HomeMy WebLinkAboutOPS 06-22 Report to
Executive Committee
Report Number: OPS 06-22
Date: March 7, 2022
From: Brian Duffield
Director, Operations
Subject: Winter Control of Proposed Waterfront Trail Boardwalk
- File: A-1440
Recommendation:
1. That Council receive Report OPS 06-22 regarding winter control of the proposed
waterfront trail boardwalk for information.
Executive Summary: At Council Meeting of December 13, 2021, Council endorsed
Report ENG 25-21 regarding the Beachfront Park Rehabilitation & Needs Assessment
(Resolution 745-21). The report provided a project status update and recommendation to
proceed with the preferred design of a 6.6m wide elevated waterfront trail boardwalk to replace
the original boardwalk removed in 2019. Detailed design of the Final Preferred Design Option
drawings will proceed in 2022, subject to Council approval of the 2022 Capital Budget.
At the February 7, 2022 Planning & Development Committee meeting, staff were directed to
report on the possibility of making the new waterfront trail boardwalk, that is part of the
Beachfront Park Revitalization Project, accessible for all four seasons and to provide options
and costs associated with a safe de-icing program.
Staff have considered the winter control of the proposed waterfront trail boardwalk and have
indicated two other sections of the waterfront trail that staff intend to add to the winter control
program once other capital infrastructure projects are completed.
Financial Implications: Final costs and impacts on future Capital and Current budgets is
best left until the design is completed; however, staff have prepared preliminary costs for the
winter control of the proposed 6.6m wide elevated waterfront trail in Beachfront Park.
Staff have reviewed the method and timing of exercising winter control for Beachfront Park,
which is a high activity recreation destination in all four seasons. With this in mind, staff are
recommending dedicating additional staff and equipment to provide winter control for
Beachfront Park to avoid the considerable delay of services, should we have to complete all
regulatory winter control before attending to the Parks winter control needs. In addition, staff
are sensitive to the environmental concerns of the lakefront and will be researching and
seeking approval for environmentally acceptable de-icing products in consultation with OPG
and TRCA.
The City has to be proactive in its risk mitigation strategy if this section of the trail is to be
maintained all year round. As stated in the body of the report, regular scheduled seven days
OPS 06-22 March 7, 2022
Subject: Winter Control of the Proposed Waterfront Trail Boardwalk Page 2
per week inspection and maintenance of the trail would be required to ensure that it is properly
maintained and safe for Pickering residents to enjoy. This standard care will likely require an
investment of funds through the annual budget process to ensure that the trail is properly
maintained and safe. The challenge for staff may be to strike a balance between
environmentally safe de-icing products and their ability to provide the required level of safety
for Pickering residents. However, Council should be made aware, that in those rare instances
where safe conditions on the trail may not be achieved through the use of environmentally safe
de-icing products, those impacted sections of the trail may be restricted from pedestrian
access until such a time that staff can address the situation satisfactorily.
2023 Capital Budget Implications:
Public Works’ staff recommend adding the following vehicle and equipment expenditures
totaling $142,000 into the 2023 Parks & Property Capital Budget.
Item Approximate
Cost
Rationale
One Ton Pickup Truck $114,000 This is the largest plow that the elevated trail
can accommodate.
8.5ft Plow & Harness &
1.8 Yard Salter
$28,000 Environmental de-icers are compatible with
the bed mounted salter unit.
Total $142,000
2023 Current Budget Implications:
Public Works’ staff are proposing to submit the following labour and material requests totaling
$108,000 annually in the 2023 Parks & Property Current Budget. Staff calculations are based
on two staff attending to provide plowing and/or de-icing service 50 times in a winter season.
Item Approximate
Cost
Rationale
Maintenance Workers, Parks
& Property (per winter
season)
$58,200 Allows staff to respond to winter events
without waiting for all regulatory winter control
activities to be completed.
Environmentally Sensitive
De-icer
$50,000 De-icer delivered in 1 tonne tote bags that
must be stored inside. Spread rate of 75
grams/m2.
Total $108,000
Discussion: The waterfront trail is divided into the following three separate trail systems:
1. First Nations Trail – This trail starts at the Toronto/Pickering border at the end of Dyson
Road and ends at Monarch Trail entrance on Beachpoint Promenade (3.0 km).
2. Monarch Trail – This trail starts at Beachpoint Promenade, goes around Frenchman’s
Bay, and ends at Beachfront Park at the bottom of Liverpool Road (4.8 km).
OPS 06-22 March 7, 2022
Subject: Winter Control of the Proposed Waterfront Trail Boardwalk Page 3
3. Peak Trail – This trail starts at Beachfront Park and ends at the Pickering/Ajax border at
the end of Frisco Road (4.2 km).
Currently, the City provides winter control for a total of 6.1 kilometers of the 12.0 kilometer
waterfront trail. First Nations Trail currently has 1.3 kilometres that the City provides winter
control for (the on-street sections of the trail along Rodd Avenue and from Marksbury Road
over to Beachpoint Promenade). Monarch Trail currently has 4.0 kilometers that the City
provides winter control for (both on street and residential concrete sidewalk sections of the
trail). Peak Trail currently has 0.8 kilometers that the City provides winter control for (the 3.2
metre wide asphalt waterfront trail section from Sandy Beach Road to Brock Road).
There are three sections of the waterfront trail that have planned capital improvements that will
allow these sections to be added to the winter control program (see attachment).
1. First Nations Trail – With the recent acquisition of properties on Marksbury Road and
West Shore Boulevard, and in collaboration with TRCA, the road route of the waterfront
trail via Surf Avenue will be eliminated and replaced by a new section of waterfront trail
between West Shore Boulevard and Marksbury Road. The design and construction of
this new section of waterfront trail will be included in a future Capital Budget, and will be
subject to Council approval through the Capital Budget approval process. This link will
then be added to the winter control program upon completion of construction.
2. Monarch Trail – The reconstruction of the existing walkway between Elvira Court and
Bruce Handscomb Memorial Park was included in the approved 2021 Capital Budget.
The current width and alignment of this section of trail does not allow for safe winter
control operations, however, when the reconstruction is complete, it will be able to be
added to the winter control program.
3. Peak Trail – The Beachfront Park Master Plan includes the installation of the 6.6m wide
elevated waterfront trail boardwalk that replaces the original boardwalk removed in
2019. This link will be added to the winter control program upon completion of the new
boardwalk. In addition, the link from the south end of Liverpool Road, through
Millennium Square to the west end of the new waterfront boardwalk will have to be
added to the winter control program. Final design details of this section have yet to be
completed.
The section of waterfront trail on Montgomery Park Road between Sandy Beach Road and
Brock Road was reconstructed to a 3.2m wide asphalt trail in 2018. This section of the
waterfront trail has always been on the winter control program, as it provides a safe walkway
for OPG staff attending their training centre.
Operations’ staff will be working with Engineering Services’ staff on the Beachfront Park
waterfront trail boardwalk design and will ensure that it is designed and constructed in a
manner compatible with future winter control by Operations Parks’ staff.
Operations’ staff will also complete a full review of de-icer products available, prior to assuming
winter control of the boardwalk, and, in collaboration with TRCA and OPG, will select the most
appropriate product accounting for the environmental sensitivity of area in which it will be used.
OPS 06-22 March 7, 2022
Subject: Winter Control of the Proposed Waterfront Trail Boardwalk Page 4
Attachments:
1.Winter Sidewalk - Waterfront Trail-Display Map
Prepared By: Approved/Endorsed By:
Original Signed By: Original Signed By:
Brian Duffield Stan Karwowski, MBA, CPA, CMA
Director, Operations Director, Finance & Treasure
BD:nm
Recommended for the consideration
of Pickering City Council
Marisa Carpino, M.A.
Chief Administrative Officer
Original Signed By:
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ROUTE LEGEND
CURRENTLY MAINTAINED
WATERFRONT TRAIL SNOW REMOVAL
NOT MAINTAINED
Operations Department
SCALE 1:11 250
PROPOSED FOR FUTURE
MAINTENANCE
WINTER 2022
TRAIL BOUNDARY