The Conservation Authorities Advisory Committee met on Thursday, March 6, 2014, at 11:16 a.m. in the Council Chamber, Regional Administrative Headquarters, Suite A, 10 Peel Centre Drive, Brampton.

Members Present:	E. Kolb; P. Mullin, P. Palleschi; J. Sprovieri; R. Starr; A. Thompson; J. Tovey; R. Whitehead
Members Absent:	C. Fonseca, due to a personal matter; N. Iannicca, due to other municipal business
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-1-2014:

That the agenda for the March 6, 2014, Conservation Authorities Advisory Committee meeting be approved.

3. DELEGATIONS

Received

A copy of the presentation is available from the Office of the Regional Clerk.

John Kinkead, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer and Director, Water Resources Management and Restoration, Credit Valley Conservation Authority, provided background on the extreme rainfall events that have occurred during the past 4 years and the related flood plain vulnerabilities. John Kinkead identified different types of Low Impact Developments (LID) which have been incorporated in the Region of Peel highlighting the success of the Elm Drive Road retrofit and he provided examples of practices that can be used for commercial and residential sites.

Councillor Mullin stated that the City of Mississauga passed a resolution to construct LID wherever possible and that the resolution will be forwarded to the Region of Peel.

In response to a question raised by Councillor Mullin, John Kinkead stated that there is a coordinated approach between the Conservation Authorities (CAs), area municipalities and the Region of Peel, to prioritize problem areas that were flooded. He noted that the Region of Peel’s first priority is to disconnect residential down spouts to sanitary sewers in areas that were flooded.

Dan Labrecque provided an update on the issues of residential down spouts, indicating that different solutions are required and that a report will be forthcoming to a Regional Council meeting to provide different options.

Regional Chair Kolb asked if additional top soil placed in new developments that have clay soils would assist with flooding issues. John Kinkead stated that not all LID practices depend on water infiltration directly into soils. Some of the bio retention features such as permeable pavement that has a proper base (such as 2 feet of granular material), stores high volumes of rainfall during a short period of time, and eventually infiltrates water into the sub-soils over a longer period.

Councillor Tovey asked if there are any examples of bio swales that have a wet pond which turns into a dry pond. He noted that the use of bio swales would reduce the cost of cleaning storm water ponds and also reduce the size of developable land required to host a large storm water pond. John Kinkead responded that there is one example in Halton Hills near the village of Glen Williams, and that this component of LID is being reviewed.

4. REPORTS

Received

A copy of the presentation is available from the Office of the Regional Clerk.

Arvin Prasad, Director, Integrated Planning Division recapped previous reports and staff directions from the past Conservation Authority Advisory Committee meetings. Arvin Prasad cited legislative changes to Federal and Provincial environmental Acts. He stated that scientific knowledge has confirmed global climate change and he provided examples of the environmental effects of global warming.

Councillor Mullin raised concern of the lack of Provincial commitment for funding programs such as the Provincial Source Water Protection. Councillor Tovey requested that the Federal and Provincial legislative changes and impacts on budgets be referred to the Intergovernmental Relations Advisory Committee for further review.

Councillor Whitehead raised concern regarding the Oak Ridges Moraine legislation which requires rural estate subdivisions in the Palgrave Estate area to convey non-developable lands to the Toronto Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) for environmental protection. He noted that the responsibility of the land stewardship will fall to the Regional taxpayers and he requested that a separate line item be included in future budgets to monitor costs associated with the conveyance of lands to the TRCA.

Received

RECOMMENDATION CAAC-2-2014:

That Regional staff continue to work with Conservation Authority staff regarding the findings of the risk assessment as outlined in the report of the Chief Financial Officer and Commissioner of Corporate Services dated February 12, 2014 titled "Climate Change Risk being Addressed by the Conservation Authorities", specifically to:

• Reallocate funding to highest risk and emerging priorities;
• Address funding gaps for risks that may need enhanced investments;
• Incorporate this risk analysis into the Conservation Authorities budgeting process where practicable and to provide an annual report on how risks are being addressed;

And further, that a copy of the subject report be forwarded to the Credit Valley Conservation Authority (CVC) and the Toronto Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) for their consideration.

A copy of the presentation is available from the Office of the Regional Clerk.

Arvin Prasad, Director, Integrated Planning Division provided an overview of the Climate Change risk analysis, the risk assessment methodology used and the benefits of risk assessment. He identified higher and medium risk assessments and vulnerability gaps that may require enhanced investments.

David Szwarc, Chief Administrative Officer, stated that the risk analysis was undertaken to determine if the funding for Climate Change was being utilized effectively and the associated risks. He noted that 57 per cent of the Climate Change funding is allocated for high risk areas, 34 per cent for medium risks and 9 per cent for low risks. David Szwarc sought direction as to the type of role the Region of Peel should assume in working with the Conservation Authorities to set Climate Change priorities.

Councillor Mullin responded that the CA’s have expert staff and that they should set the priorities as the need arises, in coordination with Regional and area municipal staff.

In response to a question raised by Councillor Sprovieri, Brian Denney, Chief Executive Officer, TRCA, stated that the low priority risk areas such as education and community engagement may have long term benefits regarding Climate Change, whereas high risk areas address short term benefits.

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 May 29, 2014, at 9:30 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 12:48 p.m.