Other Items Considered by the Committee

(a)Humber Sanitary Trunk Sewer - Berry Road

Overflow Chamber - Sewer Odours (Ward 2).

The Works and Utilities Committee reports having:

(1)received the following report dated September 17, 1998, from the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services; and

(2)recommended to the Budget Committee that the capital project to remove the gases and odours emanating into the surrounding neighbourhood from the Berry Road Overflow Chamber, at a cost of approximately $600,000.00, be a high priority item in the 1999 Water and Wastewater Services Capital Budget:

(i)(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.

(ii)(September 17, 1998) from the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services providing information concerning actions which have been undertaken by the Works and Emergency Services Department to address the odour problem related to the Humber Sanitary Trunk Sewer Overflow Chamber located at Berry Road and Stephen Drive; outlining a plan comprised of two schemes to address the odour problem, the first to include installation of the gas tight flap gate on the chamber's outlet, and the second involving permanent sealing of the chamber's overflow port and implementation of the necessary upgrades to the Humber Treatment Plant; advising that the Department is committed to completing the first scheme's scope of work as soon as possible and then test its effectiveness, and that if the first scheme solution is proved insufficient to positively eliminate the odours, the second scheme would have to be embarked on immediately; noting that the necessary funds for the upgrades were included in the 1999 preliminary Water and Wastewater Services Capital Program submission; 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. Garry J. Kapitan, resident of Stephen Drive, Etobicoke;

-Ms. Janine Cavin, resident of Stephen Drive, Etobicoke;

-Mr. Bill Turner, resident of Stonegate Road, Etobicoke;

-Ms. Karey Shinn, Chair, Safe Sewage Committee, and submitted a communication with respect thereto;

-Councillor Irene Jones, Lakeshore - Queensway; and

-Councillor Blake F. Kinahan, Lakeshore - Queensway.

(b)Establishment of Heritage Reserve Fund

for R.C. Harris Filtration Plant (Ward 13).

The Works and Utilities Committee reports that the following report was withdrawn at the request of the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services:

(September 22, 1998) from the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services respecting the solicitation of donations from film companies who film at the R.C. Harris Filtration Plant, to be used exclusively for heritage restoration at the plant; and recommending that:

(1)an R.C. Harris Heritage Reserve Fund be established through donations from film companies; and

(2)the City Solicitor and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer be authorised to introduce the necessary by-law to give effect thereto.

(c)Compliance Program with Monetary Concession -

Nestlé Canada Inc. (Ward 9).

The Works and Utilities Committee reports having:

(1)deferred consideration of the following report until its next meeting, scheduled to be held on November 4, 1998;

(2)requested the City Solicitor to report to the Committee on any legal implications regarding this matter;

(3)requested the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services to submit a further detailed report to the Committee on Nestlé's capital spending plans with regard to the project; and

(4)requested the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism and the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services to submit a joint report to the Committee on the use of this program to further the development of the food processing industry, so as to reduce excessive sewage loading while at the same time enhancing the industry in the City:

(September 22, 1998) from the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services recommending that:

(1)a Compliance Program with Monetary Concession be granted to Nestlé Canada Inc. as described therein, to allow for payment of their reassessed surcharge less 50percent of the increase for 1998, subject to the company's investment of the avoided surcharge payment in the 1998 Phase 1 activities; and

(2)if the waste loading is not reduced by 50 percent after 1998 Phase 1 is completed, the remaining Phase 1, plus Phase 2 and Phase 3 be implemented to achieve this reduction and staff be authorized to continue the monetary concession to Nestlé Canada Inc. for the remaining Phase 1 activities in 1999, Phase 2 in 1999, and Phase 3 in 2000, if required, to reduce the waste loading by 50 percent.

(d)Water Service Charges for 118R Clinton Street -

Newly Severed Lot.

The Works and Utilities Committee reports having referred the following communication to the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services for a report thereon to the Committee:

(September 2, 1998) from Councillor Mario Silva, Trinity - Niagara, forwarding correspondence from a constituent, Ms. Astra Burka, with respect to water service charges for a newly severed lot at 118 Rear Clinton Street; and requesting the Committee's assistance in obtaining a staff report to the Committee and City Council on the provision of cost relief in the aforementioned matter.

(e)Sewage Impost Charges for 761-775 Richmond

Street West - New Townhouses.

The Works and Utilities Committee reports having referred the following communication to the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services for a report thereon to the Committee:

(September 2, 1998) from Councillor Mario Silva, Trinity - Niagara, forwarding correspondence from constituents regarding sewage impost charges for new townhouses at 761-775 Richmond Street West that were levied after possession of the townhouses had taken place; and requesting the Committee's assistance in obtaining a staff report to the Committee and City Council on the provision of cost relief in the aforementioned matter.

(f)Biosolids Truck Loading Facility.

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

(September 28, 1998) from the City Solicitor respecting a legal matter related to the biosolids truck loading facility at the Main Treatment Plant.

(g)Differential Between Transfer Station and

Landfill Tipping Fees.

The Works and Utilities Committee reports having referred the following communications to the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services for a report to the Committee on the impacts of the collapse of the differential between transfer station and landfill tipping fees, and the implications to the waste management private sector industry:

(i)(October6, 1998) from Ms. Linda Lynch, Environment Watch Inc., on behalf of Harkow Recycling Ltd., respecting the issue of the differential between transfer station and landfill tipping fees; advising that the independent business operator in the transfer/processing/recycling sector has been severely impacted through the erosion of the differential; and requesting the Committee to create a mechanism whereby staff could report back to the Committee on the issues.

(ii)(October 6, 1998) from Mr. John R. Bray, Executive Director, Ontario Waste Management Association, respecting the specific differential maintained between the transfer station and landfill tipping fees which reflects the cost of operating a recycling facility and which has traditionally been pegged at $20.00; advising that with the transfer station tipping fee changes which went into effect on June 1, 1998, and the landfill tipping fee due to take effect on December 1, 1998, the differential has fallen to $15.00, and is about to fall to $10.00 in December, which removes any possibility of multi-material recyclers being able to continue operating and lessens any incentive to recycle; and urging that the differential between transfer station and landfill tipping fees be maintained at a minimum of $20.00.

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

-Ms. Linda Lynch, Environment Watch Inc., and Mr. John Harris, Harkow Recycling Ltd.; and

-Ms. Nancy Porteous-Koehle, Canadian Waste Services Inc.

(h)Works Best Practices Program.

The Works and Utilities Committee reports having directed that:

(1)the following communication be forwarded to Council for consideration with Clause No. 1 of Report No. 20 of The Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee, headed "Business Case Review of the 'Works Best Practices Program'", at its meeting on October 28, 1998; and

(2)Locals 416 and 79 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees be requested to indicate in writing their concerns on the matter:

(October5, 1998) from Councillor Olivia Chow, Downtown, respecting the matter of the Works Best Practices Program which was before City Council at its meeting on October 1 and 2, 1998 (Clause No. 14 of Report No. 18 of The Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee), and which was deferred to the meeting of Council scheduled to be held on October 28, 1998; and recommending that:

(1)City Council establish a work group to address the Works Best Practices Program, especially as it relates to restructuring;

(2)the Work Group report to the Works and Utilities Committee with recommendations that enhance co-operation between the staff and management to ensure that the delivery of high level services to the public is maintained;

(3)the Work Group be comprised of two representatives of management, two representatives of Local 416 and two Councillors; and

(4)Councillors Gerry Altobello and Jack Layton be appointed to such Work Group.

(i)Communication Strategy for Wine and Spirit Containers.

The Works and Utilities Committee reports having:

(1) received the following confidential report; and

(2)issued instructions to staff, such instructions to remain confidential in accordance with the provisions of the Municipal Act:

(October 6, 1998) from the General Manager, Solid Waste Management Services, respecting a communication strategy in relation to the by-law for the return of wine and spirit containers.

(j)Presentation by Dr. David Suzuki on

Health Effects of Air Pollution and Climate Change

The Works and Utilities Committee reports that, subsequent to the meeting of the Committee, Dr. David Suzuki introduced to Councillors a new study of the health effects of air pollution and climate change being released by the David Suzuki Foundation, entitled "Taking Our Breath Away"; and, together with two of the authors of the report, Dr. David Pengelly and Dr. Konia Trouton, and Mr. James Fulton, Executive Director of the Foundation, gave a presentation on the results of the study and responded to questions with respect thereto.