Environment & Sustainability Experts Panel Minutes

Thursday, May 28, 2020

2:00 P.m. - 3:30 P.m.

Virtual

Present:

• Kieran Hanley, MBA - Sustainable Economic Growth, Chair
• Councillor Ian Froude, Council Representative
• Joel Finnis, PhD - Climate Science & Resilience
• Krista Langthorne, BA, SEBT - Resilience & Natural Resources
• Pablo Navarro - Socio-cultural & Quality of Life
• Joseph Daraio, PhD, PEng - Sustainable Urban Planning & Resilience
• Michel Wawrzkow, PEng, PGeo - Natural Environment & Resilience

Regrets:

• Dennis Knight, MSc, MCIP - Sustainable Urban Planning & Economic Growth

Staff:

• Edmundo Fausto, Sustainability Coordinator
• Shanna Fitzgerald, Legislative Assistant

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1.

CALL TO ORDER

2.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

• Moved By Michel Wawrzkow
  Seconded By Joel Finnis

  That the agenda be adopted as presented.

  Vote Type: Majority (Voted)
  MOTION CARRIED

3.

ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES

3.1

Adoption of Minutes - May 6, 2020

• Moved By Kieran Hanley
  Seconded By Joseph Daraio

  That the minutes of May 6, 2020 be adopted as presented.

  Vote Type: Majority (Voted)
  MOTION CARRIED

4.

BUSINESS ARISING

4.1

Chair Nomination and Introduction

At the kick-off meeting of the Environment and Sustainability Experts Panel, members were invited to self-nominate for the chair position. One self-nomination was received from Kieran Hanley. After confirmation there were no other nominations, Kieran Hanley was appointed as Chair of the Committee.

4.2

St. John’s Mitigation and Adaptation Baseline and Background Reports

The Panel reviewed the above cited reports and concur that it is appropriate to use these as the primary source of information to inform the discussions in the next steps of the Sustainability Plan.

4.3

Multistakeholder Working Group Membership

The proposed membership of the Multi-stakeholder Working Group was provided to the Panel and at the meeting of May 6 members were invited to review and provide their comments via email. The Panel recommended the additions of NL Department of Natural Resources, CCNL, NAACAP and AIM NET to the Working Group.

Members recommended inclusion of youth. The role of youth activist groups and/or representatives from high school organizations in Climate Change issues was discussed. The lessons from the Youth Engagement Action Team engagement will be reviewed to inform how to include youth in a meaningful way. The Youth Advisory Committee will be consulted on the process.

The Panel concurred that the membership has been reviewed and the membership proposed is a meaningful cross-section of perspectives from the community to inform the Sustainability Plan. A letter of invitation to the organizations approved by the Panel to date will be sent. Members were encouraged to provide contacts within the noted organizations to the Sustainability Coordinator to help focus out-reach to the approved organizations in the Working Group.

The Panel asked for an outline of the engagement process, activities and next steps of the Multi-stakeholder Working Group. A draft will be circulated to the Panel before the next meeting. 

5.

NEW BUSINESS

5.1

Review of Parking Requirements for Section 8 of the Envision St. John’s Development Regulations

The Sustainability Coordinator provided a brief overview of Parking Requirements in Section 8 of the Envision St. John’s Development Regulations. This item was referred to the Panel at the Regular Council meeting of May 11, 2020. 

During discussion, the following was noted:

• One of the substantial changes is the addition of maximums. Some jurisdictions have eliminated parking requirements altogether. Staff has proposed a reduction of the minimums and addition of maximums.
• Members considered what the parking standards should be and if there should be standards at all. The size of parking spaces for compact cars should be considered.
• Parking requirements for electric vehicles was noted to be mentioned briefly in the document with no further discussion on electric vehicles in the regulations. There has been some work from staff on evaluating what City regulations could be reviewed regarding electric vehicles and consultation for the Sustainability Plan will very soon be underway. Consultation with the stakeholders, as well as NL Hydro and Newfoundland Power was noted as required.
• Review of the parking requirements is an opportunity to add the electric vehicle requirements. The Panel will respond and identify electric vehicles as a gap and advise next steps to address that gap. 
• Members discussed if minimums are often exceeded. They were informed that they have been exceeded in some cases.
• The Panel noted that bicycle parking requirements are potentially positive and can create a space for alternative transportation.
• Additionally, public transportation planning efforts in the City are ongoing. The Transportation Division continues to work on mode-share targets to reduce vehicular movement through the City by switching to alternative forms of transportation such as public transit, foot, or bicycle.
• Hydrological impacts of parking minimums/maximums should be reviewed.
• The Panel noted the potential to highlight the use of Low Impact Development to support stormwater management and flood prevention. Development guidelines usually address this along with other drainage requirements. The Envision Plan is dealing with the number of parking spots.

The Panel was tasked to review over the next 2-3 weeks and provide feedback for inclusion in the recommendation to Council.

6.

OTHER BUSINESS

6.1

Drive Thru Referral

Periodically at Council there has been discussion surrounding Drive Thrus. This matter was referred to the Environment and Sustainability Experts Panel in October 2019, before the panel was formed. A report is expected to come forth for Council's review from staff and the Healthy City Strategy Steering Committee, and eventual referral to this Committee is anticipated.

7.

DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING

Proposed date of June 26, 2020.
Purpose of next meeting:

1. Review of Section 8 of the Envision St. John's Development Regulations
2. Final multi-stakeholder membership plan and youth engagement

8.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 2:53 pm.