Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutFCS-18-033 - 2018 Community Environmental Improvement Grant (CEIG) ReportREPORT TO: Finance and Corporate Services Committee DATE OF MEETING: April 9, 2018 SUBMITTED BY: Environmental Committee PREPARED BY: Jaclyn Rodrigues, Committee Administrator 519-741-2200 ext. 7275 WARD(S) INVOLVED: All DATE OF REPORT: March 27, 2018 REPORT NO.: FCS-18-033 SUBJECT: ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION - 2018 COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT GRANT (CEIG) ___________________________________________________________________________ RECOMMENDATION: That a total of $13,000.00 from the Community Environmental Improvement Grant capital account be awarded as follows: $3,000. to Busking for Change for a local fundraising campaign piloting -to- the applicant obtaining community of interest or not-for-profit status; $2,000. to K-W Working Centre for a Sustainable Gardening Workshop Series; $1,750. to KW Habilitation and Rockway Mennonite Collegiate for an inclusive agricultural-based in class and hands on learning opportunity; $1,250. to Waterloo-Wellington Science & Engineering Fair DEAR: Developing Environmental Advocates and Researchers for a CO2 Simulation Group Activity; and further, $5,000. that the unused balance be carried forward to the 2019 Community Environmental Improvement Grant program. BACKGROUND: The Community Environmental Improvement Grant (CEIG) was created in 2004 to foster 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: *** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. *** Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance. 6 - 1 Increase awareness of how we view and treat air, water and land resources, and encourage solutions to improve the quality of these resources; 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 programs; and, Support environmental research. REPORT: The Environmental Committee received five (5) grant applications for the 2018 Community Environmental Improvement Grant (CEIG) from the following groups for the following projects: Busking for Change Waterloo-Wellington Science & Engineering Fair DEAR: Developing Environmental Advocates and Researchers KW Habilitation and Rockway Mennonite Collegiate KW Working Centre and Hacienda Sarria Market Garden Sustainable Gardening Workshop Series Trinity Village/Lutheran Homes Kitchener Waterloo Berm Revitalization and Naturalization Project To facilitate the evaluation process, the applications were emailed to the CEIG Sub- Committee on February 21, 2018. On February 26, 2018, the 2018 CEIG Sub- Committee evaluated all five applications received based upon the criteria for funding and the merits of the applications. Based on its deliberations, the Sub-Committee brought forward a recommendation as outlined in a memo dated February 28, 2018, which was circulated to the Committee for consideration at the March 15, 2018 meeting. Additionally, applicants were invited to attend the March 15, 2018 Environmental Committee meeting to make short presentations on their grant requests.Four (4) of the five (5) applicants opted to make presentations to the Committee at that meeting. The CEIG Sub-Committee recommended 2018 grant allocations as follows: Requested Recommended Group GrantGrant Funding Busking for Change$3,000.$3,000. KW Working Centre$3.000.$2,000. KW Habilitation and Rockway Mennonite $2,275.$1,750. Collegiate DEAR: Developing Environmental Advocates and $500.$1,250. Researchers Trinity Village/Lutheran Homes Kitchener $3,000.$0. Waterloo 6 - 2 At the March 15, 2018 Committee meeting, members expressed support for the sub- committee recommendation.The CEIG Sub-Committee noted they did not recommend Trinity Village for grant funding as the project did not meet the objectives of the grant program as outlined in Council Policy I-590 (Community Environmental Improvement). The Busking for Change grant is intended to be used for expenses related to graphic designing, printing of promotional materials, a performing arts database, and the -to- used for workshop material, curriculum development, and marketing material. The KW potting table, one trug vegetable greenhouse cover, two trug micro insect coverings, soil, hand tools, seedling flats, and pots. The Waterloo-Wellington Science and Engineering Fair grant will be used for printing the simulation board. Based on deliberations, the Environmental Committee has recommended a total of $8000. be allocated to four (4) of the five (5) CEIG applicants, and the remaining funds be allocated to the 2019 CEIG program, as outlined in the recommendation contained herein. Council Policy 1-590 (Grant Program - Community Environmental Improvement) and grant ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN: strategic vision through the delivery of core service. Allocat Community Environmental Improvement Grant funds will help 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 $13,000. available for use toward the 2019 CEIG program. Once the funds have been provided to the awarded grant recipients there will be a balance of approximately $5,000. remaining in the account. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: INFORM advance of the Standing Committee. Memos and other supporting materials including the applications were included in the Environmental Committee agendas for the March 15, 2018 meeting. 6 - 3 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 At the March 15, 2018 Environmental Committee, four (4) of the five (5) applicants made short presentations on their grant requests. COLLABORATE This initiative was done in collaboration with a Sub-Committee of community volunteers from the Environmental Committee. ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Lesley MacDonald, Acting DCAO, FCS Department Attachments Appendix A - Council Policy 1-590 (Grant Program - Community Environmental Improvement) 6 - 4 6 - 5 6 - 6 6 - 7 6 - 8