Finance and Administration Report - View Royal Park Community Garden Grant in Aid Request

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

TO: Committee of the Whole
DATE: June 7, 2017
FROM: John Rosenberg, Director of Engineering
MEETING DATE: June 13, 2017

View Royal Park Community Garden Grant in Aid Request

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the committee receives the report for information.

CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER’S COMMENTS:

I concur with the recommendation.

PURPOSE OF REPORT:

To provide information concerning the View Royal Park Community Garden Society request for community grant funding in the amount of $2,000 for a rain barrel collection system and installation of pollinator fruit trees and garden beds.

BACKGROUND:

In April 2014 The View Royal Park Community Garden was established, allocating 30 plots, to date the Garden now has 44 individual plots and 2 community urban pollinator plots currently there are 4 people on the waiting list. Under the new amended policy they must wait until a plot is relinquished or additional plots are built.

In 2015 and 2016 the society received funding in the amount $2500 to expand the garden to its current 46 beds. In addition Council has supported the Society with operating funding of $1,000 for an additional water standpipe to be placed closer to the bed expansion area

PROJECT INFORMATION:

Staff has reviewed the project requests and provides the following comments:

• Rain barrel collection system:
  • The shed currently does not have eaves troughs to collect the water and installation is not a priority nor is it in the 2017 financial plan
  • If the water is not regularly drained it can become a haven for mosquito larvae. Staff has concerns that during the high mosquito season July/August when water is readily available by water standpipe that the collection system won’t be utilized.
• Pollinator beds and fruit trees:
  • Staff has concerns with the maintenance of the fruit trees in particular falling fruit when grass cutting is required.
  • Installation of multiple pollinator beds will require hand work be performed between beds increasing maintenance costs where previously machine work could be performed.

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the committee receives the report for information.

SUBMITTED BY:

John Rosenberg, Director of Engineering

REVIEWED BY:

Kim Anema, Chief Administrative Officer