In 2010 candidate mayor Jim Watson promised to re-establish a fund to be used for the acquisition of environmentally sensitive lands

(see below for how it was worded). I investigated how the City is doing on its commitment, and what has been done with the money. I also wanted to see what I could find about what the City has done in combating the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) in 2012 and what it plans to do in 2013. Following my inquiry with the Mayor, who punted the question to Environment Committee chair McRae who in turn sent me to the City Treasurer, the information (including guide to the quite impenetrable Budget documents) was obtained through extensive exchanges with the Treasury department. This commitment to re-establish the Environmental Lands Acquisition Fund materialized in a Motion passed by Council on December 15, 2010. See attached for the text of the motion. The idea is that year-end surpluses in "sinking funds" would be transferred to this Environmental Lands Reserve Fund. VERY BRIEFLY, this is what I found: +In 2011, the Fund received $4.4 million, followed by $1.8 million in 2012; it is expected that $1.3 million will be transferred in 2013 (confirmation will take place in late Spring). + In 2012 $1 million was transferred to assist in the EAB campaign and $4.9 million was used to acquire two Urban Natural Areas (UNAs) in Riverside South. + The 2013 Budget papers offer just one piece of information about the EAB campaign in 2012 and for 2013 reference EAB in three different places without providing specifics. MORE DETAIL Coming into the Fund + In March 2011, $4.4 million was transferred. (See on-line response from Mayor Watson on 1 March 2011, below). The Fund had previously been depleted. See also a comment from Heather Hamilton on what happened to the 2007 resolution to establish this Fund);

+ in 2012, $1.671 million in surpluses was transferred, plus interest, for total contributions of $1.758 million. Ref.: <http://
app06.ottawa.ca/calendar/ottawa/citycouncil/occ/2012/06-13/fedco/04%20%20ACS2012-CMR-FIN-0021%20-%20Sinking%20Fund.pdf>.

+ it is expected that 2013 will see a contribution from year-end surpluses in the amount of $1.3 million; + The fund ended 2012 with a small deficit ($408,000) and is expected to have a year-end 2013 positive balance of $1.697 million. Ref.: Document 2 in <http://app06.ottawa.ca/calendar/ottawa/citycouncil/
occ/2012/10-24/ACS2012-CMR-FIN-0045%20ENG%202013%20Transmital %20Report%20Oct%2023.pdf>, pages 2 and 3, showing the

"Continuity of Reserves & Reserve Funds." Going out + As per Council decision of 11 July 2012, $1 million was transferred out towards the EAB campaign. Ref.: Motion 38/13, <http://app06.ottawa.ca/calendar/ottawa/citycouncil/occ/2012/07-11/ englishminutes38.pdf>. + The acquisition of UNAs ##98 and 100 (11 ha in total) was agreed upon at Council on 10 October 2012 -- <http://
app06.ottawa.ca/calendar/ottawa/citycouncil/occ/2012/10-10/ englishminutes42.pdf>. The staff report is at <http://app06.ottawa.ca/ calendar/ottawa/citycouncil/csedc/2012/10-02/12%20-%20ACS2012-PAIREP-0035%20-%20Property%20Acquisition%20-%20Urban%20Natural %20Features%20-%20UNA%20%5B1%5D.pdf>.

The sellers were Urbandale and its affiliate, Riverside South Development Corporation. NOTE: The staff report provides good background on the UNA acquisition strategy and its achievements to date. Going out and in + On 13 July 2011, Council adopted Motion EC 9/3 as modified by Motion 16/4, resolving to increase funding for Council's "Strategic Initiative No. 22 - Increase Forest Cover" in 2012, 2013 and 2014; a specified portion was to be used specifically for the EAB Program. Ref.: < http://app06.ottawa.ca/calendar/ottawa/citycouncil/occ/ 2011/07-13/englishminutes16.htm>. The amount for 2012 (which turned out to be $805,000, from an original $700,000 in the Motion) was

to be borrowed from the Environmental Lands Acquisition Fund and repaid in 2013. These ins and outs can be traced in aforementioned Document 2 and are corroborated in the 2013 Budget papers for the Finance and Economic Development Committee; ref. < http://ottawa.ca/sites/ottawa.ca/files/migrated/files/ cap290212.pdf>, pages 124-131. The EAB Program + The 2013 Budget papers give just one hint about what was done in 2012: A 1-page briefing note from Forestry Services, states that "1,512 trees were injected in 2012"; ref. Environment Committee 2013 Budget, <http://ottawa.ca/sites/ottawa.ca/files/migrated/ files/cap290211.pdf>, page 32. + 2013 Funding for the Forest Cover initiative as per the 2011 Motion (as amended) is found on page 37 of the Environment Committee Budget ($725,000; of the original amount, $900,000, $400,000 was to go to the EAB Program). + The "Lifecycle Renewal - Tree Program," which has 3 components, is allocated $1,175,000. One of the components references tree replacement related to the EAB disease (page 44). Page 52 of the Budget papers reveals that, as of 24 September 2012, $1.031 million of the 2012 authority for this program (almost half) was neither spent nor committed. + EAB is also mentioned as one subcomponent of a 3-item $375,000 allocation for "Rural & Urban Environmental Initiatives" (page 45). + Overall, Forestry Services saw its 2013 Budget increase by $1.5 million, to $14.620 million. Its Full Time Equivalent staff will increase by 5.58, to 87.18. Two of those FTEs are allocated to aforementioned Forest Cover initiative; the others are in support of "Growth" (ref. pages 1, 35 and 37). Erwin ------------------------------------------------------------" Watson also said he would dedicate a portion of each years budget surplus to an environmentally sensitive land reserve fund. This would allow the city to purchase significant lands for protection."

http://blogs.ottawacitizen.com/2010/10/17/watsons-environmental-platform-pointby-point-and-with-a-surprise-finish/ (Repeated here: http://www.perspectiveottawa.com/?p=3286 )

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"We just approved $4.4 million today at the Finance and Economic Dev. Committee that will be sent to council for approval that is specifically designated for environmentally sensitive land purchases. This was a commitment I made in the election, and I was pleased that we were able to move forward with this fund today" Jim Watson at 12:59 PM in an on-line discussion on 1 March 2011 sponsored by the Ottawa Citizen (excerpts distributed by Mike Buckthought).

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"In 2007, a fund was created to acquire ecologically sensitive lands and a specific amount designated to be put in every year for 10 years. This only happened for two years, though, and the funds already in the account were spent to buy some properties (not sure which ones), so that nothing was left. " Heather Hamilton, e-mail of 11 March 2011

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