For the Environmental Sustainability Strategy, Sunnyville Council is using a similar model to the recently completed Social Sustainability Strategy – bringing together community leaders on a panel that will engage the broader community.
Together with Council and staff, they will develop a strategy that will set directions for continued environmental protection, stewardship, enhancement, and resiliency. I look forward to working with the Steering Committee and the broader community to define how the city can evolve and continue to build on its environmental strengths.”
The Strategy will be developed over two years and will include opportunities for participation and input from a broad range of community members, including, for example, stewardship groups, environmental leaders, non-profits and businesses in an open and inclusive community-based process. All of these community members will work with a blue-ribbon steering committee, chaired by Mayor, to develop the strategy. The committee will be appointed by Council in spring 2013.
The development of the Environmental Sustainability Strategy will be complemented by two other related studies, a The Energy and Emissions Plan and a The Town District Energy Study. The Community Energy and Emissions Plan will develop a framework to help reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions within the city. The District Energy Study will look at the possibilities in this town centre area for district energy systems that would improve efficiency and reduce emissions from heating and cooling systems. These studies will be funded in part by Town Hydro through a partnership agreement.
The Environmental Sustainability Strategy, along with the two energy initiatives, will complement and support the Social Sustainability and Economic Development strategies.