Loading...
AGENDA - General Committee - 20051101GENERAL COMMITTEE AGENDA N0.05-22 TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2005 7:00 P.M. COUNCIL CNAMBERS AURORA TOWN NALL PUBLIC RELEASE 28/10/05 TOWN OF AURORA GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA NO. 05-22 Tuesday, November 1, 2005 7:00 p.m. Councillor Gaertner in the Chair. I DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY INTEREST II APPROVAL OF AGENDA RECOMMENDED: THAT the content of the Agenda as circulated by the Corporate Services Department be approved as presented. Ill DETERMINATION OF ITEMS REQUIRING SEPARATE DISCUSSION IV ADOPTION OF ITEMS NOT REQUIRING SEPARATE DISCUSSION V DELEGATIONS VI CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS REQUIRING SEPARATE DISCUSSION VIl OTHER BUSINESS, COUNCILLORS Vlll IN -CAMERA None IX ADJOURNMENT General Committee Meeting No. 05-22 Page 2 of 7 Tuesday, November 1, 2005 AGENDA ITEMS 1. PW05-028 — Town of Aurora Roads — Condition Ratings and (pg. 1) Reconstruction Funding RECOMMENDED: THAT Report No. PW05-028 dealing with the condition rating and reconstruction funding for Town of Aurora roads: • be received; and • referred to the 2006 Budget discussions for a determination of the appropriate Pavement Condition Index (PCI) at which the Town's road network will be maintained: and THAT staff be directed to prepare and submit the 10-Year Capital Road Reconstruction Program (2006 — 2015) once Council has given direction regarding the target PC] level at which it wishes to maintain the Town's road network. 2. TR05-028 - Management of Hydro Proceeds (pg. 10) RECOMMENDED: THAT the first $920,000.00 of investment earnings from the Aurora Hydro Sale Investment Fund be applied as current revenue in the 2006 annual budget; and THAT a by-law be enacted to approve the utilization of $920,000.00 of earnings from investments in the 2006 budget. 3. Correspondence from Mr. David Crombie of the (pg. 15) Canadian Urban Institute Re: Urban Leadership Awards RECOMMENDED: THAT the Committee provide direction on this matter. General Committee Meeting No. 05-22 Page 3 of 7 Tuesday, November 1, 2005 4. Correspondence from the Greater Toronto Area Clean Air Council (pg. 20) Re: Proposal to establish the Greater Toronto Atmospheric Fund (GTAF) RECOMMENDED: THAT correspondence be received as information. 5. Correspondence from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (pg. 33) Re: Canadian Coalition of Municipalities Against Racism RECOMMENDED: THAT correspondence be received as information; and THAT the Town of Aurora join the Coalition of Municipalities Against Racism. 6. CS05-032— RFP for Website Re -Design and (pg. 34) Content Management System RECOMMENDED: THAT the Request For Proposal submitted by Protocol IS be approved for the provision of the re -design and purchase of a content management system for the Town website at a total cost of $68,130. 7. PL05-102 — Site Plan Application (pg. 47) Suncor Energy Products Inc. 15612 Yonge Street File D11-20-05-M RECOMMENDED: THAT Report PL05-102 be received as information. General Committee Meeting No. 05-22 Tuesday, November 1, 2005 Page 4 of 7 8. PL05-103 — Zoning By-law Amendment Application Removal of (H) Holding Prefix Preserve Homes Corporation (Metrus) Part of Lot 21, Concession 2, E.Y.S. 65M-3850, 65M-3851 & 65M-3852 File D14-15-05 RECOMMENDED: (pg. 55) THAT Council enact By-law 4715-05.D to remove the Holding (H) prefix from Preserve Homes Corporation on the lands described as Plans 65M- 3850, 65M-3851 & 65M-3852 to allow the subject lands to be developed for residential and business park purposes. 9. LS05-058 —Wellington Street East Urban Design Features (pg. 63) RECOMMENDED: THAT Council authorize an expenditure of up to $35,000.00 for Engineering and Landscaping Consulting Services associated with Urban Design enhancements proposed for Wellington Street East to Stantec Consulting Ltd. 10. TR05-029 - Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement (pg. 66) System Act, Bill 206 VXMQAIPilA01191a011 WHEREAS the provincial Standing Committee on General Government is currently debating Bill 206, An Act to revise the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System Act, and WHEREAS the OMERS pension fund is currently equal to approximately 8% of Ontario's annual GDP; and WHEREAS the OMERS pension fund serves approximately 900 employers and 355,000 diverse employee groups including: current and former employees of municipal governments; school boards; libraries; police and fire departments; children's aid societies; and, electricity distribution companies; and WHEREAS Ontario's municipalities and their employees depend on the prudent management of the $36 Billion plan and to ensure that employees and employers are paying for benefits they can afford; and General Committee Meeting No. 05-22 Tuesday, November 1, 2005 Page 5 of 7 WHEREAS OMERS employer and employee members are facing an increase in OMERS contributions in 2006 of approximately 9% as a result of a significant deficit in the OMERS fund; and WHEREAS the Bill includes significant, potentially costly and unnecessary changes to the governance structure of OMERS including a Sponsors Corporation structured to be governed by arbitration; and WHEREAS the Bill would permit the creation of expensive supplementary plans to provide optional enhanced benefits that will impose new collective bargaining obligations on municipalities, the operating costs of which cannot yet be fully assessed; and WHEREAS the Province has a responsibility to study the potential impact of the changes it is proposing and to share the results with employers and employee groups; and WHEREAS AMO and others have urged the government to consider the potential implications of Bill 206 and to ensure the proposed policy changes protect the interests of employers, employees and taxpayers; and WHEREAS the Government is moving in haste with a Bill, which in its current form raises significant technical, public policy and economic issues: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Town of Aurora does not support Bill 206, and requests the that the Government of Ontario reconsider the advisability of proceeding with Bill 206 in its current form; and FURTHER IT BE RESOLVED THAT MPP Greg Sorbara, Vaughn -King - Aurora, the Honourable John Gerretsen, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, the Honourable Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario, and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario be advised that this Council does not support proposed changes to the OMERS pension fund contained in Bill 206; and FURTHER THAT The Town of Newmarket and the Regional Municipality of York be advised that this Council does not support proposed changes to the OMERS pension fund contained in Bill 206. 11. Notice of Written Proceeding -York Region Electrical Supply (pg. 72) RECOMMENDED: THAT the Committee provide direction on this matter. General Committee Meeting No. 05-22 Tuesday, November 1, 2005 Page 6 of 7 12. LS05-059 — Recommendation for Installation of Exterior (pg. 75) Signage at the New Aurora Recreation Complex RECOMMENDED: THAT Council grant exemption to Sign By-law 4622-04 Section 12.3 and 12.3 c); and THAT Council approve the procurement of a new pylon road sign complete with programmable LED display at the new Aurora Recreation Complex as per the results of Tender LS2005-91. 13. Memo from the CAO's Office (pg. 81) Re: In -Camera Assembly to Discuss Naming Rights of the New Recreation Complex RECOMMENDED: THAT the Committee provide direction on this matter. 14. PL05-104 — Prehearing Conference of the Ontario Municipal Board (pg. 82) Respecting Appeals to OPA #17 & ROPA #3 Regarding the Delineation of the Town's Urban Settlement Area OMB Case PL980166, OMB File No. 0980052 RECOMMENDED: THAT the Director of Planning request clarification from the Region of any outstanding compliance requirements supporting the incorporation of Area 2C within the urban boundaries of the Town by Regional Official Plan Amendment and the details of any outstanding requirements and that Staff be authorized to take such action and proceed as required to achieve compliance therewith; and THAT the Chief Administrative Officer and Director of Planning convene a meeting with representatives of the appellants and parties respecting outstanding appeals/referrals to Regional Official Plan Amendment No. 3 and Town of Aurora Official Plan Amendment No. 17 with a view to narrowing or eliminating matters before the Ontario Municipal Board for disposition; and THAT the Director of Planning report back to Council on the foregoing, forthwith following the final report of the Area 2C Natural Features Study or by the end of March, 2006, whichever is the earlier. General Committee Meeting No. 05-22 Page 7 of 7 Tuesday, November 1, 2005 15. Memo from the CAO's Office (Pg. 95) RECOMMENDED: THAT the Terms of Reference for an Audit Committee attached to this Report as "Schedule A" be adopted by Council as the operating mandate and responsibilities of the Town of Aurora's General Committee acting in its appointed capacity as the Town's Audit Committee. GENERAL COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 1, 2005 qENRA AT TOWN OF AURORA i GENERAL COMMITTEE REPORT No. PWOS-028 SUBJECT: Town of Aurora Roads —Condition Ratings and Reconstruction Funding FROM: W. H. Jackson, Director of Public Works DATE: November 1, 2005 RECOMMENDATIONS THAT Report No. PW05-028 dealing with the condition rating and reconstruction funding for Town of Aurora roads; • be received; and referred to the 2006 Budget discussions fora determination of the appropriate Pavement Condition Index (PCI) at which the Town's road network will be maintained; and THAT staff be directed to prepare and submit the 10-Year Capital Road Reconstruction Program (2006 — 2015) once Council has given direction regarding the target PCI level at which it wishes to maintain the Town's road network. BACKGROUND The Town has for several years planned its' road reconstruction projects based on a 10- year program. The two basic inputs to the program are: ➢ the condition rating of the roads; and ➢ the available funding. COMMENTS The purpose of this report is to update Council on the overall condition of our road system and to present information related to the funding requirements to maintain the Town's road network. 1.0 Pavement Management System Pavements, like all infrastructure assets, begin to deteriorate from the moment of construction throughout their design life. The methodology the Town has used since 2002 to rate the condition of its pavements is called the Pavement Condition Index (PCI). This is a visual evaluation method that was developed by the US Army Corps of Engineers. GENERAL COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 1, 2005 November 1, 2005 - 2 - Report No. PW05-028 The PCI is a 0 to 100-scale measurement of pavement condition based on the theory that road deterioration dynamics manifest themselves in the surface of the pavement. This is a low -tech, non-proprietary objective technique that is widely accepted for evaluating pavement condition. Nineteen distress factors including, among others, alligator cracking, bleeding, edge cracking, potholes, rutting, block cracking, patching and utility cut patching are identified, rated for severity and measured for quantity. Points are then deducted from 100 (new, perfect pavement) depending on the severity and density measured for the various distress factors. The PCI methodology is a fast and accurate way to effectively evaluate pavement conditions for the purpose of planning for capital improvements and maintenance. Experience with the PCI methodology across North America has resulted in a generally accepted grouping of projects into five categories as listed below in Table No. 1. Table No. 1: PCI Value versus Condition Category PCI VALUE CONDITION CATEGORY 0 — 40 Poor to Failed 41 — 55 Fair 56 — 70 Good 71 — 85 Very Good 86 — 100 Excellent Although using only a single average number to describe the overall condition of a road network is simplistic, it is still an excellent method of obtaining a quick and relatively easily understood snapshot of the pavement condition of Aurora's road network. Staff are of the opinion the residents of Aurora would not likely agree to a situation where the aim is to maintain our road system at a "Fair" or lesser condition. On the other hand, to strive to maintain our system at an "Excellent" rating would be prohibitively costly. Accordingly, it is believed the "Good" to "Very Good" categories are the condition rating we should be aspiring to. The PCI data is entered into a computerized Pavement Management System, known as InfraPave, and based on the PCI data, budget inputs, construction costs, and otherfactors InfraPave generates a recommended road reconstruction program 2.0 Condition Rating of Aurora's Road Network When the PCl/InfraPave pavement management system was implemented in 2002, every paved Town road was inspected and rated. The results of the inspections indicated that in the summer of 2002 the overall average PCI rating forthe Town's road network was 72 or "Very Good". To maintain the model, it is necessary to re -inspect the roads periodically to generate new iGENERAL COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 1, 2005 November 1, 2005 .3- Report No. PW05-028 PCI's. This allows for the refinement of the predictions the model generates and greater accuracy on the rate of deterioration of the Town's roads. The re -inspections also allow for things the model could not predict (utility cuts made since the last inspection, amount of maintenance work, etc.) to be assessed and factored into the model. The Town's road network was re -inspected during the summer of 2005, and the results of the new inspections show that the overall PCI rating of the network has decreased to 65 in the 3 years between the two inspection cycles. Again, based on experience across North America, a rating between 56 and 70 is considered to be "Good". 3.0 Construction Costs Over the last two years there has been a rapid increase in construction costs, much of which is attributed to the excellent economy in the GTA, which is keeping contractors busy, and the rapid increase in the cost of oil. As an example, the Ministry of Transportation's Fuel Cost Index for the price of diesel fuel in the Toronto area rose 28% from September 2004 to September 2005 and was up 74% over the past 2 years. Based on the above factors, staff is assuming an approximate 30% increase in construction costs for most types of projects for 2006 over the estimates that were used in the last version of the 10-Year Plan. 4.0 Historic Funding Levels The Capital Road Reconstruction Budget for the Town over the past 5 years is as shown below: • 2001 - $1.14M i 2002 - $1.16M 2003 - $1.27M • 2004 - $1.30M • 2005-$1.45M ($0.99M from current levy plus $0.46M from the Municipal Capital Reserve). As can be seen, the Capital Roads budget has been increasing over the past several years. However, the increases have not been sufficient to fund the road reconstruction program at the level necessary to keep the overall condition of the road network from declining as noted under Section 2.0 above. In 2002, it was estimated that the 10-year cost to maintain the road network at the then current PC] level of 72 would be $19.2M. The road reconstruction portion of the 10-Year Plan was based, however, on spending a total of $16.9M, for a shortfall of $2.3M over the 10-year period. The reason for this is that the road reconstruction budget was assumed to increase from the then -current level of $1.16M to $1.9M by 2009, in order to lessen the impacts on the tax rate. The funding levels assumed in the 2003-2012 version of the 10- Year Plan were as shown below in Chart 1. 3 (GENERAL COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 1, 2005 November 1, 2005 - 4 - Report No. PW05-028 Chart 1: 2003 -2012 Road Reconstruction Funding Assumed in 2003 $2,200,000 $2,000,000 $1,800,000 87 :a $1,600,000 lL $1,400,000 $1,200,000 $1,000,000 0 L°& ry°& L°^° Date — — •Yearly Funding Assumed Funding Required to Maintain Current PCI Chart 1 shows that the Town acknowledged the need to increase funding for road reconstruction but that the funding levels from 2003 to 2009 would not be sufficient to maintain the then current PCI level. In fact, it was recognized at the time that the funding shortfall over the 10-year period would result in a decrease in the overall network PCI from 72 in 2003 to a predicted 68 in 2012 5.0 Current Funding Levels The current inspections place the overall PCI at 65, which is a significant drop from a PCI of 72, and is attributable to the early years where the largest under funding occurs, as shown in Chart 1. To maintain this PCI level over the next 10-year period it is estimated that road reconstruction spending must be $27.OM, or an increase of 55% over the currently assumed level. Including the other items that are funded through the Capital reconstruction budget, such as Development Charges projects to construct sidewalks on regional roads and a portion of the salaries of the Public Works staff, the 10-year funding for the Capital program must increase to $28.8M. Continuing with the funding assumptions that were utilized in creating the last version of the 10-Year Plan and acknowledging the higher level of funding now required to maintain the current PCI level of 65 will result in a funding scenario as shown in Chart 2. (GENERAL COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 1, 2005 November 1, 2005 - 5 - Report No. PW05-028 Chart 2: 2006 - 2015 Funding using Current Funding Assumptions $3,000,000--_......_� $2,800,000 $2,600,000 $2,400,000 p) $2,200,000 — —Yearly Funding 0— $2,000,000 Assumed $1,800,000 Funding Required to t? $1,600,000 / Maintain Current PCI $1,400,000 $1,200,000 $1,000,000 OHO O� 00 O°j NO N^ 91 ^O N� Nb �O ry0 �O �O �O ry0 �O ry0 ,y0 ,P Date As can be seen from Chart 2, the Town will expend approximately $21.OM overthe next 10 years using the current funding model, with $19.2M of that being for capital road reconstruction projects. Consequently, we are again looking at an under funding situation, this time in the order of $7.8M over the 10 year period. Continuing with the current funding model will result in the network's overall PCI decreasing to a predicted 61 by 2015. 6.0 Solutions An increase in proactive maintenance activities will help, and staff is taking steps to increase our maintenance programs. Some crack sealing has already been done this year and a major crack sealing contract is scheduled to go to Council for approval by the end of 2005. However, the overall problem is that the Town simply does not rebuild enough roads to prevent the overall condition of the network from deteriorating. The implications of this shortfall have become more apparent to staff as they have worked with the prediction model over the last couple of years and while doing so gained a greater understanding of how the overall road network functions. 6.1 2006 Capital Road Reconstruction Program The projects contained in the draft 2006 Capital Budget that Council will shortly be considering are those planned for 2006 in the last version of the 10-Year plan (Report No. PW04-019), with the following exceptions: 5 iOENERAL COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 1, 2006 November 1, 2005 - 6 - Report No. PW05-028 1) Council approved as part of the 2005 Capital Budget the reconstruction of a portion of Fairway Drive, Glenview Drive, Eldon Crescent and a portion of Devlin Place, but deferred the construction of the project until 2006 pending resolution of the request for traffic calming on Fairway Drive. Given the increases in construction prices discussed above, staff must request an increase in the budget for this project. 2) Moorcrest Drive from Batson Drive to Attridge Drive was previously scheduled for 2006 reconstruction. Upon closer review, staff came to the conclusion that only a short section of Moorcrest Drive adjacent to Batson Drive actually requires reconstruction. The project was therefore not included in the 2006 Capital Budget, and the short section of Moorcrest Drive that does require reconstruction will be included with Batson Drive when Batson is reconstructed in a future year. The projects that are included in the draft 2006 Capital Budget are the following: 1) Reconstruction of Hill Drive; 2) Reconstruction of Mark Street, Cedar Crescent, Oak Court, and Birch Court; 3) Construction of sidewalks, bikeways, and illumination along Wellington Street from Bayview Avenue to the new Recreation Centre; 4) Funding for various traffic calming construction projects; and 5) Portions of the salaries of the Public Works staff involved in the Capital Program. The design of the three main projects (1 to 3 above) is underway and all should be ready for tender in early 2006 pending Council approval of the Budget. The current levy cost for the 2006 capital roads program, as contained in the draft 2006 Capital Budget, is $1,971,000. 6.2 Funding for Remainder of 2006 — 2015 Program As can be seen in Charts 1 and 2, one of the main problems with gradually increasing funding for the road reconstruction program is gapping. While the budget will eventually reach the desired target level, there will be a large shortfall built up during the years it takes to reach the target level. For this reason, it is proposed to increase the capital road reconstruction budget rapidly over a 2 year period in order to reach the target level of spending in 2008. For 2009 and future years, funding would increase at the rate of inflation. Based on the above, the proposed funding for the 2006 — 2015 period is shown below in Chart 3. ICENERAL COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 1, 2005 November 1, 2005 .7. Report No. PW05-028 Chart 3: Proposed 2006 - 2015 Capital Funding $3,500,000 $3,000,000 i _ -. � -Yearly Funding rn Assumed $2,500,000 c 3 $2,000,000 Funding Required LL, to Maintain Current $1,500,000 PCI $1,000,000 QooQ\0bO§bNJNNN'ONN rah �O �O �O �O �O �O (f, ,y0 ,y0 �p ®ate FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS To maintain the Town's road network at the current overall PCI level, spending must increase to $28.8M over the next 10 years. In general, these funds are obtained from the current levy portion of the budget. However, the Town will shortly start receiving some revenues from the Federal government underthe fuel tax rebate program. These revenues can be applied to certain types of projects, including the Capital Reconstruction Program, as long as they are not used to lower the tax rate. Given that it is proposed to significantly increase the road reconstruction budget over the next 10-year period, application of the gas tax revenue to our road reconstruction program would, it is believed, fall under the criteria for this rebate which will help to reduce the additional funding that will be required if the Town's road network is to be maintained at its current level. OPTIONS Council must decide at what condition level it wishes to see the Town's road network. As noted in this report, the existing pavement condition rating for the Town is 65. This is considered to be in the "Good" category but staff is of the opinion that residents and business people of the Town would not like to see this rating deteriorate much further. Staff have received an increasing number of complaints over the past few years about the poor condition of the Town's roads, and anticipate this will only increase if the condition of the network is allowed to deteriorate further. U JOENERAL COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 1, 2005 November 1, 2005 - 8 - Report No. PW05-028 There is a direct relationship between the PCI rating and the cost to maintain that rating. Options for target PCI levels that Council may wish to adopt, and the associated 10 year funding required to achieve those levels, are shown in Table 1. Table 1 — Target PCI Levels and Associated Funding Requirements * Does not include $1.8M required for DC Droiects and salaries CONCLUSIONS Although the actual amount approved for a particular year's road reconstruction program is subject to approval by Council during deliberations for the budget for the year, it is necessary to have an overall model of how much funding will be available overthe years to allow for proper on -going road reconstruction planning. As has been shown in the body of this report, the overall condition of the Town's road network is deteriorating because of the shortfall in funding for road reconstruction. Although Council has, in the past, acknowledged this problem and is working toward an increased road reconstruction budget, two factors have combined to adversely impact road reconstruction funding and hence our overall pavement condition rating. The first factor is the gap that exists, especially in the early years of our 10-year plans, between the funding required and the funding provided. In an effort to minimize the adverse impact of increases in road reconstruction funding, Council has "ramped" up this portion of the budget to achieve the required funding level over a period of up to 8 years. Prior to attaining the required funding level, however, there is a yearly shortfall and this is reflected in the reduced pavement condition rating or a deterioration in the condition of our road network. The second factor is the huge jump in prices experienced for road reconstruction projects in recent years. A very busy construction sector in the GTA and significant increases in oil prices particularly over the last year, have driven this price increase. This price increase makes it much harder to "catch-up" with our road reconstruction funding requirements. Our present overall pavement condition rating for the Town is 65. This is in the middle of the range that has generally been considered "Good" over the various North American users. To maintain this level over the next 10 years, road reconstruction funding will need to be increased to $28.8M or an average yearly expenditure of $2.88M. Once Council has given direction on the target PCI level that is to be used in preparation of the 10-Year Capital Road Reconstruction Plan (2006 — 2015), staff will prepare and submit the Plan for Council's consideration. ]GENERAL COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 1, 2005 November 1, 2005 - 9 - Report No. PW05-028 LINK TO STRATEGIC PLAN Goal "C" speaks to continuing the well -planned moderate growth of the Town. This goal is supported by the "Strategic Action" stating that Council will "incorporate measures into Town policies and programs which contribute to a safe living and working environment'. The Strategic Plan includes the action to "address matters affecting public safety, property and the environment and will formulate specific measures to deal with them." ATTACHMENTS None. PRE -SUBMISSION REVIEW Management Team Meeting — October 26, 2005 Prepared by: David Atkins, Manager of Engineering Services, ext. 4382 W. A Jackson Director of Public Works GENERAL COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 1, 2005 TOWN OF AURORA GENERAL COMMITTEE REPORT SUBJECT: Management of Hydro Proceeds FROM: L. John Gutteridge, Director of Finance/Treasurer DATE: November 1, 2005 RECOMMENDATIONS No. TR05-028 THAT the first $920,000.00 of investment earnings from the Aurora Hydro Sale Investment Fund be applied as current revenue in the 2006 annual budget. THAT a By-law be enacted to approve the utilization of $920,000.00 of earnings from investments in the 2006 budget. BACKGROUND At your June 28, 2005 Council meeting a report was presented dealing with the disposition of the funds to be obtained from the sale of the shares of the Aurora Hydro Connections Limited to PowerStream Inc. At that meeting Council adopted the following: THAT a By-law be enacted to establish a special Reserve Fund to be named "Aurora Hydro Sale Investment Fund", for the sole purpose of receiving and upon amendment, re -allocating the net proceeds from the sale of the shares of Aurora Hydro Connections Limited to PowerStream Inc.; 2. THAT before any re -allocation of funds can only be undertaken, Council approved criteria must be established; 3. THAT the Director of Finance/Treasurer be authorized to invest available balances in the Fund, from time to time, in accordance with the Town of Aurora's existing investment policies; 4. THAT upon receipt by the Municipality, all proceeds for the sale of the shares of Aurora Hydro Connections Limited be deposited in the Aurora Hydro Sale Investment Fund along with all earned interest and any other revenue generated by the investment of available balances existing in the Fund; 10 GENERAL COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 1, 2005 November 1, 2005 - 2 - Report No. TR05-028 5. THAT all cost associated with the merger/sale of Aurora Hydro Connections Limited, upon validation by the Director of Finance/Treasurer, be recovered from the Aurora Hydro Sale Investment Fund including but not limited to Legal Fees, Financing Costs or Regulatory Charges THAT existing Reserve Fund balances as at December 31, 2004 contained in Schedule A attached to this report be left intact until a full examination of such Reserve Funds has been undertaken in conjunction with the Consolidated Asset Management Review and a subsequent report on the nature, scope and adequacy of these Funds have been reviewed by Council in September 2005. It should be noted that Reserve Fund Balances can only be spent, allocated or re -assigned for the express purpose that the specific Reserve Fund was created for. THAT any allocation of monies from the Aurora Hydro Sale Investment Fund to any of the newly created Special Reserve Funds or any subsequent allocation from the newly created Special Reserve Funds be done pursuant to a amending By-law enacted by no less than a two thirds vote of the whole of Council; 8. THAT any allocation of monies from the Aurora Hydro Sale Investment Fund be done: a) in accordance with criteria established by Council in conjunction with this by-law: b) by amending the by-law; c) by enactment of a) & b) by a vote of not less than 2/3 vote of the entire Council, meaning that all members of Council be present in Council Chambers at the time of the vote or the vote is to be deferred until the Council is sitting in its entirety. The purpose for this report is two fold the first to address Section 6 that specifies that staff have a report to council and to keep you up to date of the current status. The second reason for the report is to deal with a current matter that has budget implications and the need to provide proper lead time so council may deal with the issue pertaining to the Hydro Reserve Fund if there is a need. COMMENTS At the present time staff does not have the report completed the main reason forthis is we do not have our 2004 audited financial statements, the final balances will be adjusted as a result of the financial statements. I would like to take this opportunity to remind council that the sale of the Hydro does have an impact on our 2006 budget. In the financial section of this report I have outlined this issue. With regard to the Hydro proceeds I would like to suggest that there are a few things that (GENERAL COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 1, 2005 November 1, 2005 - 3 - Report No. TR05-028 Council should do before making any decision on the use of these funds. In looking at this I realized that receiving this large sum of money from the proceeds of the sale of Aurora Hydro can be a blessing or a curse. How these funds are managed from here will determine how the ratepayers of the Town will judge. I believe Council must review and revise your Strategic Plan and part of this process would be to develop a long term operating and capital forecast. As mentioned earlier in the report and further outlined in the Financial Implications section you can see that the Sale of the Hydro has an immediate impact on the current budget this will have to be considered in any long term decision and will have a large role in the final decision. Unfortunately it will take sometime for staff and council to complete the Strategic Plan and the long term financial plan and at best guess depending on the desire of council sometime into the new year. We have to look at the impact of a number of areas this municipality will face some being: 1. The impact of the loss of the $920,000. annual interest. 2. Our hard services, buildings and other capital asset deficiencies of today and into the future and what an influx of cash might do to long term sustainability. 3. What will happen to the tax levy once we have maximized our development potential. 4. What would be the impact on our municipality in an economic decline. OPTIONS The loss of the interest on the promissory note as a result of the resolution passed and the pending by-law council will be faced with a budget increase of approximately 4.75% in 2006. Council must now consider ways to make up this loss of revenue and one of the considerations is the interest that will be earned on the Hydro Proceeds. I bring this up at this point because of the restrictions on how to free up the funds from the Aurora Hydro Sale Investment Fund and the need to address this issue before the adoption of the 2006 Budget which we have scheduled for completion in December. If it is council's desire in the short term to use the first $920,000. of interest as current revenue for 2006 you should also be aware that this will limit the amount of the proceeds that will be available for other uses. 12 GENERAL COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 1, 2005 November 1, 2005 - 4 - Report No. TR05-028 A second option is to wean the reliance of the revenue fund on the $920,000.00 by increasing the levy by say 1 % a year which in turn would decrease the demand on the interest by $193,000. per year. This would then free up eitherthe interest on investments for other projects or the capital portion for other projects. Finally you could do nothing and accept the increase in the levy in 2006 and thereafter. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS With the sale of the Aurora Hydro Connections Limited to PowerStream Inc. the Town will receive approximately $34. million but we will also lose an annual revenue stream. For as long as the municipality has owned Aurora Hydro we have received annual interest on a promissory note with Aurora Hydro, in the sum of $920,000.. The result of this is that in our 2006 budget we will no longer have this $920,000. interest from the promissory note. This means we will have to find this money elsewhere in the budget with either an increase in revenue, a decrease in expenditures, or the taxpayers will be faced with an approximate 4.75% tax increase. I bring this to your attention as I do believe it will have a large bearing on your discussions in determining what to do with the proceeds from the sale and it is an issue that is facing you in the 2006 budget deliberations. Based upon current investment returns for shorter term investments itwould be reasonable to project that the Hydro proceeds could earn $1,100,000.00. annually. An option to alleviate the loss of interest on the promissory note is to have council pass an amending by-law to authorize the use of the first $920,000. of earned interest of the Hydro Fund as current revenue for 2006. If you agree to this recommendation this would mean that you would have to have commit $29,000,000. of the proceeds to investments based upon the current projected interest rates. CONCLUSIONS N/A LINK TO STRATEGIC PLAN Goal "A" — To Maintain a Well Managed and Fiscally Responsible Municipality. 13 GENERAL COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 1, 2005 November 1, 2005 -.5 - Report No. TR05-028 ATTACHMENTS PRE -SUBMISSION REVIEW Prepared by: L. John Gutteridge, Director of Finance/Treasurer L: o n utte ridge Director of Finance/Treasurer Ext- 4111 ZZ GENERAL COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 1, 2005 i.-_.IGENDA _..�.�_,�..F....�.....ITE .....s,,,�p ....u.._v....,.,,�,»..u.,.. -----Original Message ----- From: David Crombie [mailto:urbanleadershipawards@canurb,com] Sent: Wednesday, October 19, 2005 3:39 PM To: Info Subject: Nominate a Leader! Nominations for the Urban Leadership Awards are now open and we want to ask you to help us identify the leaders in your community. Help us bring recognition to your local leaders by submitting a nomination before our deadline on December 8, 2005. We also invite you to forward the nomination material to members of your community. Nominations can be submitted for individuals, groups and organizations under any award category: City Renewal, City Soul, City Livability, City Initiatives, City Youth and Local Heroes. All of the award categories and descriptions are in the enclosed material. For additional information please visit www.canurb.com/awards. Awards will be presented at the 3rd annual Urban Leadership Awards luncheon on Monday, June 5, 2006 in Toronto. Don't miss this opportunity to celebrate our leaders! If you have any questions please do not hesitate to call Robin Mednick at 416-365-0816 x283 or Emily Cornies at extension 236. Sincerely, David Crombie All Nominations Packages can be faxed or mailed to us at: Canadian Urban Institute 555 Richmond St. W., Ste. 402 PO Box 612 Toronto, ON M5V 381 10/24/2005 115 JOENERAL COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 1, 2005 Urban Leadership Awards Nomination Package 2006 Canadian URBAN Institute "The quality of urban life is rooted deeply in the quality and strength of its public realm. Education, healthcare, social services, public transit, arts and culture, energy resources, public safety and security, justice, libraries, environmental stewardship, roads, streets and public places have been the connecting tissues linking our individual private worlds and fusing one generation to another. The public realm has been the glue that holds the City together and the bedrock upon which it builds its prosperity, Its communities and its social peace." David Crombie, President and CEO, Canadian Urban Institute The Canadian Urban Institute is proud to announce its third annual Urban Leadership Awards to be held on Monday June 5, 2006 at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto. The Urban Leadership Awards program, generously supported by the Ontario Trillium Foundation, honours those that have made a profound and lasting impact upon the public realm. Nominations are open from September 8 to December 8, 2005 and may submitted for individuals, groups or organizations under any of the following award categories: City Renewal Activities that renew, revitalize and restore our cities through advocacy that shapes policy on major urban issues, thereby promoting attitudinal change, encouraging public participation and transforming our urban landscape for future generations. City Livability Actions that make our cities more livable from finding new ways and means to improve our healthcare, education and the environment to enhancing public places and spaces and instilling confidence about our personal safety and security. City Soul Pursuits that inspire, inform, enrich and engage our collective spirits whether through the arts, entertainment, heritage programs, sport and recreation, cultural exchange, or other initiatives. City Initiatives Innovative initiatives, within the past three years, that should make a significant impact on the public realm. City Youth Outstanding contributions to any aspect of the public realm made by individuals under age 30. Local Heroes Individuals who have had a profound and lasting impact on the quality of life in their community or neighbourhood, Canadian Urban Institute 555 Richmond St. W., Suite 402 PO Box 612 "Toronto, ON M5V 3BI Canada 1 416-365-0816 €'W 416-365-0650 cui@canurb.com www.canurb.com Submissions and inquiries may be directed to Robin Mednick Director, Urban Leadership Awards Program 7 416-365-0816 x283 urban leadershipawards@canurb.com 1 /4 16 GENERAL COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 1, 2005 rem, I'tro 1f r Canadian URBAN Institute Instructions uctions Complete the following Nomination Form. This portion of the Nomination Package provides contact information for the nominator and the nominee. Please note that it is required that the nominee provide signed consent for their nomination. 2. Complete the following Nominee Profile. This portion of the Nomination Package enables you to profile the leadership contributions of the individual, group or organization that you have nominated. Please follow the guidelines below to ensure your nomination is complete. • Select the award category that you feel best reflects the accomplishments of your nominee. • Outline your nominee's contribution to the quality of urban life pertaining to the selected award category. Please use a minimum of two pages. • You are encouraged to include supporting material such as testimonials (no more than 3), articles on your nominee (please reduce to 8 1/2 x 11) and/or other information that will be helpful to the jury. 3. Send Nomination Package and all supporting material to the contact address below by Thursday December 8, 2005. The entire Nomination Package submitted, including Nomination Form, Nominee Profile, and supporting material, should not exceed 10 single -sided (81/2 x 11) pages. • Please do not use staples. Thank you I Please note: All nominations submitted last year for the 2005 ULA will be reconsidered for 2006. Re -nominations are not required. Canadian Urban Institute 555 Richmond St. W., Suite 402 PO Box 612 Toronto, ON M5V 3B1 Canada 416-365-0816 0 416-365-0660 cui@canurb.com www.canurb.com Submissions and inquiries may be directed to Robin Mednick Director, Urban Leadership Awards Program ) 416-365-0816 x283 urbanteaderslilpawards@oanurb.com 2/4 17 GENERAL COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 1, 2005 Nomination Form Nominee Information Nominee Name (Individual, Group or Organization/Company (if applicable) Title (if applicable) Nominator Information Nomination submitted by_ Organization/Company (if Title (if applicable) Date of Su Consent of the nominee (required) I agree to have my name submitted as a nominee for the Urban Leadership Awards 2006. Signature of Nominee Canadian Urban Institute 555 Richmond St. W., Suite 402 PO Box 612 Toronto, ON M5V 3B1 Canada J 416-365-0816 8! 416-365-0650 cul@canurb.com www.canurb.com Date Submissions and inquiries may be directed to Robin Mednick Director, Urban Leadership Awards program J 416-365-0816 x283 urbanleadershipawardq@canurb.com 0 Canadian URBAN Institute 3/4 18 IGENERAL COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 1, 2005 Canadian URBAN Institute Nominee Name Award Category Please select one: ❑ City Renewal ❑ City Livability ❑ City Youth ❑ City Soul ❑ City Initiatives ❑ Local Heroes Please note: - The jury reserves the right to consider the nominee in any and all categories. - If you would like your nominee to be considered under the category "City Youth", he/she must meet the eligibility criteria being that he/she is under the age of 30 as of December 8r", 2005. Nominee Profile Please follow with a minimum of two pages detailing your nominee's accomplishments. Canadian Urban Institute 555 Richmond St. W., Suite 402 PO Box 612 Toronto, ON A5V 3B1 Canada 416-365-0616 0 416-365-0650 cui@canurb.com www.canurb.com Submissions and inquiries may be directed to Robin Mednick Director, Urban Leadership Awards Program t 416-365-0816 x263 u rbanle aders h ipawards@cane rb. co m 4/4 19 pp !i /to / A) GENERAL ,COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 1, 2005 � aGeP11DA ITEM r�M &TOR® Atmospheric Fund October 11, 2005 . alp€ z) Mayor Tim Jones 100 John West Way Aurora, ON L4G 6J1 Dear Mayor Jones, ClehnMr C O U N C I L MA'Y.'^ORS OFFICE COPiES CIRCULATED TO: C.A.O. Dir. of Building Admin. Dir. Of Corp. 3erv. Dir. Of Leisure vcrvices Dir. Of Planning Dir. of Public Works Treasurer Miembers of Council At the June, 2005 Toronto and Region Smog Summit, federal Ministers Stephane Dion and John Godfrey, provincial Minister Leona Dombrowsky and mayors and councillors from across the GTA signed the Inter -governmental Declaration on Clean Air, outlining their plans for improving air quality in the Greater Toronto Area. Article 3 of the Declaration commits the signatories to exploring "opportunities to establish a GTA Atmospheric Fund that would apply the Toronto Atmospheric Fund model across the entire GTA. As we all know, 2005 has been the worst on record for air quality in southern Ontario. We are also experiencing the highest levels of energy consumption in history, with constraints on the provincial electrical grid being particularly serious in parts of the GTA. At the same time, we contribute 14% of Canada's total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and rising energy prices are hurting municipalities, businesses and households. The public is looking to all three levels of governments for solutions to these serious problems. The GTA Atmospheric Fund (GTAF) would go a long way in helping us collectively solve them through projects that incubate, scale up, and finance conservation demand management and renewable energy initiatives that reduce GHG emissions, smog, and energy use. The GTAF would also accelerate market uptake of federal, provincial, and municipal climate and clean air programmes through partnerships with all levels of government, as well as the private and not -for -profit sectors. The Toronto Atmospheric Fund (TAF) has proven to be a valuable tool in the City of Toronto for addressing issues related to GHG emissions, clean air and energy use. Somc of the projects TAF has helped initiate include the wind turbine at Exhibition Place, the EnerGuide for Houses Retrofit Incentive Programme, Enwave's deep lake water cooling project, and Canada's first Clean Air Consumer Guide. The Clean Air Partnership, along with the GTA Clean Air Council and TAF, has been in discussions with federal and provincial ministries about establishing the GTAF. Through the provincial government, we are seeking federal funding through the Partnership Fund, which was recently created by the federal government as part of its Kyoto commitment. We] 1GENERAL COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 1, 2005 Establishment of the Greater Toronto Atmospheric Fund (GTAF): Proposal for a Regional Climate and Clean Air Agency An initiative and collaboration of: G�J GTA uiee C U, N 1. 9 a�YtllAtmusphnric Fund � r4� �HR www.tafund.org www.cleanairpartnership.org 75 Elizabeth Street Toronto, Ontario M5G 1 P4 416-392-0271 September 8, 2005 21 (GENERAL COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 1, 2005 EXECUTIVE IVE SUMMARY It is proposed that there be a Greater Toronto Atmospheric Fund (GTAF) to promote the transformation of the GTA into a low carbon region in Ontario and Canada. The GTAF proposal seeks $25 million over five years for incubation financing and pro- gramme delivery and a $100 million capital asset for a revolving fund that will lev- erage up to $1 billion for joint ventures with the public and private sectors. The GTAF will seek to become self-financing over time. It could serve as a development model that could eventually serve as a pilot for other urban regions across Ontario and the rest of the country. BACKGROUND ® The acid test for tackling climate change lies in regions like the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), a major source of equivalent carbon dioxide (eCO2) emissions, accounting for 14 percent of Canada's total eCO2 emissions or 100 million tonnes of eCO2 emissions annually. Substantial political commitment, motivated utilities, tech- nical expertise, financial resources, and proven on -the -ground delivery mechanisms already reside in the GTA. If national targets cannot be met in the GTA, then they cannot be met anywhere. To accelerate eCO2 emissions reduction potential locally, a climate agency is pro- posed to transform the GTA into a low carbon region. Fortunately, there is a suc- cessful model for such an agency —the Toronto Atmospheric Fund (TAF)—and proven regional mechanisms such as the GTA Clean Air Council developed by the Clean Air Partnership (CAP). ® At the 2005 Toronto Smog Summit, federal Ministers Stephane Dion and John God- frey, provincial Minister Leona Dombrowsky, and mayors and councillors from across the GTA endorsed and signed a joint Declaration which pledged to explore "... opportunities to establish a GTA Atmospheric Fund that would apply the Toronto Atmospheric Fund model across the entire GTA." ® Key objectives of the GTAF are to: a) Incubate, scale up, and finance conservation demand management and re- newable energy initiatives that reduce eCO2 emissions, smog, and energy use; b) Accelerate market uptake of federal, provincial, and municipal climate and clean air programmes through partnerships with all levels of government; c) Create technology and financing partnerships with private companies to en- hance new green industries in the region, thereby creating a green industry re- gion of excellence; 3 22 GENERAL COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 1, 2006 of 5 percent by 2007. The GTAF would aim to promote production of cellulose feedstock, which is climate friendly, as well as conversion processes that most efficiently convert corn to ethanol. c) The Province of Ontario will soon bring in feed -in -tariffs that encourage the pro- duction of renewable energy from small generators, such as homeowners. The GTAF would aim to incubate and ramp up a GTA-wide solar PV rooftop pro- gramme aiming to facilitate 10,000 solar rooftops averaging 2 kW each by 2010. d) GTA municipalities are pioneering light emitting diode (LED). technologies in ap- plications such as street and road lighting, traffic signals, signage, parking lot lighting, etc. which collectively use significant energy. The GTAF would aim to extend LED outdoor applications across the GTA in municipal uses, resulting in significant cost savings for taxpayers. GOVERNANCE AND ADMINISTRATION A board that will include individuals from across the GTA who can ensure that the wide views, talents; and expertise that exist in the region are represented on the Board, will govern the GTAF. A Joint Committee of the TAF and CAP Boards and the GTA Clean Air Council will pro- vide direction during GTAF's start-up. A key task of the Joint Committee would be to develop a long-term governance structure for GTAF in consultation with stakeholders. Existing regional agencies such as the Toronto Regional Conservation Authority could serve as governance models for the GTAF. The start-up and research phase will be administered collaboratively by TAF and - CAP —they cooperate presently on a number of initiatives while sharing administrative staff. No new legislation or legal instruments would be required, so a quick start of ac- tivities is expected once funds are committed. CONCLUSION The Greater Toronto Atmospheric Fund (GTAF) will strategically accelerate eCOZ emis- sions reductions and uptake of government programmes, provide insurance that targets can be met, improve air quality, and create a regional model that could work elsewhere in Ontario and Canada. 23 GENERAL COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 1, 2005 Fortunately, throughout the GTA there is a strong commitment to clean air and climate mitigation/adaptation. Under the auspices of The Clean Air Partnership (CAP) and with core funding from the Toronto Atmospheric Fund (TAF), the GTA Clean Air Council identifies and promotes effective collective initiatives to reduce air pollution and its as- sociated health risks in the GTA. Additional funding from Environment Canada, the On- tario Ministry of the Environment, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), and corporate sponsorships has enabled TAF, CAP, and the GTA Clean Air Council to pur- sue a variety of successful initiatives to improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Meanwhile, nine municipalities representing 70 percent of the GTA's popula- tion —together with two Regional Municipalities —are members of the Federation of Ca- nadian Municipalities Partners for Climate Protection campaign. They have developed and are implementing local climate plans to reduce eCO2 emissions. Among them, the City of Toronto has emerged as a well -recognized world leader in cli- mate mitigation and adaptation, initiating and paying for successful municipal initiatives such as TAF, Toronto's Energy Management Programme, the Better Buildings Partner- ship, a landfill gas methane: capture programme, an organic waste recycling pro- gramme, and the Toronto heat watch warning system. Toronto's leadership was recog- nized recently when Mayor David Miller was asked to serve as the inaugural chair of the World Mayors' Council on Climate Change, a joint initiative of the City of Kyoto and ICLEI—Local Governments for Sustainability. Other GTA municipalities are also assuming a strong role. The City of Mississauga, for example, has pioneered the retrofit of Light Emitting Diode (LED) traffic signals in the region, and the City of Markham recently established an energy efficiency office to de- liver retrofits in municipal buildings across the city. Finally, numerous private companies, including utilities (Enbridge), developers (Tridel), oil companies (Suncor and Sunoco), energy service companies (Toronto Hydro Energy Services), media (Toronto Star), and technology leaders (Hydrogenics) are teaming up with municipalities to incubate climate mitigation projects that are stimulating the sus- tainable energy sector and fostering job creation in the GTA. Opportunities and Challenges There are significant opportunities for future eCO2 emissions and smog precursor re- ductions in the GTA. Federal, provincial and municipal policies and programmes are now in place that, if intensified regionally through effective market transformation, busi- ness joint ventures, and technology partnerships, could accelerate Canada's achieve- ment of its climate plan targets while enabling the Province to phase out coal and en- hance energy security. These programmes and supportive policies include: 24 GENERAL COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 1, 2005 Primary among them is the challenge of creating awareness and purchases in a market that is saturated with advertising and messages. In addition, people are very busy and have difficulty creating time for activities that aren't easy and convenient, like selecting a contractor. What is needed in the Toronto region, therefore, is a regional climate agency that will promote transformation of the GTA into a low carbon region. Such an initiative should ideally possess the capacity to accelerate the incubation, dissemination, and financing of market transformation and technology development initiatives that reduce eCO2 and smog precursor emissions in the region, building on existing policies and initiatives while creating new ones of its own. TAF—A Model for Regional Action and Financing The City of Toronto, which adopted a greenhouse gas reduction target in 1990 and allo- cated funds to deliver the target, has established and funded a variety of initiatives to reduce eCO2 emissions that.could be scaled up to the GTA region. Prime among the models is the Toronto Atmospheric Fund, which for 12 years has been incubating and financing eCO2 reduction projects. Through grants, expert consultation, and development of specialized financial instru- ments, projects TAF has incubated through grants, joint ventures, and capital financing have played a leading role in the creation of: • EnerGuide for Houses Retrofit Incentive Programme, • City of Toronto Better Buildings Partnership, • GTA Clean Air Council, • City of Toronto $20 million energy efficiency programme, • Enwave deep lake water cooling, • North America's first urban wind turbine, • Ontario's first transportation management association, • Canada's first municipal trigeneration facility, • Canada's largest Energy Star appliance retrofit, • Canada's largest solar photovoltaic installation, Canada's largest halide street lamp retrofit, • Canada's largest LED traffic signal retrofit, • Canada's first Clean Air Consumer Guide, • Canada's first Heat/Watch Warning System, • Toronto's first LEER Gold condominium, • London Climate Change Agency (U.K.). TAF is able to link the community and municipal government, spark incubation by as- suming the cost of scoping and feasibility studies, spread risks by entering into joint ventures with companies, and leverage its capital to address failures in the financing market. In sum, it delivers projects that might otherwise not go forward. 25 GENERAL COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 1, 2005 considering them. Developments such as this demonstrate the readiness of GTA mu- nicipalities to move forward when compelling information, resources, and opportunities exist. Since its inception, the GTA Clean Air Council has: • Organized and sponsored annual Toronto Smog Summits in 2001-2005 at which all levels of governments commit to new clean air actions and report on their per- formance in implementing previous actions; • Served as a clearinghouse on government clean air actions, publishing and up- dating "Governments' Actions on Clean Air in the GTA", which for the first time catalogued policy and regulatory activity throughout the GTA; • Commissioned research on emissions modeling and quantification methodolo- gies, with support of the MOE; . • Facilitated adoption of a variety of municipal measures, such as the Anti -Idling Bylaw; which are reducing emissions throughout the GTA. Key objectives for 2005 include commissioning of the second phase of the emissions modeling project funded by the MOE; production of an Energy Star procurement guide; further development of municipal by-law and enforcement initiatives; and development of a building performance research capacity for participating municipalities. The Clean Air Partnership The GTA Clean Air Council is an initiative of the Clean Air Partnership (CAP), a public charity that was activated by TAF in 1999 with the aim of facilitating public outreach, so- cial marketing, and regional collaboration on mitigating local air pollution and green- house gas emissions. In addition to the GTA Clean Air Council, CAP has developed and implemented projects that were initially incubated by TAF, such as Toronto's heat watch warning system —it saves many lives annually —the annual Smog Summit, and the Clean Air Consumer Guide, whose Third Edition was distributed through the Toronto Star, Hamilton Spectator, Kitchener -Waterloo Record, and the Guelph Mercury. The Guide explains the diversity of certification programmes in the marketplace, such as Energy Star, and promotes provincial and federal clean air and climate programmes to the public. GTAF—A Proposal The GTA Clean Air Council, the Toronto Atmospheric Fund, and The Clean Air Partner- ship seek to establish the Greater Toronto Atmospheric Fund (GTAF) with financial support from senior levels of government and the private sector. The mandate of the new organization is to accelerate reductions of eCOZ and smog precursor emissions 26 'JdENERAL COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 1, 2005 Emissions Reduction Wedges —Examples 3 2.5 2 1.5 1 0.5 0 O Electricity end -use efficiency 0 Other end -use efficiency Ig Passenger vehicle efficiency • Other transport efficiency ® Renewables E ccs & Supply efficiency 1970 1990 2010 2030 2050 Early research will seek to identify the major wedges that offer opportunities, utilizing municipal powers and influence, for reducing eCO2 emissions in the GTA. The wedges fall into two categories: "trend wedges" and "baseline wedges". Trend wedges are ge- neric measures that seek to reduce the emissions associated with trends or activities stemming from population and economic growth, e.g., growth in auto use or increased residential development. Baseline wedges are generic measures that seek to reduce the energy and/or emissions intensity of activities that existed in the baseline year, such as energy efficiency retrofits of existing buildings or existing traffic signals. Some ge- neric measures might overlap both types of wedges. For instance, shifting to ethanol - based fuels may reduce the carbon intensity of existing passenger car use, while also reducing emissions from the anticipated growth of passenger car use in the future. Potential wedges, targeting emissions reductions 2006-2012, might include: Residential Sector Baseline Wedges • Retrofit 100,000 homes in the GTA -- about 5-to-10% of the existing stock -- with measures toreduce space heating, utilizing the EnerGuide for Houses Retrofit Incentive, yielding an average of 25% in the reduction of heating en- ergy per household. 13 27 - GENERAL COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 1, 2005 Transportation Sector Baseline Wedges • Promote purchase of 20% of passenger autos to high efficiency hybrid or die- sel vehicles. • Promote use of biodiesel in 30% of the bus and truck fleets in the MUSH sec- tor. Baseline and Trend Wedges • Ethanol from low energy -intensive or cellulose biomass 10% of the gasoline mix for light duty vehicles. The initial research phase has several components: 1) Conceptual planning —Initial characterization of wedges methodology and first - cut identification of wedge opportunities. " 2) Screening-10-to-20 wedges would initially be screened, with an aim of identify- ing 5-to-I0 wedges that appear to offer the best initial opportunities in terms of significant emissions reductions, existing policies and delivery models available, potential financial partners available, and market research already available. For instance, the wedges could also focus on areas where municipal governments have strong powers, such as waste management or their own house in order buildings and facilities, and where there are large federal or provincial incentive programmes in place. 3) Quantification — The selected measures would be quantified on the basis of available information and estimates of market penetration, etc., and cost per tonne of eCO2 reduced would be calculated. This quantification stage could be done at a deeper, detailed and more accurate level than the eCOZ scoping done in the earlier phases. 4) Prioritization —From the screening process, the most promising 5-to-I0 wedges would be investigated in more detail and then prioritized based on a matrix screening that looks in more detail at political feasibility, ease of administrative delivery, complimentary funding available, and cost effectiveness. 5) Recommendations — On the basis of the above, recommendations would be made for the top three -to -five areas that GTAF should address in its first three years. This research phase will be undertaken by ICLEI—Local Governments for Sustainability with additional input by Ralph Torrie of ICF Consultants. The research results will pro- 15 28 GENERAL COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 1, 200S fits of the new policy, however, will depend on feedstock and the efficiency of the plants that convert biomass into energy. The GTAF could consider several op- tions, such as pilot ventures to produce cellulose feedstock or to convert corn to ethanol efficiently. c) The Province of Ontario will soon offer feed -in -tariffs that encourage the produc- tion of renewable energy from small generators, such as homeowners. The GTAF would aim to incubate and ramp up a GTA-wide solar PV rooftop pro- gramme, aiming to facilitate 10,000 solar rooftops totaling 20 mW by 2010. d) GTA municipalities are pioneering light emitting diode (LED) technologies in ap- plications such as street and road lighting, traffic signals, signage, parking lot lighting, etc. which collectively use significant energy. LED technologies reduce energy use typically by 85 percent. The City of Mississauga, for instance, is pav- ing the way for LED applications in traffic signals, recently followed by the City of Toronto. The GTAF would aim to extend LED outdoor applications across the GTA in municipal uses, resulting in significant cost savings for taxpayers. Governance and Administration The GTAF's Boardwill include individuals from across the GTA who can ensure that the wide views, talents, and expertise that exist in the region will govern the GTAF. A Joint Committee of the TAF and CAP Boards and the GTA Clean Air Council will pro- vide direction during GTAF's start-up. A key task of the Joint Committee would be to develop a long-term governance structure for GTAF in consultation with stakeholders. Existing regional agencies such as the Toronto Regional Conservation Authority could serve as governance models for the GTAF. The start-up and research phase will be administered collaboratively by TAF and CAP —they cooperate presently on a number of initiatives while sharing administrative staff. No new legislation or legal instruments would be required, so a quick start of ac- tivities is expected once funds are committed. Financing TAF currently operates at the level of about $1.7 million annually, its revenues derived from investment of its $26 million endowment, which includes funds for grants, special projects, and staff. CAP currently operates at the level of $1 million annually, its reve- nues derived from grants from TAF, provincial and federal government agencies, and corporate sponsorships. In order to be effective, the GTAF will need funding of $5 million annually for 5 years, commencing in 2006, to be used primarily to incubate initiatives and partnerships and for administrative/programme staff. These funds could come from the federal govern- ment's new Partnership Fund, with additional support from federal climate programmes, founding corporate sponsors, and utilities supplementing this amount. The FCM could 17 29 C,EqERAL COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 1, 2005 structure and long-term governance. These deliverables will be produced after exten- sive consultation with potential municipal and corporate partners in the GTA, as well as with federal and provincial officials. Conclusion The GTA, the largest metropolitan area in Canada, accounts for about 14 percent of Canada's greenhouse gas emissions or 100 million tonnes of eCO2 annually. Major sources of these emissions include residential and commercial buildings, vehicles, local industry, and waste management. Considerable potential exists to assist Canada in meeting its Kyoto Protocol commitments by accelerating emissions reductions in the GTA through a regional climate agency, building on the successful Toronto Atmospheric Fund model, which incubates and otherwise supports delivery of programmes on the ground. The GTA Clean Air Council, the Toronto Atmospheric Fund, and the Clean Air Partner- ship seek to establish the Greater Toronto Atmospheric Fund (GTAF) with financial support from senior levels of government and the private sector. The mandate of the new organization is to accelerate reductions of eCO2 and smog precursor emissions across the Greater Toronto region by working on the ground through public and private partnerships and joint ventures to incubate, scale up, finance, aggregate, and deliver local initiatives in the energy, water, waste, and transportation sectors. The operation of the GTAF will also build on GTA-wide municipal emissions reduction initiatives undertaken by the CAP and the GTA Clean Air Council funded previously by the MOE, such as the "Emissions Reduction Best Practices for Municipalities' pro- gramme. In sum, the establishment and operation of the Greater Toronto Atmospheric Fund (GTAF) will create a regional climate change and clean air agency that will strategically and systematically accelerate emissions reductions from the approximately 100 million tonnes of eCO2 baseline emissions that originate in the region. The GTAF will increase the effectiveness of existing municipal, provincial, and federal programmes, incubate effective new initiatives, and aggregate emissions across the region. Finally, it will cre- ate a regional laboratory in which new initiatives can be incubated, tested, and scaled up in other parts of Ontario or nationally. 19 0E4ERAL COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 1, 2005 Establishment of the Greater Toronto Atmospheric Fund (GTAF) Proposal for a Regional Climate and Clean Air Agency An initiative and collaboration of: GTA dIDURDWAtmospheric Fund . a Ida Background: 1kiR71VEFF Ab G O u N C 1 1. At the 2005 Smog Summit, federal and provincial officials and GTA municipal politicians signed a declaration of intent to explore the creation of a GTA-wide climate and clean air agency based on the Toronto Atmospheric Fund (TAF) model. The Problem: • The GTA contributes as much as 15% of all of Canada's greenhouse gas emissions. • 2005 has seen the highest number of air quality alerts in the history of the region. • Parts of the GTA are experiencing constraints in electricity supply through the provincial grid. • Rising energy prices are creating a strain on municipal budgets. • Despite current efforts, these problems are getting worse, not better. The Solution: A Greater Toronto Atmospheric Fund (GTAF) would work with GTA municipalities, senior levels of government, other public sector bodies, and the private and not -for -profit sectors.to develop and deliver new projects and programs, and accelerate the delivery of existing programs. The GTAF proposal is asking senior levels of government for $25 million over five years for incubation financing and program delivery and a $100 million capital asset for a revolving, fund that will leverage up to $1 billion for joint ventures with the public and private sectors, and finance the operations of the GTAF. GTAF will seek to become self-financing after 5 years. Key Benefits to Municipalities: • Financial assistance with conservation demand management and renewable energy initiatives; • Securing federal and provincial financing for municipal climate and clean air programs; • Improved air quality while helping meet federal Kyoto targets and Ontario's coal phase -out; • Cost savings to municipalities and taxpayers through lower energy prices; • Investment in new technologies to create a green industry region of excellence; • Creation of a delivery model that can serve as a pilot for other regions in Canada. GuidingPrinciples rinciples for Programme Delivery_ • Environmental benefits —Activities that improve local air quality and reduce GHG emissions; • Regional equity —Projects that benefit the whole region' • Co -benefits such as lower municipal energy costs, economic development, and local job creation; • Leveraged financing —Projects that can leverage additional financial resources; • Partnerships and joint ventures with municipal, other public and private sector institutions; • Coordination — Activities that work in conjunction with existing government programs. Potential Program Delivery Examples: • Extend LED outdoor applications across the GTA in municipal uses such as traffic signals and signage, resulting in significant cost savings for municipalities and taxpayers; • Increase uptake of the federal EnerGuide for Houses Retrofit Incentive to 100,000 GTA households, focusing on underserved areas to reduce household energy costs; • Support energy audits and subsequent retrofits of municipal facilities, as well as for schools, hospitals, and other public agencies. 31 IOEIJER,A 'HURSDAY SEPTEMBER 22 York Council, 9:30 a.m. SEPTEMBER 24 TO OCTOBER 1 Architecture week in Ontario, 14 Societies of the Ontario Association of Architects, check for local events at wwwoaa on ca MONDAY SEPTEMBER 26 Brampton Council, 1:00 p.m. Ajax Council, 7:00 p.m. Burlington Council, 7:00 p.m. Newmarket Council, 7:00 p.m. Richmond Hill Council, 7:30 p.m. Whitby Council, 8:00 p.m. SEPTEMBER 26 - SEPTEMBER 27 The Future of Canada's Infrastructure, Strategy Institute, Paramount Conference Centre, Vaughan, 416-944-8833. TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 27 Markham Council, 5:00 p.m. Auror6 Council, 7:00 p.m. WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 28 Mississauga Council, 9:00 a.m. Durham Council, 10:00 O.M. Hamilton Council, 7:00 p.m. SEPTEMBER 29 - SEPTEMBER 30 OPPI Annual Conference, Connections 2005, Hamilton and Burlington, contact Bill Jansen, Hamilton planning, 905-546- 2424, ext. 1261 or Rosalind Minaji, Burlington planning, 905-335-7600, ext. 7809. WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 5 Health Impacts of Sprawl and How Smart Growth Can Solve Them, Ontario Smart Growth Network, Centre for Social Innovation, 215 Spadina Avenue, Toronto, 12:00 - 7:00 p.m., 416-533-1635 ext.3. WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 12 Burlington Downtown Summit, Holiday Inn, 8:30 a.m. — 9:00 p.m., 905-335-7607. REGIONAL CLIMATE CHANGE AGENCY PROPOSED Partners seek to leverage $1 billion -for joint ventures Following a declaration by GTA municipal politicians at this stunmer's Toronto smog summit, the Toronto Atmospheric Fund, GTA Clean Air Council and Clean Air Partnership are spearheading a proposal to establish a regional climate and clean air agency. The proposal for the Greater Toronto Atmospheric Fund seeks $25-million over five years for start-up cash and a $100- million capital asset for a revolving fund, which will leverage up to $1- billion for joint ventures with the public and private sectors. The partners believe the plan will help the federal government meet its Kyoto targets and the Province of Ontario phase -out coal. The result would 'mean "greater energy security and better air quality, and will stimulate new technologies and job creation." "The acid test for tackling climate change lies in regions like the Greater Toronto Area," said project co-ordinator Rob Maxwell. "The area is a major source of equivalent carbon dioxide (eCO2) emissions, accounting for 14 per cent of Canada's total eCO2 emissions or 100 million tonnes of cCO2 emissions annually." "Substantial political commitment, motivated utilities, technical expertise, financial resources, and proven on -the - ground delivery mechanisms already ian A.R. Graham, Publisher ong@nrupublishing.com) Lynn Morrow, Edilor (lynnm@nropublishing.com) Anne Marie Adkins, News Reporter jannemorieo@ n rupublishing.com) Blake Eligh, Planning Reporter (blakee@nrupublishiug.corn) - Jeff Payelte, 1- youl (ielfp@ nmpubl isy ing, cam) reside in the GTA," Maxwell said, "If national targets cannot be met in the GTA, then they cannot be met anywhere." To accelerate eCO2 emissions reduction potential locally, the group has proposed to the federal and provincial governments that developing a climate agency would help to transform the GTA into a low -carbon region, Fortunately, Maxwell said, there is a successful model for such an agency —the Toronto Atmospheric Fund -and proven regional mechanisms such as the GTA Clean Air Council developed by the Clean Air Partnership. The proposal includes a plan to become self-financing over time, said Maxwell, and it could serve as a development model for other urban regions across Ontario and the rest of the country. At the 2005 Toronto Smog Summit, federal ministers St6phane Dion and John�Godfrey, provincial minister Leona Dombrowsky, and municipal politicians from across the GTA endorsed and signed a joint declaration, which pledged to explore a regional climate agency. Discussions with government partners are going well, Maxwell said, and moving very quicldy. The partners will be making a presentation at a September 30 meeting of GTA mayors and chairs in Brampton. SALES/SUBSCRIPTIONS NRU Publishing Inc. Icirculat6n@nrupublishing.coml Annual subscription rate is $299. Editorial office Complimentary triol subscriptions ore 26 Soho Streel, Suite 330 available. Toronto, Ontario, M5T 127 Advetllstng rates ovailabte upan request Tel; 416.260.1304 NRU - Greater Toronto Arco Edition's Fax: 416.979.2707 r to be redistributed wiffiout the written consent at the publishes Billings department NRU - Geater Taranto Area Edition 46 Old Bridle Path, is published 50 times a year by tax or e Toronto, ON M4T 1 A7 ..it by NRU Publishing Inc. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2005 32 Novm Res Urbis - Greater Toronto Area Edition GENERAL COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 1, 2005 AGENDA 4 GND ITEM FCM PedmUm of Canadian Mimioipalldw MAYOR.'S OFFICE COPIES CIRCULATED TO: C.A.0, Dir. Of Ftuiding Admin. Dit. Of Corp. Serv. Dir. Of Leisure Services Dir. OF .Pla+.xniag Dir. Of Pulni c Works Treasurer Members of Council October 14, 2005 Please Distribute to All Members of Council MEMBERS' ADVISORY Canadian Coalition of Municipalities Against Racism The Canadian Commission for UNESCO (CCU) is calling on municipalities to join a Coalition of Municipalities Against Racism. Launched in January 2005 at the Roundtable on Combating Urban Racism in Ottawa, the proposed coalition is based on UNESCO's 2004 initiative to establish an intemational coalition of municipalities against racism. Municipalities that join will be asked to sign a declaration agreeing to commitments leading to the development and implementation of an action plan against racism. Municipal governments play a leading role in fostering equality and respect for all citizens. FCM endorses this campaign and encourages its members to join and become part of this international network against racism. Municipalities interested in joining the coalition or that would like a copy of the draft declaration and action plan should contact the Canadian Commission for UNESCO in Ottawa. For more information, please contact Elisabeth Barot of CCU at(613) 566-4414, ext. 5567. 33 IGENERAL COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 1, 2005 1..... [.AGENDA ITEM# I I ' TOWN OF AURORA GENERAL COMMITTEE REPORT No. CS05-032 SUBJECT: RFP for Website Re -Design and Content Management System FROM: Bob Panizza, Director of Corporate Services DATE: November 1, 2005 RECOMMENDATIONS THAT the Request Parproposal submitted by Protocol 1S be approved for the provision of the re-desi'} and purchase of a content management system for the Town website at a total cost of $68,130. BACKGROUND History of the Town's Website The Town of Aurora first developed and launched its website in 1998 in order to address the growing need for a presence on the internet. In the age of household computer use and the ever increasing use of the internet, the Town recognized the development of a website as a means for relaying accurate, up-to-date and relevant information to Aurora stakeholders. In 2002, the management and daily maintenance of the site was shifted from the IT Services Division in Treasury to the Communications & Marketing Division in the Corporate Services Department as part of a transfer of responsibilities between the departments. Currently, the daily maintenance and overall management, including: budget, functionality, navigation, technical issues and design are supervised by the Communications/Marketing Coordinator. Since the launch of the Town's website, new standards, technology, software and design features have been introduced in the industry which improve the navigation and functionality of websites. Although the Town's current site provides basic information to visitors, it is deemed to be outdated and does not capitalize on features that can be integrated through the redevelopment of the site. As part of ongoing website development, the Communications/Marketing Coordinator researched and formulated a Web Redevelopment Strategy, with technical input and advice from the IT Services Supervisor. 34 GENERAL COMMITTEE NOVEMPER 1, 2005 November 1, 2005 .2- No. CS05-032 The Web Redevelopment Strategy was presented to Council in December of 2004, identifying several weaknesses (i.e. insufficient staff resources to maintain site, inconsistent site standards, lack of compliance with accessibility needs, etc.) in the current site and recommended the implementation of a new site design and purchase of a content management system. The report also identified a 3 Phased approach to redeveloping the site, with corresponding budgetary impact. COMMENTS In both the 2005 Communications Plan and the Web Redevelopment Strategy presented in December 2004, Council approved in principle, the Website Redevelopment Strategy as a means to improve the functionality and relevance of our website. Within the 2005 budget approvals process, funding in the amount of $123,000 for the purchase of a content management application, web re -design, maintenance, hosting and staff compliment, was approved by Council for Phase 1 Year 2005 of the Strategy. As a means for managing implementation costs, the Strategy identified funding for two more phases of the project, which are expected to happen in 2006 and 2007. Outlined below are the project milestones for Phase 1 and 2. Prior to expanding the site to a full web portal, staff will establish clear and concise goals and objectives. Phase 1 - Year 2005 ➢ engage the services of a website design & host contractor through an RFP process ➢ acquisition of content management software system ➢ hire staff member to implement content management system; oversee daily operations and updates of the website ➢ initial development of Intranet (internal communication tool) Phase 2 - Year 2006 ➢ implement e-gov't services (i.e. on-line program registration, tax/water , parking etc. payments) ➢ review hosting options for improved service and cost efficiencies ➢ establish goals and objectives for full web portal RFP Process The process for investigating and engaging the services of a company to re -design and implement a Content Management System began in mid August with the issuing of an Expression of Interest. The Expression of Interest, advertised in the Era Banner, on the Town's website and on the Electronic Tender Network, elicited 27submissions. 35 IGENERAL COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 1 2005 November 1, 2005 -3- No. CS05-032 Each of the 27 submissions were evaluated using the Expression of Interest evaluation criteria in Appendix "A" and from those submissions, staff short listed 6 companies and invited those to submit an RFP. The 6 RFPs received were then evaluated using the RFP criteria in Appendix "B". Once evaluated, staff again short-listed 3 companies who were then invited to participate in a mandatory product demonstration and interview process. Those 3 companies were again evaluated, this time using the Product Demo and Interview criteria also listed in Appendix "B". Through the product demo and interview process, each company was asked several questions pertaining directly to their proposal. Upon completion of all the interviews and product demonstrations, staff used the evaluation criteria and determined that the company that best meets the Town's needs is Protocol IS. Following is the list of companies that were invited to submit an RFP and the project costs they quoted: PROJECT TOTAL' Ironpoint $39,100. CGK Technologies Group $62,584 Clarity $82,000 (doesn't include content migration fees Protocol IS $89,430 iCongo $156,850 D na Lync $172,715 Although Protocol IS quoted a price of $89,430, as staff reviewed the proposal, it was noted that Protocol was offering value-added functionality that could be deferred to a later stage of the project, thus bringing the initial costs down. Another factor that made Protocol stand out from the other submissions was the portal product they have proposed. Within the interview and demonstration portion of the RFP process, staff were able to determine that the Protocol modules that could be deferred from the initial phase or eliminated all together included; integration of our on-line business directory, workflow and security configuration and a reduction in the number of concurrent system users/content authors. This being the case, staff were able to assess that the total protect cost could be decreased in this first phase (2005) to $68 130. Protocol IS Product Details Through their proposal, Protocol IS is offering the Town an opportunity to purchase a product that has exceptional functionality, dynamic design, intuitive navigation, a user- friendly and non -technical interface for internal content management, 36 (GENERAL COMMITTEE NOVEMBER t, 2005 November 1, 2005 - 4 - Report No. CS05-032 managed workflow and the ability to grow our site to its desired portal environment within our preferred timeline. Protocol's solution also provides for back -end system compatibility, as it matches the Town's current SQL Server environment. The Portal and Content Management Modules are also based on Microsoft's .NET technology, therefore allowing staff the ability to quickly build, deploy, manage, and use connected security -enhanced solutions with Web services down the road. Website/Portal Functionality and Usability The technology solution being proposed, will not only allow the Town to implement a newly designed, user-friendly, interactive site, it will also facilitate efficient in-house management of the web content and design. It will also permit staff to move forward, in subsequent project phases, with the implementation of customized e-government services and a full portal web solution. These factors alone made Protocol stand out from their competition. A significant component of the Town's web strategy is to implement e-government services. Unique to their competitors, Protocol offers the Town the ability to configure customized modules to answer staff's objectives to offer e-government services such as on-line registration, parking ticket payments, tax and water bill payments, facility bookings and more. These types of functionality and services were identified in Phase 2 of our Website Redevelopment Strategy and have been budgeted for, accordingly, in that phase. A Web Portal is best described as an 'umbrella' solution that allows for an unlimited number of websites (reciprocal or sub -sites), each of which is absolutely controlled and managed by the Town (i.e. Intranet, Extranet, sub -sites for various client groups such as the Seniors, Rec Facilities, Council Committees and other partners) through customized levels of access and security. A portal environment will allow the Town to facilitate marketing and service activities that will ultimately enhance and generate partnerships and revenue as well as improve overall communications. While a website is a single web presence, a Portal environment will allow staff to create and manage an unlimited number of sub or reciprocal sites, offering an extended online presence and improved service levels to all stakeholders. To view an example of a web portal, please visit the City of Mississauga's website at www.mississauga.ca. Also attached in Appendix "C", is an article on Community Access Portals. Identified in phase three of the Web Redevelopment Strategy, is the investigation of web portal technology. It is staff's intent to begin to migrate our current single site into a web portal, significantly increasing our on-line service offerings, and creating a fully interactive web tool. 37 (GENERAL COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 1, 2005 November 1, 2005 - 5 - Report No. CS05-032 As a result of Protocol's offering of portal technology up front, this allows the Town to take advantage of that technology now, with the solutions' scalability, functionality and flexibility allowing us to meet and potentially exceed our strategic goals. ProtodbiIs Proposed Product Includes: Software License for Portal Module & Content Management System Unlimited Sites 50 Concurrent Users content authors Consultation Site Navigation & Architecture Graphic Design Services Configuration Website Content Migration Quality Assurance Installation Training and Documentation Technical Support Project Management Testing Integration of Templates, Web Content Management System & Plug -ins Product Funotionalit Events calendar - allows Town and outside organizations to search for and upload community events - Town controls content Content Scheduling - allows staff to schedule when a notice is posted and when it should expire — facilitating automatic action E-mail Notification - notifies staff when a scheduled event is going to expire and asks permission to remove from web E-mail Broadcasts - can compile lists of user and interest groups and target them with requested a -mail notices E-Newsletter- can create electronic newsletters and target interest groups or post online Security — maintains a secure website environment when allowing interactivity Workflow - can assign content authors in user departments and control the approvals and uploading rocess Archiving — stores all posted information so at any time it can be retrieved i.e. seasonal annual notices Versionin — can manage the number of template versions we want to save in the event of design or functionality changes) Online Forms and Surveys — can facilitate on-line registration and surveys and manage results Search (meta data key words & description) — facilitates information management and filing for effective site searches Template Management — allows access to template designs for trained staff) to facilitate design and functionality changes Site Statistics Reporting — ability to track visitor activity, site traffic and web use patterns —for navigation review & marketing Hosin Services Managed Server with unlimited Gb/month transit 20 GB of webs ace Monthly site activity report ON GENERAL COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 1, 2005 November 1, 2005 - 6 - Report No. CS05-032 Proiect Implementation The Town's Web Project Team will be comprised of the Director of Corporate Services, the IT Services Supervisor, the Communications/Marketing Coordinator and the new Web/Communications Specialist. All project decisions will be made in conjunction with all or part of the group identified above. As part of the RFP process, staff requested vendors to submit an estimated project timeframe. ESTIMATED PROJECT TIMELINES ACTIVITY Est. Time Required in days Phase 1: Consultation & Planning 5 Phase 2: Development of Site Architecture 4 Phase 3: Design of Website Composites 10 Phase 4: Development of Templates and Website 10 Phase 5: Configuration of Content Management System 5 Phase 6: Integration 5 Phase 7: Configuration of Functionality 15 Phase 8: Testing of Website in Development Environment 3 Phase 9: Training 3 Phase 10: Content Migration 10 Phase 11: Testing of Website in Live Environment 3 Phase 12: Go Live 1 Phase 13: Delivery of Documentation & Files 1 Phase 14: Technical Support On oin Estimated Time Required 75 Days Company Profile Protocol IS is an Ottawa based company that has been providing innovative solutions to their clients for ten (10) years now. As one of Canada's leading Internet Application Development companies, Protocol has completed over 500 online projects for various clients including; NAFTA Secretariat, the RCMP, .Commonwealth Games Canada, National Archives of Canada, Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, Canadian Museum of Civilization, Environment Canada, National Capital Commission, Canadian Space Agency, Chicken Farmers of Canada and most recently have won a contract to implement a web portal for Durham Region Transit. To view some of the sites that Protocol has implemented, please visit: www.chicken.ca www.nafta-sec-alena.org 39 !GENERAL COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 1, 2005 November 1, 2005 - 7 - Report No. CS05-032 www.commonwealthgames.org www.capcan.ca OPTIONS The importance of an up to date functional interactive communication tool such as the Town's website cannot be stressed enough. Staff have provided a detailed summary of the RFP process and a recommendation on the best solution provider to meet our needs and budgetary restrictions. Alternatively Council may wish to defer this project to a future time. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS The cost to hire Protocol IS to implement the re -design, content management system and portal module will be $68,130. This cost includes all of the product licensing fees, training and technical support, project management and the functionality previously listed. Hosting and maintenance fees will be low due to the year-end implementation of the first phase of the project. As well, staffing costs that were budgeted in 2005 have not been used due to the implementation timelines for the project. $40,000 to purchase the software licenses, hosting and maintenance was identified in the 2005 MIS Capital Budget, while the remaining design, consultation and project management fees will come from the Corporate Services Budget. This remaining $28,130 will be shifted out of the salary line for the Web/Communications Specialist in order to cover these costs. Due to the year—end implementation, revised Phase 1 costs for the project have been outlined below. Upon completion of the RFP process, staff have also made revisions to Phase 2 — Year 2006 and have outlined below, more accurate costs. Phase 1 — Year 2005 Implementation Costs • consultation, design, project management and training ($30,000) • portal and content management software acquisition ($40,000) • additional staff complement ($5,000 represents the salary balance for the remainder of 2005) • hosting on offsite server ($1000) Revised Year 1 Total $76,000 one IOENERAL COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 1, 2005 November 1, 2005 - 8 - Report No. CS05-032 Phase 2 — Year 2006 Implementation Costs • implementation of e-gov't services (i.e. on-line registration, bill and ticket payments etc.) ($20 - $30,000) — dependent on functionality priorities • annual hosting costs ($6,000 per year) • annual support & maintenance for software including all software upgrades ($6,000 per year) • staffing complement ($51,000) Estimate Year 2 Total $93,000 LINK TO STRATEGIC PLAN Goal "A" speaks to maintaining a well -managed and fiscally responsible municipality. ATTACHMENTS Appendix "A"— Expression. of Interest Evaluation Criteria Appendix "B" — RFP and Product Demo/Interview Evaluation Criteria Appendix "C" — Article on Community Access Portals PRE -SUBMISSION REVIEW Management Team — October 26, 2004 Prepared by: Kristen Yemm ext. 4228 & Karen Bates -Denney ext. 4924 Bob Pa 7zz Director of Corporate Services m GENERAL COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 1, 2005 November 1, 2005 - 9 - Report No. CS05-032 APPENDIX A Evaluation Criteria for Expression of Interest • How proposed re -development will gain maximum visitation, interaction, and information flow on Aurora website • A brief company profile including; history, organization, credit information including bank reference • Details of staff proposed for this redevelopment and content management contract including: primary contact, project managers, support staff, list of services that shall be sub -contracted by your company to perform this contract • One -page summary explaining why your company best meets the needs of the Town of Aurora • Description of examples of websites created by your company, including their URL address. For each example, please include the scope of work completed, time frame for that development and the approximate cost involved • References for all examples provided • Estimated timeframe for site re -design and migration to a content management solution • Experience with this type of project • References • Sample websites rim )GENERAL COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 1, 2005 November 1, 2005 -10 - Report No. CS05-032 APPENDIX B Evaluation Criteria for Request for Proposal Process Request for Proposal • Total cost implications • Ability to meet detailed requirements outlined in the RFP • Value-added offerings not specifically requested but considered necessary for the successful completion of the work. • Meets the outlined submission requirements • Overall value based on quality, service and price • Proponent's experience and track record with this type of project • Completeness, organization and readability of proposal Product Demo and Interview • Product functionality and scalability • Product ease -of -use • Interview • Thoroughness of demonstration 43 1GEN RAL COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 1, 2005APe_EN®'X ..------ Copl..._ed undeY Licence flrom access®. Furthernraproductlon prnhlplted Realizing the full potential of f r u The Internet is an immensely power- ful tool that has transformed our lives in ways no one could have imagined only a decade ago. It has reshaped almost ev- ery aspect of our daily activities — from media to commerce to education, and communication of every kind. Redefining Relationships Over the past 10 years or so, govern- ments at every level have been working to adapt to the transition from the indus- trial age to the information age, Munici- palities both large and small are using new technologies to overhaul and rede- fine their relationships with businesses, employees, other public agencies and, most of all, citizens. Experience to date has shown that re- alizing the fall potential of community access portals does not happen by acci- dent. Municipalities need to concentrate on three vital building blocks: ► establishing clear objectives and defined success strategies; ► building trusted relationships with project partners; and ► marshalling unwavering commit- . ment and support from political leaders — without that backing, ma- jor initiatives stand little chance of success. Craig Sisson While technological solutions are highly important, the overriding goal must be the end product — that is, the provision of the best possible services to the citizens of the community. To truly understand how municipalities can deliver these services, we must first ex- amine the underlying goals of e-government initiatives. E-Government Goals Community access portals are un- dergoing intense change to corre- spond with public demands and the goals of economic development and enhanced democracy. Citizens are coming to expect the same level of service from municipalities as they do from the private sector. If they can re- serve an airplane seat over the Internet, people will expect to be able to complete such transactions as pay- ing taxes and renewing their car li- cence plates the same way. Municipal governments are rising to the task by creating inviting, multi -functional portals that allow citizens to conduct transactions more effectively and tap into the vast hold- ings of government information more easily. Successful community portals are based on the following common goals: ► better customer -oriented service; ► saving taxpay- Craig Sisson is National Sales Manager - ers' money — Municipalities for Microsoft Canada through more where he oversees the company's work in the growing municipal sector of efficient govern - Microsoft Canada's public sector busi- merit; mess. He can be reached at < csissongmicrosoft.com>. ► sparking public -private sector co- operation; ► prompting citizen involvement; and ► helping the public achieve life-long learning. The challenge is how to translate these goals into meaningful action that will have a positive impact. In looking at e-government initiatives, it is important to leverage the "lessons learned" of municipalities and even provincial and federal government leaders in delivering e-government. Applying Lessons Learned One such leader is the Province of New Brunswick. In a study on that province's e-government initiative, re- search fine IDC Canada presents an in- sightful analysis of the factors driving the changes that led "from vision to benefit." The report, commissioned by CGI and Microsoft, highlights striking eco- nomic and social benefits. These in- cluded business productivity savings of $71 million in 2002 alone, municipal cost savings of $11 million and 13.7 percent job growth in the technology and communications sector. At the same time, the province was able to consolidate 1,600 government offices into 36 "one -stop shopping" re- gional centres. And, according to the provincial government, "customer satis- faction" among the public rose from a dismal 50 percent in the late 1980s to 93 percent last year. While the study looked at a provi a- cial initiative, it is important to note that m MUnicipal World JUNE 2004 21 GENERAL. COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 1, 2005 . IDC made a point of highlighting scalability. "Can the experience of aju- risdiction of 729,000 people be applied to ajurisdiction of 30 million or one. of 100,000?" the study asks. "IDC be- lieves the New Brunswick `magic' has less to do with technology which is al- most infinitely scalable, and is much more about process:" This factor is par- ticularly important to those engaging in community portal projects. The Crossing Boundaries Munici- pal Caucus, a forum of urban and community leaders that explores the challenges of e-government, has also identified crucial concerns in. the development of effective e-gov- ernment services. It concluded that collaboration with project partners requires a period of relationship building to develop trust, mutual understanding and respect. Planners must ensure that the necessary time is built into the project. Benefits and Business Drivers Many communities across Canada have implemented highly successful community portals tbat speak to the po tential.benefits and business drivers for any project of this nature. One example of a successful portal may found in Chatham -Kent. In 1998, the government of Ontario amalgamated 23 independent commu- nities in southwestern Ontario into the Municipality of Chatham -Kent, With I10,000 residents, 13 public utilities and five police forces scat- tered over an area roughly the size of Prince Edward Island, the new city faced an enormous challenge to pro- vide services to its citizens while si- multaneously cutting costs and streamlining procedures. But, Chatham -Kent has met the need by developing a comprehensive community web portal with a variety of applidations, links and interactive functions. Included is a self-service portal that supplies online govern- ment service to improve access and availability, while lowering delivery costs. Readily available information on 98 different services — including healthcare, education, emergency set vices and local government — has made the amalgamation process go smoother. And, the new city found it was able to implement a technologi- cal solution that drastically cut the number of anticipated webmaster po- sitions, and saved more than $300,000 in expected costs. The right web portal can also be a highly effective marketing tactic for promoting tourism and local business. The government of New Brunswick overhauled its official Tourism New Brunswick site. The attractive, invit- ing Internet portal now includes a wealth of added information, includ- PORTALS, continued on page 50 45 GENERAL COMMITTEE-NOVEMBER L PORTALS, conflnued from page 22 ing seasonal travel packages; the province's natural wondeis, the "Great Outdoors," Acadian culture, "Fun Days;" top attractions and beaches, and scenic drives. The im- proved site provides visitors with an- other venue to research and plan va- cation activities. The use of the website, according to a government annual report, has experienced tre- mendous growth and helped New Brunswick's tourism sector outper- form most destinations in Canada and New England, despite the negative impact of the events of September 11, 2001, By taking advantage of the latest Internet technologies, municipalities can also leverage economic growth by attracting investment and enhancing business development. The northern Ontario Municipality of Greenstone, a .collection of small, widely dispersed communities now amalgamated as a municipality, is creating a web portal with a full range of information. But, Greenstone also intends to use its ad- vanced technological infrastructure, to drive economic growth and development. Visitors using the site will have ac- cess to the community's local attrac- tions, accommodation, activities and restaurants. And, both existing and po- tential businesses will be kept up to date on municipal economic development is- sues and information; including an on- line business services directory. Local firms will be able to use a common ' e-commerce transactional engine to sell c products and services gidbally, e 2005 Nlaking.a Cornmunity Portal a Reality The creation of online solutions also gives governments important opportuni ties to develop partnerships with the pri, vate sector. Many municipalities do not have the in-house knowledge and expe- rience to handle extensive e-govem- ment programs. But, by choosing a business partner with proven expertise, governments can meet public demands for quick delivery of web -based ser- vices, take advantage of valuable know-how and reduce costs. For example, in British Columbia, the Smart Choices project in the cities Of Coquitlam and Port Moody has been extremely successful. Working with world -class leaders. in portal develop- ment and technology deployment, the municipalities have built a state-of-the-art gateway for the delivery of comprehensive information and services. The mayor. of Coquitlam described Smart Choices as "an active partnership between members of the community, government and business, where every- one contributes to the shape and success of the eCommunity" Part of the project has been the estab- lishment of a unique Business Innova- tion Centre that will link business to business, as well as business to con- sumer. The revenues created through the centre will help to pay for the Smart Choice portal, Portal Platforms and Strategies As municipal leaders sit down to draw up plans for their own technologi- af solutions, it is clear from the experi- nce to dat th t th e a ey must focus on the development of a long-term, strategic approach to their, communities' informa- tion technology needs. To accommodate changes in govern- ment strategies dictated by shifting citi- zen demands, governments need a flexi- ble IT foundation that can adapt quickly and easily to new web content and ser- vice delivery. A flexible solution also gives municipalities the opportunity to expand and vary their e-government of- ferings in response to changing social, business and economic trends. With the provision of more accessi- ble online services and government in- . formation comes the opportunity for civic leaders to reopen new lines of communication with their citizens, to rebuild trust and deepen the ties that hold communities together. Online ser- vices, because they are based on Internet standards, are by definition open and all-inclusive. Information that is available to everyone, everywhere and on any device empowers the public and enlivens and strengthens democracy. Looking Ahead As science has pushed forward the frontiers of technology, so the Internet is relentlessly challenging traditional notions of knowledge and human inter- action. Electronic government, once seen as the simple provision of static information, is but a step along the way to a whole new era of open, interactive public service that is redefining the very relationships that shape our soci- ety. Government and e-government are increasingly and inevitably becoming synonymous, with public services more and more integrated into the everyday lives of Canadians. AltV 46 GENERAL COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 1, 2005 AGENDA ITEM TOWN OF AURORA GENERAL COMMITTEE REPORT No. PL05-102 SUBJECT: Site Plan Application Suncor Energy Products Inc. 15612 Yonge Street File Number D1 1-20-05-M FROM: Sue Seibert, Director of Planning and Development Services DATE: November 1, 2005 THAT Report PL05-102 be received as information. BACKGROUND Location/Land Use The subject lands are located at the south west corner of Orchard Heights Boulevard and Yonge Street, municipally known as 15612 Yonge Street. The site has a frontage of 57.33 metres (188.09 ft) on Yonge Street and a total site area of 7,012.56 sq. m (75,485.0 sq. ft.). An existing self serve gas bar with three pump islands and a carwash currently exists on the site. Surrounding Land Use The surrounding land uses are as follows: North: Commercial South: Public Open Space East: Public Open Space West: Private Open Space Official Plan The subject lands are designated as "Commercial" by the Town of Aurora Official Plan. In addition, the subject property is also located within the Yonge Street North Community Commercial Centre, Environmental Protection Flood Prone Area and the Town's designated Heritage Resource Area. 47 ]GENERAL COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 1, 200S November 1, 2005 - 2 - Report No. PL05-102 Zoning By-law The subject lands are currently zoned "Service Commercial (C3-2) Exception Zone" and the westerly vacant portion of the site is zoned "Environmental Protection (EP) Zone" by the Town of Aurora Zoning By-law 2213-78, as amended. The C3-2 Zone permits the subject lands to be used for a gasoline bar and automobile washing establishment. The site is located within the Fill Regulated Area within the Regional Storm Flood Plain. The proposed building upgrades and modifications have been reviewed and are considered to be in compliance with all setback and performance standards of the By-law. PROPOSAL The purpose of this Minor Site Plan Application is to allow several building upgrades and modifications on the subject property (ref. Figure 2 — Site Plan). The applicant proposes to upgrade the appearance of the structures by replacing the canopy materials, applying stucco finish to the carwash building exterior, replacing the existing prefab gas bar kiosk and replacing signage. These improvements are being made by Sunoco as part of a re - imagining to their existing service station sites. No additional buildings or structures are proposed on the site. The applicant has applied to the Building Department for building and sign permits for the proposed improvements. It is noted that the applicant also requires a permit from the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority as the site is located within the Fill Regulated Area within the Regional Storm Flood Plain. The proposed site works will proceed only in compliance with all required permits. It should also be noted that Suncor Energy Products Inc. had previously applied to the Town for exemption from site plan approval to allow the proposed upgrades and modifications to the existing structures on the site [File Numbers: D11-EX(09)-05, D11- EX(17)-05]. Through this review, it was determined that the development proposed should proceed as a minor site plan application. COMMENTS The Public Works Department have commented that it requires 5m x 5m sight triangle at the intersection of Yonge Street and Orchard Heights Boulevard and a 2.76m road widening from the Yonge Street frontage to satisfy the 36m planned width of road allowance as set out in the Town's Official Plan, The owner has advised that it is willing to deed the lands free of charge pursuant to the Public Works comments and has prepared a draft reference plan for approval. OPTIONS Not applicable. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS Not applicable. m (GENERAL COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 1, 2005 November 1, 2005 - 3 - Report No. PL05-102 LINK TO STRATEGIC PLAN The Strategic Plan contains objectives to ensure high quality, comprehensive community planning to protect the overall investment of citizens in the community. The review of the subject application through the Site Plan process will facilitate this objective. CONCLUSIONS The subject minor site plan application can be dealt with most expeditiously at the Staff level. Accordingly, this report is to advise Council that the file is being processed as a minor site plan application respecting the proposed building upgrades and modifications and replacement of the existing prefab kiosk at the Sunoco gas station located at 15612 Yonge Street. FIGURES Figure 1 — Location Plan Figure 2 — Site Plan Figure 3 — Canopy Elevations Figure 4 — Kiosk Elevations Figure 5 — Carwash Elevations PRE -SUBMISSION REVIEW Management Team Meeting — October 26, 2005 Prepared by. Leigh Ann Wiseman, Junior Planner Extension 4350 Sue' elb , M.C.1.P., R.P.P. Director f Planning and Development Services m ,e . , . § f \ a o t CO « CD ) /Ei . \ ) 30NOA ¥ 7 O / $ � ) 72 \ \ L } $ ' , . T / S } . 0) d § ! . a C13 a. \ - O Q/ LU2 �u 130 @ CL§ $® . CD { � z kZz� 2 i 0mo�§ Cyp� SS Court co Q LU \§�0 U�§0w 0�Lli)a s: (GENERAL COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 1, 2005 i I N9fl ( tY, ' wX2H V/�ViS� MAX ..GJ'}IP39tl BOULEVARD 7)fiAMRL cx-ws+sa+ C Oi'34.Si t3MLNE[" G`JRB FX{1 W)ia, NAWMh1:. fi4 IPA .IC I.I{3!r PPART 2 I GRYIP.U`lk Yc1K tM.4'Y.) NEW TANK NEK 0'P Ni1�f6E ''II Ipfr NN M IS P .._—26� 4MtF ak v AI•i WAFF'E m BE n INVPRfe 1.i0.t3iilPN PELOGIED NK TED 1BTN: 4%ati� li 0 B gp y g P Iw ccrxln.Y...vns 6LANDoN vnnuw Acavo. n+sE \ J N..• Jt3 Rttlt g1 - �' NEW ASPNV.T to ! zF& L10 \.,Ilol w BE mmI elWtll Po915 Ta \.• erBiC &5C ' f— _ u mrs"o° e>0 ya Imtvom Nn (�sP�N' ,+' a rONwNE�N'NOCO tIX:O ..� ram: if KK90 91R1lCIIlt ! �.....�. - _. 8900. &, = wnm c 11I it gY"4N—v-k $ QY` NrR N IF GNN CIA—WASN WFLNOR ISH - _— V •wP"X NALL SEE M. K"i0e NEW PLUM. CLAWING THYSi — .. ON EAST. WWYNS Itl:O: H cxnc. IXRT. GNG-Y WLLMN 1011E PPHIEO WHITE b 1164:K! K IKBEG mNE RW KIOSK NE W l6 CANO% BE KPEWAcm Wm+ SEE oac NEW WlNom 1 ` (sEE NFTLL UW; / / uMwlns �.ame�ivn sawuaw oN 9 ax Q cov<krsr PE m EwnNW NEW SHALT INIENIDWKIW =NNE,. INSYALLW QPA➢ IN4Ak0 N T7 i rT ILVIEW ANCREIE 4JtYYN1 'l . .YYm+n rxrr Nx1- Ya:.14. s ttY—rtY. sa .— ,Nt t ztv t' ,,. �1 WENWE IX6WIN MWONS. PIPING.PING. ODISPENSERSSERS l � h KIOSK AS SOWN m'iiC z;P,yx C� v N A11NiE IN60fE I 13,E MR 1r'!9 Uiij. W1 m �N77 W w 51 (GENERAL COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 1, 2005 -01 noo M W 3 W 52 (GENERAL COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 1, 2005 ail 53 (GENERAL COMMITTEE NOVEMRER 1, 2005 I, ui uj W 54 iIGENERAL COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 1, 2005 TOWN OF AURORA GENERAL COMMITTEE REPORT No. PL05-103 SUBJECT: Zoning By-law Amendment Application Removal of (H) Holding Prefix Preserve Homes Corporation (Metrus) Part of Lot 21, Concession 2, E.Y.S. 65114-3850, 65M-3851 & 65114-3852 File Number. D14-15-05 FROM: Sue Seibert, Director of Planning and Development Services DATE: November 1, 2005 RECOMMENDATIONS THAT Council enact By-law 4715-05.D to remove the Holding (H) prefix from Preserve Homes Corporation on the lands described as Plans 65M-3850, 65114-3851 & 65M-3852 to allow the subject lands to be developed for residential and business park purposes. BACKGROUND Location/Land Use The subject lands are located on a portion of the lands within the 'Preserve' Plan of Subdivision at the northeast corner of Bayview Avenue and Wellington Street East (Figure 1). The subject lands are described as Part of Lot 21, Concession 2, E.Y.S. 65M-3850, 65M-3851 and 65M-3852. The site is approximately 24.76 hectares (61.17 acres) in area. Site works are currently underway in preparation for development of the lands. Surrounding Land Use The surrounding land uses are as follows: North: Future Residential South: Existing Employment (Magna Lands) East: Vacant/ Future Employment West: Future Residential Official Plan The subject lands are designated "Medium -High Density Residential" by Official Plan 55 GENERAL COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 1, 2005 November 8, 2005 - 2 - Report No. PL05-103 Amendment No. 30 to the Town of Aurora Official Plan. These policies allow the site to be developed for residential and business park purposes. The proposed development conforms to the policies of the Official Plan. Zoning By-law The subject lands are currently zoned "Detached Dwelling Second Density Residential Holding (H)R2-76 Exception Zone", "Detached Dwelling Second Density Residential Holding (H)R2-77 Exception Zone", "Detached Dwelling Second Density Residential Holding (H)R2-78 Exception Zone", "Detached Dwelling Second Density Residential Holding (H)R2-79 Exception Zone", "Row Dwelling Residential Holding (H)R6-49 Exception Zone", 'Row Dwelling Residential Holding (H)R6-50 Exception Zone", and "Business Park Holding (H)BP-3 Zone" by the Town of Aurora Zoning By-law 2213-78, as amended. Conditions for removal of the "(H)" Holding prefix are set out in the By-law. The removal of the "(H)" Holding prefix would allow the subject lands to be developed for residential and business park purposes. The applicant has applied to the Town of Aurora to remove the Holding "(H)" provision from the residential and business park zoned Lots. Zoning By-law 2213-78, as amended, contains detailed requirements for the applicant to address prior to removal of the "(H)" Holding provisions, the requirements are as follows: ■ The Region of York has confirmed that adequate servicing capacity is available, and the Town of Aurora has allocated such capacity; ■ subdivision agreement, and -other agreements(s) as required, have been executed between the Owner of the lands and the Corporation of the Town of Aurora; and ■ The Town of Aurora is satisfied that the removal of the "(H)" represents a logical and orderly progression of development. The applicant has addressed the conditions to remove the "(H)" Holding provision and staff have received no objections by any departments or agencies to the request for comments on the lifting of the Hold. Other requisite agreements may be considered to include site plan applications and it is noted that site plan applications will be required on the `Row Dwelling Residential Holding (H)R6-49 Exception Zone". However, staff feel that the lifting of the "(H)" Holding provisions will not compromise the site plan review and approvals process on the residential lots. In respect to the Business Park blocks, staff suggest the "(H)" Holding provisions not be removed at this time but await Site Plan Approval. M_ (GENERAL COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 1, 2005 November 8, 2005 - 3 - Report No. PL05-103 The approval of the lifting of the "(H)" Holding provisions will allow the owner to proceed immediately with obtaining building permits to allow construction to occur this building season. As such staff are of the opinion that the conditions of the Hold provisions have been effectively fulfilled and secured and recommend that the lifting of the Holding By-law for the residential component of the subdivision be approved. OPTIONS The conditions for removal of the "(H)" Holding prefix have been satified and the Town holds substantial securities for the development site. As such, Council can proceed with enacting the required by-law to lift the "(H)" Holding provision currently applying to the residential component of the lands. CONCLUSIONS The criteria for lifting the Holding (H) prefix have been satisfied. Staff are therefore recommending that Council enact By-law 4715-05.D (see Appendix 1) to lift the Holding symbol on the residential component of the development and to allow development to proceed in accordance with the provisions of the Subdivision Agreement. On the Business Park component of the development, it is recommended that the Hold provisions be maintained until site plans for the property are complete or substantially advanced. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS Not applicable. LINK TO STRATEGIC PLAN The Strategic Plan contains objectives to ensure high quality, comprehensive community planning to protect the overall investment of citizens in the community. Critical review of the subject application through the Zoning By-law Amendment process will facilitate this objective. ATTACHMENTS Figures Figure 1 — Location Plan Figure 2 — Zoning Map Appendixes Appendix 1 — Draft By-law Number 4715-05.D 57 GENERAL COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 1, 2005 November 8, 2005 - 4 - Report No. PL05-103 PRE -SUBMISSION REVIEW Management Team Meeting — October 26, 2005 Prepared by. Leigh Ann Wiseman, Junior Planner Extension 4350 1 'L,%c 1, % Se b rt, M.C.l.P., R.P.P. Director of Planning and Development Services 58