In January 2004, the City of Clarence-Rockland approved the creation of the Clarence-Rockland Environmental Advisory Committee. The mandate of the Environmental Committee is to provide recommendations to City Council on environmental issues that directly affect the protection, maintenance and enhancement of the environment on the territory of the City of Clarence-Rockland.
The responsibilities of the committee are as follows:
Assist in the development of policies, programs and by-laws which could have an impact upon the environment as the quality of our water, waste management, air pollution and the conservation of our natural environment and energy.
Invite public input on matters of environmental significance.
Identify green spaces in the City of Clarence-Rockland and put in place actions to preserving them.
Work with other environmental groups.
Establish, maintain and update a city database on the natural, built and socio-economic aspects of the city’s environment.
Organize education campaigns on specific subjects through articles in local newspapers and other means determined to be favorable.
Organization
5 members from the public
1 employee from the Planning Department
1 employee from the Physical Services Department
1 member from the municipal council responsible for the Planning Department
Accomplishment to date
- Development of a tree cutting by-law adopted by Council on July 11th, 2005.
- Recommendations to Council to re-open the transfer station for yard waste.
- Recommendations in relation to the Official Plan of the United Counties of Prescott Russell.
- Met with employees of the city and discussed some of our concerns in relation to environmental problems we have identified in relation to the Ottawa River and accessibility to same.
- Recommended that a bicycle/walking pathway be introduced along the river.
- Arranged for recycling bins to be installed at the Clarence-Rockland Help center.
- Brief to the United Counties concerning the protection and development plan for the Larose Forest.
- Our support to the United Counties of Prescott-Russell who wish to better oversee the activities of motorized vehicles in the Larose Forest.
- Our support to a local high school in Rockland who have been working on different projects relating to the environment. Enhance the benefits (Modification) of the Tree cutting by-law.
- Work with the Clarence-Rockland Environmental Society and the Environmental Manager to put in place a program to recycle batteries, cell phones, computers and other hazardous materials.
- Proposal to Council to study the possibility of eliminating the use of pesticides/herbicides in the City of Clarence-Rockland.
- Continue encouraging Council to actively promote alternatives to chemicals, encourage composting and promote the City's tree cutting by-law to the citizens of Clarence-Rockland.
- Provide input to the Urban Expansion project (under review at the present time).
Proposals for 2010
- Review and provide input to the new 5 year Plan for Clarence-Rockland (draft currently under review).
- Recommend that all rural development projects require a hydrological survey to ensure the integrity of the environment after the change.
- Recommend that the appropriate City Department review the abandoned waste sites within the City to ensure compliance to local, regional and provincial environmental guidelines.
- Recommend to Council that a 20 year Plan be created to provide the necessary provisions concerning environmental, social and economical facets for the ongoing development and expansion of the City.
- Recommend that Council establish an environmental position to focus on monitoring and enhancing the implications and impacts on environmentally sensitive areas of our community.
- Recommend to Council that an Environmental Framework be established to be included in the creating or upgrading of all City Policy directives.
Members of the Environmental Advisory Committee
Mr. Guy Desjardins - council member
Ivan Buron - Municipal Planner, Planning Department
Denis Longpré - Environmental Manager, Physical Services
Steven Morris - member of the public
Nathalie Mathieu - member of the public
Alani Galbraith-Kuzma - member of the public
Andre Perras - Secretary
Claude Vachon - Chair
Environmental Management, please click here
