Utility Committee Minutes

Friday, November 03, 2023

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

River Valley Room, 1st floor, City Hall

Present:

• T. Cartmell, 
• A. Paquette, 
• M. Janz, 
• 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., Friday, November 3, 2023, and acknowledged that Utility Committee meets on the traditional land of Treaty 6 Territory and Métis Homelands. 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 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 and E. Rutherford; and J. Abekah, R. Zheng and J. Vizbar, Office of the City Clerk, were also in attendance.

1.3

Adoption of Agenda

• Moved by: A. Salvador

  That the November 3, 2023, Utility Committee meeting agenda be adopted with the following changes:

  Addition:

  • 7.7 Bylaw 20638 to Amend Bylaw 19627 EPCOR Drainage and Wastewater Treatment Bylaw, Amendment No. 1

  Replacement report:

  • 7.1 Blatchford Renewable Energy Utility 2024 Rate Filing and Fall 2023 Supplemental Budget Adjustment
    - Financial and Corporate Services report FCS02051

  Deletion:

  • 7.6 Zoning Amendment to the Drainage and Wastewater Treatment Bylaw 19627
  
  

  In Favour (6)

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

  
  
  
  Carried (6 to 0)

1.4

Approval of Minutes

• Moved by: K. Tang

  That the September 5, 2023, Utility Committee meeting minutes be approved.

  
  

  In Favour (6)

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

  
  
  
  Carried (6 to 0)

1.5

Protocol Items

1.5.1

Veteran's Week Recognition (T. Cartmell)

Councillor T. Cartmell, on behalf of Utility Committee, recognized November 5 to 11 as Veteran's Week, a time for Edmontonians to honour the brave individuals who previously and currently serve our country and to remember the selfless sacrifices of our veterans.

2.

Items for Discussion and Related Business

2.1

Select Items for Debate

The following items were selected for debate: 7.3, 7.4 and 7.7.

2.2

Vote on Reports not Selected for Debate

• Moved by: K. Tang

  That the recommendations in the following reports be approved:

  • 5.1 EPCOR Water Services Inc. Performance Based Rates Regulatory Review
  • 7.1 Blatchford Renewable Energy Utility 2024 Rate Filing and Fall 2023 Supplemental Budget Adjustment
  • 7.2 Bylaw 20628 - To Amend Bylaw 17943 Blatchford Renewable Energy Utility, Amendment No. 5
  • 7.5 Bylaw 20629 - Single-use Item Reduction Bylaw 20117, Amendment No. 1
  
  

  In Favour (6)

  A. Paquette, T. Cartmell, A. Salvador, M. Janz, 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

5.1

EPCOR Water Services Inc. Performance Based Rates Regulatory Review

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

That the revised due date of To be determined, for the Financial and Corporate Services report FCS00745, EPCOR Water Services Inc. Performance Based Rates Regulatory Review, be approved.

Revised Due Date: To be determined, Utility Committee

6.

Unfinished Business

There was no Unfinished Business on the agenda.

7.

Public Reports

7.1

Blatchford Renewable Energy Utility 2024 Rate Filing and Fall 2023 Supplemental Budget Adjustment

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

• The Utility Committee recommend to City Council - Budget:

  1. 1. That the Blatchford Renewable Energy Utility 2024 Rate Filing, as outlined in Attachment 1 of the November 3, 2023, Financial and Corporate Services report FCS02051, be approved.
     2. That the 2024-2026 Blatchford Renewable Energy Utility Operating Budget, as originally approved in the November 25, 2022, Financial and Corporate Services report FCS01479, be adjusted as follows:
        1. 2024 Operating Budget with operating revenues be reduced by $1.16 million   
        2. 2025 Operating Budget with operating revenues be reduced by $2.03 million  
        3. 2026 Operating Budget with operating revenues be reduced by $2.10 million

  *Clerk's Note: The above noted recommendation from Utility Committee to Council has been adjusted to now be in a form consistent with other budget adjustments. See below:

  1. That the Blatchford Renewable Energy Utility 2024 Rate Filing, as outlined in Attachment 1 of the November 3, 2023, Financial and Corporate Services report FCS02051, be approved, and
  2. 1. That the 2024-2026 Blatchford Renewable Energy Utility Operating Budget, as originally approved in the November 25, 2022, Financial and Corporate Services report FCS01479, be adjusted as follows:

  1. 1. 1. 2024 Operating Budget with operating revenues be reduced by $1,160,000,
        2. 2025 Operating Budget with operating revenues be reduced by $2,030,000, and
        3. 2026 Operating Budget with operating revenues be reduced by $2,100,000.
  
  
  
  
  

7.2

Bylaw 20628 - To Amend Bylaw 17943 Blatchford Renewable Energy Utility, Amendment No. 5

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 - Budget:

  That Bylaw 20628 be given the appropriate readings.

  
  
  
  
  

7.3

Waste Services Fall 2023 Supplemental Capital Budget Adjustment

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

• E. Robar, Deputy City Manager, City Operations

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

• D. Jubinville, City Operations

J. Beckett, Utilities Advisor, made a presentation.

• Moved by: K. Tang

  The Utility Committee recommend to City Council - Budget:

  1. That $18.51 million of replacement costs in the 22-81-2054 Communal Collection Program capital profile, be removed.
  2. That the four funding source adjustments in the 20-81-2041 Source Separated Organics Program, 23-81-3060 Organics Screening and Mixing System, 13-33-2023 High Solids Anaerobic Digestion Facility and 20-81-2052 Refuse Derived Fuel Facility Enhancements  capital profiles, be approved.

  *Clerk's Note: The above noted recommendation from Utility Committee to Council has been adjusted to now be in a form consistent with other budget adjustments. See below:

  That Utility Committee recommend to City Council - Budget:

  1. That $18,513,872 of replacement costs in the (Item 3-1) Communal Collection Program capital profile (23-81-2054), as detailed in Attachment 1, of the November 3, 2023, City Operations report CO02061, be removed.
  2. That the four funding source adjustments in the Source Separated Organics Program (20-81-2041), Organics Screening and Mixing System (23-81-3060), High Solids Anaerobic Digestion Facility (13-33-2023) and Refuse Derived Fuel Facility Enhancements (20-81-2052) capital profiles, as detailed in Attachment 1 of the City Operations report CO02061 (Items 5-1, 5-2, 5-3 and 5-4), be approved.

   

  
  

  In Favour (6)

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

  
  
  
  Carried (6 to 0)

7.4

Bylaw 20658 - Waste Services Bylaw 20363, Amendment No. 1

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

• E. Robar, Deputy City Manager, City Operations

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

• D. Jubinville, City Operations

The following member of Administration’s delegation answered questions:

• J. Ni, City Operations

J. Beckett, Utilities Advisor, made a presentation.

• Moved by: K. Tang

  That Utility Committee recommend to City Council:

  That Bylaw 20658 be given the appropriate readings.

  
  

  In Favour (6)

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

  
  
  
  Carried (6 to 0)

7.5

Bylaw 20629 - Single-use Item Reduction Bylaw 20117, 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 20629 be given the appropriate readings.

  
  
  
  
  

7.6

Zoning Amendment to the Drainage and Wastewater Treatment Bylaw 19627

This item was deleted from the agenda (see item 1.3).

7.7

Bylaw 20638 to Amend Bylaw 19627 EPCOR Drainage and Waste Water Treatment Bylaw, Amendment No. 1

The following member of the delegation made a presentation and answered questions:

• C. Piercey, EPCOR

The following member of the delegation answered questions:

• S. Ancel, EPCOR

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

• S. Cheung, Financial and Corporate Services

J. Beckett, Utilities Advisor, made a presentation and answered questions.

• Moved by: K. Tang

  That Utility Committee recommend to City Council:

  That Bylaw 20638 be given the appropriate readings.

  
  

  In Favour (6)

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

  
  
  
  Carried (6 to 0)

8.

Responses to Councillor Inquiries

There were no Responses to Councillor Inquiries on the agenda.

9.

Private Reports

There were no Private Reports on the agenda.

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 10:16 a.m., Friday, November 3, 2023.