North Bay City Council has received a report from staff on the results of a public consultation on climate change.

Over 100 people attended an open house in September and they offered 14 suggestions in all on what the city can do on the climate change issue.

Some of the suggestions include use less plastics which is something that will be instituted less month, making buses smaller and electric and banning the use of textiles.

Councillor Mike Anthony likes the idea of an on demand bus service when the system isn’t as busy.

“Instead of running an empty bus around 10 times a night there would be a bus or two in the system that would be on call when people use it. We’ll see how this works. If all goes well, we’ll start with just evenings and weekends. It could roll out to be used permanently in the city,”Anthony says.

Councillor Chris Mayne says the city is doing a lot of things already including flaring off methane at the Sewage Treatment Plant, generating electricity at the landfill and finding more fuel efficient vehicles but more can be done.

Mayne would like see more city electric vehicles.

“Small cars and parks and rec vehicles. Those are easy things we should be able to prioritize. Alternate sources like solar as it’s affordable, We do have solar panels on the city hall building now but there’s room to do more of that,” Mayne says.

Other suggestions include the creation of a climate change action plan.

There is no budgeted item for this in 2020.

As well, a call for bottle fill stations at all city facilities.

Staff say new parks, washroom facilities and arena change rooms built in the past two years have all included bottle fill stations.

All future parks buildings and community center/arenas will include water filling stations.

(photo by Linda Holmes BayToday)

Filed under: Chris Mayne, climate change, Mike Anthony, open house