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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDTS-06-080 - Community Environmental Improvement Grant Program - Additional Criteria1 Kd LR Development& Technical Services 6 REPORT Report To: Environmental Advisory Committee Date of Meeting: May 18, 2006 Submitted By: Terry Boutilier, Senior Planner Barb Steiner, Environmental Planner Prepared By: Terry Boutilier, Senior Planner Barb Steiner, Environmental Planner Ward(s) Involved: All Wards Date of Report: May 4, 2006 Report No.: DTS -06 -080 Subject: COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT GRANT PROGRAM - ADDITIONAL CRITERIA RECOMMENDATION: 1. That the City of Kitchener Community Environmental Improvement Grant Program (CEIGP) grant criteria be amended to include the following additional eligibility criteria: 10. Applications should relate to one or more of the seven functional areas of Kitchener's Strategic Plan for the Environment, namely Water Resources, Pollution & Environmental Interference, Waste Management, Land Resources & Growth Management, Energy Systems, Natural & Recreational Amenity Areas, and Resource Consumption. 11. Applications which bring additional external financial, material, or human resources to a project, through partnerships, are favoured over projects which are only sponsored by the City of Kitchener. 12. Community projects should build a level of capacity, that is, knowledge and ability, within the community to promote further stewardship initiatives. " BACKGROUND: The City of Kitchener's Community Environmental Improvement Grant Program was created to foster a sense of environmental stewardship within the communities of our City. For the past two years (2004 and 2005) a total of $10,000 annually has been was awarded to groups seeking to make improvements to their local environments. The current set of grant eligibility criteria is outlined in Appendix B. The City's Environmental Committee is responsible for the consideration of applications under the Program, and the selection of successful applicants. In the Fall of 2005, the Committee resolved to develop and implement for 2006 additional criteria to assist with the Committee in the evaluation of applications. A sub - committee, consisting of Berry Vrbanovic (Chair), Claude Schneider (Citizen Co- Chair), and James Wilson was struck. Staff of DTS facilitated discussion. The sub - committee is recommending that in addition to the current eligibility criteria, the following factors should be considered when the Committee evaluates applications: A. Kitchener Strategic Plan for the Environment The sub - committee suggests it would be beneficial for the City to align the CEIGP with the approved direction of Kitchener's Strategic Plan for the Environment. Adopted by City Council in 1992, the Strategic Plan's Mission is: To ensure an environment that is ecologically sound and responsive to the health, safety and well -being of its residents by identifying and implementing polices and practices which impact positively on the environment. The Strategic Plan has seven Functional Areas and accompanying Objectives. Water Resources — To maintain or enhance the quality of the City's natural watercourses and its potable water supply through the implementation of ecologically sound management practices. Pollution & Environmental Interference — To eliminate or reduce pollution and other forms of environmental interference through the use of safe products, the implementation of sound environmental practices, public education and appropriate legislation. Waste Management — To reduce the amount of waste generated by the residents of the City of Kitchener through education and the promotion of recycling programs and to improve the process for collecting and disposing of dangerous or hazardous materials. Land Resource and Growth Management — To develop and maintain a land use planning process which allows the City to coordinate its growth related policies with a view to achieving a cost effective and sustainable urban form. Energy Systems — To minimize the pollution created from the use of energy by reducing energy consumption and through the use of environmentally friendlier energy sources; and develop, implement and maintain a sustainable energy use lifestyle through the use of renewable energy sources. Natural & Recreational Amenity Areas — To develop and maintain an ecologically diverse open space network which incorporates both typical naturally occurring landscapes and significant natural features and embodies the value of our natural heritage in the creation of a healthy community. Resource Consumption — To reduce the environmental impact of resource consumption within the City Administration through the use of renewal resources, and the implementation of effective monitoring programs and efficient practices. In the awarding of grants, the Environmental Committee should attempt to select projects which fit within these seven functional areas. B. The Power of Partnerships The sub - committee recognizes that more can be accomplished within the City through partnerships rather than individual effort. Applications which bring additional external financial, material, or human resources to a project allows the Environmental Committee to leverage greater achievement in the community per dollar invested. C. Capacity Building Projects which increase a community's ability to take on further environmental stewardship efforts in the future are preferred over "one time" improvement projects. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: There are no financial implications for the City of Kitchener. CONCLUSION: The Community Environmental Improvement Grant Program has contributed to environmental awareness and stewardship through the various projects it helped to fund within the City of Kitchener. Additional criteria proposed in this report will assist the Environmental Committee in the selection and awarding of community proposals. Terry Boutilier, MCIP, RPP Brownfield Co- ordinator & Senior Planner (Special Projects) Jeff Willmer, MCIP, RPP Director of Planning Barb Steiner, B.Sc. Environmental Planner Appendix B: CEIGP Grant Criteria 1. Applications will be accepted from non - profit groups, neighbourhood associations and communities of interest. A "community of interest" is a group of individuals who voluntarily associate with each other because they have identified common environmental concerns that impact on the City, 2. Groups should 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. 3. Municipal Capital projects are not generally eligible for direct funding from the Community Environmental Improvement Grant Program. 4. Grant funding for consultants or professional salaries will only be eligible if provided within the context of a partnership with other funders. Organizations must be operating for City of Kitchener residents. A pro -rated contribution may be considered where residence of participants is mixed with other municipalities. 5. Organizations that are the responsibility of other levels of government (Municipal, Regional, Provincial, Federal or Educational) and /or have had their funding cut or reduced by these levels of government are normally not eligible for grant funding. 6. Grant requests from organizations that themselves distribute grants to other organizations will not be considered. 7. Organizations having received a grant through the City's Budget process will not be eligible for a Community Environmental Improvement Grant Program grant. 8. Any organization receiving a grant from the City of Kitchener will recognize the City's contribution in any promotional literature or material which may be prepared by the organization. 9. Grants under this Program are intended for one time funding only, for a specific project. Organizations seeking continual support are encouraged to seek other funding sources.