TERMS OF REFERENCE
GREEN COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO COUNCIL
Approved by Council Resolution
#C274-07


PURPOSE
To develop a community strategy that would include local actions policies programs
and projects for climate change, energy conservation, clean energy alternatives, and
promoting more sustainable development practices.

The Green Community Strategy will encompass local initiatives, private projects, partnerships between the public and private sectors as well as the business community. Some of these initiatives may range from support to the expansion of Darlington Nuclear Facility, engaging developers to include energy conservation initiatives in their projects, advising and promoting energy conservation to businesses to creating community awareness of energy conservation.

MANDATE
The mandate of the Green Community Advisory Committee is to prepare a Green
Community Strategy.

The Green Community Strategy will focus on the community's local response to the
interrelations among energy, health, climate change and development.

In preparing the Green Community Strategy the advisory committee will on behalf of
Council, consult with the public through focus groups, briefs and public meetings. The
will also seek partnerships with other levels of government, private sector and non profit
groups.

The Municipality of Clarington has established a staff Committee on energy management and conservation. While the Green Community Advisory Committee may include some recommendations on Municipal operations, the focus of the Advisory committee's work is to
be on broader community issues.

OBJECTIVES
1) To undertake research in the following areas


a. Energy Conservation;

b. Clean energy alternatives and technologies;

c. Local response to Climate Change;

d. Alternative development patterns for energy conservation and sustainable
development including mixed densities, a mix of use and building types; and,

e. Planning and technical innovation for sustainable development such as green
infrastructure and low impact development.

2) On behalf of Council, to consult with the public through focus groups briefs and
public meetings;

3) To prepare the Clarington Green Community Strategy;

4) To organize educational events to implement the Green Community Strategy;

5) In addition, the Committee will provide input to Municipality s Official Plan Review
Sustainable Development Component


COMMITTEE COMPOSITION
The GCAC shall consist of 13 voluntary members who are appointed by Council for a term of
four (4) years, to coincide with the term of Council A majority of membership, nine (9) shall
constitute a quorum.

The Advisory Committee will consist of the following representatives

  • Mayor and a Member of Council(2)
  • Ontario Power Generation (1)
  • Durham Strategic Energy
    Alliance (1)
  • Veridian (1)
  • CBOT Board Member (1)
  • University of Ontario Institute of
    Technology (1)
  • Youth (1)
  • Community at large (4)
  • Developer Durham Chapter of
    the Greater Toronto Home
    Builders Association Urban
    Development Institution
    GTHBA UDI (1)

The Membership shall possess expertise and willingness to devote the necessary time to the
Committee.

Openings for community membership shall be publicly advertised and all residents of the
Municipality of Clarington may apply. Applicants will submit applications to the Municipality of
Clarington Planning Services Department Members will be formally appointed by Municipal
Council Green Community Strategy Coordinators.

The Mayor shall sit as the interim Chair The GCAC will select a Chair and a Vice Chair from
among its membership. The Chair shall provide leadership to the GCAC ensure that it carries
out its mandate, and act as the primary liaison between the GCAC and Staff.

A staff member shall act as recording secretary. Duties of the recording secretary shall include
the taking of meeting minutes and providing these minutes to the Clerk for Council s information.

Regarding conflicts of interest, Members of the Committee must abide by the Municipal Conflict
of Interest Act.

The coordinators for the Community Advisory Committee will be

  • Carlos Salazar Manager of Community Planning and Design
  • Suzanne McCrimmon Clarington Board of Trade
  • Jennifer Cooke Manager Communications and Tourism
  • Representative from power utility

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS DECISION MAKING

  • The Committee will be established as an Advisory Committee of Council under Councils
    Protocol for Advisory Committees. Committee members will report to Council through the
    Committee s Chair.

  • Decisions will be reached by consensus where appropriate, or through a simple majority
    vote.

  • Committee members will report to their respective organizations, decisions reached by
    the Committee.

  • Report to Council on semi annual basis.



FREQUENCY OF MEETINGS

  • There will be a minimum of one meeting per month of the Committee supplemented as
    required by conference etc.


  • The meetings will be held at the Clarington Municipal Administrative Centre.



SECRETARIAT COSTS

  • The Secretariat function of the Committee will be provided mainly by the Planning
    Services Department, the Communications Branch of the Municipality and the Clarington
    Board of Trade.

  • The operating costs for the first two years of the Committee will be established through
    contributions from the Municipality, The CBOT, and may include other community
    partners

  • The Advisory Committee will be allowed to seek other sources of funding and grants for
    specific initiatives/programs.




WORKING GROUPS

  • The GCAC may establish Working Groups as needed to further study an issue and to
    make recommendations on that issue to the GCAC. Working groups will have an ad hoc
    status with a clear mandate and time frame.

  • Each Working Group will be chaired by a Committee member as selected by the
    Committee and with the agreement of the member. A member of the working group will
    be responsible for generation of minutes.

  • The Working Groups will be comprised of at least one staff member and may have
    representation from any other interested parties or experts as the Committee may require.

  • The Municipality and the CBOT will provide meeting coordination and information
    distribution support to Working Groups, as appropriate.

  • The Committee may establish linkages to other working groups or committees that
    function on a more permanent basis.



PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
All Committee meetings are open to the public. Member of the public are not permitted to
participate in Committee discussions but may appear as a delegation before the Committee.
Delegations shall be for a maximum of 10 minutes. Those wishing to appear as a delegation at
a Committee meeting must so advise the staff liaison a minimum of five working days prior to
the meeting.