HomeMy WebLinkAboutFND-024-11 i
Clarbgton REPORT
FINANCE DEPARTMENT
Meeting: GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
Date: December 12, 2011 Resolution#: - -lt By-law#:
Report#: FND-024-11 File#:
Subject: GREEN MUNICIPAL FUND APPLICATION FOR 173 BASELINE ROAD,
BOWMANVILLE
RECOMMENDATIONS:
I
It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee
recommend to Council the following:
1. THAT Report FND-024-11 be received; and
2. THAT staff submit an application for the feasibility studies and field tests grant
available in the Green Municipal Fund program offered by Federation of
Canadian Municipalities;
3. THAT staff send a letter to the provincial government advising that the
Municipality of Clarington is submitting an application for a grant from the Green
Municipal Fund program offered by Federation of Canadian Municipalities; and
4. THAT the funding for the updated supplemental environmental site assessment
phase 2 and if applicable, a updated phase 1 environmental site assessment ,
designated substance survey and partial site remediation be drawn from the rent
monies collected even if the municipality is unsuccessful in its Green Municipal
Fund grant application.
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Submitted by: � Reviewed by:
Nancy T� ylor, B A, CA. Franklin Wu,
Director of Finance/ Chief Administrative Officer
Treasurer
NT/LG/hjl
CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON
40 TEMPERANCE STREET, BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO L1C 3A6 T 905-623-3379
REPORT NO.: FND-024-11 PAGE 2
1.0 BACKGROUND
1.1 The property located at the municipal address of 173 Baseline Road,
Bowmanville, Ontario (formerly Mr. Art Robinson's property) vested in the
Municipality of Clarington in October 2004 from a failed property tax sale in 2003
due to suspected contamination on the property and the large outstanding
property taxes.
1.2 The municipality had a phase 1 and 2 environmental site assessment completed
in June and September 2004 along with a designated substance survey.
1.3 As a result of the 2004 phase 2 ESA and designated substance survey, it was
recommended that a supplemental site assessment be done in areas that were
inaccessible due to storage of equipment in the interior and exterior of the
warehouse building (southern building on the property). The depth and range of
the contamination below surface grade was required in order to provide an
estimate for the cleanup/restoration of the property. A detailed substance survey
was also recommended if any building or sections of a building were to be
demolished or renovated as some areas were inaccessible due to storage of
equipment.
1.4 Subsequently, all the equipment owned by Mr. Robinson and/or his brother have
been removed from the property leaving piles of debris inside and outside the
warehouse building as well as several soil mounds containing old tires, concrete
pieces, metal rods and waste including soils from unknown origins.
1.5 The company Aecon Ltd. rented the property at 173 Baseline Road for a period
between 2005 and 2009 and the rent monies have been set aside in the Rate
Stabilization reserve fund in the approximate amount of$100,000.00.
1.6 All of the recommendations in this report are intended to address (and hopefully
settle) issues that are being litigated in a civil action filed by Mr. Robinson against
the Municipality with the ultimate intent to dispose of the property.
2.0 Green Municipal Fund
2.1 The Green Municipal Fund (GMF) is the Federation of Canadian Municipalities
(FCM) funding program that is available to all municipal governments and their
partners for eligible projects.
2.2 Eligible project types are plans; studies and tests; and capital projects in the
areas of brownfields, energy, transportation, waste and water sectors.
REPORT NO.: FND-024-11 PAGE 3
2.3 Grants are offered up to 50% of the eligible costs for plans, feasibility studies and
field tests to a maximum of $175,000 in the areas of brownfields, energy,
transportation, waste and water sectors.
2.4 Prerequisites and supporting documents are required when submitting the
application form to FCM for the Green Municipal Fund program. The
prerequisites and supporting documents vary depending upon the project type
applied for.
3.0 CONCURRENCE:
3.1 This report has been reviewed by Andy Allison, Municipal Solicitor and Marie
Marano, Director of Corporate Services, who concur with the recommendations.
4.0 CONCLUSION
4.1 As it's been seven (7) years since the phase 2 ESA was completed on the 173
Baseline Road property and there have been legislated amendments to the
Environmental regulations, staff are requesting updated supplemental ESA
phase 2 (and if it's in the best interest of the municipality to have a Record of
Site Condition report, an updated phase 1 ESA is required) and designated
substance survey quotations from environmental consulting firms.
4.2 Staff is also requesting real estate appraisal and quotes on the removal of debris
from the property; however, there is some hindrance for the removal until the
supplemental ESA phase 2 is completed and the extent of contamination is
known.
4.3 Staff is recommending that the municipality submit an application for the
feasibility studies and field tests grant available in the Green Municipal Fund
program offered by FCM.
4.4 The phase 2 supplemental ESA and designated substance survey are eligible
projects in the feasibility studies and field tests for the brownfield category for a
grant to cover up to 50% of eligible costs to a maximum of $175,000. The
municipality's portion of the funding would be funded from the rent monies.
4.5 Staff recommend that the funding for the phase 2 supplemental ESA, designated
substance survey and partial remediation of the property (i.e. debris removal) be
funded from the rent monies even if the municipality is unsuccessful in its grant
application for GMF.
4.6 Some of the prerequisites for the GMF application are that Council approves the
submission of the application form and source of funding and that a letter from
the municipality is sent to the provincial government advising that the municipality
is submitting an application for a grant from the GMF offered by FCM.
REPORT NO.: FND-024-11 PAGE 4
4.7 Staff believes a more updated detailed report on the extent of the contamination
and the designated substance survey along with the estimated costs of
cleanup/remediation will be necessary for the municipality to receive sincere,
realistic offers of purchase for the property.
CONFORMITY WITH STRATEGIC PLAN
The recommendations contained in this report conform to the general intent of the
following priorities of the Strategic Plan:
X Promoting economic development
X Maintaining financial stability
_ Connecting Clarington
X Promoting green initiatives
Investing in infrastructure
_ Showcasing our community
Not in conformity with Strategic Plan
Staff Contact: Nancy M. Taylor, Director of Finance/Treasurer
List of interested parties to be advised of Council's decision:
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing