Protecting City of Winnipeg Tree Canopy
Winnipeg’s urban tree canopy is a priority. May 8th meeting of City Centre Community Committee underscored this priority by unanimously supporting an important walk-on motion for trees.
Our tree canopy was harmed and is still recovering from the October 2019 weather event. The motion "walked on" to the agenda, by Councillor John Orlikow, recognizes the considerable forestry-related expenses the city incurred following that event.
If passed at subsequent committee levels, the motion will allocate $3 million to the City of Winnipeg’s Forestry Branch from the Disaster Financial Assistance Program.
Councillor Gilroy supported the motion and I enthusiastically declared: "I wanted a tree motion every meeting." The weather event damaged trees in every part of Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry ward. In addition, Riverview was hit by the storm AND 300 tree removals last summer to ward off disease.
“We can’t take our foot off the gas to save our trees.” Councillor Orlikow stated. City Centre councillors agreed we have to continue the momentum on urban tree canopy protection.
The Multi-year budget is set to significantly increase budget for trees.
Over $25 million dollars is budgeted for capital investments in the Urban Forest Enhancement Program and Reforestation Improvements. In addition, from the 2019 figure of $11.8million, to $12.5 million by 2023, the operating budget for tree planting and pruning is a welcome increase.
Protection of City of Winnipeg Tree Canopy Motion
WHEREAS the City of Winnipeg’s tree canopy is under threat from the impacts of climate change and age;
AND WHEREAS the tree canopy provides numerous benefits for citizens across the city;
AND WHEREAS the tree canopy was severely damaged in October 2019 due to an unprecedented freezing rain weather event; for which disaster relief funding will be provided;
AND WHEREAS that a significant portion of the city’s costs resulting from the disaster were forestry related expenses;
AND WHEREAS on October 28, 2019 City Council approved the submission of an application for Disaster Financial Assistance to the Province of Manitoba;
AND WHEREAS on January 23, 2020, the Province of Manitoba announced a Disaster Financial Assistance Program for the October 2019 weather event for eligible municipalities;
AND WHEREAS in accordance with public sector accounting rules, the expenses for the October 2019 weather event have been largely accounted for in 2019 and any revenue arising from the Disaster Financial Assistance Program will be accounted for in 2020;
AND WHEREAS this revenue is unencumbered in 2020 and would factor into the overall accounting largely in the General Revenue Fund for 2020, including transferring to the Financial Stabilization Reserve Fund should a year-end surplus result;
AND WHEREAS current forecasts indicate that if every cost submitted is deemed eligible by the Province of Manitoba, the City of Winnipeg’s General Revenue Fund would receive approximately $4 million;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Winnipeg allocate up to $3 million of Disaster Financial Assistance Program disaster relief funds of up to a $1 million per year to the City of Winnipeg’s Forestry branch’s 2021, 2022 and 2033 operating budget.