Icsp_09-25

Jeff Green | Jun 25, 2009

If the Ontario civil service were run by advertising people, Integrated Community Sustainability Plans (ICSPs) would undoubtedly be called something else, something like the Community Green Plans.

In any event, after well over a year’s work, and the input of a number of individuals and groups from across the county, Frontenac County now has a draft ICSP in hand. The next question is what to do with it now that it is in place.

Graham Halsall, an intern presenting the plan to a joint meeting of Frontenac County Council and councilors from its four constituent townships, said the project has attracted 350 volunteers “who brought a lot of energy and commitment to a sustainable future in Frontenac County.”

Developing an ICSP is required in order for the county to keep receiving financial support in the form of federal gas tax transfers in the amount of $1 million per year.

In Frontenac County’s case, the ICSP is designed to be the delivering mechanism for those monies.

So what, aside from language about a sustainable future, desired future states, is the Frontenac County Integrated Community Sustainability Plan all about?

A list of the 10 projects recommended for immediate implementation is a good place to start.

A Social Services Development Plan for the County, to look at health care, social services (including housing and daycare) and community services for people, facilities, or infrastructure. Cost: $100,000. Potential funding sources – Ministry of Community and Social Services, Federal Gas Tax funding.

An Inventory of Community Assets (Natural and Built), described as “a comprehensive asset mapping exercise to identify existing and potential industrial and commercial lands, economic assets, natural assets including soil, water, forestry, mining, and to look at species at risk, and areas of ecological interest. In addition, social assets such as health care, leisure and recreation, and cultural assets such as churches and heritage buildings will be inventoried. Cost - $50,000. Potential funding sources – Federal Gas Tax funds, Community Futures Development Corporation (CFDC)

Integrated GIS mapping – Global Information System (GIS) mapping. An inventory of assets and their precise locations on a multi-layered digital map to help plan for social, recreational and health care services in the future. Cost = $140,000. Potential funding source – Federal Gas Tax funds.

Local Food Summit – A one-day event where people can meet, network, and identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and barriers. Cost $5,000. Potential funding sources: National Farmer's Union, Frontenac CFDC, Federal Gas Tax Funds.

Support for the AFAR (Addington Frontenac Area Radio Station) – which is being developed by a volunteer board and is based in Northbrook, with the potential to reach Arden and Mountain Grove and perhaps Sharbot Lake. Cost $5,000. Source: Federal Gas Tax funds.

Salt Management Plan - while each township has been developing salt management practices over several years in order to comply with provincial regulations, it is proposed that a county-wide plan to consider salt storage and spreading, tonnage used, etc., on a county side basis. Cost - $50,000. Potential funding source – Federal Gas Tax Funds.

Naturally Rich Frontenac Booklet – a glossy booklet that “will unabashedly boast of the county’s social, cultural, economic and environmental riches. Cost $42,349. Funding confirmed - $22,000 from Federal Gas Tax and the Frontenac Stewardship Council. Potential finding source – Frontenac CFDC.

Assessment of Renewable Energy Potential – A pre-feasibility assessment to develop local energy systems in the county. Cost $30,000. Potential funding source – Federal Gas Tax Funds.

Develop a Common Energy Plan for all five municipalities. To work collectively between the County and the four lower-tier townships on the adoption of energy conservation plans, as called for under the Ontario Green Energy Act. Cost - $50,000 to $100,000 depending on the scope of the project. Source – Federal Gas Tax Funds.

County-wide Solid Waste Management Plan. It is proposed that municipalities work together “to examine and employ new technologies, diversion infrastructure and incentives (e.g. fees charged and materials accepted for recycling) Cost - $75,000. Potential funding source – Federal Gas Tax funds.

The total cost of all these projects would be around $600,000, with most of the money coming from Federal Gas Tax dollars. Only the smaller projects, the radio station, the booklet, and the food summit, at a total cost of about $20,000, would be carried out by non-municipal bodies. The other 7 projects all would be either led or supported by Frontenac County staff.

Although these 10 projects are slated for immediate implementation, they form only a fraction of 120 projects that have been identified by the ICSP.

Detailed information is available at the website – Directionsforourfuture.ca