May 3, 1999

To:Budget Committee

From:Joe Halstead, Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism

Subject:Street Tree Planting Application - Toronto Atmospheric Fund - Ward 10 (North York Centre) and 12 (North York Seneca Heights)

Purpose:

The approved Capital Works Program includes $50,000.00 to fund the planting of approximately 130 large caliper trees in the North Parks and Recreation District. Budget Committee directed staff to make application to the Toronto Atmospheric Fund to obtain funds to offset the request in the Capital Budget and to report back if the application was declined. For the information of Committee, the application to fund the planting was declined by the Toronto Atmospheric Fund.

Recommendation:

It is recommended that:

1.the Department proceed with the implementation of the project as originally set out in the 1999 Capital Works Program.

Comments:

Staff completed an application to the Toronto Atmospheric Fund and submitted the application January 28, 1999. At its meeting of March 23, 1999 the Board of Directors declined the application. Although one of Toronto Atmospheric Fund's goals is "Create and preserve urban green spaces that absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere", the Fund only supports special tree planting initiatives that meet certain criteria, namely:

1.Strategic tree plantings that provide shade and/or wind breaks to buildings, thereby providing reductions in heating or cooling needs, and lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

2.Community projects which include an education and an outreach component. Many of the community tree-planting projects TAF supports are a doorway to more extensive climate change projects in communities which TAF has not been able to reach, such as communities in the former municipalities outside of the old Toronto, or certain ethnic communities.

3.Tree plantings in new parks, such as Round House Park and Greenwood Park.

4.Tree plantings on school grounds, as part of TAF's Cool Schools Programs. The trees provide shade or wind breaks to the school, shade the playgrounds, or are part of an overall naturalization plan for the school grounds.

While it is unfortunate that this project was not deemed a special tree planting, Department staff support the project as an improvement to the appearance of the area and the environmental benefits of tree planting.

Contact Names:

Don Smith

Senior Coordinator, Research and Grants

392-8412

Joe Halstead

Commissioner Economic Development, Culture and Tourism