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HomeMy Public PortalAbout2019-05-22_Council_Agenda_Public Package_FHCS_Following Comm of the Whole MeetingPage 1 of 2 of Agenda Cover Page(s) MUNICIPAL COUNCIL AGENDA Wednesday,May 22, 2019 Following the Committee of the Whole Meeting Change of Location to: Forest Heights Community School 847 Highway 12, Chester Basin, NS 1.MEETING CALLED TO ORDER 2.APPROVAL OF AGENDA/ORDER OF BUSINESS 3.PUBLIC INPUT SESSION (following Committee of the Whole Meeting) 5.COMMITTEE REPORTS 5.1 Committee of the Whole –May 22, 2019 –Warden Webber (receive minutes only) 5.3 Any other Committees. 6.MATTERS ARISING: 6.1 Request for Decision prepared by Strategic Initiatives Coordinator dated May 14, 2019 regarding Partners for Climate Protection Resolution for Transition 2050. (Origin: Council Meeting –August 9, 2018 –Motion 2018-343) 7.PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS 8.CORRESPONDENCE: 8.1 Email from Shelley Rafuse, Chair of Lunenburg PRIDE –Lunenburg Co. dated May 8, 2019 regarding PRIDE Flag Raising in the Municipality of the District of Chester. 9.NEW BUSINESS: 9.1 Request for Decision prepared by Community Development Department dated May 15, 2019 regarding Private Street Improvement and Maintenance Petition. 4. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING 4.1 Council – May 16, 2019 (approval of motions only) 5.2 Committee of the Whole – May 2, 2019 – Warden Webber Page 2 of 2 10.IN CAMERA 10.1 Section 22(2)(a) of the Municipal Government Act –Land Negotiations. 11.ADJOURNMENT REQUEST FOR DECISION Prepared By:Jonathan Meakin, Strategic Initiatives Coordinator Date May 14, 2019 Reviewed By:Dan McDougall, CAO Date May 17, 2019 Authorized By:Dan McDougall, CAO Date May 17, 2019 CURRENT SITUATION Following a Council Motion (2018-343) in August 2018 indicating the Municipality of Chester’s support for and commitment to Clean Foundation’s application for funding to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM)for a Partners for Climate Protection (PCP)Program project, Clean Foundation announced the application was successful. This Request for Decision provides more information about the planned Transition 2050 project, and outlines next steps,including the request to adopt a Council Resolution to Join the Partners for Climate Protection Program. RECOMMENDATION That Council adopt the FCM-ICLEI (Local Governments for Sustainability) Partners for Climate Protection Program Resolution (attached) in support of the Municipality of Chester’s participation in the Transition 2050 project. This Resolution calls on Council to appoint a staff person and an elected official to oversee the Municipality’s participation in the PCP Program. Staff recommend that Council appoint a Councillor, as required on page 2 of the Resolution, along with Jonathan Meakin, Strategic Initiatives Coordinator,as the staff person. BACKGROUND About the Transition 2050 Project The Transition 2050 project is a two-year partnership involving several municipalities (Town of Wolfville, Cumberland County, Inverness County, West Hants, and Town of Windsor)and Clean Foundation.Clean Foundation will facilitate the Transition 2050 project with the municipal partners to develop and introduce programs and initiatives that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions within a timeframe developed by the project partners. REPORT TO:Council SUBMITTED BY:Corporate Services DATE:May 22, 2019 SUBJECT:Partners for Climate Protection Resolution for Transition 2050 ORIGIN:Motion #2018-343 2 Request for Decision The goal of the Transition 2050 project is to increase the capacity, knowledge, and skills necessary to address GHG emissions reductions in participating communities.Participation in the PCP Program will involve GHG emissions experts working with a small working group from the Municipality to create a greenhouse gas emissions inventory and modelling tool, set emissions reduction targets, and develop a local action plan. The FCM funding will bring in professional support to help off-set demands on capacity and cover costs of completing the GHG inventory. Council’s August 2018 Motion For reference, the Motion Council passed at its August 9, 2018 Meeting is as follows: 2018-343 -MOVED by Councillor Church, SECONDED by Councillor Hector that Council authorize a letter be sent to Clean Nova Scotia committing to the project and the $5,000 of staff time over two years to determine bench marks for the Municipality.CARRIED. Why a Council Resolution? The Partners for Protection (PCP) PCP Program is the umbrella program for the Transition 2050 project. PCP is managed and delivered by FCM and ICLEI—Local Governments for Sustainability Canada (ICLEI Canada) and receives financial support from the Government of Canada and ICLEI Canada. Participation in, and support of, the PCP Program is determined by adoption of the PCP Council Resolution, which is the next step. The Resolution is necessary since the federal funding from the FCM by-passes the Province of Nova Scotia, and so the FCM requires support from participating Councils for the funding to reach the municipal level. Next Steps Should Council adopt the PCP Resolution,staff will forward the adopted Resolution to Clean Foundation and FCM. Clean Foundation will then begin establishing the Municipality’s GHG emissions inventories with support from the Sustainability Solutions Group. Clean Foundation will then meet with the Municipality’s working group to set up an initial meeting in June 2019. Staff proposed the following as a working group for the Transition 2050 project: Jonathan Meakin, Strategic Initiatives Coordinator (project lead for MOC) To be appointed, Councillor Malcolm Pitman, Director of Finance Greg Jonah, Engineering Technologist 3 Request for Decision DISCUSSION Presented for information and decision only. IMPLICATIONS Policy N/A Financial/Budgetary Council has committed to $5,000 in in-kind staff time over the next two years for the Transition 2050 project.In addition to working towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions, project goals, as outlined in the Partners for Climate Protection “Five-Milestone Framework for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions”,include cost savings and job creation/local economic development. Strategic Plan Participation in the Transition 2050 project will assist the Municipality in advancing the following of the Municipality’s six Strategic Goals: #1 Maintain a high level of fiscal responsibility #2 Continually improve satisfaction with municipal services #4 Strengthen and support environmental, cultural, and social resources #5 Continually reinforce the positive image of the Municipality through leadership in public engagement and communications #6 Promote conditions to foster economic prosperity Work Program Implications To be determined following meetings with Clean Foundation and partners. OPTIONS Council may: 1.Approve the Partners for Climate Protection Resolution as presented. 2.Not approve the Partners for Climate Protection Resolution as presented. ATTACHMENTS FCM-ICLEI (Local Governments for Sustainability) Partners for Climate Protection Program Resolution. Join the i_LEI (Local Governments for Sustainabilit Partners Protection WHEREAS it is well established that climate change is increasing the frequency of extreme weather events and posing other risks, such as drought, forest fires and rising sea levels, which present serious threats to our natural environment, our health, our jobs and our economy; WHEREAS the 2016 Paris Agreement, signed by more than 190 countries, including Canada, committed to limit the global temperature increase to below two degrees Celsius and to pursue efforts to limit this increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius, in order to avoid the most severe climate change impacts; WHEREAS local governments are essential to the successful implementation of the Paris Agreement; WHEREAS Canada's cities and communities influence approximately 50 per cent of national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and can drive systemic low -carbon practices, including: building high -efficiency buildings, undertaking building retrofits and developing district heating; building active transit, electric vehicle infrastructure and electrified public transit; implementing near -zero GHG waste plans; and delivering high -efficiency water and wastewater services; WHEREAS investments in these types of measures also reduce operating costs, help municipalities maintain and plan for future community services, protect public health, support sustainable community development, increase community resilience and reduce a community's vulnerability to environmental, economic and social stresses; WHEREAS a number of government and international and national organizations have called for greater cooperation among all stakeholders to meet reduction targets, including Canada's Big City Mayors' Caucus, which supports binding GHG emission reduction targets at the international, national and city levels, action plans that cut emissions, identification of risks and mitigation solutions, and regular municipal GHG emissions reporting; WHEREAS the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and ICLEI—Local Governments for Sustainability have established the Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) program to provide a forum for municipal governments to share their knowledge and experience with other municipal governments on how to reduce GHG emissions; WHEREAS over 300 municipal governments across Canada representing more than 65 per cent of the population have already committed to reducing corporate and community GHG emissions through the PCP program since its inception in 1994; WHEREAS PCP members commit to adopt a community GHG reduction target of 30 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030, in line with the Government of Canada's target, and to adopt a corporate GHG reduction target that is similar or more ambitious, and to consider adopting a deeper community and corporate emissions reduction target of 80 per cent by 2050; WHEREAS the PCP program is based on a five -milestone framework that involves completing a GHG inventory and forecast, setting a GHG reduction target, developing a local action plan, implementing the plan, and monitoring progress and reporting results; FEDERATION FEDERATION Local OF CANADIAN CANADIENNE DES MUNICIPALITIES MUNICIPALITES Governments for sustainability WHEREAS PCP members commit to carry out the five -milestone framework within 10 years of joining the program and to report on progress at least once every two years; WHEREAS PCP members accept they can be suspended from the program — subject to prior notice in writing by the PCP Secretariat — in the event of non -submission of progress reports within the established deadlines; BE IT RESOLVED that the municipality ofV, .1js'6c 0 z*(, endorse the Government of Canada's commitment to the Paris Agreement to limit global temperature increase to below two degrees Celsius and to pursue efforts to limit the global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius; and ; BE IT RESOLVED that the municipality of o is (;() c .° . review the guidelines on PCP member benefits and responsibilities an then communicate to FCM its participation in the PCP program and its commitment to achieving the milestones set out in the PCP five -milestone framework; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the municipality ofv,;Sk't'4 c rr (' appoint the following: a) Corporate staff person (Name) Joj5oi A ' I Contact number) Email address) 1 curr cn I'. b) Elected official (Name) Contact number) Email address) _ to oversee implementation of the PCP milestones and be the points of contact for the PCP program within the municipality. Signature Date FCMFEDERATION FEDERATION OF CANADIAN CANADIENNE DES MUNICIPALITIES MUNICIPALITES Local Governments for Sustainability SCIENTIFIC BACKGROUND The International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says in its 2014 Fifth Assessment Report that warming of the Earth's climate system is unequivocal and that "the IPCC is now 95 per cent certain that humans are the main cause of current global warming." The IPCC concludes this warming is caused primarily by increased atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide released from burning coal, oil and natural gas and from cutting trees and clearing land for agriculture and development. The IPCC has a high degree of confidence that the following climate -related impacts are occurring or will occur over the next century in North America: More frequent hot and fewer cold temperature extremes, resulting in longer and more frequent heat waves. More frequent and intense extreme precipitation events. Thawing of permafrost, causing greater emissions of greenhouse gases and leading to disruptions to infrastructure and the traditional ways of life in northern communities. Melting of glaciers and polar ice, causing sea level rise in over 70 per cent of coastal communities. Increased risk of extinction for a large fraction of terrestrial, freshwater and marine species, undermining food security in many regions. In urban areas, increase risks for people, assets, economies and ecosystems including risks from heat stress, storms and extreme precipitation, flooding, landslides, air pollution, drought, water scarcity, sea level rise and storm surges. In rural areas, impacts on water availability and supply, food security, infrastructure, and agricultural incomes, including shifts in food production areas. Under business -as -usual scenarios, the IPCC has high confidence that global surface temperature is likely to exceed two degrees Celsius by the end of the 21st Century. The IPCC observes that warming resulting from human influences could lead to abrupt or irreversible impacts, depending on the rate and magnitude of climate change, and that the more human activities disrupt the climate, the greater the risks. Under a stringent emission reduction scenario, the IPCC concludes that surface warming could be kept under two degrees Celsius, which would reduce the risks and impacts of climate change. FCMFEDERATION FEDERATION OF CANADIAN CANADIENNE DES MUNICIPALITIES IIUNICIPALITES Local Governments for Sustainability REQUEST FOR DECISION Prepared By:Sylvia Dixon, Development and Planning Technician Date 2019-05-15 Reviewed By:Tara Maguire, Director of Community Development Date 2019-05-17 Authorized By:Dan McDougall, CAO Date 2019-05-17 CURRENT SITUATION The Hidden Hill Lane Road Association requests that the Municipality collect Street Improvement and Maintenance fees on behalf of the association. These fees will be used to provide for annual snow removal and road paving.The association is asking for an annual maintenance budget of $631.15 for snow removal. As well as a road improvement budget of $23,821.35 for road paving , the cost of which will be recovered by the municipal finance department over a ten-year period. The levied portion of the tax will be “Per Owner Basis” as allowed in Section 5.2 of the Private Street Improvement & Maintenance By - Law. There are three (3) property owners in the affected area. The number of owners currently accessing Hidden Hill Lane is five (5), but the properties owners have requested to exempt or exclude two (2) property owners from the charge area since their driveway access points are located a short distance along Hidden Hill Lane. The ‘Hidden Hill Lane Road Association’ is registered with the Nova Scotia Registry of Joint Stock Companies as a Non-Profit Society under the Societies Act. (Incorporated DATE -Registry ID:3327451) 100% of the owners of real property owning 100% of the real property have signed the petition in agreement of Street improvement and maintenance (67% of real property is the minimum). -3/3 land owners voted YES which is 100%. RECOMMENDATION Accept the Hidden Hill Lane Petition Package for Private Street Improvement and Maintenance and direct finance staff to implement a special tax for the affected accounts to take effect in 201 9/2020 fiscal year. All the criteria required within the Private Street Improvement & Maintenance By -law #72 has been met. Staff are satisfied that the required support has been proven by the signed and returned petitions and that these owners represent the required percentage of land within the affected area. At this time, staff REPORT TO:Municipal Council SUBMITTED BY:Community Development Department DATE:May 22, 2019 SUBJECT:Private Street Improvement and Maintenance Petition ORIGIN:Request from Property Owner Adam Burgess 2 Request For Decision /Direction recommend that Council accept the signed petitions and direct Finance Staff to implement the Street Improvement Fee requested by a majority of owners of the Road Association. BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION Working with Adam Burgess, a resident of Fox Point and member of the Road Association, a petition has been circulated to determine if support exists to implement a fee, collected by the Municipality of Chester as a special tax, to cover upgrades and annual maintenance costs required for the street.Based on the signed and returned petitions, sufficient support has been received from members of the Road Association to proceed. As per the Private Street Improvement & Maintenance By -law, 67% of property owners, who also represent 67% of the land in the affected area (see attached Map) must provide positive responses to the petition. There are three (3)eligible property owners within the affected area.Three (3)positive responses have been received to date, which represents 100% of the total property owners.Staff would like to note,as requested by Adam Burgess,that two properties (PIDs 60081734,7 Hidden Hill Lane &60081726,9 Hidden Hill Lane) are to be excluded and have not been included in the above calculations. IMPLICATIONS Policy N/A Financial/Budgetary N/A Environmental N/A Strategic Plan Goal #2 “The Municipality will continually improve satisfaction wit h municipal services.” AND Goal #3 “The Municipality will ensure sufficient infrastructure is available to best serve our residents and businesses.” Work Program Implications N/A OPTIONS -Accept the Hidden Hill Petition Package for Private Street Improvement and Maintenance and direct finance staff to implement a special tax for the affected accounts to take effect in 2019/2020 fiscal year; -Refuse to accept the petition. Collection of fees to maintain the private street will remain solely with the private land owners; -Defer making a decision and require additional criteria or information. ATTACHMENTS -Hidden Hill Street Improvement and Maintenance Petition Package -Petition Package Response (3 yes, 0 no) -Road Association Registration Confirmation –Registry of Joint Stocks Print-out 3 Request For Decision /Direction -Road Association meeting minutes -Road Association approved 1st year budget -Private Street Improvement & Maintenance By-law COMMUNICATIONS (INTE RNAL/EXTERNAL) N/A