An update on Sarnia's climate change action and implementation strategy calls for council to continue to view civic matters through an "eco-lens."
The document, endorsed by city council and the Environmental Advisory Committee, identified many areas for improvement, including a need to enforce the idling bylaw, ensure a climate focused work culture in all city departments and hire a specialist.
Community Services General Manager Stacey Forfar said they'll follow up on the action items.
"The idling bylaw of course is one that was directed down by the province," said Forfar. "We have a partnership with Lambton Public Health that supports that. We would like to look at a number of those components and see where city staff fit into it. On a project by project basis, this will all be considered through council."
Forfar said hiring a specialist has been a common theme in larger centers.
"Staff wanted the opportunity to really dive in, in terms of what that individual role could and should really look like if council were to consider it. It's not a part of this year's budget but something that staff will be following up on next year as part of that report card component."
Councillor Bill Dennis welcomed the recommendation that it will be a "living plan."
"I was very pleased to note the excellent comment from the committee member on page three that said this plan and strategy is 'a compass, rather than a map,' as such, I am comfortable there is a recognition that we use this work as a guide and make the best future decisions we can for the community at the appropriate time," Dennis said.
Councillor Brian White said he was privileged to be part of the process from its conception as a member of the advisory committee.
"There was a significant amount of work, community stakeholder involvement, and I do want to just publicly thank the community stakeholders and especially the committee members and staff, who often met -- at times weekly -- to iron out very, very critical details of this," said White.
Staff will create an annual report card on four key areas, the natural environment, flooding, emergency preparedness and response, and greenhouse gas emissions.
The full strategy can be viewed here.