Correspondence: Re: Water fountains and Tree Maintenance
Email chain between Councillor John Rogers and CAO Kim Anema regarding park amenities and tree survival during the heatwave.
Email Correspondence: Water Fountains
From: John Rogers JRogers@viewroyal.ca
Sent: July 4, 2021 9:09 AM
To: Kim Anema KAnema@viewroyal.ca
Cc: David Screech MayorScreech@viewroyal.ca; Damian Kowalewich DKowalewich@viewroyal.ca; Ron Mattson RMattson@viewroyal.ca; Gery Lemon GLemon@viewroyal.ca; John Rosenberg JRosenberg@viewroyal.ca
Subject: Re: Water fountains
Hi Kim,
This is REALLY disappointing. Please add both items to the Committee of the Whole agenda next week under Parks Committee.
Ever since the bike park was installed, a LONG standing priority was a drinking fountain for View Royal park. We see the abundance of empty plastic water bottles. Unnecessary plastic waste. Preventable. And the obvious benefits to playground children and overheated dogs, and now the intense summer heat. It isn’t safe for park users to drink from the allotment garden hose. I was right to worry about leaving $100k “up it up to staff’ from day one. We don’t have the pandemic excuse anymore. The City had it Beacon Hill Dallas Road fountain at least since last week. Council members, please ensure this fountain is a 2022 priority for our Central Park. Yes, we debated it… but that was in the spring, before the heat wave, and before the casino was back in business.
Dead, dying, thirsty trees. I am not talking 20,000 trees. Please provide a materials and labour report of how much the McLennan Trail tree planting cost the tax payers, and the maintenance schedule to ensure survival. Where else are our municipal trees at heat risk? The weather folks predict climate change is bringing drier HOTTER weather to the CRD… on top of what James Douglas noted back in 1860s… CRD gets very little rain in the summer.
There is no point in having a climate action tree canopy program on municipal lands if we do not adequately protect the taxpayer investment. Maybe along a rocky highway berm is not a good place for trees to ‘fend for themselves’. Perhaps better to divert funds into incentive grants for oil to heat pump program.
Thanks,
John
Sent from my iPad
From: Kim Anema KAnema@viewroyal.ca
Sent: June 30, 2021, at 2:18 PM
To: John Rogers JRogers@viewroyal.ca
Subject: RE: Water fountains
Good morning John
Staff Response/Recommendation
The fountain sas not originally identified as part of the budget for the current year. The initial program during budget was based on priorities identified, mostly drainage, by the consultant. The fountain was brought up during the debate. It was resolved that the fountain would also be installed even though staff advised that it would be moved in future.
Regarding the trees: In the spring when we plant we do utilize bags. This time of year we do not plant new trees. Generally speaking we plant in spring and early fall. It is noted by staff that the 20,000 odd trees in View Royal are all sufferring as a result of the heat.
Best Regards
Kim
Kim Anema, CPA, CGA Chief Administrative Officer Town of View Royal | 45 View Royal Ave. | Victoria, BC V9B 1A6 | Ph: 250-479-6800 | Fx: 250-727-9551
From: John Rogers JRogers@viewroyal.ca
Sent: June 29, 2021 8:52 AM
To: Kim Anema KAnema@viewroyal.ca; David Screech MayorScreech@viewroyal.ca; Damian Kowalewich DKowalewich@viewroyal.ca; Ron Mattson RMattson@viewroyal.ca; Gery Lemon GLemon@viewroyal.ca
Subject: Water fountains
Hi Kim,
Can you please confirm that a water fountain is still on the “View Royal Park” capital projects list for this fiscal year? With this extraordinary heat that is likely to continue through the summer, and the park being in a “heat bowl”, users (dogs and people) need this more than ever, and ASAP. They could gravitate to Thetis Lake instead.
Can staff give a project time line for this much needed amenity installation? Will it be strategically situated for on and off leash areas?
Speaking of water, I see all the trees we planted along the McC Trail are in high heat stress, with a dubious survival. If we haven’t yet, can our tree program also include purchase and installation of water bags? Otherwise, our investment could be fried.
Thanks!
John
Sent from my iPad