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A 4 - The Oakville Beaver, W e d n e s d a y D e c e m b e r 10, 2003 Town aims to have Environmental Strategic Plan in place by June By Angela Blackburn OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF It's ambitious, but by June the Town of Oakville should have com pleted its ESP -- Environmental Strategic Plan. It will have been driven by citi zens. It will be for all of Oakville, not just the yet to be developed north end. It will be workable given eco nomic. social, and environmental influences. The plan is far from being cast in stone, yet. though. People attending the Town's first ESP open house at Town Hall recently were told a three month study on how to develop the ESP was just completed. Residents dropped by to learn about the ESP, attending numerous information presentations. Approximately 50 people were at the first session. The open house ended the first of three phases in the creation of an ESP. Next will come widespread community consultation and devel opment of the ESP. Lastly, the ESP will be ratified by Town council and implemented in the community. Narelle Martin, the Town's environmental advisor, and Jim Micak of IER consultants -- which has helped develop strategic plans for the Halton Regional Police, Environment Canada and HarleyDavidson -- outlined Wednesday how Oakville will get an ESP before next summer. "1 agree it is an ambitious time line," Micak told the audience, admitting it could, in actuality, lake longer. The need for an ESP grew out of the massive public input into hear ings on north Oakville growth. Since September, the Town recruited volunteers for an ESP Task Force and brainstormed how to come up with an ESP. "The process is as important as the outcome," Martin said. There is a quartet of goals. Topping the list is to have the com munity create the ESP. "We're really here to hear from you. the people." said Mayor Ann Mulvale. The Town also wants residents, businesses and community groups not only to participate in creating the ESP, but to take some responsi bility for the environment. Mulvale said it's important to look at the "big picture." but it's equally important to contribute the small stuff. That could mean walk ing to the store for milk or a news paper. instead of driving, she said. After setting up the ESP Task Force -- it will meet publicly and its next meeting is Jan. 22 at 7 p.m. -- a Blueprint Oakville newsletter focusing on the ESP was mailed to all residents late last month. A Community Attitude survey, a random telephone survey of 500 residents, is also nearing comple tion. IER has also compiled a data base of nearly 200 "best practices" from communities, groups and improvement throughout the geo graphical area of Oakville." The Town is reaching out to all residents inviting them to partici pate in the ESP, not just passionate environmentalists. It has also assembled a team of environmental consultants as advisors to the pub lic. "They will not do the work, the ESP will be developed by the com munity," said Micak. "Every household and business can have an impact on the environ ment. Through our everyday activi ties we can also help. It is clear that no one person or organization has the answers to all of our environ mental challenges." said Martin. The environmental strategic plan is one of six major planning initiatives being undertaken by the Town under the banner of "Blueprint Oakville. Planning Oakville's Future". Details of the plan can be found at the Town's Web site at www.oakville.ca. Residents who want to get involved should surf the Town's Web site. They can sign up for ESP workshops to be held in the new year. Surveys, similar to the random community attitudes telephone sur vey can be completed. Residents can e-mail blueprint@oakville.ca, fax 905-3384259. telephone 905-815-6040 or write to Blueprint Oakville Environmental Strategic Plan c/o Corporate Communications Department. 1225 Trafalgar Rd.. P.O. Box 310. Oakville ON L6J 5A6. S .M ' I Peter C. McCusker · Oakville Beaver Jim M icak, of IER consultants views a display at the recent E nvironm ental Strategic Plan (ESP) open house with Narelle M artin, Environm ental Advisor for the Town o f Oakville, and I.isa Seiler, m em ber of the ESP Task Force. businesses around the globe that could be applied here. It has also compiled summaries of what's already going on in Oakville with alternative energy, forestry and parks, trails and har bours, energy efficiency, transporta tion. pesticide management, recy cling. water quality and conserva tion. waste management and air quality. Wednesday's open house com pleted phase one of the ESP process. From January to May, working groups will be established from local residences, community groups and businesses to provide input. Targets, actions and evalua tion methods will be detailed for the ESP. Then a second newsletter w ill be mailed and another open house held before the ESP is set. By next June, the ESP will be introduced to the community, hand ed off to a team that will pul it into action, and it will be ratified by Town council. Micak said the ESP must be community-driven, be sustainable in that it recognizes economic, environmental and social realities, be focused on results and be widely accepted by the community. Council has ordered that the ESP is "to outline targets, measura ble goals and the means to achieve environmental protection and Forever Young's Website Is Your R o a d M a p t o Instant Winners! m E v e ry S to re ! E v e ry D a y ! Valuable prizes awarded on the spot! Over 3000 Winners Company-wide! m win 1of 5 FIRE GUTS WAREHOUSE! 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