Cornwall council briefs: Kingston firm awarded housing RFP

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Cornwall’s city hall, on Wednesday July 21, 2021 in Cornwall, Ont. Francis Racine/Cornwall Standard-Freeholder/Postmedia Network Photo by Francis Racine /Francis Racine/Standard-Freeholder

A Kingston firm has been awarded a request for proposal for the design and construction of administration services for the affordable housing stacked townhouses project in Cornwall.

IBI Group Architects (Canada) Inc. had a total bid price of $207,482 and was deemed the best proposal meeting specifications.

Also submitting a bid ($422,846) was Rossman Architecture Inc., of Gatineau. A proposal was also received from V.A. Architects Inc., however, it did not meet the minimum required score to be evaluated for pricing.

The total budget for the project has been estimated between $11,500,000 and $13,500,000. Through the Social Services Relief Fund (SSRF) Phase 4 funding program, Cornwall has been approved to receive $3,838,775 to assist with the cost of the construction of new social/affordable mixed-use multi-residential buildings. The city intends to finance the remaining balance estimated between $7,661,225 and $9,661,225.

For the build, the city will use a vacant Cornwall-owned property located on Pitt Street North, immediately south of the 401 overpass on the west side.

The vacant property, with an estimated assessed value of $227,000, was selected for this capital project after being identified as an ideal location in the recently published 2020 Social and Housing Services Cornwall and Area Housing Revitalization Plan due to its proximity to grocery stores, schools, health services, transit routes and several major employers.

At its meeting on Sept. 13, 2021, Council designated this land for the new housing development. The city says the project aligns with Council’s Strategic Plan to grow quality housing stock, including affordable housing.

EVB wins RFP

A request for proposal for the design and construction supervision and contract administration associated with installation of upgrades at the city’s raw water intake headworks has been awarded to EVB Engineering in Cornwall.

At a total bid price of $224,179.14 it was deemed the best proposal meeting the specifications.

The city had budgeted $250,000, funded from the Water Works Reserve, in the 2021 Capital Budget for the project; the city said the upgrade promotes economic development through continued investment in infrastructure.

The selection committee also evaluated a bid of $431,021 submitted by R.V. Anderson Associates Limited in Ottawa.

Proclamations

City council at its meeting earlier this week proclaimed April 24 to be Human Values Day in Cornwall.

The request was made by Manish Rughani, from the advisory team for Walk for Values.

The day is to create awareness of the basic human value of truth, right conduct, peace, love and non-violence, as well as all the multiple sub-values including honesty, integrity, kindness, and caring in the city.

And, it’s been proclaimed that May will be Community Living Month in Cornwall.

For many years, the month of May has been recognized and dedicated to Community Living Month, celebrating a collective effort in advocating for the full participation and inclusion of all people who have an intellectual disability and their families.

The proclamation request was made by Michelle Alguire, the Community Living Stormont County executive director.

Alguire noted that, over the years, a number of member organizations have joined in a campaign by requesting that each of their local communities participate in an Ontario-wide initiative called Shine a Light on Community Living.

Sign agreement

Council has approved an encroachment agreement for a projecting sign for the commercial business Pot of Gold, at 44 Pitt St., in downtown Cornwall.

The Encroachment Agreement process is the city’s tool to deal with proposals for exterior commercial patios, signs or structures which encroaches onto public property.

In the planning, development and recreation report to council, it was noted that city staff are supportive of the application for the projecting sign over the city’s sidewalk. The projecting sign will directly impact the local business, and, overall, positively contributes to the downtown core and local economy.

The 44 Pitt St. address is a former home of the Standard-Freeholder newspaper.

Plant upgrades

Council approved a tender being awarded to Capital Controls and Instrumentation Incorporated, for programmable logic controllers and control room upgrades at the Water Purification Plant.

The total bid price of $1,116,975.

Council also approved the reallocation of $613,331 from the WPP Upgrades Capital Project account to the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Upgrades Capital Project account to fund the shortfall associated with the recommended award of the tender.

The city in 2020 had budgeted $400,000 for the SCADA upgrades at the WPP.

Malyon tender

A tender for asphalt paving and concrete works on various city streets has been awarded to Malyon Excavation Ltd., from Cornwall, at the total bid price of $2,986,249.

The city had budgeted $2,794,000 in various 2021-22 capital budgets for the work.

Other tenders were received from Cornwall Gravel Company Ltd. ($4,400,416) and Coco Paving Inc. ($5,045,302).