Report to: General Committee                                   Date Report Authored: October 22, 2009

 

 

SUBJECT:                          Report on Spending of 2008 Markham Council Grant for Rouge Park

PREPARED BY:               Mavis Urquhart, Manager, Environmental Leadership

                                            Operations Department, Community and Fire

 

RECOMMENDATION:

1)                  THAT the staff report entitled “Report on Spending of 2008 Markham Council Grants for Rouge Park”, dated October 22, 2009, be received;

 

2)                  THAT a cheque in the amount of $25,000, be issued to the Rouge Park Alliance for their 2008 project in Bob Hunter Park, as outlined in this report, conditional upon submission of receipts for the $25,000 grant;

 

3)                  THAT Rouge Park Alliance work with Parks staff to ensure erection of signage acknowledging Markham’s contribution to construction of the berm;

 

4)                  THAT the request by Alan Wells, Chair, Rouge Park Alliance (Appendix 1) to accrue the 2009 funds for a total of $50,000 in  funding in 2010 for development of a Rouge Park trails master plan, be approved, subject to the Rouge Park Alliance meeting reporting requirements and Council approval;

 

5)                  THAT a letter of intent be provided in advance of any future funding requests beyond 2010.

 

AND THAT Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.

 

PURPOSE:

To provide a summary of how the $25,000 Rouge Park grant (approved through the annual budget process to fund capital projects) was spent and what projects were undertaken as a result of the grant.

 

BACKGROUND:

During the 2003 budget process, Council recommended that a grant of $25,000 be provided annually for Rouge Park improvements, conditional on matching funds from the Rouge Park Alliance and a summary report being submitted to Committee, outlining how the grants were spent after the project was completed.

 

In March 4, 2008, Council directed the ongoing Rouge Park grant be directed to implementing projects in the Little Rouge Corridor, or Bob Hunter Memorial Park, and that the Rouge Park Alliance continue to provide the Town with a year-end report on how the grant was spent. In June 2008, staff reported on the Rouge Park Alliance 2007 expenditure and Markham Council approved issuance of the cheque. At that time, Council also directed that for the 2008 expenditure, the Rouge Park Alliance must confirm, in detail, how funding was utilized, following reporting and documentation guidelines staff identified in their report, otherwise, funding would be denied. The Rouge Alliance was also to provide a letter of intent about how they were going to use the 2008 grant.  

 

DISCUSSION:

Reporting Requirement

A letter of intent was not received for 2008, however, satisfactory work has been completed and Staff has received:

  • the report on the 2008 expenditure from the Rouge Park Alliance;
  • an outline of their funding request for 2009 and 2010; and,
  • a request from Alan Wells, Chair, to accrue the 2009 and  receive $50,000 in 2010 (Appendix 1).

Funding in 2008 has been spent on constructing a berm in Bob Hunter Memorial Park north of 14th Avenue, just east of the railway tracks. The combined 2009 and 2010 funding is proposed to be spent on a Trails Master Plan for Rouge Park. Copies of the 2008 expenditure report, the combined 2009/2010 funding proposal and a letter from the Rouge Park Alliance are attached to this report (Appendix 1).

 

2008 Expenditure

In the past, to ensure accountability of the annual grant, the Rouge Park has been required to submit a written report to the Town of Markham through the Manager, Environmental Leadership. Projects are now to be undertaken in Little Rouge Corridor and Bob Hunter Park. To further improve that process, the Town’s contribution is to be specifically ear-marked for projects outside the normal project allocation fund to give a clearer accounting and auditing of the projects. The report is required to include:

  • Location and description of the project with accompanying site plans and photographs;
  • Identification of participating non-profit groups;
  • Detailed project expenditures including receipts;
  • Monitoring program;
  • Future requirements for the project.

Finally, the Town’s funding contribution to specific projects is to be recognized with appropriate signage acknowledging the Town as the funding partner. 

 

2008 Rouge Park Report

The report on Town of Markham Funding in Appendix 1 includes the following information:

Location and description of the project with accompanying site plans and photographs

The report states that the $25,000 grant was used towards building of a large berm near the gateway to Bob Hunter Memorial Park. The berm is intended to provide a barrier from development, the road and the railway line. It also serves as a park feature (lookout point) and has been planting site for many students and corporate sponsors. A site plan and photos are attached to their report.

Identification of participating non-profit groups

Markham and the Rouge Park Alliance are identified as partners in this project. The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) is also a partner.

Detailed project expenditures including receipts

The total project budget is shown as $665,000. Markham’s funding was used to pay salary supervision and charges from TRCA related to project management, as well as Rouge Park staff time, as identified on the attached general ledger statement. The report indicates that receipts are forthcoming.

Monitoring Program

The report does not include information on the monitoring program. Parks staff advises that Friends of the Rouge Watershed will monitor and provide post-planting maintenance.

Future requirements for the project

Parks staff advises that there are still opportunities for future plantings in this location. Rouge Park advises that the NW section of the berm will be restored in 2010 by TRCA and York Region. The plan for this work will be presented to Development Services Committee at a future date.

Signage

Staff has been advised that signage acknowledging Markham’s contribution will be included as part of the future signage in Bob Hunter Memorial Park. As a condition of approval, Rouge Park should be required to work with Parks Staff to ensure that future signage is provided.

 

Other Markham Funding for the Rouge Berm and Planting Project

10,000 Trees for the Rouge Valley received $7,350 from the Markham Environmental Sustainability Fund in Spring 2008 for planting of the berm. They also received funding through Trees for Tomorrow for that project as well.

 

Request Funds for 2009 and 2010

As described in their submission, the Rouge Park Alliance has requested 2009 and 2010 funding be combined and used for development of a Rouge Park Trails Master Plan. The $50,000 would be used to hire a consulting firm to help develop the 5-10 year Master Plan.

 

The Trails Master Plan is an important component of Rouge Park which will integrate existing trail connections into Markham’s urban area, encourage public use, and direct the location of future naturalization and wetland projects. Currently, the Bob Hunter and Little Rouge Creek Management Plans only provide conceptual trail locations. This proposed initiative will establish the detailed location and function of the trail hierarchy in Rouge Park.  The Trails Plan will also be coordinated with the Eastern Markham Rouge Park Master Planning process which is underway. Further, funding support for trail development in the Bob Hunter Memorial Park is being provided by the Region of York through the Southeast Collector Enhancements Project. 

 

At this time, Rouge Park is establishing a working group to develop Terms of Reference and refine the study process.  Town of Markham staff is participating in this process. The Rouge Park has committed $15,000 toward the creation of the Trails Master Plan and

 

 

 

Trail Association and received a grant from Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation. They indicate that they are pursuing additional funds from Rouge Park partners.

 

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS AND TEMPLATE:

As per Council resolution, the 2008, $25,000 Rouge Park grant was targeted specifically for the Bob Hunter Memorial Park. Funds have been dedicated for this initiative in a capital account from tax based funding. The attached financial summary from Rouge Park representatives provides details on this project and illustrates that the condition of procuring matching funding has been satisfied.  Rouge Park proposes to combine funding to develop a Trails Master Plan for 2009 and 2010, which is supported by Staff. A letter of intent should be provided in advance future any funding requests beyond 2010.

 

HUMAN RESOURCES CONSIDERATIONS

None

 

ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PRIORITIES:

Aligns with Environmental focus.

 

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

Finance, Planning, Engineering and Operations staff have been consulted in the preparation of this report.

 

 

 

RECOMMENDED

                            BY:    __________________                      ____________________

                                      Peter Loukes, P.Eng.                          Brenda Librecz

                                       Director, Operations                        Commissioner,

                                       Community and Fire Services         Community and Fire Services

 

 

ATTACHMENTS:

Appendix 1 – Submission from Rouge Park Alliance