HomeMy WebLinkAboutINS-17-081 - Bee City Canada - Becoming a Bee City AffiliateREPORT TO: Community and Infrastructure Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING: Dec 4, 2017
SUBMITTED BY: Denise McGoldrick, Director, Operations Environmental
Services. 519-741-2600 ext. 4567
PREPARED BY: Joshua Shea,Natural Areas Coordinator,519-741-2600 ext.
4177
WARD(S) INVOLVED: All
DATE OF REPORT: October 31, 2017
REPORT NO.: INS-17-081
SUBJECT: BEE CITY CANADA BECOMING A BEE CITY AFFILIATE
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City of Kitchener become a Bee City affiliate; and further,
That the Mayor be authorized to sign the formal resolution provided by Bee City
Canada, attached as Appendix A, accepting the designation and committing to the
standards of the Bee City Canada Program.
BACKGROUND:
On June 16, 2016, a representative from Pollination Canada made a presentation to the
Environmental Committee and requested that the City of Kitchener become a Bee City
affiliate.
The Environmental Committee made the following recommendation to the Planning and
Strategic Initiatives Committee on August 8, 2016 and report to
the Environmental Committee on the benefits of becoming a Bee City affiliate and how
such an affiliation coordinates with any current and planned City initiatives to support
pollination
Council directed this request to be incorporated as a strategic initiative in the 2017
business plan and on October 19, 2017, staff report INS-17-081 was presented to
Environmental Committee regarding the benefits of becoming a Bee City affiliate.
The Environmental Committee res
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REPORT:
Bee City Canada, through the Bee City program, has a mission to encourage city
leaders to celebrate and raise awareness of the contribution that bees and other
pollinators make to our world.
Bee City is part of a North American movement to support pollinator protection. Bee City
communities support collaboration and establish and maintain healthy pollinator habitat
within the municipality. As a Bee City, the City of Kitchener would set an example and
inspire residents with the knowledge that we all have a role to play in pollinator
protection and habitat conservation. Further, a Bee City improves its municipal
environment and the physical and mental health of the residents by connecting people
with nature and encouraging healthy, clean food consumption.
In becoming a Bee City, the City of Kitchener would be expected to commit to various
initiatives as a symbol of endorsement. These initiatives include but are not limited to:
Creating sustainable pollinator habitat on municipal lands;
Promoting public involvement in pollinator protection and habitat creation; and
Celebrating pollinators and the Bee City initiative as part of an existing or newly
created event or public forum.
In our ongoing efforts to ensure an environment that is ecologically sound and
supportive of the health and well-being of its residents, the City of Kitchener currently
engages in many initiatives which would not only be complementary to the goals of Bee
City Canada but would also directly support the City requirements to
being a Bee Friendly City with minimal effort.
These initiatives include but are not limited to:
A comprehensive horticulture program that plants thousands of flowers in
gardens, parks and city-owned properties across Kitchener;
The planting of specific varieties of street tree species which grow flowers and
support pollinating insects and bees;
The retrofit and re-naturalization of stormwater features including waterways
(e.g. Filsinger Greenway), and stormwater ponds;
Love My Hood, specifically the placemaking challenge and grant, which supports
and encourages resident led projects including park naturalization and pollinator
habitat creation. A successful pollinator garden was built and established along
the Iron Horse Trail in 2016 as part of the Neighbourhood Strategy initiative.
(KNAP) which provides public education and
engagement opportunities to 5000+ residents annually and hosts two major
public education events Earth Day (April) and Wonders of Nature (August).
KNAP also partners with local organizations (i.e. Waterloo Region Nature) to
promote public education and facilitate the stewardship of nature in our city; and
The City of Kitchener, through KNAP develops and implements natural area
restoration and park management plans including the intentional creation of
pollinator meadow habitats. Two meadow habitats have already been
established in Kitchener, one at Lakeside Park in 2016 and most recently in in
Gzowski Park in 2017. These KNAP projects are funded through an existing
capital funding account.
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ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN:
The Bee City initiative aligns with the Sustainable Environment and Infrastructure
priority of the Strategic Plan.
The Bee City request was identified in the 2017 Strategic Business Plan as Item #NB41.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
Any financial implications would be addressed within the already existing capital and
operating budgets as ongoing efforts supportive of environmental initiatives.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
INFORM Through the Environmental Committee on June 16, 2016, Pollination
The original request was presented June 16, 2016 and summarized in the Planning and
Strategic Initiatives Committee report Aug 8, 2016.
Further information was presented Oct 19, 2017 at the Environmental Committee and
made available in advance of the Dec 4, 2017 Community and Infrastructure Services
Committee.
CONSULT At the June 16, 2016 Environmental Committee meeting, members of the
Committee were provided a presentation by Ms. K. Fellows,Pollination Canada seeking
support for the City of Kitchener in becoming an affiliate of Bee City Canada.
PREVIOUS CONSIDERATION OF THIS MATTER:
On October 19, 2017, Environmental Committee received staff report INS-17-081 and
ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Cynthia Fletcher, Executive Director, Infrastructure Services
APPENDIX A: Bee City Resolution
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Draft Resolution for
____________________________________
(Municipality or First Nation)
of____________________________________
(Province or Territory)
for approval by
City Council, Band Council
or Appropriate Official.
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Bee City Canada Resolution
WHEREAS the goal of Bee City Canada designation is to promote healthy, sustainable
habitats and communities for pollinators;
THATbees and other pollinators around the globe have experienced dramatic declines
dueto land fragmentation, habitat loss, use of pesticides, industrialized agriculture,
climate change and the spread of pests and diseases, with serious implications for the
future health of flora and fauna; and
THAT cities/townships/First Nation communities and their residents have the
opportunity to support beesand other pollinatorson both public and private land; and
THAT supporting pollinators fosters environmental awareness and sustainability, and
increases interactions and engagement among community stewards; and
THATby becoming a Bee City, the City/Township/First Nation can highlight initiatives
already in place and further engage local communities inan environment of creativity
and innovation which will promote a healthier life for our community;
THAT staff be authorized to submit the Bee City Canada Application to designate
(City/Township/First Nation) as a Bee City; and
N OW, THEREFORE,BEIT RESOLVED:
THAT (City/Township/First Nation) accepts the designation and commits to the
standards of the Bee City Canada Program.
Read, approved and adopted this
_____day of ___________________, 20_____.
____________________________________________________
Municipality/First Nation Signature of Mayor, Chief or appropriate official
__________________________
Print Mayor, Chief or name
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