Project Summary - Bear safe bins pilot (ATTACHMENT 1)
Financial project summary and additional information regarding the bear safe bin pilot program requested by Council.
Project Summary
Project Name: Bear safe bins pilot
Submitted by I. Leung, Director of Engineering
| Section | Content |
|---|---|
| Executive Summary | This pilot project was requested by Council per resolution C-45-24 (attached). This pilot project will see an allocation of $5,000 to offer ‘bear safe’ garbage and food waste bins to the Riverside Drive neighbourhood. These bins will be cost shared between the Town and interested residents of the Riverside Drive neighbourhood on a first come first served basis, budget accommodating. The project will also include the establishment of policy and potential revisions to bylaw(s) to foster principles and strategies in reducing the exposure of residential wildlife attractants to bears.   |
| Business problem and opportunity | There have been evidence of bears entering within close proximity of the Riverside Drive neighbourhood, one of which resulted in conservation officer intervention. Offering bear safe bins to this neighbourhood will provide a means and method to reduce the availableness of wildlife attractants to bears.   |
| Proposed project objectives | Staff will use this pilot project to measure its effectiveness in mitigating human-to-bear interactions, which could potentially lead to a bear proof bin program should it be the wish of Council. The establishment of policy will benchmark the level of service in providing bear safe bins to the community. Bylaw updates will be brought forward to Council to require residents to utilize strategies in further reducing the availableness of wildlife attractants.     |
| Business risks | The pilot project will require residents to cost share the increased cost of providing bear safe bins to the Town. The number of bins allotted in 2024 is budget dependent.  |
| Proposed sources of funding | User fees, based on incremental cost recovery 1-1-00330-125 CC390-01   |
Costs
| Costs | FY1 | FY2 | FY3 | FY4 | FY5 | 5-year Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Operational | 5,000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5,000 |
| Total | 5,000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5,000 |
Benefits
| Benefits | |
|---|---|
| Tangible | Mitigation of human-to-bear interactions |
| Intangible | Awareness and education to residents regarding wildlife conflict prevention |
Recommendation
This project was requested by Council
Additional Information
Draft Council resolution C-45-24
THAT $5,000 be allocated in 2024 for a pilot project that will see: a) the purchase of bear proof residential garbage and food scrap bins to be made available on a first-come-first-served basis to residents in the Riverside neighbourhood; b) amendments to the Town’s Collection and Disposal of Residential Garbage and Household Food Waste Bylaw No. 745, 2009 to reduce opportunities for wildlife interaction with household waste; c) a policy developed to outline the level of service for replacement bins, including bear safe residential bins; and d) communications to educate residents in reducing the availability of foods and other attractants to wildlife.
Document Images
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