Saanich’s draft Climate Action Plan is available for Saanich residents to look at and provide their feedback. This is an important opportunity for everyone to think and talk about how our future growth and how we can take action to cut greenhouse gases.
Three Open House sessions on the draft plan are coming up: November 19, 24, and 30 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Salvation Army Citadel at 4030 Douglas Street. I hope that residents will come out to the sessions and let Councillors and staff know what they think about the initiatives in the plan and share their ideas about how we can meet our one-third reduction target by 2020.
Transportation accounts for 62 percent of our greenhouse gases in Saanich. The plan contains a number of steps to dramatically reduce vehicles emissions. In the short-term, the plan calls for more sidewalks and bikelanes, improved bus shelters, corporate car pooling and bus passes. In the longer-term, it calls for a district-wide mobility action plan and rapid transit on the Douglas corridor.
To cut vehicle emissions and traffic congestion, as well as meet the mobility needs of our residents, we need to make public transit the “smart” choice -- by investing in a more efficient, reliable, and desirable transit service. We must also improve our cycling and pedestrian networks to let commuters on foot or bike travel safely and quickly on our busy corridors.
Enhancing our transportation system with rapid transit, dedicated transit corridors, frequent and dependable service, and connected pedestrian and cyclist rights-of-way will provide commuters with the desirable transportation alternatives that will help us achieve our one-third reduction.
I encourage everyone to take a few moments to look at the draft Climate Action Plan on the Saanich website (www.climateaction.saanich.ca) where they can comment by email, letter, or a feedback form. Even better, I hope that as many as can, will stop by one of the open houses. Council will consider all the feedback from citizens, businesses and organizations.
The climate challenge is our common challenge. We must all work together to cut emissions and achieve our target. It starts with the action plan. Don’t miss your chance to be heard!
Getting to the Source: Saanich Climate Action
Saanich wants you to cut carbon
By Keith Vass - Saanich News
Saanich is looking to residents and businesses to slash their carbon emissions by a third before the next decade is out.
The proposed target is contained in the municipality's draft Climate Action Plan, made public this week.
By the year 2020, Saanich would aim to reduce community-wide carbon emissions by 33 per cent from 2007 levels, when a survey found a total of 521,000 tonnes of CO2 was produced in the Island's largest municipality.
The draft plan, which is now being sent out for public comment, calls on the public to cut their greenhouse gas emissions by a third, while Saanich would aim to half emissions from municipal operations.
Mayor Frank Leonard said the targets are achievable.
"We've shown leadership in-house with our own operations and this now reaches out to the general community to embrace programs that'll make a difference."
The largest portion of emissions in Saanich, 62 per cent, comes from vehicles. The plan calls for vehicle emissions to be cut by 45 per cent.
Coun. Dean Murdock said council needs to hear from the public if they're willing to see their tax dollars spent on improving transit infrastructure.
"If we're going to build the capacity, there needs to be demand. People need to be prepared to put the keys down and pick up a transit pass"
But the opposite tends to be true, said University of Victoria environmental psychologist Robert Gifford.
"Transit has to be improved to make people more likely to get on board. The structure has to be put in place and then people have to be encouraged to use it," he said.
The plan looks to reduce car trips in part through urban planning, and the development of new urban 'villages' in the Tillicum neighbourhood, the Shelbourne corridor and other parts of town.
It also anticipates Saanich residents will achieve part of their reductions by adopting new technology, projecting 5,000 electric cars will be roaming the streets by 2020.
Gifford said price will be the largest factor governing how fast people will be to buy electric cars as they come onto the market. But the municipality can play a part by acting as an "opinion leader," he said.
"If Frank Leonard is driving a hybrid, some people are going to notice. And if the city vehicles roaming around Gordon Head are hybrid, that's going to create a norm is created, that's the way to do it."
Saanich has started mixing hybrid vehicles into its fleet, replacing 12 gas vehicles so far.
But Leonard said he hasn't been able to replace his own "small" gas-powered SUV yet.
"I haven't figured out how you would have a hybrid that would pull a boat just yet, but when I find one I'll pursue it," he said.
"I'm just in the same dynamic as many other people. You're looking for the technology to meet the demands."
The draft plan is available on Saanich's website, at www.climateaction.saanich.ca. Three public open houses are scheduled to discuss it, Nov. 19, Nov. 24 and Nov. 30 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Salvation Army Citadel, 4030 Douglas St.
By the numbers
Saanich-wide 2007 CO2 emissions: 521,000 tonnes
2020 target CO2 emissions: 350,000 tonnes
Fuel-related emissions: reduced 45 per cent by 2020
Building-related emissions: reduced 30 per cent by 2020
Emissions from waste: reduced 50 per cent by 2020
By Keith Vass - Saanich News
Saanich is looking to residents and businesses to slash their carbon emissions by a third before the next decade is out.
The proposed target is contained in the municipality's draft Climate Action Plan, made public this week.
By the year 2020, Saanich would aim to reduce community-wide carbon emissions by 33 per cent from 2007 levels, when a survey found a total of 521,000 tonnes of CO2 was produced in the Island's largest municipality.
The draft plan, which is now being sent out for public comment, calls on the public to cut their greenhouse gas emissions by a third, while Saanich would aim to half emissions from municipal operations.
Mayor Frank Leonard said the targets are achievable.
"We've shown leadership in-house with our own operations and this now reaches out to the general community to embrace programs that'll make a difference."
The largest portion of emissions in Saanich, 62 per cent, comes from vehicles. The plan calls for vehicle emissions to be cut by 45 per cent.
Coun. Dean Murdock said council needs to hear from the public if they're willing to see their tax dollars spent on improving transit infrastructure.
"If we're going to build the capacity, there needs to be demand. People need to be prepared to put the keys down and pick up a transit pass"
But the opposite tends to be true, said University of Victoria environmental psychologist Robert Gifford.
"Transit has to be improved to make people more likely to get on board. The structure has to be put in place and then people have to be encouraged to use it," he said.
The plan looks to reduce car trips in part through urban planning, and the development of new urban 'villages' in the Tillicum neighbourhood, the Shelbourne corridor and other parts of town.
It also anticipates Saanich residents will achieve part of their reductions by adopting new technology, projecting 5,000 electric cars will be roaming the streets by 2020.
Gifford said price will be the largest factor governing how fast people will be to buy electric cars as they come onto the market. But the municipality can play a part by acting as an "opinion leader," he said.
"If Frank Leonard is driving a hybrid, some people are going to notice. And if the city vehicles roaming around Gordon Head are hybrid, that's going to create a norm is created, that's the way to do it."
Saanich has started mixing hybrid vehicles into its fleet, replacing 12 gas vehicles so far.
But Leonard said he hasn't been able to replace his own "small" gas-powered SUV yet.
"I haven't figured out how you would have a hybrid that would pull a boat just yet, but when I find one I'll pursue it," he said.
"I'm just in the same dynamic as many other people. You're looking for the technology to meet the demands."
The draft plan is available on Saanich's website, at www.climateaction.saanich.ca. Three public open houses are scheduled to discuss it, Nov. 19, Nov. 24 and Nov. 30 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Salvation Army Citadel, 4030 Douglas St.
By the numbers
Saanich-wide 2007 CO2 emissions: 521,000 tonnes
2020 target CO2 emissions: 350,000 tonnes
Fuel-related emissions: reduced 45 per cent by 2020
Building-related emissions: reduced 30 per cent by 2020
Emissions from waste: reduced 50 per cent by 2020
Transporation Challenge: Saanich Climate Action
Saanich goes public with green plans
By Bill Cleverley, Times Colonist November 13, 2009
Getting people out of cars will be key to Saanich cutting greenhouse gases by a third over the next 10 years, as spelled out in its draft Climate Action Plan.
"That's certainly one of our greatest challenges," said Coun. Dean Murdock, vice-chairman of Saanich's environment committee.
Murdock, a former chairman of the Sierra Club Victoria, is optimistic B.C. Transit's proposed rapid-transit corridor could help achieve significant reductions in emissions. "That Douglas/West Shore corridor serves a very significant portion of the commuting population and a lot of that traffic travels through Saanich but also comes from Saanich."
Beginning next week, the municipality is set to host three open houses to solicit input to its draft Climate Action Plan, designed to cut greenhouse-gas emissions 33 per cent by 2020.
The plan sets short-term goals of annually increasing the kilometres of sidewalks and bike lanes, upgrading a minimum of 10 bus stops a year, developing a corporate car-pool program, increasing bicycle facilities, promoting corporate bus passes and car-share use for municipal operations. Long-term initiatives include buying two electric fleet vehicles.
Murdock said council will have to continue to guide development toward major centres and transportation hubs such as Uptown rather than allowing sprawl throughout the municipality.
"If we continue to sprawl out in the fashion that we have for the last 30 years, we're going to compound those transportation frustrations -- the congestion associated with additional traffic flow and the emissions that come from the additional vehicles."
Murdock said acceptance from the public is vital if the municipality is to achieve its emission-reduction goals.
"Those initiatives are completely meaningless if we don't have buy-in from folks who actually have to make the decisions and investments in order to achieve those targets."
Saanich's greenhouse gas emissions in 2008 were down 10.6 per cent from 2004.
The municipality's green initiatives have included installation of low-energy LED lights in traffic signals, retrofitting all municipal buildings, anti-idling programs for the municipal fleet, a program to fit the right vehicle for the right job and replacement of 12 older vehicles with hybrids.
Mayor Frank Leonard said the open houses will help take what has been an in-house initiative into the community.
"We've taken some pride to what we've accomplished as a municipality but when you boil that down, it's all municipal operations we've made great strides in. To really have an impact we need to reach out and have it be community-wide."
Open houses are planned for Nov. 19, 24 and 30 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Salvation Army Building, 4030 Douglas St.
By Bill Cleverley, Times Colonist November 13, 2009
Getting people out of cars will be key to Saanich cutting greenhouse gases by a third over the next 10 years, as spelled out in its draft Climate Action Plan.
"That's certainly one of our greatest challenges," said Coun. Dean Murdock, vice-chairman of Saanich's environment committee.
Murdock, a former chairman of the Sierra Club Victoria, is optimistic B.C. Transit's proposed rapid-transit corridor could help achieve significant reductions in emissions. "That Douglas/West Shore corridor serves a very significant portion of the commuting population and a lot of that traffic travels through Saanich but also comes from Saanich."
Beginning next week, the municipality is set to host three open houses to solicit input to its draft Climate Action Plan, designed to cut greenhouse-gas emissions 33 per cent by 2020.
The plan sets short-term goals of annually increasing the kilometres of sidewalks and bike lanes, upgrading a minimum of 10 bus stops a year, developing a corporate car-pool program, increasing bicycle facilities, promoting corporate bus passes and car-share use for municipal operations. Long-term initiatives include buying two electric fleet vehicles.
Murdock said council will have to continue to guide development toward major centres and transportation hubs such as Uptown rather than allowing sprawl throughout the municipality.
"If we continue to sprawl out in the fashion that we have for the last 30 years, we're going to compound those transportation frustrations -- the congestion associated with additional traffic flow and the emissions that come from the additional vehicles."
Murdock said acceptance from the public is vital if the municipality is to achieve its emission-reduction goals.
"Those initiatives are completely meaningless if we don't have buy-in from folks who actually have to make the decisions and investments in order to achieve those targets."
Saanich's greenhouse gas emissions in 2008 were down 10.6 per cent from 2004.
The municipality's green initiatives have included installation of low-energy LED lights in traffic signals, retrofitting all municipal buildings, anti-idling programs for the municipal fleet, a program to fit the right vehicle for the right job and replacement of 12 older vehicles with hybrids.
Mayor Frank Leonard said the open houses will help take what has been an in-house initiative into the community.
"We've taken some pride to what we've accomplished as a municipality but when you boil that down, it's all municipal operations we've made great strides in. To really have an impact we need to reach out and have it be community-wide."
Open houses are planned for Nov. 19, 24 and 30 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Salvation Army Building, 4030 Douglas St.
Allowing chickens in Saanich
Council moves ahead with chicken bylaw
By Keith Vass - Saanich News
Fowl tempers erupted at a Saanich council meeting Monday night, sometimes drowning out the discussion.
The offending parties had to be caged and kept outside the door to prevent them from ruffling too many feathers.
But while two hens -- brought by their owners to listen in as council discussed a motion to legalize urban hen keeping -- made their voices heard, more than 20 supporters sat quietly.
“Many of us, myself included, have lost touch with the Earth,” said Coun. Dean Murdock, who introduced the motion to have staff draft options to amend Saanich's animal control bylaw. It currently prohibits keeping fowl on lots smaller than 12,000 square feet.
Murdock said allowing chickens on smaller lots will help Saanich move toward its goal of being a more sustainable community and will encourage local food production.
The idea didn't meet much resistance. Coun. Judy Brownoff said regulations are needed to address concerns such as noise, mistreatment of the animals, disposing of dead birds and worries over impacts on property value.
But the vote in favour of moving the process along was unanimous. A report should come back in about a month.
Coun. Vic Derman suggested urban chickens could be just the beginning of a new era of urban agriculture in Saanich, one in which even the municipality could take part.
“There is no reason why we have to plant all ornamentals in our parks, street trees that don't bear fruit,” Derman said. “There are all sorts of opportunities.”
By Keith Vass - Saanich News
Fowl tempers erupted at a Saanich council meeting Monday night, sometimes drowning out the discussion.
The offending parties had to be caged and kept outside the door to prevent them from ruffling too many feathers.
But while two hens -- brought by their owners to listen in as council discussed a motion to legalize urban hen keeping -- made their voices heard, more than 20 supporters sat quietly.
“Many of us, myself included, have lost touch with the Earth,” said Coun. Dean Murdock, who introduced the motion to have staff draft options to amend Saanich's animal control bylaw. It currently prohibits keeping fowl on lots smaller than 12,000 square feet.
Murdock said allowing chickens on smaller lots will help Saanich move toward its goal of being a more sustainable community and will encourage local food production.
The idea didn't meet much resistance. Coun. Judy Brownoff said regulations are needed to address concerns such as noise, mistreatment of the animals, disposing of dead birds and worries over impacts on property value.
But the vote in favour of moving the process along was unanimous. A report should come back in about a month.
Coun. Vic Derman suggested urban chickens could be just the beginning of a new era of urban agriculture in Saanich, one in which even the municipality could take part.
“There is no reason why we have to plant all ornamentals in our parks, street trees that don't bear fruit,” Derman said. “There are all sorts of opportunities.”
Urban chickens provide food security
Advocates for food security want urban hen bylaw in Saanich
Keith Vass, Saanich News October 23, 2009
Flightless birds could be set to take off in Saanich.
In a notice of motion brought before council Monday night, Coun. Dean Murdock signalled he wants to ask planning staff to come with options to amend Saanich’s animal control bylaw to allow chickens to be kept on lots smaller than 12,000 square feet.
“It’s another step toward sustainability,” he said. “Having hens in an urban setting provides a form of food security, of local food production.”
While cities of all sizes, from Esquimalt to Vancouver, have been moving to legalize urban poultry flocks, Saanich’s rules have remained the most restrictive in the capital region.
The current animal control bylaw stipulates a minimum lot size of 12,000 square feet for the keeping of poultry birds.
The City of Victoria, by comparison, has no minimum lot size or maximum flock size. The only restrictions say the birds have to be hens and “for personal use.”
Esquimalt passed a bylaw last year allowing homeowners to keep up to four hens on any single-family residential lot.
Oak Bay has a variety of rules, but even the smallest residential lots are allowed a maximum of five birds – except in the tony Uplands neighbourhood, where the birds are verboten.
“What I’m asking now is for council to say ‘Yes, this is the direction in which we want to head, let’s get staff to suggest options in order to allow chickens on property under 12,000 square feet’ or ‘No, we’re not going to support that,’” said Murdock.
While the idea has already been reviewed by the Planning, Transportation and Economic Advisory Committee, the Peninsula Agricultural Commission and the Saanich Community Association Network, Murdock said broader public consultation is still needed.
Andy Nezil is one Saanich resident urging council to move ahead. Nezil’s family kept four hens at their Falmouth Road home for eight years until bylaw officers told them earlier this year they had to go.
“The law is like a holdback to suburbia culture in the ’60s or something. I’m sure it’s going to be changed. I’d be baffled if it’s not, but it does seem to be taking its time,” said Nezil.
His birds are staying with a friend in Fernwood for now, but Nezil hopes to see the bylaw changed by the time his daughter, who kept the birds as pets, returns from her first year of university in the spring.
Keith Vass, Saanich News October 23, 2009
Flightless birds could be set to take off in Saanich.
In a notice of motion brought before council Monday night, Coun. Dean Murdock signalled he wants to ask planning staff to come with options to amend Saanich’s animal control bylaw to allow chickens to be kept on lots smaller than 12,000 square feet.
“It’s another step toward sustainability,” he said. “Having hens in an urban setting provides a form of food security, of local food production.”
While cities of all sizes, from Esquimalt to Vancouver, have been moving to legalize urban poultry flocks, Saanich’s rules have remained the most restrictive in the capital region.
The current animal control bylaw stipulates a minimum lot size of 12,000 square feet for the keeping of poultry birds.
The City of Victoria, by comparison, has no minimum lot size or maximum flock size. The only restrictions say the birds have to be hens and “for personal use.”
Esquimalt passed a bylaw last year allowing homeowners to keep up to four hens on any single-family residential lot.
Oak Bay has a variety of rules, but even the smallest residential lots are allowed a maximum of five birds – except in the tony Uplands neighbourhood, where the birds are verboten.
“What I’m asking now is for council to say ‘Yes, this is the direction in which we want to head, let’s get staff to suggest options in order to allow chickens on property under 12,000 square feet’ or ‘No, we’re not going to support that,’” said Murdock.
While the idea has already been reviewed by the Planning, Transportation and Economic Advisory Committee, the Peninsula Agricultural Commission and the Saanich Community Association Network, Murdock said broader public consultation is still needed.
Andy Nezil is one Saanich resident urging council to move ahead. Nezil’s family kept four hens at their Falmouth Road home for eight years until bylaw officers told them earlier this year they had to go.
“The law is like a holdback to suburbia culture in the ’60s or something. I’m sure it’s going to be changed. I’d be baffled if it’s not, but it does seem to be taking its time,” said Nezil.
His birds are staying with a friend in Fernwood for now, but Nezil hopes to see the bylaw changed by the time his daughter, who kept the birds as pets, returns from her first year of university in the spring.
Urban Chickens: Toward greater sustainability
Time for Saanich chickens?
By Bill Cleverley, Times Colonist October 22, 2009
It's time for chickens to come home to roost in Saanich, says a councillor in the municipality.
Coun. Dean Murdock wants Saanich residents to be allowed to keep chickens on urban residential lots. Current municipal regulations allow residents to keep poultry only on lots larger than 12,000 square feet.
Lots of that size are not common in urban Saanich, Murdock said, which means there are few legal urban chickens. "This is a move that would put us a little bit closer to greater sustainability. It also offers benefits of food security and local food production, and those are major objectives for Saanich council and this is something that would allow us to achieve that."
Saanich council has received a fair bit of correspondence from residents interested in seeing the change, said Murdock, the municipality's peninsula agricultural commission liaison.
The move would also bring the municipality in line with neighbours such as Victoria, Esquimalt and Oak Bay.
Next week, Murdock plans to ask for council's support to direct staff to look at options for allowing chickens to be kept on smaller properties, and to consider feedback from residents, the agricultural commission, the planning, transportation and economic advisory committee and community associations about the idea. Murdock notes that any changes to the bylaw would require public consultation.
By Bill Cleverley, Times Colonist October 22, 2009
It's time for chickens to come home to roost in Saanich, says a councillor in the municipality.
Coun. Dean Murdock wants Saanich residents to be allowed to keep chickens on urban residential lots. Current municipal regulations allow residents to keep poultry only on lots larger than 12,000 square feet.
Lots of that size are not common in urban Saanich, Murdock said, which means there are few legal urban chickens. "This is a move that would put us a little bit closer to greater sustainability. It also offers benefits of food security and local food production, and those are major objectives for Saanich council and this is something that would allow us to achieve that."
Saanich council has received a fair bit of correspondence from residents interested in seeing the change, said Murdock, the municipality's peninsula agricultural commission liaison.
The move would also bring the municipality in line with neighbours such as Victoria, Esquimalt and Oak Bay.
Next week, Murdock plans to ask for council's support to direct staff to look at options for allowing chickens to be kept on smaller properties, and to consider feedback from residents, the agricultural commission, the planning, transportation and economic advisory committee and community associations about the idea. Murdock notes that any changes to the bylaw would require public consultation.
Uptown Centre a major transit hub
SAANICH COUNCILLOR SUPPORTS USING UPTOWN AS MAJOR HUB LOCATION FOR RAPID TRANSIT
Oct 15, 2009
BC TRANSIT WILL BE HOSTING AN OPEN HOUSE TODAY --- AND THE ISSUE ON THE TABLE WILL BE THE PROPOSED ROUTE FOR THE RAPID TRANSIT LINE LINKING THE WESTSHORE WITH DOWNTOWN VICTORIA.
SAANICH COUNCILLOR DEAN MURDOCK SAYS ONE AREA HE THINKS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS PART OF THE PROJECT IS THE UPTOWN DEVELOPMENT
"you're going to need to provide a large station where you can develop the critical mass to provide the goods and services and people can perhaps park their vehicle or their bicycle or walk from the Galloping Goose and connect to a transportation line---and I think Uptown is a logical location for that type of major transportation hub. It really is at the crossroads of the lower island"
MURDOCK WAS A GUEST ON CFAX WITH MURRAY LANGDON THIS MORNING
- ANDREA BOYES – CFAX 1070
Oct 15, 2009
BC TRANSIT WILL BE HOSTING AN OPEN HOUSE TODAY --- AND THE ISSUE ON THE TABLE WILL BE THE PROPOSED ROUTE FOR THE RAPID TRANSIT LINE LINKING THE WESTSHORE WITH DOWNTOWN VICTORIA.
SAANICH COUNCILLOR DEAN MURDOCK SAYS ONE AREA HE THINKS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS PART OF THE PROJECT IS THE UPTOWN DEVELOPMENT
"you're going to need to provide a large station where you can develop the critical mass to provide the goods and services and people can perhaps park their vehicle or their bicycle or walk from the Galloping Goose and connect to a transportation line---and I think Uptown is a logical location for that type of major transportation hub. It really is at the crossroads of the lower island"
MURDOCK WAS A GUEST ON CFAX WITH MURRAY LANGDON THIS MORNING
- ANDREA BOYES – CFAX 1070
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