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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCRPS-06-016 - Enviroment Comm Recommendation: 2006 Cost Sharing Request - Region of Waterloo Non-Essential Pesticide Reduction Social Marketing CampaignReport To: Councillor C. Weylie, Chair and Members of the Development and Technical Services Committee Date of Meeting: February 6, 2006 Submitted By: Environmental Committee Prepared By: Colin Goodeve, Committee Administrator - ext 2278 Wards} Involved: All Date of Report: January 25, 2006 Report No.: CRPS-06-016 Subject: ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: 2006 COST SHARING REQUEST - REGION OF WATERLOO NON-ESSENTIAL PESTICIDE REDUCTION SOCIAL MARKETING CAMPAIGN. RECOMMENDATION: That the City of Kitchener recognizes the public's growing concern regarding the use of pesticides, involuntary exposure and the potential effect on the health of humans and other non-target species; and, That continuing public education must remain a key initiative in efforts to encourage the reduction of the non-essential use of pesticides in our community; and, That the City continue to participate in cost-sharing with 50% by area municipalities and 50% by the Region, and approve the request of the Region for a financial contribution in the amount of $28,800 for 2006, Year 3 of the cost-shared community-based social marketing (CBSM} campaign; and further, That Kitchener's contribution be contingent upon cost-sharing by all area municipalities. BACKGROUND: In the fall of 2003 and winter of 2004 the City of Kitchener reviewed and endorsed a Region of Waterloo 3 year education (community based social marketing) campaign that encourages residents to reduce the amount of pesticides they use. At that time, Kitchener, the Region and all other area municipalities, cooperatively funded this social marketing program for its first two years, for a total contribution by the City of Kitchener of $4,220. in 2003 and $50,640. (including $15,000. in-kind from Kitchener Communications) in 2004 (billed and expended by the Region in 2005). The current request for funding is for the third year of that planned work program. .../2 REPORT: At the January 19, 2006 Environmental Committee meeting, Messrs. Tom Bird and Henry Garcia, Region of waterloo Public Health Department, made a presentation of the results of the 2005 social marketing campaign and requested that the Committee endorse their request that Kitchener continue to support this program and financially contribute to the third year of the campaign. Mr. Bird advised that a third party evaluation showed that the techniques and approaches used to implement the social marketing campaign were successful, noting that the evaluation showed a significant increase in use of the lawn care methods that were being promoted. He stated that in 2006 the Region will be creating a taskforce made up of representatives from local area municipalities, stakeholders and Regional staff, which will provide a more hands on approach to the management of the campaign; and, allow for greater input from area municipalities. At the January 19, 2006 meeting, Environmental Committee members voiced their support for the City's continued involvement in this program and voted to endorse the recommendation outlined in Development and Technical Services Department report DTS-05-208. Attached as a reference is DTS-05-208, which outlines the Region's 2006 Non-Essential Pesticide Reduction Social Marketing Campaign funding request. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: Kitchener is being requested to contribute $28,800. for 2006, based on: 50% of the total costs being funded by the Region; and, the 50% balance of the estimated cost being shared among the local area municipalities on a basis prorated by population. Staff is recommending, and the Environmental Committee has endorsed, that any contribution be contingent on cost-sharing by all area municipalities. Colin Goodeve Committee Administrator