HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-10-022 - Leaf Collection Program UpdateKj NER
Co rn m un ity Services
REPORT TO:
DATE OF MEETING:
SUBMITTED BY:
PREPARED BY:
WARD(S) INVOLVED:
DATE OF REPORT:
REPORT NO.:
SUBJECT:
Community Services Committee
April 26, 2010
Jim Witmer, Director of Operations
Jim Witmer, Director of Operations
All
March 12, 2010
CSD-10-022
LEAF PROGRAM UPDATE
RECOMMENDATION:
That the attached map and corresponding leaf collection schedule be approved as the
2010 Loose Leaf Collection program; and further, , and;
That Chapter 635 (Garbage) be amended to reflect the new areas where loose leaf
collection is permitted.
BACKGROUND:
In September of 2009, Council approved a new loose leaf collection program. The revised
program:
Encouraged all residents to mulch or compost leaves or use one of nine leaf drop-off
sites;
Identified locations where curb-side loose leaf collection would be conducted, once
during the month of November, with 2 weeks notice to affected residents in advance;
Identified all other areas where loose leaf collection would be discontinued and
encouraged residents to utilize recycling options, drop-off sites and/or bag their leaves
for collection under the Regional Yard Waste program;
0 Included the closure of the leaf drop-off site previously operated at 75 Ardelt Place;
Included an amendment to Chapter 635 (Garbage) which identified the areas where
loose leaf collection was permitted; and,
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Requested staff continues to collaborate with the Region of Waterloo on a long term
strategy for curb-side loose leaf collection.
After Council's approval staff undertook an extensive communication plan to alert residents to
the new program, the options available for leaf collection and disposal and the schedule and
timing for leaf collection in those areas designated for continued loose leaf collection by city
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forces. A three week collection program was undertaken from November 9 to November 27
REPORT:
The fall of 2009 provided what can be described as the best weather and conditions considered
possible for our leaf collection program. The lack of rain, warm weather and timely leaf drop
combined with the late arrival of winter allowed residents the opportunity to complete their yard
work in concert with our collection activities.
Residents were able to use all possible options available to them in order to address the leaf
drop. Our leaf depots which we opened Thanksgiving weekend were extensively used with
almost 60% of the total leaves collected during the fall coming from city leaf depots. The
increased volume can be attributed to more residents taking advantage of this option especially
if they were not getting curb side collection but also because of the timing of our program.
Loose Leaf Collection Program Labour and Equipment Costs
Hauling from Hauling from Depot City Wide Loose
Leaf Sweeper Leaf Blower Other
Leaf
Streets Depots Preparation Pick Up Pick Up Pick Up
$182,416 $124,084 $37,481 $194,914 $25,966 $2,843
Kilograms of Leaves Hauled
Streets 827,020
Sweepers 581,610
Leaf Depots
Auditorium 561,330
Hofstetter Park 65,400
Eastforest Trail Parking Lot 257,250
Meinzinger Park Soccer Fields 145,620
Cherry Park 131,420
Lions Arena 197,870
South West Optimist Sportsfield 174,500
Breithaupt Park 178,010
Schaefer Park 112,980
Total 3,233,010
During the leaf collection program we also monitored streets which were not included in the
collection areas to determine if they needed to be considered for this year. As a result of this
monitoring staff included additional areas identified in red on the 2009 map for inclusion in the
2010 program. The new program and corresponding changes to the GIS mapping will be part
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of the communication planning for this fall. We have included the following additional streets for
collections this year: Underhill Cres, Grand River Blvd, Lewis Cres, Manor Dr, part of Morrison
Dr, Chandos Dr, Chandos Crt, Tinatawa Crt, Oneida PI, Cherokee Crt, Wyandotte Crt,
Manitoulin Cres, Quinte Cres, Quinte Crt, Forest Glen Cres, Forest Glen Crt, Glen Avon Cres,
Pinehurst Cres, Meadowbrook Dr, Forestwood Dr, Glen Lake Cres, Meadowlane Dr, Glen Park
Cres, Royal Orchard Dr, Royal Orchard PI, Windy Wood Crt, Red Maple PI, Deerwood Cres,
Toynbee Cres, Lorilee Cres, Parkland Cres, Driftwood Dr, Driftwood PI, Old Forest Cres,
Thorncliffe St, Homestead PI, Patricia Ave (dead end), Talbot St (from Patricia Ave to Belmont
Ave W), Adelaide St (from Patricia Ave to Belmont Ave W) Park St (from Glasgow St to city
boundaries), Gildner St, Wood St, Eden Ave, York St, Mount Hope St, Esson St, Wentworth
Ave, Lansdowne Blvd, Russel St, Woodland Ave, (downtown section all streets are from King St
E to Weber St E) Cedar St N, Madison Ave N, Cameron St N, Betzner Ave N, Pandora Ave N,
Fairview Ave N, Stirling Ave N, Dane St, Crescent St, Borden Ave N, Onward Ave.
Subsequent to the completion of the program staff has communicated with the Region to
evaluate the new program and can advise that the modifications to the program do not appear
to have had any detrimental impact on the Region. We requested additional input from the
Yard Waste Program contractor regarding any increased leaf bag collection issues and have
heard none to date. Our continued and primary goal of the proposed modifications is to
prevent issues of safety and drainage on city and regional roads and we are satisfied that we
are achieving this objective.
The 2010 loose leaf collection program proposes minor changes to the collection areas as
identified in the attached map. The proposed collection schedule for this year is also included
in the attachments. The 2010 schedule will have our leaf depots opening again Thanksgiving
weekend with collection beginning over a three week period starting November 8th and
concluding November 26 1h . This should give all of the participants an opportunity to address
the fall leaf drop in a coordinated way and also allow continued work on other operating
activities that would potentially compete for the same resources.
Council needs to be aware that communicating to residents, and working to a defined leaf
collection schedule has potential risks. These risks are associated with the uncertainty of
environmental influences such as a late leaf drop and/or early significant snow events. There
will be times when nature itself does not work for us regardless of our best intentions and
efforts.
In order for the leaf program to continue to be successful each of the participants whether
resident, city or region needs to continue to carry out their own role. With this balanced
approach we can move forward in a cost effective and efficient way.
Through the last year we have learned that an effective program relies on each of the
participants doing their share of the work; that weather plays a significant role in a successful
leaf collection program; that having a schedule assists residents in planning their fall leaf
collection; that a communication plan must be adequately funded; that street sweeping is an
aesthetic issue and not cost effective when integrated into the collection program; and finally,
that residents want the service of leaf collection by the city to continue.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
Based on the annual reporting of the leaf program, exclusive of normal street sweeping
activities, the 2009 loose leaf collection program cost $419,843 which includes $47,053 in
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advertising. The additional cost for advertising was more than twice the normal budget
allocation as we were introducing a new program and wanted to ensure that residents were
made aware of the changes that affected them. If we return to our normal communication
strategy, we will be within the $412,000 annual budget allocation.
COMMUNICATIONS:
Staff will develop a full communications plan for the 2010 Leaf Collection Program. It will be
similar to the plan created for the 2009 program on a smaller scale since the program remains
essentially the same. Communications with the public will include common tools such as
advertising in the Leisure magazine, an article in Your Kitchener, a media release when the
program launches, a flyer delivered to homes, ads in local newspapers and information on the
website. Additional communications will be used to address issues as required.
I ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Pauline Houston, General Manager, Community Services Department
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Leaf Collection Areas 2009
Auditorium/Chicopee KITCHENER
LOOSE LEAF COLLECTION
Forest
PROGRAM RESULTS
Laurentian
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Hotspot (multiple leaf pick up area)
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Addition Areas Collected
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Leaf Drop Off Sites
1 Schaeffer Park (Bloomingdale Rd)
2. Breithaupt Park (Kinsman Park - off Union St
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3. Kitchener Auditorium (Ottawa St. N. entrance) 0
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4. Meinzinger Park Soccer Fields (Homer Watson Blvd.)
5 Lions Arena (Rittenhouse Rd.)
6 South West Optimist Sports Field (Pioneer Dr
7 Cherry Park (Strange St. & Waverly Rd )
8. Victoria St. S. at Eastforest Trail (Eastforest Trails parking lot)
9 Hofstetter Park (40 HofstetterAve
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Leaf Collection Areas
November 8 - 12
November 15 - 19
November 22 - 26
Hot Spot
As required until November 30
2010
KITCHENER
LOOSE LEAF COLLECTION
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Leaf Drop Off Sites
1 Schaeffer Park (Bloomingdale Rd)
2 Breithaupt Park (Kinsman Park - offUnion St)
3 KitchenerA ditoritini(Ott(iwaStNetitrtitice)
4? Meinzirk(jer'P'ark Soccei Fields (Horner Watson Blvd)
5. Lions Arena (Rittenhouse Rd)
6. South West Optinnst Sports Field (Pioneer Dr)
7. Cherry Park (Strantte St & Waverl-v Rd)
B. Victoria St S (It Eastfoi est Trail (Eastforest Trails parkirk(l lot)
9, Hofstettet Park (40 Hofstettei Ave)
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