As with any pre-commitment of funds, the approval reduces the future funding available for other initiatives not already approved.

Financial Matters:

In 2019 and 2020 City Council approved changes to the Sewer Surcharge funding resulting in a dedicated allocation of approximately $11M annually for the implementation of projects recommended in the Sewer and Coastal Flood Protection Master Plan. To date a portion of this funding has been identified for the City’s matching portion for the DMAF Targeting Success grant submission, as well as for the Sandwich Sewer Replacement project.

This report recommends a further use of this funding in the amount of $19.3M for the Lauzon Parkway Sewer and Road Rehabilitation project. It should be noted that only $3.44M of the $19.3M is recommended to be pre-committed for immediate use allowing Administration to complete the necessary engineering and land acquisition to properly scope and cost this project. The remaining $15.86M is recommended to be placeholder funding and only leveraged for use should a grant opportunity become available for this project. Should a higher priority project develop, prior to needing the funding for the Lauzon Parkway Sewer and Road Rehabilitation project, Administration can provide a report to City Council redirecting these funds if necessary.

There also remains additional funding in the Sewer Master Plan Implementation project from 2025 through 2030 in the amount of $41M, to be considered for other projects during the 2021 10-year Capital Budget development. Additionally, funding allocated to the Basement Flooding Abatement Program, City Wide Sewer Rehabilitation and Local Improvement project funding, may in part be leveraged to implement additional programs and or projects recommended in the Sewer and Coastal Flooding Protection Master Plan as appropriate.

Recommendations on which Sewer and Coastal Flood Protection Master Plan projects to undertake and in which order will be presented annually to Council as part of the City’s Capital Budget process where they will be considered amongst the City’s other infrastructure, planning and growth management responsibilities. When establishing the priority of the recommendations contained in the Sewer Master Plan work, Administration will use a set of Guiding Principles taking into consideration not only the priority assigned to it as part of the Sewer Master Plan but also other factors such as harmonizing capital projects with overlapping goals. In addition, the results of pilot projects and other Sewer Master Plan recommendations already undertaken will be considered. (i.e. downspout disconnection, maintenance hole sealing, foundation drain disconnection).

It is also important to note that the operational and maintenance costs resulting from the implementation of these various recommendations, as well as the capital requirements to sustain them may result in additional operational and or capital costs. As is consistent with the City’s asset management policy and procedures, Public Works, Operations and Pollution Control will continue to track the impact new assets and or practices may have on their costs. These will be reported to City Council as part of the