NUTANA SLOPE STABILITY OUTLINED: ENGINEERING DETAILS NOW PUBLIC

An independent engineering report commissioned by the City concludes slope failures on some private properties along the 200 and 300 blocks of Saskatchewan Crescent and 11th Street East, resulted from three main natural factors: geology, geometry and ground water.

“The report confirms that weak soil, a steep slope and a high water table from historically high rainfalls are why the slope has moved,” says Chief Engineer and Director of Major Projects, Mike Gutek.  “The conclusions of Golder Associates were then verified by a second, arms-length review done by another engineering firm.”

The Executive Committee of City Council will receive next week an information report about the 2012 and 2013 slope failures in this area.

“This comprehensive geotechnical study – prepared at the City’s cost – not only paints a picture of what has happened, but what remedy private property owners will need to hold the slope up,” Gutek says.

City Council may choose from a wide number of possible roles for the City at this site.  They range from the current approach, which is to monitor the slope movement and provide information to residents, to participating in remediation and contributing financially.  The City typically does not contribute financially to remediation or restitution on private property.

There is a wide range of legal and associated risk consequences to the City related to this location.  These will be reported to Executive Committee In-Camera, and are of the following nature:

Current approach, which is to monitor the site and provide detailed information to adjacent property owners and residents.
Offer mediation services, with or without participation by the City.
Become actively involved with property owners in the remediation approach.
Provide some level of grant or financial aid to property owners.

Slope movements are now at a standstill because of frozen ground and they slowed considerably over the late summer and fall.  As a result of minimal movement, the City was able to lift an evacuation alert in September.

“Since the monitoring began, we have encouraged property owners to retain their own engineers to assess what they need to do to stabilize their properties,” Gutek says. 

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