RPT 21-250 That the Community Services Advisory Committee

RPT 21-250 TITLE: Beautification of City Entrance Ways DATE: May 13, 2021 TO: Community Services Advisory Committee PUBLIC: X INCAMERA: RECOMMENDATION: That the Community Services Advisory Committee approve the 2021 Focus Areas for Beautification identified by the Community Services Department and forward the recommendation to Council for consideration. TOPIC AND PURPOSE To provide background on the beautification process, the accomplishments in 2019 & 2020, and the suggested plan moving into 2021 related to the topic of beautification of the City Entrance Ways. BACKGROUND The following resolution was approved during the 2021 Budget Committee Regular meeting. “That the total 2021 Operating Budget for the City Beautification Functional Area be approved at a cost of $75,800, as presented.” PROPOSED APPROACH AND RATIONALE: Beginning with the 2019 Season, Community Services has been tasked with looking at implementing various beautification initiatives including how to best use the funds allocated in the annual budget to plan the beautification process. Preliminary discussions have taken place around the Development of a Comprehensive Plan involving various City Departments as it relates to general maintenance, signage, landscaping and promotion. Community RPT 21-250 Page 2 of 10 beautification should be considered a high priority, specifically highway entrances, as they are the first contact that residents and visitors have, creating that first impression of the City. When we talk about beautification, the immediate thought was to look at the addition of landscaping which would include flowerbeds to brighten the entryways. Suggestions were brought forth to look at designing options to communicate to the public providing an opportunity for input into a Comprehensive Plan. Other considerations for review and previously presented to the Community Services Advisory Committee include options around the City’s Entrance Ways: 1. Create a stronger sense of arrival Creation of new signage Development of a stronger vertical element that commands attention and is visible from a distance. Providing directions to additional visitor information 2. Introducing a theme with colour and form that repeats throughout the corridor The first element you see, the entry sign, should be predominantly the theme color and form. Color and Form can also be represented in light poles, banners, signs, planters, etc. An opportunity to highlight key aspects of the season should also be a key focus i.e. Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, Canada Day, etc. 3. Provide a vertical element that can be repeated along the length of the corridor Vertical elements create the best visual impact at driving speeds. Includes trees, poles, banners, flags, sign features, public art, etc. RPT 21-250 Page 3 of 10 4. Planting & Maintenance Introduce planting wherever possible. Consistent tree planting will be beneficial. Flowers are relatively inexpensive and provide for an impressive display of color. Consider the impact of planting for all seasons. Attention to general maintenance and considering more efficient delivery of those services i.e. Highway Ditch Mowing. 5. Enhance positive views and work towards screening the negative Take advantage of natural sight lines to locate a display of planting or theme elements. Use of fencing and screen planting to obstruct views that are less desirable. 6. Standardize signage and un-clutter the corridor Standardize the directional/informational signage so that it becomes more recognizable. 2019 saw focus on some key feedback provided through CSAC and in consultation with other departments we were able to provide the following additional services: 2nd Avenue Corridor between 17th Street West and 22nd Street West Thorough cleaning of the 2nd Avenue corridor from between 15th street west and 22nd Street West. Anti graffiti protective coating applied along the 2nd Avenue Corridor between 17th Street West and 22nd Street West. Anti graffiti coating was applied to the cement surfaces along the wrought iron fencing including planters and the cement retaining walls on either side of 2nd Avenue. RPT 21-250 Page 4 of 10 Garden beds cleaned out and maintained along the wrought iron fence. All elm trees were cleaned-up, deadwood removed and skirts raised within this corridor. Additional street sweeping. City Entrance Ways Additional grass cuts. Additional weed control. New trees planted along the East side of Highway #2 and the South Hill Cemetery. Improved floral display at the Visitor Information Centre. New signage at Visitor Information Centre. E.A. Rawlinson Centre Completion of landscaping. Capital improvements completed in 2019 that aid in the beautification efforts Intersection improvements at 2nd Avenue and 28th street west which included a dedicated right turn lane, new traffic lights, concrete and asphalt paving New turning Lane at 15th Street West and 2nd Avenue west Services Road improvements along 2nd Avenue West from 38th – 44th Streets RPT 21-250 Page 5 of 10 The installation of a double-sided digital billboard was also installed at the Northeast corner of 2nd Avenue West and 15th street, the project would have an immediate impact on the highway 2 entrance to the City, 2020 presented challenges due to COVID however the following beautification efforts were undertaken and completed: 2nd Avenue Corridor between 17th Street West and 22nd Street West Communication with all businesses along the 2nd Avenue corridor, ensuring that each business has the corresponding landscape agreement and understands the responsibility contained within. This would include responsibilities around grass cutting, weed control, snow removal and plant material replacement. Forestry crew to work on trees on both sides of 2nd Avenue to remove, dead, diseased, hazards and general clean-up. Sweeping of boulevards to remove sand, rocks and debris as required. Work to bring vacant lot’s into compliance. Gas powered trimmer to remove overgrowth of grass along the curb face and sidewalks along 2nd Avenue running between 28th street and Marquis Road. This will improve landscape lines to improve upon esthetics. Yellow curbing repainted Improved painting on traffic lights Fixing of damaged and broken signage along the 28th to Marquis corridor The key to the work in 2020 was to keep on top of the improvements already completed in 2019 as well as working along side the business owners to provide them support from the City in helping bring their properties back into compliance. If we could work with the businesses, RPT 21-250 Page 6 of 10 working to improve upon relations while leading the charge, we believed there was opportunity to make a large conservative effort towards beautification. Utilizing the dollars provided through the budgeting process in 2020 we were able to continue building on the improvements to the basic levels of service the City currently provided and looked for creative solutions to bring about additional change. During the 2021 Budgeting deliberations we had heard from Council on their desire to see the budgeted dollars used on more Capital inspired improvements with a smaller focus on the operational components. As a result discussions led to continued focus on improvements along the 2nd Avenue corridor specifically the Wrought Iron Fence that extends North and South along 2nd Avenue between 18th Street West and 22nd Street West. Also focus on a more friendly chemical free solution to weed control in our medians, sidewalks, entry ways to the City and downtown core. As part of the beautification process for 2021 the Community Services Department is proposing the following focus areas: Focus on grass cutting, weed whipping and flower planting. (Flower purchase and planting is about $10,000 each year and covered thru the Beautification account) Attention to weed control efforts through the rental of a Foam Stream weed control system on a trial basis from the months of May through September. This is an alternative to herbicide using 200-degree water and a biodegradable foaming agent comprised of a blend of coconut and palm kernel oils certified through the Roundtable of Sustainable Palm Oil, rapeseed oil, glucose, polysaccharides derived from the natural fermentation of glucose and glutamic acid derived from sugar beets. This is an all- natural product, focusing on and looking to alternatives in addressing the way we treat weeds. The system is user friendly and does not require special certification to operate, making it easier for staff to apply. ($20,000 committed to initiative thru the beautification budget) Additional street sweeping efforts along 2nd Avenue corridors and City entrances; (Completed thru Public Works operational account) RPT 21-250 Page 7 of 10 Pressure washing and cleaning of the 2nd Avenue fencing and median area as well as the retaining walls on the East and West sides of 2nd Avenue; and, ($10,000 is usually the annual cost for this work paid for thru the Highway Connectors program) Graffiti removal (Approximately $10,000 a year spent on graffiti removal efforts thru operational spending) A total of $30,000 of the $75,000 has been committed to beautification initiatives for 2021 leaving $45,000 for consideration. As we continue to gain momentum and finding those quick wins with beautification, administration believes that future discussion regarding framework and consultation on this topic may be required. Administration does see value in staying the course at this time and putting the

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