DATE: May 9, 2017 REPORT NO. CPREC Chair and Members Committee of the Whole Operations and Administration

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1 DATE: May 9, 2017 REPORT NO. CPREC TO: FROM: Chair and Members Committee of the Whole Operations and Administration Sandy Jackson, General Manager Community Programs and Recreation 1.0 TYPE OF REPORT: CONSENT ITEM [ x ] ITEM FOR CONSIDERATION [ ] 2.0 TOPIC: Rotary Centennial Renaming of Waterworks Park [Financial Impact none](cprec ) 3.0 RECOMMENDATION: THAT staff report CPREC regarding the renaming of the Waterworks Park to honour the centennial anniversary of the Brantford Rotary Club BE RECEIVED. 4.0 PURPOSE: To provide City Council with an opportunity to consider the request from the Brantford Rotary Club to rename Waterworks Park in honour of their Centennial anniversary. 5.0 BACKGROUND: On February 28, 2017 City Council approved the following referral after a presentation by the Brantford Rotary Club: REFERRAL Presentation Rotary Club of Brantford History (100 th Anniversary); Impact on the Community; New Strategic Plan; and Request to Rename Waterworks Park to include the Rotary Club of Brantford THAT the presentation made by the Rotary Club of Brantford at the February 28, 2017 City Council meeting BE REFERRED to staff for a

2 Date: May 9, 2017 Page 2 report back regarding the request to rename Waterworks Park to include the Rotary Club of Brantford. 5.1 History of Rotary Club The Rotary Club of Brantford was formed in February 1917 and held its first official meeting in March of that year at the Brantford Club. The Club was sponsored by the Hamilton Rotary Club and received its Charter in December of 1917 from Rotary International. The Rotary Club of Brantford s original mandate was and continues to be Service Above Self supporting the youth in the community, particularly those with disabilities marks the 100 th anniversary of the Brantford Rotary Club, a community based service club responsible for committing approximately $12 million dollars to local non-profit organizations and other hands-on projects taken on by the Club. The following projects are some of the contributions made over the past 100 years: Funding of the original Lansdowne Children s Centre (Centre for Crippled Children) and the Brantford Boys and Girls Club; Annual sponsorship of the Lansdowne Children s Centre and the Boys and Girls Club; Significant gifts to the Brantford General Hospital and St. Joseph s Life Care Centre; Contributions to Kids can Fly and the YMCA. These funds are made available through the hard work and dedication of club members through fundraising activities such as the Brantford Classic Run over 35 years, the Brantford Air Show for 7 years and Lobsterfest to name a few. The Rotary Club is also involved in many hands-on projects including annual tree planting days, funding for international projects, particularly a literacy program in Paraguay and a school for girls in Pakistan. The Rotary Club of Brantford recently completed a new strategic plan which included $100,000 sponsorship of the development of a Bicycle Skills Park and support in principle with promised future funding for tree planting and/or sustainable environmental projects in partnership with the City at Waterworks Park. 6.0 STRATEGIC PLAN CONTEXT: City of Brantford Strategic Plan Goal #2 High quality of life and caring for all citizens

3 Date: May 9, 2017 Page INPUT FROM OTHER SOURCES: Input was obtained by Legal and Real Estate Services with regards to interpretation of Corporate Policy-023 Naming of Building, Corporate Facilities and Parks and Placing of Plaques, and public consultation regarding renaming of Waterworks Park. 8.0 ANALYSIS: 8.1 History of Waterworks Park Waterworks Park is one of the oldest parks in Brantford. As early as the 1850 s George Samuel Wilkes built the first 'Wilkes dam' - a weir diverting water through a hydraulic canal to power textile mills downstream on the Grand River. In the 1880 s the property was purchased by the Waterworks Commission and the water treatment facility at Morrell Street was built to utilize the intake for the city s primary water source. Part of this extensive property remained leased farmland until a fire in 1907 left only the square silo standing. Still present in the Park today, the silo was formally designated in 1988 as an historic building under the Ontario Heritage Act. Portions of the Waterworks property were donated by the Water Commission for park purposes in the following years. Development plans identifying the lands as Waterworks Park date back as early as 1914, and include proposals for reforestation works, tree planting, park drives and playgrounds. In the 1930's a depression work-program resulted in extensive plantations of pine, walnuts and ash trees which continue to comprise the main tree canopy within the park and are now in decline as a result of numerous insect pests including Emerald Ash Borer and Pine Shoot Beetle. Following the aftermath of flooding in 1974, the Grand River Conservation Authority built dikes along the river to protect surrounding neighbourhoods. Today at more than 220 acres, Waterworks is the city s largest park. Shared use trails on the dikes within the park form the spine of the City s trail network, branching off to include kilometers of footpaths that wind through more than 210 acres of naturalized forest/environment. Waterworks Park is also popular for a variety of programmed sports including soccer, softball and cricket and as a venue for special event trail walks and runs. 8.2 Waterfront Master Plan and Waterworks Park Forestry Management Plan: The Waterfront Master Plan (WMP) was developed and approved by City Council in 2010 with an emphasis on the following:

4 Date: May 9, 2017 Page 4 1. Link & enhance natural features systems 2. Protect the water quality 3. Protect the integrity of the dike 4. Value heritage resources 5. Manage naturalized riverside parks & plan for recreation that depends on a waterside location 6. Celebrate & leverage the trails 7. Create & promote the waterfront cultural corridor 8. Plan for a sensitive urban interface 9. Be a model for environmental stewardship 10. Plan based on the watershed. Although this important and ambitious plan was approved by Council with good intentions, funding for implementation of the recommendations, including a WMP Coordinator was not approved, resulting in limited resources to complete the recommendations. Waterworks Park was outlined in the WMP as a park consisting of significant natural features of woodland and meadows and a popular destination for picnicking, sports and walking. There is an extensive trail system through the park that requires some alignment and improvements according to the WMP. The large park could also accommodate other uses such as an off leash dog park or other recreational purposes such as disc golf. The chain link fence along the entrance road (Morrell St.) has been removed and a park sign has been located at the entrance from Grand River Avenue. In November 2016 staff report CPREC was approved by City Council. This report included a Notice of Motion from EPAC regarding implementation of a number of the recommendations outlined in the WMP and the Waterworks Park Forestry Management Plan (WWFMP) specific to Waterworks Park outlined below: That in consideration of the development of this natural area of the park, that the City increase its ongoing efforts to enhance conservation value and role of the park in other areas, in particular: a. To provide resources necessary to undertake efforts to achieve the top priority recommendations of the Waterworks Park Module of the General Forest Management Plan, including funding an additional forestry crew in 2017 and: i. Conduct a tree inventory of Waterworks Park to be undertaken and completed in ; ii. Restoration of the high bench floodplain forest and restoration/protection of upland Sugar Maple Red Oak Forest to commence in 2018; iii. Restoration of the rare tree species populations of butternut, red mulberry, and the Kentucky Coffee trees to commence in b. To direct staff to develop a plan to conduct a wildlife survey per the Waterworks Park forest management report (2010), and the identification of any critical habitat for breeding, hibernation, or feeding, and report in

5 Date: May 9, 2017 Page for referral to the budget process for Based on these surveys, identify specific measures to protect or even create critical wildlife habitat, and the appropriate timing of these activities; c. To continue to support the diversity and balance of the ecosystem within Waterworks Park, enhance the connection of Waterworks Park with other natural areas through the restoration and maintenance of wildlife corridors that have been impacted by development. Although this staff report was supported by City Council, funding to implement these recommendations was not included in the resolution, and therefore an implementation plan has not been established. In order to consider projects for this park, project management costs and staffing resources above the current level would be required. These costs are unknown at this time however, can be included in the 2018 budget for consideration. Without additional staff and project management resources, new projects at the Park will not be possible. 8.3 Community Partnership Opportunities In order to implement the WMP and the WWFMP, funding outside the scope of the current operating and ten year capital budgets will be required. This funding could come in the form of grant opportunities or community partnerships with organizations such as the Brantford Rotary Club as presented at the City Council meeting on February 28, 2017 to consider amending the name of Waterworks Park to include the Rotary Club of Brantford. This revised name would recognize the Rotary Club s community contributions over the last 100 years including a $100,000 contribution to the development of the new Bicycle Skills Park currently under construction at Waterworks Park. Within the Rotary Club s presentation, the following statement was made: The Rotary Club of Brantford recently completed a new strategic plan which includes: a) A park which includes a Bicycle Park seen as a place to go. with funds from the Club b) Support for tree planting and/or sustainable environmental projects in partnership with the City In addition, the Rotary Club has provided a follow up letter dated April 13, 2017 attached as Appendix B outlining a commitment to provide volunteer hours for spring/fall clean-up and an undisclosed contribution to the cost of updating printed material required to reflect the proposed name change to Rotary Centennial Waterworks Park (i.e. signage and maps). Other community partnerships should still be considered by Council should they present themselves, in order to ensure the greatest level of stewardship for the Park.

6 Date: May 9, 2017 Page Naming of Buildings, Corporate Facilities and Parks Policy Corporate Policy-023 Naming of Building, Corporate Facilities and Parks and Placing of Plaques states the following: All of the parks and facilities presently owned by the City of Brantford are named appropriately. Changing the name of a park significantly impacts numerous individuals, City Departments and the community. Therefore, it is the City policy not to re-name parks and facilities (pg. 2). The request from the Rotary Club contravenes this policy; however, Council has the ability to reconsider a policy when unique circumstances arise. It should be noted that this type of policy exception could set a precedent and potentially open the door to other requests for renaming from the community. Changing the name of a park must be given serious consideration as it affects all City mapping, GIS and Google Maps, trail maps and tourism information. Replacement of the newly installed sign at the Waterworks Park entrance, which was a recommendation of the WMP and all trail kiosk and way-finding signs along the Brantford Trail system would require replacement. Printed trail maps from the City and County would also require replacement. 8.5 Renaming Options Two options have been provided for Council s consideration regarding the Rotary Club request and are outlined below Option 1 Naming of New Bicycle Skills Park Option 1 permits the leased area of the Bicycle Skills Park to be named in recognition of the Rotary Club contribution to the project as per the Council approved sponsorship and naming policies. The area would be recognized within Waterworks Park and would be the most cost effective method of recognizing the Rotary Club as City signage would not require replacement. The cost of the Bicycle Skills Park sign would be funded through the bike park project at no cost to the City. This option would also be permitted pursuant to Corporate Policy-023 (the City s Park Naming Policy) and would align with previous examples that have been approved within existing City parks, examples include the following: 1. Steve Brown Sports Complex within Lions Park; 2. Arnold Anderson Stadium within Cockshutt Park; 3. George Baker Fields within Cockshutt Park; 4. George Henry Field within Cockshutt Park; and 5. Gary Foy fields within George Campbell Park.

7 Date: May 9, 2017 Page Option 2 Renaming of Waterworks Park Option 2 responds to the request by the Brantford Rotary Club on February 28, 2017 during a presentation to Council. The request included renaming Waterworks Park and the City owned land along the Grand River between the Lorne Bridge and Waterworks Park. Staff reviewed the land included in the request and met with members of the Rotary Club executive to outline the challenges with renaming the property between the Lorne Bridge and the Park as outlined below: The trail included in this stretch of land is already named as part of the Gordon Glaves Memorial Trail; Sections of this land are privately owned and not part of City lands and, therefore, cannot be named as part of a City park; Only a small undeveloped parcel of land that could become a parkette in future is City owned. After reviewing this information, the Rotary Club confirmed their interest in naming the land currently known as Waterworks Park excluding land occupied by municipal operations of the transit garage and water treatment plant and the surrounding gated property as well as lands owned by the GRCA (see Appendix A ). Should Council choose this option, changes to numerous trail signs and kiosks as well as the main entrance sign to the park will require replacement. The cost of these changes and is estimated to be in excess of $60,000 and is currently unfunded. In addition, way-finding signs within the City would need to be changed as well as trail maps and related tourism information. Although these changes are important, they can be completed in stages as funding is available or can be negotiated as part of a sponsorship agreement with the Rotary Club that will be required is this option is approved Public Consultation As noted above, the re-naming of public parks is governed by Corporate Policy 023 Naming of Building, Corporate Facilities and Parks and Placing of Plaques. While Corporate Police 023 does include provisions for public input into the naming of facilities and parks during the planning and development stages of new projects, it does not include a requirement for public consultation on the renaming of parks. This is due to the fact that it is the City s policy not to re-name parks. The request from the Rotary Club amounts to a request that Council provide a one-time exemption to Corporate Policy 023. Absent specific direction from Council to do so, staff have not undertaken public consultation with respect to the request from the Rotary Club to re-name Waterworks Park. The request from Rotary is coming forward at a public meeting and, presumably, members of the public wishing to speak for or against the request of the Rotary Club may appear as a delegation for that purpose.

8 Date: May 9, 2017 Page FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: 9.1 Option 1: There are no cost implications associated with Option 1 at this time as signage to recognize the Rotary Club would be developed and paid for in conjunction with the Bicycle Skills Park project. A sponsorship agreement between the Rotary Club and the City would be required for this Option so that the terms of the sponsorship of the park are clearly identified in an agreement between the Rotary Club and the City. 9.2: Option 2: If Option 2 is selected as outlined in 8.5.2, a number of associated costs would be required including; new park entrance signage, replacement of trail and kiosk maps & signs, and reprinting of trail maps as estimated below: Item Estimated Cost Park Signage $5,000 New trail signs and Kiosk maps $55,000 Reprinting of Trail maps $1,500 Total estimated costs $61,500 The presentation and a letter included with this report as Appendix B from the Rotary Club suggests they would provide volunteer support and funding towards future projects that the City would lead and implement within the Park. Although this is the preferred approach, future Park improvements will require additional resources including staff and contracted consultants in order to formulate a plan for the ongoing management of Waterworks Park. The current staff complement restricts the implementation of these projects due to current work load CONCLUSION: A request has been received by the City from the Brantford Rotary Club to rename Waterworks Park located at 390 Grand River Avenue to Rotary Centennial Waterworks Park in recognition of the Rotary Centennial anniversary. Staff have provided background information regarding the park and offered two options for Council s consideration. Should Council wish to consider either option further the following recommendations have been prepared:

9 Date: May 9, 2017 Page 9 Option 1: A. THAT the new Bicycle Skills Park within Waterworks Park BE NAMED the Brantford Rotary Club Bicycle Skills Park in consideration of their generous provision of monetary support for the project; and B. THAT staff BE DIRECTED to negotiate a sponsorship agreement with the Brantford Rotary Club in consideration of the naming of the Bicycle Skills Park and that the Mayor and Clerk BE AUTHORIZED to sign the sponsorship agreement, subject to the approval of said agreement by the City Solicitor or his designate; OR Option 2: A. THAT Council APPROVE a one-time exemption to Corporate Policy-023 Naming of Building, Corporate Facilities and Parks and Placing of Plaques for the re-naming of the subject lands comprising Waterworks Park as outlined in Appendix A to Rotary Centennial Waterworks Park ; and B. THAT, Staff BE DIRECTED to negotiate a sponsorship agreement with the Brantford Rotary Club that outlines the intentions of the club with respect to future funding and volunteer support of stewardship projects within Waterworks Park in consideration of renaming Waterworks Park as set out in Appendix A, to Rotary Centennial Waterworks Park and that the Mayor and Clerk BE AUTHORIZED to sign the sponsorship agreement, subject to the approval of said agreement by the City Solicitor or his designate; and C.. THAT Staff BE DIRECTED to prepare the required by-laws for the re-naming of Waterworks Park upon completion of the sponsorship agreement. Brian Hughes, Director Park Services Sandy Jackson, General Manager Community Programs, Parks and Recreation Appendix A Map of Park area for renaming consideration Appendix B Letter of Intent Rotary Club of Brantford By-law required [ ] yes [ ] no Agreement(s) or other documents to be signed by Mayor and/or City Clerk [ ] yes [ ] no Is the necessary by-law or agreement being sent concurrently to Council? [ ] yes [ ] no

10 Appendix A How Legend Feature Code rk s Pa Dufferin A ve Multi-Use Trail Property Parcel GRCA Owned Land Lan cas ter Ave Proposed lands subject to renaming GRCA Owned Lin col na ve Douglas Ave Foot Path vd Bl Laf ay ette Park: Municipal r n to es Pr TYPE Ave Waterworks Park ( Grand River Ave) D ide d ard R Facility Sites ire sh on v De Lan sdo w e Av ne Ave ll S t Mo rr ell S t Bu rw e Ba nks St Joh ns t Ho lme St Mc Ke nz ie Av e n Jamieso Crt Transit Yard dr ive r Dr an GRCA Owned ood Ave Ba llan Gr Water Operations Treatment & Distribution 324 Grand River Ave tyn e Kerr-Sh aver Te rr Bike Skills Park Area Lew Witton Sports Fields Glendale Rd Rd Dr na ve Kinna rd Ma dis o Elderw o od Av e Wild ew Oakh ill He ws on Pl C rt Walsh e St W Colborn ald Sp D ing r

DATE: April 19, 2016 REPORT NO. PW Chair and Members Committee of the Whole Operations and Administration

PUBLIC WORKS COMMISSION DATE: April 19, 2016 REPORT NO. PW2016-034 TO: FROM: Chair and Members Committee of the Whole Operations and Administration E. (Beth) Goodger General Manager, Public Works Commission