Report to: General Committee                                               Report Date: November 16, 2007

SUBJECT:                          Civic Centre Unit-Pavers Replacement Project

- Paving Pattern Design Options

PREPARED BY:               Henry Tse, P.Eng., Project Manager

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the report entitled “Civic Centre Unit-Pavers Replacement Project – Paving Pattern Design Options dated November 16, 2007” be received;

AND THAT Council approves the paving pattern Option ‘A’ as recommended by the Building and Parks Construction Committee for the Civic Centre Unit Pavers Replacement Project.

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this report is to request Council to confirm the decision of the Building and Parks Construction Committee for the paving pattern option for the Civic Centre Unit Paver Replacement project.  Upon Council’s approval of the option, staff intends to complete the detailed design and proceed to tender in 2008.

BACKGROUND:

The concrete unit-pavers at the front of the Civic Centre were installed at the time of the original building project about 20 years ago.  Maintenance consists of replacement of individual damaged units on an as-required basis. Over time excessive and premature failure of the units necessitated significant effort by staff to maintain a safe walking surface for the public and staff.  A project was thus established to provide funding to replace all the existing units.

The 2006 Capital and Other Operating Budgets identified a 3-phase capital project to eventually replace the entire walkway and plaza area units.  Capital funding has been approved in both 2006 and 2007 budgets.  Phase 3 funding has been proposed in the 2008 budget request.

OPTIONS/ DISCUSSION:

Mr. Paul Nodwell, OALA, Principal of PD3 Planning & Design Solutions, has been retained to provide the necessary consulting landscape architecture services.  The Town’s Urban Design Group staff is actively involved with the design effort, as part of the overall landscape design master plan for the Civic Centre.

This report addresses the replacement of all existing unit-pavers on the sidewalk, the associated walkways to the entrances of the building, the main entrance and plaza area, as well as the concrete road curb abutting the unit-pavers.  It will also provide for some minor work relating to planting material in the main entrance area.

Design concepts have been fine-tuned to 2 options.  These were presented and discussed at the Building and Parks Construction Committee (BPCC) meeting on June 15, 2007.  BPCC members did express their preference to Option A; however, as the ultimate choice will affect the general appearance of the Civic Centre, BPCC directed staff to present both options to General Committee to confirm the selection.

Mr. Nodwell will make a presentation (see Attachment A) to explain the differences and merits of the two design approaches.  Upon approval of the option by Council, staff intends to complete the detailed design and proceed to tender for construction in 2008.

Markham District Energy Inc. (MDEI) is presently contemplating the installation of underground heating and cooling piping beneath either the unit-paver sidewalk or the access roadway. As such construction work for this project will only commence either subsequent to MDEI’s decision not to proceed at all with the installation of said underground piping, or alternately, subsequent to the completion of their works.

FINANCIAL BACKGROUND:

Capital funding for Phase 1 of this project was approved in 2006 for $150,000, of which $94,600 remains.  Phase 2 funding has been approved for 2007 for $150,000.  Staff has submitted a 2008 budget request for $204,000.  Staff intends to reallocate any remaining Phase 1 & Phase 2 funding into Phase 3 of the project.  If the requested 2008 funding is approved, the total available funding would be $448,600.

The retained Landscape Architect provided a cost estimate for the scope of work as described earlier in this report.  This totals to $441,000.  There is sufficient available funding to cover the scope of work as described in this report, assuming Council approves of the 2008 budget request.

FINANCIAL TEMPLATE: (external link)

Not Applicable

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS:

None

ACCESSIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS:

All curb-cuts and transition area between the unit-pavers and all building entrances will be fully compliant to the Ontario Building Code and the Town’s new accessibility guidelines.  The proposed design will be submitted to the Markham Accessibility Advisory Committee for their review and comments.

ENGAGE 21ST CONSIDERATIONS:

None

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

Urban Design Group of the Planning & Urban Design Department

Finance Department

RECOMMENDED

BY:    ________________________          ________________________

Steve Andrews, P.Eng.                       Peter Loukes, P. Eng.

Director, Asset Management               Commission Lead

Operations & Asset Management

Community and Fire Services

ATTACHMENTS:

ATTACHMENT “A” – Design Options and Landscape Architect’s presentation.

Q:\Commission Share\Operations and Asset Management\Reports\2007\Asset Management\Facility Assets\Civic Centre Unit-Paver Replacement GC Report - 2007-11-16.doc