COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
	TO:	Mayor and Members of Council
	FROM:	Stan Bertoia, P. Eng., General Manager, Construction and Utilities
	PREPARED BY:	Stan Lau, P. Eng., Senior Project Engineer
	DATE OF MEETING:	December 14, 2004
	SUBJECT:	Canada-Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (COMRIF)

RECOMMENDATION:

That the report entitled “Canada –Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund” be received;

That the Operations and Asset Management Department be authorized to submit an application to the Canada-Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund for Waste Management, Waste Diversion (Organics Management) by January 10, 2005 due date;

And that Council pass a resolution that the application submitted for Waste Management, Waste Diversion (Organics Management) as the Town’s highest priority for the implementation of Mission Green, Phase 2, 3-Stream Organics Collection under the first intake of the Canada-Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund.

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this report is to obtain Council authority to submit an application to the Canada-Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (COMRIF) and request Council to pass a resolution, in accordance with the application requirements, confirming that Waste Management, Waste Diversion (Organics Management), Phase 2, 3-Stream Organics Collection, as the Town’s highest priority.

BACKGROUND:

The Federal and Provincial Governments and AMO announced the COMRIF on November 15, 2004.

COMRIF is a five-year, $900 million program that is aimed at improving the quality of infrastructure in small and rural municipalities. Generally, all eligible costs for a successful application will be shared on a one-third basis between Federal, Provincial and Municipal Governments.

There will be three intakes of projects. The first intake will end on January 10, 2005. The priorities for the first intake are:

· Water

· Municipal Bridges and Roads

· Waste Water

· Waste Management

Each municipality may submit Only One application in the first intake. An application will normally consist of one project, but, if the projects are similar (i.e. more than one bridge), an application may include more than one project.

The municipal council must pass a resolution that the application submitted is its highest priority.

COMRIF project selection is a competitive, merit-based process and projects will be evaluated using criteria outlined in the application form.

OPTIONS/DISCUSSION:

The Operations and Asset Management Department has reviewed the eligibility criteria specified in the COMRIF Application Guidebook. Based on the eligibility criteria, four (4) programs were identified for consideration for the first intake:

· Water

· Watermain Construction and Replacement ($1,837,000)

· Municipal Bridge and Roads – Bridges and Culvert Improvements Program ($3,120,000)

· Waste Water – Sewer System Upgrade ($615,000)

· Waste Management

· Settlers Park Landfill Management Program ($800,000)

· 3 Stream Implementation Phase II ($1,574,100)

In addition to the merit based project evaluation, one of the conditions for funding approval is that the project(s) must be in construction ready stage in 2005. In consultation with the CCC, it was recommended that the Bridges and Culvert Improvement Program be put forward by the Town for the COMRIF application under the Bridges and Related Structures category. However, after further investigation, it was determined that the bridges are not eligible under the funding criteria.

Staff have further reviewed the funding application requirements and it appears that the Mission Green program may qualify for funding under the program. Specifically, eligible costs may include the capital cost for the carts and kitchen containers and the associated communication and promotion/education costs.

As a result, we are recommending that the Town submit our Mission Green, Phase 2, 3-Stream Organics Collection Program as the Town’s highest priority for the first funding intake.

The detailed COMRIF application forms are being prepared and will be ready for submission prior to the January 10, 2005 application deadline. A copy of the application form is attached as Appendix A.

We have been advised that a response to our application will be provided within approximately 90 days of receipt. Therefore we should receive notification on or about April 10^th, 2005. Notification will be provided both if the application is accepted or not.

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

If the application is successful, funding contributions from both the Federal and Provincial Governments will be two-thirds of the estimated $1,574,100 or approximately $1,049,400. The Town’s contribution will be approximately $524,700. Town funding for the Phase 2, 3-Stream Collection has been pre-approved by Council in the 2005 Capital Budget. The 2005 Town funding for Phase II, 3-Stream collection was established as $1,259,600 from the Waste Management Reserves fund and $314,500 from the Tax Rate.

ATTACHMENT:

Appendix A:- COMRIF Application Form

____________________________________

Stan Bertoia, P. Eng.

General Manager, Construction & Utilities

Peter Loukes, P. Eng. Director of Operations and Asset Management

Jim Sales Commissioner of Community Services and Fire

Q:\Commission Share\Operations and Asset Management\Reports\2004\C & U\Capital Works R.O.W\Canada-Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund.doc