Utility Committee Minutes

Friday, November 25, 2022

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. 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 9:40 a.m., Friday, November 25, 2022, 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.

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 K. Principe, J. Rice, E. Rutherford and J. Wright; and R. Yusuf, T. Orbell and B. Tyson, Office of the City Clerk, were also in attendance.

*Clerk's note: Councillor A. Stevenson was absent after the original scheduled recess time.

1.3

Adoption of Agenda

• Moved by: A. Stevenson

  That the November 25, 2022, Utility Committee meeting agenda be adopted with the following change:

  Addition: 

  • 7.1 Proposed 2023-2026 Blatchford Renewable Energy Utility Budget
    - Attachment 4
  
  

  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 November 4, 2022, 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.

Former Councillor Olivia Butti (A. Sohi)

Mayor A. Sohi, on behalf of Utility Committee, recognized former Councillor Olivia Butti, who served on City Council from 1974 to 1986, spearheading projects like Crimestoppers, construction of the Colisuem, Commonwealth Stadium, Kinsmen Fieldhouse, Edmonton Convention Centre, Telus World of Science and Edmonton's first LRT.

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 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: A. Stevenson

  That Utility Committee hear from the following speakers:

  • 7.1 Proposed 2023-2026 Blatchford Renewable Energy Utility Budget
    1. J. de Groot
  • 7.5 Aggregate Recycling Program
    1. E. Lewis, Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 30
  
  

  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

Proposed 2023-2026 Blatchford Renewable Energy Utility Budget

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

• C. Felske, Integrated Infrastructure Services
• H. Rai, Financial and Corporate Services
• J. Olsen, Financial and Corporate Services
• R. Soni, KPMG LLP

J. Beckett, Utility Advisor, made a presentation.

The following public speaker made a presentation and answered questions:

• J. de Groot

J. Beckett, Utility Advisor, answered questions.

The following members of Administration’s delegation answered questions: 

• C. Felske, Integrated Infrastructure Services
• A. Laughlin, Deputy City Manager, Integrated Infrastructure Services
• H. Rai, Financial and Corporate Services
• J. Olsen, Financial and Corporate Services

• Moved by: A. Stevenson

  That Utility Committee recommend to City Council Budget:

  1. That the Blatchford Renewable Energy Utility 2023 Rate Filing, as outlined in Attachment 1 of the November 25, 2022, Financial and Corporate Services report FCS01479, be approved.
  2. That the proposed 2023-2026 Capital Budget for the Blatchford Renewable Energy Utility in the amount of $27.44 million, as outlined in Attachment 2 of the November 25, 2022, Financial and Corporate Services report FCS01479, be approved.
  3. That the proposed 2023-2026 Blatchford Renewable Energy Utility Operating Budget, as outlined in Attachment 2 of the November 25, 2022, Financial and Corporate Services report FCS01479, be approved as follows:
     1. 2023 Operating Budget with operating revenues of $1.14 million and operating expenditures of $3.07 million. 
     2. 2024 Operating Budget with operating revenues of $1.45 million and operating expenditures of $3.52 million.
     3. 2025 Operating Budget with operating revenues of $2.82 million and operating expenditures of $4.15 million.
     4. 2026 Operating Budget with operating revenues of $3.94 million and operating expenditures of $4.92 million.
  
  

  In Favour (6)

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

  
  
  
  Carried (6 to 0)

7.2

Bylaw 20312 - To Amend Bylaw 17943 Blatchford Renewable Energy Utility, Amendment No. 4

• Moved by: A. Stevenson

  That Utility Committee recommend to City Council Budget:

  That Bylaw 20312, 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)

7.3

Proposed 2023-2026 Waste Services Utility Budget

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

• G. Cebryk, Deputy City Manager, City Operations
• D. Jubinville, City Operations

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

The following members of Administration’s delegation answered questions: 

• D. Jubinville, City Operations
• K. Knoblauch, Financial and Corporate Services

• Moved by: K. Tang

  That Utility Committee recommend to City Council Budget:

  1. That the 2023-2024 Waste Services Utility Rate Filing, as set out in Attachment 1 of the November 25, 2022, City Operations report CO01380, be approved.
  2. That the proposed 2023-2026 Waste Services Operating Budget, as outlined in Attachment 2 of the November 25, 2022, City Operations report CO01380, be approved as follows: 
     1. 2023 Operating Budget with revenues of $228.99 million and expenditures of $223.43 million. 
     2. 2024 Operating Budget with revenues of $235.52 million and expenditures of $230.88 million. 
     3. 2025 Operating Budget with revenues of $239.18 million and expenditures of $237.46 million.
     4. 2026 Operating Budget with revenues of $243.36 million and expenditures of $241.75 million.
  3. That the proposed 2023-2026 Waste Services Capital Budget in the amount of $153.10 million (which includes the cancellation of capital profile 15-33-2025 for Cure Site Land Use and Development in the amount of $6.24 million from the 2022 Waste Services Capital Budget), as outlined in Attachment 3 of the November 25, 2022, City Operations report CO01380, comprised of $134.49 million in 2023-2026, and $18.61 million in 2027 and beyond, be approved.
  
  

  In Favour (6)

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

  
  
  
  Carried (6 to 0)

7.4

Bylaw 20327 - Waste Services Bylaw 18590, Amendment No. 6

• Moved by: K. Tang

  That Utility Committee recommend to City Council Budget: 

  That Bylaw 20327 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

Aggregate Recycling Program

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

• G. Cebryk, Deputy City Manager, City Operations

The following public speaker made a presentation and answered questions:

• E. Lewis, Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 30

The following members of Administration’s delegation answered questions: 

• D. Jubinville, City Operations
• G. Cebryk, Deputy City Manager, City Operations
• C. Walbaum, Integrated Infrastructure Services
• A. Laughlin, Deputy City Manager, Integrated Infrastructure Services

J. Beckett, Utility Advisor, answered questions.

• Moved by: T. Cartmell

  That the November 25, 2022, City Operations report CO01474, be received for information.

  
  

  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

9.1

Landfill Gas to Renewable Natural Gas Conversion Project Update

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

• G. Cebryk, Deputy City Manager, City Operations
• D. Jubinville, City Operations

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

The following member of Administration’s delegation answered questions:

• J. Olsen, Financial and Corporate Services

• Moved by: K. Tang

  That Utility Committee meet in private pursuant to section 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. Salvador, M. Janz, K. Tang, and A. Stevenson

  
  
  
  Carried (6 to 0)

  Utility Committee met in private at 2:41 p.m., Friday, November 25, 2022.

  
  
• Moved by: A. Stevenson

  That Utility Committee meet in public.

  
  

  In Favour (6)

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

  
  
  
  Carried (6 to 0)

  Utility Committee met in public at 3:07 p.m., Friday, November 25, 2022.

  
  
• Moved by: K. Tang

  That Utility Committee recommend to City Council Budget: 

  1. That the Revised Key Terms of Contract in Attachment 1 of the November 25, 2022, City Operations report CO01527, be approved and that it replace the Key Terms of Contract in Attachment 2 to City Operations report CO00171.
  2. That the November 25, 2022, City Operations report CO01527, remain private pursuant to section 25 (disclosure harmful to economic and other interests of a public body) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act until the contract agreement is finalized.
  
  

  In Favour (6)

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

  
  
  
  Carried (6 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 3:09 p.m., Friday, November 25, 2022.