Practice Task 7 · Parts 1–4

From: Marisol Chetwynd, resident, Elderberry Crescent

To: Dwayne Osei, Environmental Services Coordinator, City of Fenbrook

Subject: Rain garden rebate and the shoreline project next door

Hi Dwayne,

I attended the open house last month about the Fenbrook Creek shoreline restoration, and I understood that residents along the creek could apply for a rebate to install a rain garden on their own property, since rain gardens reduce the amount of stormwater runoff that eventually reaches the restored bank. My property backs directly onto the section between Larkspur Bridge and the old rail crossing, which I believe is inside the first phase of construction.

I have three questions. First, is the rebate available to properties in Phase 1, or only Phase 2, since I heard conflicting information at the open house from two different staff members? Second, the flyer mentioned a maximum rebate of $750, but a landscaper I contacted quoted me $1,400 for a garden sized to handle my roof's runoff; is there any way to apply for a larger amount given the size of my lot? Third, construction equipment has been parked on the access road behind my fence since Tuesday, and I want to know how long that will continue, since it currently blocks the spot where I was planning to dig.

I would like to move forward this season if possible, since I understand the rebate program has a limited number of spots per year and I do not want to miss the window.

Thanks,

Marisol

— REPLY —

From: Dwayne Osei

To: Marisol Chetwynd

Subject: RE: Rain garden rebate and the shoreline project next door

Hi Marisol,

Thanks for your patience, and sorry for the mixed message at the open house. The rebate is open to properties in both Phase 1 and Phase 2, so your address does qualify; the confusion likely came from a separate volunteer planting program that is Phase 2 only.

On the amount: the $750 cap is fixed for this fiscal year regardless of lot size, so we cannot approve a larger rebate even for a garden designed for higher runoff volumes. Many residents in your situation split the cost, using the rebate for materials and covering labour separately, which sounds close to what your landscaper quoted.

Regarding the equipment on the access road: that area is being used as a staging site for silt fencing and will remain in place until the lower bank stabilization work finishes, which our contractor currently estimates at three more weeks, weather permitting. I would suggest holding off on digging until the equipment clears, both because of the space issue and because heavy vehicle traffic nearby could disturb a freshly planted garden bed.

If you would like to submit your rebate application now, that is fine — approval does not require the garden to be built immediately, only within the same calendar year. That should give you plenty of room after the equipment moves.

Dwayne