City of Waterloo council summary December 4, 2023
** The council summary below provides a snapshot of the major items presented at Monday’s council meeting. The council meeting webcast is available on the City of Waterloo YouTube page. Please refer to the minutes for an official record of the meeting.
Forestry staff working on City of Waterloo’s first Urban Forest Management Strategy
Council received an update on work to develop the city’s first Urban Forest Management Strategy (UFMS). The UFMS will provide a vision and direction to council and staff for the future maintenance, enhancement and protection of the urban forest and the soils, lands and resources needed to ensure trees can reach their mature size and age to provide the greatest socio-economic and environmental benefits. The preservation and addition of trees in the city is part of many residents’ vision for the future of Waterloo, and the new strategy will support the City’s environmental sustainability and climate action priority.
The project team shared that since the fall of 2022, they have been working on background research to support this project, including data collection and an urban tree canopy study. The project's next steps include community engagement and consultation, with several opportunities in the coming months to comment and provide feedback that will help establish priorities for protection, acquisition, expansion and connectivity as well as canopy targets for Waterloo's public and private urban forest.
Council supports boulevard gardens and greater flexibility for naturalized areas
In response to requests to implement gardens within city boulevard and cul-de-sac right-of-ways, Council unanimously approved a new Boulevard and Cul-de-sac Garden guideline. The new guideline presents a balanced approach that supports the environmental and stormwater management functions of gardens with the necessary functions of boulevards. The main function of a boulevard or cul-de-sac island is to host utilities (including telecommunications and buried hydro) and space for snow storage, leaf collection and regional waste pick up programs, while providing a visible and clear path of travel for pedestrians and cyclists. Boulevard and cul-de-sac gardens are also an opportunity to encourage beautification, biodiversity and environmental awareness of Waterloo’s bee city initiative by allowing the planting of flowers, grasses and other native species that support pollinators.
Council approved bylaw updates which allow for greater flexibility in how naturalized areas are established and maintained on residential properties, in addition to allowing residents to pursue boulevard or cul-de-sac gardens within specific guidelines. This thoughtful approach optimizes the use of City-owned lands to achieve strategic objectives around complete community and environmental sustainability and climate action.
City of Waterloo affirms protection of Waterloo’s natural heritage areas and green space
Mayor McCabe brought forward a motion supporting the City of Waterloo’s long term commitment to building a community that is vibrant, diverse and sustainable as the city continues to intensify and urbanize. While the council supports the province’s goal of building 1.5 million new homes in Ontario by 2031, they also continue to value and take measures to conserve significant natural features and systems through adoption of environmental policies and municipal decision-making. Council understands the importance of conserving significant green spaces in a natural state and minimizing the disturbances to such spaces. Through this unanimously supported motion, City of Waterloo Council reaffirmed its longstanding practice of acquiring and protecting sensitive natural heritage areas/systems and green spaces from development, and managing growth in a sustainable manner.
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Media contact:
Cari Van Niekerk
Director, Corporate Communications
cari.vanniekerk@waterloo.ca