Staff Report: Community Climate Action Strategy
A report by Senior Planner Jeff Chow recommending that Council adopt the 2022 Community Climate Action Strategy (CCAS).
TOWN OF VIEW ROYAL COUNCIL REPORT
TO: Council
DATE: May 11, 2022
FROM: Jeff Chow, Senior Planner
MEETING DATE: May 17, 2022
COMMUNITY CLIMATE ACTION STRATEGY
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT the 2022 Community Climate Action Strategy be adopted.
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER’S COMMENTS:
I concur with the recommendation.
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES’S COMMENTS:
I concur with the recommendation.
PURPOSE:
- To summarize comments from the referral to Council’s Advisory Committees
- To recommend that the Community Climate Action Strategy be adopted by Council Resolution.
BACKGROUND:
The Community Climate Action Strategy (CCAS) is focused on mitigation (reducing greenhouse gas emissions) and is one part of the Town’s climate action that includes a Corporate Energy and Emissions Plan (2012) and an adaptation plan for coastal inundation from tsunami risk and sea level rise that is proposed in the Five-Year Financial Plan. The strategy also provides the foundation for climate action policies in the Official Community Plan.
Staff is also working with the consultant on an online resource guide to educate, assist and encourage residents to reduce their emissions. The Community Climate Action Strategy focuses on policies that enable the Town to support, enable and facilitate community greenhouse gas emission reductions. It is ultimately the actions of individuals that generate community greenhouse gas emissions. The guide will provide information to help citizens make personal decisions and choices on how they live in a way that can incrementally help reduce the impacts of global climate change.
The Draft CCAS was presented to Committee of the Whole on February 8, 2022. At that time, Committee referred the draft strategy to both advisory committees. The Parks, Recreation and Environment Committee reviewed the strategy at their meeting on March 22, 2022, and made no recommendations. The Community Development Advisory Committee reviewed the draft strategy at a special meeting on April 26, 2022, and Council received their motions on May 3, 2022.
DISCUSSION:
This report summarizes comments and motions from Council and the advisory committees that were referred to the CCAS process:
| ADVISORY COMMITTEE COMMENTS AND MOTIONS | COMMUNITY CLIMATE ACTION STRATEGY |
|---|---|
| JOINT – March 22, 2022 comments | |
| The Committee discussed the need for: | |
| 1. electric vehicle charging stations in new developments | 1. EV-ready building requirements is one of the key strategies in the Big Move to Electrify Passenger Transport. The Zoning Bylaw requires every new residential parking space that is equipped with a dedicated energized electric vehicle outlet, with a sliding scale for non-residential parking. |
| 2. reduction of energy use in buildings | 2. The Big Moves to Step Up New Buildings and Retrofit Existing Buildings support building energy efficiency. |
| 3. tree protection and planting | 3. The Sequestration strategy supports an action plan to preserve & expand urban tree canopy within the municipal boundary |
| 4. incentives | 4. Big Move Retrofit Existing Buildings Strategy 1.5 supports the Town providing top-ups to Clean BC Rebates for heat pumps. Other opportunities may arise. |
| 5. promoting community engagement | 5. The strategy calls for many actions for outreach, education, and incentives that inspire residents and businesses to make choices to reduce energy and emissions and prepare for a low carbon future. |
| 6. corridors and gateways for future population | 6. Strategies for Shifting Beyond the Car support land use planning and infrastructure (active and accessible paths & prioritization, transit, etc.) |
| 7. transit passes | 7. The topic of transit passes for youth has previously been considered by Council. A recent motion from CDAC on this topic was received by Council. |
| 8. transportation impact assessments | 8. The Engineering Department now requires Transportation Impact Assessments to include transportation demand management to support transit and active transportation. An active transportation network plan is also underway. |
| 9. easy access to services | 9. Strategies for Shifting Beyond the Car support land use planning and infrastructure (active and accessible paths & prioritization, transit, etc.) |
| PREAC – March 22, 2022 comments | |
| The Committee and staff discussed: | |
| 1. the BC Energy Step Code. The Committee expressed a preference to see the Town implement the highest Energy Step Code level for all new buildings | 1. Staff are currently engaged in developing policies and bylaws to implement Step Code in View Royal. We are engaging in regional discussions to explore coordinating implementation of Step Code and GHG reduction measures pertaining to new building’s |
| 2. Annual review of performance targets to ensure goals are met versus | 2. The Monitoring and Evaluation Framework is proposed to be on a biannual basis. The Capital Regional District, which is also one of the key data sources, follows this schedule. |
| 3. Progress reporting in two years | 3. The monitoring framework is anticipated to follow the CRD schedule. |
| 4. Population growth and development | 4. Population growth is primarily addressed in the Official Community plan. The purpose of the strategy is to support any growth that may occur with the least climate impact. |
| 5. Transportation | 5. Big Move Shift Beyond Car. The Town recently initiated an Active Transportation Network Plan, and this work will serve to support non-car forms of mobility within the Town. |
| CDAC – April 26, 2022 comments | |
| The Committee discussed the draft Community Climate Action Strategy. Topics included: | |
| 1. Providing information from the Strategy to the public in an accessible manner | 1. Recognizing that climate action plans can be quite comprehensive and technical, the strategy works towards improving information accessibility by providing a glossary, a list of acronyms and abbreviations, explanatory infographics, and an executive summary that provides high level discussion of the key principles. |
| 2. Efficiency of different modes of public transportation | 2. The Town recently initiated an Active Transportation Network Plan, and this work will serve to support non-car forms of mobility within the Town. |
| 3. Importance of maintaining the rail corridor through View Royal | 3. The Big Move for Shifting Beyond the Car notes continued support and collaboration by the Town on the use of the E&N corridor for commuter rail. |
| 4. “Granular” level thinking to promote change in individuals’ habits | 4. The community resource guide to accompany the strategy is intended to support individual action by members of the community. |
| 5. Support for flexible work schedules | 5. This suggestion will be added to the resident’s guide. |
| 6. Considering Town funding to support heat pumps and youth bus passes | 6. The strategy makes recommendations regarding partnering opportunities and offering incentives that support shifts in behavior and infrastructure |
| 7. Support for Town operations and projects to be conducted through the lenses of the Strategy and the Active Transportation Network Plan | 7. Projects undertaken by the Town are reviewed from multiple perspectives. Climate action is one of the lenses that is already used. |
| 8. Comments from a construction perspective. | 8. The strategy supports moving towards higher levels in the Energy Step Code and the provincial requires consultation for implementation; builders and developers would be among the key stakeholders for consultation. |
| CDAC-02-22 - April 26, 2022, motion | |
| THAT the Committee recommend that Council explore allocating consistent funding to support expanding greenhouse gas reduction initiatives that directly support community members’ emissions reductions. | See Strategy 1.3 in the draft plan. It is recommended that the Town continue to participate in grant programs. |
| CDAC-03-22 – April 26, 2022 motion | |
| THAT the Committee recommend to Council that additional language be included in the Community Climate Action Strategy regarding implementation of climate action occurring in partnership with organizations and neighbouring communities. | The strategy supports collaboration with other agencies on climate such as electric vehicle outreach, retrofitting existing buildings, educating renovators & realtors on efficient and low carbon energy buildings and construction. |
| CDAC-04-22 – April 26, 2022 motion | |
| THAT the Committee recommend that Council explore and support initiatives to bring rail through the community for commuter travel. | The Big Move for Shifting Beyond the Car notes continued support and collaboration by the Town on the use of the E&N corridor for commuter rail. |
| CDAC-05-22 – April 26, 2022 motion | |
| THAT the Committee is generally supportive of the draft Community Climate Action Strategy |
To address Council’s comments regarding highlighting a focus on action in the CCAS, the web content will highlight the action portions of the strategy, while still retaining all the valuable background information for those who like to delve into the details. This will be further supported by a resident’s guide which will be updated on a more frequent basis to highlight new programs that become available, and new sources of information or action that residents can take to reduce their own GHG impacts.
In conclusion, the Community Climate Action Strategy is a critical first step for View Royal on our shared pathway to a low carbon future. It will require significant collaborative effort, reconsideration of many of our day-to-day habits, and ongoing policy shifts from all levels of government to achieve our bold GHG reduction targets.
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT the 2022 Community Climate Action Strategy be adopted.
SUBMITTED BY: Jeff Chow, MCIP, RPP, Senior Planner
REVIEWED BY: Lindsay Chase, MCIP, RPP, Director of Development Services
Attachments:
- Draft Community Climate Action Strategy
Document Images
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