General Committee

 

 

 

 

 

TO:

Mayor and Members of Council

 

 

 

 

FROM:

Alan Brown, Director of Engineering

 

 

 

 

PREPARED BY:

Alan Brown, Director of Engineering

Ralph Ehlers, P. Eng Capital Engineer

 

 

 

 

DATE OF MEETING:

2005-Feb-28

 

 

 

 

SUBJECT:

Town of Markham

10 Year Capital Infrastructure Program (2005-2015)

 

 

 

 

 

RECOMMENDATION:

That the staff report entitled “Town of Markham 10 Year Capital Infrastructure Program, (2005-2015)” be received;

 

And that the 10 Year Capital Program for roads, bridges, sidewalks and illumination projects be endorsed;

 

And that the Director of Engineering with the assistance of the Manger of Purchasing be authorized to negotiate an appropriate fee and retain Aquafor Beech Ltd as a preferred supplier to prepare a 10 year implementation plan for the environmental projects in the 2004 Development Charges Background Study;

 

And that the Town Solicitor be authorized to retain, on a contract basis, staff person or consultant to negotiate and finalize property acquisitions necessary to implement the Engineering Departments 10 Year Capital Program;

 

And that the cost of the Legal Department contract staff or consultant be assessed to the various capital projects under the Engineering Department Capital Budget;

 

And that if staff cannot secure consultant services for the design of sidewalk and illumination projects at a competitive price through the purchasing by-law process then the Director of

 

 

Engineering with the assistance of the Manager of Purchasing be authorized to negotiate consultant services on a preferred supplier basis;

 

And that Mr. Keith Bray, Markham Board of Trade, Ms. A Yip, Scarborough/York Chinese Business Association, and Mr. K. Schipper, Commissioner of Works, Region of York, be advised accordingly.

 

PURPOSE:

To obtain Council’s approval for the scheduling of the road, sidewalk and illumination construction program for the next 10 years (2005-2015) so that staff can program the multi year implementation steps to deliver the projects.

 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

The Engineering Department has prepared a 10 year Infrastructure Program for roads related works from 2005 – 2015 based on the updated Development Charges Study of August 2004, the Region of York’s 2005 and 10 year Capital Program and anticipated development phasing. This 10 year program will allow staff to program the various steps (EA, design, tender, approvals, property acquisition, construction) and identify staffing requirements to deliver the Capital Program.

 

BACKGROUND:

In April 2003 Council approved the 2003 and 10 Year Capital Program for the roads and bridges and requested staff to update the program on a yearly basis.  Staff submitted a report in June 2004 updating the program as it relates to the schedule for Birchmount Avenue and Rodick Road.  Council directed staff report back with the 2005 and 10 year program for all of the hard infrastructure.

 

In August 2004 as part of the Development Charges Background Study the Town of Markham consultant prepared a capital program based on the 2003 and 10 year capital program previously approved by Council.

 

The proposed 2005 and 10 year Capital Program while utilizing the cost estimates and funding sources defined in the August  2004 Development Charges Background Study provides a more detailed schedule.

 

The August 2004 Development Charges Study outlined the following hard services infrastructure required to accommodate growth approved in OPA #5.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs

Roads

$99 million

Structures

$ 85 million

Sidewalk

$ 15 million

Illumination

$11 million

Sanitary

$ 21 million

Storm/Environmental

$ 68 million

Water

$ 24 million

Intersection

$ 12 million

Total

$335 million

 

As illustrated in Attachment ‘F’ it currently takes from 2 years to 5 years to deliver an infrastructure project depending on Environmental Assessment requirements and appeals, property requirements, expropriations and appeals, approvals (environmental agencies, Hydro One, CN, GO  Transit, 407 ETR, MTO, Region, etc.) and utilities relocates.

 

The approval by Council of the 10 Year Capital Program allows staff to program the projects through the various steps, determine staffing requirements and enable the Finance Department to project the timing of future funding requirements (development charges, tax rate, debentures).

 

10 Year Capital Program

Engineering staff have prepared the 10 year program for road/structure, sidewalk and illumination based on the following criteria;

  • Development phasing
  • Anticipated demand for infrastructure
  • Coordination with Region projects (sidewalks, illumination, sewer and watermain installation)
  • Available staff resources to manage the projects

 

Staff will on a yearly basis update the program based on the above criteria and submit an updated 10 Year Capital Program for Council’s concurrence.

 

This program relates only to capital projects listed in the August 2004 Development Charges Background Study.  The Operations and Asset Management Department will budget and program capital projects related to capital replacement or repair of existing hard infrastructure (roads, bridges, etc.) which are funded by the tax rate.   In addition sidewalk and illumination in existing communities funded by the tax rate are also budgeted and programmed under the Operations and Asset Management Department.

 

Road/Structures

Attachment ‘A’ denotes the 10 year program for roads and bridge structures required to be constructed to accommodate OPA #5.    Attachment ‘B’ provides a more detailed overview of the infrastructure in the Markham Centre Area including the timing of Regional road works.

Over the next 10 years approximately $87.4 million of investment in municipal roads/bridges is required as noted in Attachment ‘C’.  Some of the projects listed beyond the ten year program (2015) such as Riverside Drive and Scibberas Drive in Markham Centre are dependent on the development schedule and may be advanced if development proceeds within the next 10 years.  Staff will update this program on a yearly basis and submit to Council for approval.

 

Sidewalks

Of a total of $15 million in the August 2004 Development Charges Background Study, approximately $10.6 million has been assigned over the next 10 years to install sidewalks as listed in Attachment ‘D’.   An annual allowance of $270,000 has been made for sidewalks not associated with either Regional or Town road construction projects but rather installation within existing road cross-sections not defined to date.  The ability to deliver the sidewalk program is often dependent on available property, utility relocates and agency approval.  If these issues cannot be resolved expeditiously than the project may have to be delayed.

 

Specific requests in 2004 from the public and Council to be implemented in 2005/2006 are:

  • Yonge Street (east side) @ Hwy 407 – to be undertaken by 407 ETR as part of their bridge widening late 2005
  • 16th Avenue (north side) - Brother Andre School to 9th Line, scheduled for Fall 2005
  • Hwy 7 (south side) – Leslie Street to East Commerce Valley Drive, scheduled for Summer 2005
  • Hwy 7 east of Oakcrest Avenue – The Hwy 7 structure is not wide enough to accommodate a sidewalk and it is not feasible to widen the structure using traditional methods.  Staff will review other options to confirm its viability, cost and timing.
  • 14th Avenue (southside) - Boxgrove Crescent to 9th Line to be implemented spring 2005.

 

Subsequent to the Engineering Department 2005 Capital Budget submission and approval, the YRTP has requested sidewalks be constructed in 2005 on:

  1. Highway 7 between Commerce Valley Drive East and East Valhalla Drive on the south side
  2. Highway 7 between Highway 404 and Woodbine Avenue on the north side
  3. Highway 7 between South Park Road to Times Avenue on the south side
  4. South Town Centre Blvd between Hwy 7 and the new YRTP bus stop on the east side.

 

To advance the first three (3) sidewalk projects in 2005 it will require that $328,440.00 be funded by ASDC ($130,863), Town Wide Hard ($23,337) and the Pre-DCA Engineer Reserve ($174,240).  The fourth project will be constructed by the developer in 2006/2007 through the Site Plan Control Agreement and suitable ASDC credits granted at the agreement stage.  The YRTP’s request for the 3 sidewalks has been accommodated in the existing budget by deferring the Major Mackenzie sidewalk to 2006.

 

Illumination

Of a total of 11 million in the August 2004 Development Charges Background Study approximately $8.2 million of street light installation has been programmed to install street lights on arterial and collector roads for new developments as listed in Attachment ‘E’.  An allowance of $130,000 per year has also been set aside for projects not associated with Regional or Town road construction projects.

 

Consultant Services

The Engineering Department is currently experiencing a lack of interest and competitive pricing by consultants to design, tender and provide contract administration for individual sidewalk and illumination projects.  Staff will attempt to bundle various projects together to make them more attractive for consultants to bid on.  If this is not successful in getting consultants to bid on the projects or the fees are excessive, the Director of Engineering with the assistance of the Manager of Purchasing request authorization under clause 7(h) of the purchasing by-law to negotiate consultant services with consulting engineering firms and retain a firm for individual or multiple sidewalk or illumination projects.

 

Property Acquisition

In order to successfully deliver the various capital projects on schedule, property acquisition is a critical component.  Discussion with the Legal Department re pending property acquisitions in 2005 (Attachment ‘G’), and other property acquisitions related to development (South Unionville, Box Grove) requiring their assistance, reveals a need for additional resources for the Town’s Manager of Real Property.  Accordingly staff recommends the Town Solicitor be authorized to retain on a contract basis the necessary staff to assist the Manager of Real Property in securing the identified properties to enable the various capital projects to proceed with construction.  The cost of the contract staff will be allocated to the individual project capital budget accounts and largely funded by development charges.

 

Environmental Projects

In the August 2004 Development Charges Background Study, works related to mitigating the impact of development on our watercourses were defined and included in the Town Wide Hard Development Charges By-law as 44.65 million out of the $68 million total for storm related works.  The works total $44.65 million of which $ 17.95 million are funded by development charges, ± $15.75 million from the non-growth sources (Pre DCA Engineering Reserve and tax rate) and ± $10.95 million from local developers.

 

An implementation plan is required to prioritize and program these works.  Staff request authority to sole source the consultant engineering assignment to Aquafor Beech Ltd. who prepared the technical study for the Development Charges Study for the environmental works.  As Aquafor Beech Ltd has completed the detailed evaluation of our watercourses, it would be the most economical and expeditious means to prepare the implementation plan.  Staff will negotiate the appropriate fee schedule with Aquafor Beech Ltd to be funded under project #6777.

 

Project Management

Attachment ‘C’, which denotes the capital funds for just the road/bridges required over the next 10 years, indicates that the capital program is continuing to increase and will peak in 2008.  Attachment ‘F’ denotes the various steps over a 3 to 5 year time period to implement the various projects.  Some projects required for construction in 2008 will have to commence this year in respect to design and approvals.  Staff will on a yearly basis advise through the budget process resources required (i.e. staff secondment, redeployment, consultant, contract positions) to manage the projects.

 

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

The peak construction years as identified in the 10 year Infrastructure Program are 2005-2010. This will result in some strain on the Town’s financial ability to fund without debenturing.   The Corporation can expect to be in a position to require debentures by 2006 to finance development related capital projects.  Interest accrued from the need to finance development related projects is recoverable from development charges from the development charges component only.

 

ATTACHMENTS:

Attachment ‘A’ - Map – Town of Markham – 10 Year Major Road Program (2005-2015)

Attachment ‘B’ - Map – Markham Centre - 10 Year Major Road Program (2005-2015)

Attachment ‘C’ - Town of Markham Ten Year Major Capital Projects 2005-2015

Attachment ‘D’ - 10 Year Sidewalk Program (2005-2015)

Attachment ‘E’ - 10 Year Illumination Program (2005 -2015)

Attachment ‘F’ - Road Project Schedule

Attachment ‘G’ – 2005 Property Requirements

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alan Brown, C.E.T.

Director of Engineering

 

Jim Baird, M.C.I.P., R.P.P.

Commissioner of Development Services

 

Q:\Development\Engineering\REPORTS\2005\Feb\Report 10 YR Markham Capital Program.doc