Environmental and Ecological Planning Advisory Committee

Mandate	Composition	Term of Office	Appointment Policies/ Applications
Meetings	Remuneration	Staff Contact

Role

While it is the legislative mandate of the Municipal Council to make the final decision on all matters that affect the Municipality, the role of an advisory committee is to provide recommendations, advice and information to the Municipal Council on those specialized matters which relate to the purpose of the advisory committee, to facilitate public input to City Council on programs and ideas and to assist in enhancing the quality of life of the community, in keeping with the Municipal Council’s Strategic Plan principles. Advisory committees shall conduct themselves in keeping with the policies set by the Municipal Council pertaining to advisory committees, and also in keeping with the Council Procedure By-law.

Mandate

The Environmental and Ecological Planning Advisory Committee reports to the Municipal Council, through the Planning and Environment Committee. The Environmental and Ecological Planning Advisory Committee provides technical advice to the City of London on matters which are relevant to the City of London’s Official Plan, including London’s natural heritage systems it relates to Environmentally Significant Areas, woodlands, stream corridors, etc.

The Environmental and Ecological Planning Advisory Committee is responsible for the following:

to provide advice on natural areas, environmental features and applicable policies which may be suitable for identification and/or recognition in the Official Plan;
to provide advice on the management and enhancement of the Natural Heritage System, including Official Plan Policy, Environmental Management Guidelines and other policies and practices;
to provide advice as part of the development of Conservation Master Plans for London’s Environmentally Significant Areas and in Subwatershed Studies;
monitor and provide advice on reports, projects and processes that may impact the natural heritage system, including Areas Plans, Natural Heritage Studies, Environmental Impact Studies (EIS), Subject Land Status report, Environmental Assessments, etc.;
monitor impacts and provide advice on all projects (including City lead) occurring within the Official Plan trigger distance for an EIS, regardless of whether or not the project includes a formalized EIS;
to provide technical advice, at the request of the Municipal Council, its Committees or the City's Administration, on environmental matters which are relevant to the City's Official Plan or natural heritage system;
to assist in maintaining an up-to-date information base on natural areas and environmental features which are identified in the Official Plan and to monitor the condition of these areas on an ongoing basis;
to encourage public awareness and education on natural areas, environmental features and policies of the Official Plan which relate to environmental matters;
to provide advice on any global, regional or local issue related to the long-term sustainability of the Natural Heritage System; and
to provide comment on any matter which may be referred to the Committee by Municipal Council, its Committees, or the City’s Administration.

Composition

Voting Members

Between seventeen and twenty-three Voting Members, including one member of the Advisory Committee on the Environment.

Non-Voting Resource Group

City’s Ecologist
One representative of each of the following:

City’s Planning & Research Division
City’s Development Approval Business Unit
City’s Stormwater Management Division
Upper Thames River Conservation Authority
Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority
Kettle Creek Conservation Authority
Ministry of Natural Resources

Sub-committees and Working Groups

The Advisory Committee may form sub-committees and working groups as may be necessary to address specific issues; it being noted that the City Clerk's office does not provide secretariat support to these sub-committees or groups. These sub-committees and working groups shall draw upon members from the Advisory Committee as well as outside resource members as deemed necessary. The Chair of a sub-committee and/or working group shall be a voting member of the Advisory Committee.

Term of Office

Concurrent with the term of the Municipal Council making the appointment.

Appointment Policies

Appointments shall be in keeping with Council Policy.

Qualifications

Members are appointed to serve as individuals and shall not represent a specific interest group or agency. Members shall be chosen based on their interest, experience, availability, academic qualifications and expertise they possess in disciplines that will assist in carrying of the mandate of the Committee. Areas of expertise may include, but is not limited to the following: Biology Ornithology, Geology, Botany, Zoology, Landscape Architecture, Forestry, Ecology, Resource Management, Hydrology, Geography, Environmental Planning, Limnology and Natural History. Applicants without the above-noted technical background may also be considered. Non-voting representatives from local resource groups shall be members or employees of the organization they represent.

Conduct

The conduct of Advisory Committee members shall be in keeping with Council Policy.

Meetings

Meetings shall be once monthly at a date and time set by the City Clerk in consultation with the advisory committee. Length of meetings shall vary depending on the agenda. Meetings of working groups that have been formed by the Advisory Committee may meet at any time and at any location and are in addition to the regular meetings of the Advisory Committee.