HomeMy WebLinkAboutCS 28-21Report to Council
Report Number: CS 28-21 Date: June 28, 2021
From: Brian Duffield
(Acting) Director, Community Services
Subject: Reallocation of Funds and Grant Endorsement -Green and Inclusive Community Buildings Grant Application for the Restorationof the Redman House Program Centre at the Pickering Museum Village-File: A-1440
Recommendation:
1.That staff be directed, through the Chief Administrative Officer, to submit an applicationunder the Government of Canada’s Green and Inclusive Community Buildings (GICB)
program for the restoration of the Redman House Program Centre at the Pickering
Museum Village;
2.That Pickering Council supports the Redman House application for the Government ofCanada’s GICB grant program; and
3.That the appropriate City of Pickering officials be authorized to take the necessary action to
give effect hereto.
Executive Summary: The Government of Canada’s Green and Inclusive Community Buildings (GICB) program includes a separate stream for smaller community projects. The Redman House Program Centre on the lower museum site serves as the main facility on the property for delivery of programs and amenities, including providing washroom facilities, a kitchen, eating and meeting space and housing the museum’s costume shop and changing facilities on the
second floor. Half of the building is of heritage construction (ca. 1840). It was renovated and expanded with an addition in 2004. The building was identified in the 2021 Capital Budget forecast as requiring immediate remedial repairs, as well as additional restoration work within the next five years. Retrofits, repairs and upgrades to existing community facilities is eligible under the mandate of the GICB grant program, provided that the improvements meet certain environmental
outcomes. These outcomes also align with targets set by the City’s Corporate Energy Management Plan.
Applications for medium retrofit projects are open for continuous intake, and subject to approval and award on a first come, first serve basis until all available funding has been allocated. The
2021 Capital Budget forecast identified $550,000 (net HST rebate) in projected remedial work,
repairs and upgrades required to the Redman House Program Centre over the next 5 years. Additional costs would apply in order to meet the energy performance upgrades mandated by the GICB grant.
CS 28-21 June 28, 2021
Subject: Reallocation of Funds and Grant Endorsement
GICB Grant Application for Redman House Progress Centre Restoration Page 2
The GICB program allows for up to 80 per cent of eligible project costs to be funded by the GICB
with a cap at $3 million in eligible costs for medium retrofit projects. All work must be completed on or before March 31, 2026.
Council approved project 5744.2104 PHCC Preparation & Site Upgrades as part of the 2021 Capital Budget. Approximately half of this funding was for construction costs to address
longstanding grading and drainage issues at the museum’s lower site. Given the opportunity
provided by the GICB grant program, staff recommend that work should be re-prioritized to submit an application and that the timing of the Redman House Program Centre restoration and repair work be advanced, if successful. The related capital costs for grading and drainage would be re-budgeted in 2022, if the GICB grant was secured.
Financial Implications: N/A.
Discussion: The Government of Canada announced the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings (GICB) grant program in April 2021. Staff have reviewed projects included in the Capital Budget forecast and conclude that proposed future repairs and restoration work to the Redman
House Program Centre at the Pickering Museum Village are eligible, and recommend that a grant application be submitted as soon as possible to secure funding. Projects below $10 million in eligible costs are subject to continuous intake and will be awarded funds on a first-come, first-serve basis. A unique opportunity exists to advance this work while also reducing the financial burden to the City.
Staff retained Peto MacCallum Ltd. Consulting Engineers to undertake a building condition audit of the Redman House Program Centre in 2020. The findings of this report translated into separate budgets for immediate repairs in 2022 (5744.2210 - $100,000), as well as design (5744.2303 - $50,000) and construction for restoration and upgrades (5744.2402 - $400,000) which are reflected on the City’s 5 year Capital Forecast budget.
The GICB grant requires submitted medium retrofit projects ($250,000 to $3 million) to achieve Net Zero Carbon Design standards as set out by the Canadian Green Building Council. Complying with this requirement will likely add costs to the original scope of work, but would also provide an opportunity to bring the building into line with energy performance goals set by the City’s Corporate Energy Management Plan. It is difficult to predict what these costs might be until the
related design work has been completed, but an estimated net total cost of $700,000 (net HST rebate) is proposed to address all project costs, including design, construction and related costs, for the purposes of the grant application.
The GICB program can fund up to 80 per cent of eligible project costs, up to maximum of $3 million for medium retrofit projects. As no existing approved funding exists for this specific project,
staff propose to reallocate a portion of existing funds from 5744.2104 PHCC Preparation & Site Upgrades. Half of the funding in this project was included to address various lingering ponding, grading and drainage issues throughout the museum’s lower site. Given the unique opportunity presented by the GICB grant program to address other critical needs to sustain ongoing operation
CS 28-21 June 28, 2021
Subject: Reallocation of Funds and Grant Endorsement
GICB Grant Application for Redman House Progress Centre Restoration Page 3
of the site, staff recommend expanding the permitted use of this project budget to fund the City’s
share of costs for the Redman House Program Centre restoration. This would reinforce the strength of the City’s application by demonstrating that existing funding has been committed for this purpose.
Work associated with GICB grants is not required to be completed until March 31, 2026. A
resolution of Council in support of the application is required as part of the GICB grant submission
requirements.
The Community Services Department recommends that Council endorse an application for GICB grant funding of up to $700,000, and that the scope of work of project 5744.2104.6500 be expanded to demonstrate the City’s commitment to funding its share of costs for this application
from an already approved source. If the City successfully obtains grant funding, both the lower
site regrading project and Redman House Program Centre restoration would be re-submitted for clarity as part of the 2022 Capital Budget.
Prepared By:
Original Signed By:
Vince Plouffe, OAA, RAIC Manager, Facilities Capital Projects
Original Signed By:
Laura Gibbs, MBA, MSc. BA
Manager, Cultural Services
Approved/Endorsed By:
Original Signed By:
Brian Duffield (Acting) Director, Community Services
Original Signed By:
Stan Karwowski, MBA, CPA, CMA
Director, Finance & Treasurer
BD:vp
Recommended for the consideration of Pickering City Council
Original Signed By:
Marisa Carpino, M.A. Chief Administrative Officer