City of Wetaskiwin Council received and approved an updated level of service plan for 2021 grass, plant, and flower bed maintenance at the March 22, 2021 City Council Meeting. Public Works presented the plan to City Council.
The City says that the 2021 Level of Service plan considered feedback from Wetaskiwin citizens through both comments on City social media channels and through the formalized 2021 municipal budget engagement process.
The majority of the feedback was on the City’s reduced spending on grass cutting last year and subsequently proposed introduction of naturalization to just over 14 hectares of green space that had been previously maintained.
Naturalization is a process where minimal maintenance is performed which allows the area to return to its natural state of vegetation.
“The City will continue to look at possible changes to our levels of service while we balance the cost vs. the desired outcome. Doing things just because that’s the way we always have isn’t acceptable and we will continue to work on that,” said Wetaskiwin Mayor Tyler Gandam. “We tried something new last year and it didn’t work out the way we hoped it would. Council will also work on finding efficiencies and better ways to operate. Your input is valued and appreciated.”
Following discussions and modifications to the plan, Council directed Administration to proceed with the updated level of service plan for 2021.
In the Level of Service summary the City notes that traditional mowing service levels are generally once per week. They also state that the levels of service are targets and subject to weather constraints.
The Level of Service summary includes:
Succession Area Monitoring and weed control
• Areas: those areas identified for naturalization;
• Frequency: Biweekly.
Spring Cleanup
• Areas: all areas of the City;
• Frequency: Once before May 31, 2021.
Plant and Flower Bed Maintenance
• Areas: Premiere Facilities- City Hall, By-the-Lake Park, Ashoro Park, Diamond Jubilee Park;
• Frequency: Weekly, June 1- August 31, 2021.
Mowing
• Areas: sports fields;
• Frequency: Twice per week during season (May 15- Sept. 30, 2021), once per week off-season.
Mowing
• Areas: all other traditionally mown areas;
• Frequency: once per week, May 31-Sept.15, 2021.
shaela.dansereau@pipestoneflyer.ca
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter