Cachet Estates Sanitary Sewer System

Report to: General Committee Report Date: August 23, 2010

SUBJECT: Cachet Estates Sanitary Sewer System

PREPARED BY: Prathapan Kumar, Acting Manager of ROW & Environmental Assets, Ext. 2989

RECOMMENDATION:

1) THAT the report entitled “Cachet Estates Sanitary Sewer System” be received;

2) AND THAT the Asset Management Department be authorized to retain a consulting engineer to undertake a feasibility study and develop servicing concepts (“Feasibility Study”) for the Cachet Estates Sanitary Sewer System;

3) AND THAT the cost of the Feasibility Study and all related administrative costs, estimated in the amount of $124,380, be up fronted by the Town from the Waterworks Stabilization/Capital Reserve Fund and, if the project proceeds, the cost be recovered from the benefiting property owners in accordance with Section 391 of the Municipal Act;

4) AND THAT a capital project be established for the Feasibility Study and all related administrative costs;

5) AND THAT on completion of the Feasibility Study, the residents be advised of servicing options and total project costs, and be requested to provide their decision as to whether to proceed with the detailed design and construction of the Cachet Estates Sanitary Sewer System;

6) AND THAT the Asset Management Department staff report back to Council regarding the residents’ decision and staff recommendation;

7) AND THAT if the Cachet Estates Sanitary Sewer System is to proceed, the total project cost be up fronted by the Town and recovered by imposing an equal fee against the benefiting property owners in accordance with Section 391 of the Municipal Act;

8) AND THAT staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this report is to obtain Council authorization to retain a consulting engineer to undertake a feasibility study and develop servicing concepts (“Feasibility Study”) of the Cachet Estates Sanitary Sewer System.

BACKGROUND:

Cachet Estates is a mature residential area located on the south side of Major Mackenzie Drive between Woodbine Avenue and Warden Avenue. The study area comprises 237 homes which are currently served by individual septic systems (Attachment “A”).

OPTIONS/ DISCUSSION:

On July 16, 2010, the Town received petitions from the area residents requesting the Town to install a municipal sanitary sewer system to serve the area. 159 residents signed the petition in support of a municipal sanitary sewer out of 237 residents (67.1%) – Attachment “B”.

The residents also acknowledged that they are required to pay for the full cost of the work if the project proceeds with construction.

Due to the magnitude of work involved (such as analyzing various servicing options and associated cost estimates, communicating with 237 property owners, etc), it is estimated that contract resources will be required to manage the Feasibility Study. Extensive staff time is utilized during the feasibility study stage compared to design/construction stage. As a reference, the following staff time was utilized managing previous sanitary sewer local improvement projects:

· Glenbourne Community Sanitary Sewer (74 properties) – 0.5 FTE along with the consultant

· Robinson Street Laneway Sanitary Sewer (4 properties) – 0.25 FTE including internal design

In comparison, Cachet Estates is three times bigger (237 properties) than the Glenbourne Community project.

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS AND TEMPLATE:

If authorized by Council, a budget of $124,380 will be required to fund the cost for the Feasibility Study and all related administrative costs (including contract internal resources required to manage the project). A capital project account will be established for this project.

The project cost will be up fronted from the Waterworks Stabilization/Capital Reserve Fund and will be recovered from the benefiting property owners if the project proceeds, by imposing an equal fee against the benefiting property owners in accordance with Section 391 of the Municipal Act.

If the Cachet Estates Sanitary Sewer System project does not proceed, the cost for the Feasibility Study and all related administrative costs (including the additional internal resource required to manage the project) will not be recovered from the property owners.

HUMAN RESOURCES CONSIDERATIONS:

Not applicable

ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC CONSIDERATIONS:

Eliminating the existing septic system and replacing with the sanitary sewer system will reduce the sulphur loading in the soil and ground water in the nearby areas and enhance the overall environment.

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

The Finance, Legal and Operations (Waterworks) Departments have been consulted, provided input and reviewed this report. The Finance Department have reviewed this report and concur that funding will be available from the Waterworks Stabilization/Capital Reserve Fund for the Feasibility Study.