Confirmation of Minutes

On motion by Councillor Moeser, the Minutes of the Meeting of the Parks and Environment Committee held on June 16, 2009, were confirmed.

The Parks and Environment Committee:

1.         recognized and thanked the following staff for their efforts in addressing climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions:

-           Lawson Oates, Director, Toronto Environment Office;

-           Geoff Rathbone, General Manager, Solid Waste Management;

-           Roberto Stopnicki, Director, Traffic Management Centre;

-           Paul Nause, Manager, Traffic Plant Installation and Maintenance;

-           Elena Gruia, Project Manager, Energy and Waste Management Office, Facilities and Real Estate;

-           Gerry Pietschmann, Director, Fleet Services;

-           Sarah Gingrich, Project Manager, Fleet Services; and

-           Arlene Campbell, General Manager, Sales and Events, Exhibition Place;

2.         received for information the (September 3, 2009) report from the Director, Toronto Environment Office. 

On June 16, 2009 the City of Toronto and Exhibition Place received national recognition from the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) for their efforts in addressing climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The CCME comprises the fourteen environment ministers from federal, provincial and territorial governments in Canada.  These ministers meet to coordinate action on interjurisdictional issues such as climate change, waste management, air pollution and toxic chemicals. Since 1997, the CCME has been sponsoring its annual Pollution Prevention Awards to give national recognition to companies and organizations with cutting-edge accomplishments and leadership in pollution prevention.

For 2009, the City of Toronto was given the award in the category of greenhouse gas reductions, in recognition of the actions being taken by City Council through its Climate Change, Clean Air and Sustainable Energy Action Plan and the fact that emissions from the City’s corporate operations have been reduced by over 40% against 1990 levels.

Exhibition Place received an honourable mention in the same category for their ongoing implementation of various energy efficiency initiatives and their utilization of leading edge green technologies.

The Parks and Environment Committee:

1.         requested the Chief of Protocol, City Clerk’s Office to work with Girl Guides of Canada-Guides du Canada (CGC) to discuss the timing and method of having a flag-raising event in all the Civic Centres and in scheduling the timing of Mayor Miller's declaration of "Girl Guide Day" as part of the City of Toronto's participation in celebrating the 100th anniversary in 2010 of this organization; and

2.         received for information the (August 21, 2009) report from the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation.

Staff of the Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division have received and reviewed a request from Ms. Penny Waddington, Program Director, Girl Guides of Canada-Guides du Canada (GGC), seeking the City’s participation in celebrating this worthy organization’s 100^th anniversary in 2010.

Girl Guides of Canada-Guides du Canada is seeking to accomplish the goal of creating a flower bed in each Ontario municipality to commemorate this landmark occasion in its history, and have requested that planting with the City of Toronto take place in spring 2010.

Staff of Parks, Forestry and Recreation would be pleased to honour the 100^th anniversary of Girl Guides of Canada-Guides du Canada.  Our Horticulture section looks forward to working with the group to establish one of the City’s plant beds, likely in its annual University Avenue display, as Toronto’s contribution to the celebration in 2010.

City Council on August 5 and 6, 2009 referred Motion MM38.12 to the Parks and Environment Committee requesting staff to evaluate and report on the success of the City's Parks Cash in Lieu Policy.