Item - 2024.GG10.14

The General Government Committee recommends that:

1. City Council authorize the City to enter into an agreement with the owner of 36 Shaftesbury Avenue to acquire a permanent easement over a portion of 36 Shaftesbury Avenue, designated as Part 1 on Reference Plan 66R-33422 shown in Appendix A to the report (January 30, 2024) from the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, on the terms set out in Appendix B to the report (January 30, 2024) from the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, and such other terms and conditions as may be deemed appropriate by the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

The purpose of this report is to seek Council authority to enter into an agreement (the "Agreement") to acquire a permanent easement over a portion of 36 Shaftesbury Avenue (the "Permanent Easement"), as identified in Appendix A, for the continued operation and maintenance of an existing fire hydrant as part of Toronto Water's infrastructure.

Council authority is required for the proposed acquisition of the Permanent Easement because it involves payment of legal costs in addition to the purchase price, and the absence of carrying out undertaking environmental due diligence as required by the General Conditions set out in the Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 213, Real Property. Given the small area in question, the Permanent Easement presents low environmental risk to the City.