KITCHENER - The finance and corporate services committee received the first of a series of quarterly status updates from staff today on the work that's taken place in the last few months on the city's consolidated maintenance facility (CMF) project -- an initiative that, when complete, will bring a number of the city's operations and important municipal services into one building.

The update included details on what new features the $14 million in federal and provincial infrastructure stimulus funding the city has received for the project will pay for moving forward. All stimulus funds must go toward new additions to the project, over and above what is included in the base construction budget.

Part of the stimulus funding will cover the $3.3 million in costs associated with building the CMF to a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) silver standard.

LEED is the most recognized and accepted North American standard for rating the environmental friendliness of the design, construction, operation and sustainability of buildings. The benefits of building to LEED standard include cost savings; as well a reduction in energy usage, which supports council's dedication to environmental sustainability.

Among the LEED components that will now be included in the design and construction of the CMF are a geothermal heat recovery system, low-flow fixtures, expanded drainage, improved lighting and building system controls.

''I am extremely impressed with how staff has found ways to add these green features to the CMF project without placing any additional burden on our taxpayers,'' said Mayor Carl Zehr. ''I know there have been cost concerns raised over the past two years, since we first endorsed this project. But we are still well within the base budget we approved at that time, even though we've been able to add more long-term benefits to the facility. This situation has worked out very well.''

The remainder of the infrastructure stimulus funding will cover other additions to the project scope, including a vehicle wash bay, a salt-storage facility, fuel-distribution equipment, some emergency generators and block-heater hookups.

As part of the project update the committee learned that over the past several months staff have taken a very aggressive approach to identify opportunities to eliminate or defer components of the project, to further minimize costs to the city. Examples include:

* Eliminated of snow-management facility
* Reduced emergency back-up power
* Reduced size of salt-storage facility
* Eliminated bulk water sales function
* Reduced size of greenhouse
* Eliminated second vehicle wash bay

These measures will address the changes in revenue sources that have occurred since council approved the project in late 2007. The changes have come as a result of the economic downturn, modifications to the development-charges contribution, and additional research and analysis.

Staff has identified several funding sources to make up the shortfall in revenues.

"I am pleased staff has taken time to give us a detailed summary of all aspects of the CMF project," said Coun. Berry Vrbanovic, chair of the finance and corporate services committee. ''I am very pleased to see that we will be building the CMF to a LEED silver standard, given it's not a new building. I think it speaks volumes for us as a municipality in terms of what we're doing for the environment now and in the long run.''

When complete, the new CMF will improve service delivery to residents and operational efficiency, as well as help to address the growth in demand for city services.