City Council Minutes

 

SPECIAL OTTAWA CITY COUNCIL

Wednesday, 27 February 2019

1:00 pm

Andrew Haydon Hall, 110 Laurier Avenue W.

MINUTES 8

 

The Council of the City of Ottawa met at Andrew S. Haydon Hall, 110 Laurier Avenue West, Ottawa, on Wednesday, 27 February 2019 beginning at 1:00 p.m.

The Mayor, Jim Watson, presided and led Council in a moment of reflection.

 

ROLL CALL

All Members were present, except Councillors G. Darouze and J. Leiper.

 

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST INCLUDING THOSE ORIGINALLY ARISING FROM PRIOR MEETINGS

No declarations of interest were filed.

 


 

REGRETS

Councillors G. Darouze and J. Leiper advised that they would be absent from the City Council meeting of February 27, 2019.

 

MOTION TO INTRODUCE REPORTS

MOTION NO 8/1

Moved by Councillor A. Hubley
Seconded by Councillor C. McKenney

That the report from the General Manager, Transportation Services Department entitled “Contract Award of Ottawa’s Stage 2 Light Rail Transit Projects and Related Matters”; and the report from the General Manager, Corporate Services Department entitled “Long Range Financial Plan Transit Update” be received and considered

CARRIED

MOTION NO 8/2

Moved by Councillor K. Egli
Seconded by Mayor J. Watson

WHEREAS the Contract Award of Ottawa’s Stage 2 Light Rail Transit Projects and Related Matters Report contained a previous version in the “Delegations of Authority” section on pages 85 and 86; and

WHEREAS the content of the previous version does not affect the recommendations of the report; and

WHEREAS staff have revised the Delegations of Authority section to provide clarity and to expressly identify Algonquin College Agreement which was inadvertently omitted; and

WHEREAS the report is to be tabled at Council on Wednesday, February 27, 2019;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the first paragraph of the Delegations of Authority Section of the report be modified to read as follows;

“This Report recommends specific delegations of authority to the City Manager with the concurrence of the General Manager, Corporate Services and City Treasurer to execute the Memorandum Agreement with Carleton University, the Memorandum of Agreement with PWGSC, the Crossing Agreement with VIA Rail Canada Inc., and Agreement with Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology. As noted, these agreements are described in more detail in Appendix 1.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following paragraphs be deleted:

“This Report also recommends a general delegation of authority to the Director of the Corporate Real Estate Office to approve, execute, deliver, amend, extend and complete any document, agreement or instrument resulting from or amending any real estate transaction approved by the General Manager, Corporate Services and City Treasurer or any agreement described in Document [x] attached to this report provided that the financial implications of such resulting document, agreement, instrument or amendment is within the project budget for the Stage 2 Project and has the concurrence of the Mayor and the Councillor whose ward includes the relevant property.

Many of the Agreements summarized in Appendix 1, as well as the property acquisition agreements negotiated by staff, will require the execution of ancillary agreements and other documents. In addition, amendments to the agreements may be required over the course of the Stage 2 project as the design and construction of the two systems proceeds. The purpose of this recommended delegation to the Director of the Corporate Real Estate Office is to simplify the administration of agreements which have already been approved and the completion of the transactions contemplated in these agreements.

CARRIED

 


RESOLVING INTO COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOTION NO 8/3

Moved by Councillor A. Hubley
Seconded by Councillor C. McKenney

That City Council resolve to move into Committee of the Whole pursuant to Section 52 of the Procedure By-law.

CARRIED

 

REPORTS

 

TRANSPORTATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT

 

 

1.

CONTRACT AWARD OF OTTAWA’S STAGE 2 LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT PROJECTS AND RELATED MATTERS

 

REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS

1.         That City Council receive and table the “Contract Award of Ottawa’s Stage 2 Light Rail Transit Projects and Related Matters” report at its Special meeting of February 27, 2019, for subsequent consideration by Council at its regular meeting of March 6, 2019;


2.         That, at its regular meeting of March 6, 2019, City Council:

a.         Receive the results of the Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Stage 2 Ottawa Light Rail Transit project, as described in this report and as overseen by a Fairness Commissioner, and related matters, including the status associated with the Environmental Assessments and approvals, and the progress achieved to date through the Memorandum of Understanding related to vehicles and maintenance for the Confederation Line East and West, as described in this report;

b.        Approve the selection of TransitNEXT as the Preferred Proponent to design, build, finance and maintain the Trillium Line Extension Project, including the bundled projects and civic works, in the manner described in this report, including as follows:

i.          The Trillium Line Extension Project; 

ii.         The bundled projects and civic works as follows: the Ellwood Diamond Grade Separation; the Rideau River Pedestrian Bridge; the Dow’s Lake Tunnel Rehabilitation; the Rideau River Trillium Line Bridge Rehabilitation; conduits; the Carleton University Tunnel; the Trinity Pedestrian Bridge and Station at Bayview Avenue; the power pack and transmission overhaul; the year-8 Alstom vehicle overhaul; the existing Trillium Line Station enhancements; the Trillium Line Bridge over Sawmill Creek; and, the Trillium Line signal upgrades; and

iii.        The Airport Link.

c.         Approve the selection of the East-West Connectors as the Preferred Proponent to design, build and finance the Confederation Line Extension Project, including the bundled projects and civic works, in the manner described in this report, including as follows:

i.          The Confederation Line East and West Extensions;

 ii.        The Confederation Line East Extension bundled works and civic projects, as follows: Montreal Road Bridge; Jeanne D’arc / OR 174 Bridge Repairs; Trim Park and Ride; OR 174 / Shefford Road Watermain Crossing; OR 174 Non-OLRT Culverts; OR 174 Integrated OLRT Culverts; OR 174 Sound Barriers; Pedestrian and/or Cycling Projects Outside LRT Scope; OR 174 Concrete Removal; OR 174 / Greens Creek culvert replacement; OR 174 Intelligent Transportation Systems; City Traffic Operations – Fibre-optic Breakout Points; Bus layups on Jeanne d’Arc Boulevard; and

iii.        The Confederation Line West Extension bundled projects and civic works, as follows: West Transitway North and South Rock Wall; Storm/Sanitary Sewer Upgrades Pinecrest Creek; Storm/Sanitary Sewer Upgrades for Richmond Road Complete Streets; Baseline Station Surface Improvements; Goldenrod Bridge; City Traffic Operations – Fibre-optic Breakout Points; Woodroffe Avenue Stormwater Pond (Design, EA, Implementation); Bridge enhancements at Moodie Drive; and, Algonquin College Pedestrian Bridge; and

d.        Direct staff to continue to review and evaluate the Stage 2 Light Rail Transit project to achieve cost savings through design efficiencies.

3.         Approve the budgets and funding sources for the Stage 2 Light Rail Transit project as follows, and subject to funding received from the federal and provincial governments and the execution of the related contribution agreements, and other sources, as described in this report.

a.         The $4,657,445,229 Ottawa’s Stage 2 Light Rail Transit Projects budget and funding sources as outlined in this report;


 

b.        The funding model for the 3.4 kilometre Limebank Road extension for the Trillium Line, as described in this report and including a $50 million contribution from the Province of Ontario and an additional $30 million contribution through area-specific development charges;

4.         Delegate authority to the City Manager to negotiate, finalize, execute, deliver, amend and extend the Trillium Line Extension and Confederation Line Extension Project Agreements and associated ancillary agreements, including executing the federal and provincial contribution agreements, for the Stage 2 Ottawa Light Rail Transit project, in accordance with, and subject to, the conditions described in this report;

5.         Approve the City’s payment and other related obligations under the Project Agreements for Confederation Line Extension and Trillium Line Extension Projects, both during the construction term, and the maintenance and service term for Trillium Line, as described in this report;

6.         Delegate authority to the City Treasurer to take any further steps, and carry out any further acts, as may be necessary to give effect to the approved budgets and funding sources for the Stage 2 Ottawa Light Rail Transit project, and the transition and the project contingency, subject to the terms and conditions described in this report;

7.         Receive the summaries of the key terms of the complex agreements with the National Capital Commission, Canadian Property Holdings (South Keys) Inc. and Calloway REIT (South Keys) Inc., and the Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport Authority as described in Appendix 1, and approved under delegated authority and approve the following:

 

a.         Delegate to the City Manager with the concurrence of the General Manager, Corporate Services and City Treasurer the authority to execute a Memorandum of Agreement with Carleton University as described in this report and summarized in Appendix 1.

b.        Delegate to the City Manager with the concurrence of the General Manager, Corporate Services and City Treasurer the authority to execute an Agreement with Algonquin College as described in this report and summarized in Appendix 1.

c.         Delegate to the City Manager with the concurrence of the General Manager, Corporate Services and City Treasurer the authority to execute a Memorandum of Agreement with Public Works and Government Services Canada as described in this report and summarized in Appendix 1.

d.        Delegate to the City Manager with the concurrence of the General Manager, Corporate Services and City Treasurer the authority to execute a Crossing Agreement with VIA Rail Canada Inc. to permit the construction of a grade separation at Ellwood as described in this report and summarized in Appendix 1.

8.         Delegate to the General Manager, Planning, Infrastructure and Economic Development Department, the authority to finalize and execute the financing agreement with Riverside South Development Corporation in respect of the Trillium Line Extension Project of Light Rail to Limebank Road, as described in this report.

9.         Approve the following measures to facilitate the construction of the Stage 2 Ottawa Light Rail Transit project, as described in this report:

 

a.         Delegate the authority to the General Manager, Transportation Services, to negotiate, approve, execute, deliver, amend and extend the Utility Works Infrastructure Letter of Agreement with Hydro Ottawa Limited, subject to the terms described in this report;

b.        Approve the tipping fee structure for soil and excavated material as outlined in this report; and

c.         Delegate the authority to the City Clerk and Solicitor to amend any by-laws, processes or policies to give effect to the decisions of Council related to this project, and to place any resulting amending by-law on the agenda of the City Council meeting in Q2, 2019, for enactment to amend Light Rail Regulation By-law 2015-301 as described in the report.

Chris Swail, Director, O-Train Planning, Transportation Services Department (TSD) and Isabelle Jasmin, Deputy Treasurer, Corporate Services Department provided a detailed PowerPoint presentation.  A copy of this presentation is held on file with the City Clerk. 

The following delegations addressed the Committee of the Whole with respect to the Contract Award of Ottawa’s Stage 2 Light Rail Transit Projects and Related Matters. Those persons whose names are marked with an asterisk (*) have also provided a written submission, and these documents are held on file with the City Clerk.

  1. Mark Laroche,* President and CEO of the Ottawa International Airport Authority, spoke in support of the project, and the importance of the Airport Link, for which the Airport is a partner and contributor.
  2. Catherine Callary, Vice-president of Destination Development, Ottawa Tourism – spoke in support of the project, and its impact Tourism Ottawa’s efforts to market Ottawa as a destination for visitors to.
  3. Claude Brulé, Senior Vice President, Academic, Algonquin College, spoke in support of the project and its significant impact on Algonquin College students, staff and the broader community, as well as the value of the college’s partnership with the City on Algonquin Station.
  4. Lise Bourgeois, Presidente-directrice générale, La Cité, spoke in support of the project, and its significance for the institution, and expressed an interest in seeing the future Trim station, which will serve their Orleans campus, named in recognition of la Cité.
  5. John Harrison, Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec Building and Trades Council, spoke in support of the project, and to its economic impacts during and after construction.
  6. Guy Annable expressed concerns with the lack of publicly-available information available with respect to the criteria and scoring methodology for the procurement, concerns with the preferred proponent for the Trillium Line Extension Project, as well as some particular concerns about the suitability of some station designs for Canadian weather.
  7. Ian Faris, President, Ottawa Board of Trade, spoke in support of the project, and impacts of the expansion of LRT on economic growth and the ability for Ottawa companies to attract and retain skilled talent, and requested that an economic lens be used in planning future expansion that would include Kanata and Stittsville neighbourhoods.
  8. Veronica Farmer, Kanata North Business Association, spoke in support of the project, and the importance of improving transit connectivity to Kanata North businesses.
  9. Paul Black, Fotenn Consultants Inc. spoke on behalf Morguard Investments and Richcraft Group,* Owners of the lands located at 1424 Earl Armstrong. He spoke in opposition to the proposed elevation of Limebank Road over the proposed rail corridor, and requested an alternative design.
  10.  Alex Cullen, spoke on behalf of the Federation of Citizens Associations* recommending that the City of Ottawa review its transit fare structure in order maximize transit ridership as a means of achieving its target modal share for transit.  On behalf of the Belltown Neigbours’ Association and community associations surrounding Lincoln Fields, Mr. Cullen sought assurance that there is scope within station design for Lincoln Fields Station to integrate with the major development around the station as part of a Secondary Planning process
  11. Kathryn Moore, Director of Government Relations, University of Ottawa, spoke in support of the project and its importance to UOttawa and in linking the City’s post-secondary institutions.  She also spoke to UOttawa’s involvement in Stage I and willingness to participate in Stage II at the appropriate time. 
  12. Trevor Haché, Healthy Transportation Coalition*, expresses concerns with Process, the Public Private Partnership (P3) model, accountability, equity, and climate change impacts, and recommended alternative transit funding options. He also spoke to the lack of a safe pedestrian crossing on Woodridge Crescent crossing at Bayshore station.
  13. Miranda Gray* expressed spoke in opposition to the contract award for the Trillium Line Extension project, and in favour of the Confederation Line East and West Connections. She also raised concerns on a number of mobility elements, including lack of bike parking spots, and station designs.
  14. J.P. Unger spoke in opposition to the contract award as proposed. He expressed concerns with process, transparency, timing and costs of the project, including concerns with the preferred proponent for the Trillium Line Extension Project, and expressed concern with lack of funding for maintenance of other City assets.
  15. Geoffrey Sharpe expressed concern with limited public consultation and escalating costs of the project, as well as his concerns with the unreliability of existing transit service and the delays in Stage I. He also questioned whether the Province had committed to their contribution to the project.
  16. Anthony Friend, Action Sandy Hill, spoke in support of the project. While acknowledging the project resulted from urban sprawl and served the suburbs, he spoke to the benefits of the proposed project for inner city neighbourhoods, including reduced traffic from outside into the inner city.
  17. Toon Dreessen, Architects DCA noted the expansion of LRT was necessary, but expressed concerns with the process, lack of time given to Council to make its decision, and concerns with the use of the P3 model, including but not limited to greater cost and less control.
  18. Amit Sanyal, wondered why the project cannot finish on time and on budget, as projects elsewhere have. He also spoke to the fact that while he was overall happy with transit system in Ottawa, but is concerned in the winter with icy conditions and snow not removed. 

Council also received the following written submissions prior to consideration in Committee of the Whole, which are held on file with the City Clerk:

a)    Written Submission dated February 27, 2019 from Benoit-Antoine Bacon, President and Vice-Chancellor, Carleton University

b)    Written Submission dated February 27, 2019 from Monica Patten and Ian McConnachie, Crystal Beach Lakeview Community Association

c)    Written Submission dated February 26, 2019 from Margaret Knowles, Senior Vice-President, Development, Morguard Investments Limited

d)    Written Submission dated February 26, 2019 from Bruce Lindsay and Penelope Gould

e)    Written Submission dated February 4, 2019 from Paul Baldwin

 

Following delegations and questions to staff in Committee of the Whole, Council TABLED an REFERRED the report to the City Council meeting of Wednesday, March 6, 2019.

 



CORPORATE SERVICES DEPARTMENT

 

2.

LONG RANGE FINANCIAL PLAN TRANSIT UPDATE

 

REPORT RECOMMENDATION

That Council receive this report for information.

This item was considered in Committee of the Whole jointly with Item 1 above.

 

Following delegations and questions to staff in Committee of the Whole, Council TABLED and REFERRED the report to the City Council meeting of Wednesday, March 6, 2019.


 

MOTION TO RISE AND REPORT

MOTION NO 8/4

Moved by Councillor A. Hubley
Seconded by Councillor M. Luloff

That the Committee of the Whole rise and report to City Council.

CARRIED

MOTION TO TABLE AND REFER

MOTION NO 8/5

Moved by Councillor A. Hubley
Seconded by Councillor M. Luloff

That the report from the General Manager, Transportation Services Department entitled “Contract Award of Ottawa’s Stage 2 Light Rail Transit Projects and Related Matters”; and the report from the General Manager, Corporate Services Department entitledLong Range Financial Plan Transit Update be tabled and referred for subsequent consideration by Council at its Regular meeting of March 6, 2019.

CARRIED

 

CONFIRMATION BY-LAW

MOTION NO 8/6

Moved by Councillor A. Hubley
Seconded by Councillor L. Dudas

That the following by-law be read and passed:

To confirm the proceedings of the Special Council meeting of 27 February, 2019.

CARRIED

 


 

INQUIRIES

Councillor S. Menard

-Can you send Councillors the detailed risk assessments used to justify this type of procurement, as well as the methodology for assessing these risks, and the independent expert verification of the results of that risk assessment?

-Can you send Councillors the review of the public option that you said was looked at?

-Can you send Councillors the contract that is to be signed by both proponents?

-Can you send us a comparison of the cost of train car vehicles we are procuring in Ottawa vs other cities procurement of trains including Calgary’s recent LRT?

Can you send us more information about how the liquidated damages will work if there is a delay is service?

-Can you send us a schedule of ridership estimates and a scheduled fare increases based on 2.5% for the next 10 years?

 

 

ADJOURNMENT

Council adjourned the meeting at 6:48 pm.

 

 

 

 

_______________________________                _______________________________

CITY CLERK                                                         MAYOR

 

No Item Selected