TAMRMS#: B06
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2021 WILDNorth Funding Request
Presented by: Christian Benson, Manager, Environment, Utilities & Environment Department
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RECOMMENDED MOTION:
recommendation
That the Community Living Standing Committee recommend to Council that WILDNorth receive a one-time grant of $5,000 to cover St. Albert based wildlife rescue and rehabilitation operations in 2021, to be funded from Council Contingency
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PURPOSE OF REPORT
To provide Committee with a recommendation for a one-time grant to WILDNorth of $5,000 to cover St. Albert based wildlife rescue and rehabilitation operations in 2021, to be funded from Council Contingency.
ALIGNMENT TO COUNCIL STRATEGIC PRIORITY
N/A
ALIGNMENT TO SERVICE DELIVERY
Service Name: Environmental Grants Management
Service Definition: Management and coordination of applications and approvals of the Environmental Initiatives.
Service Component: Environmental Initiatives
Grant Current Service Level: The Fund is approximately $33,200 based on multiplying the City’s population by $0.50 and is available once a year for community environmental projects. Grants are recommended by the Environmental Advisory Committee and approved by Council.
ALIGNMENT TO COUNCIL (OR COMMITTEE) DIRECTION OR MANDATORY STATUTORY PROVISION
At the January 20, 2020 Council meeting, Councillor Joly requested that the following Notice of Motion be forwarded to the March 9, 2020 Community Living Standing Committee meeting for consideration:
Notice of Motion - Councillor Joly
That, notwithstanding clauses requiring community groups to be registered in St. Albert to be eligible for Community Services grant programs, WILDNorth be eligible for all such grants for proportion of their budget allocated to services within St. Albert.
On March 9th, 2020 the Community Living Standing Committee approved the following motion:
CM 19-037
That the Community Living Standing Committee recommend to Council that Administration create a Grant Policy by Q1 2021 for agencies outside of St. Albert who are providing services in St. Albert.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
WILDNorth received $5,000 per year in 2018 and 2019 through the City’s Environmental Initiative Grant (EIG), administered by the Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC). In 2019, the EAC provided Council with a recommendation to provide support to WILDNorth through annual ongoing funding through the City’s operating budget rather than to continue to support WILDNorth through the EIG program.
On March 9th, 2020 Administration provided CLSC with an Administrative Backgrounder and a recommendation to be directed to develop a business case to secure ongoing operational budget to support WILDNorth’s St. Albert based wildlife rescue and rehabilitation operations. Through motion CM 19-037, CLSC was to recommend Council to direct Administration to create a Grant Policy by Q1 2021 to accommodate grants for agencies outside of St. Albert who provide services in St. Albert.
Administration is in the process of completing a project related to a full grant process and it is anticipated that this review will come back to Council by Q2/Q3 2021, or as soon as schedules allow.
As it is expected that this grant review process will occur in 2021, Administration is recommending to Committee to provide a one-time grant of $5,000 to cover St. Albert based wildlife rescue and rehabilitation operations in 2021, to be funded from Council Contingency. This one-time grant is in line with funding provided by the City of St. Albert in 2018 and 2019 and will accommodate WILDNorth’s St. Albert based operations.
STAKEHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS OR ENGAGEMENT
Administration works directly with WILDNorth to receive information and reports related to annual wildlife rescue and rehabilitation work in St. Albert. This information is provided to internal City departments, such as Municipal Enforcement and Public Works.
When reports of injured wildlife is received by City Administration, residents are directed to contact WILDNorth directly for rescue and rehabilitation operations. WILDNorth contact information is available directly on the City website.
IMPLICATIONS OF RECOMMENDATION(S)
Financial:
A one-time grant of $5,000 from Council Contingency which has an annual budget of $15,000 with no current commitments in 2021.
Legal / Risk:
None at this time.
Program or Service:
The loss of WILDNorth as a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation service provider may increase workload for Municipal Enforcement and Public Works staff related to wild animal service requests.
Organizational:
None at this time.
ALTERNATIVES AND IMPLICATIONS CONSIDERED
If Council does not wish to support the recommendation, the following alternatives could be considered:
Alternative 1. Do not accept the recommendation for a one-time grant to WILDNorth of $5,000 to cover St. Albert based wildlife rescue and rehabilitation operations in 2021.
Alternative 2. Direct Administration to bring forward a recommendation with alternative funding sources for WILDNorth for St. Albert based wildlife rescue and rehabilitation operations in 2021.
Alternative 3. Direct Administration to bring forward a recommendation with alternative funding amount for WILDNorth for St. Albert based wildlife rescue and rehabilitation operations in 2021.
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Report Date: January 18, 2021
Author: Christian Benson
Department: Utilities & Environment
Deputy Chief Administrative Officer: Kerry Hilts
Chief Administrative Officer: Kevin Scoble