PUBLIC – Minutes of the working meeting on the 2025 budget of the City of Gatineau held in the committee room of the Maison du citoyen, 25 Laurier Street, Gatineau, on Monday, November 4, 2024, at 9:00 a.m., at which were
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2025 Ecological Service Plan
Presentation by monsieur Frédéric Vandal, accompanied by madame Lyne Savaria.
2025 Plan – Water Management Plan
A question and comment period took place. Monsieur le conseiller Mike Duggan asked if there are still actions related to rainwater harvesting. Monsieur Vandal mentioned that there is not a high demand for rain barrels, but that new measures could be implemented if a need arises.
Regarding measure 29.3, monsieur le conseiller Mario Aubé asked if actions are planned to address it. Monsieur Vandal explained that the Service de transition écologique (STE) supports the Service de planification des actifs et des investissements, and that additional answers could be provided. He mentioned the actions taken by the STE in this file.
Regarding measure 4.1, monsieur le conseiller Gilles Chagnon asked if communications will be issued on this matter to ensure citizens understand the potential changes. Monsieur Vandal confirmed that the communication plan is currently being prepared and that follow-ups will be conducted.
2025 Plan – Ecological Transition Service – Expansion Phase
Objectives of the presentation:
- Proposal to add to the organizational structure of the Service de transition écologique;
- Improvements to the service level.
Presentation plan:
- Service de transition écologique;
- Proposal to add to the organizational structure;
- Priorities, objectives, and deliverables;
- Financial setup.
A question and comment period took place. Madame la conseillère Anik Des Marais mentioned that the presentation on the GHG inventory shows that the implementation of the Climate Plan must be accelerated. She mentioned that the City is experiencing climate change, as explained by monsieur Vandal. To support all municipal service efforts, madame Des Marais invited elected officials to respond positively to the budget requests presented, in order to reduce our vulnerability to natural disasters.
Regarding the Water Management Plan, monsieur le conseiller Jean Lessard asked if presentations will be made on the appendices. Madame Guénette confirmed that details will be provided during the next presentation.
Regarding action 5, monsieur Duggan mentioned that the efforts deployed to reduce GHGs could be very costly for the City without significant results, considering their emission everywhere on the planet. He shared different actions that could be implemented with economic value. He wishes for efforts to be deployed on adaptation and resilience to climate change.
Monsieur le conseiller Marc Bureau confirmed that the STE will work on climate change adaptation. Like madame Des Marais, he thanked the STE for bringing these elements to the budget study. He believes the City needs a climate test to make the right decisions and help services work transversally. He mentioned that the STE also needs a larger team to carry out all the actions of the Plan. Monsieur Bureau requested the support of all elected officials to increase support in this file. He added that the presentation on the Biodiversity Plan will be made in the coming weeks, demonstrating the urgency to act.
Monsieur le conseiller Daniel Champagne also believes that climate adaptation measures must be implemented. However, he added a nuance that we must act responsibly. The concrete actions the City will take will influence the reduction of our GHGs. The requested investments are fundamental in the immediate term, but also for future generations. The sum of small actions will help promote the environment. He mentioned the importance of acting with exemplarity.
Echoing monsieur Champagne's remarks, madame la mairesse Maude Marquis-Bissonnette confirmed that the sum of actions will make it work. The City has the capacity to act and it is our responsibility to do so. Madame la mairesse thanked monsieur Bureau for the commission's work, in reference to the political will, considering that this is not the easiest choice. The proposal on the table is to strengthen the STE's capacities and she invited colleagues to support it. Madame la mairesse thanked monsieur Vandal and his team for the actions taken and their dynamism in this file.
Monsieur Duggan mentioned an economic principle of diminishing returns, explaining that a balance plan is sought. Madame la mairesse believes that the economy and the environment can be combined to create opportunities. Investing upstream is more economical than reacting in a crisis situation.
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Textile Recovery Plan
Presentation by mesdames Chantal Marcotte and Annie-France Major, accompanied by monsieur André Turgeon.
The objective of the presentation is to adopt the budget required for the implementation of the action plan for textile recovery in Gatineau.
Presentation plan:
- Current situation;
- Desired situation;
- Timeline;
- Recommendations.
RECOMMENDATIONS: CP-SEMR-2024-11
The executive committee recommends authorizing the treasurer to provide an additional total budget of $750,000 for the 2025-2029 period, i.e., $150,000 per year, via the residential GMR (waste management) tax to finance the implementation of the action plan for textile recovery.
A question and comment period took place. Regarding non-profit organizations (OBNL), monsieur le conseiller Louis Sabourin asked what process will be put in place to choose those selected for the recovery and resale of textiles. He also asked if measures will be put in place to ensure the security of the boxes belonging to the City. Monsieur Sabourin mentioned being also concerned about other materials that could be left around the boxes. Madame Marcotte mentioned that there is indeed a risk that other things will be left around the boxes, but that rapid actions will be put in place.
Regarding the call for tenders to operate the boxes, madame Major mentioned that the process remains to be determined, but that the City wishes to favor local OBNLs. She also mentioned that these will be new secure boxes. Monsieur Sabourin asked what actions will be sought by the OBNLs collecting the donations and madame Major confirmed that the 3R hierarchy must be respected.
Monsieur le conseiller Jean Lessard said he was against the reappearance of the boxes, considering the risk that materials would be disposed of near them, with recovery delays. He mentioned that the processes will have to be clear and would therefore like another system.
Regarding action 4, monsieur le conseiller Mario Aubé mentioned that citizens sometimes do not have the luxury of buying higher quality clothing. He questioned the prohibition of textile disposal. Monsieur le conseiller Steve Moran mentioned that this is an action provided for in the PGMR (Residual Materials Management Plan). Madame Marcotte confirmed that it is a PGMR action, adding that the short-term desire is not to regulate textile disposal. The proposal on the table aims to offer other options, considering the amount of textile going to landfill.
Monsieur le conseiller Mike Duggan asked if the City knows the number of unauthorized deposits in the City. Madame Marcotte mentioned that the City wishes to take charge of them, to have better control and give itself the power to act. Madame Major recalled the importance of reporting unauthorized boxes. Madame Marcotte gave details on unauthorized boxes placed on land not belonging to the City.
Monsieur Duggan asked if strategies can be put in place to invite compliant uses. Madame Major provided the example of the City of Markham.
In response to monsieur le conseiller Marc Bureau, madame Major confirmed that the proposals presented follow the work of the committee set up for this purpose. Monsieur Bureau asked if the recovery pilot project is planned for the entire territory and madame Major mentioned that two districts are targeted for the pilot project.
Monsieur le conseiller Gilles Chagnon expressed the same concerns regarding surplus materials and said he was uncomfortable with the recommendation. He would like the Écocentre to be prioritized in the west for the return of textiles.
Monsieur le conseiller Denis Girouard asked which sectors would be identified for the pilot project. He asked if the figures identified on page 12 were taken into consideration to choose these sectors. Monsieur Girouard also asked if it would be possible to increase the number of boxes considering the costs of textile landfilling. Madame Marcotte mentioned that the sectors selected will be those least well served by voluntary drop-off points. For the 75 boxes planned by 2029, madame Marcotte mentioned that it could be accelerated, while recalling the importance of being well organized beforehand to avoid the issues raised from occurring.
Monsieur le conseiller Jocelyn Blondin is also concerned about the return of the boxes, considering the risks of depositing other materials. He proposes placing them at service centers, transshipment centers, libraries, etc., in places where employees could carry out daily checks. Monsieur Blondin would like elected officials to be consulted on where the boxes will be placed, which was confirmed by madame Marcotte.
Monsieur Moran recalled that the recommendation follows the PGMR adopted two years ago and that action 4 responds to it. He mentioned that the presentation was sent to elected officials on October 18 and that the proposed action will allow for savings. There are therefore advantages for the environment and the City's budget, inviting elected officials to support this recommendation.
Regarding the white boxes, monsieur Sabourin mentioned that a void is filled by others and that if the City deploys an action plan to this effect, the problem will be more easily solved. Monsieur Lessard agrees to find actions to recover textiles, but questions the recovery boxes. He remains concerned about the waste that could be disposed of nearby. Monsieur Aubé would have liked to have more boxes quickly, in reference to the increase in textiles sent to landfill following the removal of the boxes since 2019. However, considering the comments of his colleagues, he will not propose an amendment to this effect.
Monsieur le conseiller Daniel Champagne wishes to rely on the expertise of the teams regarding the recommendation presented. He wishes to confirm that the City wants to regain control of the boxes, by favoring organizations in its territory. By structuring the processes to limit the issues raised by some elected officials. There will be a combination of different measures to avoid a multiplication of boxes on the territory. Regarding the prohibition of textiles, monsieur Champagne refers to the introduction of recycling where citizens have evolved in their practices. The council must demonstrate that the City is moving to a new stage, for textiles.
Madame la mairesse Maude Marquis-Bissonnette confirmed that the goal is to give people options. She hears the fears, mentioning that a new approach is however proposed. On page 18, she wishes to insist on the determination of effective intervention procedures for illegal dumping and issues related to donation boxes. Madame la mairesse asked if the issues experienced previously concerned private land more than municipal land, which was confirmed by madame Marcotte. Madame la mairesse stressed the importance of proceeding with caution, step by step, for the planet as well as to offer better service to citizens.