HomeMy WebLinkAboutDSD-20-066 - Environmental Committee Recommendation - 2020 CEIGREPORT TO:Special Council
DATE OF MEETING:May 11, 2020
SUBMITTED BY:Cody Boomer,Executive Assistant,519-741-2200 Ext. 7407
PREPARED BY:Cody Boomer,Executive Assistant,519-741-2200 Ext. 7407
WARD (S) INVOLVED:All
DATE OF REPORT:April 22, 2019
REPORT NO.:DSD-20-066
SUBJECT:ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION -2020
COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT GRANT (CEIG)
____________________________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION:
That seven thousandthree hundred and eighty dollars($7,380) from the Community
Environmental Improvement Grant budget allocation be awarded to the following threeprojects:
Seven hundred and fifty dollars ($750) to Acting Now for the Environment, for an
education/information sharing/motivation event conditional upon adherenceto current
public heath physical distancing requirements; and
Three thousand dollars ($3,000) to Arctic Sea Ice Memorial, for installing a public art and
environmental education display on the Duke and Ontario Parking Garage (33 Ontario St
N)in downtown Kitchener conditional upon approval from the City's Parking Enterprise;
and
Two thousand and two hundred and fifty-eight dollars ($2,258) to Homer Watson Friends
of the Environment, to make the threeacres of land surrounding the Homer Watson
House & Gallery an environmentally friendly and enjoyable space for the community
conditional upon approval from the Ontario Heritage Trust (OHT), the City's Facilities
Management, and the City's Parks & Cemeteries; andfurther,
That approximately $1,400dollars be carried over to the2021 program
BACKGROUND:
The Community Environmental Improvement Grant (CEIG) was created in 2004 tofoster 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:
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;
***This information is available in accessible formats upon request. ***
Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994for assistance.
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Promote and initiate the development of short-term, intermediate and long-term community-
based environmental program; and,
Support environmental research.
REPORT:
The Committee was in receipt of fiveapplications (additional details are included in appendix A) for the
2020Community Environmental Improvement Grant (CEIG) program from the following groups:
Acting Now for the Environment
Arctic Sea Ice Memorial
Homer Watson Friend of the Environment
Modern Park Experience
Our Lady of Grace Catholic Elementary School
Due to the current restrictions resulting from the Covid-19pandemic,the Environmental Advisory
Committee has been unable to convene to consider the CEIG recommendation.In lieu of holding a
physical committee meeting, the recommendation andapplications were circulated via email to the
committee for their consideration and comment.No concerns were noted with the proposed funding
recommendation.
Two of the five applications are not being recommended for grant approval. The Modern Park Experience
project is in conflictas the City is undertaking similar work.Additionally,the City is required tofollow an
open and transparent bidding process for services.
Our Lady Grace Catholic Elementary Schoolisnot eligible to receive CEIG funding as theyare receiving
Neighbourhood Matching Grant.The recommendation also includesconditions
to ensure alignment with City services, heritage requirementsandpandemic public healthrequirements.
Council Policy FIN-GRA-590(Grant Program Community Environmental Improvement) and grant
criteria have been attached as appendix B for
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN:
The recommendation of this report supports the achievement of the
delivery of core service.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
The Community Environmental Improvement Grant capital account hasa balance of approximately
$7,380. Should council approve the projects outlined within this report, approximately $1400 dollars will
remain in the account and be carried forward in the 2021 budget.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
INFORM
committee meeting.Applicants have been notified of the recommendation being presented to Council on
th
May 11.
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COLLABORATE The initiative was done in collaboration with community volunteers from the
Environmental Committee.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Justin Readman, General Manager, Development Services
Attachments
Appendix ACEIG Application Summary
Appendix BCouncil Policy FIN-GRA-590 (Grant Program Community Environmental Improvement)
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Program Budget
$750.00
Upcycled Fabric $100.00
2 Days x JD 323D tracked Skid Steer John Deere tracked machine ($255.67) = $511.34
Labour $400.00
1 Days x Construction crew truck ($273.49) = $273.49 1 Days x Plate tamper 150 lb vibratory plate tamper ($45.84) = $45.84 3 cu. yd. x Aggregate - 12 each x Armourstone -
1/2 ton each Amphitheater and rock seating area ($250.57) = $3006.84
A.Speakers $250B.Info Booth $0(Donated Time)C.50 BagsTotal Production of stencils for painting: $1,150Rental of installation equipment: $1,750Artwork installation: $3,850Information
display production: $600Display board installation: $300Launch event expenses: $500Initiation of project website: $100Photo location asphalt graphic: $250Total: $8,500 To be funded
by a combination of City grant, potential in-kind labour, and further private fundraising/sponsorship.A) Picnic Tables: $638.45-Labour: Conestoga College students from the Trades and
Apprenticeship program will be donatingtheir time and expertise to build 5 picnic table for the property.-Materials needed per picnic table1. 2"x6"x12' SPF Dimension Lumber, quantity
5 ($9.77 each)2. 2"x6"x10' SPF Dimension Lumber, quantity 1 ($8.15 each)3. 2"x6"x8' SPF Dimension Lumber, quantity 1 ($ 4.95 each)4. 2"x4"x8' SPF Dimension Lumber, quantity 2 ($3.25
each)5. 3/8" x 4" Pro Pack Hot Dipped Galvanized Carriage Bolt (5 Sets), quantity 3 ($10.28 each)Total price/picnic table = $112.20 ($99.29 +TAX)The students of Conestoga have offered
to build 5 picnic tables for us, bringing the total to $638.45.B) CleanRiver Flex E STurdy 3-in-1 Waste, Recycling & Compost Bin with High Impact Backboard, 50Gallon: $435. 04 ($348.99
+TAX)C) 5ft Contemporary 5-Loop Surface Mount Commercial Bike Rack: $622.94 ($551.27+TAX)D) Gardens:$638.45-Labour: A group of 10-15 community volunteers will be donating their time,
bringing many of the toolsrequired to plant, plants, and regularly upkeep the gardens throughout the year.-Pine Mulch, Two Yards ($60/yard)-Screened Top Soil, Two Yards ($30/yard)-Compost,
One Yard ($60/yard)-Variety of Native Plants ($250)-Variety of Native Plant Seeds ($25)-Various Gardening Tools, e.g. shovels, rakes ($50)Total price = $638.45 ($565+TAX)Total Budget
requested from the City: $2,257.43 Total budget - $5,000Other contributions (secured funding) - $4,000Requested from the city - $1,000For the detailed project budget please see: https://docs.google.
com/spreadsheets/d/1k-9AJiG6D7GpIit5ABO0xIu048ngdwVeLksDqU46hmk/edit?usp=sharing Phase 3: Naturalized Amphitheatre - Heart of our Neighbourhood Community-Labour: $5,775.00 -Materials
& Equipment: $6,655.00 1 Days x Excavator JD ($220.57) = $220.57 'A' gravel Base layer ($20.17) = $60.51 75 sq. ft. x Geotextile - 4 oz. landscape fabric - 12' width ($0.20)
= $15.00 2 each Natural log table - approx 24" diameter/30" height Natural log, bark left on, edges rounded and sanded (oak, maple) ($42.18) = $84.36 8 each Natural log
seat - approx 18" diameter/18" height Natural log, bark left on, edges rounded and sanded ($30.00) = $240.00 5 each Plant-tree-various species - 70 mm WB Deciduous species - maple,
oak, sycamore, etc ($439.21) = $2196.05Subtotal $12,430.00 Taxes $1,615.90 Estimate Total $14,045.90Requested from the city: $3000.00 Link to Quote for Phase 3: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cc
0y7avlERQ--oHuL3CH4zTgThkO7enw/view?usp=sharingSchool fundraising and donations have been the only source of funding for the last two years. Phase one and two construction for the project
was made possible once the school was able to collect the first $30,000.00. All positions on school council and collaborators for this project are volunteers. Additionally, volunteers
in the school community plan to maintain the grounds of the natural area once construction is complete
750.00
3,000.002,257.431,000.003,000.00
from CEIG
Requested
$ $ $ $ $
Total Amount
750.00
8,500.002,257.435,000.00
51,302.57
Project
Total Cost of
$ $ $ $ $
Benefit to Community
The projects below are not eligible to receive funding
Fun, accessible. informative event that is open to everyone in the community. City of Kitchener would benefit with its residents decreasing waste they generate.The benefit would be to
increase Kitchener residents awareness of actions they can take and resources available to reduce waste. For example I learnt about KW Library of Things and that the, Kitchener Public
Library lends out items other than just books through the environmental Skill share workshops. I also learnt that just using a reusable grocery bag made of plastic just eventually creates
more waste. Bags should be upcycled, washable and reusable. Upcycling is make a product out of items that have already had a previous use. In buying fabric for the bags I learnt how
many second hand shops there are in Kitchener.The Arctic Sea Ice Memorial will inspire stewardship and behaviour change among residents, andeducate the audience of passersby about the
changing climate. As a contribution to the public space, there will be no charge for admission or viewing, and the content will be written with a general audience in mind. Thus, it
will serve as a place-making asset for the city's core, and a venue for thoughtful reflection, public events with related themes, civic pride and tourism. The location of the installation
on and around a municipal facility will also remind citizens of their City Council's commitment to climate action, declaration of a climate emergency, and ongoing commitment to corporate
and community progress toward sustainability. While there may be some artistic irony in using an automotive fixture as a canvas, the garage is in fact a part of the larger effort to
improve density and welcome all transportation modes in the downtown, which is to be celebrated. This project will also highlight the unique helix architecture of the facility, and
could serve to motivate greater use and future landscape improvement of the parkette.Since the property is owned by the City of Kitchener we have many community members that use our
grounds on a daily basis for walks, runs and as a path through the community. Improving the aesthetics and functionality of this space will allow folks who use this space on a daily
basis to engage further with the land, for example by stopping to have a picnic or walk their dog where they are able to properly dispose of their waste. It will allow the Gallery to
host more outdoor events, such as community talks by local beekeepers and family fun picnics, and to create programs that make use of the outdoor landscape, such as plein air painting.
By making biking and waste disposal more accessible this project would promote physical and environmental health in our community. We hope to uphold The Modern Park Experience project
will not only benefit the City of Kitchener at the municipal level, but also the residents across the City at the community level. An example of the benefits seen at the municipal level
will be the additional source of funding towards parks and protected areas from this new donation stream that was not previously capitalized on. Moreover, the City of Kitchener will
also benefit from being able to provide park information and updates in a more sustainable way than the standard of putting up new picket signs. As for the community benefits, through
this project park visitors will now be able to easily share park feedback and suggestions, of which will include the community in the decision-making process to a greater extent, thus
enhancing community cohesion. Moreover, this project will also encourage community members to interact with park information, thus enhancing the Receiving this grant will be essential
in reaching this goal for our community. Our school serves a low socio-economic community and this naturalized amphitheatre will be a great benefit to community members on weeknights,
weekends, and throughout the summer. Our recent data indicates the vast majority of our students are not involved in any extracurricular activities. Additionally, there are many
apartment buildings surrounding the school area with limited green space for neighbours to enjoy. We are a proud certified EcoSchool and this project uses only repurposed or natural
materials, helping us to reduce our carbon footprint and contribute towards a sustainable future for our children. Finally, as our current play space is inaccessible to individuals
with a physical disability, this new naturalized play space will provide accessible opportunities for all members in our community. We greatly appreciate that grants such as yours
afford us opportunities otherwise out of reach for a small school community such as ours. Thank you in advance for your consideration of helping us to create great opportunities for
our students, families, and the wider community
Program Rationale & Timeline
Hold an event compromised of 3 components.A Education2 or 3 speakers offering practical ideas on waste reductionB.Information Sharing3 to 5 booths of local environmental services. Potential
groups, KW Library of things, KPL-Cool Things to borrow, Reep,TransitionKWC.Motivation with practical take away for 50 participantsGive out to 50 participants upcycled, washable, reusable
bags :25 sturdy grocery bags and 25 attractive produce bags.Participants will leave event with practical tips and a reusable bag that will serve to remind them to be kinder to the environmentThe
Arctic Sea Ice Memorial will be established in Downtown Kitchener as an inspirational and educational resource, with a focus on the science and consequences of climate change. Taking
the form of public art, with the Duke & Ontario Parking Garage as its canvas, the decline of arctic sea icevolume over the last 40 years (and its approach towards zero) will be detailed.
Each year (1979 through 2019) will be marked at a height reflecting arctic sea ice volume recorded each September, as measured by satellite data. A more detailed display board will
describe the role of sea ice in our climate, our basis for understanding its decline, and the consequences of this on our future. Installation would be scheduled in the Spring of 2020,
once warmer weather and receipt of funding allows. It will remain an active program with annual updates to reflect the continuing record by the addition of each new year to the artwork.The
project is to make the 3 acres of land surrounding the Homer Watson House & Gallery an environmentally friendly and enjoyable space for the community. The rational for each aspect of
theproject include:The native plants would provide food and habitat for our local pollinators, improve the community aesthetic and maintain the natural environment in our urban community.The
picnic tables would encourage community members and gallery visitors to enjoy and connect with their natural habitat, make use of our land, and allow courses, such as botanical drawing,
to be taughtoutside with the inspiration from nature. Integrating art and nature promotes both environmental education and public awareness of native plant species, pollinators and
the ecosystems surrounding both the Homer Watson House & Gallery and the Grand River adjacent to us.Providing a recycling, waste, and compost bin will increase the awareness of anti-litter
and environmental stewardship expectations.The availability of a bike rack would promote greener transportation and make our space more accessible for folks without vehicles.Together,
these individual initiatives create the overall Friend of the Environment Project that will begin Spring 2020 and continue indefinitely with the maintenance and growth of the project.This
Project proposal is to build unique and user-friendly websites for parks and protected areas across the City of Kitchener. More specifically, at Huron Natural Area, or Homer Watson
Park. These platforms will not only provide park information and updates in a more sustainable and engaging way to the community and visitors, but also will enable direct digital donations
to contribute to the park up-keep and development directly from the site. Moreover, these websites will also provide accessible environmental education opportunities to the community.
The overarching purpose behind this is to promote environmental approval for this application, and will continue for years to come with the city's approval.To make these naturalized
changes to our landscape, we have hired Quiet Nature Ltd. to restore this area for a total of $51 302.57. This restoration will include the development of a play area built into the
hill leading into the forest, a creative play space including a mud kitchen, and a community amphitheatre constructed of large stones and covered by trees. Over the past few years,
we have raised $28,000 through school fundraising efforts, which will only allow us to complete Phase 1 and 2 of this project. We are currently applying for funding that would allow
us to complete Phase 3 of this Project: a community amphitheatre. Our hope is to collect enough funds to complete all 3 phases of this project for Construction beginning March 2020
and completed by August 202
Type of Organization
VolunteerCommunity of InterestNot-for-profitNeighbourhoodSocial EnterprisePublicly Funded School within the Waterloo Catholic District School Board
Name of
Program/Applicant
Acting Now for the EnvironmentArctic Sea Ice MemorialHomer Watson, Friend of the EnvironmentModern Park Experience (MPX)Naturalized amphitheatre in the heart of our community: bring
community together through meaningful opportunities in our open space
Name of Organization
Practical Environment NowArctic Sea IceMemorialHomer WatsonHouse & GalleryModern ParkExperience (MPX)Our Lady of Grace Catholic Elementary School
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POLICY Policy No:FIN-GRA-590
Approval Date:October 4, 2004
Policy Title:GRANT PROGRAM -
COMMUNITY
Reviewed Date:June 2016
ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPROVEMENT
Next Review Date:June 2021
Reviewed Date:
Policy Type:COUNCIL
Category:Finance
Last Amended:October 6, 2008
Sub-Category:Grants, Rebates & Incentives
Replaces:I-590
Author:Author Unknown
Repealed:March 26, 2012
Replacedby:
Dept/Div:Community Services/ Planning
Related Policies, Procedures and/or Guidelines:
To be included at next review.
1.POLICY PURPOSE:
Grants are provided to organizations that operate within the City of Kitchener. The
purpose of the program is:
a)
resources and encourage them to be involved in solutions to improve the
quality of those resources;
b)to foster a sense of environmental stewardship;
c)to promote community environmental awareness;
d)to promote and initiate the development of community based environmental
projects;
e)to support environmental research.
2.DEFINITIONS:
To be included at next review.
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Policy No:FIN-GRA-590
Policy Title:GRANT PROGRAM -COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT
3.SCOPE:
POLICY APPLIES TO THE FOLLOWING:
All Employees
AllFull-Time EmployeesAllUnion
ManagementC.U.P.E. 68 Civic
Non UnionC.U.P.E. 68 Mechanics
TemporaryC.U.P.E. 791
StudentI.B.E.W. 636
Part-Time EmployeesK.P.F.F.A.
Specified Positions only:Executive Other:!
Assistant -CSD!
CouncilLocal Boards & Advisory Committees
4.POLICY CONTENT:
Funding Source
Funding is available to a maximum of $3,000.00 for each project in a given year to
be funded from the Environmental Stewardship Capital Account.
Criteria
a)Applicants:
i.Applications will be accepted from non-profit groups, neighbourhood
associations and communities of interest. A community of interest is
defined as a group of individuals who voluntarily associate with each
other because they have identified common environmental concerns
that impact the city.
ii.Applicants must demonstrate an ability to initiate and follow through on
projects by having an organizational structure in place to lead and
manage the activities and to account for finances.
iii.Applicants must submit a completed community environmental
improvement grant application form, along with all supporting
documents as noted in the application form, by the deadline to the City
of Kitchener.
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Policy No:FIN-GRA-590
Policy Title:GRANT PROGRAM -COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT
iv.Applicants are encouraged to propose projects that provide as much
public participation and access as possible, e.g. minimum charge or no
admission charge whenever possible.
v.Applicants seeking continual support for a project are encouraged to
seek other funding sources but may reapply every three years.
vi.A limit may be placed on the number of applications considered from
schools or school related entities in a given year.
b)Projects:
i.Each project for which funding is requested must demonstrably meet
Strategic Plan for the Environment and other policy documents,
namely: Natural Heritage Systems and Recreational Amenity Areas,
Water Resources, Air Quality, Land Resources and Growth
Management, Energy Systems, Resource Consumption and Waste
Management, and Environmental Education and Public Awareness.
ii.Projects must consider inclusion and accommodation of persons with
disabilities.
iii.Projects should normally be completed within one calendar year from
the date the application is approved.
iv.Projects that conflict with or are in direct competition with projects
performed by the City will not be supported.
v.Projects provided by the applicant for which funding is requested must
be provided directly to the citizens of Kitchener.
c)Financing:
i.Projects that bring additional external financing, material or human
resources to a project through partnerships are favoured over projects
that are only sponsored by the City of Kitchener.
ii.Funding for consultants or professional salaries will only be eligible if
provided within the context of a partnership with other funders.
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Policy No:FIN-GRA-590
Policy Title:GRANT PROGRAM -COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT
Applicants must be operating for City of Kitchener residents. A pro-
rated contribution may be considered where residence of participants
is mixed with other municipalities. Such fees may be allowed to a
maximum of $500.00.
iii.Where applicable, proof of adequate liability insurance should be
presented by the applicant requesting the grant.
iv.Projects that are the responsibility of other levels of government
Municipal, Regional, Provincial or Federal will not be eligible for a
Community Environmental Improvement Grant.
v.
Tier 1 or 2 Community Grants or Community Garden Grant will not be
eligible for a Community Environmental Improvement Grant.
vi.Community Environmental Improvement Grants are intended for one
time funding only for a specific project.
vii.Projects that distribute funds to other organizations will not be
considered, e.g. fundraising events.
viii.Costs that are associated with ongoing business activity and not a
specific requirement of the proposed initiative will not be eligible for a
Community Environmental Improvement Grant, e.g. office supplies,
telephone/internet fees, salaries, in-kind donations or volunteer time,
travel and accommodation costs etc.
d)Revisions:
i.Any changes to the project timeline, nature and or content of an
approved project shall be subject to a revised proposal being
submitted to the Environmental Committee which will forward a
recommendation to City council as to whether the previously approved
funding should be withdrawn.
ii.Failure to submit a revised proposal may result in the withholding or
repayment of funds.
e)Recognition:
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Policy No:FIN-GRA-590
Policy Title:GRANT PROGRAM -COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT
i.Applicants receiving funds from the City of Kitchener will recognize the
s corporate logo and
corporate name for use in promotional literature and material that may
be prepared by the organization/group for which a grant has been
received. Such promotional material and literature is to be developed
Corporate Standards Manual. The format
of the recognition will be negotiated by staff and the
organization/group.
ii.Applicants receiving a grant must give a presentation to the
Environmental Committee at the June Committee meeting. A final
report detailinggrant expenditures, summary of activities undertaken,
environmental outcomes achieved that include photographs, copies of
media coverage received or written feedback must be submitted within
one month of the completion of the project or at the November
committee meeting, whichever occurs first.
iii.All project documentation and photographs become the property of the
City of Kitchener for use on its website or other educational material or
events.
Grant Submission Process
a)All grant requests will be reviewed and evaluated by the Environmental
Committee and City of Kitchener staff.
b)Community Environmental Improvement Grant applications will be received
once per year, normally in mid-September (specific deadline dates will be
published annually).
c)A sub-committee of the Environmental Committee will make grant
recommendations based upon input from Environmental Committee
members to allocate resources within budget.
d)Applicants will be notified of the sub-endations
prior to consideration by the Environmental Committee, normally in October
(specific deadline dates will be published annually).
e)Applicants who request a grant will be afforded the opportunity to address the
Environmental Committee or appropriate Standing Committee of Council as
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Policy No:FIN-GRA-590
Policy Title:GRANT PROGRAM -COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT
-law; delegations are
permitted to address the Committee for a maximum of five (5) minutes.
f)Generally, grant recommendations will be brought forward for consideration
byCouncil at an appropriate Standing Committee of Council meeting,
normally in November or December (specific date will be published annually).
g)All decisions made by the appropriate Standing Committee of Council must
be ratified by City Council before they
from this meeting will be considered at the next regularly scheduled meeting
of City Council.
h)Formal notification of successful grant recipients and amounts will be sent to
applicants following decisions by Council.
i)Payment of grants will occur after Council approval.
5.HISTORY OF POLICY CHANGES
Administrative Updates
2016-06-01-I-590 policy template re-formatted to new numbering systemand given
number FIN-GRA-500
Formal Amendments
2008-10-06 -Resolution passed by Council
2012-03-26 -Resolution passed by Council to repeal and replace.
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