Other Items Considered by the Committee

(City Council on October 1 and 2, 1998, received this Clause, for information.)

(a)Ontario Sewer and Watermain Construction Association Proposed Resolution.

The Works and Utilities Committee reports having deferred consideration of the following communication until its next meeting, scheduled to be held on October 7, 1998, as a deputation item:

(July 29, 1998) from Mr. Salvatore Morra, Executive Director, Ontario Sewer and Watermain Construction Association, advising that the Ontario Sewer and Watermain Construction Association has been advocating for a number of issues of importance to municipalities including the revitalization and maintenance of core infrastructure, and requesting the opportunity to make a brief presentation in support of a proposed resolution, appended thereto, wherein it is resolved:

"THAT the City of Toronto supports positive action to ensure its future health, safety and economic viability;

THAT the City of Toronto supports the establishment of a sewer and watermain reserve account and the implementation of an ongoing sewer and watermain infrastructure maintenance and replacement program; and

THAT the City of Toronto subscribes to the principle of full cost accounting for sewer and watermain services and, more specifically, that taxpayers' money not be used to subsidize maintenance and replacement of sewer and watermain services."

(b)Solid Waste Managements Fees.

The Works and Utilities Committee reports having received the following communication:

(July 16, 1998) from the City Clerk, City of Toronto, advising that City Council, at its meeting held on July 8, 9 and 10, 1998, had before it a Motion by Councillor Disero, seconded by Councillor Jakobek, which was adopted by City Council at its meeting on May13 and 14, 1998, wherein it is resolved:

"THAT in accordance with Section 46 of the Council Procedural By-law, Clause No.8 of Report No. 8 of The Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee, headed "Solid Waste Management Fees", be reopened for further consideration at the meeting of City Council to be held on July 8, 9 and 10, 1998; and

THAT Council adopt the following recommendations:

(1)the solid waste management fee at Toronto transfer stations be put back to $70.00 per tonne effective immediately; and

(2)the solid waste management fees at Toronto transfer stations and landfill be adjusted to $65.00 and $55.00 per tonne respectively, effective December 1, 1998";

and advising that Council reopened consideration of the aforementioned Clause and referred the foregoing Motion to the Works and Utilities Committee for consideration.

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The following persons appeared before the Works and Utilities Committee in connection with the foregoing matter:

-Mr. Wilf Goldlust, Vice-President - GTA Division, Canadian Waste Services Inc.;

-Mr. Richard Butts, Chair, Solid Waste Management Industry Consultation Committee (SWMICC);

-Mr. Barry Henderson, J & F Waste Systems;

-Mr. John Bray, Executive Director, Ontario Waste Management Association;

-Mr. Bruce Westaway, Sales Manager, Metro Waste Paper Recovery;

-Ms. Linda Lynch, representing Harkow Recycling Ltd.; and

-Mr. Scott Wolfe, General Manager, Miller Waste Systems.

(c)Emery Creek Stormwater Quality Ponds Project.

The Works and Utilities Committee reports having received the following report; and having requested the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services, when reporting back to the Committee on the funding mechanisms for such projects, to include a full inventory of initiatives currently being undertaken by the City and the percentage of revenues being allocated to environmental projects:

(August 24, 1998) from the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services providing information on funding mechanisms for the Emery Creek Stormwater Quality Ponds and other stormwater management initiatives/projects, as requested by the Committee at its meeting of July 15, 1998; advising that concepts such as "generator of stormwater runoff" and the "beneficiaries of stormwater improvements" paying for stormwater projects are being evaluated, and detailed criteria such as impervious area and credit for stormwater reduction, as suggested by the Committee, are being considered through the development of a funding strategy; further advising that an appropriate and equitable funding strategy including all necessary detailed criteria is expected to be developed through the ongoing Master Planning study in approximately 12 to 18 months; and recommending that this report be received for information.

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The following persons appeared before the Works and Utilities Committee in connection with the foregoing matter:

-Mr. Dalton C. Shipway, Toronto, Ontario;

-Mr. Jorma Palomaki, Weston, Ontario; and

-Mr. Tim Lambrinos, Executive Assistant to Councillor George Mammoliti, North York Humber.

(d)New Fee for Residues from Recycling Operations.

The Works and Utilities Committee reports having deferred consideration of the following report until its next meeting, scheduled to be held on October 7, 1998, as a deputation item:

(August 25, 1998) from the General Manager, Solid Waste Management Services, recommending that:

(1)a new solid waste management fee of $10.00 per tonne be established at the Keele Valley Landfill Site for soil-like residues from recycling operations for use as alternative daily cover at the landfill site, conditional upon approval by the Ministry of the Environment for such use;

(2)the quantities of materials described in Recommendation No. (1) be limited to a maximum of 1,000 tonnes per day, and that this material be accepted on a first-come first-served basis; and

(3)the appropriate City of Toronto officials be authorized to give effect thereto.

(e)Berry Road Overflow Chamber of Humber

Treatment Plant - Sewer Odours.

The Works and Utilities Committee reports having deferred consideration of the following communication until its next meeting, scheduled to be held on October 7, 1998, as a deputation item:

(July 20, 1998) from Councillor Irene Jones, Lakeshore-Queensway, forwarding a copy of a communication addressed to the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services concerning the Berry Road Overflow Chamber of the Humber Treatment Plant, and concerns raised by residents with respect to strong odour and gases coming from the Plant.

(f)Drinking Water Taste and Odour.

The Works and Utilities Committee reports having received the following report; and having requested the General Manager, Water and Wastewater Services, to submit a further report to the Committee at its meeting scheduled to be held on November 4, 1998, on:

(1)the options available to eliminate or reduce odour and other problems in the future with regard to water quality;

(2)chemical analyses of water samples for the last ten years; and

(3)a description of the steps involved in making the water from Lake Ontario potable:

(August 28, 1998) from the General Manager, Water and Wastewater Services, providing information on the recent occurrence of an unpleasant taste and odour in drinking water, and a strategy to address the issue; advising that the taste and odour was caused by minuscule levels of a compound produced by algae and higher than normal water temperatures, and that water quality was otherwise not affected and remained safe to consume; further advising that given the likelihood of increased frequency and duration of taste and odour occurrences in the future, the feasibility of alternative processes for taste and odour control at the water treatment plants is being investigated; and recommending that this report be received for information.

(g)Management of Grass Clippings.

The Works and Utilities Committee reports having received the following report:

(August 17, 1998) from the General Manager, Solid Waste Management Services, responding to a communication from the former City of Etobicoke Works and Environment Committee respecting the reintroduction of grass clippings into the yard waste collection program for composting, that was before the former Metro Environment and Public Space Committee at its meeting of September 8, 1997; advising that grass clippings have been banned from the yard waste collection program due to a decision of the Ontario Municipal Board forbidding grass composting at the Avondale Composting Site, and that the City of Toronto is therefore not investigating opportunities to reintroduce grass into the program at this time; noting that the City is continuing its advertising campaign to advise residents of the benefits of leaving their grass clippings on the lawn, and that there will be an opportunity in the future to test the composting of grass in the Small Scale Mixed Waste Recycling and Organics Processing Facility scheduled to be operational in spring 2000; and recommending that this report be received for information.

(h)Old Landfill Sites in the City of Toronto.

The Works and Utilities Committee reports having received the following report; and having requested the General Manager, Solid Waste Management Services, to:

(1)prioritize the list of old landfill sites in terms of risk factors, and to meet with interested Councillors to provide comprehensive information with respect to sites in their wards;

(2)investigate and submit a report to the Committee, if necessary, on the possibilities of landfill gas recovery or flaring at old landfill sites in the City of Toronto;

(3)provide to the Committee a list of former PCB storage sites in the City of Toronto; and

(4)submit a status report to the Committee on a semi-annual basis:

(August 24, 1998) from the General Manager, Solid Waste Management Services, forwarding an interim list of old landfill sites in the City of Toronto, as requested by the Committee at its meeting of May 20, 1998; advising that old landfills were defined as land which is owned by the municipality and which has been documented as having been used for the disposal of municipal solid waste under the authority of the municipality, and that the list does not include brown field sites which are generally considered as sites that have been contaminated in some manner and for which decommissioning may be required; noting that the list is a compilation of information which is readily available at this time, and requires verification before further study is conducted on these sites; further advising that a committee has been struck comprised of staff of the six Community Council areas and former Metro Toronto to oversee and report follow-up action required to ensure that any risk associated with the sites is managed appropriately; and recommending that this report be received for information.

(i)Ultra Violet Disinfection Trial At

Main Treatment Plant.

The Works and Utilities Committee reports having received the following report:

(August 24, 1998) from the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services clarifying the present status of the Ultra Violet Disinfection Trial project at the Main Treatment Plant in light of the change in contractor carrying out the trial, as well as a reduction in funding available for the project in 1998, in response to the request of the Budget Committee at its meeting of July28, 1998; advising that there will be no impact on the trial resulting from reallocation of funds from this project to the Biosolids Beneficial Reuse Program, and that the project will be completed by Trojan Technologies Inc. following issuance of the related Purchase Order; and recommending that this report be received for information.

(j)1998 Steve Bonk Scholarship.

The Works and Utilities Committee reports having referred the following motion to the Municipal Grants Review Committee:

Moved by Councillor Bossons:

"That the City of Toronto be requested to grant funds on an annual basis to the recipient of the Steve Bonk Scholarship to match the $500.00 provided by the Canadian Water and Wastewater Association."

The Works and Utilities further reports that the Chair of the Committee, the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services and Dr. Larry Moore, Director of the Canadian Water and Wastewater Association, presented to Mr. Paul Beveridge of Toronto, the recipient of the 1998 Steve Bonk Scholarship, a cheque in the amount of $500.00 and congratulated him on winning the award; and advised the Committee that this award is given by the Canadian Water and Wastewater Association to a full-time student from across Canada who has completed one-year of post secondary education and intends to pursue a career related to the municipal water or wastewater industry.

(k)Recovery of Reusable Goods.

The Works and Utilities Committee reports having received the following presentation:

Mr. Tim Michael, Manager - Waste Diversion, Metro Hall, Works and Emergency Services, gave a presentation to the Committee on the recovery of reusable goods, as requested by the Committee at its meeting of June 17, 1998.

(l)Garbage and Recycling Collection Calendar.

The Works and Utilities Committee reports having had before it a draft layout of the garbage and recycling collection calendar for 1999/2000, submitted by the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services, and having requested that:

(1)the calendar be modified by incorporating a consistent format using the former City of Toronto icons, by enlarging the text explaining the icons, and by listing the reference to "Questions?" in different languages; and

(2)the final version of the calendar be approved by the Chair of the Committee, in consultation with interested Members of the Committee.

(m)100 Percent Biosolids Beneficial Reuse Program -

Status Report.

The Works and Utilities Committee reports having received a verbal report from the Chair of the Committee on the status of the Expressions of Interest and Request for Proposals with respect to the 100 Percent Biosolids Beneficial Reuse Program at the Main Treatment Plant.

(City Council on October 1 and 2, 1998, had before it, during consideration of Item (b), headed "Solid Waste Management Fees", embodied in the foregoing Clause, a communication (October1, 1998) from the Executive Director, Ontario Waste Management Association, requesting Council to direct staff to once again establish a six month consultation and information period between the time of a fee change announcement and the time that it is to take effect.)