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TO: |
Mayor and Members of Council |
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FROM: |
Stuart Taylor, Director, Strategic Services |
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PREPARED BY: |
Catherine Harrison, Communities in Bloom Project
Manager |
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DATE OF MEETING: |
November 8, 2004 |
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SUBJECT: |
Communities in Bloom |
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RECOMMENDATION:
THAT
this report provide an update to Committee and Council
on the Communities in Bloom public meeting held on August 25, 2004;
AND
that the Town of Markham establish a Communities in Bloom volunteer committee
consisting of two members of Council and nine (9) community
members to provide leadership for the Town of Markham 2005 Communities in Bloom
project;
AND
that the Communities in Bloom Committee work with the Communities in Bloom
Program Manager to implement the 2005 effort;
AND
that the terms of reference for Communities in Bloom Committee be adopted as
outlined in Appendix A attached.
AND
that the 2005 operating budget includes discussions for funding the 2005
Communities in Bloom as outlined in the Communities in Bloom report received by
Council on June 8, 2004.
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this report is to report back to
Council on the public meeting hosted by the Town of Markham on August 25, 2004. In addition, this report recommends a
Committee structure and terms of reference for the 2005 Communities in Bloom
Committee.
BACKGROUND:
The Communities in Bloom program is designed to
involve residents of all ages, municipal government, local organizations and
businesses in efforts that improve the tidiness, appearance and visual appeal
of Canada’s neighbourhoods, parks and open spaces and streets. Communities in Bloom focuses on improving
quality of life and community pride through the imaginative use of flowers,
plants and trees, environmental awareness and the preservation of culture and
heritage.
Committee and Council received a staff report
in June 2004 recommending the Town of Markham participate in the 2005
Communities in Bloom program. Staff was requested to host a public meeting and report back
to Committee on public input and to provide an overview of an approach to Town
participation in the 2005 Communities in Bloom program.
About twenty-five people attended the public meeting at the Civic Centre
on Wednesday, August 25. A brief overview of the Communities In
Bloom program was provided, questions from the community were entertained and
participants were asked to complete a questionnaire garnering their level of
interest. Eighteen questionnaires were completed: all indicated that
participation in the Communities In Bloom competition
would be valuable to the communities and residents of Markham; the majority
indicated an interest in volunteering in various areas of the program.
A
contract Communities In Bloom Program Manager was
hired, effective September 15, 2004, to coordinate the Town’s Communities In
Bloom efforts in 2005. Work is underway to research and prepare a Markham
Communities in Bloom Program Strategy and a Marketing and Communications
Strategy. The strategies will be finalized with considerable input from the
Communities in Bloom Steering Committee recommended in this report.
Markham’s
approach is to:
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Raise funds and create partnerships to finance new initiatives;
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Create awareness of the Communities In Bloom Program and promote
opportunities to be involved to residents, businesses, educational institutions
and community groups;
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Ensure maintenance service levels are appropriate;
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Plan the judges’ visit;
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Recognize and reward participants; and
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Measure results of the 2005 efforts, assess the program and plan
improvements.
Appendix B provides a preliminary
list of existing Markham initiatives that will support Markham’s Communities In Bloom efforts.
FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:
The Town is committed to participating in the
2005 Communities in Bloom program. The
cost estimate to participate in Communities in Bloom was $290,000. This included resource and promotion costs of
approximately $120,000 and Park maintenance operating cost increases of about
$170,000. These costs will be included
in the 2005 operating budget discussions.
ATTACHMENTS:
Appendix B – Existing Programs and Initiatives
that support Communities In Bloom.
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Stuart
Taylor, Director, Strategic Services |
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Jim
Sales, Commissioner, Community & Fire Services |
Q:\Strategic Services\Shared Data\Reports\Marketing
& Partnerships\CIB F&A Nov 8 04.doc
