Staff Report: VIEW ROYAL PARK RIPARIAN IMPROVEMENTS FEDERAL FUNDING REQUEST
Engineering report seeking permission to apply for federal funding to include a wetland and salt marsh in the View Royal Park improvements.
TOWN OF VIEW ROYAL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE REPORT
TO: Committee of the Whole DATE: November 2, 2022 FROM: Ivan Leung, P.Eng, Director of Engineering & Parks MEETING DATE: November 8, 2022
VIEW ROYAL PARK RIPARIAN IMPROVEMENTS FEDERAL FUNDING REQUEST
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT the Committee recommend to Council to utilize the Federal Government’s National Infrastructure Fund to fund the installation of the constructed wetland and salt marsh as part of this year’s riparian improvement project at View Royal Park, if the Town is successful in securing the funds.
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER’S COMMENTS:
I concur with the recommendation.
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE’S COMMENTS:
I concur with the recommendation.
PURPOSE OF REPORT:
The purpose of this report is to seek the Committee’s recommendation to Council to utilize the Federal Government’s Natural Infrastructure Fund, if successful, to support the additional funding required to complete the View Royal Park Riparian Improvements project (Capital Project C-035).
BACKGROUND DISCUSSION:
The View Royal Park Development project (C-035) is a multi year project to implement various amenities identified in the newly approved View Royal Park Master Plan. 2022’s works involve the installation of soft landscaping (Items B and F in the order of Magnitude Cost estimate attached to C-035) and includes stormwater management improvements, new plantings in the channel and tidal riparian areas, new trees, and the installation of a constructed wetland and a salt marsh. The budget for these works is $271,300 inclusive of consultant fees, contract administration and construction costs.
Per the order of magnitude estimate, many of the estimates were based on 2010 takeoffs (increased by a nominal inflationary amount). Given the recent supply chain and worker shortages, inflation, and the demand for construction labour, the recent cost estimate provided by the Town’s engineering consultant indicated that the project would be significantly overbudget. In order to maintain this year’s allotted budget the Town reduced the scope by removing the constructed wetland and salt marsh work from this year’s program and to defer these to a future date.
Federal funding was recently available to municipalities to install natural and hybrid infrastructure under the Natural Infrastructure Fund. This fund is to promote and accelerate the installation of such infrastructure that provides community, environmental and economic co-benefits. As a result, the deferred wetland and salt marsh works could be a candidate for this funding, which would be made available in the Spring of 2023. If the Town is successful in obtaining this fund then these amenities can be re-included into the program.
However, the intake period for this fund expired in September 28, 2022. As a result, the Town proceeded to apply for this fund before the expiry of the intake period with the condition that a request be brought forward to the Committee at a later date for approval of the fund, should the Town be successful.
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT the Committee recommend to Council to utilize the Federal Government’s National Infrastructure Fund to fund the installation of the constructed wetland and salt marsh as part of this year’s riparian improvement project at View Royal Park, if the Town is successful in securing the fund.
SUBMITTED BY:
I. Leung, Director of Engineering and Parks
REVIEWED BY:
K. Anema, Chief Administrative Officer
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