HomeMy WebLinkAboutCRPS-06-033 - Environmental Comm Recommendation - Natural Lands Acquisition FundReport To: Councillor B. Vrbanovic, Chair and Members of the Finance
and Corporate Services Committee
Date of Meeting: March 6, 2006
Submitted By: Environmental Committee
Prepared By: Colin Goodeve, Committee Administrator -ext. 2278
Ward(s) Involved: All
Date of Report: February 24, 2006
Report No.: CRPS-06-033
Subject: ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:
NATURAL LANDS ACQUISITION FUND
RECOMMENDATION:
That in recognizing the public's desire to protect natural lands, and whereas in some
instances, natural lands worthy of conservation cannot be protected by planning policy
alone, and as such the best guarantee for their conservation becomes public ownership;
consideration be given to establishing a Natural Lands Acquisition Fund commencing
with the 2007 Capital budget; and,
That Planning staff work with Community Services staff in respect to parkland dedication
policies, the Parkland Trust Fund, and resources available for natural lands
management; and further,
That potential budgeting for future natural lands acquisition be co-ordinated with the
City's annual Staging of Development report.
BACKGROUND:
In 2001, 84% of the urban residents in Southern Ontario conveyed to Environics that trees and
woodlands are very important to them. Over the past 5 years, Kitchener's own public
consultation processes have consistently identified green lands and parks as among the City's
features most prized by residents. Kitchener's 2005 Environics survey revealed that residents
consider Environmental Protection to be a priority for the community, ranking it second only to
Value for Tax Dollars.
REPORT:
At the February 23, 2006 Environmental Committee meeting the Committee considered and
endorsed the staff recommendations outlined in Development and Technical Services
Department report DTS-05-209. The staff recommendations call for the establishment of a
Natural Lands Acquisition Fund as a means of enhancing the City's ability to offer environmental
protection to natural lands worthy of conservation. The Committee recognized that not all
significant natural lands can be protected through planning policy alone and, therefore,
consideration should be given to establishing a Natural Lands Acquisition Fund as part of the
capital budget. This fund would be utilized as a further tool for environmental conservation when
all other efforts to acquire and secure important lands have failed.
Development and Technical Services Department report DTS-05-209 is attached as
background information.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
Anew capital budget account would be established for the 2007 budget year in an amount to be
determined through consultation between Planning and Community Services staff.
Colin Goodeve
Committee Administrator