Corporate Services and Economic Development
Committee /
Comité des services organisationnels et du développement économique
20 March 2009 / le 20 mars 2009
Submitted by/Soumis par : Nancy Schepers,
Deputy City Manager/Directrice
municipale adjointe,
Infrastructure Services and
Community Sustainability/
Services d’infrastructure et
Viabilité des collectivités
Contact Person/Personne ressource : Gary Craig, Manager / Gestionnaire
Deputy City
Manager’s Office/ Bureau de la Directrice municipale adjointe
(613)
580-2424 x19037 Gary.Craig@ottawa.ca
1. That, at its meeting of 23
March 2009, the Corporate Services and Economic Development Committee receive
and table this report for consideration at its subsequent meeting; and
2. That, upon considering
this report at its subsequent meeting, the Corporate Services and Economic Development Committee recommend
Council:
a) Approve the
updated City of Ottawa Priority List of Ready-To-Go Infrastructure Projects, as
detailed in Document 1;
b)
Direct
staff to proceed with the official funding request for the projects identified
on the Ready-To-Go-Infrastructure Projects list; and
c)
Direct
the City Treasurer to report back with the identification of the sources of
funding for the City's share of the projects for Council approval.
1. Que,
lors de sa réunion du 23 mars 2009, le Comité des services organisationnels
et du développement économique reçoive et dépose le présent rapport aux fins
d’examen lors de sa prochaine réunion;
2. Qu’après
avoir examiné le présent rapport lors de sa prochaine réunion, le Comité des
services organisationnels et du développement économique recommande au
Conseil :
a)
d’approuver
la liste prioritaire à jour de projets d’infrastructure prêts pour la mise en
chantier de la Ville d’Ottawa, telle que détaillée dans le document 1;
b)
de
demander au personnel de poursuivre le traitement des demandes de financement
officielles pour les projets inclus dans la liste prioritaire de projets
d’infrastructure prêts pour la mise en chantier; et
c)
de
demander à la trésorière de la Ville de faire rapport sur les sources de
financement de la part de la Ville relativement aux projets aux fins
d’approbation.
As part of its 2009 Budget, the federal government announced
an economic stimulus package that will provide significant infrastructure
funding opportunities for municipalities across Canada.
The stimulus package provides municipalities with funding
above and beyond what is currently in place with the Building Canada Fund, gas
tax revenues and the GST rebate.
On January 3, 2009, Corporate Services and Economic
Development Committee passed the following motion:
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 issued a memo to the
Mayor and Council seeking input into the identification of projects. Several
responses were received and were considered in the preparation of a report to
Corporate Services and Economic Development Committee (ACS2009-CMR-OCM-0002),
tabled on February 3, 2009. This
report contained a draft list of ready-to-go infrastructure projects that could
be submitted for federal funding.
Committee directed staff to refine the list of projects and
report back with an updated version of it that included adjustments to funding
requirements, consideration of Councillors’ requests, and additional
information about the eligibility criteria.
On February 8, 2009, the Deputy City Manager, Infrastructure
Services and Community Sustainability, sent the Mayor and Council an email, in
which she requested further input on the priority list. The projects identified were assessed by
staff in the preparation of the list of projects included in this report.
The economic stimulus package announced in the 2009 Federal Budget identifies four opportunities that the City of Ottawa can pursue:
A key condition for receiving money from the stimulus package initiative is that projects must be “ready to go” and would not otherwise proceed, which staff understand to mean projects must be able to:
· Begin construction in either 2009 or 2010;
· Be completed and commissioned by March 31, 2011; and,
·
Meet incremental funding requirements (Not already
scheduled and funded in 2009).
The project listing does carry
with it a certain amount of risk. These
risks are mainly associated with the ability to complete the required works by
the March 2011 deadline. In order to
mitigate some of this risk, staff will be seeking the most expedient
procurement processes available, such as sole sourcing or moving straight to
design-build RFPs (where appropriate).
These procurement processes were discussed at the Mayor’s Infrastructure Roundtable held on February 13, 2009 and March 2009. In attendance were the Mayor and his staff, representatives from NCHCA, OCA and CEO, City Manager Kent Kirkpatrick and various management staff from Infrastructure Services and Community Sustainability and City Operations.
As mentioned, the Federal Budget identified four funds for which the City can apply. Those funds are as follows:
That the two immediate Near-Term investment options in
the Mayor’s Task Force on Transportation, namely the Strandherd-Armstrong
Bridge and the completion of Terry Fox Drive from Kanata Avenue to Flamborough
Drive, as they are currently designed, be formally submitted to the Federal and
Provincial Governments for cost sharing infrastructure funding; such funding
not to come from funds identified for transit projects.
To date, Council has approved $2.5M for the
Terry Fox Dr. project. The 2009 Capital
Budget and 9-year forecast included an authority requirement of $34.5M for
2010. The amount identified within the
Updated Priority List Report is $47.7M, which includes property
acquisition.
With respect to the
Strandherd-Armstrong Bridge, it is anticipated that this project cannot be
built within the funding guidelines; as such, it cannot be submitted as part of
the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund.
Although the bridge is not part of this program, it should be noted that
the Earl Armstrong Rd. extension is within the stimulus envelope and on the
priority list.
Hunt Club
Rd. motion from December 3, 2007:
BE IT RESOLVED that funding be
advanced to 2009 to allow construction to be undertaken in 2010 and that staff
be directed to make the adjustments necessary (in ‘09 budget) to accommodate
this adjustment; and
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that staff commence negotiations with the province for the provincial share of funding to complete the 417 interchange.
The following priorities represent the criteria for selection within this envelope.
Priority 1 -
Infrastructure Renewal for Social Housing
The Housing Needs Report submitted to Council in 2007 outlined the need for repairs to, and the renewal of existing social housing. It identified an annual capital funding deficit of approximately $14M. Although the City, Provincial and Federal governments have contributed a total of $33.5M toward social housing repair since 2007, it remains a high priority to continue this project.
Ottawa Community Housing Corporation recently completed a building condition assessment that identified a 5-year capital expenditure plan for the repair and renewal of properties. It exceeded $340M. As well, other housing providers have also identified a need for infrastructure renewal.
The list of projects submitted by OCHC, totalling $40,294,507, represent a 2-year capital summary of projects that can be completed in their 2009 and 2010 budget timeframes. (Refer to Document 1 for further detail.)
The amount requested for repair and renewal of social housing for other housing providers, totalling $7.4M consists of:
Many of these repairs will increase both the buildings’ energy efficiency and their longevity.
Priority 2 -
Acquisition and Rehabilitation
There are over 9,500 households on the waiting list for social housing. Increasing the housing stock, especially with supports, is a key element in increasing affordable housing options. City staff has identified two acquisition and rehabilitation projects that could require up to $5M in capital funding.
Investment in existing facilities ensures sustainability and service continuity. The projects considered to be within this category include:
·
Merivale and Bell Arenas - due to risk of closure of
the facilities without the capacity in City of Ottawa inventory to provide
alternative ice time.
· Gloucester Splash and Nepean Sportsplex Pools – these investments would address temporary solutions to aging facility.
· Carlsbad Springs Community Centre – loss of St. Laurent School due to closure/aging school board infrastructure.
·
Other lifecycle
items:
o
Nepean Sportsplex parking lot;
o
Hintonbourg Park Wall Replacement;
o
City Park Redevelopment; and
o McKellar Park Field House – needs replacement.
Priority 2 - Solutions to Recreational Facility and
Programming Needs
The remaining projects are listed in order of priority
based on the following criteria:
1.
Changing demographic and make-up of communities and
therefore changing recreational needs; and
2.
Validated projects that are waiting for funding from
the strategic initiatives envelope.
These projects will include renovations, rehabilitation and new construction for both City and community-based initiatives. The projects considered to be within this category include:
·
City Park Rehabilitation;
·
Greenboro Community Centre Expansion;
·
Greenboro Tennis court construction;
·
Albion Heatherington Recreation Centre parking lot;
·
Tom
Brown Arena;
·
Hintonburg
Community Centre;
·
Parkdale
Urban Park Redevelopment and Fieldhouse;
·
Lighting
of existing ball field in Fitzroy Harbour;
·
Potvin
Park - 3 mini soccer fields;
·
Hornet's
Nest Field House Expansions;
·
Westboro
Beach Mitigation (gull wiring);
·
New
Twin Pad Arena;
·
Parkdale
Market - expand & improve; and
· Sharlotte Birchard Centre.
This fund could provide up to $60M over two years. This money will support infrastructure-related costs for local and community cultural and heritage institutions, such as theatres, libraries and small museums. Similar to the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, it is expected that this fund will be cost-shared with both Provincial and Municipal governments.
The 2003 Ottawa 20/20 Arts and Heritage Plan (AHP) provides the broad strategic directions for culture, with the development of new and improved spaces cited as critical to the plan’s goals.
Beyond being ready-to-go for completion by March 2011, the following criteria for selection were used for this section.
Completion of legacy initiatives to address outstanding cultural facility needs was identified as a priority. For example, the Centrepointe Theatre Expansion plan was identified by the former municipality of Nepean to respond to the demand for rehearsal and performance space. The former municipality levied applicable development charges to support the project at that time. (A ticketing surcharge was implemented to support a fundraising campaign for the capital project, which raised over $325,000 – now held in a reserve fund.)
The AHP identified the lack of theatres and facilities as the largest gap in Ottawa’s literary, media and performing arts spaces. These facilities make the creation, development and presentation of local work, as performed by local artists, a priority. The Centrepointe Theatre Expansion project was captured as an underway-development within this plan. The project ceased in 2003, following completion of the design development phase.
The proposed expansion would include an ancillary mid-sized venue accessible to local community non-profit groups and emerging artists.
Aimed at providing funding to non-profit arts and heritage organizations for capital projects that provide a solution to outstanding cultural facility needs in the community, this funding will be disbursed to the highest-priority community-based projects administered by the City of Ottawa using existing criteria of the Major Capital Cultural Facility Funding Program. This is a self-help program, whereby the City of Ottawa, in partnership with a cultural group, assists in the funding of eligible capital projects.
The assessment criteria for the disbursement of funds are:
This is the principal assessment criterion, which identifies clear cultural goals and objectives, requisite ability and means to achieve the project, high standards in programming, professional standards in cultural leadership, and a solid track record.
Community Impact
This evaluates local support and
participation, assessing the contribution each applicant organization makes to:
1) the general public (community participation, volunteerism, audience
development, accessibility of programs, partnerships, etc.); and, 2) the
cultural discipline.
This speaks to effective planning, fiscal responsibility, track record (including past successes and alternate funding capabilities, like fundraising, sponsorship, self-generated, in-kind donations, etc.), professional standards and active leadership by the Board of Directors.
The following organizations could benefit from this Cultural Facilities Stimulus Fund[1]:
·
Ottawa Heritage Workers
Centre House - Restoration of exterior
fabric of the Gamman house (project cost $100,000);
·
Watson’s Mill - Ongoing
windows and doors restoration project; ceiling whitewashing of this historic
mill (project cost $10,000);
·
La Nouvelle Scéne (LNS)
- In 2008, LNS commissioned a study on the condition of the building. The
building requires $450,000 in mechanical, electrical and architectural upgrades
to resolve several building deficiencies.
The organization has decided that it would be more cost-effective to
incorporate the upgrades into an expansion project that would add a second
storey to the building and has recently commissioned an architect and
construction firm to provide a total cost breakdown. Preliminary estimates for the total project are $5M and LNS has
requested $1M from the City.
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 subject to other council discussions and priority setting, with appropriate public input sought.
The 2009 Federal Budget calls for immediate action to simulate the economy by building and renewing infrastructure within our communities.
The financial implications are outlined in this report. Based on our estimates of the four Stimulus Programs, the City may require an additional $110.88M to fund the supporting projects. The City’s share will come from the advancement of debt, and the combination of development charges and rate supported reserve funds.
Document 1: Priority List of Ready-To-Go Infrastructure Projects
Once approved by Council, staff will begin working with the federal and provincial governments to identify which projects may go forward, what timelines will be involved, and what funding formulas will be required.
Once the specific details of the federal funding eligibility and application process become available, staff will develop and submit applications, in order of priority, for the projects that are eligible.
[1] Projects listed in no particular order; only previously identified projects listed; eligible organizations subject to application and evaluation to ensure a transparent process.