for charters may be made by administration for significant events hosted by the City or for City Departments on an ad hoc basis for special needs (i.e. funeral) at the discretion of the General Manager/Executive Director.

Discussion:

The Forestry Division of the Parks Department has been carrying out Arbor Week for over 25 years here in the City. Arbor Week comprises of many environmental and education opportunities for children, families and organizations with the focus being on the importance of planting trees in the City, in an effort to create a better environment in which to live and play.

One of the longstanding events of Arbor Week is the special tree planting in the City that is hosted by the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA). This event attracts over 1,000 people to City Park land to plant trees in an effort to enhance the natural features of the site while improving the condition of the city’s Urban Forest.

On April 26, 2020, the annual ERCA Earth Day event will be taking place at the Little River Corridor Park land located between Wyandotte St. and McHugh. While the site is ideal for tree planting and restoration, there is very limited parking in the surrounding area, including no parking zones located along Wyandotte St. East. As such, ERCA is requesting that Transit Windsor provide complimentary shuttle service from the municipal parking lot located at Florence and Riverside Drive to the tree planting site.

The City of Windsor’s involvement in this ERCA event is limited to providing the property for tree planting and some in-kind contributions such as mulch, garbage cans and picnic tables. Transit Windsor has provided a charter for this event since 2017.

Risk Analysis:

There are limited risks to approving this request as the City of Windsor’s Parks and Recreation division will prepare a Special Events permit between the Corporation and the ERCA.

Financial Matters:

It is estimated that this complimentary charter service would have an upset limit of $1,500. City council report S 36/2018 recommended that the cost of the charter (to an upset limit of $1,500) be charged to the Budget Stabilization Reserve Fund (BSR). Should the Environment, Transportation and Public Safety Standing Committee approve the subject request, the $1,500 in funding would again be charged to the City’s Budget Stabilization Reserve Fund.

Consultations:

Paul Giroux, City Forester/Manager of Forestry and Natural Areas for Parks Department