU'RE DOING TO BRING THIS TOGETHER, AND I KNOW BEYOND THIS, THERE'S ALSO OUR COMMUNITY ENERGY PLAN AND THE ACTIONS GOING ON THERE AND THE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN AND THE ACTIONS.
SO THERE IS A LOT OF STUFF THAT'S GETTING UNDERWAY.
BEYOND THE STUFF THAT WAS PRESENTED AND I'LL SHARE THAT THE LINK, THE MUNICIPAL WORLD LINK, BECAUSE IT IS PRETTY GOOD ABOUT TALKING ABOUT ACTIONS THAT MUNICIPALITIES CAN TAKE BECAUSE A LOT OF THE TIME DISCUSSIONS CAN HAPPEN ON A PERSONAL LEVEL, LIKE WE SHOULD TRY TO SHOWER LESS OR ON THE HIGHER LEVEL WHERE PROVINCIAL AND TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENTS AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS CAN DO PLASTIC BANDS AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
SO IT'S A GOOD ARTICLE TO REALLY HIGHLIGHT THE WAYS THAT MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS CAN DIRECT HAVE LEVERS THAT MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS HAVE CONTROL OF AND CAN IMPROVE THE CLIMATE WITH THAT STORY. I WILL OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS FROM OR COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL.
CHRIS HAS AN ASSISTANT NOW, COUNCILLOR MORSE.
THANKS. YEAH, THANKS FOR THAT INFORMATIVE PRESENTATION.
EXCUSE ME, I REALLY APPRECIATED ALL THAT INFORMATION.
IT IS REALLY EXCITING TO SEE US ADDRESSING ALL THESE ITEMS IN VARIOUS WAYS.
I DID ASK THIS QUESTION LAST TIME WE TALKED ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE AND WANTED TO KIND OF BRING IT UP AGAIN. AND THAT IS JUST.
I'M CURIOUS ABOUT HOW WHETHER WE'LL BE ABLE TO AND IF WE'RE ALREADY, I THINK WE'RE ALREADY WORKING ON IT, BUT WANTING TO SEE ABOUT ACTUALLY MEASURING THE COMMUNITY'S GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, NOT JUST THE MUNICIPALITIES, BUT THE SORRY, NOT JUST THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS, BUT THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE AND FINDING OUT IF WE'RE ANYWHERE CLOSE TO MEETING A TARGET, WE'VE GOT OUR EXISTING TARGET.
PERSONALLY, I THINK THAT WE COULD PROBABLY LOOK AT ADJUSTING THE TARGET.
THANKS, JULIAN. SHEILA, DO YOU WANT ME TO KICK IT TO YOU FIRST OR JUST GET STAFF TO PUT UP THEIR HAND? I SEE. CHRIS HAS HIS HAND UP AND I'M SURE HE'S A GREAT ONE TO RESPOND TO THIS. YES, THE CHRIS IS.
THANK YOU, SHEILA, THANK YOU, REBECCA.
THANKS FOR THE QUESTION. SO WE PUT OUT AN RFP RECENTLY AND IT CLOSED FOR JUST THAT FOR THE COMMUNITY ENERGY INVENTORY.
I DON'T WANT TO SAY IT'S EASY. WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE INTERNALLY, INCLUDING MY STAFF AND SOME OTHER STAFF THAT ARE WORKING FOR CORPORATE AND WE HAVE A BETTER SENSE OF HOW TO MONITOR THOSE.
BUT IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A CHALLENGE WITH THE COMMUNITIES, SO WE'RE GETTING SOME EXTERNAL GUIDANCE. AND SO THAT FLOWS.
I THINK LAST WEEK I GOT TO GO THROUGH THOSE PROPOSALS NOW AND DECIDE WHICH ONE IS GOING TO HELP US OUT, AND WE REALLY TRIED OUR BEST TO ALIGN IT WITH MULTIPLE PLANS THAT ARE ALREADY IN CIRCULATION, WHETHER IT BE THE COMMUNITY PLAN, THE ENERGY PLAN AND ALSO THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE WCCD, JUST SO THAT WE CAN COLLECTIVELY KIND OF MOVE FORWARD IN SYNC WITH HOW WE MEASURE COMMUNITY EMISSIONS AND COMMUNITY ENERGY.
SO WE SHOULD HAVE SOMETHING TO REPORT BACK TO YOU BY.
[00:45:01]
IN THE NEXT [INAUDIBLE], HOPEFULLY WE'LL PROBABLY SEE THAT SOMETHING TO CONSIDER AS WELL AS, YOU KNOW, TWENTY TWENTY FIVE IS AROUND THE CORNER, SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO START PLANNING FOR HOW WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD FOR A 2025-2035 CLIMATE PLAN.ARE WE GOING TO FOCUS MORE ON ADAPTATION AND MITIGATION? SO THESE ARE QUESTIONS THAT WE ARE LOOKING TO TO ANSWER SOON.
I THINK THAT, YEAH, DOING THAT IS GOING TO BE REALLY INFORMATIVE, EYE OPENING AND INTERESTING, VERY CURIOUS TO SEE IF WE AS A COMMUNITY ACTUALLY HAVE REDUCED OUR GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.
I MEAN, I HAVE TO THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, I'VE SEEN SO MANY PEOPLE SWITCH OVER TO PROPANE.
I'VE SEEN LOTS MORE PELLET USE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT THAT OUR EMISSIONS ARE GOING DOWN.
BUT THE TOUGH THING IS IS THAT WE'RE JUST WE'RE JUST MAKING ASSUMPTIONS RIGHT NOW.
I DEFINITELY THINK THAT THE CORPORATE.
TARGET, WE I'D HAVE TO THINK THAT WE'RE DOING WELL ON THAT, I MEAN, A LOT OF OUR BUILDINGS AND EVERYTHING HAVE BEEN SWITCHED OVER TO [INAUDIBLE], SO I THINK THE MUNICIPALITY HAS BEEN DOING GREAT WORK AND IS GETTING THERE.
YEAH, IN TERMS OF THINGS LIKE SWITCHING OUR FLEET OVER, I THINK THAT WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO IT. WE'RE PROBABLY NOT QUITE THERE YET, BUT IT'S PRETTY EXCITING SEEING WHAT'S GOING ON WITH ELECTRIC VEHICLES.
INDUSTRIAL VEHICLES WILL BE FULLY ELECTRIFIED PRETTY SOON SO THAT OUR PUBLIC WORKS GARAGE IS GOING TO BE ALL ELECTRIC.
SOMEDAY, I THINK THAT'LL BE REALLY NEAT, CONSIDERING THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE WITH ELECTRIC VEHICLES IS RANGE.
I THINK HAVING A SMALL FOOTPRINT COMMUNITY LIKE WE DO IS ACTUALLY A REALLY GREAT ADVANTAGE THAT WE HAVE, AND WE'LL PROBABLY BE ABLE TO ELECTRIFY PRETTY SIMPLY BECAUSE VEHICLES DON'T HAVE TO GO VERY FAR.
BUT YEAH, I THINK THE TRICK IS GETTING THEM GETTING THAT TECHNOLOGY ONLINE, OBVIOUSLY, YELLOWKNIFES' A VERY SMALL COMMUNITY.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO START. TRYING OUT.
INVENTING TRUCKS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
YEAH. THE OTHER QUESTION I HAD, SO THERE WAS MENTION DURING THE PRESENTATION I DID SEE, VICTOR, THAT YOU HAD A COMMENT YOU WANTED TO MAKE.
MAYBE DO YOU WANT TO JUST STEP IN RIGHT NOW? YEAH, I JUST WANT TO PROVIDE SOME CLARIFICATIONS REGARDING THE QUESTION YOU JUST ASKED.
SO I CAN'T SPEAK HOW USING THE ELECTRICAL VEHICLES WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE GAS GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, BUT BEING SPECIFIC TO THE RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS AND I LIKE TO BE SPECIFIC, I CAN GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.
SO THE NATIONAL BUILDING CODE DEFINES THE MINIMUM TEMPERATURE.
THAT BUILDING SHALL BE HEATED.
SO IN THE WINTERTIME, ANY OCCUPIED SPACE SHALL BE HEATED TO 21 DEGREES CELSIUS.
DURING THAT TIME, THE BUILDING IS OCCUPIED.
AND THEN IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A CONVENTIONAL BUILDING DUE TO THE MINIMUM STANDARDS OF A NATIONAL BUILDING CODE, THE PROPANE CONSUMPTION OF SUCH BUILDING, IF YOU ARE TALKING ROUGHLY ABOUT 2000 SQUARE FEET WILL BE FOR HEATING THE BUILDING ALONE, NOT INCLUDING THE WATER. AND IF YOU ARE USING PROPANE AS A SOURCE OF FUEL AND FOR EXAMPLE, YOU HAVE A FORCED AIR HEATING SYSTEM, YOU WILL BE LOOKING ANYWHERE BETWEEN THREE TO FIVE THOUSAND.
DEPENDS HOW TIGHT YOUR BUILDING ENVELOPE OR ENERGY EFFICIENT BUILDING BUILT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CURRENT VERSION OF THE CITY'S BUILDING BYLAW IF YOU MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE AIR TIGHTNESS.
AND THERMAL RESISTANCE OF THE BUILDING ENVELOPE, YOU ARE LOOKING AT LEAST AT SPENDING HALF OF THAT AMOUNT ON PROPANE HEAT IN THE BUILDING, ONCE YOU PUSH TO THAT TIER FOR WHICH WE ARE PLANNING TO IMPLEMENT AND SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE AIR LEAKAGES OF THE BUILDING.
IT'S NOT JUST IMPROVING THE THICKNESS OF THE LAYER OF INSULATION, IT'S ALSO HOW TIGHT YOUR BUILDING IS. THIS IS WHAT THE BOTTOM LINE AND THIS IS WHAT AFFECTS THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF THE BUILDING. YOU'RE LOOKING AT PROBABLY 15 TO 20 PERCENT OF THE MONEY SPENT ON HEATING, CONVENTIONAL BUILDING AND BEING SPECIFIC.
I BUILT A HOUSE AND MY HOUSE CONSUMES ONLY LESS THAN A THOUSAND.
I SPEND A THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR ON PROPANE AND HEATING THE TWO THOUSAND SQUARE FEET BUILDING AND THEN TWO PLUS TWENTY THREE DEGREES ALL YEAR ROUND.
AND I'M NOT ADJUSTING THE TEMPERATURE WHEN I'M LEAVING THE BUILDING.
AND IN COMPARISON, THE CONVENTIONAL BUILDINGS DO CONSUME ANYWHERE UP TO FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ON PROPANE.
SO THAT SHOWS THE SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE.
AND IF WE WANT TO SHOW PEOPLE THIS IS HOW WE REDUCE, THIS IS HOW WE REDUCE THE GREENHOUSE
[00:50:05]
GAS EMISSIONS, AND THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF THAT.THAT'S SOMETHING MEASURABLE, RIGHT? WE SEE THE DIFFERENCE.
YES, THANK YOU. THANKS, VICTOR.
ENERGY THAT WAY. YEAH, THANKS, I APPRECIATE THAT.
THAT WAS ACTUALLY RELATED TO MY NEXT QUESTION, I KNOW THAT WE'VE WORKED FOR A LONG TIME ON THE HOME ENERGY.
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE THAT AN EFFECTIVE PROGRAM.
I KNOW WELL FROM FROM FROM NEIL'S THAT THERE ARE EFFECTIVE CHANGES YOU CAN MAKE.
THERE'S INEFFECTIVE CHANGES YOU CAN MAKE.
I'M JUST MOSTLY CURIOUS KIND OF WHAT'S OUR TIMING ON ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTING LICS TYING THOSE LICS, POTENTIALLY IN WITH INSTALLING DISTRICT HEATING SYSTEMS? YEAH. I'M JUST CURIOUS, WHEN ARE WE ACTUALLY GOING TO SEE THE CHANGES FROM THOSE PROGRAMS START TO START TO COME OUT IN THE COMMUNITY? I THINK THE RFP FOR THIS PROJECT JUST CLOSED SEPTEMBER 13.
BUT KERRY, IS THAT YOUR TEAM THAT'S LEADING THIS WORK? OR CHRIS, ONE.
I STARTED IN THE LOOP THROUGH A BOARD THAT FCM CREATED A ROUNDTABLE OF COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, BUT REALLY CHRIS AND [INAUDIBLE] HAVE TAKEN THE LEAD.
BUT YEAH, THE RFP JUST CLOSED AND WE HAVE AN EVALUATION MEETING NEXT WEEK.
CHRIS, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD.
I DON'T REALLY IT'S HARD TO GIVE YOU A TIMELINE FOR THESE THINGS.
WE'RE GOING TO SEE WHAT THE CONTRACT WITH THE CONSULTANTS SAY AND WHAT'S REALISTIC.
SO WE'D HAVE MORE INFORMATION FOR YOU ONCE WE'VE ESTABLISHED WHAT WE SHOULD DO WITH WITH THE CONSULTANTS. OK, THANK YOU.
I'LL LEAVE OTHER COUNCILLORS FOR QUESTIONS NOW.
THANK YOU, YEAH [INAUDIBLE] OR THE PUBLIC'S INTERESTED ON OUR BIDS AND TENDERS WEBSITE, YOU CAN SEE WHERE ALL THE BITS THAT HAVE BEEN ISSUED AND THREE THAT ARE RELEVANT FOR THIS DISCUSSION IS THAT HOME FINANCING ONE THERE WAS THE OOPS, SORRY, THE GHD ONE THAT JULIAN JUST ASKED ABOUT, AND THE LAST ONE WAS THE DISTRICT ENERGY POLICY FRAMEWORK.
WELL, THERE'S THERE'S ACTUALLY QUITE A FEW, TOO, ABOUT [INAUDIBLE] WORK ON ASSET MANAGEMENT AS WELL.
SO LOTS OF WORK THAT'S ONGOING.
BUT UNTIL THOSE BIDS ARE AWARDED, YOU DON'T KNOW THE TIME FRAME FOR WHEN THE PROJECT SHOULD BE COMPLETED BECAUSE IT DEPENDS ON WHAT THE CONSULTANTS ARE SAYING.
THANK YOU. REALLY GOOD PRESENTATION, BY THE WAY, LIKE THIS.
IT'S EXCITING TO SEE EVERYTHING THAT'S BEING DONE.
THE ONLY CAUTION THAT I HAVE IS BE CAREFUL YOU GUYS DON'T OVERWORK YOURSELF.
IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF ON THE TABLE HERE.
AND YOU KNOW, WE KNOW, WE KNOW THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING.
SO, YOU KNOW, I JUST CAUTION THAT WE'RE NOT PUSHING OUR STAFF TOO MUCH.
SO WHEN IT COMES TO LIKE YOU TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, GARDENS INSTEAD OF LAWNS.
ARE WE GOING TO PUT GARDENS IN A CITY HALL AS WELL INSTEAD OF THE FLOWERS THAT WE ALWAYS PUT? WELL, WOULDN'T IT BE NICE TO HAVE SOME CABBAGE GROWING THERE? SOME POTATOES? AND AND LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THE CLOVER THAT YOU GUYS HAVE PLANTED ON THE MERIDIANS. I KNOW IT'S LOW UPKEEP LOOKING AT MY WHOLE LAWN WITH THAT STUFF NEXT SUMMER, SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
SO WHAT ABOUT I GUESS I'LL JUST ASK THE QUESTIONS ONE AT A TIME.
SO ABOUT THE GARDENS AT CITY HALL? IF I CAN GET AN ANSWER? SURE THING, JOANNA.
YOU WANT TO FIELD THAT ONE? SURE.
SO STEVE, THERE'S A THERE'S ONE BED AT THE BACK OF CITY HALL ALONG THE PARKING AREA FOR STAFF PARKING THAT HAS BEEN CONVERTED COMPLETELY TO HERBS AND BERRY BUSHES, THINGS LIKE THAT. SO THAT'S THAT'S A SMALL START.
THE OTHER AREA THAT HAS CHANGED RECENTLY IS THE GARDEN OF HOPE USED TO HAVE BASKETS, AND
[00:55:02]
SO DID [INAUDIBLE] PARK.AND WE NO LONGER DO THE BASKETS.
WE'RE USING THE SAME MONEY TO DO PERENNIALS IN PLACES.
AND THERE'S IF YOU WANDER DOWN TO THE GARDEN HOPE THERE'S A PETUNIA TREE SO THAT ALL ALL OF THE BASKETS ARE TOGETHER IN A TREE.
SO LIKE ONE BIG HIT OF COLOR AND EASIER TO WATER, NOT NOT AS MUCH STAFF GOING AROUND BETWEEN THE BASKETS, EITHER AS FAR AS EMISSIONS AND STUFF LIKE THAT GOES.
AND THEN THE CLOVER? YEAH, IT'S A WORK IN PROGRESS.
WE HAD TO START WITH THE FESCUE AND CLOVER IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE WE GET GOT SOME COVERAGE AND THEN YOU HAVE TO OVERSEE IT WITH THE CLOVER EVERY YEAR, A LITTLE BIT TO GET IT TO CLOVER. AND HOPEFULLY THAT'LL EVENTUALLY GET RID OF THE LAWN MOWING ENTIRELY ON THE BOULEVARDS. SO I HOPE THAT ANSWERS.
THANK YOU. ONE MORE, ONE MORE POINT.
NOT WITH GARDENS, BUT I WAS IN COLD LAKE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND I MANAGED TO MEET THE MAYOR DOWN THERE AND AND THE SAO.
AND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW THEIR PUBLIC TRANSIT IS COMPLETELY FREE.
SO THEY THEY DON'T CHARGE ANYBODY FOR TRANSIT.
LIKE WHEN IT COMES TO THE DOLLARS AND CENTS, WOULD IT MAKE SENSE FOR US TO JUST MAKE? I KNOW WE WE SUBSIDIZE THIS BY WHAT? I CAN'T REMEMBER THE NUMBER ONE POINT EIGHT MILLION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
WE SUBSIDIZE. I PROBABLY WRONG.
BUT WHATEVER IT IS LIKE, WOULD THE DIFFERENCE IN US TRYING TO LIKE THE COST OF GOING GREEN WHEN IT COMES TO TRANSPORTATION? WOULD WE BE AHEAD IF WE JUST MADE THE BUS SERVICE FREE FOR EVERYBODY? GOOD QUESTION. THE ONE THING WE DO HAVE IS ACCESS FOR [INAUDIBLE] AND SITTING IN CITY HALL, I HEAR EVERYBODY COMING IN FOR THEIR ACCESS FOR ALL PASSES.
AND ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT DRAWS PEOPLE IN FOR THE ACCESS FOR ALL PROGRAM IS THE FREE BUS PASS THAT COMES WITH IT BECAUSE IT'S A FREE BUS PASS PLUS FREE ACCESS TO REC FACILITIES. THAT BEING SAID, YOU HAVE TO APPLY FOR IT AND IT'S IT'S INCOME LEVEL.
SO YEAH, WHETHER WE COULD ENCOURAGE MORE TRANSIT USE THROUGH MAKING IT COMPLETELY FREE FOR EVERYBODY. I BELIEVE THAT WAS CONSIDERED IN THE TRANSIT REVIEW.
SHEILA, SHERILYN, CHRIS GREENCORN ANYBODY WANT TO WEIGH IN ON STEVE'S QUESTION? RISK, CAN I ASK YOU? I KNOW WENDY WOULD BE A PERFECT PERSON WITH KNOWLEDGE, BUT GREENCORN IF YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS. SPECIFICALLY AROUND MAKING TRANSIT FREE.
GOOD, THEIR SPIN OFFS WITH THAT, AND THEN SOMETIMES YOU GET FOLKS HANGING OUT ON THE BUS AND NEVER GETTING UP AND OPERATIONAL EXPENSES, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ALWAYS LOOK AT IN. IF THAT'S WHAT WE WERE ASKED TO DO.
NO, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT LIKE I'M JUST WONDERING THE DOLLARS AND CENTS, RIGHT, LIKE, YOU KNOW, IF WOULD FREE TRANSIT ENCOURAGE MORE PEOPLE TO RIDE? WOULD YOU KNOW THAT AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THEN I DON'T KNOW.
IT WAS JUST SOMETHING THAT I WAS THINKING ABOUT.
YOU KNOW, IF OTHER CITIES HAVE DONE IT, THERE GOT TO BE A REASON WHY THEY DID IT AND IF AND IF IT DOES, IF IT WOULD BRING DOWN OUR CARBON EMISSIONS TO A POINT THAT IT WOULD ACTUALLY SAVE US MONEY.
LIKE TO ME, IT'S IT'S ALL ABOUT DOLLARS AND CENTS.
BUT IF IT'D BE SOMETHING WORTH LOOKING INTO, BUT NOT ANYTHING, THAT'S REAL IMPORTANT AT THIS POINT. THAT'S ALL I HAVE RIGHT NOW.
I LOVE THE FACT THAT WE'RE TALKING, STILL TALKING ABOUT GRANTS AND LOANS OR LOAN.
THE LOAN PROGRAM OR HOME UPGRADES LIKE TO TO INSTALL PELLET BOILERS OR STOVES LIKE NIELSEN HAVE ALWAYS SAID, LIKE IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A CHANGE RIGHT NOW, IT'S NOT THE WINDOWS IN YOUR HOUSE.
IT'S GOING TO BE LIKE PELLET HEAT WOULD BE MORE EFFICIENT FOR US TO USE.
SO I'M REALLY HAPPY TO SEE THAT THAT WE'RE STILL TALKING ABOUT.
THANK YOU. YEAH, WE DO HAVE, YOU KNOW, BUDGET 2022 DELIBERATIONS COMING UP, AND I THINK OUR NEXT PRESENTATION IS ON MONDAY ABOUT THAT.
SO IF COUNCILLORS JUST DO WANT TO CONSIDER THE COST OF HAVING FREE TRANSIT, THAT COULD BE THAT'D BE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY.
BUT I ALSO ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO GO BACK AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE TRANSIT REVIEW THAT WE DID RECENTLY BECAUSE IT WAS ONE OF THE CONSIDERATIONS.
BUT I THINK THEIR RECOMMENDATION TO INCREASE RIDERSHIP HAD STUFF LIKE TRYING TO CREATE A WORKPLACE BUS PASS.
THAT IT COMES OFF PEOPLE'S PAYCHECKS AS OPPOSED TO THEM HAVING TO COME TO CITY HALL AND
[01:00:05]
BUY A BUS PASS. BUT I CAN'T REMEMBER ALL THE DIFFERENT RECOMMENDATIONS ON WAYS TO INCREASE TRANSIT RIDERSHIP, BUT ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT ONE NEXT I HAVE [INAUDIBLE] ON THE LIST. THANK YOU.SO THANKS FOR ALL THE WORK THAT HAS GONE INTO THIS PRESENTATION AND THE WORK THAT STAFF FROM ALL OF OUR DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS ARE ARE DOING ON AN ONGOING BASIS HERE.
THIS REALLY HIGHLIGHTS FOR US THE DIFFERENT WAYS THAT SUSTAINABILITY AND CLIMATE CHANGE CONSIDERATIONS ARE ARE BEING INTEGRATED.
I HAD ONE QUESTION FIRST BASED ON THE PRESENTATION.
THERE WAS A SLIDE ABOUT THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE AT THE LANDFILL TO USE SOME OF THE WOOD WASTE LIKE PALLETS AND THINGS LIKE THAT TO REPURPOSE.
I HEARD A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS BEFORE, BUT I CAN.
YOU JUST CLARIFY, IS THIS NOW A PROJECT THAT'S UNDERWAY OR IS IT STILL IN THE PLANNING PHASES? AND ALSO JUST IF YOU CAN GIVE SOME INSIGHT INTO HOW THIS PROJECT EMERGED, BECAUSE I DON'T I DON'T THINK IT WAS SOMETHING THAT SAY CAME FROM COUNCIL.
IT MAY HAVE BEEN AN OPPORTUNITY THAT EMERGED.
AND SO I'M INTERESTED IN SEEING HOW MORE OF THESE TYPES OF OPPORTUNITIES EMERGING CAN BE SEIZED UPON AND IF THERE'S ANY LESSONS FROM THAT ONE THAT WE CAN.
YOU KNOW, HELP REPLICATE GOING FORWARD IN TERMS OF REALLY EMBRACING AND SEIZING OPPORTUNITIES WHERE THEY ARISE TO.
YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S FINDING EFFICIENCIES OR FINDING WAYS TO USE WASTE, ET CETERA, BUT JUST SO SOME MORE BACKGROUND OR INSIGHTS INTO THAT PROGRAM.
SURE THING, CHRIS [INAUDIBLE] YOU WANT TO TAKE A STAB AT IT I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY AND MAYBE SHEILA, YOU CAN TALK ABOUT HOW STAFF ARE ENCOURAGED TO DO PROCESS IMPROVEMENT THROUGHOUT THEIR WORK.
I THINK I'LL FIRST SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I'VE BEEN MANAGER AT THE LANDFILL FOR TWO YEARS. BUT AS WE ARE ALL AWARE, THE CITY HAS A NICE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LANDFILL AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF INNOVATORS AND PRIVATE ENTITIES WHO HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT USING WASTE ENERGY. SO. SO THAT'S NOTHING NEW.
I THINK WHAT I CAN SPEAK TO IS THE FACT THAT I THINK TWO YEARS AGO I BROUGHT A CONSULTANT OR CONSULTANT CAME UP JUST TO HOP AROUND AND TAKE A LOOK AT OUR LANDFILL IN.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT KIND OF GOT HIM NERVOUS WAS THESE HUGE STOCKPILES OF WOOD THAT POTENTIALLY JUST, YOU KNOW, ONE GUST OF WIND.
AND IT CAN BE A FIRE RISK, RIGHT? AND SO THAT WAS KIND OF THE IMPETUS FOR ME TO BE LIKE, HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE NEED TO START FIGURING OUT HOW BEST TO MANAGE WASTE.
AND THROUGH CONVERSATIONS WITH LOCAL PEOPLE AND LOCAL BUSINESSES AND STAFF, WE'VE WORKED WITH LOCAL CONTRACTOR [INAUDIBLE] ALSO BEEN TRYING TO GET.
INTO SHREDDING AS WELL, AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH THEM WHERE THEY EXPERIMENTED WITH SHREDDING MULTIPLE MULTIPLE TYPES OF MATERIAL.
AND WE HAD A DIRECT NEED FOR IT THROUGH OUR COMPOST PROGRAM OUR COMPOST PROGRAM WAS LACKING IN CARBON AMENDMENTS.
SO WE HAD ALL THIS FOOD COMING IN, BUT NOT ENOUGH CARBON TO BALANCE IT.
SO HERE WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO USE SOMETHING IN-HOUSE, AND WE'RE JUST NOW SEEING THE MANY BENEFITS THAT CAN HAPPEN IF YOU LOOK TOGETHER WITH THE PRIVATE ENTITIES, IF WE SEE THE ACTUAL NEEDS THAT WE HAVE IN THE CITY AND INSTEAD OF GOING OUT DOWN SOUTH, FIGURED OUT, YOU KNOW, USE THE INTERNET OR THE LOCAL EXPERIENCE THAT'S AVAILABLE AND MORE AND MORE OPPORTUNITIES ARE SHOWING UP.
SO AS WE'RE WORKING FOR AS WE HAVE SHREDDED MATERIAL HERE FOR COMPOST AND FOR FOR MULCHING, THERE'S TEST TO SEE WHETHER IT BE GOOD FOR FOR WASTE TO ENERGY AND WE'RE KEEPING THE LOOP. OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE PRIORITIZING THE LEVELS OF SERVICES THAT WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE IN ORDER TO STAY FUNCTIONAL AND STAY IN COMPLIANCE.
BUT THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE BEHIND THE SCENES OUTSIDE OF THE CITY WHO ARE WORKING TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES THAT ALSO ALIGN WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
SORRY, CHRIS GREENCORN AND THEN SHEILA.
SORRY. I JUST LIKE TO JUMP IN THERE AND JUST ADD A COUPLE OF THINGS ON TO WHAT CHRIS IS SAYING. PART OF THE STRATEGIC WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN IS LIKE ONE OF THE KEY.
THE KEY THING THERE IS DIVERSION, RIGHT? WE WANT TO KEEP THINGS OUT OF THE LANDFILL.
SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE SEGREGATING ALL THESE DIFFERENT WASTES.
SO THE WOOD CHIPS, THE WOOD AND WASTE WOOD AND CLEAN WOOD IS ALL SEGREGATED AND STORED SO THAT WE CAN DO SOMETHING WITH IT LATER, SIMILAR TO TIRES.
CHRIS, WE DIDN'T INCLUDE EVERYTHING IN THIS PRESENTATION, BUT WE ALSO SHREDDED A RIDICULOUS AMOUNT OF TIRES THIS YEAR, AND WE'RE USING THAT FOR AN INTERNAL ROAD NETWORK
[01:05:04]
SO THAT OUR COMPACTOR CAN WALK FROM THE CELLS TO THE WORKING [INAUDIBLE] LANDFILL SO THAT IT SAVES WEAR AND TEAR ON THE UNDERCARRIAGE AND THE STRUCTURE OF THE COMPACTOR.SO WE'RE USING THE WASTE TIRES IN THAT MANNER.
THE OTHER COUPLE OF PILES THAT WE HAVE TO DO IS CONCRETE IN NASHVILLE.
SO WE HAVE WE'RE GOING TO FIGURE OUT THE BEST WAY TO CRUSH CONCRETE AND REUSE IT IN OUR HOPEFULLY IN OUR PAVING PROGRAM.
AND WE ALSO USE IT TO MAKE INTERNAL ROAD NETWORKS AND WE USE IT IN THAT IN THAT FORM.
SO ANYTHING THAT COMES INTO THE LANDFILL, WE'RE TRYING TO DIVERT IT ON FROM BEING LANDFILL AND TO TO MAKE BEST USE OF IT.
AND I COULD GO ON ABOUT THE STEEL PILE AND THE CONVERSATIONS WE'RE HAVING WITH CONTRACTORS ON STEEL AND WHITE GOODS.
SO LIKE, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS HAPPENING IN TERMS OF DIVERSION.
OK, AND CAN YOU JUST CLARIFY TO THE THE PROJECT TO USE PALETTES FOR ENERGY? IS THAT SOMETHING THAT'S ALREADY UNDERWAY OR IS IT STILL IN THE PLANNING STAGES? THROW GETS YOU TO JUMP IN JUST TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
HOW STAFF [INAUDIBLE] DUE PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS AND THEN WE'LL JUMP BACK TO CHRIS [INAUDIBLE]. THANKS VERY MUCH, AND SORRY TO CUT YOU OFF, COUNCILLOR MORGAN ON THAT ONE, SO I'M REALLY IMPRESSED WITH THE WORK THAT'S GONE ON THAT THE SOLID WASTE FACILITY IS DOING. WE NEVER WANT PEOPLE TO FEEL LIKE THEY'RE CHECKING IN EVERY STAFF TO FEEL LIKE THEY'RE CHECKING IN EVERY DAY TO LOOK AT SOME OF THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT CAN HAPPEN.
I WILL SHAMELESSLY TELL YOU THAT I AM REGULARLY SURPRISED TO SEE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON FROM AS RECENTLY AS THIS WEEK, NOTICING HOW WE HAVE MADE OUR WEBSITE HEARING AUDIBLE ACCESSIBLE THAT JUST JUMPED OUT AT ME THIS WEEK.
THE WORK THE SOLID WASTE FACILITY HAS BEEN REALLY IMPRESSIVE ON THIS FRONT AS WELL.
AND WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS ACROSS THE BOARD, THESE ARE HAPPENING REGULARLY AND THE ONE AREA THAT WE NEED TO ENHANCE IS THE TRACKING OF HOW STAFF ARE DOING THIS WORK AND HOW WE FORMALIZE THIS.
BUT THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT'S GOING ON BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE INNOVATIVE.
PEOPLE ARE ENGAGING WITH CLIENTS REGULARLY AND THINKING TWICE ABOUT IF SOMEONE HAS A CONCERN. OK, LET'S THINK ABOUT THAT CONCERN, AND LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT ADDRESSING THAT RIGHT DOWN TO THEN.
OF COURSE, THE INSPIRATION AROUND MUNICIPAL BEST PRACTICES THAT WE SEE ELSEWHERE OR SEE THROUGH THINGS LIKE MUNICIPAL WORLD.
WHEN WE SEE THAT THERE TOP 10 THINGS TO BE DOING AROUND CLIMATE CHANGE, HOW DO WE COMPARE? THESE ARE REALLY GOOD OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO TAKE A LOOK AND SEE WHAT ARE WE DOING AND HOW CAN WE DO IT BETTER? BUT AGAIN, THE ONE AREA THAT I THINK I NEED TO IMPROVE ON IS HOW WE CORPORATELY TRACK THIS WORK. THANK YOU.
THIS ONE, DID YOU WANT TO TOUCH ON WAS IS THERE WORK GOING ON WASTE TO ENERGY AND PELLETS? WELL, WE'RE NOT TAKING THE LEAD ON THAT.
THERE'S PRIVATE INNOVATORS WHO WOULD LOVE TO HAVE ACCESS TO THIS MATERIAL.
SO IF EVER SOMEBODY WANTS TO COME BY AND TAKE SOME OF OUR CHIPPED WOOD TO SAMPLE WHERE WE'VE BEEN OPEN TO THAT IN TERMS OF PARTNERING UP AND JUST WORKING TOWARDS POTENTIAL USES FOR OUR MATERIAL.
IS IT THE CITY IS IS TIPPING THE WOOD AND THEN WE'RE WORKING WITH OTHER PARTNERS TO DO THINGS WITH IT? OR IS IT THE KAVANAGH'S CHIPPING THE WOOD? I'M JUST TRYING TO GET A SENSE OF THE CITY'S ROLE IN ALL THIS.
WE CONTRACT OUT THE SERVICES FOR FOUR CHIPPING OF WOOD.
AND IF OUR BUSINESS IS IN TOWN, WHO WANTED TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT TO EXPERIMENT AND SEE IF IT'S OF GOOD QUALITY FOR OTHER PROJECTS, WE'RE NOT AGAINST THAT.
OK. THANKS. THANKS FOR CLARIFYING THAT.
THE REASON THE REASON WE DO IT IN THAT MANNER IS BECAUSE WE DON'T WE DON'T GAIN ENOUGH WOODCHIPS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS TO CONSTITUTE US PURCHASING A CAPITAL PIECE OF EQUIPMENT.
SO WE STOCKPILE IT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND THEN WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SCALE ECONOMIES OF SCALE. WHEN A SHIPPER COMES UP AND IN A LOT OF CASES, THEY'LL LEAVE YELLOWKNIFE BAY RIVER MEXICO LIKE THE TIRE SHREDDER DID MULTIPLE TAKES MULTIPLE STOPS.
SO WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER COMMUNITIES.
SO JUST WANTED TO TOUCH ON THAT.
OK. NO, I MEAN, THAT SOUNDS GREAT.
THAT'S STRATEGIC AND EFFICIENT.
SO THOSE ARE DEFINITELY THE THINGS THAT I'M.
ALWAYS HOPING FOR AND LOOKING FOR MY THOUGHTS OVERALL.
ALL OF THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE UNDERWAY IN THE DIFFERENT CITY DEPARTMENTS AND THE MOMENTUM THAT WE'RE STARTING TO GET, AND I KNOW THERE'S BEEN SORT OF A FLURRY OF RFPS PUT OUT THIS SUMMER OR FAIRLY RECENTLY.
[01:10:02]
AND SO A NUMBER OF THE INITIATIVES THAT WERE REALLY.STARTING TO GAIN SOME MOMENTUM ON ARE STILL IN THE EARLIER STAGES, AND SO MY CONCERN WOULD JUST BE HOW DO WE FIND WAYS TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN MAINTAIN MOMENTUM, AS STEVE MENTIONED. THERE'S A LOT IN THE GO RIGHT NOW, AND I THINK WE'RE REALLY WE'RE HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. WE'RE MAKING SOME PROGRESS.
SO HOW AS AN ORGANIZATION DO WE ENSURE THAT THERE'S ENOUGH SUPPORT FOR THOSE DIFFERENT INITIATIVES TO MAINTAIN THE MOMENTUM AND TO ENSURE THAT IT'S.
I MEAN, THIS IS AN OVERUSED TERM, BUT SUSTAINABLE IN TERMS OF.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ENOUGH INTERNAL CHAMPIONS THAT THIS CAN CONTINUE, EVEN IF, YOU KNOW, SAY WE LOSE A STAFF PERSON OR TWO, WE DON'T WANT THE WHOLE THING TO COLLAPSE OR TO ENSURE THAT IT'S IT'S EMBEDDED ENOUGH WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION THAT IT'S GOING TO.
IT'S SOLID ENOUGH THAT IT'S GOING TO CARRY ON AND CONTINUE AND SORT OF HAVE ITS OWN MOMENTUM. AND SO I'M NOT ASKING FOR ANY ANSWERS RIGHT NOW, BUT MOVING FORWARD.
IF THERE ARE WAYS THAT THE SAO THINKS THAT.
IF THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP SUPPORT THESE INITIATIVES, IF WE NEED, YOU KNOW, SUPPORT FOR STAFFING LEVELS OR.
YOU KNOW, WHATEVER IT IS, JUST TO SOLIDIFY AND MAINTAIN THE MOMENTUM.
I WOULD LOVE TO, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD WELCOME TO HEAR WAYS THAT WE CAN DO THAT, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY AT OUR LEVEL, AT THE COUNCIL LEVEL, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE DIRECTING WHAT EXACT, SPECIFIC, YOU KNOW, LITTLE PROJECTS HERE AND THERE.
BUT THE POINT IS TO GO BEYOND JUST DOING PROJECTS HERE AND THERE AND TO HAVE THIS, YOU KNOW, BE A THING THAT HAS ITS OWN MOMENTUM.
THE MENTALITY IS SEEMS TO BE GETTING INFUSED WITHIN THE WHOLE ORGANIZATION AND WITHIN STAFF, YOU KNOW, EVEN SOMETHING LIKE PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS AND EFFICIENCIES.
IF ALL STAFF ARE TASKED WITH LOOKING AT THAT, LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES, THAT HELPS TO MAINTAIN THAT MOMENTUM. BUT I THINK WE ALSO NEED THE SPECIFIC STAFF WHO ARE CHAMPIONS AND HAVE THEIR HEAD UP AND ARE TALKING TO PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY AND TALKING TO BUSINESSES AND LOOKING FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES AND HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO DO THAT IN ADDITION TO THEIR DAY TO DAY WORK TO JUST ENSURE THAT THESE THINGS CAN KEEP HAPPENING AND KEEP MOVING FORWARD. AND I DON'T WANT TO MINIMIZE IT, BECAUSE I DO THINK FOR MOST OF THE TIME, PULL OUT AND BE ON THEIR REGULAR CAPACITY, BUT I THINK THE KEY IS, YOU KNOW, THE ZONING BYLAW HAD TO BE REVIEWED. SO PLANNING AND LINES, WHEN YOU'RE REVIEWING IT, IT'S WITH A CLIMATE CHANGE LENS. SO IT'S NOT A NEW PROJECT ON TOP OF THEIR WORK.
IT'S THIS IS YOUR WORK AND MAKE SURE THERE'S THE RIGHT LENS ON IT.
WHEN JOANNA'S TEAM IS GOING OUT AND PLANTING, IT'S LIKE WITH THIS LENS ON IT.
AND AGAIN, NOT TO MINIMIZE BECAUSE IT IS, YOU KNOW, THEY HAD TO PUT A CLOVER AS OPPOSED TO GRASS SEED. AND FOR CHRIS VAUGHAN AND HIS TEAM, IT'S TAKING THAT SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN AND THE COMMUNITY ENERGY PLAN AND CREATING WORK PLANS, RECOGNIZING THAT THEY CAN'T DO EVERYTHING BUT TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THAT CHART THAT SHOWS MAXIMUM RESULTS AND RESOURCES REQUIRED.
BUT THEN I'M SURE SHEILA AND THE DIRECTORS HAVE A PRETTY FULSOME DISCUSSIONS OF BUDGET.
LEADING UP TO BUDGET ABOUT RESOURCE REQUIREMENTS AND AND WHETHER A TERM EMPLOYEE WILL BE NEEDED TO ENSURE LIKE THE WATER LICENSE, THAT THAT EXTRA WORK'S GETTING DONE.
BUT SHEILA, DO YOU WANT TO ADD BALANCING ALL THE MILLION PROJECTS THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON, PLUS JUST REGULAR GETTING CLEAN DRINKING WATER OUT OF OUR TAPS AND SPEAKERS]. THANKS SO MUCH.
MARATHON THANKS COUNCILLOR MORGAN FOR THE QUESTION.
BECAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT. HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP THIS FRONT AND CENTER? BECAUSE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF THEMES THAT COUNCIL HAS REALLY EMPHASIZES VALUE.
SO WHETHER OR NOT IT'S ACCESSIBILITY, WHETHER OR NOT IT'S RECONCILIATION, AND HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY IS INFUSED WITH THOSE AS WELL AS THE LENS OF SUSTAINABILITY? SO AT THE DIRECTOR'S TABLE, WE KEEP THESE THINGS FRONT AND CENTER.
WE DO CONTINUE TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT AS WE'RE DOING THINGS, IT'S NOT A MATTER OF, OH, THIS ONE'S GOT THE SUSTAINABILITY IN HIS TITLE.
SO OFF YOU GO, CHRIS, YOU MAKE IT HAPPEN AND WE'LL ALL LOOK GOOD RIDING ON YOUR COATTAILS. IT CAN'T WORK THAT WAY.
AND SO WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING IS CONSISTENTLY AS WE LOOK AT OUR WORK PLANS, AND I'LL BE REALLY HONEST, COVID IS THROWING A MONKEY WRENCH, RIGHT?
[01:15:01]
THIS WHAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW AND IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE DOES AFFECT OUR PRODUCTIVE WE ARE. AND THE THE AMOUNT OF CAPACITY BECAUSE WE DO HAVE STAFF THAT ARE WORKING FROM HOME AND IN SOME CASES AND OTHERS THAT ARE REALLY FULL OUT IN THE CONTEXT THAT WE'RE WORKING IN. SO IT'S IT'S A BIT OF A JUGGLING ACT, BUT IT IS LED BY THE SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM WHO KEEPS THIS FRONT AND CENTER.THESE REALLY IMPORTANT VALUES THAT ARE SHOWING IN OUR WORK PLAN AND ARE REALLY REFLECTING WHERE COUNCIL WANTED TO GO.
WHEN YOU SET YOUR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES AND YOU LAID OUT THE IMPORTANT VALUES THAT YOU SAW AS BEING IMPORTANT FOR THE CITY TO FOLLOW, SO IT'S ON OUR RADAR, DEFINITELY.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS FROM COUNSEL? [INAUDIBLE] UH, YEAH, THANKS, I PRETTY MUCH JUST WANTED TO KIND OF REITERATE AND AGREE WITH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT [INAUDIBLE] SAID.
LIKE, I THINK FOR ME, THIS STUFF IS IS A BIG PRIORITY, AND I THINK THAT IT IS REALLY EXCITING TO SEE EVERYTHING THAT THAT IS HAPPENING.
I THINK WE'RE ABSOLUTELY HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
I THINK WE'RE DOING A LOT OF THE RIGHT THINGS, AND THAT'S REALLY EXCITING.
I THINK THAT. IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE IF WE HAD SOME MORE RESOURCES, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET BETTER TIMELINES ON THESE THINGS, I MEAN, IT IS KIND OF ONE TO BALANCE LIKE.
I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY WITH CLIMATE CHANGE BEING AS URGENT AS IT IS, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE US GETTING A LOT OF THIS STUFF DONE YESTERDAY, AND I KNOW THAT IT'S NOT REALISTIC TO ASK STAFF TO DO THAT.
AND SO I GUESS THAT IS KIND OF A BIG QUESTION THAT I COME WITH IS LIKE, WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR US TO DO THESE THINGS IN A MORE TIMELY MANNER AND WHEN WE DO GET THE THE NEXT ASSESSMENT OF OUR GREENHOUSE GAS OUTPUTS? WELL, I HAVE A FEELING THAT IT'S GOING TO BE BETTER, BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE ANYTHING CLOSE TO WHAT WE NEED TO REACH BY 2030 TO REALLY HAVE AN IMPACT.
AND I'M AWARE THAT YELLOWKNIFE LITTLE IMPACT ON THE WORLD IS SOMEWHAT NEGLIGIBLE.
BUT THAT SAID, THIS IS THE PLACE WHERE I CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. SO THIS IS THE PLACE WHERE, OF COURSE, WE SHOULD FIRST BE TRYING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE BECAUSE NOTHING I DO HERE IS GOING TO AFFECT CHINA REGARDLESS OF WHAT I DO.
SO. I GUESS, YEAH, THAT'S THE MAIN QUESTION FOR ME, LIKE, WHAT AS COUNCIL COULD WE DO TO ACCELERATE SOME OF THIS STUFF? IS IT POSSIBLE? DO YOU STOP JUST NOT EVEN THINK IT'S POSSIBLE? WHAT? WHAT WOULD BE INVOLVED? YEAH, I GUESS THERE'S THERE'S THE CITY CAPACITY AND THEN THERE'S THE CAPACITY OUTSIDE THE CITY TO DELIVER ON THE STIMULUS STUFF TOO, BECAUSE AGAIN, YOU KNOW, PUT OUT THESE RFPS.
IF EVERYBODY IS SWAMPED AND CAN'T DO OUR GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS OR THEY CAN'T GET OUR DISTRICT HEATING POLICY CREATED IN IN A TIMELY WAY, THERE'S THE CITY CAN'T JUST THROW MORE MONEY AT THAT.
WELL, MAYBE WE COULD. MAYBE WE COULD DOUBLE THEIR CONTRACT AND ALL OF A SUDDEN WE'D BE FRONT OF THE LINE, BUT.
SO, YEAH, IT'S LIKE, WHAT CAN THE CITY DO, I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS ON THAT AND GIVE THAT ONE MAYBE TO SHEILA NEXT, BUT ALSO RECOGNIZING.
WHAT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND RESIDENTS ARE DOING TO LIKE, YOU KNOW, IT WASN'T FLAGGED IN THIS PRESENTATION, BUT THE DISTRICT HEATING THAT [INAUDIBLE] IS AWESOME AND THE CITY HAD A PART TO PLAY IN THAT PERMITTING PROCESS.
AND HOPEFULLY THE DISTRICT HEATING POLICY OR DISTRICT HEATING ENERGY POLICY WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS ON WAYS TO IMPROVE THE CITY'S PERMITTING AND SUPPORT OF THOSE PROJECTS IN THE FUTURE.
BUT YEAH, IT IS, I GUESS, THE MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION ON HOW CAN WE MAKE ALL OF THIS STUFF GO FASTER? AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S ALWAYS JUST THROWING MORE MONEY AT THE PROBLEM THAT IT WILL HELP. BUT SHEILA, YOU GOT TO.
YEAH, THANKS. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM, JULIAN, BECAUSE IT'S YEAH, HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING THE BANG FOR OUR BUCK THAT WE WANT TO SEE AS A COMMUNITY? AND WHAT I WAS REALLY STRUCK BY WHEN THE COMMUNITY AND CORPORATE ENERGY PLAN CAME FORWARD WAS SURE WE CAN DO THINGS WITHIN THE CITY.
I DON'T MEAN TO SOUND CAVALIER TO CHRIS AND CHRIS AND THE WHOLE TEAM THAT ARE WORKING ON IT. THAT'S THE STUFF THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ADVANCE IN A PRETTY TIMELY WAY AND BEEN RECOGNIZED FOR IT THROUGH FCM AND DIFFERENT PLAYERS FOR SOME OF OUR BIOMASS WORK.
BUT THE AREA THAT WE REALLY NEED TO PUT THE FOCUS ON IS ON THE COMMUNITY, NOT JUST THE CORPORATE CITY WITHIN ITSELF, BUT HOW IS IT THAT THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE CAN WE SUPPORT THIS KIND OF WORK HAPPENING? SO I AM REALLY PLEASED ABOUT THE DISTRICT ENERGY POLICY.
WE'VE HAD SOME OUTREACH ON SOME INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES THAT ARE GOING ON IN THAT AREA,
[01:20:04]
WHICH I THINK UNDER OUR POLICY THAT OPENS THE DOOR.THEN FOR FOUR DIFFERENT PLAYERS WHO WANT TO SEEK TO USE SOME OF THOSE NEW INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES, THEY CAN DO SO THERE'S A FRAMEWORK FOR HOW THIS HAPPENS.
SO I'M VERY OPTIMISTIC THAT LOOKING AT THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH IT WAS, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN REALLY.
CAPITALIZE ON AND SEEK TO DO MORE WORK IN THAT AREA.
THE DISTRICT ENERGY POLICY IS THE BIG BANG FOR OUR BUCK, WE KNOW, AND THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF THE FOCUS IS GOING.
SO THE COMMUNITY SIDE OF THINGS IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT.
LACHLAN, YOU'VE GOT SOME THOUGHTS ON THIS AS WELL IF YOU YOU WANT TO SHARE.
HMM. YEAH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I GUESS MONEY IS [INAUDIBLE], BUT IT ISN'T JUST SPENDING MONEY ON ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING, IT IS REALLY TAKING THE LOOK TO THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE MEANS OF REDUCING GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.
AND I COME AT IT FROM THAT KIND OF LIFE CYCLE PERSPECTIVE.
AND WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT COSTING AND BALANCING COSTS OVER A LIFE RIGHT NOW, WE'RE JUST LOOKING AT THROUGH COSTS THAT DOESN'T INCORPORATE THE COSTS THAT WE COULD APPLY TO EMISSIONS LIKE THE COST OF CARBON.
AND THERE'S CERTAINLY A CARBON TAX THAT'S ALREADY APPLIED OUTSIDE.
BUT IF THERE IS MONEY TO BE SPENT OR MONEY TO BE JUSTIFIED ON REDUCING EMISSIONS, DETERMINING HOW MUCH WE'RE WILLING TO APPROVE PER TON HELPS BECAUSE THEN IT'S IT'S IT ALLOWS THE ADMINISTRATION TO IDENTIFY THE BEST OPPORTUNITIES, THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE OPPORTUNITIES, AND THEN THOSE HAVE THE SUPPORT.
UH, TO TO SPEND THE MONEY, BECAUSE THERE ARE ONLY SO MANY, UNFORTUNATELY, TECHNOLOGIES THAT CAN ACCOMPLISH A GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION AT A NEUTRAL OR NEGATIVE COST, AND EVENTUALLY WE HAVE TO START SPENDING MONEY TO REDUCE EMISSIONS.
MAYBE I'LL JUST JUMP IN HERE FOR A SECOND.
ONE COULD ARGUE THAT ANOTHER PART OF CLIMATE CHANGE IS ACTUALLY KEEPING OUR HOUSE IN ORDER. CHRIS IS A BIG FAN OF SAYING THAT IT'S LIKE MAKING SURE OUR OPERATIONS RUN AS SMOOTHLY AS POSSIBLE.
MAKE SURE WE'RE REPAIRING WATER BREAKS, MAKE SURE THE LANDFILL IS IN GOOD OPERATING ORDER, MAKING SURE OUR FLEET IS RUNNING IN GOOD WORKING ORDER AND NOT PUTTING A BLUE SMOKE ALL OVER TOWN.
SO THINGS LIKE THAT AND JUST KEEPING THINGS RUNNING SMOOTHLY IS ALSO.
IT'S NOT A DIRECT, SHINY HEADLINE TOPIC, BUT IT DOES CONTRIBUTE TO THE OVERALL WELL-BEING AND OUTPUT OF THE CITY.
YEAH, I AGREE, AND THIS IS THE THING LIKE, I THINK SHINY HEADLINES ARE GREAT, BUT THERE'S LOTS OF STUFF THAT THAT AND THAT'S PART OF THE ROLE THAT I THINK COUNCILLOR CAN PLAY LIKE I'VE HAD. AND ONE OF THE REASONS I ASKED THIS QUESTION IS BECAUSE, OF COURSE, AS A POLITICIAN, PEOPLE COME TO ME WITH THESE QUESTIONS A LOT.
WHY AREN'T YOU DOING MORE ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE? WHY DON'T YOU DO THIS OR DO THAT? AND. IT'S BECOME A BIT OF A DIFFICULT QUESTION TO ANSWER, BECAUSE I FIND LIKE I'VE COME TO AN ADMINISTRATION OFTEN WITH LIKE, WELL, IF WE WANTED TO DO MORE, WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE? WHAT WHAT COULD POLITICIANS DO? AND LIKE, I WASN'T NECESSARILY SUGGESTING WE JUST THROW MONEY AT THE PROBLEM.
I WAS KIND OF ASKING, IS THERE ANYTHING AT THE COUNCIL LEVEL THAT COULD BE HAPPENING OR ISN'T HAPPENING? PERHAPS THAT'S STANDING IN THE WAY OF ADMINISTRATION HITTING THESE TARGETS MORE QUICKLY.
THAT'S KIND OF WHERE I WAS TRYING TO GET AT IS LIKE, WOULD THERE BE SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, COMING UP FOR BUDGET 2022, THAT I AS A COUNCILLOR COULD BRING FORWARD AND SAY, LOOK, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COULD HELP US ACCELERATE THIS ITEM OR THIS ONE.
AND I THINK THAT IT'S IT'S AN INTERESTING ONE BECAUSE I THINK MOST THINGS THAT COUNCIL TALKS ABOUT MOST OF THE TIME WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TIMELINES ON THINGS, WE'VE GOT A PRETTY SMALL WORKFORCE AND WE'RE TRYING TO DO A LOT THAT THAT IS THE OVERARCHING MESSAGE THAT I THINK HAS BEEN DRIVEN HOME TO ME MORE THAN ANY OTHER ABOUT THE CITY IS THAT WE DO A LOT WITH NOT A WHOLE LOT.
IT WAS A WEIRD WAY OF WORKING IT.
BUT YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WE DON'T HAVE A HUGE STAFF THE WAY THE N.W.T.
DOES. WE DON'T HAVE 5000 EMPLOYEES.
WE'VE GOT A PRETTY SMALL WORKFORCE.
SO THE KIND OF THING THAT I'VE SORT OF COME TO IS THAT, WELL, ANYTIME THEY ASK FOR STAFF, I'M GOING TO WANT TO PROBABLY APPROVE THAT AND THAT MAYBE I WILL SAY, LIKE, YOU KNOW.
THIS THIS IS AN OPINION THAT NOT ALL COUNCILORS BRING TO THE TABLE, BUT I'VE ACTUALLY HAD QUITE A FEW PEOPLE REACH OUT TO ME OVER THE YEARS SAYING I DON'T THINK THAT YELLOWKNIFE IS OVERTAXED AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO PAY MORE IF IT IF IT RESULTED IN DIFFERENT RESULTS.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'VE ACTUALLY BEEN INCREASINGLY HEARING FROM PEOPLE AS WELL, WHICH I THINK IS REALLY INTERESTING.
[01:25:01]
AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LOVE TO KIND OF BRING TO THE TABLE.I KNOW THAT NOT ALL RESIDENTS FEEL THAT WAY, AND ABSOLUTELY THERE'S THERE'S DIFFERING OPINIONS IN THE COMMUNITY, AND AS A COUNCIL, WE CAN REPRESENT ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT VIEWS. I THINK THAT THERE'S THERE'S PEOPLE WHO BRING THE EXACT OPPOSITE ARGUMENT TO THE TABLE. AND SO THAT'S THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT POLITICS IS THAT WE HAVE A DIVERSITY OF VIEWS ON COUNCIL. SO YEAH, I GUESS I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT.
I DON'T WANT TO BELABOR THE POINT, BUT BUT WOULD JUST SAY THAT IF THERE ARE THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE, IT'S SOMETHING THAT I'D BE WILLING TO LOOK AT.
SO IF IF A LACK OF RESOURCES IS STANDING IN THE WAY, THEN TELL US ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I WANT TO ADDRESS.
ON THE OTHER HAND, IF STAFF DON'T THINK THAT'S THE CASE, THAT'S A MESSAGE THAT I NEED TO HEAR AS WELL, TOO, BECAUSE IT HELPS ME TO COMMUNICATE WITH RESIDENTS WHO ARE COMING TO ME WHO ARE ANXIOUS ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE.
WE'VE GOT LOTS OF YOUTH IN THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE REALLY ACTIVE ABOUT THIS, AND IT'S VERY DIFFICULT AS A POLITICIAN TO KIND OF SHRUG MY SHOULDERS WHEN THEY COME TO ME AND ASK ME QUESTIONS. I WANT TO BE ABLE TO TELL THEM WHAT A WE'RE DOING ALL THESE EXCITING THINGS, AND WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO TAKE ACTION.
YEAH, THANKS, SHEILA, IF I CAN.
THANKS, JULIE, AND THAT REALLY MEANS A LOT AND TYPICAL OF THIS COUNCIL.
YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN REALLY SUPPORTIVE YOUR YOUR CRITICAL THINKERS, BUT YOU'RE SUPPORTIVE OF ADMINISTRATION AND WE SEE THAT AND IT MEANS A LOT.
SO WHAT IS IT? MORE MONEY, MORE RESOURCES? I THINK WHAT'S A REAL CHALLENGE FOR US RIGHT NOW IS.
NOT JUST CITY OPERA LIKE THIS IS THE THE CURVEBALL THAT'S BEEN THROWN AT US BY COVID IS PACKING A PUNCH, NOT JUST HOW WE DEAL WITH THINGS DAY TO DAY AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO SHUT FACILITIES AGAIN.
IT HAS. IT'S HAVING A MAJOR IMPACT ON OUR ABILITY TO KEEP THINGS GOING.
YOU'LL SEE, JUST LOOKING AT THE SCREEN, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING FROM HOME. THERE'S 10 PEOPLE UPSTAIRS AT CITY HALL, 10 OR DOWNSTAIRS, AND THAT'S IT.
AND THE STRAIN OF THAT IS IS BEING FELT.
SO WE'RE WANTING TO MAKE SURE.
AND EVEN AS AN MAYOR ALTY ALLUDED TO THAT WE'VE GONE OUT ON SOME CONTRACTS.
WE'VE GONE OUT TO SEEK TO HIRE AND WE CAN'T FIND PEOPLE, WE CAN'T GET THE CONSULTANTS AND THAT WE'RE FEELING THAT PAIN AS WELL.
SO IT'S NOT JUST WITHIN THE CITY, IT'S WITHIN THE RESOURCES AND CAPACITY AROUND US.
I MEAN, OF COURSE, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE OUR WAY THROUGH THIS.
BUT THIS IS AGAIN, THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT VALUE.
AND I THINK ONE OF THE GOOD THINGS THAT WE CAN DO IS, AND I BELIEVE CHRIS HIGHLIGHTED THIS AT THE END OF THE SLIDE.
THERE'S A COMMITMENT THAT WE MADE TO COUNSEL WITH THE COMMUNITY ENERGY PLAN, OUR COMMUNITY ENERGY PLAN COMMITTEE NO LONGER BEING IN PLACE.
WE HAVE A COMMITMENT TO DO A ROUNDTABLE WITH THE COMMUNITY TO SAY WE KNOW THIS IS A PRIORITY WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
WE HEAR GRETA THUNBERG JUST EVEN TODAY TALKING BLAH BLAH BLAH, BECAUSE GOVERNMENT, THAT'S ALL GOVERNMENT DOES AND DOESN'T ACT.
THIS IS REAL FOR PEOPLE AND WE FEEL THIS AND WE FEEL THAT THE OPPORTUNITY AT A ROUNDTABLE TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THE INFORMATION ON WHAT WE'RE DOING SO THAT PEOPLE AT LEAST HAVE THAT WORKING KNOWLEDGE BECAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT, I THINK WE'RE DOING STUFF.
WE DON'T ALWAYS PUT AS MUCH EMPHASIS ON GETTING THAT INFORMATION OUT TO THE PUBLIC BECAUSE WE'RE DOING IT AS OPPOSED TO SOMETIMES WE CAN FEEL A LITTLE BIT LIKE IT'S, YOU KNOW, WE MOVE ON TO THE NEXT PROJECT AS OPPOSED TO SAYING, HEY, DID YOU KNOW THAT HERE'S THE 10 THINGS WE'RE DOING? SO I THINK THAT THIS COMMUNITY ROUNDTABLE THAT WE'VE COMMITTED TO DO THE COUNCIL HAS DIRECTED US TO DO WILL BE A REALLY GOOD THING AND A CONSTRUCTIVE THING TO DO. I WAS.
OUR PLANS ARE TO DO IT IN THE NEAR FUTURE, I THINK IS WHAT WE'VE SAID.
IDEALLY, I'D LOVE TO BE ABLE TO DO IT THIS FALL, BUT WE DO HAVE A PRETTY FULL AGENDA BETWEEN ZONING AQUATIC CENTER LEVELS OF SERVICE DUE TO COVID.
A FEW THINGS LIKE THAT THAT ARE IMPACTING, BUT I THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO GET OUT AND HOPEFULLY THAT THIS MEETING, IF THERE IS ANYONE WATCHING OR ANY MEDIA COVERAGE, CAN AT LEAST SHARE SOME OF THIS INFORMATION AND THAT WE DO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ON.
HERE ARE THE THINGS WE WERE DOING.
AND IF THERE IS INPUT ON THINGS THAT THE COMMUNITY WOULD LIKE TO SEE US DO MORE OF OR DO DIFFERENTLY. THANKS FOR THAT HOPE UPON HOPE THAT WHEN WE DO DO THE COMMUNITY ROUNDTABLE, MAYBE WE CAN DO IT IN PERSON.
YEAH, I AGREE THAT THAT MAYBE THIS FALL WOULD BE A BIT EARLY FOR THAT.
AND FOR THAT REASON, FRANKLY, I THINK IF WE DID IT ONLINE, IT'S JUST NOT GOING TO HAVE THE SAME IMPACT. THE LAST POINT I FORGOT TO MAKE, AND THIS IS ONE THAT I'VE BEEN REALLY TRYING TO DRIVE HOME TO PEOPLE, IS THAT A LOT OF THE CHANGES MUNICIPALITIES CAN DO JUST ARE AROUND THE DESIGN OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, I'VE BECOME VERY EXCITED ABOUT OUR NEW ZONING BYLAW.
I KNOW THAT THERE'S A BIG CONVERSATION HAPPENING IN THE COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW.
SOME PEOPLE ARE A LITTLE BIT UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE IDEA OF NEIGHBORHOODS BECOMING MIXED USE OF INCREASING DENSITY.
AND I THINK A BIG ROLE THAT THAT US, AS POLITICIANS CAN PLAY IS HELPING PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT HOW WE DESIGN THIS COMMUNITY, HOW WE BUILD THIS COMMUNITY IS A HUGE PIECE OF THE
[01:30:05]
CLIMATE CHANGE PUZZLE AND A LOT OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN COMING TO ME SORT OF WITH INITIAL CONCERNS. I KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN AN EDITORIAL THAT'S KIND OF DRUMMED UP SOME CONCERN ABOUT IT COMING TO ME, AND I'VE KIND OF POINTED OUT TO THEM, WELL, HEY, LIKE, HERE'S SOMEBODY WHO CARES A LOT ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE, LIKE THIS IS ONE OF THE BIG STEPS THAT WE CAN TAKE. AND SO I THINK THAT'S A ROLE THAT I'VE BEEN TRYING TO PLAY AS A POLITICIAN IS TO HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE POSITIVES THAT COME FROM SOME OF THESE CHANGES. BECAUSE I THINK THAT INTERESTINGLY, AND I THINK I HAVE A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON THIS, BUT A LOT OF POLITICAL ROLES ARE JUST AND WHAT THE MUNICIPALITY DOES.AND YOU GUYS KNOW THIS BETTER THAN I DO BECAUSE YOU DEAL WITH CITIZENS, PROBABLY MORE SO THAN WE DO ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS.
IT'S JUST YOU'RE HELPING PEOPLE UNDERSTAND, CHANGE AND MAKE MAKE AMENDS WITH WITH CHANGE HAPPENING IN THE COMMUNITY. IT'S IT'S NOT SO MUCH THAT PEOPLE DON'T WANT CERTAIN THINGS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. IT'S JUST THE IDEA OF CHANGE SCARES THEM.
YOU HAVE TO KIND OF HELP THEM UNDERSTAND HOW IT COULD ALSO BE POSITIVE SO THAT THEY ACTUALLY TRY TO DO. BUT I THINK THAT IT IS.
THE ZONING BYLAW THAT WE'RE BRINGING FORWARD IS INCREDIBLY PROGRESSIVE.
IT'S REALLY EXCITING AND I THINK COULD HAVE LONG TERM IMPACTS ON THE COMMUNITY'S GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.
IDENTIFYING THE COMMUNITY IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE CAN DO.
PEOPLE WON'T BE DRIVING BECAUSE THEY DON'T NEED TO BECAUSE IT IS MORE WALKABLE.
SO I THINK I THINK THAT'S A BIG ONE.
REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT AND COMMEND STAFF ON THE GREAT WORK THAT'S HAPPENED ON IT SO FAR. I'M REALLY EXCITED TO BE POTENTIALLY BRINGING FORWARD WHAT I THINK WILL BE A VERY PROGRESSIVE AND MODERN ZONING BYLAW.
I THINK THE CITY WILL BE CELEBRATED FOR IT IF WE MANAGE TO GET IT THROUGH WITHOUT TOO MANY CHANGES. THANKS, JOHN.
ANOTHER PLUG FOR THE ZONING BYLAW, IT'S LIKE IF YOU WANT INITIAL COMMENTS, SEND THEM IN BY THIS FRIDAY, BUT STILL HAVE TIME UNTIL THE STATUTORY PUBLIC HEARING.
SO THAT'S END OF NOVEMBER, SO TAKE SOME TIME OVER THE FALL.
TAKE A LOOK AT THE GLOBE AND MAIL'S ARTICLE ABOUT DENSITY AND CLIMATE CHANGE AND HOW MAKING COMPLETE NEIGHBORHOODS CAN REDUCE NOT ONLY THE VEHICLE TRAFFIC.
BUT HAVING A DUPLEX VERSUS TWO HOUSES IS MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT AND SUPPORTS CLIMATE CHANGE. SO TAKE A BREATH IF YOU CAN SEND US SOME COMMENTS BY FRIDAY.
IF NOT, WE STILL HAVE THE STATUTORY PUBLIC HEARINGS, SO PLENTY OF TIME TO REVIEW AND GET BACK TO US AND YOUR THOUGHTS.
WITH THAT, I DO KIND OF WANT TO BE MINDFUL OF EVERYBODY'S TIME SO EVERYBODY CAN KIND OF GET BACK TO WORK AND SEE ALL THESE CLIMATE CHANGE INITIATIVES THROUGH.
ANY FURTHER COMMENTS BEFORE WE SIGN OFF? SEEING NONE THEN OUR NEXT MEETING IS GPC, WHICH IS ON MONDAY AT NOON, AND WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS BUDGET 2022, WHERE WE CAN SUPPORT CLIMATE CHANGE ACTIVITIES THERE.
SO LOOK FORWARD TO THE DISCUSSION.
[INAUDIBLE] AND IF ANYBODY HAD ANY COMMENTS ABOUT THE MINUTES FROM THE PAST MEETING BEING
[3. Minutes from Council Administration Round Table June 10, 2021.]
NONE, THAT'S GOOD.SO MOTION TO ADJOURN, MOVED BY NIELS, SECONDED BY JULIAN.
SEE YOU MONDAY AT LUNCH.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.