The Conservation Authorities Advisory Committee met on Thursday, October 24, 2013, at 8:10 a.m. in the Council Chamber, Regional Administrative Headquarters, Suite A, 10 Peel Centre Drive, Brampton.

Members Present:	E. Kolb; C. Fonseca; P. Mullin, P. Palleschi*; R. Starr*; A. Thompson; J. Tovey; R. Whitehead
Members Absent:	N. Iannicca; J. Sprovieri
Also Present:	D. Szwarc, Chief Administrative Officer; N. Trim, Chief Financial Office and Commissioner of Corporate Services; D. Labrecque, Commissioner, Public Works; A. Prasad, Director, Integrated Planning Division; L. Miller, Advisor, Environmental Planning; K. Lockyer, Director of Clerk’s and Regional Clerk, H. West, Committee Clerk; S. Valleau, Legislative Assistant

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* See text for arrivals
¨See text for departures

Chaired by Councillor J. Tovey.

1. DECLARATIONS OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST – Nil

2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

RECOMMENDATION CAAC-5-2013:

That the agenda for the October 24, 2013, Conservation Authorities Advisory Committee meeting, be approved.

3. DELEGATIONS – Nil

4. REPORTS

Received

Councillor Starr arrived at 8:13 a.m.

Councillor Mullin stated that it is difficult to compare the amount of fees collected between the Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) and the Toronto Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) because the development occurring in the various watersheds varies in magnitude. She noted that the CVC’s revenue projections are not materializing and there needs to be a review on: how to collect fees to maintain resources; developers paying permit fees upfront; charging interest on outstanding invoices; and the amount charged for small applications.

Gary Murphy, Director, Planning, CVC responded that a report will be presented to the CVC Board in November, 2013 to address some of the issues raised.

Councillor Mullin raised concern regarding the increased amount of staff resources and time spent to attend Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) hearings and asked if these costs are recoverable.

Councillor Tovey stated that Master Plans and Secondary Plans also take a great amount of staff resources and asked if the costs are recoverable.

Gary Murphy replied that the Master Plans and Secondary Plans are recovered through the general levy, however more explicit reports, such as, subwatershed studies and environmental implementation reports are recovered through additional fees. He added that the general levy covers staff time and resources at OMB hearings.

Councillor Whitehead suggested that CVC fees be increased to make them comparable to the TRCA fees and to ensure full cost recovery.

Councillor Whitehead wanted it noted that Greenfield development is currently active in the TRCA watershed areas and that Greenfield development will become active in the CVC watershed areas in future years.

Councillor Thompson raised concern for increasing fees on minor or small applications noting that farmers and small businesses do not have the capital to pay for increased fees.

Received

Copies of the presentations are available from the Office of the Regional Clerk.

Councillor Palleschi arrived at 9:04 a.m.

I) Arvin Prasad, Director, Integrated Planning Division, provided data on the July 8, 2013 flooding, recent rainfall events and highlighted the collaborative efforts being implemented to manage Climate Change. He noted that climate change funding is being allocated to areas of highest risk and that a risk assessment, to determine if the right mitigation plans are in place, will be completed and brought back to the Committee in early 2014.

Councillor Thompson stated that the high energy created from water runoff during flooding situations needs to be controlled; and that public education on managing storm events will assist residents to mitigate property damage.

Regional Chair Kolb raised concern that the presentation does not address how to fix the current flooding issues such as the Cooksville Creek and he suggested that climate change funds need to be specifically allocated to correct current flooding issues.

Councillor Mullin stated that the Cooksville Creek Taskforce has undertaken a review of the Creek and that priorities will need to be set to determine the different causes and reasons of various flooding areas in the Region of Peel. She noted that addressing the flooding issues will require a tremendous amount of financing and that the infrastructure required to fix current issues may not be enough.

Councillor Whitehead referred to the mitigation remedy of expanding the tree canopy and he noted that the Humber Watershed Report Card indicates that forestry in the Town of Caledon is in poor condition and stated that a forest management program is required to increase the tree canopy cover.

II) Brian Denney, Chief Administrative Officer, Toronto Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), provided an overview of the climate risk and vulnerabilities in the Region of Peel; Peel climate strategy goals, funding allocation by risk mitigation actions; TRCA project highlights; and future pressures.

III) Deborah Martin-Downs, Chief Administrative Officer, Credit Valley Conservation (CVC), provided a history of budget funding information for three areas regarding climate change including: watershed projects; ecosystem projects; and education projects. She highlighted the 2012 projects and activities and investments made with Climate Change funding.

David Szwarc, Chief Administrative Officer, thanked the TRCA and CVC staff for preparing the presentations. He noted that the issue of Climate Change is very complex and that the Region of Peel, CVC and TRCA are working on a risk mitigation plan to prioritize available funding to receive short, mid and long term results.

Councillor Fonseca requested further data on the locations regarding future flood risks (slide 20) of the TRCA presentation, which projects that there are 1,200 flood vulnerable structures and 7,900 people at risk. Brian Denney undertook to provide Councillor Fonseca with the requested information.

Councillor Fonseca stated that Lester B. Pearson International Airport has many programs in place to address Climate Change, however, the Greater Toronto Airport Authority’s strategic plan is to make it an international hub which is contrary to the mitigation of ‘Reduced Air Travel’ as identified in the Region of Peel presentation.

Councillor Mullin requested that John Kinkead, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer and Director, CVC, present an update of the Cooksville Creek flooding issues and Low Impact Development (LID) at the next CAAC meeting.

5. COMMUNICATIONS – Nil

6. IN CAMERA – Nil

7. OTHER BUSINESS – Nil

8. NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of the Conservation Authorities Advisory Committee is scheduled for January 30, 2014, at 11:00 a.m., Regional Administrative Headquarters, Suite A, Council Chamber, 5th floor, 10 Peel Centre Drive, Suite A, Brampton, ON.

Please forward regrets to Helena West, Committee Clerk, (905) 791-7800, extension 4697 or helena.west@peelregion.ca.

9. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 9:32 a.m.