Manhole repairs hike cost of work

By Mark Squibb/October 14, 2022

Mount Pearl council has approved $20,000 in additional costs for asphalt work around the city.

“Since the work on the 2022 Asphalt and Concrete contract commenced, there have been items identified which require additional repair,” said councillor Mark Rice. “Repairs were required for manhole covers on Valleyview Avenue, as well as additional sidewalk on Commonwealth Avenue.”

As part of the ongoing management of the contract, Engineering Services requested approval of an additional $20,000, HST included, to allow for the changes, as well as any changes of a similar nature discovered as work progresses.

Councillor Bill Antle asked whether the change order was within budget, and Director of Public Works Gerry Antle confirmed that it was.

Councillor Isabelle Fry noted there are roads around the city that require some patchwork, (particularly on Ashford Drive, and asked for confirmation that this is where the money is going.

Director Antle said that particular section of work on Ashford Drive would be done by City staff.

“This contract is for work around the city that is more extensive than that,” said Antle. “So, concrete replacement of sidewalks, curbs, or asphalt in larger sections.”

The motion was carried unanimously

The original contract was awarded to Modern Paving Ltd. for $270,129, HST included.

MOUNT PEARL PROCLAIMS OCTOBER 10 AS WORLD HOMELESS DAY

Mayor Dave Aker has proclaimed October 10 as World Homeless Day in the City of Mount Pearl.
Mount Pearl Streetfriends founder/coordinator Leigh Bursey was in attendance during the October 4 meeting, and spoke to council on the subject. The Mount Pearl Streetfriends is an upstart activist network meant to support those struggling with homelessness, poverty, income inequality, and under-housing.  This is a duplicate model of a not-for-profit street outreach group that launched in comparably sized Brockville, Ontario.  Their goal is to assist, educate and support those struggling and those who care about them. In the back row, from left to right, are councillors Mark Rice, Jim Locke, Isabelle Fry, and Bill Antle. In the front row, left to right, are councillor Chelsea Lane, Mayor Dave Aker, Streetfriends founder/coordinator Leigh Bursey, and deputy mayor Nicole Kieley. Submitted photo

City switches acid providers because of price hike

It’s a well accepted fact that everything costs more now than it did a few years back — right down to the chemicals the City of Mount Pearl uses to clean its swimming pools.

Earlier this month, council voted to switch chemical suppliers after one such price increase.

Back in July, Bilroc Industries, which supplies the City with hydrochloric acid, also know as muriatic acid, for the treatment of swimming pool water, indicated it was no longer able to continue to supply the acid for the bid price of $404 per drum, HST included, that was set in January 2022.

“The new price quoted by Bilroc is $502 per drum, plus HST,” said recreation committee member Chelsea Lane. “The committee now recommends approval to award Eastchem, the second lowest bidder, the contract to supply and deliver the muriatic acid to the City of Mount Pearl at the price of $467.13 per drum for the remainder of the 2022 fiscal year, with the option to extend based on maintaining the existing price.”

Mayor Dave Aker acknowledged that inflation has become a fact of life in the post-COVID world.

“I guess this is coming put of COVID.” Said Aker. “It’s more inflation— and people wonder why it’s going to become more and more challenging to manage the budgets here at the City.”

Councillor Mark Rice noted that rising prices due to inflation are becoming a common occurrence around the council chambers.

“Every time we put something out to tender, it always comes back that either the tender got cancelled because they couldn’t meet the requirements of the bid or we turn around and see that prices have increased ‘X’ amount of dollars,” said Rice. “And this is another indication of a price increase. We’re talking $404 for a 45-gallon drum going up to $502, so you know,  it’s a true reflection of what’s happening.”

It's a problem that Rice doesn’t anticipate will go away overnight.

“I think, looking forward to the next several years, you’re going to see that prices will be really hard to maintain,” said Rice. “And right now, revenues are dropped down, so it’s very difficult to have a balanced budget.”

The motion to do business with the new supplier was approved unanimously.

Antle wonders how City will balance budget given constant cost increases

By Mark Squibb/October 7, 2022

A recent change order that reflects yet another cost increase in materials has Mount Pearl councillor Bill Antle asking how the City will maintain a balanced budget when the price of everything continues to rise.

The change order to the Smallwood Drive Asphalt Renewal project was required to account for the most recent increase in the cost of liquid asphalt.

“As a result of fluctuating fuel prices, the cost of liquid asphalt and clear diesel has increased since the original contract was awarded,” said councillor Isabelle Fry, who noted that change orders due to cost increases have been common this summer.

The price increase resulted in an additional cost of $11,511, HST Included.

Councillor Mark Rice said cost increases seem to be the way of the future for the time being, a point on which councillor Antle concurred.

Antle was concerned about the budgetary implications of the repeated price increases.

“If this is an indication of things to happen, and we run a balanced budget, if every contract is coming in five or 10 percent over, how is that affecting our budget?” asked the councillor. “Can we continue doing the same work? If this an indication, like councillor Rice said, and all our contracts are getting higher and higher, how do we maintain that budget?”

Director of Infrastructure and Public Works Gerry Antle said that regarding this specific change order, liquid asphalt prices are based on petroleum price changes from the date of the contract award.

“So, for contracts that are current today, for example, the pricing would be reflective of what today’s prices are,” said the director. “The increases that we have seen, over the past year or so, reflects that change. As we go forward, we’ll have budgets rbought to council and our estimated costs of construction will reflect the current cost prices that we see now.”

Director Antle said the City will work within those budgets so that the scope of work will fit the budget council has approved.

Any price decreases, he added, will also be reflected in future infrastructure projects.

Director Antle did allow that, yes, the “amount of work we can accomplish within the budget is a lower volume of work, unless council choosees to increase the budget.”

Meanwhile, a second change order for the same project was also approved during the meeting, this for additional storm sewer materials.

“During construction on Smallwood Drive asphalt renewal, it was noted that a storm sewer manhole located on Smallwood Drive required a grade adjustment,” said Fry. “So, therefore, the contractor, Modern Paving, was required to install new storm sewer materials, totaling $1,903.57, and this includes HST.”

The change order was approved unanimously, with Mayor Dave Aker nothing in this case it was just a small one.

Completion of accessible playground suffers slight delay

Those eagerly anticipating the opening of St. David’s accessible playground may have to wait just a little bit longer than expected.

Councilor Mark Rice gave an update on the project during council’s September 6 public meeting. He noted the structures were being assembled on site and that the rubberized service was set to be installed the first week or so of September.

Mayor Dave Aker asked when the playground was scheduled to be complete. Director of Engineering Gerry Antle said the work is expected to be completed later this fall.

“I would note that the rubberized surface is actually delayed this week,” said Antle. “That’s a sub-contractor who does specialized work, so they’re now scheduled to be on site next week.”

Aker said he was looking forward to the City wrapping up the work and carrying on with other projects, adding the playground, though still under construction, looks phenomenal.

“And it will look even better once the new surface gets installed,” said Aker.

Councillor Isabell Fry asked if the City is on target to conclude the project by the end of September.

Antle said he did not anticipate an end of September completion date.

“There’s some complications occurring on site, so I expect it will be later this fall,” said the director.

The upgrades, which include smart technology, improved lighting, and the addition of two new gender-neutral washrooms, were announced in August 2021. The playground will cost just around a million dollars, with both the provincial and federal governments chipping in $150,000 each.

Inflation hikes cost of two big street projects by millions

By Mark Squibb/September 30, 2022

During last week’s public meeting, council voted to revise two funding applications for major roadwork projects due to cost increases since the applications were first made in 2020.

The first application was for major upgrades along Farrell Drive and upgrading between Holden Street and Evans Place.

“This is everything,” said councillor Isabelle Fry. “It’s water, sanitary and storm sewer, asphalt, curb, and sidewalk replacement. So, it’s the full meal deal. The scope of this project is a complete reconstruction of Farrell Drive (approximately from Holden Street to Evans Place) and replacement of all infrastructure within the limits of the City property right-of-way. This includes all design, supply of construction materials, removal of existing infrastructure, and construction of new.”

Mount Pearl requested $5.1 million in federal funding for the project back in 2020.

“Due to the cost escalation in 2020, the revised funding request is $7.1 million, so it’s an increase of $2.1 million for this particular project,” said Fry.

Mayor Dave Aker noted that Infrastructure Canada requires the revised application be recorded in council’s minutes before proceeding.

The next project was for the complete reconstruction of Spruce Avenue from Croucher Place to Commander Place, and Birch Avenue including sanitary sewer realignment and watermain looping, Roosevelt Avenue  from Donovan Street to Ruth Avenue, Carroll Drive (excluding the existing watermain), and structural watermain lining on Billard Avenue.

“This project was also applied for in 2020, at a funding request of $5.05 million,” said Fry. “And again, due to the cost of escalation since 2020, the revised funding request is now $7.3 million.”

Councillor Jim Locke asked Director Antle when the work would likely begin — and end —figuring it would be planned over the winter and shovels put into the ground once the next construction season permits.

“A lot of things have to come together,” said Antle. “Optimistically, you’re exactly right. The application has to be made, we have to receive response, we have a couple things to consider then. We have an existing RFP, depending on if we can maintain that, and if not, we’ll have to reprocure, and that’ll be our biggest delay. So, if everything comes together as we hope, yes, we could be doing the design work over the winter with a potential start on construction next season. Otherwise, it might be late next season or even the year following.”

Locke said he asked the question because he knew there were residents in the area anxious to see the sewer work completed on account of surges following recent storms.

Under the federal program involved, municipalities must meet 30 percent of the total project costs.

The sign kind of said it all at this abandoned picket site outside the Neil Windsor Public Works Depot in Mount Pearl on Wednesday. The City of Mount Pearl’s striking unionized workers voted to give up their labour action later that day after agreeing to accept a nine per cent wage increase over four years, a reduction in sick leave from 21 days to 18, the addition of two personal leave days, a higher meal allowance, and a committment from the City to add two positions, for a total of six, for weekend maintenance and snowclearing during the winter season. The workers, members of CUPE Local 2099, had been on the picket line for 12 weeks. “This collective agreement is the result of months of hard work and dedication toward reaching a contract that is fair and balanced to all parties involved,” said Mayor Dave Aker. “Council would like to thank our residents and community groups for their patience as we worked to deliver an agreement that focused on the sustainability of our services.”

A new name for St. John's South - Mount Pearl riding

By Mark Squibb/September 23, 2022

The Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission has proposed that the riding of St. John’s South—Mount Pearl be renamed Cape Spear, after the historic landmark that boasts the easternmost point of North America.

“Recognizing that there are several significant municipalities in the riding apart from St. John’s and Mount Pearl, all of which cannot be named explicitly in the riding name, the Commission has opted to continue its emphasis on the geographic naming principle,” reads the official proposal. “A major geographic feature of this district is its distinction as the most easterly point in North America. Accordingly, a new name of Cape Spear is proposed. It meets the objectives of simplicity, recognizability and history.”

The riding recorded a small population decrease from the 2011 census, and thus the Commission did not recommend any significant changes. They did, however, recommend two small boundary tweaks.

One proposed change would address an oddity that sees some residents in Conception Bay South voting in the St. John’s South— Mount Pearl riding.

Currently, a portion of the Foxtrap Access Road near Gull Pond lies within St. John’s South— Mount Pearl. The Commission has proposed moving the boundary line so as to follow the highway, thus bringing the entirety of the Foxtrap Access Road into the Avalon riding.

A second proposal would move the St. Johns South— Mount Pearl boarder slightly so as to include Harbour Drive and Southside Road alongside St. John’s Harbour in St. John’s East district.

The changes would see the district’s population, estimated at 81,544 in 2021, drop to 81,173.

The changes, if approved, would be effect for the next federal election.

Council hopes urban forest plan will see Mount Pearl made in the shade

By Craig Westcott/September 23, 2022

If Mount Pearl council gets its way, the city will be one of the greenest metropolitan places on earth in the coming years.

Councillor Isabel Fry gave a hint of those plans at Wednesday's public council meeting, which happened to coincide with National Tree Day.

"National Tree Day is an opportunity to celebrate some of the many benefits that trees provide such as clean air, cooler cities, wildlife habitat and connection with nature," Fry pointed out. "This week is also National Forest Week and the theme this year is 'Canada's Forests: Solutions for a Changing Climate.'"

Fry noted the City is working on an urban forestry plan. "It's called Setting Roots and Growing Forward," she said. "We have it drafted and it’s coming through the process. The vision of the plan is to create a sustainable and accessible urban forest that is properly managed and cared for benefitting our residents and businesses with improved social, economic and environmental wellbeing while enabling council and staff to provide cost-effective implementation management and maintenance. So, the goal of the plan is to strive to increase the city's tree canopy coverage by planting a minimum of 1,000 trees of varied species by 2035."

Residents and business operators will be encouraged to contribute towards the goal, Fry said. The City has earmarked some $150,000 for tree planting.

Perhaps there's no bigger supporter of the plan than councillor Jim Locke.

"I'm delighted to see councillor Fry bring this in," Locke said. "I'm glad Mount Pearl is progressive on this front in adopting an urban forestry plan and we now realize that our trees and our vegetation are certainly a part of our green infrastructure. And we all know the benefits of trees for water retention, for example, during storm conditions."

Locke said he recently heard a news story that reported that doctors in British Columbia can now prescribe their patients to spend time in nature. Doing so, he noted, can help with a person's mental health and even physical ailments by reducing blood pressure.

"When you consider that we have 60 kms of trails in 16 square kilometres of our city's footprint here we are very fortunate to have that," Locke said. 

Planting trees, Locke argued, is a responsible thing for the City to do.

"We do have some areas for further development up in Northlands, for example, that will require the removal of some trees, but we are cognizant of the fact that with that there will be the replanting of trees," he said. "So, it's all about increasing our tree canopy. We know the benefits for fresh air and shading and urban heat islands. But this is new for your mental health, and I do know in the Japanese school system they have forest bathing where they go outside and spend time in the forest as part of their school day. It also enhances and increases their learning capability and academic achievement."

Locke said society finally seems to be getting it right in realizing that "we're not above nature, we're one with nature and if we want to continue to have successful, healthy lives, we do have to incorporate and protect our natural environment. So, I'm delighted that we're recognizing National Tree Day and I'm especially delighted that we're moving forward with our urban forestry plan."