HomeMy WebLinkAboutCRPS-06-038 - Fire Hall No. 7 Proposed Location and Design DetailsReport To: B. Vrbanovic and Members of Finance & Corporate Services
Committee
Date of Meeting: March 6, 2006
Submitted By: G. Sosnoski, General Manager of Corporate Services & City
Clerk
Prepared By: L. Proulx, Director of Facilities Management
Ward(s) Involved: 4
Date of Report: February 28, 2006
Report No.: CRPS-06-038
Subject: Fire Hall No. 7 Proposed Location and Design
RECOMMENDATION:
That Fire Hall No. 7 be constructed on City owned lands fronting onto Huron Road to the West
of Fischer Hallman and that it not be combined with any other facility.
BACKGROUND:
In January 2004, the then General Manager of Development and Technical Services, Gord
Stewart requested I begin working as project manager to orchestrate the construction of new
Fire Hall No. 7. In his letter to me, he indicated that there were funds in 2005 capital to procure
land. He suggested I begin to search for lands on the west side. I proceeded into discussions
with Activa and confirmed with Chief Browning that the proposed location on Seabrook Drive
would meet Fire Department objectives.
In 2005, a member of Council inquired about Fire Hall No. 7. He suggested that the building
should be constructed on City owned land; and further, that this fire hall should be combined
with a community centre as was done in Forest Heights in 1999.
REPORT:
In response to these suggestions, I retained a consultant to investigate how we could provide
for sanitary servicing requirements for a few years until the main Doon Trunk sewer is advanced
to this site. It is estimated that it will cost approximately $20,000 in the first year and ongoing
cost of $6,000 per year for waste disposal thereafter. The holding tank used for the project could
be salvaged for reuse to another location once sanitary service is available. In addition, there
will be a cost to extend the existing water main to serve the building, proposed to be situated
beyond the three residential lots fronting onto Huron Road. The Region will extend a 300 mm
diameter water main from the stub and valve they left going west on Huron Road, to the west
side of the Fischer Hallman intersection. We would need to extend the water main in the order
of 250 metres, so we estimate a cost of $110,000 for water service to the site.
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February 28, 2006
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Based on the above, it would be cheaper to locate on our own property as compared to
purchasing lands in adjacent subdivisions. Negotiations with Activa were not very encouraging.
Negotiations ceased upon the suggestion from Council that staff consider setting the fire hall on
site at Huron and Fischer Hallman Road.
Stand Alone Station vs. Combination of Buildings
The prototype station was designed with a view to using it as a template for subsequent fire
halls. This was done to achieve economies in design costs and was expected to yield a very
efficient facility as changes were made in the design given feedback from the occupants. These
drawings can only be used for the construction of a stand alone building.
Fire Department staff have contacted the Region to see if there was an interest in attaching an
ambulance station to the fire hall proposed at this location. They have not responded on this
option to date.
There are several challenges to address in considering a combination fire hall along with other
uses. I attach the gant chart that describes the various studies and tasks required to lead to
efficient function and use of the City owned lands at Fischer Hallman and Huron Road. Until the
tourism strategy and the site master plan are completed, it is impossible to predict the proposed
uses for development of these lands. These studies are proposed into 2008 when the fire hall is
to be in operation. A formal assessment of the effectiveness of the combined fire hall/community
centre in Forest Heights has not been undertaken. The suggestion was made to combine the
fire hall with a community centre. A community centre on the west side is proposed in capital
budget for 2013. In order to combine a community centre with the fire hall, you would need to
delay the fire hall or advance the program to build this community centre sooner than required.
There would be no economic advantage in design costs.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
There is $3,448,000 in approved capital forecast in 2007. Capital required based on this report
$130,OOO.Operating costs $6,000/yr. for sanitary service.
CONCLUSION:
Given the timing issues, the availability of City owned lands and the inability at this time to
effectively and efficiently combine fire hall with other City facilities, it is recommended that Fire
Hall No. 7 be constructed as a standalone facility on the City`s Huron Road lands.
L. Proulx, CET, CMM III
Director of Facilities Management
Attach.
LPlcr