Utility Committee Minutes

Friday, August 27, 2021

9:30 A.m. - 5:30 P.m.

Council Chamber, 2nd floor, City Hall

Present:

• M. Walters,
• M. Banga,
• S. McKeen,
• and A. Paquette

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1.

Call to Order and Related Business

1.1

Call to Order

Councillor M. Walters called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m., Friday, August 27, 2021, and acknowledged that Utility Committee meets on the traditional land of Treaty 6 Territory. The Chair also acknowledged the diverse Indigenous peoples whose ancestors' footsteps have marked this territory for centuries such as: Cree, Dene, Saulteaux, Blackfoot, Nakota Sioux, as well as Metis and Inuit, and now settlers from around the world.

1.2

Roll Call

Councillor M. Walters conducted roll call and confirmed the attendance of Members of Utility Committee. 

Councillor S. Hamilton was absent with notice.

Councillor B. Henderson was absent as per the leave of absence authorized by City Council on August 16, 2021.

K. Gibson, E. Norton and R. Zheng, Office of the City Clerk, were also in attendance.

1.3

Adoption of Agenda

• Moved by: S. McKeen

  That the August 27, 2021, Utility Committee meeting agenda be adopted with the following change:

  Replacement attachment:

  • 6.5 Bylaw 19627 - EPCOR Drainage Services and Wastewater Treatment Bylaw - A Bylaw to Replace Bylaw 18100 - EPCOR Drainage Services Bylaw
    - Attachment 1
  
  

  In Favour (4)

  S. McKeen, A. Paquette, M. Walters, and M. Banga

  
  
  
  Carried (4 to 0)

1.4

Approval of Minutes

• Moved by: M. Banga

  That the June 25/July 9, 2021, Utility Committee meeting minutes be approved.

  
  

  In Favour (4)

  S. McKeen, A. Paquette, M. Walters, and M. Banga

  
  
  
  Carried (4 to 0)

1.5

Protocol Items

There were no Protocol Items.

2.

Items for Discussion and Related Business

2.1

Select Items for Debate

The following items were selected for debate: 6.1, 6.2, 6.4, 6.5 and 6.6.

2.2

Vote on Reports not Selected for Debate

• Moved by: S. McKeen

  That the recommendation in the following report be approved:

  • 6.3 Blatchford Renewable Energy Utility Business Plan - Annual Update
  
  

  In Favour (4)

  S. McKeen, A. Paquette, M. Walters, and M. Banga

  
  
  
  Carried (4 to 0)

2.3

Requests to Speak

• Moved by: S. McKeen

  That Utility Committee hear from the following speakers, in panels when appropriate:

  • 6.1 Potential Impacts to City of Edmonton Headwaters
    1. C. Smith, Canadian Parks & Wilderness Society - Northern Alberta Chapter
  • 6.6 Waste Services Business Plan
    1. D. Monkhouse, Alberta Residential Landlord Association
    2. M. Hoosein, Civida
  
  

  In Favour (4)

  S. McKeen, A. Paquette, M. Walters, and M. Banga

  
  
  
  Carried (4 to 0)

2.4

Requests for Specific Time on Agenda

• There were no requests for items to be dealt with at a specific time on the agenda.

  
  
  
  
  

3.

Councillor Inquiries

There were no Councillor Inquiries.

4.

Reports to be Dealt with at a Different Meeting

There were no Reports to be Dealt with at a Different Meeting.

5.

Requests to Reschedule Reports

There were no Requests to Reschedule Reports.

6.

Reports

6.1

Potential Impacts to City of Edmonton Headwaters

The following member of Administration’s delegation made a presentation and answered questions:

• S. McCabe, Deputy City Manager, Urban Planning and Economy

The following member of EPCOR's delegation made a presentation and answered questions:

• S. Neufeld, EPCOR

The following public speaker made a presentation and answered questions:

• C. Smith, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society - Northern Alberta Chapter

J. Beckett, Utilities Advisor, answered questions from members of Utility Committee.

The following member of Administration’s delegation answered questions: 

• C. Tomaras, Urban Planning and Economy

• Moved by: A. Paquette

  That Utility Committee recommend to City Council:

  1. That the City Manager, in coordination with EPCOR, provide input into the Coal Policy Committee through the request for submissions of technical documents based upon information in the August 27, 2021, Urban Planning and Economy UPE00424 report relevant to Alberta’s coal policy.
  2. That Administration, in consultation with EPCOR, undertake a review of existing water management initiatives and provide to Utility Committee in Second Quarter 2022 a recommendation on the need for a formal watershed management plan that could include headwaters protection and integrated land use, climate change planning, and water management within Edmonton boundaries.
  3. That the Mayor, on behalf of City Council, write a letter advocating to the provincial government as part of the provincial coal policy review, to express the importance of the potential serious impact of coal mining on our regional  watershed and ecosystems.

  North Saskatchewan River Regional Plan - Status Update

  That Administration provide an information report to Utility Committee, regarding the status of the North Saskatchewan River Regional Plan and the tools, policies and approaches that the regional plan is considering to protect the watershed's water quality and biodiversity.

  Due Date: Second Quarter 2022, Utility Committee

  
  

  In Favour (4)

  S. McKeen, A. Paquette, M. Walters, and M. Banga

  
  
  
  Carried (4 to 0)

6.2

Home Adaptation Strategies and Programs - Update and Analysis

The following member of Administration’s delegation made a presentation:

• S. McCabe, Deputy City Manager, Urban Planning and Economy

The following members of EPCOR's delegation made a presentation and answered questions:

• S. Ancel, EPCOR
• T. Morrison, Insurance Bureau of Canada

The following member of Administration’s delegation answered questions: 

• C. Hodgson, Acting Deputy City Manager, Financial and Corporate Services

• Moved by: S. McKeen

  That the August 27, 2021, Urban Planning and Economy report CR_8090, be received for information. 

  
  

  In Favour (4)

  S. McKeen, A. Paquette, M. Walters, and M. Banga

  
  
  
  Carried (4 to 0)

6.3

Blatchford Renewable Energy Utility Business Plan - Annual Update

This item was not selected for debate and was dealt with as part of item 2.2. The following motion carried:

That the August 27, 2021, Integrated Infrastructure Services report IIS00715, be received for information.

6.4

Bylaw 19626 - EPCOR Water Services Bylaw - A Bylaw to Replace Bylaw 17698 - EPCOR Water Services and Wastewater Treatment Bylaw

Items 6.4 and 6.5 were dealt with together.

The following members of Administration’s delegation made a presentation:

• C. Hodgson, Acting Deputy City Manager, Financial and Corporate Services
• B. McNabb, Financial and Corporate Services

The following member of EPCOR's delegation made a presentation and answered questions:

• S. Bradford, EPCOR

J. Beckett, Utilities Advisor, answered questions from members of Utility Committee.

The following member of EPCOR’s delegation answered questions: 

• A. Rosychuk, EPCOR

• Moved by: S. McKeen

  That Utility Committee recommend to the August 30, 2021, City Council meeting:

  1. That Bylaw 19626, EPCOR Water Services Bylaw, be given the appropriate readings.
  2. That Bylaw 19627, EPCOR Drainage Services and Wastewater Treatment Bylaw, be given the appropriate readings.
  
  

  In Favour (4)

  S. McKeen, A. Paquette, M. Walters, and M. Banga

  
  
  
  Carried (4 to 0)

6.5

Bylaw 19627 - EPCOR Drainage Services and Wastewater Treatment Bylaw - A Bylaw to Replace Bylaw 18100 - EPCOR Drainage Services Bylaw

Items 6.4 and 6.5 were dealt with together.

6.6

Waste Services Business Plan

The following members of Administration’s delegation made a presentation and answered questions:

• G. Cebryk, Deputy City Manager, City Operations
• D. Jubinville, City Operations

The following public speaker made a presentation and answered questions:

• D. Monkhouse, Alberta Residential Landlord Association

The following member of Administration’s delegation answered questions: 

• C. Fowler, City Operations

• Moved by: M. Banga

  That the August 27, 2021, City Operations report CO00747, be received for information.

  
  

  In Favour (4)

  S. McKeen, A. Paquette, M. Walters, and M. Banga

  
  
  
  Carried (4 to 0)

7.

Responses to Councillor Inquiries

There were no Responses to Councillor Inquiries on the agenda.

8.

Motions Pending

There were no Motions Pending on the agenda.

9.

Private Reports

There were no Private Reports on the agenda.

10.

Notices of Motion and Motions without Customary Notice

Councillor M. Walters asked whether there were any Notices of Motion. There were none. 

11.

Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 12:50 p.m., Friday, August 27, 2021.