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HomeMy WebLinkAboutINS-11-079 - Community Cul-de-sac Planting Beds completeREPORT T0: Community & Infrastructure Services Committee DATE OF MEETING: October 17, 2011 SUBMITTED BY: Jim Witmer, Director of Operations, ext. 4657 PREPARED BY: Greg Hummel, Manager of Park Planning, Development & Operations, ext. 4598 WARD(S) INVOLVED: Wards 2, 3, 7, 8 DATE OF REPORT: October 4, 2011 REPORT NO.: INS-11-079 SUBJECT: COMMUNITY CUL-DE-SAC PLANTING BEDS RECOMMENDATION: That aone-time grant be given to 1) Zeller Place (Ward 2) 2) Woodhurst Court (Ward 7) 3) Gallarno Court (Ward 8) 4) Canters Close (Ward 3) for the start-up of the cul-de-sac planting program, which includes: a) Services in kind: compost, woodchips, and sod removal $1,000.00 b) Cash grant (use for plant material, benches etc.) $1,000.00 and further; That the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to execute any and all necessary agreements with each of the cul-de-sac groups, satisfactory to the City Solicitor, allowing the plantings to be located on public lands. BACKGROUND: Council Policy I-400 addresses Community garden beds and recognizes them as a community development activity with far reaching benefits. The policy outlines the conditions for the approval of new plantings and the type of support the City of Kitchener can offer. The policy provides for a contribution normally not to exceed $2,000 to assist with the start up of a community garden. Operating funding to cover the costs associated with community gardens was approved in the year 2011 operating budget. REPORT: Attached are some of the design proposals for the islands. The neighbourhood residents wish to beautify the traffic island with a garden of shrubs, perennials, mulch, stone and gathering bench. The proposed landscaping will eliminate most of the turf area at this location and residents will prepare the soil, plant and maintain the garden surface areas as well as any 7-1 1 Staff Re ort p Krr~.~-~~,i~iER ~nfrastru~ture Servrces Department www.kitthenerta remaining turf. Information has been distributed to the neighbourhood. The residents of each of the cul-de-sacs support the project and look forward to the development of the island. ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN: The community cul-de-sac garden program works within the Community Priorities: Leadership and Community Engagement as well as the Environment. Through Leadership and Community Engagement, decisions are being made to promote the development of the island with the input of all residents of the street. Development and maintenance will be a community endeavourthatwill benefit all the homes on the islands. The Environment will benefit from the removal of the static turf island and replaced with trees, shrubs and other plant material that will provide oxygen, control dust, aid in the cooling of the street level environment as well as improve the aesthetics of the neighbourhood. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: The $2,000.00 cost for start-up consists of combined services in kind and cash grant. The Community Gardens operating budget for 2011 includes approximately $12,000 which can support 6 new garden initiatives as one-time expenditures. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: Information has been distributed to the neighbourhood regarding the garden project. In addition, staff has met with the local gardeners to ensure support of the project. ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Pauline Houston, Deputy CAO, Infrastructure Services Department 7-2 ~~p~~~ rs~P ~~s 5 G`t'~~ woob~~t~" ~, u~-~- -r° s«~~ ~Y '~k ~~. 7 X11. . w~, ~~+ ~~LI.1wN',,&I.vE' ~j-fw~P~~=~lh , `(ooLD:~'JP 1~ G _~ 1hPP~N~S~ ~Lo~D GR-ASS 7-3 ~~~ ~ ]~~ . ~ ~ ~ ~~ . ,. f y .A' '.1P. ' r'S+ 4 ~'1' o r, r R '4 ` ++ .~ t• ar ~` 11 ~~ 1 _ ti ; ,, ~ ~ } _ ~~~ ~ i ~, _ y ~ ~ +~ ~ ~~ 1~ • : -i . ~~ r~ f r t ' ~ ~ y f • ~ { ~ r ~~~ ~` `- r. '' oC~ ~~~I~JI~~I~ ~w ~M~t~iv~ ~}-t~IC~ ~~h1j - Sl-E~b~ uL~ -~J~1~1~~ ~~ ~~~ ~ ~ ~~ ~~ ~~~ ~ 1~-~~~ 7-4 . ~~ .. ` o~ h~~ ~ 4 ~ ? 1 f i ~!J ~ ^ ~Y~ F ~~ ~ ~~ 4 r ~ • ~ ~~ ~~ ~~ l + ~ t i~~~ ; 1 5 .. _ ~"~~ ~~ ~~ i y ` ~ ~ _ ~ ~ ' ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ' _ ~ . ! '' ~`~{ , ~ ~ 4 A, ~ '~ ~~ ~ ~ + ~ ~ ~Jr~~ a ~ ~ ~ ~~ ` ~ 'r ~~~ + f r .~ ~ ~ i ' ~ ~1 ~ * ~~ 4 . ~~~~~~ Y f . ~ ~ ` ti . t ' ~~+ ~~~ y 7-5