Report to/Rapport au :
Planning and Environment Committee
Comité de l'urbanisme et de l'environnement
6 August 2009 / le 6 août 2009
Submitted
by/Soumis par : Nancy
Schepers, Deputy City Manager
Directrice municipale adjointe
Infrastructure
Services and Community Sustainability
Services d’infrastructure et Viabilité des collectivités
Contact/Personne-ressource:
Michael Murr, Acting
Director/Directeur intérimaire, Community and Sustainability Services/Services
de viabilité et des collectivités
(613) 580-2424,
25195 michael.murr@ottawa.ca
SUBJECT:
|
SUSTAINABLE CITIES:
PLUS NETWORK 2010 BIENNIAL CONFERENCE - City of ottawa bid |
|
|
|
OBJET :
|
Conférence biSannuelle 2010 de Villes
durables : Réseau PLUS – soumission de la Ville d’Ottawa |
REPORT
RECOMMENDATIONS
That the
Planning and Environment Committee recommend that Council:
1. Formally support the City of Ottawa’s bid to host the Sustainable Cities: PLUS Network 2010 Biennial Conference;
2. Direct that $70,000 be identified as a 2010 budget pressure; and
3. Direct staff to seek financial contributions from the City of Gatineau and National Capital Commission in order to reduce the City’s financial commitment.
RECOMMANDATIONS DU RAPPORT
Que le Comité de l’urbanisme et de
l’environnement recommande au Conseil :
1.
de
soutenir officiellement la soumission de la Ville d’Ottawa en vue d’être l’hôte
de la prochaine conférence bisannuelle de Villes durables : Réseau PLUS de
2010;
2.
de
demander qu’un montant de 70 000 $ soit alloué en tant que pression
budgétaire de 2010; et
3.
de demander au personnel de solliciter des
contributions financières auprès de la Ville de Gatineau et de la Commission de
la capitale nationale afin de réduire l’engagement financier d’Ottawa.
BACKGROUND
The Sustainable
Cities: PLUS Network (the Network) is a non-profit organization of 40 cities
and regions from around the world focused on long-term urban
sustainability. Eighteen of the 40
cities and regions are Canadian members representing a total of 50
municipalities and a combined population of more than 15.7 million.
The
Network was founded by the International Centre for Sustainable Cities (ICSC)
in 2004 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. The goal of the Network is
to accelerate the transfer of learning, knowledge and research from city to
city in order to catalyze action on urban sustainable cities around the world.
The organization delivers results through practical demonstration projects and
peer learning networks, and uses affiliations and high-profile events to share
information.
One such high-profile
event is the Sustainable Cities: PLUS Network Biennial
Conference (the Conference). Every two years, Network
members gather to share their learning and best practices for integrated
long-term planning for sustainability. The first Conference was held in
Vancouver, in June 2006. More than 100 people from 22 member cities
participated in a series of presentations, roundtable discussions and workshops. The second Conference took place in Durban,
South Africa in September 2008. Approximately
150 participants from 27 cities representing 10 countries came together for the
event.
DISCUSSION
Ottawa’s Bid for the 2010 Conference
The City of Ottawa received the call for bids in April 2009. After reviewing the bid requirements and the Conference reports from 2006 and 2008, it was clear that the Conference would provide Ottawa with the perfect opportunity to benefit from the exchange of experiences and ideas on long-term sustainability and to showcase the Choosing our Future initiative both nationally and internationally. It is also a great way of profiling the beauty and diversity of the National Capital Region and to leverage the growing partnership between the City of Ottawa, the City of Gatineau and the National Capital Commission.
As a result, the City prepared a bid for the 2010 Conference pending Council approval for funding.
Link to Choosing
Our Future
Choosing our Future is an innovative joint planning
initiative of the City of Ottawa, the City of Gatineau, and the National
Capital Commission (NCC) that takes an integrated approach to
building a sustainable and resilient National Capital Region. The goal of the initiative is to
help the National Capital Region face up to the challenges of the 21st century,
and to integrate concepts of sustainability and resiliency into all facets of
regional planning and design.
The timing of the Conference in Fall 2010 coincides with an important milestone in the Choosing Our Future initiative. At this time, the City of Ottawa and its partners (NCC, City of Gatineau and the community at large) will be discussing the National Capital Region’s preferred future in the context of a major public event Charting a Course for the Future. An implementation strategy and the selection of catalyst projects to move the partners towards a preferred future will also be part of the agenda. The opportunity to leverage the knowledge and experience of national and international delegates is extraordinary. PLUS Network delegates will be invited to participate in the public debate, which will enrich our process with a national and international perspective.
Hosting the Sustainable Cities: PLUS Network Conference in 2010 will also strengthen Ottawa’s existing partnerships with the City of Gatineau and the National Capital Commission and broaden existing community partnerships through a Community Partners Program. This program will create opportunities for 10 to 15 organizations and businesses to become engaged in project activities, increase their knowledge of regional and community sustainability, commit to sustainability, and implement commitments to sustainability within their respective organizations.
Other Benefits to Hosting
Other benefits to hosting this international conference include:
-
Demonstrating leadership in sustainability on the
international stage
-
Showcasing sustainable innovations and long-term
planning initiatives
-
Promoting local economic development
-
Showcasing the National Capital Region’s arts,
culture and heritage to international delegates
-
Strengthening local support for the planning process
-
Engaging community groups in an international event
Conference
Planning
The Network and its Steering Committee will share responsibility for organizing the conference with the Host City. In conjunction with the Network Secretariat, the host city would:
-
Work
with the PLUS Network Steering Committee to design the conference program
-
Coordinate
and procure for local logistics such as travel, entertainment, catering,
printing of conference packages, etc.
-
Select
appropriate venues, including a hotel for delegate accommodation
-
Prepare
conference packages (content to be developed with the Steering Committee and
Secretariat)
-
Publicize
the event to the local media
Approximately 150
delegates are expected to attend this conference (100 local, 50 national and
international). The costs to the host
city are expected to be approximately $60,000 to $70,000, and would cover
facilities, meals and materials. The
City of Ottawa’s share is expected to be less based on support from the NCC and
City of Gatineau. Sponsorship
opportunities will also be sought to further reduce the conference cost.
CONSULTATION
The Choosing our Future Core Team has discussed and is supportive of the conference bid. Core Team members include senior managers from the cities of Gatineau and Ottawa as well as senior representatives from the National Capital Commission.
LEGAL/RISK MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS
No legal or risk management implications have been identified for this report.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
The cost to
the host city is estimated at $70,000.
The City of Ottawa’s bid was made conditional upon receiving Ottawa City
Council approval. To date, the city has
been successful in securing financial support from the City of Gatineau in the
amount of $20,000, which is expected to be approved by their Council in Fall
2009. The City of Ottawa is currently
in negotiations with the National Capital Commission where a similar
contribution is expected, pending their senior management approval. Until this
support is formally approved, it is recommended that the full amount be put
forth as a 2010 one-time budget pressure. Staff within the office of
Sustainability Services will include the organization of this conference within
their day-to-day responsibilities.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
Document 1 City of Ottawa Bid
DISPOSITION
The Sustainability Services Division to take action as appropriate.
CITY OF OTTAWA BID DOCUMENT
1
To: Members of the PLUS Network Steering
Committee
From: Nancy Schepers, Deputy City Manager,
Infrastructure Services & Community Sustainability
Date: June
1, 2009
It is with great
pleasure that I present to you the City of Ottawa’s bid for the Sustainable
Cities : PLUS Network 2010 Biennial Conference.
The City of Ottawa proudly participated at the 2008 Durban conference,
when Anna Hercz, City Planner and Project Manager, Choosing Our Future
was asked to deliver a presentation on how Ottawa became aware of the need to
become more sustainable; how we assessed our capacity and readiness to engage
in a long-term planning process; and what the geographic and jurisdictional
scope and timeframes were for that process.
This experience helped solidify Ottawa’s resolve to enter a bid for this
very important and timely conference.
Details:
|
CITY: |
City of Ottawa |
|
SUGGESTED DATE FOR CONFERENCE: |
October 2010 |
|
KEY CONTACT: |
Linda Cristina |
DEPARTMENT:
|
Community
Sustainability Department
|
|
PHONE: |
613-580-2424 ext. 25070 |
|
FAX |
613-560-6028 |
|
EMAIL: |
1. What does your city, town or
region have to show the world? Tell us how you will provide a unique and
diverse experience for PLUS Network delegates.
Ottawa is Canada’s
capital and the country’s fourth largest city with a population of
approximately 865,000 people. Yet even
with almost 1 million residents, Ottawa has the warmth and charm of a small
town.
Diversity characterizes
much of Ottawa. While English and French are the predominant languages, you
will hear many other languages spoken on the streets. About 25 percent of the
city’s residents are born in other countries, and more than 20 percent of
residents are visible minorities. This
lively multicultural community provides the City with a colourful array of
shops, restaurants and neighbourhoods.
Ottawa’s
natural environment is a very large part of its identity. Ottawa is located in
the Ottawa Valley in eastern Ontario. It lies on the banks of the Ottawa River,
which divides the provinces of Ontario and Quebec. The mouths of the Rideau
River and the Rideau Canal are located in Ottawa and have played a major part
in our history. The Rideau Canal is the world's largest, naturally frozen ice
rink and the oldest, continuously operated canal system in North America. UNESCO has named the Rideau Canal a World
Heritage Site. The city boasts one of
the longest networks of scenic recreational paths in any North American city
(150 km or 93 m). On Sunday mornings in summer, some of the parkways are closed
to vehicle traffic, giving cyclists, joggers, in-line skaters and walkers 25 km
(15 m) of parkway to enjoy. In total, there are over 300 km of bike trail and
over 200 km of cross-country ski trails in the region and 850 parks which make
it an excellent City to enjoy the outdoors.
Ottawa honours a
long tradition of Canadian culture and history in many of its world-class
institutions: the National Arts Centre, the National Gallery of Canada and some
30 museums—the highest concentration of museums of any region in Canada, and
includes Canadian Museum of Civilization -- most visited museum in Canada.
Ottawa is well
known as a festival city, boasting over 45 major festivals taking place each
year. Ottawa holds the world’s largest chamber music festival in late summer
and the world’s largest tulip festival in the spring. It is also the site for
the world’s second largest blues music festival—the Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest—that
takes place in July. Ottawa’s Bluesfest is second only to the Chicago blues
festival.
Here, you can
delve into history, art, Canadian culture and politics. You can explore the
diversity of Ottawa’s multicultural neighbourhoods and hunt for local and
exotic treasures. You can wander through green, pastoral parks and visit the
rural areas of the city.
2.
Describe
how your city, town or region has been active in long-term integrated planning,
and how your city can be used as a living example during the conference.
The City of Ottawa began
walking the pathway to sustainability about 20 years ago. The current Official Plan and other Ottawa 20/20 plans already incorporate
‘smart growth’ planning principles – creating distinct, compact,
pedestrian-friendly neighbourhoods with a healthy mix of housing, services and
green space all with good transit linkages.
The City has also implemented or initiated some important environmental
programs and plans, including an Air
Quality and Climate Change Management Plan; energy efficiency programs
related to buildings; LEED certification for new City buildings; emission
reduction and fuel efficiency strategies for vehicles; waste diversion
strategies based upon the 3R's; and water efficiency strategies (lowering peak
demands by 50% by 2014).
Emergency Management
programs have also been undergoing substantial development. Over the past 5 years, more than 20 projects
have been launched to address aspects of response and recovery. In addition, the scope of emergency planning
was expanded in 2003, when the City’s first Vulnerability Analysis examined the probability, consequences, and
response capabilities for a list of potential hazards and threats
Choosing our Future is an innovative joint planning initiative of the City
of Ottawa, the City of Gatineau, and the National Capital Commission. In
addition to it’s regional-scale planning, other innovative elements include:
the extended time horizons of 30-100 years; a “systems
approach” to planning which envisions the region as a whole; urban security by
design wherein mitigation and prevention are addressed from a long-term
perspective and collaborative planning and design.
The goal of the initiative is to help the National
Capital Region face up to the challenges of the 21st century, and to integrate
concepts of sustainability and resiliency into all facets of regional planning
and design. The premise is that a sustainable community is not only efficient
but also resilient – a community designed to be shock resistant, adaptable, and
prepared for a variety of possible futures.
Choosing
our Future
will ultimately produce three plans that are integrated and long-term:
A
Sustainability Plan
The Sustainability Plan,
with its long-term vision and 30-year targets and strategies, will function as
a strategic policy document at the highest tier, providing an overarching
context and direction for government policy throughout the region. Within the City of Ottawa, for example, the
Sustainability Plan will provide long-range guidance to the Official Plan,
Infrastructure and Transportation Master Plans, Environmental Strategy,
Economic Strategy, Emergency Management Plan, and Long-range Financial Plan.
The Sustainability Plan
will translate long-term pathways into short term actions by showcasing
catalyst projects – projects within the region that are helping to put us on
the right path. In addition, Choosing
our Future will include the development of a sustainability and resiliency
lens that can be used to evaluate important initiatives on an ongoing basis
from the perspective of sustainability and resiliency.
A Mitigation
and Prevention Plan
The Mitigation and
Prevention Plan will build on the Sustainability Plan and will include a number
of research projects, culminating in a comprehensive set of recommendations for
how to increase the resiliency of the region through long-term planning and particularly
through alternative approaches to land use and infrastructure design. The work will begin with an update to
Ottawa’s first Vulnerability Analysis conducted in 2003, to include a more
rigorous analysis that addresses long-term sustainability issues such as
resource scarcities, climate change, and demographic change.
A Community
Energy Plan
The Community
Energy Plan (CEP) will build on and benefit from the Sustainability Plan (e.g.
sustainability principles, end-state goals, backcasting, foundation and white
papers) and the Mitigation and Prevention Plan (e.g. Vulnerability Analysis
Update). The CEP will establish an appropriate mix of strategies based upon a
set of broad performance targets for security, resource availability,
emissions, costs, and the carrying capacity of built infrastructure and
ecological systems. Strategies will
integrate alternative energy system design – the supply side, with energy
efficient buildings, transportation, land use planning and other demand side
factors.
The
Community Energy Plan is an integral part of the broader initiative and will be
sharing the same framework, methodology, and tools that will be informed by the
Natural Step framework including, backcasting from sustainability principles.
The implementation of
this plan would address several aspects of the umbrella project Choosing our
Future such as: climate change mitigation/adaptation, emergency preparedness,
local economic development, urban security, and food self-sufficiency. This plan will provide a blueprint to an
energy future, which complements and supports the broader sustainability and
resiliency objectives of Choosing our Future.
The
systems perspective that will be applied to all three Choosing our Future
deliverables, will help to avoid isolated and sporadic measures – a project for
wind-generated electricity, a green development, a transit line – and instead
involve all players in contributing to a sustainable urban metabolism.
Project
Approach and Methodology
The Natural Step Framework
-
Four principles developed by the Natural Step and
grounded in natural science.
-
Develop principles shared by Ottawa, Gatineau, NCC,
and the community
-
Develop end-state goals with partners and community
-
Use backcasting (planning today from the perspective
of a future successful state)
Systems perspective and Systems Thinking
-
Envisions the larger community as a whole
-
Seeks cost-effective integrated solutions
-
Offers a decision-making process that tests
policy/engineering solutions under different scenarios
Community Engagement
-
Expert Resource Groups
-
Task Forces around strategic areas
-
Foresight Workshop and Design Charrette
-
Community Partnership Program
-
Community Summit/Symposium
-
Capacity building activities
-
Newsletter
-
Website: www.choosingourfuture.ca
Project Components
-
Project Scoping and Organization
-
Creating a Shared Understanding of Success
-
Analysis from vulnerability, sustainability and
resiliency perspectives
-
Implementation and Road Map to Transition
-
Action Plan/Final Reports (Community Sustainability
Plan; Risk Mitigation and Prevention Plan; and Community Energy Plan)
Implementation
and Road Map to Transition
Below you will see a timeline for the Choosing Our
Future Project. The timing of the
implementation phase will align with the Cities Plus Conference. This phase
will include:
-
Backcasting to develop staged scenarios for getting
into the solution space
-
Affordability and lifecycle analysis
-
Develop targets and indicators
-
Build capacity for action (engagement)
-
Use White Papers to communicate the concept of
choice and options available to the community
-
Recommend/select catalyst projects that address
change management
3. What
types of sustainable development innovation can your city, town or region
showcase to visiting delegates?
The following programs
and initiatives represent Ottawa’s recent contributions to sustainability:
Green
Space
TREE
Program
The
Tree, Reforestation and Environmental Enhancement (TREE) Program is a four-year
program to plant 100,000 trees in Ottawa’s urban and rural forests between 2007
and 2010. TREE encourages Ottawa residents, businesses, community groups and
schools to plant trees to increase our tree canopy and combat climate change.
Options for action include planting a tree, suggesting a location for a tree or
volunteering to plant trees.
Green Acres
Program
Ottawa’s
rural reforestation program is delivered by the Rideau Valley Conservation
Authority and funded by the City. The program advises and assists landowners
with planting plans and quality planting stock at moderate prices. Up to 50% of the cost of reforestation is
funded. In 2006, Green Acres planted 91,920 trees to create 45 hectares of new
forest.
Urban
Natural Features Strategy
Ottawa’s
new Urban Natural Features Strategy was approved in 2007 with $4.7 million
initial funding. It is one of Ontario’s most ambitious programs for the
protection of urban natural features and woodlands. The strategy will protect
natural areas and features such as woodlands, wetlands and vegetated ravines
throughout the urban area. In June 2007, the City made its first acquisition
under this program: Innes Park Woods, an 8.7-hectare woodland in the east end.
Development in Harmony with the Environment
Spring/Fall Cleaning the Capital
This
biannual program brings home the importance of maintaining our greenspaces and
preventing pollution from contaminating our streams and rivers. Spring/Fall Cleaning the Capital energizes
and supports community groups and events to complete spring and fall clean-up
projects. In spring and fall 2006, over 65,000 participants completed 1,020
registered cleanup projects and collected 112,450 kilograms of trash.
Green Roof
The
City is installing a green roof at the Britannia Water Purification Plant and
assessing other opportunities to “green” City facility rooftops when
conventional roofs need replacement. Green roofs reduce stormwater run-off and
help insulate buildings, thereby reducing heating and cooling needs, reducing
the “urban heat island effect” and providing extra greenspace in urban areas.
Watershed and Subwatershed Planning
Watersheds
are the land areas that feed rivers. Subwatersheds are smaller areas that feed
streams and creeks. The ecosystem approach to land-use planning looks at how
development affects the whole watershed. By doing this, the City hopes to
balance environmental protection, conservation and restoration against
development and other land-use practices. The goal is long-term, ecological
sustainability of the watershed and its significant natural resources. To date,
eight subwatershed plans (representing about 25 per cent of Ottawa) have been
approved or are in progress in development areas.
Stormwater Management Strategy
The
City is developing a Stormwater Management Strategy to guide the safe and
effective management of stormwater run-off while sustaining the health of urban
streams and rivers. The strategy will include policies and planning guidelines
for new development and a master plan for retrofits and stream rehabilitation
in older areas of the city. The strategy will place greater emphasis on source
controls, which keep rainwater where it falls by maintaining porous surfaces,
installing green roofs, using rain barrels or cisterns, and planting trees and
shrubs.
Transportation
Transportation Demand Management Program
The Transportation Demand
Management Program is the City's integrated approach to improve the efficiency
and sustainability of the transportation system through demand management. It
supports infrastructure elements, such as car-pooling lanes, as well as
policies and tools that result in sustainable transportation systems such as
transit or walking/cycling friendly site design. Focused programs designed to
increase the livability of communities by shifting behaviour away from
single-occupancy vehicle use to more sustainable transportation modes are also
an integral part of this initiative.
The Ottawa Cycling Plan
This comprehensive 20-year
cycling plan aims to establish a citywide on and off-road cycling network,
which will be supported by policies and cycling education and promotion
programs. Working with local community-based organizations, it will build on
the existing network of cycling facilities and programs. The Plan aims to
triple the number of bicycle trips from 4,500 in 2001 to 12,000 by 2021, and to
ensure a safer cycling environment for cyclists of all skill and age levels.
Transit
Ottawa continues to invest in
transit, including vehicles, Park and Ride and Transitway facilities, as well
as operational improvements (such as global positioning systems) to improve
service delivery. Ottawa has created an integrated Transportation Master Plan
that will help the city growth and infrastructure demand in the next decades.
Over the last five years the City has invested $67 million to add 127 buses and
190,000 hours of service
Resources and Energy
EnviroCentre Support
The City provides office space
and support for EnviroCentre, a not-for-profit organization that specializes in
home energy efficiency, conservation and sustainable transportation.
EnviroCentre projects include programs for low income homeowners, safe cycling
education and the Kill-A-Watt Meter program, which makes meters available on
loan from the public library so that residents can measure the efficiency of
their appliances.
LEED Incentive Initiative
The Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design (LEED) program is administered by the Canada Green Building
Council. LEED-certified buildings are designed to save energy, produce lower
greenhouse gas emissions, use less water and other resources, and provide a
high quality indoor working environment. City Council has directed staff to
develop options for incentives for private and community-sector buildings that
achieve LEED certification.
4. What
kinds of local partnerships, if any, are you hoping to initiate through the
planning of the conference? How would you
like to showcase local art, innovation, creativity and
culture? Are there any special events or
initiatives that you would like to align the conference with?
Our aim is to align the
conference with the City’s Choosing Our Future Project. The ability to
host this conference would strengthen our existing partnership with the City of
Gatineau and the National Capital Commission. A Community Partners Program will
also form part of this project. This
program will create opportunities for 10 to 15 organizations and businesses
to: become engaged in project
activities; increase their knowledge of regional and community sustainability;
commit to sustainability; and implement commitments to sustainability within
their organization.
There is a
plethora of cultural and recreation activities in the National Capital
Region. A few highlights follow:
In
partnership with resident agencies such as Gloucester
Pottery School, Orléans Young Players Theatre School and Ottawa School of Art,
the City of Ottawa opened a new Arts facility in the East
end of the City. Shenkman Arts
Centre is a dynamic creative hub, and a community focal point where artists and
audiences of all ages gather to create and explore the arts. It provides a
forum for a myriad of activities under one roof in both English and French. The
Centre plays a vital role in ensuring artists are given the forum they need to
nurture creativity and audiences are given access to dynamic and
thought-provoking arts programming in a facility that matches creative
excellence. We hope to use this facility to conduct one of the workshops
during the week of the conference.
Another
option is the Hull-Chelsea-Wakefield Steam Train – renowned for Fall foliage
tours. The train would take delegates
on a half-day excursion through the National Capital region's scenic
countryside on board one of Canada's oldest operating steam locomotives. Tour
guides and entertainers will share their love and knowledge of the history of
this wonderful region and its unique steam train as guests travel alongside the
magnificent Gatineau Park. The train is equipped with 8 climate controlled
period train cars with a capacity of 504 passengers and a licensed snack bar
and souvenir shop, which is accessible throughout the entire journey. A short
stopover in Wakefield gives the trainmen time to turn the steam locomotive on
Canada's last operating manual turntable. After watching this spectacular
performance, delegates will have ample time to explore the charming village and
its many gift and craft shops or participate in one of our walking guided
historical tours. Delicious country treats can also be enjoyed at one of the
many local cafés and restaurants.
Billings Estate National Historic
Site's trained interpreters can guide delegates through the epic history,
spanning four generations, of one of Ottawa's founding families and the
evolution of the surrounding village. Key players in the development of an
early Ottawa bridge, its fast-growing timber business, and the conversion of
the area's forest into farmland, Braddish and Lamira Billings and their family
stand as testament to the realization of a vision and the creation of a
community.
The Conference will take place in
October 2010. This aligns well with the
Transition Roadmap phase of the Choosing our Future project. This phase will include an event open to the
public called “Charting a Course for the Future”. This event will:
-
Use backcasting to develop staged scenarios for
getting into the solution space
-
Address affordability and lifecycle analysis
-
Develop targets and indicators
-
Build capacity for action (engagement)
-
Use White Papers to communicate the concept of choice
and options available to the community
-
Recommend/select catalyst projects that address change
management.
5. PLUS Network Biennial conferences focus on experiential
learning. How do you envision taking delegates out of the conference room and
into the field?
By the fall of 2010, the Choosing our Future
initiative will be well on its way with many deliverables ready to be showcased
at a major open public event. In addition to the Choosing our Future
public event "Charting a Course for the Future", to be held in
different parts of the region, we will make sure that the days/program
dedicated to Cities Plus events will be held off site in a variety of community
centres giving participants the opportunity to see first hand the variety of
facilities and services offered by the National Capital Region.
6.
Describe your
municipality’s organizing team and capacity. (It is suggested there are 2-3
staff whose involvement remain consistent.)
A project manager who has experience in conference planning will be
dedicated to the project on a full time basis.
Other members of the Community Sustainability Department will be called
in to assist with various aspects of the conference, and a call for volunteers
will be made as planning gets underway.
7.
Who from your
municipality will be the key member on our Planning Committee? (The conference
Planning Committee meet via conference call minimum twice monthly and up to
once a week closer to the event. The Planning Committee reports to the
Secretariat and the Steering Committee in the planning of the conference program
and overall event logistics. )
The City of Ottawa will have two members on the Planning Committee
leads. One will be the Project Manager,
as indicated in #6, above, and the other will be a Project Coordinator who will
work closely with the Project Manager.
8. The
host city will agree to cover the cost for conference venues, local
transportation, catering and refreshments during the conference, a welcome and
closing reception, printing of conference packages, and honorarium for local
performers and speakers. Note that these
costs range between $60,000 to $75,000 CAD. Please indicate your acceptance
to cover these costs, or how you might raise the funds to do so.
The City of
Ottawa’s bid application is conditional upon receiving Ottawa City Council
approval. We will prepare a report for
Council’s consideration in August 2009.
The City intends to explore sponsorship support from other levels of
government and local partners. We would
also like to propose that Sustainable Cites: PLUS Network consider providing
funding between $20,000 to $30,000 for general logistical expenses (such as
translation). In exchange the City will
arrange for 20 to 30 international delegates to be boarded with Ottawa
residents. Not only will this help keep your costs down, but it will also
provide delegates with a unique experience in the beautiful National Capital
Region.