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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDSD-19-105 - Environmental Committee Recommendation - 2019 CEIGREPORT TO:Finance & Corporate Services Committee DATE OF MEETING:May 13, 2019 SUBMITTED BY:Cody Boomer,Executive Assistant,519-741-2200 Ext. 7407 PREPARED BY:Cody Boomer,Executive Assistant,519-741-2200 Ext. 7407 Carrie Musselman,Senior Environmental Planner,519-741-2200 Ext. 7068 WARD (S) INVOLVED:All DATE OF REPORT:April 29, 2019 REPORT NO.:DSD-19-105 SUBJECT:ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION -2019 COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT GRANT (CEIG) __________________________________________________________________________________________ RECOMMENDATION: That the eight thousand dollars ($8,000) availablethrough the Community Environmental Improvement Grantthis year be allocated as follows: Six hundred dollars ($600) to Kitchener Master Gardeners specifically for room rentals; and Eight hundred dollars ($800) to Sunshine Montessori School to purchase terra- cycle boxes for the school; and One thousand and five hundred dollars ($1,500) to Transition Kitchener-Waterloo for room rentals and workshop supplies associated with Neighbourhood Climate Change Adaptation/Mitigation Workshops; and Two thousand and seven hundred and twenty dollars ($2,720) to Divest Waterloo for aResiliency and Regeneration Climate Conversations for Faith Communities Event that would be inclusive to all and marketed to the broadest audience; and further, Two thousand and three hundred and eighty dollars ($2,380) be prorated toward the 2020 Community Environmental Improvement Grant program. BACKGROUND: The Community Environmental Improvement Grant (CEIG) was created in 2004 tofoster a sense of environmental stewardship throughout the City. The aim of the CEIG Program is to encourage residents to actively participate in environmental initiatives, by undertaking projects that meet the following objectives: Increase awareness of how we view and treat air, water and land resources, and encourage solutions to improve the quality of these resources; ***This information is available in accessible formats upon request. *** Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994for assistance. 2 - 1 Promote healthy lifestyle practices Foster a sense of environmental stewardship; Promote and initiate the development of short-term, intermediate and long-term community-based environmental program; and, Support environmental research. REPORT: The Committee was in receipt of four applications for the 2019 Community Environmental Improvement Grant (CEIG) program from the following groups: Kitchener Master Gardeners Divest Waterloo Sunshine Montessori School Transition Kitchener-Waterloo To facilitate the evaluation process, the applications were included in the March 21, 2019 Environmental Committee Agenda. Additionally, applicants were invited to make short presentations on their grant requests. Two (2) of the four (4) applicants opted to make presentations to the Committee at March 21, 2019, meeting. On March 26, 2019, the 2019 CEIG Sub-Committee evaluated of all four applications received based upon the criteria for funding and the merits of the applications.Based on its deliberations, theSub-Committee brought forward a recommendation which was circulated to the Committee for consideration at the April 18, 2019 meeting. The CEIG Sub-Committee recommend 2019grant allocations as follows: GroupRequested GrantRecommended Grant Funding Kitchener Master Gardeners $2,800.$600. Sunshine Montessori School$400.$800. Transition Kitchener-Waterloo$975.$1,500. Divest Waterloo $1,800.$2,720. At the April 18, 2019 Committee meeting, members expressed support for the sub-committee recommendation. 2 - 2 Funding Allocation Rationale: The Kitchener Master Gardeners grant is to be used for expenses specifically for room rentals.The recommended funding amount is less than requested asthe Sub-Committee determined the room rentals were most beneficial to the community and did not include funding to purchasing a new laptop and projector. The Sunshine Montessori School grant is to be used to purchase terra-cycle boxes for the school. The Sub-Committee recommendedadditional fundingto increase the number of times theterra-cycle boxprogram can be executedin a school year. Transition Kitchener- associated with Neighbourhood Climate Change Adaptation/Mitigation Workshops. In reviewing the budget for Transition Kitchener-plan, the Sub-Committee, based on past experience, recommended additional funding toensure adequate funds are available for the activities and number of workshops they intend to hold. egeneration Climate Conversations for Faith Communities Event that would be inclusive to all and marketed Sub- Committee, based on past experience, recommended additionalfunding to ensure the group meets their goalswith this event. total of $5620. be allocated to the four (4) CEIG applicants, and the remaining funds be allocated to the 2020 CEIG program, as outlined in the recommendation contained herein. Council Policy I-590 (Grant Program Community Environmental Improvement) and grant ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN: The recommendation of this the delivery of core service. implement the Community Vision for the Community Priority ENVIRONMENT, in which our community focuses significant energy and resources on becoming more environmentally friendly. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: The Community Environmental Improvement Grant capital account has $8000 available for use towards the 2019 CEIG program. Once the funds have been provided to the awarded grant recipients there will be a balance of $2380. remaining in the account. 2 - 3 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: INFORM council / committee meeting. Memos and other supporting materials including the applications were included in the Environmental Committee agendafor the March 21, 2019 meeting. In January, Planning staff provided the Environmental Committee with CEIG informational brochures. In February, Planning staff sent an email to Environmental Committee members with the CEIG process Timeline. Staff also promoted the grant opportunity through social media such At the April 18, 2019 Environmental Committee, two (2) of the four (4) applicants made short presentations on their grant requests. COLLABORATE The initiative was done in collaboration with a Sub-Committee of community volunteers from the Environmental Committee. ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Justin Readman, General Manager, Development Services Attachments Appendix A Council Policy I-590 (Grant Program Community Environmental Improvement) 2 - 4 2 - 5 2 - 6 2 - 7 2 - 8