There were a lot of great questions and comments provided through the community survey conducted to help determine how much support there is for the LEAF initiative. In order to provide as much information as we can, your questions have been compiled and posted for your review. As new questions arise, we will update this list on a regular basis.
UPDATE Questions
I pay property taxes now – isn’t that enough?
Our property taxes (including any pending mill rate increases) address City needs at large. City reports show funding for park and green space upkeep is $2.3M short for the 2012-13 fiscal year which is projected to increase in the coming years. As a result, Calgary communities (10 to date) have adopted initiatives such as LEAF in order to safeguard the health of their green spaces. The LEAF initiative in Scenic Acres is a community focused answer to this funding and service shortfall.
Does improved maintenance mean increased use of pesticides or herbicides?
No. The plan is to ensure our green spaces are healthier through increased watering and mowing. As the City of Calgary strictly controls herbicide and pesticide use, it is responsible for managing these programs, even if the LEAF project is approved.
What is LEAF?
LEAF is an acronym used by a number of communities which we have adopted. It stands for Landscape Enhancement and Appreciation Fund. The City of Calgary allows communities to raise funds through a Special Tax Levy to pay for local improvements including increased maintenance of community green spaces.
What will LEAF do?
LEAF will provide for an enhanced level of maintenance of Scenic Acres’ public green spaces over and above current standards. Funds can be used to water, mow, maintain and enhance entrance ways, boulevards, community green spaces and playground well above current standards.
It is also proposed to enhance the appearance of the community with planters and flower beds, ensure tree wells are edged and weeded regularly and trees are properly watered.
Who pays for LEAF?
If approved by two thirds of Scenic Acres property owners, a special tax levy will be added to all Scenic Acres property taxes.
How much will the Special Levy be?
The survey of local residents indicates general support for a fee in the $60/year range which is the basis for the LEAF budget. The tax levy of $60/year ($5/month) needs to be approved by Scenic Acres taxpayers through the petition being circulated by volunteers starting May 22nd.
Do other communities have LEAF?
Yes, a number of communities have approved a special levy similar to the one proposed for Scenic Acres including Hawkwood, Valley Ridge, and Citadel in the NW. Citadel’s fee has been in place since 2000.
Other communities including Tuscany, Arbour Lake and The Hamptons have Homeowners’ Association Fees that fund landscape maintenance and enhancement in their communities. These are mandatory fees for all homeowners and are considerably higher than the fee contemplated for Scenic Acres homeowners.
Who will be responsible for managing the funds?
The City of Calgary Parks Department administers the fund and pays invoices for the services performed by contractors which may be City of Calgary employees or a private contractor. All funds raised will be used within our community.
The Scenic Acres’ LEAF committee, will determine the scope of work to be done and monitor performance of the required work.
Why do we need a special levy?
Many residents believe the current level of funding for community green space maintenance by the City of Calgary is inadequate . As a result, we have experienced reduced maintenance of our entrance ways, boulevards, and other green spaces.
Increasing the funding through this special levy will allow us to dramatically improve the appearance of our community. It will allow for higher standards of maintenance including increased number of times grass areas are cut, increased weeding and more watering of our green spaces. As well, the community appearance can be enhanced through planting of flowers, bushes and perennials for the enjoyment of all residents.
As some local realtors have pointed out, Scenic Acres is beginning to appear neglected, particularly when compared to surrounding communities. Prospective home buyers are apparently discounting our community for that reason.
Scurfield Drive 2011
Resident photo 2011
Hawkwood/Citadel before and after LEAF projects
What is and isn’t covered by LEAF?
The City of Calgary is very specific on what items can be paid for under the maintenance enhancement special levy.
Eligible
- Maintenance of designated community green spaces including grass cutting, watering, and tree well maintenance.
- Installation and maintenance of planters or flower beds within the community.
Ineligible
- Replacement, upgrade or development of new pathways, roadways or playground equipment.
- Fences on private property.
- Planting or removal of trees in public areas.
- Maintenance of ravine areas or green space under control of the Roads Department.
How long will the special levy be on my taxes?
LEAF operates in 5-year terms. The City now allows for the society or association to vote at an annual general (AGM) or special meeting to either continue or cancel the levy. If a simple majority of the association votes in favour of continuing LEAF, it will continue for another five years.
How does the special levy get approved?
There is a defined process established for approval of the special levy which can take up to 12 months to be completed.
- Homeowner Petition
Starting in May, volunteers will be contacting every Scenic Acres homeowner to obtain their signature on a petition approving the special levy. Only the property owner (one only) can sign the petition. All signatures must be obtained and verified in 120 days from receipt of the first signature.
Two thirds of property owners must sign the petition to allow the process to continue. In late fall the City will advise homeowners if the petition has sufficient support in the community and advise of the timing of the appeal process.
- Appeal Process
Property owners have a right to appeal the special levy by submitting their appeal directly to the City of Calgary. A four month appeal period is provided.
- City Council Approval
If the petition is supported by 2/3 of homeowners after the appeal period, the special levy agreement is sent to City Council in March. Upon approval by Council, a Landscape Maintenance Agreement is prepared and authorized by the appropriate parties.
When would the special levy be applied to my taxes?
We expect this could happen in tax year 2013 and will appear on the annual property tax notices. The amount will be as per the petition circulated to Scenic Acres’ homeowners.
How will I be informed what is happening with this project?
A number of different sources for distributing updates and addressing questions are being used to communicate updates, answer questions and publicize dates for resident open houses including:
- Scenic Acres Review – a monthly update will be published in the Review.
- Scenic Acres website – http://scenicacresca.ca/leaf,
- Twitter – @scenicacresleaf.
- Scenic Acres Facebook page – Scenic Acres Leaf group.
- Community signs
- Updates in SACA office
- LEAF email: projleaf@telus.net
Who is behind the LEAF project?
A group of Scenic Acres residents committed to keeping our community a place to be proud of by improving its physical appearance are spearheading this initiative. All are volunteers who believe this initiative will improve the quality of life in our community and encourage private homeowners to maintain their properties for the benefit of all residents.
How can I help?
We need more volunteers to help organize the petition process, coordinate volunteers, canvas property owners, and communicate the benefits of LEAF to neighbors and friends living in Scenic Acres. To place your name on our volunteer list, please email your name, email address, street address, phone number and preferred role to Maxine who is the project volunteer coordinator – projleaf@telus.net.
I’m not opposed to LEAF but am concerned about the maintenance of the program. What happens when the “levy” is increased? What is the approval process?
What if the community doesn’t receive good value for the dollar? How are complaints handled?
How will residents be informed of the improvements in our community? What is the approval process?
Lots of other questions come to mind. Who is taking the lead on this and how do we contact them?
Thanks,
Kim
Question: Once the petition is approved for an initial 5 year term, are annual increases in the levy assigned to each residence automatically approved by a simple majority who attend the AGM without further consultation? What is the approval process for increases in the annual levy? Like condo fees and city taxes, this levy will only go one way.
Good questions as this is a common concern.
Once the levy is in place the only increase during the 5 year period permitted is a rate of inflation adjustment. It is not tied to the mill rate. After the initial 5 year term, a vote at the SACA AGM requires a majority of those in attendance to vote to renew the program for another 5 year term.
While we can’t predict future costs, we can rely on the experience of other communities. Hawkwood is now in the middle of a second 5 year term for their LEAF project. During this time they have raised their rate twice by the inflation rate set by the city. We think the $60 annual fee will be sufficient to produce visible results and maintain these.
A committee of volunteers reporting to the SACA board will manage selection of the contractor used to complete the work, develop a multi-year maintenance plan and monitor performance. Input from the community will be sought and used to guide decisions regarding frequency of maintenance, addition of feature such as planters/beds and priorities.