ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

RTS No. 3424
File: 2251
Meeting Date: June 26, 2003

TO:

Standing Committee of Council on Planning and Environment

FROM:

Special Office for the Environment, in consultation with the General
Manager of Engineering, Community and Corporate Services, and
Medical Health Officer

SUBJECT:

Environmental Grants

 

RECOMMENDATION:

CONSIDERATION:

MANAGER'S COMMENTS:

COUNCIL POLICY:

BACKGROUND

To date, a total of 51 requests for grants have been received with 34 funding awards to organizations totaling $415,288.

CURRENT GRANT REQUESTS

This is the thirteenth Environmental Grant Report and it deals with four grant requests, with staff recommending two of the requests and putting forward the other two for Council's consideration, as they don't strictly meet all of the Environmental Grant Guidelines.

The Staff Review Committee, comprised of representatives from Engineering, Environmental Health, Environmental Protection Branch and Corporate Services, has reviewed the submission relative to the criteria approved by Council, and makes the following recommendations:

1. Evergreen Requested: $15,000

Evergreen is a non-profit environmental organization with a mandate to bring nature to our cities through naturalization projects. Evergreen motivates people to create and sustain healthy, natural outdoor spaces and gives them the practical tools to be successful through its three core programs: Learning Grounds (transforming school grounds), Common Grounds (working on publicly accessible grounds), and Home ground (for the home landscape).

The Project:

The project will work with local communities in and around three public green spaces on the east-side of Vancouver: Woodland Park (Grandview-Woodland), Slocan Park (Slocan-Norquay) and Glen Park (Kensington- Cedar Cottage).

Urban Oasis Vancouver has been specifically designed to improve and restore plant and wildlife habitat in urban settings, raise public awareness about bio-diversity and habitat loss through direct action and education, and provide communities with skills and knowledge necessary to create and care for rested urban spaces.

Through an extensive outreach and community involvement program that builds capacity at the local level, Urban Oasis Vancouver will provide citizens with the tools and knowledge necessary to sustain these environmental initiatives beyond Evergreen's involvement.

Evergreen will work with established park committees and public land managers (Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation and the City of Vancouver) to conduct community outreach, solicit community input, set up neighborhood work parties and planting days, establish stewardship teams, and implement project planning.

Spring 2003 will conclude with final plantings, public garden celebrations, implementation of a long-term monitoring program, and the gradual phasing out of Evergreen's direct hands-on involvement.

Staff notes that many of the aspects of this project may be well underway, but that funding is still supported. With respect to the environmental grant guidelines, this program is very supportive of city policies and meets all of the grant criteria.

2. Environmental Youth Alliance Requested: $25,000

The Inner City Community Nursery Program is the second phase of the construction of a Community Nursery building and Lock up at the Strathcona Community Garden in 2002. Phase II of the Inner City Community Nursery Program will focus on the propagation and distribution of plants for low income residents, schools, and greening projects in the inner city. It will give residents direct access to plants for greening projects in the spring and summer of 2003.

The EYA proposal describes the project as follows:
"Youth facilitators from EYA will work with area residents to add plants in their daycares, schools, streetscapes, or homes/balconies/windows in the summer of 2003. We will have a mini seed and plant depots in several locations throughout the inner city to provide easy access and storage of plants and seeds for the community. We will build a sense of pride in the neighbourhood by making the area more beautiful through direct contributions of area residents. We will create a resource in community residents by training people how to contribute to their local environment through direct neighbourhood plantings."
EYA has received two previous Environmental Grants, one in 1993 for their Youth Garden for $11,000 and one in 1995 for $25,000 for their Eco-Pavilion project at Strathcona Community Gardens. The Staff Review Committee reviewed this proposal and felt it was new and unique enough that it deserved to be funded for the full amount of the request.

3. Best Environmentally Sound Requested $5000.00
Transportation (BEST)

BEST is requesting $5000 in funding to promote Bike Month in Vancouver. Of the 51 planned events for Bike Month 2003, 38 of them take place in the City of Vancouver. As these activities are underway a communications campaign targets the residents of Vancouver and the region. Events include rides along bikeways that help people become aware of safe cycling routes, cycling skills workshops for children, the Clean Air Day Pancake Breakfast and the "Cycling Safely: A European Perspective" public forum. Bike Month serves as the focus for bicycle events in Vancouver. This year, the City of Vancouver is organizing the grand openings of both the Georgia Street Bike Lanes and Inverness Bikeway - these events are being promoted through the Bike Month communications campaign.

With respect to the environmental grant guidelines, this program is very supportive of city policies. However, on the basis that this project is not regarded as a new initiative or unmet need, this request is brought forward for Council's consideration rather than being recommended by the Staff Review Committee.

4. Windsor Way Committee Requested: $5000.00

Windsor Way Blooming Boulevards is a neighbourhood-led demonstration project to beautify and traffic calm a street that connects four schools and three parks along its spine. Council approved Windsor Street in 2003 as a bikeway route connecting the Knight Street Bridge and the new ALRT station along the Inverness/Windsor Way corridor.
Thirty-four boulevard gardens have been built to date between 12th and 41st Avenues. As well, Cultural Affairs Community Public Art Program has provided $25,000 in funding for cobra mounted public art, created by public artist Karen Kazmer, which is being installed. The additional $5,000 in funding would allow the demonstration program to continue, providing funding for plant purchase for approved boulevard gardens.
The intent of this project is to provide boulevard gardens located between the sidewalk and the curbs in blocks along Windsor Way. In all cases the boulevard gardens will be planted and maintained by the resident who owns the house behind the boulevard. This project will be a one-time demonstration project, and the success of it will guide further development of standards for raised boulevard gardens in other areas of the City. This is a Sweat Equity Project, where costs will be kept minimal, and funding received will be used directly for plant material to enhance the boulevard gardens.
On the basis that this project is not regarded as a new initiative or unmet need, this request is brought forward for Council's consideration rather than being recommended.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
The total grants recommended and provided for consideration to Council total $50,000. Funding for these grants is to be provided from the Solid Waste Capital Reserve which currently has a balance of $90,000.

SUSTAINABILITY IMPLICATIONS
City support for these projects is consistent with a number of the City's Principles for Sustainability, including accountability for individual actions, fostering partnerships, collaboration with the community, and creation of healthy communities.

SUMMARY

The Staff Review Committee recommends approval of Environmental Grants to Evergreen ($15,000 for their Urban Oasis Vancouver project) and Environmental Youth Alliance ($25,000 for their Phase II, Inner City Community Nursery Program).
The Staff Review Committee places before Council for consideration the approval of Environmental Grants for Windsor Way Committee's (requested $5000 for their "Windsor Street Blooming Boulevards" project) and BEST's Bike Month 2003 program (requested $5000).

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