Report to: General Committee Date Report Authored: August 20, 2010
SUBJECT: Watercourse
Identification Signage
PREPARED BY: Paul
Ingham, General Manager, Operations Ext. 4852
Karen Boniface, Technical
Coordinator, Operations Ext. 2700
RECOMMENDATION:
1)
That the report “Watercourse Identification Signage” be
received and approved,
2)
And that staff proceed with the signing of the Watercourse
Identification Signage Memorandums of Understanding for the Don and Rouge
watersheds with Brenda Librecz, Commissioner of Community and Fire Services as
signing authority for the Town of Markham.
3)
And that watercourse identification signage be
manufactured by the City of Toronto and installed by Operations staff on Town
roads, and by Region of York staff on Regional roads.
4)
And that Staff be authorized and directed to do all
things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
This report
seeks Council support for watercourse identification signage on Town
roads. A partnership request has been
received from the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and the Region of
York to place signs within the Don and Rouge River watersheds.
As supported
by the Don and Rouge River watershed plans, the Toronto and Region Conservation
Authority (TRCA) and the Don Regeneration Council the Region of York and the
City of Toronto are developing a program to install watercourse identification
signage along roads within these watersheds.
Identifying
watercourses with signage increases public awareness and builds community
respect for streams. The health of
watercourses is largely dependent upon good stewardship by our
communities. Signing watercourses heightens
awareness of this natural resource and reinforces the interconnectedness of our
natural environment with our local communities.
Identifying river systems and their tributaries through the installation
of watercourse identification signs along Markham and Regional roads have been
a long-standing objective expressed through the watershed planning documents.
By attaching
a name to a local river, creek or stream, and linking it to a watershed, people
are more likely to take ownership and have pride in it. The objective is to raise awareness and
reduce behaviours that negatively impact our valleylands and aquatic
systems. This helps to link residents to
proactive stewardship activities such as our successful community clean ups
such as Adopt-a-Park, Pitch-In and the 20 Minute Makeover.
Sign Design
A new logo
for the Rouge Watershed has been approved by the TRCA, Region of York, City of
Toronto and Town of Markham and will be incorporated on to the signs in the
Rouge watershed. Standard design
protocols have been approved by the TRCA, City of Toronto and York Region. The sample watercourse identification sign
will be the standard for watercourse identification signage within the TRCA
jurisdiction attached as Appendix A.
Sign Locations
TRCA is
seeking support to place watercourse identification signage on Town and
Regional right-of-ways for the Don and Rouge Rivers and the named tributaries
within the Town of Markham.
Memorandum of Understanding
In order to
firm up this partnership program, the signing of two Memorandums of
Understanding, one for the Don watershed and one for the Rouge watershed is
necessary and are Appendix B and C.
Operations
had posted watercourse signage in May 2010 as a pilot on Highway 48 south of
Highway 7, and about 4 years ago on Robinson Creek.
It is
anticipated once this report and the Memorandums of Understanding are signed by
Commissioner Brenda Librecz and the other partners,
the signs can be manufactured and posted by the end of this year.
The TRCA
identified 52 locations and approximately 102 watercourse signs within the Town
of Markham. The number of signs on the
Town right of way includes 4 signs on the Don watershed and 24 on the Rouge
watershed for a total of 28 Town signs.
The remaining 74 signs would be installed and maintained on Region of
York right of ways.
Funding for
the production of the signs has been provided by the Don Watershed Regeneration
Council which was originally annual funding from the Town of Markham. A report to finance and Administrative
Committee on January 23, 2006 had indicated that the $75,000 given to the Don
Watershed Regeneration Council was aggregated for the development and
installation of river crossing signs and potentially a larger project such as
the Pomona Mills Creek Erosion Restoration and Habitat Enhancement Study’s implementation.
On January
22, 2009, the Town of Markham received a letter from Phil Goodwin, Chair, Don
Watershed Regeneration Council (Appendix D) that the Don Regeneration Council
was willing to provide approximately $27,000 of their $75,000 towards the sign
production and hardware for the watercourse crossing signage.
Don Watershed
Regeneration Council Funding
Funds have
been provided through the Don Watershed Regeneration Council for the sign
production and hardware. This funding originated from the Town of
Markham for restoration and watercourse crossing projects. Operations staff time will verify the
location and placement of the signs. The Operations Department will cover the
cost of labour to install the 28 signs is $55 per sign for a total of $1,540
through the operating budget.
Replacement Costs
The average
life of a sign is approximately 10 years, with replacement costs (materials and
labour) being approximately $150.00 per sign.
As a result, it should be assumed that $4,200 is required for the
placement of the 28 signs. Maintenance
costs for upkeep of the signs will be incurred in the future will form part of
the annual Roads Maintenance operations budget request.
Not
applicable.
The report
aligns with the Environment area of strategic focus as it raises appreciation
and awareness of watercourses.
No
applicable.
RECOMMENDED
BY: ________________________ ________________________
Paul Ingham Peter
Loukes
General
Manager, Operations Director,
Operations
Brenda
Librecz
Commissioner,
Community and Fire Services
Appendix A – Sample
Watercourse Identification Signs
Appendix B –
Draft Memorandum of Understanding – Don River Watershed
Appendix C –
Draft Memorandum of Understanding - Rouge River Watershed
Appendix D –
Letter of Support from the Don Watershed Regeneration Council