October 1, 1998
To:Etobicoke Community Council
From:John Thomas, Director, Transportation Services - District 2
Subject:Dead Sod in the Boulevard
Following Road Reconstruction
Purpose:
To propose greening of the boulevards to replace dead sod following road reconstruction.
Funding Sources:
The cost of the programme in the amount of $15,000.00 be charged against Order No. 10015.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
1.a one time programme of boulevard dead sod replacement by dethatching, top dressing and overseeding be provided
for those streets reconstructed in 1995 and 1996; and
2.the owners/occupants of properties be so notified and further advised in the care and maintenance of the new seeded
lawn.
Background:
In 1995 and 1996, a number of streets in the Alderwood area bounded by Brown's Line, Horner Avenue, Etobicoke
Creek and Evans Avenue and the Westhampton, Windsor and York Streets were reconstructed. These streets and limits
of construction are listed on Attachment No. 1. All disturbed boulevards were sodded between the curb and sidewalk or
property line and generally were done in the fall of the year of the project.
The year following the road construction, any call reporting damaged or dead sod was dealt with by having the contractor
replace the sod under the one year maintenance period.
Last fall (1997), the City received calls reporting dissatisfaction with the sod placed in 1995. This spring, the number of
complaints on dead or poor sod placed in the 1995 and 1996 projects increased. Our investigation confirmed the
complaints, but at the same time also found that sod placed along neighbouring properties was flourishing.
Opinion was solicited from the City's Parks Department and recommendations were received from Dennis McQuestion,
Manager of Forestry and Horticulture, as outlined in his memorandum dated April 27, 1998, Attachment No. 2.
Soil samples taken from various locations where sod placed had perished were tested for Atrozine and other contaminants
at the Pesticides & Trace Contaminants Laboratory of the University of Guelph and the reports indicate "not detected", in
other words the topsoil placed met with City's specifications.
It appears that sod laid in these contracts could have survived with normal watering and fertilizing as illustrated by other
properties in the area.
As the complaints being addressed, were received after the expiry of the maintenance period, prior to which the sod work
was inspected and accepted, we have no recourse to go after the contractor.
Any consideration to re-establish greening the boulevards can be carried out on a one time bases at City's cost by
dethatching, top dressing and overseeding the areas of poor or dead sod as recommended by Parks Department.
Conclusions:
Based on the above, it is respectfully recommended that, in order to re-establish greening the boulevards, the area of poor
or dead sod be dethatched, top dressed and overseeded on a one time basis only at City's cost and that the property
owners/occupants be advised accordingly as well as communicated with on the care and maintenance of the new seeded
areas
Contact Name:
T. Ellerbusch, P.Eng., Director of Engineering, Design and Construction.
(416) 394-8399; Fax (416) 394-8942.
John Thomas
Director Transportation Services - District 2
cc:C200-95-07
95-08/96-06/96-07/95-06
Attachments
