Title
Regional Collaboration Program Grant - Contaminated Sites Consultant
Proposed Motion(s)
1. That Council direct Administration to participate and submit a Regional Collaboration Program (RCP) Grant application for a Contaminated Sites Consultant.
2. That Council direct Administration to proceed in partnering with the City of Spruce Grove, the Town of Stony Plain, and the Summer Village of Seba Beach who would jointly use this consultant.
3. That Council designate Administration as the project lead for the Regional Collaboration Program Grant application for the purposes of receiving, administering, allocating, reporting and accounting for the grant and funds on behalf of the partners.
Body
Administration Recommendation(s)
Administration supports the Proposed Motions.
Purpose
A Regional Collaboration Program Grant would help fund the cost of implementing the new Public Sector Accounting Board Standard 3260 Liability for Contaminated Sites. Partnering with the City of Spruce Grove, the Town of Stony Plain, and the Summer Village of Seba Beach will result in a consistent approach taken by the municipalities as well as possible cost savings due to economies of scale.
Summary
The Public Sector Accounting Board (PSAB) is the body responsible for setting accounting standards for public entities, including municipalities, within Canada. The PSAB has released a new standard that requires all municipalities to quantify liabilities for contaminated sites and present this information in the audited financial statements. As a result, municipalities are required to inventory all assets to identify where contamination may exist. Once this is completed, municipalities will need to hire a consultant to test the assets suspected to have contamination in order to determine if there is contamination and if it exceeds an environmental standard. There is also a requirement to monitor these assets to determine if the contaminants are increasing or decreasing and then quantifying the effect on the liability. Working with the City of Spruce Grove, the Town of Stony Plain, and the Summer Village of Seba Beach would reduce redundant efforts between the municipalities and potentially result in economies of scale. This would result in a more efficient and cost effective implementation for each municipality.
Parkland County is prepared to act as the project lead for the grant application, and provide the necessary administration for the Contaminated Sites Consultant.
Strategic Plan/Policy/Legal/Staff Implications (As Required)
Economic Development
Goal #1 Strategy #2 Parkland County will investigate and pursue all funding sources and explore potential partnerships.
Governance
Goal #2 Strategy #1 Parkland County will foster relationships with municipal neighbors and associations.
Goal #2 Strategy #2 Parkland County will actively seek out joint project opportunities that will benefit our communities.
Financial Impact:
Cost: $125,000 budgeted in 2014 for the contaminated sites project
The Regional Collaboration Grant would help to fund the costs of the consultant.
Source of Funding:
The Regional Collaboration Program will provide $28.8 million for municipal (collaborative) projects in 2013 with a maximum of $250,000 per project. There is no prerequisite for municipal funding. Parkland County will prepare and submit an application for this grant on behalf of the regional partners and participating municipalities.
Other