The city’s publication for its residents March-April 2015

The city’s publication for its residents September-October 2014

Mother and daughter share a book in front of “FLUX,’ the new public art piece at the recently renovated Kitchener Library Central Branch

Inside thisissue of the

KitchenerCitizen…

Your Kitchener is published every other month to keep citizens informed on local issues and events. Questions or comments can be directed to 519-741-2345 x7383 or communications@kitchener.ca. The City of Kitchener is committed to providing accessible formats. If another format would work better for you, please contact the number above.

Spring, stormwater and bloomsIt might be a bit hard to imagine it right now, but the snow will melt. And when it does, if you’re a gardener, your thoughts may turn to your garden or flowerbeds.

Even if they don’t, do think about getting your rain barrels out and capturing all that spring runoff to use on your garden through the summer.

Stormwater runoff is water that flows over hard surfaces such as rooftops and driveways into drainage systems and ultimately into our natural areas such as creeks, lakes and wetlands. Using a rain barrel to collect water for your garden reduces runoff and conserves water.

Even attaching a soaker hose to the rain barrel can reduce watering by hand and will keep your garden happy through the drier season.

Did you know you can also obtain credit for your rain barrels and permeable pavers?

You might be eligible for 20-45 per cent of the stormwater portion of your utility bill based on the amount of stormwater you are able to divert from the municipal system. In general, the more storage for stormwater that you provide using these methods the larger the rebate received.

And if your garden is really happy – full of blooms, or native plants, or relies on stormwater management practices – you could be nominated for a Kitchener in Bloom environmental or a stormwater management award.

The award rewards property owners for their efforts to beautify and manage stormwater runoff with landscapes that feature:

• Rain gardens and bioswales;

• Rainwater harvesting;

• Permeable paving.

Anyone can nominate anyone. It’s easy! Nominate any front yard that contributes to the beauty of Kitchener through landscape and gardening by submitting the address of the deserving property; city staff will take care of the rest. Nominations are due July 8. You can:

• email kitchenerinbloom@kitchener.ca

• call 519-741-2200 x7224.

More details about criteria can be found at www.kitchener.ca/bloom and at www.kitchener.ca/stormwater for details on applying for stormwater credits. n

Youth awardsKitchener has a lot of committed and involved youth, and the Kitchener Youth Action Council (KYAC) hosts an annual awards ceremony to promote a positive image of young people and to recognize those who are making a difference in the community. Nominations for the awards can be made online at www.kitchener.ca/youthawards. The deadline is March 27.

KYAC is a group of young volunteers between the ages of 14 and 24 who work with the City of Kitchener to raise awareness of issues that affect youth. Members work to help Kitchener remain a fun, safe place for youth to live, and to recognize the contributions of youth in our community. n

Get in on the economic development action F eedback from the public is a big part of

how the city makes decisions that impact services, facilities, economic development

or strategic planning.

There are often opportunities for members of the community to have their say through consultations, public information sessions and surveys.

Economic development strategyAs part of its scheduled update to the Kitchener Economic Development Strategy (KEDS), the City of Kitchener’s economic development division is using a unique forum for getting public and stakeholder input to help shape the city’s future direction and prosperity.

The “150 Ideas” campaign will feature events moderated by city staff, council and volunteer moderators from across the community, all aimed at facilitating dialogue and feedback to inform the priorities of the new strategy.

A component of “150 Ideas” entitled “150 Conversations” is inspired by “1,000 Dinners TO,” held in Toronto leading up to the 2014 municipal election.

The campaign follows similar outreach events

held in the 2011 consultation phase for KEDS.11. Economic development staff have already begun meeting with the city’s various advisory committees as part of the formal consultation process.

“When we look at the many tangible results that KEDS.11 has delivered, such as provincial support for two-way GO transit, Startup City, the Innovation District and the jobs that each has created, we don’t see a need for significant change in what’s been

a very effective strategy,” said Rod Reiger, executive director of economic development. “It’s more a matter of refreshing a few areas and giving an operational update.”

The 150 Ideas campaign will run during April and May, which will allow staff to compile feedback from individual events as they draft the new strategy throughout the summer months. KEDS 2015 is expected to go before council in October.

Kitchener MarketAs part of its ongoing stakeholder engagement, Kitchener Market will be conducting its biennial survey over a six-week period this spring.

The survey will garner input from public, vendors and downtown residents on how they use the market and what improvements they would like to see. n

The 150 Ideas campaign will

run during April and May.

Registration for the 2015 season

of Summer Playgrounds is now

open. With programs operating

from neighbourhood parks,

schools and community centres,

there is likely a location near you.

Register with WebReg through

www.kitchener.ca.

WANT TO VOLUNTEER?

Please call 519-741-2200 x7389.

Summer Playgrounds

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KW Home & Garden Show The KW Home & Garden Show offers the most comprehensive information about home and garden solutions in the region, and it comes to The Aud March 27-29. There are more than 150 exhibitors and an estimated 15,000 visitors. Find the answers to home décor, renovation and landscaping questions -- all in one place. www.kwhgs.ca n

ScrapfestYour chance to shop, crop, learn and create at the ultimate paper crafting destination. Scrapfest takes place at The Aud April 10-11. www.scrapfest.ca n

RV ShowOne of the best RV shows in southwestern Ontario, the RV Show comes to The Aud April 17-19. Packed with local area dealers and manufacturers; RVs, accessories & campground destinations; an all-new improved RV parts and accessories market place, and daily seminars and attractions for all ages, the show offers you a chance to win $5,000. www.rvshowkitchener.ca n

Theresa Caputo Live! Theresa Caputo, psychic medium and star of the hit TLC show, Long Island Medium, has an appearance at The Aud in her future . . . on Sunday, April 19, 7 p.m. Caputo will give interactive readings to selected audience members throughout the show and share personal stories about her life and her unique gifts.

Purchasing a ticket does not guarantee a reading. www.theaud.ca n

Keep Kitchener greenUrban trees are important to our quality of life and enhance our city by providing economic, environmental and cultural benefits.

Recognizing how much our trees provide to our overall wellbeing, the city has introduced a new tree donation program.

Residents will now be able to make tax-deductible contributions to complement existing urban forestry programs. Donating is a quick and easy way to make an immediate difference to the city’s urban forest canopy.

Your donations will be used to plant trees and support maintenance programs, such as tree watering and pruning.

Donations will ensure that Kitchener’s trees are a green legacy to future generations. Please visit our website www.kitchener.ca/treedonation for more information about the program and to make a donation. n

Every home must now have carbon monoxide detectors Did you know that all residential buildings must now have carbon monoxide

(CO) alarms? Last October, new provincial legislation made CO alarms mandatory to be installed by the bedrooms in all residences by April 15, 2015.

And for good reason.

Last year, the Kitchener Fire Department responded to 445 carbon monoxide incidents, including one fatality. Knowing about how to prevent CO poisoning is the best thing you can do to protect yourself, and having CO alarms in your residence is the first step. Here are some other tips:

• Fuel-burning appliances need to have an adequate air supply; make sure vents around your home are clear of snow and ice. Ensure your furnace and other appliances, such as gas ovens, ranges, and cook tops, are inspected for adequate ventilation. Keep chimneys clear of bird and squirrel nests, leaves, and other debris to ensure proper ventilation.

• Portable generators, stoves and space heaters should always be used outdoors, unless it is specifically designed for use indoors.

• All indoor appliances must be used according to the manufacturer’s instructions and maintained regularly by a technician licensed by the Technical Standards & Safety Authority (TSSA).

• Don’t operate gasoline-powered engines or generators in confined areas such as garages, basements or boat houses. Don’t leave your car, mower, ATV or other vehicle running in an attached garage, even with the door open.

• Have your home/cottage heating system, fireplace and flue inspected and cleaned by a qualified technician every year. Have your gas fireplaces inspected each fall to ensure the pilot light burns safely.

For more information about the provincial regulations, visit the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services or www.kitchener.ca/COalarms. To learn more about carbon monoxide, visit www.cosafety.ca n

As the old joke goes, in Canada there are only two seasons: winter and construction. This summer may

seem like there is more construction than usual, with work on ION, the Region of Waterloo’s light rapid transit (LRT) service, beginning in earnest along the 19-kilometre route through Waterloo and Kitchener.

GrandLinq, the team responsible for designing and building ION, has multiple crews working continuously along the route to speed up progress and reduce the length of time and impact of construction.

Kitchener will see construction this spring along Charles from Victoria to Borden, and later this year along Duke from Francis to Frederick, while construction also continues on Borden, from Charles to the CN railway tracks.

One of the ways to make sure the journey to your destination is as uninterrupted as possible is to download the Ping Street app (www.kitchener.ca/PingStreet) for your mobile phone, and sign up for alerts on road closures.

Open for businessYes! Businesses will be open during construction! Help get the message out to the wider community that Kitchener

businesses remain accessible and open for business by engaging with the #IONbiz Twitter hashtag.

The City of Kitchener also partners with the Region and the Kitchener BIA to promote businesses along the ION corridor during construction. Watch for upcoming social media contests that encourage customers to visit these businesses.

Stay in touchAs with all major projects such as ION, construction schedules continue to change due to weather and other factors. However, there are several ways you can stay in touch with the latest construction information.

Construction website: www.rideION.ca is the best way to find out what’s happening and also provides an opportunity to sign-up for the latest construction updates.

• Toll free hotline: 1-844-625-1010

• Email: connect@rideION.ca

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/rideION

• Twitter: @rideIONrt

Connect with Grand River Transit at www.grt.ca to stay up-to-date on any bus detours during ION construction. n

Getting around town

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Putting the you in “volunteer”How volunteering lead to employment for one City of Kitchener staff person.

After he completed his university degree in planning, Eric Schneider found he couldn’t get a job

because every potential employer wanted at least one year of experience.

Since he hadn’t done the co-op stream, he didn’t have any experience. Schneider began to realize two things.

“First, I needed experience. Secondly, employers were looking for proven assets. If an organization was going to pay wages, they wanted to be certain they will receive full value for their wages,” he said. “This logic lead me to the idea of volunteering my time. The employer would not have to pay wages, so they would be less adamant about having an individual that is a proven asset. And I would receive valuable experience that would eventually land me a paid position. So volunteering seemed like a win-win situation.”

In Kitchener, thousands of people find a way to share their time and make a difference in our community. It’s National Volunteer Week April 12-18, a time to say thank you to the volunteers in our lives, and celebrate the tradition of caring we value so dearly. Volunteers have been the heart of our city since its formation.

Schneider found his answer at the City of Kitchener, where volunteer services staff, who knew Eric from a previous volunteer placement with the City’s Kitchener Youth Action Council, were happy to connect him to the Planning department and encourage them to engage him.

He volunteered for Planning for six weeks, then was hired on a three-month contract, and finally as a full-time permanent employee.

“I believe that my volunteer stint earlier in the year made an impression in the consideration for me for these positions,” he said. “For recent graduates who do not have experience in their respective fields, I would highly recommend volunteering as a way to gain valuable experience.”

The city’s volunteer resources staff is currently responsible for supporting 1,700 direct and 4,800 indirect volunteers. As well, they foster volunteerism within the city, provide training and engage thousands of residents through events and initiatives such as City Hall 101 information sessions and tours.

Despite these numbers, trends show that volunteerism is changing – volunteers are making shorter commitments and looking for more specific roles. This is one of the main

reasons city council approved adding a part-time volunteer coordinator in the 2015 budget. The new part-time position will mean the city can develop stronger partnerships with other community organizations and expand opportunities to reflect the changing face of today’s volunteers.

Ban Ki-Moon, secretary general of the United Nations, perfectly summed up the important role volunteers play in our world. Volunteering, he said, “is a source of community strength, resilience, solidarity and social cohesion. It brings positive social change by fostering respect for diversity, equality and the participation of all. It is among society’s most vital assets.”

In Kitchener, volunteers make programs and services possible – more than 1,700 volunteers make city-run programs accessible for children, youth and older

adults; help to sustain the environment, and are integral to the success of our many special events. They share their voices on issues – 140 volunteers help shape our civic life through their involvement on citizen committees and boards. More than 3,500 minor sports groups’ volunteers keep children active and involved. Neighbourhood associations’ 1,300 volunteers provide localized places and programs, helping to change a group of houses into a connected neighbourhood.

Whether you’re volunteering for a one-time special event, planting trees or cleaning up litter, or supporting youth drop-in programs or seniors’ programs – you are an integral part of what makes our community strong. For more opportunities to volunteer with the City of Kitchener, please take a look at www.kitchener.ca/volunteer. n

Coming soon to a community centre near you! The waste bins at city hall and the Kitchener Operations Facility have diverted a lot of waste from the landfill using waste-sorting bins. We are always working towards a greener Kitchener, which is why we are installing 10 more in selected community centres! We hope these efforts inspire residents to continue their green efforts by sorting waste properly at home and at city facilities. n

Waterloo Region Food & Drink Show Enjoy fine wines and gourmet foods at the Waterloo Region Food and Drink show at The Aud April 24-26. The seminars teach you how to cook your meals, how to taste and pick the perfect wine, and much more. Listen to outstanding musicians and bands. This event is filled with entertainment, friends, family and more. www.fooddrinkshow.com n

Kitchener MarketGet the kids hopping at the market every Tuesday from 11 a.m. to noon with Erick Traplin, listening to seasonal tales or creating unique crafts. Thursdays bring the Art Innovators’ Squiggles to Grins art program for children and their parents from 11 a.m. to noon. Kids in the Kitchen learn where their food comes from for Earth Day on Saturday, April 18, 10 a.m. to noon. www.kitchenermarket.ca n

Kitchener Market downtownDiscover Downtown runs until Saturday, March 21, 4-8 p.m. each day. Vendor-discounted lunch specials along with beer, crafts, and music!

Easter ChefD, the popular host of ChefDtv.com, an innovative online cooking show, is teaching Easter side dishes on Saturday, March 28, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Eat breakfast with the Easter bunny on Saturday, April 4, 10 a.m. to noon. There will be food, fun, treats, games, crafts! n

“I would highly recommend

volunteering as a way to gain valuable

experience.”— Eric Schneider

2015 BudgetKitchener council approved their 2015 budget on Feb. 23 which included a city tax rate increase of 1.91 per cent. Based on the average residential household assessment of $269,000, the city portion of the annual property tax rate will increase by $19.59.

With this year’s increase, Kitchener continues to be one of the most affordable cities in the province, enjoying among the lowest combined tax and utility rates of 25 of Ontario’s largest cities as well as the lowest combined tax and utility rates of Waterloo Region’s three major cities.

Of note in this year’s budget was a 9.9 per cent increase to water and sanitary sewer rates to help address the urgent issue of our aging infrastructure. For the average residential customer, this means about $7.67 more per month on their utility bill ($92 per year).

It’s important to continue to invest in our infrastructure. Stabilization and capital reserves are depleted and not available to offset the cost of these utilities - nor is that a sustainable model. Reducing service levels will have substantial impacts on the city and its citizens including:

· Increased failures - water main breaks, sewer backups, increased flooding

· Increased costs - increased operating and maintenance costs on an old system, need for construction won’t go away and construction costs will increase over time

· Decreased revenues - more water main breaks result in water loss and therefore, less revenue for the city for water that was never delivered to the customer

For more information visit www.kitchener.ca/2015budget n

700

600

500

400

300

200

100

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 YEARS

REPLACEMENT KMS

Infrastructure due forreplacement – blue line(assuming 80 year lifecycle)

Current replacement rate– white line

blue line

I N F R A S T R U C T U R EREPLACEMENTTIME INEREPLACEMENT

AV E R A G E C O S T T O

REPAIRA WATERMAIN BREAKREPAIR$15,000

A N N UA LAVERAGE $1.6 million

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5.05” x 5.875”5.05” x 5.875”

Junior golf campat Kitchener Golf

KITCHENER GOLF

KITCHENER GOLF

KITCHENER GOLF

KITCHENER GOLF

ACADEMY

kitchenergolf.ca

gryscale cmyk non outlined fonts

KITCHENER GOLF

kitchenergolf.cakitchenergolf.ca

Weekly camps from June 29 - Aug 28, 2015.To learn more visit www.kitchenergolf.ca/camps email golfacademy@kitchener.ca or call 519-741-2949.

We monitor to detect fire, carbon monoxide and smoke when you can’t.Protect your home or business. Visit directdetect.ca or call 519-741-2651

Saturday Farmers’ Market–––––

International Food Court–––––

Cooking Classes

Easter Specials–––––

Fresh Produce–––––

Family Fun

www.kitchenermarket.ca

KM_YKAd_Feb15.indd 1 2015-03-02 3:35 PM

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Act as if what you do makes a

difference.It does. ’’

’’

William James

Community clean-ups Organize your own clean-up of a local park, public space or school yard. Register for supplies and support.

Earth HourSaturday, March 28, turn off your lights from 8:30-9:30 p.m.

20-Minute Makeover On Wednesday, April 22 at 2 p.m. Register for supplies.

Tim Hortons community clean-upSaturday, April 25 from 10 a.m. to noon, Victoria Park.

KNAP Earth Day CelebrationSaturday, April 25, 1-4 p.m. Huron Natural Area, 801 Trillium Dr., Kitchener.

To register go to www.kitchener.ca/earthday#KitEarthDay

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What does it take to run a city? More than you might know. Often when the city’s budget discussions take place, the final dollar amount or percentage increase on the tax bill is what grabs the attention of most citizens. What does the city do with the revenue it collects? And how do we as residents even know how we will benefit from the money we pay?

These are complex questions to answer, but thanks to the city’s 2015 business plan, recently approved by council, you can get a better idea of how budget

resources will be used to serve the community.

Did you know the City of Kitchener delivers dozens of core services, such as leaf collection, snow removal, etc.? Using a one-page description for each, the business plan shows the number of staff it takes to deliver the services, key functions and workload, as well as future challenges.

The plan also outlines more than 100 projects the city will tackle in 2015 -- over and above the core services. “Most people underestimate the range of services the city provides, and the amount of work involved,” said Laurie Majcher, manager of strategic and business planning. “It’s easy to take these for granted until you really need them.”

Keeping the community and city staff safeWhat will you learn from looking at the city’s 2015 business plan? Of all of the things the city does, it is clear that public safety is a number one responsibility.

Core services that support community safety:

FIREBy far, managing and delivering fire services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, is the single biggest service delivered by the city, involving more than 220 employees. Fire emergency response deals with 11,000 emergency incidents every year.

Council mandated response times for a fire is eight minutes or less 90 per cent of the time, and seven minutes or less for a medical emergency. In addition to the staff members who directly respond to emergency situations, other important functions include:

• receiving and dispatching emergency calls;

• maintaining and repairing fire vehicles and equipment;

• 270 hours of mandatory staff training.

And it’s not just about fighting fires or responding to emergencies. The city’s fire department also reaches more than 15,000 kids and adults per year through their public education program, and conduct 2,000 property inspections and 50 fire investigations annually. n

INFRASTRUCTUREYou might not think that the pipes under the ground or the sidewalks have much to do with community safety, but it does. Inspecting, maintaining, repairing and replacing the city’s infrastructure – roads, sidewalks, bridges, sewers, pipes, watermains, etc. – must be done to established standards for health and safety reasons. When issues occur, they need to be addressed promptly. No small feat, considering the city has:

• 1,100 kilometres of sidewalk and curbs;

• 2,000 lane kilometres of roads;

• 800 kilometres of sanitary sewers;

• 900 kilometres of watermains;

• 600 kilometres of storm sewers;

In the winter months, all operations staff who are available salt, sand and plow roads and some sidewalks throughout the city to make sure they are safe and passible for emergency services, motorists, pedestrians, and visitors to city facilities. On top of all that, another 38 staff and more resources are needed to manage, maintain and fuel the 1,500 city vehicles used for these and other city services. n

PARKS, NATURAL AREAS, TRAILS, URBAN FORESTRYMaintaining a healthy and sustainable urban forest, public gardens and green spaces is very important for our health and to keep the city beautiful.

Our 1,900 hectares of natural area and grass open space and 60,000 street trees require extensive stewardship through planning, development and maintenance.

The city plants and waters new trees, prunes existing trees, addresses pests such as the emerald ash borer, and removes declining and unsafe trees as needed, or after weather events such as wind and ice storms.

About 30,000 plants are produced annually in the greenhouse at the Kitchener Operations Facility and increases production when it makes sense, to make sure our major parks, city-wide gardens, flower and shrub beds are lush and beautiful; all of these spaces also need regular maintenance.

As well as the green spaces, the city also inspects and maintains boardwalks, pedestrian bridges, trails and trailhead parking lots, gates and trail signage AND inspects 136 playgrounds every three weeks to meet CSA standards, addressing defects as needed. n

2015 business planwww.kitchener.ca/businessplan

What else does the city do?So what other services does

the city deliver? The other big responsibilities include:

l managing, maintaining and repairing the city’s 176 facilities and structures, keeping them secure every day so to make sure they remain safe and welcoming public places;

l delivering community programs and services, such as swimming lessons and sports programs;

l running the organization.

To find out more about these and other city services, take a look at the City of Kitchener 2015 business plan located under publications at www.kitchener.ca.

In addition to putting the city’s commitment into action by delivering services to the community every day, city staff also take on more than 100 special projects every year.

The projects are designed to improve services to the evolving community, or improve the way services are provided so they are more effective and efficient. Some examples of projects that the city will work on in 2015 include:

l Developing a neighbourhood strategy that engages more residents and city staff to collaboratively build safe and thriving neighbourhoods. Residents will gain a stronger sense of belonging and connection based on the unique character and needs of their neighbourhood;

l Developing low-cost alternatives for calming traffic on residential streets, where more traditional methods may not be feasible in the short-term;

l Exploring the potential for creating incentives to include affordable housing in multiple-unit developments;

l Pilot year-round maintenance of trails and walkways near schools to create an effective network for pedestrians and cyclists.

l Improve the city’s property tax and utilities billing systems to offer more convenient self-serve access for citizens.

To find out more about these projects, and the other projects included in the business plan, take a look at www.kitchener.ca/businessplan.

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