Utility Committee - Minutes

Tuesday, September 02, 2025

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

Council Chamber, 2nd floor, City Hall

Present:

• T. Cartmell, 
• A. Paquette, 
• A. Salvador, 
• 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., Tuesday, September 2, 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.

Councillors A. Knack, K. Principe, E. Rutherford and J. Wright; and E. Norton, R. Yusuf and M. Friesen, Office of the City Clerk, were also in attendance.

1.3

Declaration of Pecuniary or Conflict of Interest

Councillor T. Cartmell asked whether there were any declarations of pecuniary interests or conflicts of interest. There were none.

1.4

Adoption of Agenda

• Moved by: A. Salvador

  That the September 2, 2025, Utility Committee meeting agenda be adopted with the following changes:

  Additions:

  • 7.1 Workplan for 2028 Performance Based Regulation Application (EPCOR Wastewater Treatment and Wastewater Collection)
  • 7.2 Water Services Franchise Agreement - Amendment Options
  • 7.3 Bylaw 21300 - To amend EPCOR Water Services Bylaw 19626, Amendment No. 1
  • 7.6 Request to Amend Landfill Flare Agreement
    - Attachment 2
    (Private pursuant to section 29 of the Access to Information Act)

  In Favour (5)

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

  Carried (5 to 0)

1.5

Approval of Minutes

• Moved by: A. Stevenson

  That the June 23, 2025, Utility Committee meeting minutes be approved.

  In Favour (5)

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

  Carried (5 to 0)

1.6

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: 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5, 7.6 and 9.1.

2.2

Vote on Reports not Selected for Debate

All items were selected for debate.

2.3

Requests to Speak

• Moved by: K. Tang

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

  • 7.2 Water Services Franchise Agreement - Amendment Options

  1. 1. I. Murray, Air Products

  • 7.4 Blatchford Renewable Energy - Annual Business Plan

  1. 1. H. Yu, Landmark Homes

  In Favour (5)

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

  Carried (5 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.

Unfinished Business

There was no Unfinished Business on the agenda.

7.

Public Reports

7.1

Workplan for 2028 Performance Based Regulation Application (EPCOR Wastewater Treatment and Wastewater Collection)

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

• H. Rai, Financial and Corporate Services

J. Beckett, Utility Advisor, made a presentation.

The following member of Administration’s delegation answered questions:

• S. Cheung, Financial and Corporate Services

The following member of the delegation answered questions:

• M. Moore, EPCOR

• Moved by: K. Tang

  That the Proposed Work Plan and Next Steps, as outlined in Attachment 2 of the September 2, 2025, Financial and Corporate Services report FCS02734, be approved.

  In Favour (5)

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

  Carried (5 to 0)

7.2

Water Services Franchise Agreement - Amendment Options

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

• H. Rai, Financial and Corporate Services

The following member of the delegation made a presentation:

• S. Chaudhary, EPCOR

J. Beckett, Utility Advisor, made a presentation.

The following public speaker made a presentation and answered questions:

• I. Murray, Air Products

The following members of Administration’s delegation answered questions:

• H. Rai, Financial and Corporate Services
• T. Esch, Employee and Legal Services
• S. Padbury, Chief Financial Officer and Deputy City Manager, Financial and Corporate Services

The following members of the delegation answered questions:

• C. Bonneville, EPCOR
• S. Chaudhary, EPCOR

J. Beckett, Utility Advisor, answered questions.

• Moved by: T. Cartmell

  That Administration prepare amendments to the Water Services Franchise Agreement to:

  • incorporate process water services; and
  • make any necessary changes to ensure that franchise fee rates are only applied to direct costs incurred by EPCOR in delivering process water. 

  In Favour (5)

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

  Carried (5 to 0)

7.3

Bylaw 21300 - To amend EPCOR Water Services Bylaw 19626, Amendment No. 1

The following member of Administration’s delegation answered questions:

• H. Rai, Financial and Corporate Services

The following member of the delegation answered questions:

• S. Chaudhary, EPCOR

• Moved by: A. Salvador

  That Bylaw 21300 be amended as follows:

  in Schedule 1, Part III, delete and replace:

  “Non-Standard Meter Read Charge 

  Applicable To all customers who decline the installation of a Standard Meter.
  Rate $25.00 per month”

  with

  “Non-Standard Meter Read Charge 

  Applicable To all customers who decline the installation of a Standard Meter.
  Rate $25.00 per month
  Applicable To all customers who fail to respond to notices to install a Standard Meter.
  Rate $49.03 per month”

  In Favour (5)

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

  Carried (5 to 0)
• Moved by: A. Salvador

  That Utility Committee recommend to City Council:

  That Bylaw 21300 be given the appropriate readings.

  In Favour (5)

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

  Carried (5 to 0)

7.4

Blatchford Renewable Energy - Annual Business Plan

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

• C. Felske, Integrated Infrastructure Services

J. Beckett, Utility Advisor, made a presentation.

The following public speaker made a presentation and answered questions:

• H. Yu, Landmark Homes

The following members of Administration's delegation answered questions:

• C. Felske, Integrated Infrastructure Services
• S. Cheung, Financial and Corporate Services
• C. Walbaum, Integrated Infrastructure Services

• Moved by: A. Stevenson

  That the September 2, 2025, Integrated Infrastructure Services report IIS02764, be received for information. 

  In Favour (5)

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

  Carried (5 to 0)
• Moved by: T. Cartmell

  That Administration prepare a report to Committee outlining potential options and consequences on improving the long-term sustainability and governance of the Blatchford Renewable Energy Utility, including but not limited to:

  1. Maintaining the current City-run model with adjustments to exemptions, and rate structures.
  2. Scaling back or deferring portions of the system to reduce capital risk.
  3. Exploring integration of operations with industry partners under a shareholder mandate that maintains Council’s climate objectives.
  4. Assessing new efficiencies, including solar technologies, in green technologies that could potentially impact the District Energy Sharing System (DESS) model.

  In Favour (2)	A. Paquette, and T. Cartmell
  Opposed (3)	A. Salvador, K. Tang, and A. Stevenson

  Defeated (2 to 3)

7.5

Blatchford Renewable Energy Utility - Analysis of Development Options

• Moved by: T. Cartmell

  That the September 2, 2025, Integrated Infrastructure Services report IIS02550, be received for information. 

  In Favour (5)

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

  Carried (5 to 0)

7.6

Request to Amend Landfill Flare Agreement

• Moved by: T. Cartmell
  1. That an amendment to the agreement between The City of Edmonton and Capital Power (Alberta) Limited Partnership increasing the value by $1,119,316, including GST, for a total amount not to exceed $2,071,616, including GST, as outlined in the September 2, 2025, City Operations report CO03094, be approved, and that the agreement be in a form and content acceptable to the City Manager.
  2. That Attachment 2 of the September 2, 2025, City Operations report CO03094 remain private pursuant to section 29 (advice from officials) of the Access to Information Act.

  In Favour (5)

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

  Carried (5 to 0)

8.

Responses to Councillor Inquiries

There were no Responses to Councillor Inquiries on the agenda.

9.

Private Reports

9.1

Contractual Update #5 (2025)

• Moved by: K. Tang

  That Utility Committee meet in private pursuant to sections 20 (disclosure harmful to personal privacy) and 29 (advice from officials) of the Access to Information Act for the discussion of item 9.1.

  In Favour (5)

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

  Carried (5 to 0)

  Utility Committee met in private at 11:59 a.m., Tuesday, September 2, 2025.

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

  • N. Jacobsen, Office of the City Clerk
  
  
• Moved by: A. Salvador

  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 3:00 p.m., Tuesday, September 2, 2025.

  
  
• Moved by: A. Salvador
  1. That Attachment 4 be added to the September 2, 2025, Office of the City Clerk report OCC03156.
  2. That the actions outlined in Attachment 4 of the September 2, 2025, Office of the City Clerk report OCC03156, be approved.
  3. That the September 2, 2025, Office of the City Clerk report OCC03156 remain private pursuant to sections 20 (disclosure harmful to personal privacy) and 29 (advice from officials) of the Access to Information 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

11.1

Opportunities for Youth Participation in Recreation (A. Paquette)

Councillor A. Paquette stated that at the next regular meeting of City Council, the following motion would be moved:

That Administration provide a report to Committee on the opportunities to encourage and support youth participation in recreation by extending services in recreation centres and in parks including options to work with partners and the costs and potential benefits of those opportunities.

• Notice of Motion Given: September 2, 2025, Utility Committee

11.2

Waste Services (A. Paquette)

Councillor A. Paquette stated that at the next regular meeting of City Council, the following motion would be moved:

That Administration provide a report to Council exploring the potential of transitioning Waste Services into a separate corporation, to remain fully owned by the City of Edmonton, retaining existing labour commitments, including:

1. A review of models used in other Canadian municipalities for publicly owned, arm’s-length corporations delivering waste, water, or waste water services.
2. Analysis of potential benefits and risks, including fiscal sustainability, service quality, accountability, and labour impacts.
3. Consideration of options to ensure that all existing workers remain employed within a publicly owned structure.
4. Legal, financial, and operational feasibility, including any required amendments to existing bylaws or agreements.
5. A summary of potential pathways and next steps should Council choose to further explore this option.

• Notice of Motion Given: September 2, 2025, Utility Committee

12.

Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 4:19 p.m., Tuesday, September 2, 2025.