REPORT TO GENERAL COMMITTEE – COMMUNITY SERVICES & ENVIRONMENT

 

 

 

 

 

TO:

Mayor and Members of Council

 

 

FROM:

Stu Taylor, Director of Strategic Services

 

 

PREPARED BY:

Catherine Harrison, Communities in Bloom Program Manager

 

 

DATE OF MEETING:

2006-Jan-09

 

 

SUBJECT:

Communities in Bloom 2005 – Final Report

 

 

 

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the staff report entitled “Final Report on the 2005 Communities in Bloom Ontario Program” be received;

 

AND THAT Council approve the participation of the Town of Markham in the 2006 National Communities in Bloom competition;

 

AND THAT the Town of Markham extend the contract position for the Communities in Bloom Program Manager for the period of September 15, 2005 to September 30, 2006;

 

 

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this report is to report on the results of and learning from the 2005 Communities in Bloom Ontario program and to seek Council approval for the Town of Markham to participate in the 2006 Communities in Bloom national competition.

 

BACKGROUND:

Markham was successful in the 2005 Communities in Bloom Ontario program, placing first in our population category and meeting beautification goals set by the committee. The Town has been invited to compete in the national Communities in Bloom competition in 2006. Additional funds to deliver a national-quality program and further enhance maintenance standards have been requested through the 2006 budget process.

 

In 2005, Markham competed in the Ontario Communities in Bloom program, designed to involve residents of all ages, municipal government, local organizations and business in efforts that improve the tidiness, appearance and visual appeal of Canada’s neighbourhoods, parks and open spaces and streets.

 

Two provincial CIB judges visited our community for two days in July and assessed the entire community – government, business, community groups and residents – on accomplishments in the eight criteria: community involvement, environmental awareness, heritage conservation, floral displays, turf and ground cover, landscaped areas, urban forestry and tidiness.

 

Markham garnered 862 points out of a possible 1000, achieving the top award of five blooms and winning the provincial title in our population class (100,001 to 300,000). In addition, Markham received the Ontario Award for Environmental Awareness. A copy of Markham’s 2005 Evaluation is attached in Appendix A.

 

The judges commented on Markham’s organization, attention to detail, hospitality, leading environmental practices and well-integrated heritage.  They also acknowledged the high quality of Markham’s Community Profile Book and the binders of ancillary information that were provided for their review.

 

Markham has been invited to compete in the National Communities in Bloom competition in 2006 against municipalities with populations between 100,001 and 400,000. Potential competitors could be: Metro-Moncton, Kingston, Brampton, London, Chatham-Kent and Saskatoon.

 

Accomplishments:

Markham established a number of benchmarks at the beginning of the year to measure performance, beyond the competition scorecard:

 

Markham CIB Goals

Goal

Target

Actual

Raise Business Support/In-kind Donations

$100,000

~$48,000

Increase Adopt-A-Parks by 25%

34

34 (as of Sep-15)

Increase Susie Award Participants (from 65)

100

170

Deliver Colour Your Corner Projects

15

10 (As of Sep-15)

Deliver Sustainable School Projects

4

4+

Create Awareness of CIB program**

Outlined separately

Achieved

Improve stewardship/tidiness of community**

Outlined separately

Achieved

Document efforts in Community Profile Book and ancillary materials

Prepare CPB and binders for judges review

completed

 

** Community and business outreach activities and stewardship/tidiness measurements are detailed in Appendix B.

 

Participant Satisfaction

The Town of Markham requested the 16 members of the Communities in Bloom Committee to complete a survey regarding their satisfaction participating in the program and their ideas for improving the program in future years. In addition, a debriefing meeting was held to discuss the program.

 

Overall survey results indicated a high-level of satisfaction with the experience of serving on the volunteer committee. Several suggestions were received for restructuring the committee to maximize its effectiveness and a number of program ideas were brought forward to implement in 2006. A copy of the survey results is attached in Appendix C.

 

Participant Recognition

Markham’s success in the Communities in Bloom Ontario competition was a result of the efforts of community volunteers, the CIB committee members and Town staff. Participants were recognized with thank you notes and copies of the Community Profile Book. In addition, a luncheon was held to recognize the efforts of Town employees.

 

Markham Strategy for the 2006 Competition

In 2006, Markham will build on its strengths in the Environmental Awareness, Heritage Conservation and Urban Forestry criteria while working to improve scores in the remaining criteria. Our provincial judges have advised that increased innovation and multicultural representation will be important success factors at the highly competitive Canadian competition.

 

In addition, the following will be instrumental to ensure high scores at the national competition:

  • Community Involvement:
    • Increased corporate support, both through financial contributions and, as importantly, enhanced tidiness, landscaping and environmental initiatives.
    • Increased community involvement, reflecting the diversity of our community, including multi-cultural activities and projects driven by both seniors and youth. Expanding the newly introduced Colour-Your-Corner program will help in this regard.
    • Increased involvement from local schools. It was strongly suggested that a tree-planting program would benefit Markham’s overall showing.
  • Floral Displays:
    • Increased innovation, experimentation and drama in municipal floral displays. Markham needs to show leadership in the introduction of new species and increased use of perennials throughout the community.
    • Expansion of low-water demonstration garden initiative.
  • Tidiness:
    • Promotion of a Markham anti-litter campaign will be essential to success in 2006.
    • Expansion of the Adopt-A-Park program within the business and sports-user communities.
    • Ongoing maintenance of shrub beds, boulevards and walkways.
  • Landscaped Areas:
    • The successful development of the Kennedy/Steeles gateway will demonstrate resident/business/government joint venture and distinguish the Markham community, particularly in the mandatory Gateway Competition.
  • Turf and Groundcover:
    • Consider expanding use of eco-grasses in conjunction with a public education program.
    • Encourage businesses to use low-water/low-maintenance turf/turf alternatives.

 

The Judges’ Tour at the national competition will be a full two-day tour. Many of the tour elements (presentations, air tour, and community involvement) will be kept from 2005 and built upon. Tour will be expanded to ensure coverage of the entire community and to harness Markham’s unique diversity.

 

As well, enhancing relationships with and participation of local media will be essential to meeting our community involvement goals. A banner program will be put in place to promote the program and generate revenue.

 

OPTIONS/DISCUSSION:

 

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

For the delivery of the 2005 program, $290,000 was budgeted: $170,000 for parks maintenance—specifically for service level improvements for shrub beds on roads and at entrances and the installation and maintenance of perennial beds—and $120,000 for the program manager position, planning, coordinating, and promotion of the program and the delivery of the judges’ tour. Actual program spending reflected the need for increased resources to research, write and produce the Community Profile Book and to compensate for lower-than-anticipated fundraising during the first year of the program.

 

Expenditures:

            Parks Maintenance                                 170,000

            Personnel (manager & 1 student)              90,000

            Non-personnel                                         78,000

Total:                                                                $338,000

 

The additional program spending of $48,000 ($338,000 actual - $290,000 budget) was absorbed in the 2005 Community and Fire Services budget. One-time spending of $25,000 in 2005 for research, writing and presentations will not be required for the 2006 program.

 

For the delivery of the 2006 program, an additional $32,000 was requested for the Strategic Services budget and an additional $24,000 for parks maintenance to increase service levels for the weeding and maintenance of flower/shrub beds within our parks. This additional funding, for a total Communities in Bloom program expense of $346,000, will enable the Town to strive to deliver a winning effort in the very competitive national competition.

 

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS:

See above.

 

ACCESSIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS:

None.

 

ENGAGE 21ST CONSIDERATIONS:

Participation in the Communities in Bloom program is alighted to the following corporate goals:

  • Environmental Focus
  • Quality Community
  • Organizational Excellence

 

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

Operations, Parks Maintenance

Finance

 

ATTACHMENTS:

Appendix A – 2005 Evaluation Grid for Markham (copy available in the Clerks Department)

Appendix B – Beautification/Tidiness Initiatives and Community Outreach Activities

Appendix C – CIB Committee Satisfaction Survey Results

 

 

 

 

 

Stu Taylor, Director, Strategic Services

 

Jim Sales

Commissioner, Community & Fire Services

Q:\Strategic Services\Shared Data\Dept Wide\Reports\General Committee\CIB FINAL.doc