Corporate Services and Economic Development
Committee /
Comité des services organisationnels et du développement économique
and Council / et au Conseil
3 February 2009 / le 3 février 2009
Submitted by/Soumis par : Nancy Schepers,
Deputy City Manager/ Directrice municipale adjointe,
Contact Person/Personne ressource : Claudio Colaiacovo, Manager
Financial Services / Services
financiers
613-580-2424
x22331 Claudio.Colaiacovo@ottawa.ca
SUBJECT:
|
|
|
|
|
OBJET :
|
LISTE PRIORITAIRE DE PROJETS
D’INFRASTRUCTURES PRÊTS POUR LA MISE EN CHANTIER |
That the Corporate Services and Economic Development
Committee recommend Council:
1. Receive for information the Priority List of ready-to-go
infrastructure projects, listed as Document 1; and
2. Direct staff to investigate funding opportunities with senior levels of government as they become available.
Que le Comité des
services organisationnels et du développement économique recommande au
Conseil :
1. de
prendre connaissance de la liste prioritaire de projets d’infrastructure prêts
pour la mise en chantier, présentée comme Document 1; et
2. d’informer
le personnel d’examiner les possibilités de financement avec les ordres de
gouvernement supérieurs au fur et à mesure qu’elles se présentent.
BACKGROUND
At its meeting
of January 20, 2009, the Corporate Services and Economic Development Committee
considered and approved the following motion, proposed by Mayor L. O’Brien:
WHEREAS the
Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) has released a list of 1000
“shovel-ready” infrastructure projects in preparation for the upcoming Federal
budget; and,
WHEREAS these
infrastructure projects range from simple rehabilitation to major new
construction and would create over 150 000 jobs across Canada; and,
WHEREAS the
Council-approved projects identified in the City’s preliminary submission to
FMC did not include parks and recreation projects, many transit initiatives and
other infrastructure projects; and
WHEREAS the
Federal budget is set to be tabled on January 27, 2009; and
WHEREAS the City
of Ottawa wants to be in the best possible position to take advantage of
potential new funding from a Federal government budget stimulus package as soon
as it becomes available, in order to maintain and repair the City’s existing
infrastructure, support local industries and create jobs in the community;
THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED that the Corporate Services and Economic Development Committee direct staff
to work with Members of Council to develop a comprehensive, priority list of
all City ready-to-go projects for consideration by Committee and Council, and
report back on February 3, 2009 meeting; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the report recommend that staff be delegated the authority to proceed with the identified infrastructure projects as federal funds are made available.
On January 27, 2009, the City
Treasurer circulated a Memo to City Council requesting input into the
identification of projects that may have been missed in the recent FCM
submission and which remain a priority of Council. Several comments were
received and have been considered in preparing the priority list of ready to go
infrastructure projects. (reference document 1)
All projects identified in document 1 that required an Environmental Assessment (EA) were subject to public consultation in accordance with Provincial and City requirements. Where an EA was not required, the projects identified have been the subject of other council discussions and priority setting with appropriate public input sought.
In some cases council has given specific direction to seek funding through Build Canada however, we will provide a separate report once the guidelines and criteria have been established.
This item was advertised in the local newspapers as part of the Public Meeting Advertisement on Friday preceding the Committee meeting.
There are no direct Legal/Risk Management implications associated with this report.
The 2009 Federal budget accelerates and calls for immediate action to simulate the economy by building and renewing infrastructure within our communities. Although there are a number of initiatives planned, the following programs are geared to support municipalities, namely;
Although specific details of the programs are not well established, it is estimated that the City’s share of Federal funding will amount to $103M from the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, $25.7M each for Social Housing and the Green Infrastructure Fund (if applicable), $12.8M for the Community and Recreation Fund and $1.58M from the Cultural Infrastructure Fund. It is expected that the Province and the City will provide matching dollars, for overall capital programs of $309M, $77.2M, $38.6M and $4.74M respectively
Subject to Council approval of the project list, the City will advance projects from the forecast years in 2010 and 2011 capital budgets. The City’s share will come from the advancement of debt, development charges and rate supported reserve funds. The 2010/11 City capital envelopes will be adjusted downwards to reflect the advancement of the proposed works and will use cash received in those years to offset the debt authority
Document 1: Priority list of ready-to-go infrastructure projects
Document 2: Budget
2009 – Canada’s Economic Action Plan: http://www.budget.gc.ca/2009/pdf/budget-planbugetaire-eng.pdf
Document 3: Infrastructure Stimulus
Fund - PDF
Document 4: Housing Funding - PDF
Document 5: Green Infrastructure
Fund
DISPOSITION
Once the specific details of the funding eligibility and application process through the recent federal budget announcement become available, staff will notify Council regarding which projects are eligible.
Staff will then report back to Committee and Council on how the City’s
share of these projects would be financed.