At this week’s General Committee meeting on October 25, councillors will discuss – in closed session – whether to accept either a lease proposal or a purchase proposal from a recent Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Waterloo Summit Centre for the Environment.
The Town received five responses to the RFP: three purchase proposals from Brainworks Corporation, De Novo Trust Fund, and TULLOCH Engineering Inc.; and two lease proposals from Accelerate Muskoka Inc. and Alexandra Chisholm Smith (Ahimsa).
The RFP closed on September 28 and Town staff have evaluated the proposals, per the RFP terms, using different weighted criteria for each category.
The lease proposals received scores for economic impact on the community (job creation) – 15 per cent; financial impact to the municipality – 35 per cent; alignment of the proposal with the Town’s Strategic Vision and Beyond 2017 – 20 per cent; related experience of the partners/business as it pertains to the proposal – 10 per cent; and business plan and project timelines – 20 per cent.
The purchase proposals received scores for proposed price – 70 per cent; alignment of the proposal with the Town’s Strategic Vision and Beyond 2017 – 20 per cent; and economic impact on the community (job creation) – 10 per cent.
Staff will present the top proposal in each category to councillors at the General Committee meeting. That presentation will be in closed session under the Ontario Municipal Act 2001 which permits all or part of a meeting to be closed to the public if it concerns “a proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality”. Because staff do not know which option – lease or purchase – committee will select, the discussion will be closed.
Following the closed session, the General Committee meeting will reopen to the public and the information released at that time will depend on committee’s decision. Town CAO Denise Corry noted that committee will likely at least name the successful proponent at that time, and then will direct staff how to proceed with either a lease agreement or declaring the property surplus. If councillors opt to declare the property surplus, there is a public disposition of land process that must be completed before a bylaw can be passed to allow the sale.
The Waterloo Summit Centre for the Environment was a 2010 G8 Summit legacy project by the municipality, the federal government, and the building’s namesake, the University of Waterloo. The University used the building four months of the year for some of its Environmental Sciences programs until it notified the Town in March 2017 that it no longer required the space for teaching. At that time, it also said that it “had interest in returning to the facility if a partner emerged that would be willing to work with them in the future” according to the RFP.
The building has also housed a digital animation studio, which backed out of its lease in October 2015, along with various non-profits and small enterprises.
Related stories:
Town expected to issue RFP for Waterloo building by end of week
Accelerate Muskoka says they’re prepared to compete for the Waterloo building
University of Waterloo building proving to be one of this council’s most contentious issues, so far
Council opts to continue discussions with Accelerate Muskoka for Waterloo building
With University of Waterloo pulling out of its lease, will the Town sell the building?
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