CS-21-04 -Whereas Motion- Ed Broadbent Waterfront Park
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Item: CS-21-04 Community Services Committee – January 18, 2021 Ed Broadbent Waterfront Park The Community Services Committee recommends to City Council: Whereas on January 25, 2019, Council approved Capital Project 19510104 – Ed Broadbent Waterfront Park Redevelopment, formally the Harbour Park Master Plan, in the amount of $540,000 to develop a vision for, and determine the appropriate uses of the Ed Broadbent Waterfront Park, including evaluating the feasibility and design for developing a boat launch on a portion of the parkland; and, Whereas on March 18, 2019, Report CS-19-23 was approved by Council setting out the Terms of Reference for a consulting firm to prepare a Feasibility Study for the site, including the feasibility and detailed design of a public boat launch; and, Whereas Purchasing Services issued Request of Proposal C2019-048 for the provision of the Harbour Lands Feasibility Study; and, Whereas on June 24, 2019 Council approved a contract award for Brook McIlroy in the amount of $313,396, excluding H.S.T., detailed in Report FIN-19-56, to undertake the study; and, Whereas Brook McIlroy prepared a Background Report as a component of the scope of work, which provides an overview of potential options and next steps for the Ed Broadbent Waterfront Park, in consideration of existing site constraints and opportunities; and, Whereas preliminary concept plans were developed which took into consideration the spatial constraints of environmental soils capping and the flood plain, and provide high- level recommendations for passive recreational uses, natural areas, and a potential boat launch location; and, Whereas the Background Report identifies that further work could not proceed regarding opportunities for a public boat launch or shoreline works in the absence of a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment; and, Whereas the Background Report also identifies that basic parkland development can proceed in the absence of a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment, and, Whereas Report CS-20-65 concerning the Ed Broadbent Waterfront Park Feasibility Study Update was presented to Community Services Committee on November 16, 2020; and, Whereas Report CS-20-65, dated November 12, 2020, recommended that the City advance the appropriate Municipal Class Environmental Assessment process as 4 additional work related to the future boat launch, shoreline remediation, and park development (Attachment 1); and, Whereas on November 16, 2020, Community Services Committee deferred Report CS- 20-65 concerning the Ed Broadbent Waterfront Park Feasibility Study Update until December 7, 2020 or until City Council has dealt with the 2021 Capital Budget; and, Whereas Council approved, as part of the 2021 budget process, a funding strategy to advance only the basic parkland development for the Ed Broadbent Waterfront Park at this time; and, Whereas additional consulting services would be required for the detailed design of basic parkland and stakeholder consultation; and, Whereas the existing scope of work outlined in the Terms of Reference for the Ed Broadbent Waterfront Park Master Plan Study, approved by Council on March 18, 2019, will require amendment to undertake basic parkland development only; and, Whereas in order to expedite the parkland development based on the funding strategy approved by Council, staff have advanced the Request for Proposals process to retain a consultant to implement the amended Terms of Reference for basic parkland development (Attachment 2); and, Whereas, Finance Services advises there is uncommitted funds in the amount of $204,467 remaining in Project 19510104 Ed Broadbent Waterfront Park Redevelopment and, Therefore be it resolved: 1. That Capital Project 19510104 be amended to advance only basic parkland development at this time, and defer the boat launch component to a future phase; and, 2. That Council approve the amended Terms of Reference to advance the detailed design for only the basic parkland development and stakeholder consultation as set out in Attachment 2 to said Report; and, 3. That the contract with Brook McIlroy be terminated due to substantial change in the scope of the project. 5 CS-21-04 Attachment 1 Public Report To: Community Services Committee From: Ron Diskey, Commissioner, Community Services Department Report Number: CS-20-65 Date of Report: November 12, 2020 Date of Meeting: November 16, 2020 Subject: Ed Broadbent Waterfront Park Feasibility Study - Update File: F-6105 1.0 Purpose The purpose of this report is to: 1. Provide Council with an update on the Ed Broadbent Waterfront Park Feasibility Study; and, 2. Recommend that the City advance the appropriate Municipal Class Environmental Assessment as additional work related to the future boat launch, shoreline remediation, and park development. 2.0 Executive Summary N/A 3.0 Recommendation That the Community Services Committee recommend to City Council: 1. That, based on Report CS-20-65 dated November 12, 2020, staff advance the process to retain a consultant to undertake the appropriate Municipal Class Environmental Assessment for a boat launch, shoreline remediation, and park development; and, 2. That, based on Report CS-20-65 dated November 12, 2020, an additional $291,155, exclusive of H.S.T., be allocated to capital project 51-0104 Ed Broadbent Waterfront Park for the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment, to be funded from the Parks, Recreation and Trails Development Charge and Harbour Rehabilitation and Improvement reserves; and, 3. That, based on Report CS-20-65 dated November 12, 2020, an amended Terms of Reference to undertake the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment and 6 Report to Community Services Committee Item: CS-20-65 Meeting Date: November 16, 2020 Page 2 required supporting studies be developed to the satisfaction of the Commissioner of Community Services, and issued through a competitive Request for Proposal process; and, 4. That, based on Report CS-20-65 dated November 12, 2020, the contract with Brook McIlroy be terminated, due to substantial change and additional work required by the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment. 4.0 Input From Other Sources • Development Services o Planning Services • Finance Services o Purchasing Services o Financial Reporting & Planning • Community Services o Parks Planning and Development • C.L.O.C.A. 5.0 Analysis 5.1 Background The Ed Broadbent Waterfront Park Feasibility Study (the Study) was initiated in 2019 to develop a vision for, and determine the appropriate uses of, a 14.3 hectare waterfront parcel of land (the Site) situated on the south east corner of Simcoe Street South and Harbour Road (refer to Figure 1 of Attachment 2), including evaluating the feasibility and design for developing a boat launch on a portion of the Site. On March 18, 2019, Report CS-19-23 (Attachment 1) was approved by Council setting out the Terms of Reference for a consulting firm to prepare a Feasibility Study for the site, including opportunities to provide a public boat launch. Subsequently, Purchasing Services issued Request for Proposal (R.F.P.) C2019-048 for the provision of Harbour Lands Feasibility Study and on June 24, 2019, Council approved a contract award for Brook McIlroy in the amount of $313,396, excluding all taxes, detailed in Report FIN19-56. 5.2 Background Report by Brook McIlroy A Background Report (Attachment 2) was prepared which provides an overview of the initial background research, shoreline surveys, constraints and opportunities, and provides an overview of options and next steps based on these initial findings. It was identified that further work could not proceed regarding opportunities for a public boat launch in the absence of a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (E.A.). Accordingly, the Background Report explores scenarios for the future of the Site in relation to the requirements for an E.A., and summarized below. 7 Report to Community Services Committee Item: CS-20-65 Meeting Date: November 16, 2020 Page 3 The Site is near a number of the City’s recreational and natural heritage assets, including Lakeview Park and the Oshawa Creek valley system to the west, and the Second Marsh Wildlife area to the east. The site also lies near the Port of Oshawa, which is an active industrial area managed by the federal government via the Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority. To date, the City has undertaken extensive work in order to ensure that the site meets the minimum requirements for parkland as set by the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (M.E.C.P.). Currently, several options are available to the City in order to develop the site as a parkland asset that complements the larger parks and open space system. Initial analysis of the Site included a review of the following topics, which are described in further detail in Section 2.0 of the Background Report (Attachment 2): • Site History; • Works and studies undertaken from 2012-Present Day; • Natural Heritage System and floodplain considerations; • Existing shoreline conditions; and, • Environmental Assessment (E.A.) Requirements. As a new piece of parkland in the City’s inventory there are opportunities for the City to develop a waterfront park that serves an important role in the City’s urban fabric. These opportunities include creating a signature four-season park on the waterfront; developing an ecologically productive, sustainable, and resilient park; and creating a destination that celebrates Oshawa’s past, present, and future. Following the initial analysis and evaluation of opportunities, preliminary concept plans were developed which take into consideration the spatial constraints of environmental soil capping and the flood plain, and provide high-level recommendations for passive recreational uses, natural areas, and a potential boat launch location. These preliminary concept plans, as well as considerations for E.A. requirements, informed the development of a series of options for the Site: Option A: Shoreline remediation to mitigate risk As identified in the Background Report, areas of the existing shoreline are moderately to severely degraded, and are not likely suitable for safe public access in their current state.