HomeMy WebLinkAboutDTS-08-206 - Charles & Benton Pkg Structure Tender Funding OptionsJ
T~ E
Development &
Technical Services
REPORT
Report To: Council
Date of Meeting:
Submitted By:
Prepared By:
Ward(s~ Involved:
Date of Report:
Report No.:
December 8, 2008
John McBride
John McBride
West-Victoria Park Ward (6)
December 3, 2008
DTS 08-206
Subject: Charles & Benton Parking Structure Tender Funding Options
RECOMMENDATION:
For information purposes only.
BACKGROUND:
The development of a 500 space above ground parking structure at Charles & Benton Sts has
recently gone through a public tendering process with the low tender being submitted by Melloul
Blarney. The budget for this project had been set at $16,000,000 and the tender and all
extraneous fees (eg consultants, public art, project management, etc} came within this budget
amount. The one additional option that was asked for in the tender but not included in the
tender amount was the inclusion of a stairwell along the Charles St frontage of the structure.
The additional cost of this stairwell is $428,571 (excluding GST). The purpose of this report is to
outline potential funding options should Council wish to include this stairwell in the structure.
REPORT:
The Charles & Benton Garage was designed to accommodate the majority of dedicated users,
while at the same time satisfying the need for parking from the larger community. It is
anticipated that approximately 70% of the users of the structure will be destined towards the
King and Benton Street area as monthly parkers from the Cora properties or clients of the new
Provincial Courthouse. The other 30 % of users are anticipated to be drawn towards the King
and Queen Street area as patrons of the Walper Terrace Hotel, Children's Museum and other
attractions along King Street. Fewer will be destined for the Charles and Queen Street area.
It was on this basis that the design of the garage included two elevators and a stairwell on the
Benton Street frontage and a stairwell and one elevator at the north west corner of the structure
at the intersection of Siegner Lane and Halls Lane. A third stairwell has been included as an
option along the Charles Street frontage.
During the public consultation for this project, the only significant issue that was brought forward
was the potential elimination of the stairwell on the Charles Street frontage of the building. We
have heard from a number of merchants in the Queen and Charles Street area that they would
prefer to have that stairwell retained for easier and more direct access for their clients.
As a result, the Charles Street stairwell was included in the tender package as an optional
feature, so that depending on the tender price, Council can than choose whether or not to
include it.
During the preparation of the design of the Charles & Benton parking structure a budget of
$16,000,000 was set based on industry standards for this type of structure. This figure was
later confirmed by an independent cost consultant.
As a result of the tendering process, total costs have come in under this figure, but they did not
include the optional stairwell. The additional cost for this stairwell is $428,571.
There are not sufficient funds within the budget to cover this optional item. Staff have identified
four potential options to address the funding required in order to include the Charles St stairwell
as follows:
1. Increase debenture to fund this stairwell
2. Provide funding from the Provincial Investing in Ontario Grant Program
3. Reprioritize other capital infrastructure projects
4. Eliminate Charles St stairwell
Option 1
The City's capital contribution, in the amount of $9,525,000, will be paid as a debenture
amortized over 20 years. By increasing the debenture amount by $428,571 this will increase
the annual payment by $35,000. This increase can be accommodated by revenues generated
by the entire parking operation, but it will decrease the amount of net revenue paid into general
city revenues, thereby effectively placing the additional burden on the taxpayer.
Option 2
The Province is providing $9.8Million funding to the City of Kitchener from the Investing in
Ontario Grant. These funds can be allocated to a variety of infrastructure programs such as
roads, sewers, building improvements including the Charles and Benton parking structure. The
parking structure is considered infrastructure, in that it is a City asset that serves the public at
large, as well as a portion of the Provincial Courthouse parking demand. A list of priorities have
been presented to Council for their consideration and the Charles St stairwell would be added to
the list of funding priorities.
Option 3
In 2009, Engineering Services will be responsible for over $44Million of new infrastructure
projects, which includes infrastructure renewal projects for water and sanitary sewers; roads
and sidewalks; stormwater management and drainage; bridges and pumping stations. It is
feasible to reprioritize these projects to cover the amount of the Charles St stairwell. Options
available to Council would be to remove funds from either the sidewalk or road capital budget,
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but it is not recommended that funds be removed from the stormwater and drainage projects,
nor the accelerated infrastructure renewal program.
Option 4
As Council will recall, when the garage design was reviewed over the summer months, the
Charles St stairwell was identified as an item that could be eliminated in order to save funds.
During the public review process, the one issue that generated considerable feedback from
merchants in the area was their desire to include the Charles St stairwell in the final design. On
that basis, the stairwell was included as an optional item in the tender. The elimination of the
Charles St stairwell will allow the project to proceed within the approved budget.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
Of all the options outlined, only Option 2, the use of the Provincial Investing in Ontario Grant
Program, does not impact the tax base, delay anticipated road improvements or eliminate an
optional stairwell desired by area merchants. On this basis, if Council chooses to include the
Charles St stairwell in this project, it is recommended that funding in the amount of $428,571 be
allocated from the Provincial Investing in Ontario Grant Program.
John McBride Jeff Willmer
Director of Transportation Planning Interim General Manager,
Development & Technical Services
Grant Murphy
Director of Engineering Services
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