Discussions

I am currently working on an Environmental Strategic Plan for the conmmunity and would like to have environmental issues of the community brought forward. As well I would like to hear of initiatives that are currently being done other than the ones listed below....  
 
Introduction  
 
The City of Brandon in conjunction with the Province of Manitoba is leading by example when it comes to proving that taking the steps towards being a “green” community does not mean being fiscally irresponsible, it does not mean you need to make whole sale changes in direction, but it does require getting a community involved and engaged in making that happen.  
 
In 2004, The City of Brandon made a conscious decision to increase their focus on exploring and implementing environmentally significant projects and programs. In making that decision, they solidified the importance of this to the organization and to the community by identifying an individual whose ongoing role it is to seek grant / funding opportunities and to identify and assist with the implementation of various programs.  
 
As part of the coordinator’s role, the City of Brandon made application to the OTC / C4 (One Tonne Challenge / Climate Change Community Challenge) to be named one of the four communities in Manitoba. Upon successfully being named as one of these communities we submitted a plan that focused around the reduction of green house gas emissions and to this day are working towards carrying out that plan.  
 
Over this same time period, the City of Brandon undertook the process of developing a Community Strategic Plan that involved hundreds of citizens in helping to define what was important to us as a community. Out of that process one of the desirable future statements was, “Brandon will be a recognized leader in environmental stewardship.” As a result of this, there has been a group made up of government, industry representative and interested citizens that continue to assist the community in moving us forward to our desirable future.  
 
The information below is a brief outline of the projects and/or programs that we have taken on or that are currently underway within the community.  
 
 
City and Community Driven Projects / Programs  
 
• Bio-diesel Project – Brandon Transit and the Sanitation Department has been working to continue to have waste cooking oil used as a fuel source for the buses. To date, two buses have been converted and the collections system for waste cooking oil has been established, we are currently in the process of bringing online our own small processing system so that we can convert the used cooking oil directly at the landfill. We are anticipating having the processing unit and all training completed before the end of June this year. Funding for this project has happened through the Climate Change Community Challenge and through City of Brandon operating budgets.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
• Methane Gas at the Landfill – The Operational Services Division has contracted for a feasibility study to be done to estimate the potential quality and quantity of methane gas generated from the City landfill site. This study will determine whether or not it is economically feasible to implement a methane gas recovery system to utilize the methane gas as a source of energy. Methane gas is 21 times more harmful to the environment in producing harmful Green Houses gases than carbon dioxide. The study has been sent to some potential partners such as Manitoba Hydro and Integrated Gas Recovery Services (IGRS) of Niagara Falls, Ontario for their consideration. Sansom Engineering Inc. of Brandon is compiling the information and will produce the final report. The study is being funded by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), Waste Reduction and Pollution Prevention (WRAPP) fund from the Province of Manitoba and the fund related to the Climate Change Community Challenge.  
 
• Municipal Building Energy Audit – the Operational Service Division is having energy audits conducted on twelve of the City’s building. The report will identify areas that could be improved along with the associated pay back period for each of the recommendations. This will allow for us to budget for the upgrades in the future years, or use existing budgets to implement recommendations immediately that make financial sense. The audit is being done by KGS Engineering of Winnipeg and is being funded in part by Natural Resources Canada. The report will be submitted to the City by mid-April 2007 for distribution to the people responsible for each of the building being audited.  
 
• Commercial Building Optimization Program – the Canada Game Sportsplex is participating in a program with Manitoba Hydro through its CBOP Program (Commercial Building Optimization Program) that identifies different opportunities to balance building systems in order to reduce energy costs. The program is very specific for the Canada Games Sportsplex and is not available to other City buildings. The audit is being done by KGS Engineering of Winnipeg and is being funded through Manitoba Hydro. The report will be submitted to the City by mid-March 2007 and will allow us to budget for the upgrade in future years or to use existing budgets to implement recommendations immediately that make financial sense.  
 
• Membrane Technology – The City of Brandon is currently in the process of looking at membrane technology for the water treatment plant as part of our multiple barrier approach to our water treatment. The study is focusing ton Zenon Canada technology. The membrane will also allow us to create a higher degree of nutrient treatment at the waste water plant and provide disinfection without chemicals. In terms of the Waste Water Treatment Plant operations and planned upgrades, the City is jointly working with Maple Leaf Foods and Wyeth to develop a 3P partnership that will have all parties equally committed to the responsible treatment of waste in the community.  
 
 
 
 
• Parking Lot Controllers – controller have been installed at the Civic Service Complex to reduce energy consumption related to employee’s vehicles being plugged in during the winter. These are being considered for other facilities and as funds are available conversion will take place. The work thus far has been partially funded through Manitoba Hydro.  
 
• LED Conversions – In 2005, The City of Brandon through a program with Manitoba Hydro converted a significant portion of their Christmas decorations to LED lights. The new Winter Light Park located at the skating oval is completely lit using LED lights. The conversion of traffic lights is also currently underway and will proceed over the next few years.  
 
• Municipal Vehicles – The City of Brandon has made a number of changes to its fleet in order to try and reduce emissions. As part of the selection criteria in selecting equipment, fuel mileage is now evaluated as part of the selection criteria on all pieces of equipment. In 2005, two hybrids were purchased to replace two half tonne trucks in the fleet. In 2006, five “right size” were purchased to replace between 15 and 20 year old 40’ buses and in doing so have cut their fuel costs by at least half. In 2006, the Mayor made the decision to move to a hybrid vehicle and there have been numerous other changes in equipment size and configuration to reduce this cost of operating.  
 
• Paper Use Reduction – The City of Brandon, Assiniboine Community College and other companies all instituted a practice to setup all printers to print double sided as their default. Mayor and Council are in the process of implementing a paperless agenda system that will reduce the amount of paper used in the activities of Council.  
 
• Anti-idling Campaign – The City of Brandon has focused on education and training with all employees on reducing the amount of idling of City vehicles. As part of this campaign, vehicles are being monitored for fuel consumption against mileage so that areas of concern can be addressed. The Environmental Committee of the Community Strategic Plan have installed signs at the railway crossings in Brandon to ask citizens to shut off their vehicles while waiting for trains. There are anti-idling signs located through out the community at government and institutional buildings.  
 
• Pesticide By-Law – after concerns in the community were identified related to the impact of pesticides on individuals with severe allergic reactions to chemicals, the Parks Department lead a committee made up of industry, university experts, government and citizens to develop a pesticide by-law that developed guidelines on the use of them. The group presented and had approved a plan that established barriers around individual residents that were medically verified to have chemical reactions and prohibited the application of pesticide on government and institutional properties except under specific conditions.  
 
• Community Tree Inventory – in 2005 and 2006 a summer student was employed through a grant under Green Team to continue to collect data as it relates to the existing tree canopy. This information has been entered into City View and is updated as work is performed (addition or elimination of trees). We are currently about 75% complete and will apply for the grant again this year in order to complete the inventory.  
 
• Trail Network Expansion – annually we have spent approximately $100,000 to continue to expand the trail network around the city and now have established over 40 kilometers of path. The trail network runs around the perimeter of the city and is now being expanded to make links throughout the community. Residents are able to walk and bike on the network throughout the entire year.  
 
• Commemorative Arbor Trail – This project is one of the legacy projects related to the 125th Birthday. This trail is located at the Riverbank Discovery Center and construction started in 2006. In 2007 and into 2008, the trail will be planted with natural trees and plantings and will help to preserve the natural prairie landscape and wildflowers contained in the middle of the trail. Educational signage along the trail will be complimentary to that already in place along the other pathways. The funds for this project has been through gift in kind work by the City of Brandon, funds through the work of Riverbank Discovery Inc. and grants received from Home Depot ($6,000), Conservation Sustainable Development Innovation Fund ($10,000), Brandon and Area Community Foundation ($5,000) and Shell Canada ($5,000). $1.00 from every 24 of the 1882 beer sold in 2007 will also be contributed to this project from Big Rock Breweries.  
 
• Prairie Grasses and Wildflower – The City of Brandon, Brandon University and McKenzie Seeds have bee collectively working on a project to identify hardy grasses and wildflowers for future establishment along the river corridor. Test plots were developed in 2006 with ongoing work on this project to be done in 2007.  
 
• Communication – There have been a number of articles that have gone out through the In City Magazine to the community to ensure that citizens understand and know the impact of waste water treatment, water treatment, solid waste diversion, etc. Using our local cable network, there have been a number of community programs that have been produced by volunteers and the local TV station (CKX) frequently does interviews as part of their noon time programming.  
 
• Education – There have been a number of education programs that have been developed in conjunction with the City of Brandon, Brandon School Division and the Brandon Area Community Foundation – Composting 101, Green Living 101, etc.  
 
 
Business Activity  
 
• There are a number of companies / organizations that have decided to use either geo-thermal or other environmentally friendly standards in the development or retrofit of their buildings.