Nanaimo City Council has formed an Environment Committee, which will see recommendations referred their way (Spencer Sterritt/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

climate action

Nanaimo Council forms Environment Committee exploring how to ‘do things better’

Oct 8, 2019 | 7:41 AM

NANAIMO — A newly formed committee is designed to infuse environmental sustainability into more conversations at Nanaimo City Hall.

Council revealed a nine-member Environment Committee Monday night, to be co-chaired by councillors Tyler Brown and Ben Geselbracht.

Brown said the committee will form recommendations to council when projects and ideas involving the environment are referred their way for further discussion.

“It’s to be a filter, critique at times and be an idea generator on how we can do things better,” Brown told NanaimoNewsNOW.

Brown said the committee will make its voice known about large policy items involving development applications with obvious environmental shortfalls.

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Input will also be provided to ensure a new Official Community Plan and Active Transportation Master Plan fits in with the Environment Committee’s mandate.

Brown expected work on the two large documents to start next year.

The committee will meet monthly, supported by a range of rotating City staff from different departments.

Mayor Leonard Krog told Monday night’s council meeting many people hoped to sit on the Environment Committee.

“We had an enormous number of incredibly qualified applicants I think which reflects the concern the city has around environmental matters,” Krog said.

In late April Nanaimo City Council endorsed a motion by Coun. Brown to declare a climate emergency, which was accompanied by four motions to staff to create tangible outcomes.

Several climate action rallies involving hundreds of Nanaimo students were held throughout this year.

Nanaimo Environment Committee members:

• Elisa Justine Boulanger
• Dao-Fang (Darren) Chen
• Harvey DeRoches
• Lisa Frey
• Jerome Lesemann
• Lindsay McCunn
• Wally Wells

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com
On Twitter: @reporterholmes