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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPUB-013-24 Staff Report ,If this information is required in an alternate accessible format, please contact the Accessibility Coordinator at 905-623-3379 ext. 2131. Report To: General Government Committee Date of Meeting: October 7, 2024 Report Number: PUB-013-24 Authored by: Mariano Perini, Director of Public Works Submitted By: Lee-Ann Reck, Deputy CAO, Public Services Reviewed By: Rob Maciver, Deputy CAO/Solicitor By-law Number: Resolution Number: File Number: Report Subject: Scugog Street Outfall Recommendations: 1. That Report PUB-013-24, and any related delegations or communication items, be received; 2. That Council approve an expenditure of up to $1,000,000 to complete the required repair to the Scugog Street storm sewer outfall and the funds for this project come from the Municipality’s annual allocation of the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF) grant; and 3. That all interested parties listed in Report PUB-013-24, and any delegations be advised of Council’s decision. Municipality of Clarington Page 2 Report PUB-013-24 Report Overview This report recommends that council approve the funding needed to repair the Scugog Street storm sewer outfall, which is currently in disrepair and has no current capital funding allocation. 1. Background 1.1 Public Works received a complaint regarding a sink hole next to 30 Scugog Street in Bowmanville. Staff attended the location and completed the surface repair. A subsequent complaint was received that the sink hole had re-appeared and staff began a more in-depth investigation. 1.2 A more thorough investigation revealed that a storm sewer pipe is directly beneath this location, and it has failed. The existing storm sewer is a part of an outfall system that drains a catch basin on Scugog Street as well as a drainage area north of the Canadian Pacific Rail (CPR) at intersection of Wellington Street and Concession Street W. 2. Further Investigation 2.1 The storm outfall is located within a very narrow easement between two adjacent private properties. The current depth and grade of the outfall poses significant challenges due to the proximity of the outfall pipe to the foundation of the house at 30 Scugog Street. 2.2 While reviewing the outfall pipe it was also discovered that the headwall which outlets into Bowmanville Creek is also in very poor condition with significant erosion not only around the structure itself but also the channel which conveys to the creek. This should be repaired while the outfall pipe is replaced but will require more complex permitting with external agencies and conservation authorities. 2.3 The current overall condition of the outfall system is very poor, and delaying the repair until next fiscal year will contribute to the decay of this infrastructure. Should a complete failure occur, damage may extend to adjacent properties resulting in additional costs to the municipality. 2.4 The municipality’s legal services will assist in determining the easement and assessing the potential impacts of privately owned properties. Municipality of Clarington Page 3 Report PUB-013-24 3. Financial Considerations 3.1 This project was not included in the 2024 capital budget plan due to the timing of discovery. 3.2 Public Works and the Planning & Infrastructure Department discussed completing the project together in-house. However, due to current workloads and staff shortages, adding this project to the current year was not possible. 3.3 This project will require significant design and permitting processes related to the challenges noted above. An experienced engineering consulting firm is required to complete the design of the repairs, subsequent inspections and contract administration. 3.4 The preliminary estimated cost to complete the project is between $750,000 and $1,000,000. 3.5 Funding for this project will come from the Municipality’s annual allocation of the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF) grant. The Municipality will receive approximately $3.3 million in OCIF funding in 2024. The Municipality also has approximately $2.3 million remaining from past allocations, bringing the total unallocated balance to approximately $5.6 million. Therefore, there is no tax support impact for this project. 3.6 OCIF funding can only be applied to the renewal, rehabilitation, and replacement of core infrastructure assets, such as water infrastructure, wastewater infrastructure (including storm sewer systems), roads, bridges, and culverts. 3.7 It should be noted that OCIF funding is only available to Municipalities with populations under 100,000. As Clarington has now exceeded the population threshold, the Municipality will no longer receive an annual OCIF funding allocation beyond 2024. The Municipality’s remaining OCIF funds will be allocated through the 2025 capital budget. Utilizing these funds for this project will mitigate the risk of having to return OCI F funds that are unspent. 4. Strategic Plan 4.1 This project relates to the Lead pillar under Clarington’s strategic plan, in particular section L.2.5: Maintain, protect and invest in Municipal infrastructure and assets. This type of repair demonstrates the importance of an enhanced asset management plan and condition-based assessments to help develop a funding strategy for aging assets. Municipality of Clarington Page 4 Report PUB-013-24 5. Climate Change 5.1 Climate impacts and increased storm and rainfall through the summer months necessitate a thorough examination and consideration of increasing the size of the outfall. Such adjustments are crucial to accommodate the rising water volumes and to mitigate potential flooding risks, ensuring the infrastructure's resilience and longevity 6. Concurrence This report has been reviewed by the Deputy CAO / Treasurer who concurs with the recommendations. 7. Conclusion It is respectfully recommended that council consider and approve the request of the required funds to repair the Scugog Street outfall system. Staff Contact: Brett Novak, Manger of Operations, 905-623-3379 extension 2909 or bnovak@clarington.net. Attachments: Not Applicable Interested Parties: There are no interested parties to be notified of Council's decision.