Part 1: Climate Targets, Public Art Tree Project, and Environmental Planning — 11/07/2023

The Environmental Advisory Committee met virtually on November seven two thousand twenty three. The meeting focused on welcoming a new committee member, hearing a deputation about a community based public art and tree project, and holding detailed discussions on climate policy tools, biodiversity consultations, and ongoing working group activities.

The meeting was called to order by Kate MacNaughton, Picton councillor and chair. The agenda was confirmed with a motion moved by Jane Lesslie and seconded by John. Quorum was confirmed, and there were no disclosures of pecuniary interest.

The minutes from the previous meeting were approved after a motion moved by John and seconded by Angus Ross.

© PEC Council (YouTube)

View the entire PEC Council meeting, or continue to speaker comments and councillor votes>

Announcements and committee updates

The chair shared that council recently approved a twenty percent greenhouse gas reduction target by 230 under the Partners for Climate Protection framework. This target was described as achievable and intended as a starting point that could become more ambitious over time.

The committee formally welcomed Megan Murphy as a new technical voting member representing the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte. Megan introduced herself and confirmed her role as Environmental Services Supervisor, noting she had been in the position for nearly two years.

Deputation on the All Welcome Here Public Art Tree Project

The committee received a deputation from Judith Berkowitz and Delaine Cooper of All Welcome Here, a BIPOC led nonprofit organization in the County.

They presented the Public Art Tree Project, also referred to as the TLC Project, meaning Trees plus Love plus Community. The project proposes selecting eight to twelve trees on municipal land and assigning them email addresses or QR codes so residents and visitors can send messages, stories, or reflections to the trees.

The presenters explained the project was inspired by a similar initiative in Melbourne, Australia, where residents sent messages to trees as part of a municipal tree care program. They also shared local historical context, including the story of the Wishing Tree at West Lake, a culturally significant maple tree used as a gathering place by Indigenous communities.

The project was described as beginning with digital art, followed by temporary installations, and potentially leading to permanent public art inspired by community submissions.

Committee and public discussion on the tree project

Committee members expressed support and shared ideas. Suggestions included linking the project to tree planting, using social media platforms for engagement, and exploring how the project could grow over time.

Members of the public and local groups spoke during the comments section, including representatives connected to Tree the County and the Prince Edward County Field Naturalists. They highlighted opportunities to link the project with biodiversity education, native species awareness, and existing tree initiatives. The committee passed a motion to receive the deputation, moved by Jane and seconded by Angus.

Climate lens discussion

The committee held an extended discussion on whether the municipality should adopt a climate lens for policies, reports, procurement, and decision making. The chair explained that climate lenses are increasingly used by municipalities and may be required for access to certain funding programs.

Members discussed whether this work should be project based or municipality wide and whether it should be led by staff, council, or a committee working group.

The committee agreed to refer the issue to the Climate Action Working Group for further research and comparison with other municipalities.

Key takeaways:

1. The committee welcomed a new voting member from the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte, strengthening Indigenous technical representation.

   
   

2. A community driven Public Art Tree Project was formally presented and received, with strong interest from both committee members and local environmental groups.

   
   

3. The committee agreed to advance work on a municipal climate lens by assigning research to the Climate Action Working Group.

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Disclaimer: This article is based on a meeting with an approximate duration of 1:47:00. Due to the length of the meeting, our team was not able to independently review the full recording in its entirety. As a result, we relied on software-generated transcription, automated summarization, and automated recognition of speakers and participants, which may not be entirely accurate. All transcriptions, summaries, and related content are prepared by our team in good faith and on a reasonable best-efforts basis. The content is provided for general informational purposes only and is intended to support public understanding of the topics discussed. While reasonable efforts have been made to present the information accurately, automated processes may result in errors, omissions, or unintended misinterpretations. This article does not constitute an official, certified, or verbatim record of the meeting, and it should not be relied upon as such. Readers are encouraged to consult original source materials, official minutes, or recordings where available for confirmation or clarification. Questions, requests for clarification, or suggested corrections may be submitted to hello@pecconnect.ca for review and consideration.