Utility Committee - Minutes

Monday, May 05, 2025

9:30 A.m. - 5:00 P.m.

Council Chamber, 2nd floor, City Hall

Present:

• T. Cartmell, 
• A. Paquette, 
• A. Salvador, 
• A. Sohi, 
• A. Stevenson, 
• and K. Tang 

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1.

Call to Order and Related Business

1.1

Call to Order and Land Acknowledgement

Councillor T. Cartmell called the meeting to order at 9:32 a.m., Monday, May 5, 2025, and acknowledged that Utility Committee meets on the traditional land of Treaty 6 Territory and the Métis homeland. The Chair also acknowledged the diverse Indigenous peoples whose ancestors' footsteps have marked this territory for centuries such as: Cree, Dene, Saulteaux, Blackfoot, Nakota Isga, as well as Métis and Inuit, and now settlers from around the world.

1.2

Roll Call

Councillor T. Cartmell conducted roll call and confirmed the attendance of Members of Utility Committee.

Mayor A. Sohi is a Committee Member pursuant to section 15(3), Council Committees Bylaw 18156.

Councillors A. Knack, J. Rice and J. Wright; and J. Taves, R. Yusuf and D. Molloy, Office of the City Clerk, were also in attendance.

1.3

Adoption of Agenda

• Moved by: A. Stevenson

  That the May 5, 2025, Utility Committee meeting agenda be adopted with the following changes:

  Additions: 

  • 7.1 Bylaw 21163 - To amend Bylaw 20959, EPCOR Distribution & Transmission Inc. Electric Distribution System Franchise Agreement, Amendment No. 1
  • 9.1 Blatchford Renewable Energy Utility Funding Opportunity
    (Private pursuant to sections 16, 21, 24 and 25 of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act)

  In Favour (6)

  A. Paquette, T. Cartmell, A. Sohi, A. Salvador, K. Tang, and A. Stevenson

  Carried (6 to 0)

1.4

Approval of Minutes

• Moved by: A. Stevenson

  That the March 14, 2025, Utility Committee meeting minutes be approved.

  In Favour (6)

  A. Paquette, T. Cartmell, A. Sohi, A. Salvador, K. Tang, and A. Stevenson

  Carried (6 to 0)

1.5

Protocol Items

1.5.1

Red Dress Day (A. Stevenson)

Councillor A. Stevenson, on behalf of Utility Committee, recognized May 5 as Red Dress Day, to honour the more than 1,000 missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit people in Canada.

1.5.2

Safety and Health Week (T. Cartmell)

Councillor T. Cartmell, on behalf of Utility Committee, recognized May 5 to 10 as Safety and Health Week. This national observance focuses on the importance of preventing injury and illness in the workplace, at home and in our communities.

2.

Items for Discussion and Related Business

2.1

Select Items for Debate

The following item was selected for debate: 9.1.

2.2

Vote on Reports not Selected for Debate

• Moved by: A. Paquette

  That the recommendations in the following reports be approved:

  • 7.1 Bylaw 21163 - To amend Bylaw 20959, EPCOR Distribution & Transmission Inc. Electric Distribution System Franchise Agreement, Amendment No. 1
  • 7.2 Waste Services Spring 2025 Supplemental Capital Budget Adjustment

  In Favour (6)

  A. Paquette, T. Cartmell, A. Sohi, A. Salvador, K. Tang, and A. Stevenson

  Carried (6 to 0)

2.3

Requests to Speak

There were no Requests to Speak. 

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.

Unfinished Business

There was no Unfinished Business on the agenda.

7.

Public Reports

7.1

Bylaw 21163 - To amend Bylaw 20959, EPCOR Distribution & Transmission Inc. Electric Distribution System Franchise Agreement, Amendment No. 1

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

That Utility Committee recommend to City Council:

That Bylaw 21163 be read a first time. 

7.2

Waste Services Spring 2025 Supplemental Capital Budget Adjustment

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

That Utility Committee recommend to City Council:

That the proposed capital budget amendments to the 2023-2026 Waste Services Utility Budget, as outlined in Attachment 1 of the May 5, 2025, City Operations report CO02914, be approved. 

8.

Responses to Councillor Inquiries

There were no Responses to Councillor Inquiries on the agenda.

9.

Private Reports

9.1

Blatchford Renewable Energy Utility Funding Opportunity

• Moved by: A. Paquette

  That Utility Committee meet in private pursuant to sections 16 (disclosure harmful to the business interests of a third party), 21 (disclosure harmful to intergovernmental relations), 24 (advice from officials) and 25 (disclosure harmful to economic and other interests of a public body) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act for the discussion of item 9.1.

  In Favour (6)

  A. Paquette, T. Cartmell, A. Sohi, A. Salvador, K. Tang, and A. Stevenson

  Carried (6 to 0)

  Utility Committee met in private at 9:43 a.m., Monday, May 5, 2025.

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

  • H. Rai, Financial and Corporate Services  
  • S. Cheung, Financial and Corporate Services  

  The following members of Administration's delegation answered questions:

  • C. Felske, Integrated Infrastructure Services
  • C. Walbaum, Integrated Infrastructure Services

  J. Beckett, Utilities Advisor, answered questions.

  
  
• Moved by: A. Paquette

  That Utility Committee meet in public.

  In Favour (5)

  A. Paquette, T. Cartmell, A. Salvador, K. Tang, and A. Stevenson

  Carried (5 to 0)

  Utility Committee met in public at 10:50 a.m., Monday, May 5, 2025.

  
  
• Moved by: A. Paquette

  That Utility Committee recommend to City Council:

  1. That Administration continue to develop an agreement on the Blatchford Renewable Energy Utility financing opportunity, as outlined in Attachment 1 of the May 5, 2025, Financial and Corporate Services report FCS02910.  
  2. That the May 5, 2025, Financial and Corporate Services report FCS02910 remain private pursuant to sections 16 (disclosure harmful to the business interests of a third party), 21 (disclosure harmful to intergovernmental relations), 24 (advice from officials) and 25 (disclosure harmful to economic and other interests of a public body) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. 

  In Favour (5)

  A. Paquette, T. Cartmell, A. Salvador, K. Tang, and A. Stevenson

  Carried (5 to 0)

10.

Motions Pending

There were no Motions Pending on the agenda.

11.

Notices of Motion and Motions without Customary Notice

Councillor T. Cartmell asked whether there were any Notices of Motion. There were none.

12.

Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 10:53 a.m., Monday, May 5, 2025.