HomeMy WebLinkAboutComm Svcs - 2010-06-07
COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE
JUNE 7, 2010 CITY OF KITCHENER
The Community Services Committee met this date, commencing at 3:21 p.m.
Present: Councillor G. Lorentz - Chair
Mayor C. Zehr and Councillors C. Weylie, K. Galloway, J. Gazzola, J. Smola and
B. Vrbanovic.
Staff: C. Ladd, Chief Administrative Officer
P. Houston, General Manager of Community Services
T. Speck, General Manager of Corporate Services
J. Willmer, Interim General Manager of Development & Technical Services
D. Chapman, General Manager of Financial Services and City Treasurer
R. Gosse, Director of Legislated Services & City Clerk
H. Gross, Director of Project Administration & Economic Development
M. Hildebrand, Director of Community Programs
J. Witmer, Director of Operations
D. Schmitt, Environmental & Urban Forest Project Manager
K. Steiss, District Facilitator
CSD-10-037 - PARTNERSHIP WITH ST. MARY’S HIGH SCHOOL
1.
Mr. Mark Cameron, Teacher at St. Mary’s High School, attended and provided information on
an Alternative Education program offered through the High School utilizing the facilities at
Country Hills Community Centre and Activa Sportsplex. He explained that the program was
geared towards those students at risk of not completing high school for various reasons and
has shown to be successful for many of the students involved. In future, the program will
continue but will be run out of a downtown Kitchener location. Mr. Cameron extended the
Board’s appreciation of the City’s involvement in partnering with the school to pilot the
program.
CSD-10-036 - EMERALD ASH BORER PREPAREDNESS PLAN
2.
Mr. D. Schmitt gave a presentation on the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), a federally quarantined
and invasive tree pest that affects all ash trees. Mr. Schmitt explained that the EAB, since
introduced to North America, has been causing catastrophic tree loss with 100% tree mortality
within 10 years. The EAB has been confirmed in London and Toronto and it is expected that
Kitchener will be significantly impacted with the loss of ash trees on City streets and in natural
and active park lands. He advised that including the loss of environmental benefit from the
trees and to remove and replace affected street trees, the cost to the city is estimated to be at
least $7.75M. He added that this does not include replacement in natural and park lands as no
comprehensive tree inventory has been completed in those areas.
Mr. Schmitt provided two options that the City could take in dealing with this problem: a
passive management program of removing and replacing dead trees as they happen; or, an
active management program of communication and education and to protect some of the ash
tree population through aggressive tree removal and use of pesticides. He advised that staff is
recommending a more active management program that will require capital and operating
budgets over the next ten years. In answers to questions raised by the Committee, Mr.
Schmitt advised that a park tree inventory scheduled for 2014/2015 should be advanced to
2011 which will provide more data on the ash tree population and costs in dealing with those
trees.
On motion by Councillor K. Galloway -
it was resolved:
“That an Emerald Ash Borer Strategy \ Management Plan ($175,000) be included for
consideration in the 2011 Capital Budget approval process; and,
That staff review options to advance the approved 2014\15 Park Tree Inventory to begin
in 2011; and further,
That a 10-year Capital and Operating budget plan be developed to actively manage
Emerald Ash Borer.”
COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE
JUNE 7, 2010 - 22 - CITY OF KITCHENER
ADJOURNMENT
6.
On motion, the meeting adjourned at 4:08 p.m.
Randy Gosse
Committee Administrator