HomeMy WebLinkAboutINS-12-068 - WRCC Cost SharingREPORT TO:
Mayor Zehr & Members of Council
DATE OF MEETING:
August 27, 2012
SUBMITTED BY:
Greg Hummel, Manager of Park Planning, Development &
Operations
PREPARED BY:
Sandro Bassanese, Urban Designer 519-741-2305
WARD(S) INVOLVED:
Ward 10
DATE OF REPORT:
August 3, 2012
REPORT NO.:
INS-12-068
SUBJECT:
Waterloo Regional Consolidated Courthouse Cost Sharing
of Streetscape Elements
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City of Kitchener provide the Ministry of the Attorney General’s Office the
payment of $146,196.30 with respect to the maintenance, lifecycle replacement and repair
service for the Waterloo Regional Consolidated Courthouse (WRCC) sidewalks and
municipal rights-of-way for a 30 year period following substantial completion of the
WRCC; and
That the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to enter into a development agreement,
encroachment agreement and cost sharing agreement to the satisfaction of the City
Solicitor.
BACKGROUND:
The Waterloo Regional Consolidated Courthouse (WRCC) is currently under construction on the
site bounded by Frederick, Weber, Scott, and Duke Streets. The WRCC is a joint project
between Infrastructure Ontario (IO) and the Ministry of the Attorney General (MAG). The site
went through a rigorous design process that involved City and Regional staff. The culmination of
this work is the building currently under construction on site.
The streetscape surrounding the WRCC along the Frederick and Duke Street frontages has
significant public realm upgrades. These upgrades include tree plantings, pedestrian scale
lighting and concrete and granite pavers similar to the design implemented on King Street.
These elements will create a unique and inviting pedestrian realm that complements the iconic
built form and proposed landscaping.
REPORT:
Planning and Operations staff recognized through the design process that these upgraded
elements would require unique maintenance and repair techniques similar to King Street. Staff
approached IO and MAG to strike an agreement to best maintain and repair these upgraded
elements at a reasonable cost.
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The culminationof this effort is a negotiated lump sum amount provided to IO, MAG and their
facilities maintenance provider. It is projected that the City, by providing this lump sum payment,
will realize a significant cost savings in relation to the repair and maintenance of the right-of-way
.
over the 30-year period
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN:
One of the foundations of the City of Kitchener’s Strategic plan is Focus on Efficient and
Effective Government including prudent financial management. One of the strategic directions
of Financial Management is to “Maximize value through cost effective service delivery”.
The City would incur a significantly higher cost in regards to maintenance and repair for the
streetscape in this scenario. This agreement maximizes cost savings to the public for a 30-year
period through the downloading of maintenance and replacement to IO and MAG. It also
guarantees delivery of this through a site plan agreement.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
This agreement deals with the ongoing maintenance of the right of way which typically is funded
through the Operating Division. This thirty year agreement requires full payment at the time of
signing. Because this agreement is for year round maintenance, it is recommended that
payment is charged to Operations 2012 operating budget.
If the lump sum payment is not approved by Council, Operations staff will have to formulate a
budget to undertake the repair and replacement of the non-standard streetscape elements and
their maintenance in the right-of-way. Preliminary estimates, based solely on maintenance,
indicate a significant increase in cost if City staff were to undertake maintenance of these
special features.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
N/A
ACKNOWLEDGED BY:
Jim Witmer, Interim Deputy CAO
Infrastructure Services Department
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