Utility Committee Minutes

Monday, June 24, 2024

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

Council Chamber, 2nd 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., Monday, June 24, 2024, 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 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, J. Rice, E. Rutherford and J. Wright; and R. Zheng, J. Shearer and B. Tyson, Office of the City Clerk, were also in attendance.

1.3

Adoption of Agenda

• Moved by: A. Stevenson

  That the June 24, 2024, Utility Committee meeting agenda be adopted with the following change:

  Addition:

  • 7.5 Blatchford Renewable Energy Utility Fiscal Policy - C597A Amendment
  
  

  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: A. Salvador

  That the May 6, 2024, 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

ALS Awareness Month (A. Stevenson)

Councillor A. Stevenson, on behalf of Utility Committe, recognized the month of June as being ALS Awareness month across Canada.

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 and 7.5.

2.2

Vote on Reports not Selected for Debate

• Moved by: K. Tang

  That the recommendations in the following reports be approved:

  • 7.6 Waste Services Fiscal Policy Update
  • 7.7 Waste Services Future Multi-Year Rate Filing
  
  

  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

• Moved by: K. Tang

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

  • 7.4 Blatchford Renewable Energy Utility - Annual Business Plan
  • 7.5 Blatchford Renewable Energy Utility Fiscal Policy - C597A Amendment

  1. 1. J. Clarke, Niche Development Corporation
     2. D. Dodge, Energy Transition and Climate Resilience Advisory Committee 
     3. T. Barr
  
  

  In Favour (6)

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

  
  
  
  Carried (6 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

EPCOR Water Services - 2025-2027 Performance Based Regulation Application Update

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

• F. Mannarino, EPCOR
• S. Chaudhary, EPCOR
• M. Kennedy, EPCOR

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

• Moved by: A. Paquette

  That the June 24, 2024, EPCOR Water Services Incorporated report EXT02521, be received for information.

  
  

  In Favour (6)

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

  
  
  
  Carried (6 to 0)

7.2

EPCOR Water Services - 2025-2027 Performance Based Regulation Application - Stormwater Update

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

• C. Piercey, EPCOR
• F. Mannarino, EPCOR

J. Beckett, Utilities Advisor, made a presentation.

The following members of the delegation answered questions: 

• S. Ancel, EPCOR
• S. Chaudhary, EPCOR

The following member of Administration’s delegation answered questions:

• S. Padbury, Chief Financial Officer and Deputy City Manager, Financial and Corporate Services

• Moved by: A. Salvador

  That the June 24, 2024, EPCOR Water Services Incorporated report EXT02464, be received for information.

  
  

  In Favour (6)

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

  
  
  
  Carried (6 to 0)

7.3

EPCOR Water Services - 2025-2027 Performance Based Regulation Application - Return on Equity

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

• S. Chaudhary, EPCOR
• F. Mannarino, EPCOR

J. Beckett, Utilities Advisor, made a presentation.

The following member of Administration’s delegation answered questions:

• H. Rai, Financial and Corporate Services

J. Beckett, Utilities Advisor, answered questions.

• Moved by: K. Tang

  That the June 24, 2024, EPCOR Water Services Incorporated report EXT02522, be received for information.

  
  

  In Favour (6)

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

  
  
  
  Carried (6 to 0)

7.4

Blatchford Renewable Energy Utility - Annual Business Plan

Items 7.4 and 7.5 were dealt with together.  

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

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

The following public speakers made presentations and answered questions:

• J. Clarke, Niche Development Corporation
• D. Dodge, Energy Transition and Climate Resilience Advisory Committee
• T. Barr

The following members of Administration's delegation answered questions:

• T. Lumsden, Integrated Infrastructure Services
• C. Walbaum, Acting Deputy City Manager, Integrated Infrastructure Services

J. Beckett, Utilities Advisor, answered questions.

• Moved by: T. Cartmell

  That Administration provide a report that explores options, while maintaining Council's current net zero emission goals, to:

  1. 1. accelerate utility development to different areas of the Blatchford lands and to integrate a shared/supply utility approach;
     2. reduce scope of utility to its current geographic area;
     3. integrate a change of operating philosophy from supply only to shared utility.
  
  
  
  
  

• Amendment: 

  Moved by: A. Stevenson

  That Part b. be deleted.

  
  

  In Favour (4)	A. Salvador, M. Janz, K. Tang, and A. Stevenson
  Opposed (2)	A. Paquette, and T. Cartmell

  
  
  
  Carried (4 to 2)

• Motion as Amended, put:

  Moved by: T. Cartmell

  Blatchford Renewable Energy Utility - Analysis of Development Options

  That Administration provide a report that explores options, while maintaining Council's current net zero emission goals, to:

  1. 1. accelerate utility development to different areas of the Blatchford lands and to integrate a shared/supply utility approach;
     2. integrate a change of operating philosophy from supply only to shared utility.

  Due Date: Second Quarter 2025, Utility Committee

  
  

  In Favour (6)

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

  
  
  
  Carried (6 to 0)

7.5

Blatchford Renewable Energy Utility Fiscal Policy - C597A Amendment

Items 7.4 and 7.5 were dealt with together.

• Moved by: T. Cartmell

  That Utility Committee recommend to City Council:

  That the revised Blatchford District Energy Utility Fiscal Policy C579B as set out in Attachment 1 of the June 24, 2024, Financial and Corporate report FCS01999, be approved.

  
  

  In Favour (6)

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

  
  
  
  Carried (6 to 0)

7.6

Waste Services Fiscal Policy Update

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 revised Waste Services Fiscal Policy C558C, as set out in Attachment 1 of the June 24, 2024, City Operations report CO02410, be approved.

7.7

Waste Services Future Multi-Year Rate Filing

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

That the June 24, 2024, City Operations report CO01466, be received for information.

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

11.1

Progress Update on the Blatchford Development (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 on:

1. the progress of the Blatchford Development including a full status of where the development is at for sales and development progress and an update on the initiatives presented at the October 13, 2023, Executive Committee meeting.
2. options that could speed up the pace of development in Blatchford including, but not limited to:
1. exploring land sale incentives to accelerate sales and home builders incentives to accelerate homes to the market.
2. add additional land development marketing programs on the east side and Blatchford Market areas, focusing on land around the LRT stations.
3. strengthen online presence to broaden exposure.
4. engage a private broker to expand the interest of the builder community.

• Notice of Motion Given: June 24, 2024, Utility Committee

12.

Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 3:10 p.m., Monday, June 24, 2024.