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ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT Author: R. Taki/736-2866
TO: Standing Committee on Planning and Environment
FROM: Special Office for the Environment, in consultation with the
General Managers of Engineering, Community and Corporate Services, and
A.THAT Council approve a grant of $20,000.00 to the Environmental Youth Alliance for their "Inner City Native Plant Initiative"; source of funds to be the Environmental Grant Fund in the Solid Waste Capital Reserve.
B.THAT Council approve a grant of $50,000.00 to Save Our Living Environment for their "Downtown Eastside, Gastown, and Chinatown Micro-Cleaning Initiative"; source of funds to be the Environmental Grant Fund in the Solid Waste Capital Reserve.
C.THAT Council approve a grant of $10,540.00 to Better Environmentally Sound Transportation for their "Cycling Brochure Series"; source of funds to be the Environmental Grant Fund in the Solid Waste Capital Reserve.
D.THAT Council approve a grant of $8,000.00 to Cycling B.C. for their "Road Worthy Program"; source of funds to be the Environmental Grant Fund in the Solid Waste Capital Reserve.
The City Manager RECOMMENDS approval of A and B and submits C and D for CONSIDERATION.
On March 27, 1990, Council approved allocation of $250,000.00 to fund the Environmental Grant Program.
On July 10, 1990, Council approved the Environmental Grant Guidelines and Criteria.
On May 10, 1996, Council approved a further allocation of $250,000.00 for the continuation on the Environmental Grant Program. They also approved amendments to the Guidelines and Criteria requiring a detailed budget, financial statement and brief summary report upon completion of the project. The amended Guidelines and Criteria are appended for reference (Appendix A).
Approval of grants requires eight affirmative votes.
On March 27, 1990, Council approved a number of recommendations concerning the City’s Environmental Program. One of those dealt with the creation of $250,000.00 fund to sponsor private, non-profit, non-partisan, community based programs aimed at personal actions that restore or improve the environment.
On May 10, 1996, Council approved the continuation of the Grant Program and allocated a further $250,000.00 to the fund.
A total of 43 request have been reviewed with 29 funding awards to organizations totalling approximately $304,000.00.
This is the eleventh Environmental Grant Report and it contains four grant requests.
Environmental Youth Alliance $20,000.00
Save Our Living Environment $50,000.00
Better Environmentally Sound Transportation $10,540.00
The staff Review Committee, comprised of representatives of the Special Office for the Environment and Corporate Services has reviewed the submissions relative to the criteria approved by Council, and makes the following recommendation:
1. Environmental Youth Alliance Requested: $20,000.00
Inner City Native Plant Initiative Recommended: $20,000.00
The Environmental Youth Alliance (EYA) is a non profit registered society whose vision is to build community and environmental health through an understanding of our interconnectedness to each other and the earth. The main objective is to increase youth participation in urban environmental work through youth centered Environmental Service Projects. EYA provides skills training and meaningful experiences in facilitating the participation of youth to create environmental community legacies.
The EYA has been involved with a number of programs over the past years and have been recognized by winning numerous environmental awards.
The EYA is requesting an environmental grant in the amount of $20,000.00 to help fund the "Inner City Native Plant Initiative". The objective of this program is to increase biodiversity habitat and knowledge of native plants in the inner city. This initiative has three main components:
1. Building an accessible native plant nursery adjacent to downtown.
2. Creating a land and wetland based community native plant demonstration garden.
3. Creating a model native plant garden for multi-storey businesses and apartments.
With respect to the environmental grant guidelines, this program is very supportive of City policies and meets all of the grant criteria.
The Grant Review Committee did have early reservations that this application did not comply with criterion number 3 which requires that submissions do not duplicate existing programs in the public or private sector; they should be directed to new initiatives or unmet needs. However, after consultation with the Waterworks Design Branch it was determined that this program merely fulfilled an unmet need. Unlike existing and proposed City programs this initiative focuses on youth involvement, the inner city environment, accessibility by the public and promotes the city’s water conservation program.
The Grant Review Committee recommends approval of the Inner City Native Plant Initiative.
2. Save Our Living Environment Requested: $50,000.00
Downtown Eastside, Gastown and Recommended: $50,000.00
Chinatown Micro-cleaning Program
Save Our Living Environment (SOLE) is a non-profit registered society whose purpose is to:
a)improve urban environments in villages, towns and cities throughout the Province of B.C.
b)raise public awareness as to the causes and effects of urban environmental degradation through the collection and dissemination of information; and
c)to identify and initiate actions directed at correcting imbalances and restoring environments which enhance the quality of urban life.
SOLE wants to improve the urban environment and create jobs for inner city residents with multiple barriers of employment. They would like to improve the quality of the land, water and air by raising public awareness as to human causes of and remedies for urban environmental degradation.
The inner city is often experienced as a neglected area of the city. This is especially noticeable on the streets and in the lanes and parks. In order to improve some of the conditions SOLE is requesting an environmental grant to fund a program that would involve the micro cleaning (cigarette butts, paper wrapping etc.) of litter from sidewalks in Downtown Eastside, Gastown and Chinatown. The cleaning will be done in a 21 block area twice a week, special clean-up of the sidewalks in the area may improve the community’s attitude towards use of its space and create a more attractive and welcoming environment for visitors.
SOLE hopes that this initiative will encourage the merchants in these areas to continue funding the program.
The SOLE application is submitted in conjunction with the Engineering Departments Special Area Enhancement and Clean-up Program in the Downtown Eastside which was recently endorsed by City Council.
With respect to the environmental grant guidelines, this program is very supportive of city policies and meets all of the grant criteria.
3. Better Environmentally Sound Transportation Requested: $10,540.00
Cycling Brochure Series Consideration: $10,540.00
Better Environmentally Sound Transportation (B.E.S.T.) is a registered non-profit society whose mission is to promote and encourage the use of environmentally and socially responsible alternatives to the private automobile in Greater Vancouver. The aim is to accomplish this mission through educational outreach projects and campaigns. Our Community Bites (OCB is a non-profit bike shop which refurbishes used bikes for sale to those in need of inexpensive and reliable transportation and offers workshop space and support staff to those who wish to repair their own bikes), the spoke ‘n’ word (a publication which deals with transportation issues within the Lower Mainland, with emphasis on issues relevant to commuter cyclists) and through Community Bike Skills courses on maintenance and cycling safety. In February of 1996, BEST opened the Alternative Transportation Centre (ATC). The ATC is the main office and resource centre from where BEST organizes annual Bike to Work Week activities, provides consulting services to organizations in the GVRD pursuing trip reduction programs, and offer presentations and resources on alternative transportation issues to the community at large.
BEST is requesting a grant in the amount of $10,540.00 to cover the costs of designing, printing and distributing a set of brochures and brochure displays on cycling safety, awareness and techniques. The Cycling Brochure outreach program aims to encourage cycling as a regular mode of transport in Greater Vancouver by increasing awareness and knowledge of safe cycling techniques and rudimentary bicycle repair skills through a series of educational brochures and displays distributed through bicycle stores, community centres, schools in the G.V.R.D., and through Bike to Work activities in June.
The following information will be contained in the brochures:
1. How to get the right bike, clothes and accessories for commuter cyclists.
2. Safe cycling and comfort tips for commuter cyclists.
3. Basic bicycle trouble prevention, trouble shooting and flat repair.
By producing and distributing these brochures BEST hopes to augment existing efforts at educating Greater Vancouver residents about commuter and utilitarian cycling, and ultimately to increase the number of people cycling instead of driving around Vancouver.
BEST was a recipient of a $15,000.00 Environmental Grant in 1997 for Bike to Work Week.
With respect to the environmental grant guidelines, criterion number 3 requires that submissions do not duplicate existing programs in the public or private sector; they should be directed to new initiatives or unmet needs. It is in the grant review committee’s opinion that the information provided in the brochure series is already available to the public. The information and presentation may differ but the material on cycling safety, awareness and techniques is promoted by many organizations and interest groups.
Criterion number 4 requires that programs should be generally supportive of City policies with measurable physical environmental benefits accruing primarily to City residents. This program is very supportive of City policies, however, the benefits may not be primarily for City residents but more so for the entire lower mainland population. The program has definite environmental value in that the brochures and displays will be available to the citizens of Vancouver.
On the basis that this project is not regarded as a new initiative or unmet need and does not directly meet the criterion regarding physical environment benefits accruing primarily to city residents, the request is brought forward for Council’s consideration rather than being recommended.
4. Cycling B.C. Requested: $8,000.00
Road Worthy Program Consideration: $8,000.00
On September 3rd, 1996 the B.C. Government made helmets mandatory for cyclists. This legislation was an effort to protect cyclists from the dangers of sharing the road with motor vehicles. September 34d, 1996 was also the day well known cyclist Dave Lyman was killed by a negligent driver. Dave Lyman, like many other cyclists, needed more than a helmet to save his life. He needed a safer cycling environment.
From Dave Lyman’s tragedy the David Lyman Memorial Foundation was born. The Foundation is a registered non-profit organization under the banner of Cycling B.C. Their goal is simply to increase the public’s awareness of cycling. In conjunction with Creative Partners they hope "Road Worthy" will achieve their goal. The focus of this 30 minute television program is to teach everyone about the rules of the road and the alternative to driving, thereby making the roads a safer place and encouraging "green transportation". As road safety conditions continue to decline, the fear of being killed or injured while riding, forces would be cyclists into cars. The Road Worthy campaign will not only educate road users, but will show everyone how to make the roads safe and ultimately increase the number of cycle commuters.
"Road Worthy" will be aired on the Knowledge Network in May 1998 and will be aimed atboth motorists and cyclists in an effort to promote awareness, mutual respect and safety. The City of Vancouver has made great strides in creating bike routes for cyclists. These will be featured as part of the safer way to cycle. The program will also help bring to the public’s attention the City of Vancouver’s efforts in promoting green space and bike routes as part of the new transportation plan.
The program will be created in conjunction with a multi-media campaign. The program will be cross promoted with a Public Service Announcement (30 mins.) on television before and after the program, on the radio with a 30 second PSA and will have a related supplement in a local newspaper. After the program has aired it will be distributed through libraries, the education system, Cycling B.C. and driving schools. This package will include a copy of the skill testing quiz and some supplementary material as a teacher’s guide.
With respect to the environmental grant guidelines, criterion number 4 requires that programs should generally be supportive of city policies with measurable physical environmental benefits accruing primarily to city residents. This program is very supportive of city policies although the benefits may not be primarily for city residents. The program has definite environmental valve in that it will high light the city’s efforts in promoting green space and bike routes as part of the new Transportation Plan. The program does meet all of the other criteria.
On the basis that this project does not directly meet the criterion regarding physical environmental benefits accruing primarily to city residents the request is brought forward for Council’s consideration rather than being recommended.
The staff Review Committee place before Council for consideration the "Cycling Brochure Series" and the "Roadworthy Program" and recommend approval of the "Inner City Native Plant Initiative" and the "Downtown, Gastown, and Chinatown Micro-cleaning Initiative" in the following amounts:
Inter City Native Plant Initiative $20,000.00
Downtown, Gastown, Chinatown $50,000.00
Cycling Brochure Series $10,540.00
Road Worthy Program $ 8,000.00
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