HomeMy WebLinkAboutCAO 04-06
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REPORT TO
COUNCIL
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Report Number: CAO-04-06
Date: October 10, 2006
From:
Thomas J. Quinn
Chief Administrative Officer
Subject:
Duffin Creek Water Pollution Control Plant Expansion
Environmental Assessment Update and Local Project Impacts
Part of Lots 15 to 18, Range 2 & 3, B.F.C., and Various Road Allowances
File: L-4650-022
Recommendation:
1. That Report CAO-04-06 of the Chief Administrative Officer be received;
2. That Council authorizes the Chief Administrative Officer to negotiate with the
Regional Municipalities of York and Durham the final terms and conditions of
conveying City lands / road allowances in order to accommodate the Duffin Creek
Water Pollution Control Plant expansion, in keeping with those identified preliminary
matters of City interest recommended by the Waterfront Coordinating Committee
and City staff, as outlined in Appendix I to Report CAO-04-06;
3. That Council authorizes the Chief Administrative Officer to commence the process
of land disposition for those lands / road allowances needed to accommodate the
proposed Duffin Creek Water Pollution Control Plant expansion;
4. That Council authorizes the appropriate officials of the City of Pickering to review
and approve, to the City's satisfaction, temporary security fencing, grading work
and trail realignment works proposed by the Regional Municipalities of York and
Durham required to accommodate their proposed construction schedule; and
5. Further, that the Chief Administrative Officer report back to Council on the final
negotiated terms and conditions of the proposed land/road allowance conveyances,
and obtain authorization to effect the transfer of the lands, if appropriate.
Executive Summary: The Regional Municipalities of York and Durham (the Regions)
have recently completed a Schedule C Municipal Class Environmental Assessment for the
provision of additional wastewater treatment capacity at the Duffin Creek Water Pollution
Control Plant located in the City of Pickering. That process has concluded that expansion
of the existing Plant is the preferred alternative.
In order to accommodate the proposed expanded footprint of the Plant, City lands / road
allowances are required to be transferred to the Regions. It is recommended that Council
authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to negotiate with the Regions those final terms
L~Ttort CAO 04-06
October 10, 2006
Subject: Duffin Creek Water Pollution Control Plant Expansion
Page 2
and conditions that would achieve City objectives for the waterfront area and lands
surrounding the expanded Water Pollution Control Plant, in exchange for the conveyance
of City lands. It is further recommended that Council authorize appropriate City staff to
review and approve preliminary works that need to be completed this fall in order to
maintain the proposed construction schedule for Plant expansion.
Financial Implications: No costs or revenues are anticipated to be incurred or realized
by the City for those works to be completed by the Regional Municipalities of York and
Durham that are negotiated in exchange for the transfer / conveyance of City lands. The
Regions will pay for all costs associated with authorized land transfers.
Municipal Class Environmental Assessment Study
The Regional Municipalities of York and Durham have completed a Schedule C Municipal
Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) process for the provision of additional
wastewater treatment capacity at the Duffin Creek Water Pollution Control Plant. This
Plant is part of the York Durham Sewage System, and was designed in the early 1970's to
be constructed in four stages. The first two stages were completed in 1976 and 1988
respectively.
It is projected that the proposed stage 3 expansion is required to be completed by 2010 in
order to meet the requirements for future planned growth in the Regions. The current
works proposed by the Regions will also accommodate the proposed future stage 4
expansion to the Plant (see Property Location Map - Attachment 1).
The Environmental Study Report (ESR) required under a Schedule C Municipal Class EA
is now complete and was made available for public review and comment from September
22, 2006 to October 23, 2006. The Study can be viewed in the Pickering Central Library,
or the offices of the Regional Municipalities of York and Durham. The Study can also be
viewed on the Region of Durham's website (www.region.durham.on.ca/duffincreek). City
staff will be reviewing the document to ensure municipal interests are maintained.
Proposed City Objectives
The City acknowledges the necessity and benefits of the future expansion of the Duffin
Creek Water Pollution Control Plant. The City must also protect local interests and ensure
that the Plant expansion does not negatively impact on the community's use and
enjoyment of the surrounding lands.
The Waterfront Coordinating Committee met on September 21, 2006, to discuss, among
other matters, this project and its impact on the waterfront and the Waterfront Trail. From
that meeting, a number of recommendations were made, representing proposed "net
benefits" to the City that should be implemented in exchange for conveying existing City
Report CAO 04-06
October 10, 2006
Subject: Duffin Creek Water Pollution Control Plant Expansion
Page 3
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lands / road allowances to support the Plant expansion (see September 21, 2006
Waterfront Coordinating Committee Meeting Minutes - Attachment 2).
City staff have also been working with the Regions on a preliminary basis to identify
recommended actions they could take to maintain community waterfront and Waterfront
Trail access and benefits. A preliminary listing of all recommended actions made by both
the Waterfront Coordinating Committee and City staff is detailed in Appendix I to this
Report.
The Regions to-date, have been working with City staff in consultation with the Toronto &
Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), to ensure that the proposed Plant expansion
maintains and improves the surrounding natural environment and systems. Provided that
the Regions are prepared to work with the City to achieve our interests and improvements
to the area surrounding the proposed expanded Plant, it would be appropriate for the City
to convey those needed lands / road allowances to the Regions for nominal consideration.
Staff will be reviewing in detail those lands / road allowances needed by the Regions, and
those needed to be maintained / improved for public use and / or maintenance of the
Waterfront Trail. It is recommended that the Chief Administrative Officer report back to
Council the final negotiated terms and conditions of the proposed land conveyances, and
further detail at that time the expected area improvements, community benefits and timing
of works associated with the Plant expansion.
Plant Expansion Construction Schedule and Required Preliminary Works
In order for the Regions to complete their proposed Stage 3 expansion by 2010, they are
required to actively prepare the expansion lands in 2006-2007. All tenants have now
vacated the existing homes within the expansion area and the process of demolition of
those homes has begun.
The Regions are also required to begin site preparation to maintain their projected
construction schedule, and are seeking temporary approvals from the City for security and
construction fencing, some preliminary grading works and realigning a small portion of the
existing Waterfront Trail. These proposed works are appropriate and desirable, and will
not prejudice negotiations occurring between the Regions and the City. It is therefore
recommended that Council authorize appropriate City Officials to review and approve, to
the City's satisfaction, those temporary works needed to prepare for the Plant expansion
in keeping with City approval permit processes.
In preparation for some City lands / road allowances needed to be stopped up and closed,
declared surplus to the City and transferred to the Regions, City staff wish to commence
the land disposal process in keeping with the City's Acquisition and Disposal of Land
process. Those actual lands to be transferred will be identified as part of the future update
to Council respecting this matter (through detailed survey work and title searches
completed by the Regions), at which time Council may formally declare lands surplus and
approve of the conveyance of the lands to the Regions. Coordination with the Town of
Ajax may also be necessary to stop up and close all, or portions of Frisco Road, as this is
a boundary road under joint jurisdiction.
Report CAO 04-06
q,~~~ect: Duffin Creek Water Pollution Control Plant Expansion
October 10, 2006
Page 4
Appendices:
Appendix I: Recommended Matters of City Interest - Duffin Creek Water Pollution
Control Plant Expansion
Attachments:
1. Location Map.
2. Minutes - September 21, 2006 Waterfront Coordinating Committee Meeting.
Prepared By:
Approved I Endorsed By:
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Ron Taylor ( /
Coordinator,
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Chief Administrative Officer
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Attachments
Copy: Chief Administrative Officer
Department Heads
City Solicitor
Recommended for the consideration of
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Appendix I
to Report CAO-04-06
Preliminary Recommended Matters of City Interest
Duffin Creek Water Pollution Control Plant Expansion
The City's Waterfront Coordinating Committee are recommending the following matters for
consideration with respect to the proposed expansion of the Duffin Creek Water Pollution
Control Plant:
1. The feasibility of relocating, reconstructing and preparing an existing heritage
building for possible future City and / or community use at a suitable location along
the Pickering Waterfront.
2. The completion of a required realignment to a section of the Waterfront Trail
located east of the on-site storm pond, to the City's satisfaction, and prior to the
planned 2007 Waterfront Regeneration Trust Trail celebration event.
3. Consideration for the installation of low-level lighting at the realigned portion of the
Waterfront Trail.
4. The establishment of a public parking lot(s) to appropriately access the eastern
section of the City's Waterfront Trail (between the terminus of Montgomery Park
Road and the Pickering / Ajax eastern border), to the City's satisfaction.
5. The installation of appropriate benches / signage / trail furniture where appropriate
along the Waterfront Trail and surrounding publicly accessible lands, to the City's
satisfaction.
The following additional matters for consideration are recommended by City Staff:
1. The appropriate resurfacing of existing and remaining streets surrounding the
expanded Plant to maintain appropriate maintenance and public access to the
waterfront and surrounding open space, while improving additional planned Plant
access.
2. The recovery of City assets existing within those roads planned to be closed and /
or transferred, including, but not limited to, such assets as signage, lights, culverts,
bollards, street furniture and hardware.
3. The accommodation for continued access to, and protection of, features currently
maintained by the City, including watercourses and existing stormwater systems.
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o STAGE 3 WORKS
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DUFFIN CREEK
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL PLANT
OPERA TIONS & EMERGENCY
SERVICES DEPARTMENT
MUNICIPAL PROPERTY &
ENGINEERING DIVISION
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I ATTACHMENT # ;;. ~~.~RT#gn~~
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Minutes
Waterfront Coordinating Committee
Thursday, September 21,2006
7:00 PM
Main Committee Meeting Room
Attendees:
Councillor Maurice Brenner (Chair)
Jim Dike
David Steele
Ron Taylor
Chris Walker - OPG
Euan Ferguson -Project Manager, Region of York
Krystal Monteeth - York Region
Bob Dobbin - Earth Tech
Bob Hook - CH2M HILL Canada Ltd
Tony Haslam - CH2M HILL Canada Ltd.
Lisa Broad (Recording Secretary)
Absent:
Craig Bamford
Michael Bellmore
Larry Field
Chandra Gocool
David Stone
Kevin Tower
1_____ Details & Discussion & Conclusion Action Items I
Item /
Ref (summary of discussion) Status
# (include deadline
as appropriate)
1.0 Welcome
Councillor Brenner welcomed Chris Walker from OPG, Euan
Ferguson and Krystal Monteeth from the Region of York, Bob
Dobbin from Earth Tech, and Tony Haslam and Bob Hook from
CH2M HILL to the meeting and thanked them for attending.
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2.0 Duffin Creek Water Pollution Control Plant Expansion
The purpose of today's meeting is to provide a detailed explanation
of the required changes to the waterfront trail to manage this
proposed project.
Euan Ferguson from York Region made a presentation outlining
the intended project entitled "Duffin Creek Water Pollution Control
Plan".
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I ATTACHMENT # -;-roREPORT#~~~
. Background to the history of the YDSS system, including an
expansion introduction and a sewer system overview.
. The collection of sewers and forcemains that pick up the
major communities through York and Pickering and Ajax are
all discharged into the Duffin Creek Plant and into Lake
Ontario.
. So far, this has proven successful, however growth
projections estimate that by 2010 the plant will be at full
capacity. Therefore, this expansion is required by 2010.
. Compared existing plant design to proposed plant and
overall site greening plan.
. The residents that are located in the Squamish Beach area
are all relocating and the homes will be demolished. The
only concern is a heritage home that will be relocated
possibly close to the shore.
. Councillor Brenner asked if the heritage building/home could
be used on the waterfront trail as an interpretive station
and/or education centre. The waterfront trail is in dire need
of buildings.
. Euan replied that York has no use for this heritage home,
and if Pickering wishes to inherit it, York would do the
relocation and support this move.
. Ron Taylor will follow up with Tim Moore, TRCA and other
appropriate Staff/stakeholders to determine building code,
heritage regulations and the feasibility/possibility of the City
"inheriting" this building.
. Ron noted that Staff recommendations respecting this
matter would be forwarderd to Council for consideration at
their October 10,2006 meeting.
. Euan also pointed out that with the new site there is the
possibility for parking and even a parking lot to
accommodate 25-30 cars, as the area is already accessible
by road.
. The area has a significant amount of dirt that has to be dug
out and the intention is to create a different buffer zone (a
berm) on the East side, which would be about 8 metres in
height. The idea is to create within this berm a series of
different habitats. There is a conscious decision not to
disturb anything (i.e. the pond), except the addition of the
berm.
. The only change to the trail alignment itself is removing the
"s" pattern directly east on an existing stormwater pond, and
pulling this part of the trail closer towards Lake Ontario.
. Councillor Brenner asked if TRCA had any erosion concerns
and Euan stated that TRCA did not have any concerns and
that they felt that the area was stable.
Ron to action.
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. Tony Haslam stated that the intention is to commence the
new trail construction before winter of 2006. Therefore, the
new section of the trail will be constructed before the old
section is torn up.
. Councillor Brenner mentioned that the new section of the
trail would meet the same accessibility standards as the rest
of the trail, as they will be using the City of Pickering's
guidelines.
. David is worried about the safety of joggers in the section of
the trail between the new berm and the mixed deciduous
forest because of the darkness and lack of open area.
Suggests low-level lighting.
. Euan will discuss with TRCA the low level lighting
suggestion. Suspects that they may have some concerns
with the possibility of disturbing animals' habitat.
. Euan then explained the new fenceline, which will run on the
opposite side of the berm (north) and away from the trail.
This will keep the side open for wildlife traffic.
. There was discussion relating to moving the dogwood
thicket to the pond location.
. Recommendation from staff to keep one main road (Frisco)
so that we still have access down to the trail.
. Frisco is the better location for a parking facility because it
would take some stress off of Montgomery Park Road.
. Bob Dobbin - thoughts for the berm are to break it up into 3
parts so that it becomes a primary-tertiary wetland. The
natural drainage system will remain as is and the water will
overflow into the existing channel.
. Euan - there has also been an extensive amount of
modeling to test the existence of bacteria in the water.
Testing results indicated that there is very little, however
some e-coli was found further south (animal feces).
. Bob Dobbin - new trail alignment is about 100 metres long,
will have better sightlines, and will be closer to the water.
Duffin Creek Expansion Synopsis
. The City of Pickering to examine the possibility and
feasibility of relocating the existing heritage building along
the Waterfront Trail and "inheriting" it for possible
public/community uses.
. Looking at the possibility of low-level lighting on the
specified section of the trail.
. Benches in the new section of the trail.
. New section of the trail will be created prior to the removal of
the existing trail section.
. Enhancements separate from the City's road allowance
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concerns.
. In 2007 the Waterfront Generation Trust will be coordinating
a significant waterfront event. The Committee recommends
that the trail realignment be completed prior to this planned
event, and that no construction activities disrupt this event.
3.0 Correspondence - Emailfrom Paul White dated September
16, 2006 with respect to Beachpoint Promenade.
. Beachpoint promenade is a property purchased with
TRCA and it is close to the end of its 1 O-year period.
. TRCA has been having discussions about what the
future holds for this building. There is a potential that the
building will become a facility on the Frenchman's Bay
West Park.
. The City of Pickering would like to look at the possibility
of the original proposal, which was an education centre
or interpretive centre. There is potential for what was
envisioned in the original plan, especially if we receive
support from the University.
. Jim Dike mentioned that the lack of traffic in this area
could either be a good or bad thing. It's in a great
location because it is a far walk from any traffic.
. Due to the remoteness of the location, David expressed
his concerns with possible vandalism.
. Councillor Brenner discussed what Mr. Sabean
suggested, which was that this location could house the
Pickering Historical Society. Along with the creation of
the Pickering Nautical Museum in the heritage house,
this completes the Waterfront Committee's vision with
minimal cost.
Moved by Jim Dike
Seconded by David Steele
That Committee support the recommendation put forward by Ron
Taylor on the recommended actions/works that the Region of York
and the Region of Durham should complete in exchange for City
lands/roads to accommodate the proposed Plant expansion. Approach the
That the existing heritage building that is to be relocated by the Pickering historical
Regions be moved closer to the waterfront trail to support society to see if
City/community uses and activities, subject to Staff's review of the they are interested
feasibility and desirability of the City "inheriting" the structure. in working with the
Committee on this
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY project to consider
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I Moved by Jim Dike Museum in the
I Seconded by David Steele relocated building.
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I That the Committee advise TRCA to recommend that the City of
Pickering request an interest with the Rotary Club of Pickering and
Fairport Beach Ratepayer Association to convert the property and
house purchased at the East end of the Western Spit into an
environmental learning centre.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
4.0 Update - Term of Committee - November 30,2006
. Councillor Brenner reminded all Committee members
that the new term of Committee begins late November,
and hopes that members will watch for postings and
apply.
5.0 Other Business & Adjournment
Councillor Brenner thanked the Committee for the unveiling of
signs event. He especially thanked OPG for all the food and
commented that it is very important to show the City of Pickering's
commitment to the public and to the Committee.
Moved by David Steele
Seconded by Jim Dike
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I That Councillor Brenner draft a letter to Wayne Arthurs requesting
financial support for the Accessibility Advisory Committee.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
Jim Dike inquired about the Hydro One Spill and if the City of Councillor Brenner
Pickering had received any reimbursement for the cleanup. to action.
Suggests that this money could be used towards Frenchman's Bay
Storm Water Management.
. Tonight's minutes will go to Council in October
6.0 Next Meeting
L. To be advised.
The meeting adjourned at 8:33 pm.
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