Report to:
General Committee Report
Date: November 12, 2007
SUBJECT:
PREPARED BY: Mavis Urquhart, Manager,
Environmental Leadership, x7502
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT staff report
titled “Markham Environmental Sustainability Fund – Fall Funding”, dated
November 12, 2007, be received;
AND THAT
Council approve funding for the following Community Projects as evaluated and
recommended by staff and the Environmental Issues Committee as set out in this
report, in the amount of $19,000.00 as follows:
- Youth Environmental Network of
to be funded
from the Markham Environmental Sustainability Fund (MESF), Account #87 2800168;
AND THAT Staff
be authorized to do all things necessary to give effect to the above.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The purpose of
this report is to recommend Community projects for Markham Environmental Sustainability
Funding in the second half of 2007, totaling $19,000. All of the recommended
projects conform to objectives established by Council and have been circulated
to/discussed with affected departments.
The Community Projects recommended for
approval are:
- Youth Environmental Network of
The Community Project recommended for
deferral are:
- Unionville Business Improvement Association (BIA) application
for streetscape improvements
The Community Project not recommended
is:
- Smart Commute 404-7 - requesting
$4,185.00 for the Lunch Express for another six months
Markham Council had requested staff explore creating a
rebate/incentive program when they considered the spring MESF applications.
This request stemmed from an application which was made by
FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:
The balance of the Markham Environmental
Sustainability Fund for 2007, including the 2007 top up in 2007 Capital Budget,
is $300,000. This funding is split between Internal/Town Projects ($200,000)
and External/Community Applicants ($100,000).
Included in the proposed 2007 Capital Budget is
project #7638 - MECO – Energy Retrofit, with a budget of $287,800, with funding
provided from MESF ($106,000) and and the Markham Tree Planting program
($86,500). This report recommends funding for three
Community projects for $19,000.
A chart showing the financial information about this project is below:
|
MESF FUNDING
2007 |
|
|
FUNDING
AVAILABLE FOR TOWN PROJECTS |
$200,000.00 |
|
Town Projects
included in 2007 Capital Budget |
|
|
#7638 MECO – Energy Retrofit |
$106,000.00 |
|
|
$86,500.00 |
|
|
|
|
Town
Projects/Promotion Approved – 1st Half |
|
|
Adopt-A-Park - Community Support and Awareness Program |
$5,906.00 |
|
Trees for volunteers & promotion material |
$1,550.00 |
|
Total |
$192,500.00 |
|
2007 Funds
Remaining for Town Projects in 2007 |
$44.00 |
|
|
|
|
FUNDING
AVAILABLE FOR COMMUNITY GROUPS |
$100,000.00 |
|
Total Town project approved for 2007 - 1st
Half |
|
|
Cleanup/Planting
and Signage Program in |
$3,601.10 |
|
Unionville
Villager’s Association Aerial Pathway Signage |
$10,000.00 |
|
Tree planting for Annual Wildlife Habitat
Restoration in the |
$5,250.00 |
|
Interpretative signage (2 signs) for Toogood Pond |
$4,800.00 |
|
Total |
$23,651.10 |
|
|
|
|
Projects
Recommended for Approval in this Report - 2nd Half |
|
|
Youth
Environmental Network of |
$10,000.00 |
|
|
$5,000.00 |
|
|
$4,000.00 |
|
Total |
$19,000.00 |
|
|
|
|
2007
Funds Remaining for Community Groups in 2007 |
$57,349.00 |
|
|
|
|
2007 TOTAL
FUND REMAINING |
$57,393.00 |
Provided all projects and the request for funding as recommended in
this report are approved, the new balance will be $57,393 ($44.00 + $57,349).
Project awards will be made in the fall. (The next deadline for applications is
1. Purpose 2. Background 3. Discussion 4. Financial
5. Others (Environmental, Accessibility, Engage 21st, Affected Units) 6.
Attachment(s)
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this report is to:
·
To recommend
Community projects for Fall funding from the Markham Environmental
Sustainability Fund; and,
·
To provide
a progress report on this program and expenditures to date
This report outlines the projects recommended to be funded by the MESF
in the second half of 2007. Funding is issued twice a year (spring and fall) to
reduce the planning timeframe for community groups.
BACKGROUND:
1. Youth
Environmental Network of
Requesting $10,000 for a Youth
Environmental Conference for local secondary school students (See Attachment #1)
This is a
request for funding from YENYR, which is a registered non-profit youth group,
composed of 20 students from Markham Secondary Schools. The project team will have assistance from
York Region Environmental Alliance - an external non-profit environmental group
and Jason Tsien, Town of
The purpose of
this youth environmental conference is to encourage students to learn about
sustainable living and deliver their knowledge to their schools and the
community. The conference is proposed
for Spring 2008, at the Civic Centre. They will also produce a brochure to promote
environmental action for Markham Youth. A detailed description of the project
is included with the application form.
The total
project cost is $12,556 with $10,000 requested from MESF. Funding from MESF is
proposed to be used for the following:
·
keynote speaker - $5,000
·
guest speakers - $2,000
·
production of a Markham
Environmental Resource Brochure - $156.00
·
food - $1,600
·
printing - $1,044
·
operating
expenses/fees/sundries - $200
YENYR also
intends to raise funds through a membership drive, sponsorship, grants and
fundraising. Funds will be managed by Jason Tsien,
Staff support this
project provided that funding is managed by Jason Tsien, Town of
2.
This school has made 2 applications as follows:
i) $9,397.61 for 7 large trees and a stage as part of Phase 2 of
their schoolyard restoration (See Attachment #2);
The purpose of
this project is to undertake a second phase of the schoolyard restoration
effort. Unionville Meadows PS received a
$4,966 MESF grant in Spring 2006 for phase 1, which resulted in the
construction of a peace garden/outdoor classroom. That project was completed and all requirements
of the MESF were fulfilled. This project is intended to expand their schoolyard
restoration effort. The total project cost is $9,397.61, which includes 7 large
trees ($4,200.00) and construction of an outdoor stage ($5,197.61).
The school has raised
$500, and the rest of the funding for the project is to come from MESF. The school’s Green Team intends to write
letters to local businesses asking for donations of building supplies. 391 volunteer hours are proposed. While tree
planting is an important Town initiative, the children are not very involved as
large trees must be planted by professionals essentially removing the children
from the process. There is no identified
learning program associated with the stage, or tree planting for this project. In addition, it exceeds the $5,000 maximum
limit that school can request and the school received funding already in 2006
for similar work.
As a result,
Staff do not recommend approval of this project.
ii) $2,380.00 for a school set of reusable plates, glasses and cutlery
(See Attachment # 3)
The purpose of
this project is to promote education and participation in waste reduction on a
school wide basis through the purchase of reusable plates, glasses and cutlery. The school had requested $2,380 for a one
time purchase of 770 plates, glasses and utensil sets, and associated supplies
including soap, tea towels, and reward stickers. All funding to come from MESF. The
application shows 401 volunteer hours.
At the request
of Environmental Issues Committee Staff has met with the school principal, and
co-ordinating teacher. They have agreed to amend their application to request
funding for a much more comprehensive waste audit and reduction program, the
goal of which is to achieve zero waste. They would have the benefit of guidance
from Mission Green staff who would work closely with them on development and
carrying out of their program.
MESF funding in
the amount of $5,000 would be used by the school for:
- purchase of waste bins (interior
and exterior green bins, totes, audit supplies such as gloves and bags,
etc.) as part of the waste reduction program ($3000), and
- educational and promotional
materials including signage, newsletters, labels, reproduction of a report
and multi-lingual services ($2000).
A revised budget
is attached to the application. Expenditures for the program will be
co-ordinated with the Manager of Waste Management. Staff support this project.
Requesting $4,000 for a goose awareness program
including signage (2), poster campaign, and an educational video (See
Attachment # 4 )
This is a
request for funding a comprehensive goose awareness program to raise awareness
of interactions between goose and humans at the
·
production of two large signs
to be installed at two local ponds (
·
creation and production of
posters (designed by the students) to be distributed to the community; and,
·
creation of an educational
video for use on websites (in partnership with
This proposal
stems from letters written by Grade 3 students to the Mayor in May, 2007,
expressing a concern of the high amount of feces on the ground and the need to
educate park users to avoid feeding the geese to lessen the negative impacts. The
school has budgeted: $2000 for production of the signs, $250 for the video; $17.09
for a draft poster that was included in their application and $1,200 (revised
cost estimate) for poster production. The school has produced a sample poster,
and educational text (to be approved by the Town) which will be added to the
poster to ask people to not feed the geese.
The sign will be installed and monitored by the Town as per agreements
made with previous community groups that installed signage.
The MESF will be
promoted through posters and the signs, letters and involvement with parents,
and external media. All printed items
will bear the MESF insignia. Staff has investigated using FSC certified inkjet
papers for the posters but it does not come in the in rolls that can be used
for large format. This program is scheduled to run for
the duration of the school year. The number of volunteer hours is estimated to
be 35 hours. No other funding source is proposed. This project meets MESF
requirements as it has a natural heritage education component, benefits
Staff supports
this project, subject to review and approval of all materials by
5. Unionville
Business Improvement Association (BIA)
Requesting $9,000.00 for 6
large shade trees for
The purpose of
the project is to make Main Street Unionville more environmentally friendly
through enhancements to the streetscape and increasing the environmental
awareness among citizens and visitors. They are proposing to:
- plant trees - $9,000 (MESF funding)
- install 6 benches - $6000 (Other Funding)
- install 3 bicycle racks - $3000
(Other Funding)
The planting of
large trees is intended to replace much of the tree canopy on
Heritage and
Urban Design staff have been consulted and advise that planting 6 large size
trees in an urban streetscape, such as that of Main St. Unionville, would cost
approximately $30,000, not $ 9,000. Operations staff has
expressed concerns about space for planting as well due to above ground
amenities like basket posts, utility boxes and parking. Also, a comprehensive tree
analysis and planting plan should be undertaken to address this matter in
accordance with the policies of the Unionville Heritage Conservation District
Plan (Section 5.8).
While the BIA
has not requested funding from MESF for bike racks they would be consistent
with Town environmental policies and encourage people to use alternative
transportation to get to
4. Requesting
$4,185.00 continuation of the Lunch Express for another six months (See Attachment #
5)
Background:
Funding was awarded for the Lunch Express in Fall 2006, based upon
an internal staff application made by the Town’s TDM Co-ordinator. It was for a
6 month pilot project to offer complimentary passenger transportation service
for employees of businesses/offices located in the Highway 404 and Highway 7
area on Thursdays and Fridays. This project was administered by the Town of
Markham
This recent application is from the Assistant Manager, Smart Commute
404-7. It is a request for a retroactive extension of the project since March to
completion in
The MESF fund is intended to encourage environmental pilot projects
to test new ideas. Funding was provided for the 6 month pilot project (November,
2006 to March, 2007) to determine whether a self sustaining transportation
service could result. While the program has had successes which staff has
reported to Council, extending funding is not consistent with the mandate, or
the intent of this Fund and it should be noted that one of the funding criteria
is that funding will not be provided where projects have been commenced. This project
is not recommended.
Incentive/Rebate Program
Markham Council had requested staff explore creating a
rebate/incentive program when they considered the spring MESF applications.
This request stemmed from an application which was made by
· There is already numerous and wide ranging
energy efficiency incentive programs available at both at the Provincial and
Federal government levels, as well as through the local hydro and gas
utilities;
· There is also a significant level of
complexity and technical expertise required to properly administer and
monitor an energy retrofit program (as demonstrated through the Federal
government’s ecoENERGY Retrofit Program) that goes
beyond our current staff resources;
· Markham Energy Conservation Office is already
working with various partners to promote reductions at the Town, as well as in
the community through the development and delivery of various programs; and,
· Finally, the Town has
joined the Partners for Climate Protection program so
As a result, Staff do not recommend undertaking an
incentive program at this time. Staff does, however, support the efforts of
OPTIONS/ DISCUSSION:
Under the administration guidelines, the MESF
is replenished annually to $300,000, or more. Community projects are allocated
up to $100,000 annually (approximately one-third of the fund) with the
remaining $200,000 available for Town internal projects. These projects must
meet the Program Requirements of the fund. A total of 5 Community projects were
received this cycle. Three are recommended for approval.
Conclusion
The MESF was created to assist the Town with
funding innovative and leading environmental initiatives that contribute to the
sustainability and health of the natural environment. The fund is intended to provide financial
resources for Town of Markham-based projects and initiatives that promote
environmental responsibility and enhance the protection of the Town’s natural
resources.
FINANCIAL
TEMPLATE: (external link)
“Not applicable”
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS:
“Not applicable”
ACCESSIBILITY
CONSIDERATIONS:
“Not applicable”
ENGAGE 21ST
CONSIDERATIONS:
The MESF supports
the Town of
BUSINESS
UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:
Operations/Parks
Urban Design
Heritage
Mayor’s Youth Task force
Recreation
Finance Department
RECOMMENDED
BY: ________________________ ________________________
Mavis Urquhart, Allan
Seabrooke,
Manager,
Environmental Acting Commissioner of
Leadership Community
and Fire Services
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1 - Youth Environmental Network of
Attachment 2 -
Attachment 3
Attachment 4 -
Attachment 5 - UBIA application for streetscape
Attachment 6 - Smart Commute 404-7 for continuation
of the Lunch Express