Regional Councillor Report

Submitted by: Colleen Jordan, Regional Councillor Wards 3 & 4

Date: October 9, 2007

Alliance for Resilient Cities Symposium - Sept. 20, 2007

The Alliance for Resilient Cities was convened by The Clean Air Partnership to provide a network and forum for decision makers to support the efforts of local governments to identify the impacts of climate change, analyze adaptation options and develop action strategies to protect their communities. Presenters at the forum emphasized the need for communities to not only increase the efforts to mitigate climate change, but also to identify impacts, develop strategies and take action to adapt.

Emergency Preparedness and Adaptation

Mayors from Peterborough, ON, Halifax, NS and Port Moody, BC spoke of the disastrous events in recent years that had devastated their communities. Lessons learned from these events were shared with participants. A common theme was that Mayor and Councillor’s roles in responding to emergencies had been underestimated. Politicians had indeed played a significant role in receiving concerns from residents and mobilizing the community to assist with recovery. The important role of communications with Councillors and the community had also been previously underestimated.

Deputy Mayor Sue Uteck, advised that Halifax has now established a satellite emergency headquarters for Councillors and a schedule has been developed in order that there is not a time when both the Mayor and Deputy Mayor are away from their community. They now test generators once a week. They also have mapped the community to show visually which areas are most at risk. This information is available on their website so that residents can be aware of the potential risks in their neighborhood. She stated that it was difficult prior to the hurricane to convince people of the enormity of the event. She also advised that the emergency be declared as soon as possible. A guide booklet for coping with state of emergency situations has been provided to residents and class projects for students help them to learn about emergency preparedness.

Mayor Paul Ayotte, Peterborough spoke of the anxiety level of community members and the need for counsellors. He also advised that although the numerous offers of help were appreciated, it was recognized that it was essential they be refused when not necessary as volunteers placed further stresses on limited resources.

Mayor Joe Trasoloni, Port Moody, spoke about the steps their community has taken to minimize and adapt to climate change. A decision-making process has been developed whereby decisions are analyzed through not only a financial lens, but also analyzing the environmental and climate change impacts that may result. There is a mechanism whereby youth are involved in the decision-making processes.

Ron Sims, King County (U.S.) Executive (elected position) spoke of the many initiatives being taken by King County to mitigate and adapt to climate change. They have set targets to reduce emissions by 80% by 2050. They began their program by climate mapping and reviewing what the community would be like in 50 years without action being taken. Then steps were developed and acted upon to mitigate and adapt. All departments have been involved including public health so that they learn how to plan, adapt and respond to emerging diseases in a changed climate. Preparing for Climate Change Guidebook developed on the King County experience was available for participants. Information on the guidebook may be found at www.cleanairpartnership.org

Cities Preparing for Climate Change

Cities Preparing for Climate change is a study completed by the Director of Research, Clean Air Partnership that reviews how six cities moved from awareness to action. A Scan of Climate Change Impacts on Toronto has also been developed to show the effects of climate change on health, ecosystems, water supply and energy demand. (www.cleanairpartnership.org)

Other speakers noted that the economic costs of recovery and rebuilding far outweigh the costs of preparing and adapting. Participants were advised that the insurance industry is concerned and involved in supporting research to provide adaptability measures. Ron Sims stated that in the future Moodys would be basing their ratings on municipalities’ measures of preparing and adapting to climate change. Not adapting will cost municipalities more in borrowing costs as their ratings may decline if they have not taken steps.

In November 2007, Alliance for Resilient Cities will host bimonthly two hour teleconference and web based seminars to provide more information and a forum for discussion and sharing of best practices. More information on the webinairs will be forthcoming.

Walk21 - Active and Safe Routes to School Workshop - Oct. 1, 2007

A number of international participants gathered to discuss experiences in their communities with programs designed to encourage children to walk to school.

Research Sustainable Happiness

Dr. Catherine O’Brien, Ph.D., Cape Breton University spoke of her research which focuses on children’s health, well being and opportunities to improve their access to active transportation modes. She is the author of Child and Youth friendly land use and transport planning guidelines. She noted that cyclists and walkers were more likely to enjoy their commute to work. She suggested that children’s well being and happiness can be improved by walking to school and suggested that children and youth friendly land use and transportation policies should be incorporated into planning communities.

Quality of Life

Gil Penalosa, Executive Director, Walk and Bike for Life, spoke of his experience as Commissioner of Parks, Sport and Recreation for the City of Bogota, Columbia where he led the team to build and redevelop over 200 parks. He was also successful in closing 91 kilometres of city roads each Sunday so that over 1.5 million people could come out weekly to

run, walk, skate or bike. He suggested that we can no longer define cities around cars. We can do things such as ensure that linear parks connect and declare car free days as well as develop “complete streets policies” that provide for physical separators from the cars for the safety of cyclists and pedestrians . He stated that although 91% of children have bikes only 5% ride them to school. In his opinion, driving to the gym to use a treadmill does not make much sense. Auto dependency leads to obesity. Copenhagen has doubled its bicycle usage since the 1980's. Mr. Penalosa believes that better communities promote walking, bicycling, parks and trails which leads to improving personal and public health and a better quality of life. Please see www.walkandbikeforlife.org

School Travel Plans

Speakers from the United Kingdom spoke about school travel plans and the U.K. initiative for all local authorities to encourage schools to develop school travel plans. Mayor Livingstone of London has set a target of having all schools develop and implement a school travel plan by 2009. In 2004, only 123 schools had plans compared to 1,627 by 2007 out of a total of 3,048 schools. Emma Sheridan, Transport for London, UK emphasized the importance for all stakeholders to work together in developing school plans in order to ensure “buy in”. It was particularly important and, from their experience, more successful when students were involved in the plan development.

Green Communities Canada

Stephanie Hahn spoke of a successful grant proposal which will allow a pilot project to study the development of school travel plans in three pilot schools in Ontario. Although the criteria has not been fully developed she advised that the pilot schools chosen would be elementary schools who do not currently have a school travel plan who are willing to provide in kind staff resources as well as a commitment on the part of the municipality to provide engineering and/or infrastructure improvements to support the school plan. Small incentives will be offered. Data will be collected to compare with a control school to see the impact of a school travel plan on the student populations mode of travel.