Report to: General Committee                                                          Report Date: April 2, 2008

 

 

SUBJECT:                          2008 Municipal Road and Bridge Infrastructure Investment Grant

PREPARED BY:               Barb Cribbett, Ext. 4735

 

 

 

RECOMMENDATION:

That the report titled “2008 Municipal Road and Bridge Infrastructure Investment Grant”  be received;

 

And that Council approve the receipt of the $3,295,097 008 Municipal Road and Bridge Infrastructure Investment Grant awarded to the Town of Markham, to be used for municipal roads and bridges;

 

And that Council approve the attached resolution  “2008 Municipal Road and Bridge Infrastructure Investment Grant”;

 

And that Staff report back to Council on road and bridge infrastructure construction project options for the use of the grant;

 

And that Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.

 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

Not applicable

 

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this report is to provide Council with information regarding the recently announced 2008 Municipal Road and Bridge Infrastructure Investment Grant awarded to the Town of Markham through the Province of Ontario’s recent budget, and enact the required resolution to accept the grant.

 

 

BACKGROUND:

On Tuesday March 25, 2008, the Honourable Dwight Duncan, Minister of Finance, presented the 2008/2009 Provincial Budget.  The Budget included $400 million for municipal roads and bridges outside of Toronto. Funds were to be distributed based on a municipality’s share of Ontario’s road network relative to its population.

 

On Thursday March 27, 2008, Mayor Scarpitti received notice that the Town of Markham would be receiving $3,295,097 from this new $400 million funding.

 

 

 

 

 

OPTIONS/ DISCUSSION:

Mayor Scarpitti received a letter on March 31, 2008 from Jim Bradley, Minister of Transportation confirming the grant of $3,295,097, and providing some additional information with regard to the grant:

 

·        The funds will be transferred to the Town by June 30, 2008

·        Also on June 30, 2008, the province will provide details of reporting requirements and other accountability related requirements, including as a minimum, a description of the types of eligible expenditures for which the funding is intended and the requirement for a final report on how the funds were used

·        The province also requests an authorizing bylaw/council resolution form the Town of Markham no later than April 30, 2008.

 

The bylaw/council resolution should confirm:

·        That the $3,295,097 allocated to the Town of Markham by the province will be used for municipal road and bridge capital investment needs;

 

·        That a final summary report detailing expenditures, use of provincial funding , and outcomes achieved shall be submitted to the Ministry and the Ministry may request an independent audit of the project; and

 

·        That any funds intended for the project that are not used in for the purposes of rehabilitation of municipal road and bridge capital investment needs or in accordance with the terms outlined above will be returned to the ministry.

 

Staff will bring forward to Council options for eligible road and/or bridge infrastructure projects in May.  The only stipulation on the use of this grant appears to be that it must be used for road and/or bridge infrastructure construction.    

 

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS AND TEMPLATE: (external link)

Staff will provide the financial implications with the optional projects proposed in the report to Council in May.

 

 

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS:

Not applicable

 

ACCESSIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS:

Not applicable

 

ENGAGE 21ST CONSIDERATIONS:

Not applicable

 

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

Not applicable

 

 

RECOMMENDED

                            BY:

 

 

________________________                           ________________________

Barb Cribbett                                                      Andy Taylor

Treasurer                                                             Commissioner, Corporate Services

 

 

 

 

ATTACHMENTS:

Letter from Jim Bradley, Minister of Transportation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Resolution

 

 

Whereas on March  25, 2008 the Province of Ontario announced $400 million in funding for municipal roads and bridges outside of Toronto in the 2008 provincial budget; and

 

Whereas on March 31, 2008 the Town of Markham received a letter from the Minister of Transportation advising that the Town of Markham had been approved to receive funds in the amount of $3,295,097 towards Markham’s municipal road and bridge capital investment needs;

 

 

Now therefore be it resolved that:

 

·        That the $3,295,097 allocated to the Town of Markham by the province  be used for municipal road and bridge capital investment needs;

 

·        That a final summary report detailing expenditures, use of provincial funding , and outcomes achieved shall be submitted to the Ministry and the Ministry may request an independent audit of the project; and

 

·        Any funds intended for the project that are not used for the purposes of  rehabilitation of municipal road and bridge capital investment needs or in accordance with the terms outlined above will be returned to the ministry.