Utility Committee Minutes

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Council Chamber, 2nd floor, City Hall
Present:
  • M. Walters,
  • M. Banga,
  • S. McKeen,
  • and A. Paquette

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.

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.

  • 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)
  • 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)

There were no Protocol Items.

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

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




There were no Councillor Inquiries.

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

There were no Requests to Reschedule Reports.

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)

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)

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.

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)

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)

There were no Responses to Councillor Inquiries on the agenda.

There were no Motions Pending on the agenda.

There were no Private Reports on the agenda.

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

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

No Item Selected