HomeMy WebLinkAboutOPD-004-09~1~r' n
Leading the Way
REPORT
OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT
Meeting: GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
Date: May 4, 2009
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Report #: OPD-004-09 File #:
By-Law #:
Subject: BOWMANVILLE B.I.A. HANGING FLOWER BASKETS/PLANTERS
Recommendations:
It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration
Committee recommend to Council the following:
1. THAT Report OPD-004-09 be received; and
2. THAT since the Operations Department is not able to assume the
responsibility without budget implications in 2009 and since it is not the
Municipality's core business to provide flower watering services to the B.I.A.,
that the request from the Bowmanville B.I.A. be denied.
Submittedby:~~-` "-""~-'~
Franklin Wu
Interim Director of Operations
Reviewed b~~ `"ter-'
Franklin Wu,
Chief Administrative Officer
REPORT NO. OPD-004-09
1.0 BACKGROUND:
PAGE 2
1.1 The Bowmanville B.I.A., through a delegation to Council presented March
2, 2009, has requested assistance from the Municipality to water the
hanging flower baskets/planters in downtown Bowmanville. Council has
referred this matter to staff for a recommendation.
1.2 Since 1977, according to the B.I.A., Rekker Gardens has supplied and
maintained the hanging flower baskets/planters for the Bowmanville B.I.A..
Last year's cost according to the B.I.A. representative was approximately
$4,500 for the planters. Rekker Gardens gave notice two years ago that
they would not be carrying on the free watering/maintenance service, but
because of the Bowmanville 150th celebration, they would provide the
service for 2008.
Rekker Gardens supplies approximately 85 hanging flower baskets in
fiber pots with a variety of plants determined by location i.e., sun or shade
requirements. They also grow an extra 25 to 30 planters for replacement
throughout the season. These extras are required due to vandalism, plant
mortality or insect/disease problems. Rekker Gardens provided a
monitoring/maintenance program at least three (3) times per week during
the summer months which required approximately three hours to
complete.
2.0 PRACTICES IN OTHER B.I.A.'S
The Orono B.I.A. provides hanging flower baskets/planters in Orono which
are purchased from a local Garden Centre. Volunteers as well as the
local Garden Centre provide the monitoring/watering and maintenance
program at no additional cost.
REPORT NO. OPD-004-09
PAGE 3
The Newcastle B.I.A. provides planters in Newcastle which are purchased
from a local business. The B.I.A. hires a person to provide the
monitoring/watering and maintenance program at a cost of $400 per
month.
3.0 OPTIONS
3.1 Service to be provided by Clarinpton Staff
A monitoring/maintenance program for the Bowmanville B.I.A. hanging
flower baskets/planters would be a new service if provided by the
Municipality, and is currently not included in the Operations current
budget. The estimated costs for this new service would be as follows:
Clarington Staff Monitoring/Maintenance Program
Labour Two staff three hours per day.
three da s er week $10,000.00
Equipment Water tank and pump $ 1,500.00
Vehicle Rental Approximately 16 weeks $ 4,000.00
Total $ 16,500.00
3.2 Self-Watering Hanging Flower Baskets/Planters
An investigation was done to see if the purchase of self-watering hanging
flower baskets/planters could reduce labour costs. Self-watering hanging
flower baskets/planters hold several gallons of water in reservoirs and
would provide the plants enough water to reduce watering periods to once
every week or two. There were several problems. The initial cost of these
pots is over ten times the cost of the biodegradable pots currently in use.
Monitoring would still be required every second day to ensure plant
viability. Replacement cost, (20 to 30 per season) due to vandalism,
would increase costs further. The brackets that currently exist would also
have to be changed due to the increased weight of self-watering pots
making the overall costs of self-watering pots prohibitive.
REPORT NO. OPD-004-09
PAGE 4
3.3 Service to be Continued by the B.I.A.
The Bowmanville B.I.A. may wish to issue a tender for supply of the
hanging flower baskets/planters as well as for the watering. This
approach is consistent with the current practices in both Orono and
Newcastle B.I.A.s.
3.4 Watering by Store Owners
THE Bowmanville B.I.A. should investigate whether individual store
operators can assist with the watering including monitoring/maintenance
for plants in front of their own stores. This may be the most cost-effective
method.
4.0 CONCLUSION
The Municipality does not have the financial resources to assist the
Bowmanville B.I.A. in watering the downtown hanging flower
baskets/planters. In the event Council wish to provide financial relief, it
should give due consideration to similar treatment for Orono and
Newcastle B.I.A.s and provide clear direction to staff in terms of budgetary
allocation for this new service.
CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON
40 TEMPERANCE STREET, BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO L1C 3A6 T (905) 263-2291 F (905) 263.4433
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BOWMANVILLE
RUSINE3S CENTRE
2009 02 20
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BOWMANVILLE BUSINESS CENTRE
Mrs. Patti Barrie
Municipal Clerk
Municipality of Clarington
40 Temperance Street
Bowmanville, Ontario
L1C 3A6
Dear Mrs. Barrie
P.O. BOX 365
801 ILLE, ONT.
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M~MCIlALCIEN[SFILE
At the regulaz monthly Boazd of Management meeting, held on Tuesday,
February 10, 2009, Edgar Lucas, the Chairman, was directed to appear
before Council at the Mazch 2 regulaz Council meeting.
On this occasion, he will be addressing Council on the subject of
beautification of Downtown Bowmanville, and in particular the likelihood
that there will not be any hanging flower baskets or planters this summer.
As will be explained to Council on this occasion, while the Bowmanville
BIA has the financial resources to purchase the flowers (as it has since
1977), it does not have the resources to water them. This service has been
provided over the past many years, free of charee, by Rekker Gazdens, who
can no longer continue to do so.
Would you be kind enough to include Mr. Lucas on your list of delegations
at this meeting.
Yours very truly
Garth Gilpin
Secretary-Treasurer